Giveaways

Love Within The FLUKES–Review and Giveaway

FlukesTour
Hi there! Today, I’m sharing a contemporary paranormal romance from Nichole Chase. FLUKES is a sexy New Adult story featuring a shy mermaid and the bad boy who falls for her…

Make sure to scroll down and enter the $50 gift card giveaway.

Flukes CoverAbout the book:
Meena has a secret guarded closely by her family—a secret as dangerous as the sea and buried just as deep. When court-appointed community-service workers are assigned to Flukes, the family-owned animal sanctuary, everyone is on high alert. It doesn’t help that Meena finds herself attracted to sexy-as-sin Blake Weathering, one of the new workers. If he wasn’t so distracting, she might be able to land Flukes a much-needed cruise-line contract.

Blake Weathering, the first in his family to attend public school, has developed a tough image. Unfortunately, it lands him in trouble. Now banned from his high school graduation ceremony, getting his diploma is dependent upon a community-service gig cleaning up fish crap. No diploma, no trust fund fortune—and no way to escape his overbearing father. The last thing he needs is the distraction of a mysterious girl with teal eyes who pulls at his heartstrings.

When Blake discovers Meena’s secret, they are both thrown into a desperate search for information about her past. Two worlds pull them in opposite directions, and they will have to fight to hold on to all that really matters.

How about a little taste?

“He’s friendly.” Blake’s voice was amused and he automatically scratched under Mitch’s chin. She squee’d loudly and spit water at his face.
“Mitch is a girl.” He held his hands up to ward off her wet assault and I couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t seem irritated by Mitch’s antics, just amused and wet.
“My apologies, Mitch. I did think it was weird that you were so pretty if you were a boy.” Blake reached out a hand and scratched her chin again. He looked at me from the corner of his eyes. “Did you tell her to do that?”
“What? Oh, the splashing? No. She’s just sensitive.” Jallia came over and rolled onto her side. I traced my hands over her belly and cooed under my breath. The baby was healthy and happy. He was going to be a big boy. “Not long now, Jallia. You’re going to have your son out and playing in no time.”
Mitch nosed her mother for a minute, checking the baby as well. After a minute, Stormy started making noises about being hungry and I laughed. I set the fish bucket between Blake and Ime. “Here, feed them, but don’t let them knock the bucket over.” Mitch rose out of the water and flopped onto the decking between us. “Mitch! You got my clothes wet!” I yanked the bucket out of the way and pushed Mitch back into the water.
Stormy darted through the water and opened his mouth for Blake to deposit some fish. It didn’t take us long to empty the bucket and I enjoyed answering Blake’s questions. He was smarter than I had given him credit for.
“Are these markings from the other dolphins? They look like teeth scrapes.” Blake leaned close to Stormy and peered at the teeth rakings on his melon.
“Yeah. Some of them are from playing, roughhousing. Some of them are from being irritating. He is a nosy guy.” I ran my hand over Stormy’s head. “Most of them fade pretty quickly. They shed their skin every two hours.”
“Wow. Didn’t know that.” Blake looked down at the water and frowned. “So my legs are covered in dead dolphin skin. Nice.”
He was so engrossed at looking at his legs in disgust, I couldn’t help myself. It was the perfect chance to get payback for his insulting Flukes. I shoved his shoulder, pushing him into the water. “Now it’s all over you.”
Mitch laughed her dolphin laugh, but Jallia scolded me. When Blake came up sputtering, he glared at me. Mitch spit water at him, but he ignored her and swam to the platform. I thought he was going to sulk until he got closer. He looked up at the last minute and his mischievous smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. His brown eyes twinkled and I knew I was in trouble. I tried to get up and out of the way quickly, but he was faster than I thought. His strong hand closed around my ankle and dragged me into the water. Mitch darted down to me and I grabbed onto her dorsal fin. She surfaced quickly and scolded Blake with sharp whistles.
“She had it coming!” Blake held his hands out in front of him and laughed. He splashed water at me and I returned the favor. Mitch and Stormy joined in, but Jallia swam away, not in the mood for playing. His smile was infectious as he played with the dolphins, not minding when they dunked him or pushed him around. I found myself watching more than playing because I liked seeing him look so happy.
“You had it coming first. Calling Flukes a hellhole.” I laughed at his fake hurt look.
“I apologized! And it’s not like I didn’t notice that I was getting all the crap jobs last week.” He pretended to hold his heart. “I’ve paid my dues. What else can you want from me?”
“Fine. We’re even.” I rolled my eyes and shifted a little farther away from him. There was something compelling about him, something that made me want to be closer. He was dangerous.
“Looks like you lost something.” He tapped his head and I frowned.
“Ugh. My hat.” I looked around and saw it floating toward the sandy bottom. I took a deep breath that I didn’t need and dove after it. When I came back up, Blake was looking at me with wide eyes. “What? It’s my favorite.”
“How deep is this part of the cove?” He looked down and frowned. “What? Eighteen, twenty feet?”
“Something like that.” This part of the cove was twenty-eight feet. Mentally, I berated myself for being so stupid. I should have sent Mitch or Stormy after my hat, but I didn’t want teeth marks on it.
“Heh.” Blake looked at me, his eyebrows drawn together.
I hauled myself onto the platform and felt his eyes following me, making my heart jump in my chest. He pulled himself out of the enclosure and peeled his shirt off. The boy was gorgeous and he knew it. The exact kind of guy I should avoid at all costs. He twisted the shirt in his hands, wringing as much water out as he could.
“What next?” Blake slung the wet shirt over his shoulder.
The water droplets that ran down his chest drew my attention like a moth to flame. My fingers itched to touch him. I scrambled to my feet and backed away from him slowly while squeezing the edge of my shirt. Needing a distraction, I picked up the bucket and turned toward the ladder.
“The others should be here soon. I need to go help Dad with the assignments and then we can come up with a plan for the crews.” I didn’t look back at him after climbing the three short rungs, trying to shake the weird spell he seemed to have on me.

flukesteaser3
My Review:
Um. In case it’s not clear, ahem, this is a mermaid book. I would not consider it to be a spoiler, as we learn Meena is a mermaid within the first five pages. What is clear from the disclaimer is that this mermaid book is more than a little sexy. Not for young kiddos, sorry. (Not ACTUALLY sorry! It was a cool surprise for me… )

Meena lives in the Bahamas with her adopted parents, and works in their animal sanctuary, Flukes, in a prized cove. They don’t have a lot of spare cash and need to spruce up the place for tourism dollars so they contract work via the community service program on the island–essentially bringing low-risk offenders to the sanctuary to paint, scrape and fix the cosmetic blemishes. One of these ne’er-do-wells is an actual well-to-doer, Blake Weathering, whose father owns several hotels on the island. Blake was sentenced to community service after he assaulted a fellow student (with good reason, but still…)

Blake’s not excited about shoveling seal crap for six weeks, but he’s more than attracted to Meena–who holds a grudge over Blake’s nasty comments regarding Flukes. He has struggled with his father’s highly detailed plans for his life and eagerly awaits the release of his trust fund as soon as he receives his diploma. In the meantime, he enjoys rubbing Meena in all the wrong ways.

They have an adversarial thing going, at first, until Blake makes apologies for his tactless comments, and helps Meena’s parents with the design of a new logo and resort-style improvements to entice new visitors. Blake loves working with Meena and her parents who truly value his input and help him feel welcomed in a way his father never did.

Meena has a lot of special abilities besides her mermaidishness. She can communicate with many of the animals at the sanctuary. She is stronger than she appears, and heals quickly in her mermaid form, too. On the other hand, her feet are extremely tender and her skin is very sensitive to chemicals and synthetic fibers. Blake can’t pinpoint why he’s so intrigued by Meena, but part of it is her work ethic. She never tires of helping out. And she’s beautiful, and smart. She doesn’t fawn or feign anything, which he respects.

Other guys in the work crew? They don’t respect Meena nearly as much. One of them, Devin, is a known sex offender, and he’s got some dirty deeds planned. Expect big-time badness and more than one rescue. I didn’t expect his transformation, and it was an interesting development.

The romance does develop rather quickly, and this has a lot to do with Meena’s magic, as she learns from some traveling merfolk. Meena and Blake are both 18, and Blake is Meena’s first boyfriend. If you are expecting some chaste kissing here, well, you’re going to get a lot more bang for your buck. And I mean that literally. Some pretty delicious/graphic sexytimes. Made me curious how the merfolk get it on when they are water-bound…

The book ends on an HEA, and with more sexy. Yay!
Interested? You can find FLUKES on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win $50 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble–winner’s choice.
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Good luck, and keep reading my friends!

NicholeChase
About the Author:
Nichole Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Suddenly Royal, The Accidental Assassin, Flukes, The Dark Betrayal Trilogy, and several short stories.

Nichole lives in Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, superhero dog, Sulcata tortoise, and two cats. When not writing, you may find her reading, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.

You can catch up with Nichole online on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Love Rekindled ONE NIGHT IN CHICAGO–Review and Giveaway

tourbutton_onenightinchicagoHi there! Today I get to share my review for Megan Morgan’s steamy novella ONE NIGHT IN CHICAGO. As you may recall, it’s my hometown, and I just adored how Morgan brought it to life! Plus, this super-sexy story had a couple on the outs who end up with an HEA…my fave! Make sure to scroll down and enter the giveaway for an Amazon gift card.

One Night in ChicagoAbout the book:
Breaking up is hard to do, especially after four years together.

Taylor Middleton, a singer striving for her big break, and her boyfriend Malcolm Darling, a mover and shaker in the music business, have decided to call it quits. Taylor wants to take her onstage persona—Gracie M—to LA, where she hopes bright lights and big dreams await.

But before they break up, the two decide to spend one last night in Chicago, the city where they once shared a passionate, romantic weekend, in hopes of preserving some good memories. In Chicago, Taylor realizes she’s not so sure about taking her talents elsewhere, as Malcolm reminds her why she fell in love—and lust—with him. Taylor may soon discover the right man, like music, can set her free and make all her dreams come true.

How about a little taste:

She bought a shot glass, some postcards, a pen, and a keychain with her name on one side and the Chicago skyline, lit with little lights, on the other.

She dangled the keychain in front of Malcolm’s face. “Come on, this is a work of art. Look at the lights.”

“They’ll burn out in two days.” He batted it. “You’re the worst impulse shopper I’ve ever met.”

“Some of us like to have fun.” She strolled to the windows. “Just because you’re a boring old man doesn’t mean we all have to be.”

“I’m far from boring. I would think after four years you wouldn’t use that word to describe me.”

“You can be overbearing, sometimes.” She pulled her phone out of her purse. “A wet blanket.”

“I’m reasonable. You can be a bit of a child, if we’re gonna go there. Sometimes you don’t think about the consequences before you act. You just jump in.”

“Don’t worry, after tomorrow I won’t be your problem to babysit.”

He sighed. “I don’t think of it as babysitting. I just thought…maybe after four years we learned something from each other. You know, you help me loosen up, I keep you grounded.”

She took a picture out the window with her phone. “I guess not.”

“You don’t think we’ve rubbed off on each other at all?”

She turned and snapped a picture from a different angle. “It doesn’t seem like it, does it? I mean, here we are, still arguing about the same crap.”

“Surely we’re taking something good from this.” Malcolm followed her as she moved along the railing. “It wasn’t all bad, was it?”

She turned to him. “No. But when it was bad, it was really bad. That’s why this is happening.”

“You’re supposed to say I made you a better person.” Forced humor tinged his voice. “That you’ll always be grateful for the things you learned from me.”

She dropped her phone back in her purse. “Is that all you’re concerned about, that I ‘learned’ something from you?”

“No. But I was hoping we changed each other for the better.”

“Are you changed for the better?”

“I am, actually.”

She gazed out the windows, across the vast expanse of water.

“I feel like I’m not the uptight jerk I once was. Like you taught me how to have a little fun.”

“Yet, you’re still a workaholic.”

“It’s my job! Tay, it’s okay to have fun, but you gotta put in some hard work to have good things. You know that better than anyone. You’re gonna have to work hard in California. Your dream will still take time.”

Anger tightened her chest. “I know that.”

“But it’s okay to dream. It’s okay to look forward to the day when everything you want comes to you.”

“If it does, right?” She snorted. “This could all be a losing game. Why, I might be back in New York and in your arms again before the end of the year.”

He turned toward the window, placing his hands on the railing. “I want you to have your dreams. I wouldn’t mind if you were still in my arms.”

My Review:
Taylor is a 20-something lounge singer from Brooklyn whose 40ish boyfriend Malcolm is a talent agent representing bands, not singers. They have been in a committed relationship for four years, but Taylor is planning a move to LA with two friends in order to launch her singing career there. She’s struggled to find her audience in NYC and is looking for a completely fresh start, even leaving Malcolm behind. This came as a surprise for Malcolm, who’d been more than happy with their relationship. As a big goodbye, he whisks her off to Chicago for a last-ditch effort to rekindle their love, the day before she’s due to move to LA.

The story is told from Taylor’s point of view, and she’s feeling nostalgic and melancholy throughout the first half. She and Malcolm had spent a sizzling weekend together in Chicago early in their courtship, and the memories are bittersweet knowing that tomorrow they will separate, for good. Only, it isn’t quite like that.

Not to spoil, but they do reconnect, in all the right and sexy ways. Their relationship difficulties are all small potatoes, and even a cross country move isn’t the death knell Taylor had once considered. It seems that Malcolm was more than willing to make the changes necessary to facilitate her career–and I really enjoyed his more steady and upbeat advice. Taylor admits to being a diva and drama queen–which I attribute to her youth, in deference to Malcolm’s experience.

This is good, sexy read that will keep readers interested and cheering for an HEA.

Interested? You can find ONE NIGHT IN CHICAGO on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.
Make sure to follow the whole tour—the more posts you visit throughout, the more chances you’ll get to enter the giveaway.
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Good luck! 😉

MMorganAbout the Author:

Megan Morgan is an urban fantasy, romance, and erotica author from Cleveland, Ohio. Bartender by day and purveyor of things that go bump in the night, she’s trying to turn writing into her day job so she can be on the other side of the bar for a change. She’s a member of the RWA and author of the Siren Song urban fantasy series from Kensington Books, as well as numerous other shorter, sexy, smutty works.

You can catch up with Megan online on her website, twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or via email: meganmorganauthor (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Finding Love While SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL–Review & Giveaway

SFB_BLOGTOUR copyHi there! Today I’m so excited to share in the blog tour for Jennifer Probst’s newest release, LOOKING FOR BEAUTIFUL. Though this is a book in series, you can pick it up as a standalone. This is a classic friends-to-lovers story except the gal is engaged to another dude. And the guy is really only a one-nighter type. Well, at least until all of that changes. Don’t forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

Searching for Beautiful (Searching For, #3)About the book:
Genevieve MacKenzie has her life completely under control. About to wed the charming Chief doctor at the local hospital, she’s an up-and-coming surgeon with everything she could ever want. Until an escape through the church window on the day of her wedding sends her life into a tailspin…and flings her right into her best friend’s arms.

When Wolfe catches his best friend falling out a window on her wedding day, he doesn’t ask questions. He whisks her away, determined to watch over her and discover the truth behind her desperate escape. But when his feelings turn more than platonic, he realizes he may risk his most important relationship in order to protect his damaged heart, and the woman he loves.

Can Genevieve and Wolfe’s friendship turn into something deeper—or is it already too late for true love?

My Review:
Gen is a gal on the run, quite literally. It’s her wedding day and her instincts are screaming to get the heck away from David, the surgical chief of her residency program–and her fiance waiting at the head of the church. Though she had trained herself over the past two years to bow to David’s counsel and ignore her inner voice of reason, this time she listens.

Wolfe is a more than just a best friend to Gen–he’s her soul-brother. David had nearly extinguished their deep friendship, but Wolfe is the one who finds Gen all splayed out in her wedding gown after she jumped through the church window. He scoops her up, up and away and keeps her family at bay while Gen takes a few days to work through her emotions. Memories of life before and after David assail her, and she sees the machinations David set in motion–and it both frightens and sickens her, especially when Gen learns how deep his lies extend to her family and their workplace. He’s a classic abuser, in the early “isolate and detain” stage, and it’s soon after Gen’s return that the emotional battery morphs into the physical. Good thing Gen has let her friends–and Wolfe–in on her big secrets.

Wolfe is, himself, a man of dark secrets. He and Gen got along so well because she never pushed for his history. She accepted him at their first meeting, which was less than he could do, actually, and he respected her, but now they are sharing her house so that Gen isn’t alone in case David attacks. And it’s a small house. And Wolfe is a magnetic man. Gen is attracted, and part of her healing is to realize that she’s attractive. David spent months and months tearing her confidence to shreds, and Wolfe carefully stitches the pieces back together. Thing is, Wolfe doesn’t feel entirely worthy of Gen. He feels tainted by the horrors of his past. The people closest to him, including Gen, are determined to correct that misapprehension.

I liked this story for a few reasons: the abuse/abuser trope was realistic, the love story was appropriately-paced, and the characters felt real. Gen and David had a “perfect” relationship to all eyes, but within the cracks were deep. As all this is told through Gen’s memory she is able to see clearly all the cuts and slights of his control, his emotional battery, and his isolating tactics. It takes her time to unravel all his plans and schemes, and time is a big part of the book. It allows Gen and Wolfe time to reconnect, and to connect. Their relationship prior to Gen’s altar dash was always platonic, but her shattered self-esteem is more than Wolfe can accept. He steps in, ruthlessly at times, as a coach and player on the sexual battlefield. Let’s just say Gen got her groove back, but it’s always going to be friends-with-benefits with Wolfe. He’s not going to settle down, because what woman can accept a man with his past, right?

Well, probably Gen. Who has loved him as a friend, and now more, since they first met. When he can’t accept her love she’s gotta protect herself and quit him cold turkey. And that’s the second-to-last step on their journey to HEA. There’s a good bit of steaming sexytimes, told from both points-of-view, and I liked having Wolfe’s brain relish the love Gen slathers on him. Good stuff, that.

I had no trouble following this book without reading the first two in the series. I know this is a series, but I didn’t need the other players so much. Could have done without at least two-thirds of the ensemble cast. Good thing they didn’t take up much of the page count. It’s likely that the next book is Arilynn’s love story–with a hunky police officer who showed up at Gen’s house on a few calls over David.

Interested? You can find SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

***GIVEAWAY***

Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a necklace and signed backlist book from Jennifer Probst.
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About 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 catch up with Jennifer online on Facebook, twitter and Goodreads.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!
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Teaching Both MIA AND THE BAD BOY–Review and Giveaway

Mia and the Bad Boy tour banner
Hi there! Today, I’m sharing my review for a contemporary YA romance featuring a shy, smart girl and the bad boy musician she’s tutoring. MIA AND THE BAD BOY by Lisa Burstein is a fun, flirty romance for teens. Don’t forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway for a $25 Ticketmaster GC.

MiaAndTheBadBoy_FCAbout the Book:
This good girl’s about to meet her match…
Ryder Brooks is living the dream—he’s famous, loved by millions of girls, and miserable. All he really wants is to write his own music, not Seconds to Juliet’s sugary sweet pop. In order to do that, though, the “bad boy” of the band will have to play by the rules. And that includes behaving with his new—and super cute—über-good-girl tutor.

Mia Reyes is in fangirl heaven. Tutoring her favorite member of her favorite band? It’s a dream come true…until it turns into a complete nightmare. Ryder is nothing like she thought. He’s crude, arrogant, and pretty much a total jerk. And the worst part? She’s roped into pretending to be his girlfriend so that no one finds out he’s being tutored. Fake kisses, plenty of PDA, and even sharing his hotel room…

But sometimes even the baddest of bad boys needs a little redemption.

Note: This is the second book in the YA series Backstage Pass. It can be read as a standalone.

My Review:
Mia is a first generation Mexican-American whose parents want her to go to medical school. She has been groomed since birth to study, study, study, and never had a boyfriend. Check that: she’s never been allowed to have a boyfriend. At 16, her only kissing experience has been with her hand. In exchange for her help tutoring The Ryder Brooks for a month so he can pass his GED test, she will receive four years of tuition at UCLA paid in full. Not bad.

What is bad? Ryder.

He’s nasty, and that’s in the mean way, not the sexy way. Though he is sexy, too. If Ryder were a flavor of ice cream, he’d be burnt bacon. He’s abrasive, unkind, and rather stunned that his tutor is both younger and sexier than he’d anticipated. Since she can’t be hidden amongst the crew as a therapist or other talent help, he insists that she pretend to be his girlfriend–in front of the other four members of his band.

This is a difficult position for Mia, particularly because she wanted to like Ryder so much. She adores his music, only to learn that he hates the manufactured sound of it. She admires his performances, only to hear how he detests the boy band life. Ryder is a bit spoiled, actually, in his professional life. Personally though, he’s been abandoned time and again–first by his alcoholic mother and later by the foster system shuttling him from family to family without finding one stable home which wanted to keep him.

Mia is a temporary distraction, but she is a good tutor. Ryder finds himself not only engaging with the GED material, he’s slowly becoming obsessed with his fake girlfriend. And Mia is warming to the Ryder whose cool customer demeanor is beginning to slip.

This is a fun and flirty romance that has little conflict. The biggest obstacle to Ryder and Mia getting together is her desire to be ‘the good girl’ her parents adore. Ryder, despite being 17 y/o, is far more worldly and experienced–and he knows Mia is innocent. He doesn’t want to ruin her, but he does want her.

Expect a double-cross mishap that splits them up, and the epic grand gesture to reunite. I liked both Mia and Ryder. It took me longer to like Ryder, however. There were some issues for me, as an adult, that seemed glossed over–like how autonomous Mia was. Not many 16 y/o’s can decide their own fate, and her parents, who are described as smothering, certainly let her have a long free rein which wasn’t consistent. Still, for a teen book, it’s pretty breezy. Not a lot of drama.

Interested? You can find MIA AND THE BAD BOY on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, and iBooks. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $25 Ticketmaster gift card!
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

lisa bursteinAbout the Author:
Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University and is glad to finally have it be worth more than the paper it was printed on. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats.

She wrote her first story when she was in second grade. It was a Thanksgiving tale from the point of view of the turkey from freezer to oven to plate. It was scandalous.

You can catch up with Lisa online on her website, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Together They Learned In NATIVE TONGUE–Review Giveaway & Excerpt

tourbutton_nativetongueHi there! Today I’m sharing my review for Lucy Felthouse’s NATIVE TONGUE. This is a contemporary M/M military romance novella which is the sequel to DESERT HEAT, and features British officer Hugh Wilkes and his first committed lover, linguist and medical student, Rustam Balkhi. Don’t forget to drop down below and enter the giveaway!

Native Tongue (Desert Heat #2)About the book:
They may be back on British soil, but the battle isn’t over.

When Captain Hugh Wilkes fell for his Afghan interpreter, Rustam Balkhi, he always knew things would never be easy. After months of complete secrecy, their return to England should have spelt an end to the sneaking around and the insane risks. But it seems there are many obstacles for them to overcome before they can truly be happy together. Can they get past those obstacles, or is this one battle too many for their fledgling relationship?

Thank you so much for having me here today. I’m delighted to share an excerpt from Native Tongue which shows the boys, Hugh and Rustam, out in Soho, the gay-friendly area in London. They’re still trying to settle into their relationship and get used to not having to hide who they are. They’ve also bumped into a couple of out-and-proud gay gays who are intrigued by their story. I hope you enjoy the snippet, and be sure to scroll down and enter the giveaway, then check out the rest of the stops on my blog tour.

Happy Reading,

Lucy x

Many thanks to Lucy! So, how about a little taste?

Lots of handshaking between the four men ensued as they were all introduced.

“So,” Jared said, glancing between Wilkes and Balkhi, “would it be okay if we joined you?”

Wilkes turned to Balkhi. “Are you okay with this?”

Balkhi seemed a little taken aback by the whole situation, but there was warmth in his eyes. “Yes, of course. I suspect Jared and Paul will be able to give us some… insider information that we might find useful.”

“Excellent!” Jared clapped his hands, then reached for Paul’s hand once more. “Okay, let’s go. I’m looking forward to this.”

With that, Jared and Paul turned around and began walking down the street.

Wilkes looked at Balkhi, shook his head, and shrugged. “I’ve no idea what just happened there, but it looks as though we’re in for an interesting evening.”

Balkhi smiled, and as they fell into step behind the other couple, he leaned in close to Wilkes and said, “Yes, I think we are. And the best part is I get to take you home afterwards.”

The true intent of his words was unmistakeable. Wilkes’ heart missed a beat. Warmth flooded his face, then the blood started to flow somewhere much lower down. He managed to engage his brain enough to reply, “Carry on saying things like that and we won’t even make it to the bloody restaurant.”

Chuckling, Balkhi reached out and took Wilkes’ hand again. “Yes, we will. We have made it this far, and we are doing well. Let’s see this through. Spending the evening with other gay men will be good for us. We will be able to see how it is done.”

“I don’t think it’s as simple as that, Rustam. We can’t just copy everything they do.”

“I know. I simply mean that being in their company may relax us, remind us that it is perfectly normal, and perfectly okay, for two men to be affectionate towards each other in public. I am not proposing we start kissing in front of an audience, or fucking on the restaurant table. I am just saying we may learn something from them. Or we may not. But they seem like nice people, so it cannot hurt to find out, can it?”

“Now you’re the one who’s absolutely right. Though I’m glad you don’t want to kiss or fuck in public.”

“Why?”

“Because,” he growled, pulling Balkhi closer and speaking quietly into his ear, “I don’t want to share you with anyone else, that’s why.”

A small smile crept over Balkhi’s lips. “And I do not want to be shared. We may not have any idea what we are doing here, but make no mistake, Hugh. I am yours, and yours alone.”

Wilkes felt an urge to lean over and give Balkhi a quick kiss, but his bravery didn’t stretch quite that far. Not yet. They were still holding hands, which was a great start, but perhaps it would be better to get used to that before doing anything else.

Internally, he shook his head. Why the hell was this so hard for them? Why couldn’t they just throw caution to the wind and show affection however they wanted?

Because, he reminded himself sternly, they couldn’t break long-standing habits in the blink of an eye. They’d get there, he was sure of it. It would take time, but they’d get there.

Realising he hadn’t replied to Balkhi, he squeezed his hand. “And I am yours, Rustam. For as long as you’ll have me.”

teaser_nativetongue copyMy Review:
This is the second book in a series; it is best read in sequence.
4.5 stars for this happy sequel.

Hugh Wilkes is home for Afghanistan and looking forward to reconnecting with his lover/translator Rustam Balkhi–an Afghan native who has returned to London to continue his medical schooling. These two had an illicit relationship while stationed together at a British base camp, but, in England, they have the opportunity to be out and proud with each other.

Over the course of a few weeks, they meet on weekends and practice being out together in public. It is a big adjustment to come out of the closet. They have lots of sexytimes and some small misadventures, but they tackle them together–not least of which is Hugh coming out to his family.

There is some mild angst, but the book is short and the pace is brisk. The bulk of the book is highly positive, with a story centered on two men building a positive, loving relationship. It is sweet and tender, with a good dash of heat.

Interested? You can find NATIVE TONGUE on Goodreads and Amazon (UK, US, AU, CA and DE), All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble, iBooks UK, iBooks US, and Kobo, and Smashwords.

For those of you that haven’t yet read Desert Heat (which is recommended before picking up this book), there’s a great value two book bundle available exclusively on Amazon, and is FREE to Kindle Unlimited members.

****GIVEAWAY****

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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Lucy_Felthouse (2)About the Author:
Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over 100 publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include several editions of Best Bondage Erotica, Best Women’s Erotica 2013 and Best Erotic Romance 2014. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies, and also edits for a small publishing house.

She owns Erotica For All, and is book editor for Cliterati. Find out more at her website, join her on Facebook and Twitter, or even subscribe to her newsletter.

Drama and Love at CENTER ICE–Review and Giveaway

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Hi there! Today, I’m joining the blog tour for CENTER ICE, a contemporary YA romance featuring a hockey phenom and the girl who could not care less… 😉
I love sports romance, and Cate Cameron has nailed this one! Check out other stops on the tour here, and don’t forget to enter the Amazon Gift Card giveaway below.

Center IceAbout the book:
The hometown hockey hero won’t know what hit him…

Karen Webber is in small-town hell. After her mother’s death, she moved to Corrigan Falls to live with strangers—her dad and his perfect, shiny new family—and there doesn’t seem to be room for a city girl with a chip on her shoulder. The only person who makes her feel like a real human being is Tyler MacDonald.

But Karen isn’t interested in starting something with a player. And that’s all she keeps hearing about Tyler.

Corrigan Falls is a hockey town, and Tyler’s the star player. But the viselike pressure from his father and his agent are sending him dangerously close to the edge. All people see is hockey—except Karen. Now they’ve managed to find something in each other that they both desperately need. And for the first time, Tyler is playing for keeps…

My Review:
Karen’s a 16 y/o girl from Toronto who has just moved into her father’s plush home in Corrigan Falls, a small town filled with gossips. Is it her fault she was conceived by a man cheating on his then-pregnant wife? Nope. Was it her fault her mother died in a car wreck, forcing her to move in with her dad–whom she had never met–his wife and their three kids? Nope. But, not being to blame doesn’t make living with them any easier.

Tyler’s weeks away from his 18th birthday and high on the prospect ladder for the NHL draft. He plays for the Corrigan Falls Raiders, a team well-known for producing excellent players, and has lived with host families for the past three years, sacrificing his own family time to give everything to hockey. He’s on the cusp of realizing all his (father’s) dreams and this all seems beyond his reach. No matter how good he does, his helicopter father–and his agent–are ringside waiting to tell him how he needs to step up, work harder, do this, do that. Meeting Karen while on his morning runs is a breath of ultra-fresh air. Here’s a girl who just is. She wants nothing from him–not even his attention. It’s catnip for Tyler, who has, for the past three years, been aggressively pursued by “puck bunnies” girls (and women) who want to bag a rising star for a bit of horizontal distraction. Tyler loves just being a “normal” guy with Karen, but that mystique wears off quick–especially so when Karen finds out one of the horde of Tyler’s sexual partners is her own half-sister, and mean girl extraordinaire, Miranda.

While Tyler and Karen take fledgling steps toward coupledom, the complicated plot gets murkier. Her parents are finally acknowledging the serious problems in their marriage. There had long been rumors of infidelity, but Karen is a physical testament to them. Clashes between Karen and Miranda aren’t just verbal cattiness–blows get thrown! Tyler’s parents are pressuring him to take out loans to support them–and his agent is working every angle to box Tyler into a contract that is not in his best interest.

I liked the plot dynamics, and Karen’s stepmother, Natalie, is a really great character. Her life is no picnic, raising four kids with a skirt chasing husband has to be really trying, yet she makes good decision for her kids, and her family. I wanted to kick Karen’s father right in the neck, on several occasions, but he is extremely human, and is kind and attentive to his children, and even to Natalie–despite his infidelities. Karen is likable, if a bit impulsive. She owns up to her frailties, and makes more good choices than bad. Tyler is a great guy, one I think readers will enjoy. This is a redemptive story for him, and he succeeds at being honest and decent.

The growing pains in both families felt very real, and approachable. This is an upper teen read, perhaps, due to frank discussions about sex, and the MC’s do have a physical relationship. The descriptions are all very soft and off-the-page, however. I did like this one, for its realism and its honesty. A solid YA romance.

Interested? You can find CENTER ICE on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, and iBooks. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

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About the Author:
Cate Cameron grew up in the city but moved to the country in her mid-twenties and isn’t looking back. Most of her writing deals with people living and loving in small towns or right out in the sticks – when there aren’t entertainment options on every corner, other people get a lot more interesting!

She likes to write stories about real people struggling with real issues. YA, NA, or contemporary romance, her books are connected by their emphasis on subtle humor and characters who are trying to do the right thing, even when it would be a lot easier to do something wrong.

You can find Cate online on her website, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

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She Is THE OCCASIONAL DIAMOND THIEF–Review and Giveaway

Hi there! Today I’m sharing in the blog tour of JA McLachlan’s THE OCCASIONAL DIAMOND THIEF. This YA SciFi adventure is a well-written tale about a girl who makes the best of the worst in her life–her lack of family and love. You can check out other stops on the tour here for even more good stuff including excerpts, reviews, vlogs and author and character insights. Make sure to drop down and get in on the giveaway!

The Occasional Diamond ThiefAbout the Book:
What if you learned your father was a thief? Would you follow in his footsteps, learn his “trade”? If you were the only one who knew, would you keep his secret?

When 16-yr-old Kia is training to be a universal translator, she is co-opted into traveling as a translator to Malem. This is the last place in the universe that Kia wants to be—it’s the planet where her father caught the terrible illness that killed him—but it’s also where he got the magnificent diamond that only she knows about. Kia is convinced he stole it, as it is illegal for any off-worlder to possess a Malemese diamond.

Using her skill in languages – and another skill she picked up, the skill of picking locks – Kia unravels the secret of the mysterious gem and learns what she must do to set things right: return the diamond to its original owner.

But how will she find out who that is when no one can know that she, an off-worlder, has a Malemese diamond? Can she trust the new friends she’s made on Malem, especially handsome but mysterious 17-year-old Jumal, to help her? And will she solve the puzzle in time to save Agatha, the last person she would have expected to become her closest friend?

Kia is quirky, with an ironic sense of humor, and a loner. Her sidekick, Agatha, is hopeless in languages and naive to the point of idiocy in Kia’s opinion, but possesses the wisdom and compassion Kia needs.

My Review:
This an interesting SciFi YA adventure, and I loved that it features a MC of color. The worldbuilding is cool, too. Kia is a native of the dry arid planet Saffara. He father owns a tradeship, and has mastered many languages in his role as captain, but he’s been ill since he returned form a far-flung rescue mission to Melam, twelve years ago. In his fever dreams he speaks Melamese, and Kia learns this language in order to help her father–only it has the opposite effect: hearing the language makes him distraught and on his death bed he confesses the location of a rare treasure–a Melamese diamond he is forbidden to possess. On Melam the diamonds are a personal treasure, passed only to an infant from his/her parents. An Off-worlder caught with one would be executed.

Kia believes her father stole this diamond, and she begins to “steal” other jewelry to pawn for money to go to language school. She is determined to get the heck away from her emotionally-distant mother, but ends up stealing more in order to provide for her mom when a medical emergency arises–which puts Kia smack into the grasp of the religious Order of Universal Benevolence. Agatha, a Select of the OUB, is a confidante and peacemaker of this intergalactic organization, one charged with brokering and assisting peace. She is also trained to seek the truth in all situations.

Agatha encounters Kia in the midst of a theft, and encourages her…to make more benevolent choices. Still, it is Kia who is chosen to accompany Agatha to Melam, site of her father’s illness and the planet where she will undoubtedly be killed if they discover her father’s Melamese diamond. Oh, and the Melamese are supremely distrustful of Off-worlders ever since factions from a neighboring planet deliberately unleashed a virus that decimated their population–the same virus that afflicted Kia’s father.

Melam is a cold, wet, gray world–nothing like sunny Saffara–and Kia never plans to stay with Agatha when they arrive. I really enjoyed the banter between Agatha and Kia. Agatha’s a bumbling language learner, and Kia’s desperate not to be killed by her faulty phrasing. Observing the Friday afternoon Justice on their second day on Melam–including a mutilation for theft and a beheading for treason–Kia is even MORE freaked out. But the queen has taken notice of her, and the High Priest has taken notice of the the queen’s notice. Yep. We got a classic power struggle on Melam.

While Agatha seeks to guide the Melamese past their grief, Kia is the girl in the middle–and often in the middle of a cozy cell. She does manage to make some important friends who help her get free, and Kia directs the bulk of the action, which was great. She’s not the most likable character, but she is honest…for a thief. Her skills as a safecraker/lock picker come in handy quite often especially while saving sick children, and the daring Agatha.

The pace of the book was a bit slow, at first, but really picked up steam as the ship landed on Melam and both Agatha and Kia were embroiled in the political stew. There are elements of a romance, but no love story. Expect double-crossing priests, courageous Melamese, a bitter queen, and a stalwart Select whose skill at interplanetary relations far outshines her fluency in Melamese. Kia was great, and I did enjoy her. She is comfortable in her outsider role, yet broke through and made lasting connections to people who believe she matters. The story ends, but it’s clear the door is open to another Kia-Agatha buddy tale.

Interested? You can find THE OCCASIONAL DIAMOND THIEF on Goodreads and Amazon. EDGE Publishing has a Thank You gift for anyone who buys the print version of the book. If they send an email to events@hadespublications.com with their Amazon receipt, they will receive a copy of a short story that features Kia.

More praise for The Occasional Diamond Thief by J. A. McLachlan
“J. A. McLachlan is a terrific writer — wry and witty, with a keen eye for detail. I’ve been following her work with interest and delight since 2003. In a world where young-adult fiction is booming, The Occasional Diamond Thief propels McLachlan to the front of the pack.”
— Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of FlashForward

“The story is full of humor, danger, fun, and adventure. This is Science Fiction anyone would love.” — J. Jones, VINE VOICE

“Flawless–The Occasional Diamond Thief was one of those rare stories where I found myself hanging onto every word. McLachlan delivers a fast-paced, unpredictable story with perfectly-executed twists. Descriptions were succinct and epigrammatic with no room for boredom. It felt so real, it was almost like being in the theater with a surprise treat at the end. Much like the theater, once the credits have started to roll and the crowd starts to thin, there was a snippet at the end that you do not want to miss.” — BittenbyBooks.com

“Loved it! I haven’t read a heroine I loved this much since Katniss Everdeen. McLachlan’s Kia is smart, tough and hilarious, and pairing her with serene, forgiving Agatha left me laughing long after I finished the story. The settings were vivid, the plot raced along, and the themes kept me turning pages. McLachlan combines her love of science fiction, ethics and good, old-fashioned storytelling in The Occasional Diamond Thief, and the results couldn’t be better. I loved every page.” — < b>Amanda Darling, Screenwriter

“J. A. McLachlan is a remarkable creator of worlds, a remarkable creator of character, a master of suspense. In short, a remarkable storyteller. You don’t have to be a young adult to love this book.” –
– Sheryl Loeffler, Writer, A Land in the Storytelling Sea

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About the Author

J. A. McLachlan was born in Toronto, Canada. She is the author of a short story collection, CONNECTIONS, and two College textbooks on Professional Ethics. But speculative fiction is her first love, a genre she has been reading all her life, and The Occasional Diamond Thief is her second in that genre, a young adult science fiction novel, published by EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing. After over a decade as a college teacher, she is happy to work from home as a full-time author now.

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

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LOLA CARLYLE’S 12-STEP ROMANCE–Review & Giveaway

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Hi there! Today I’m part of the review tour for a new contemporary YA romance that packs a serious emotional punch. LOLA CARLYLE’S 12-STEP ROMANCE From Danielle Younge-Ullman is about a girl who takes a hard look at her life, and turns it around before it gets out of control. Make sure to check out the giveaway below.

Lola Carlyle's 12-Step RomanceAbout the book:
Lola Carlyle is lonely, out of sorts, and in for a boring summer. So when her best friend, Sydney, calls to rave about her stay at a posh Malibu rehab and reveals that the love of Lola’s life, Wade Miller, is being admitted, she knows what she has to do. Never mind that her worst addiction is decaf cappuccino; Lola is going to rehab.

Lola arrives at Sunrise Rehab intent solely on finding Wade, saving him from himself, and—naturally—making him fall in love with her…only to discover she’s actually expected to be an addict. And get treatment. And talk about her issues with her parents, and with herself. Plus she has insane roommates, and an irritatingly attractive mentor, Adam, who’s determined to thwart her at every turn.

Oh, and Sydney? She’s gone.

Turns out, once her pride, her defenses, and her best friend are stripped away, Lola realizes she’s actually got a lot to overcome…if she can open her heart long enough to let it happen.

My Review:
Lola Carlyle is celebu-spawn, the selfish 17 y/o offspring of two serious Hollywood players. Her mother is an actress on a long-standing soap opera, and her dad is a well-known diretor. The parental units split several years ago, and Lola lives with her mom and mother’s girlfriend, while dad ia gallivanting off with whomever warms his bed–leaving Lola isolated and alone.

Her friend, Sydney, cons Lola into faking her way into rehab–where Sydney is, with the carrot that Lola’s long-time crush, child actor Wade Miller is also in residence. Lola’s torn–she has no addictions, yet, she has nothing really going on in her life. The lure of reconnecting with (and possibly helping) Wade, who she worked with on one of her dad’s movies years ago, is strong, and it’s not long before Lola is Sunrise-bound. While there, she learns that Sydney checked out two days before Lola arrived! Trying to salvage something positive, she seeks out Wade, who doesn’t recognize her, but is certainly intrigued by the girl hitting on him.

Throughout the first week, however, Lola is remorseful about her shenanigans. She sees how very seriously some of the residents at Sunrise suffer from addiction. She can’t even go into therapy, knowing that any decent therapist will see through her charade. The tragic stories she hears are horrifying, and only reinforce her idea that faking an addiction to hang out with Sydney and help “save” Wade was the worst idea ever.

Plus, her mentor, Adam, is a constant thorn in her paw. He’s everywhere, and her attempt to escape him only brings them in closer proximity. Close enough that Lola finally feels as if someone is actually SEEING her. Her parents have treated her with casual neglect nearly her whole life, and even Lola doesn’t think her sob story is worth anything compared with the addicts who surround her. She tries to “confess” that she isn’t an addict, and this only gets her labeled as a denier. So, she steps up and works with her counselors, not against them, believing it’s her only way out.

I enjoyed Lola’s journey from self-obsessed snarky girl to self-reliant, grounded girl. The time span of the book isn’t long–only a few weeks, but she has had years of emotional drama that she never felt comfortable discussing, always fearing a negative report being leaked to the press. Getting intense therapy does help Lola cope with her family drama in a healthy way. Though, honestly, her fame-hungry mother would be unlikely to bat an eyelash over the spin cycle of their taudry famliy laundry; she did arrange to have paparrazi present at Lola’s intake appointment, after all.

Adam was not an unexpected love interest. I felt like that part of the romance was well-handled. He is attracted to the exasperating Lola, but holds himself (mostly) in check, to salvage his professional role, and facilitate Lola’s “recovery.” It is Adam’s compassion which helps Lola turn the corner, and gain the insight she needs to be whole again. The book ends without the cheesy parent/child water works reunion, and that was for the best. Lola is a better person after all this, but I think even she would still say she’s “whak.”

The story, for all the seriousness of the subject matter, is rather lightherated, with Lola almost manic in her single-mindedness. Her superficiality burns off in the harsh light of self-reflection in a way that is endearing. The first half of the book I was shaking my head at her idiocy, and the second half I was cheering her on, so I guess I changed a bit, too.

The book contains some frank discussion regarding drug and alcohol addiction, including an OD, and has passing references to sex, though not from the main character’s experience. I think teens will enjoy.

Interested? You can find LOLA CARLYLE’S 12-STEP ROMANCE on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo Books.

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danielle youngeAbout the Author
Danielle Younge-Ullman is a novelist, playwright and freelance writer. She studied English and Theater at  McGill University, then returned to her hometown of Toronto to work as professional actor for ten  years. Danielle’s short story, Reconciliation, was published in MODERN MORSELS—a McGraw-Hill  Anthology for young adults—in 2012, her one-act play, 7 Acts of Intercourse, debuted at Toronto’s SummerWorks Festival in 2005, and her adult novel, FALLING UNDER, was published by Penguin in 2008.  Danielle lives in Toronto with her husband and two daughters.

You can find Danielle on her website, Tumblr, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

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It’s a Hard Road FINDING THE WAY BACK TO LOVE–Review and Giveaway

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a quiet contemporary romance recently released by Katie O’Boyle. FINDING THE WAY BACK TO LOVE is a redemption story, in many respects, and features an unique cast.

About the book:
Gwen Forrester, Ph.D., 32, gifted psychotherapist and beautiful widow, is stuck in a rut, dating hotties on the fast track. What she really wants is a life partner who’ll help her raise a family and make a difference in her home town, Tompkins Falls. New in town, Officer Peter Shaughnessy, 30, has recovered from the gunshot wound he suffered in a drug bust in the city of Syracuse, but he’s still smarting from his ex-wife’s betrayal and, before that, the years of abuse from his alcoholic father.

It feels like fate to Gwen when her very-pregnant niece Haley trips the security system at Gwen’s lakeside home and Officer Shaughnessy takes the call. By joining forces to help Haley, Peter and Gwen discover they’re a good team. Long, exhilarating canoe trips convince them they’re on the same page with their life goals. Then a destructive squall lands them on the rocks, and a night of stormy passion reveals painful truths that drive them apart. Are they willing to go to any length to find their way back to love?

How about a little taste?

“Gwen Forrester?” Peter asked. At her nod, he stepped aside.

Her startled gaze shifted to Haley and softened with love. Her face lit up with delight when she spied the big belly. “Oh!”

The two rushed toward each other, embracing, laughing, crying, talking so low he could make out only a few words—“your mother?” and “boy we met at Christmas” and “when?”

“October, really?” Gwen stepped back. “Just two more months?” She caressed Haley’s face. “Have you had anything to eat today?”

“I’m starved.” Haley grinned.

“Ma’am?” Peter got no response. He might as well be invisible. “Ms. Forrester?” he said louder.

Gwen turned with a look of pure joy, cheeks flushed, eyes wide. She was a chic, older, ash-blond version of Haley. Even more beautiful.

“Yes, Officer?”

Her dreamy gaze made him wonder if she was flirting with him. Get real, Shaughnessy. “If you won’t be pressing charges, my partner and I will clear out of here, Ms. Forrester.”

She held out her hand, tilted her head coquettishly, and told him, “It’s Gwen. And you are?”

“Officer Peter Shaughnessy.” Her handshake was firm and surprisingly strong for such a slender, feminine woman. He cleared his throat. “You’ll need to get those locks fixed right away, ma’am.”
“Gwen,” she reminded him with a flutter of thick, dark eyelashes.

“Gwen, my partner and I recommend that you put your vehicle in the garage tonight, close and lock the overhead door, deadbolt the kitchen door, and set the alarm. Call a locksmith first thing in the morning.”

Her only response was, “Haley and I will be having breakfast around nine. We’d love to have you join us, Officer.”

He opened his mouth to repeat the caution but closed it again. His partner had told him Tompkins Falls operated more like a small town than a city. This definitely wasn’t going by the Syracuse Police Department procedure book that he still had in his head.

Haley touched his arm and winked. “Come for breakfast, Officer. I need protection from the Inquisition. And Gwen makes a mean omelet.”

My Review:
Gwen Forrester is a 32 y/o widow who is also a counselor and a recovering alcoholic. She lives in the small town of Tompkins Falls in the Finger Lakes area of upstate NY. Her family is mostly gone–only a brother and a niece (if you don’t count her crazy ex sister-in-law whom Gwen really doesn’t). Her niece, Haley, shows up unannounced and in the final trimester of pregnancy–all news to Gwen. Haley had broken into Gwen’s house after walking six miles from the bus station, and the responding officer, Peter Schaughnessy, is smitten with Gwen when she arrives at home. The feeling is mutual.

It’s been a long time since Gwen felt a real connection with a man. Her husband died six years ago, and she’s sought out men like Jeb in the past few years–sexy, playboy types who look great in person but are less-than-stellar in the relationship arena. Peter is wholly different from those guys, but there’s a mutant elephant in the room between them–Peter grew up with and abusive alcoholic father and he cannot, will not, tolerate alcoholism. He avoids dealing with them as much as possible, and is often openly hostile to those he cannot avoid.

This is the third book in a series, and though it’s fully readable as a standalone, there are many interwoven story arcs from the previous books, which all take place in Tompkins Falls. Being an addictions counselor and recovering alcoholic, Gwen has really tight connections to her community, and Peter, who is newly moved from Syracuse, enjoys this small-town life. Unfortunately eveyone he seems to meet is a recovering alcoholic/addict, and his own sister struggles with alcoholism–though Peter refuses to acknowledge this.

While Gwen helps Haley through the end stages of her pregnancy, she and Peter strike up a promising romance–until Peter is finally confronted with Gwen’s history of alcoholism. It’s not a pretty scene.

The book is a redemption tale, mainly, because it squarely faces the recovery of addicts, and the effect addiction has on children and their later relationships. The many players in this book all look at Peter’s intransigence on alcoholism as a disease as being a symptom of his own hellish abused childhood. Having suffered their own addicitons, they are eager to help Peter better understand the disease, and how to life with it, not ignore it. Peter never touches alcohol, but he’s still got anger issues that stem from his past–as a child of an alcoholic myself, I could relate.

I did enjoy the Americana aspects of this book. The small-town life is highly detailed and warm. Gwen and her AA friends are a family that rallies around each other–they assist with Haley’s pregnancy, and community efforts, and even building a holisitc wellness center to treat addictions and rehab therapies. Through time apart from Peter, Gwen is able to get a better handle on her life, and recognize more of her own missteps that led her down a path to alcoholism in the first place. There is a lot of growth of several characters within the book, notably Gwen, Peter and Haley. Their story is approachable and honest.

For my own self, I think I would have liked a bit faster pace. There are so many pit stops into AA–each character is working his/her recovery very hard. That was something special to see, but it got a little tedious considering how very many characters in the book are in AA. The attraction between Gwen and Peter moved at a bit faster rate than I would have suspected given their history of betrayal. The sexytimes are thin, in my opinion. I favor a bit more heat in my reads, and this was a more “God-centered” book than I’ve picked up in a long time. Still, the story is interesting and the characters very approachable.

Interested? You can find FINDING THE WAY BACK TO LOVE on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Born in the upstate-New York village known as the Birthplace of Women’s Rights, Katie O’Boyle loves the Finger Lakes in every season. That’s why she set her Lakeside Porches romance novels in Tompkins Falls on Chestnut Lake. To the outside world, she is a tech-savvy college professor. To friends and readers, she is the author of warm-hearted romance. She recently finished writing book four of the Lakeside Porches romance books and novellas and is planning book five.

Cstch up with Katie online on her website, Facebook, and .

Finding A HEART KNOT MINE–Review & Giveaway

Heart Knot Mine by Lily Velden Blog Tour

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for Lily Velden’s contemporary gay romance, HEART KNOT MINE. This is an emotional roller coaster that ends on a very sweet note. I really liked it.

HeartKnotMineFSAbout the book:
Despite a successful college teaching career, Noah Daniels has become depressed. He feels he’s leading a monochromatic life: love has eluded him. When he’s offered a chance to teach in London as part of an exchange program, he accepts, hoping a change of scenery will do him good. But once he’s there, his outlook on love and sexuality changes in ways he never expected.

Robert Callinan is Noah’s English counterpart in the program. The men exchange not only their jobs, but also their homes, and it is what Noah stumbles across while staying at Robert’s house that sends him on a journey of self-discovery, both mentally and physically. A journey that puts color back into his life–just not in the way he expected. When the exchange program ends, Noah has to go home, but he doesn’t know if he wants to return to the life he left behind.

My Review:
Noah Daniels has never found that “spark” he sees between his elder brother and sister-in-law. He’s been searching a long time–Noah’s now 30–and wonders if he’ll ever find a woman who captures his whole heart. Plus, he aches to start a family of his own. Feeling melancholy about his love life, Noah’s excited for a job swap, sending him to London for six months.

Moving into Robert Callinan’s home and job for the swap is pretty exciting for Noah, but not nearly as exciting as Robert’s stash of home-made sex tapes. Biggest kick to the groin? Robert’s clearly gay. The tapes are of him with other men, and they rock Noah’s world. Noah has no clue why this is so fascinating, but the tapes begin to fill his waking thoughts. Add to that his regular contact with Robert via email and Skype, and Noah’s a hot mess of desire. For a man.

He goes exploring Robert’s social outlets, and get a little experimenting out of the way. Result: Yep. Guys “do it” for Noah. He agonizes over this, expecting a backlash from his family. There’s no denying the chemistry, however, when Robert returns home to London and Noah is waiting. Robert suggests Noah extend his stay over the summer holiday, and he agrees, mostly to spend more time with the man with whom he’s infatuated.

It’s a hot summer, indeed. Every aspect of Noah’s staid life is upside-down and helter-skelter over Robert.

As the end draws near, reality sets in. Robert’s never been a monogamous guy, and doesn’t plan to be. Noah’s heartbroken, and bereft getting on his plane back to the States. Add to this a whole lot of drama with coming out to his family. Noah gets deeper and deeper into the struggles of his life before making some even more drastic changes.

Thing is, when your heart has loved once, it can do so again. And (sometimes) searching for the RIGHT love is the best decision, even if it’s often very, very painful.

I adored Noah. He’s a worthy man, and deserves to be loved with one’s whole heart. Robert seemed a bit callous near the end of summer, though I understood why. I was so glad that Noah found a friend who could support him in both heartbreak and family strife. The end is really tender, and so sweet. Just gave me the best AWW!! feeling. The book is an HEA, even if all the strife is not resolved.

Interested? You can find HEART KNOT MINE on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press, Amazon (US, UK, DE and AU), AllRomance and Barnes and Noble.

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Lily Velden avatarAbout the author:
Lily Velden lives on the east coast of Australia, her family having emigrated from Holland when she was a child. She’s both a left and right brain person, holding qualifications in both Finance and Fine Arts. She tells her friends that her way with numbers will make her a profitable artist and writer one day.

Lily has always had a love of language and a beautifully crafted sentence, and admits to having a fetish for collecting quotes, poems, and song lyrics. What she won’t admit to is how many notebooks she’s filled with those quotes. Her fascination carries on into her artworks where she often incorporates text. When a shoulder injury slowed down her art practice she decided to explore her love of the written word more fully and began writing. “I’ll paint my pictures with words.”

Not that she’s abandoned artmaking in its entirety; Lily collaborates on the designs for all her book covers. There are many things Lily loves, here are just a few of the PG rated ones: a good laugh (all the better if caused by a naughty joke), the smell of freshly baked goods and mown grass, a smile from a stranger, rainbows after the rain, and witnessing a promise kept.

Lily Velden can be found at her website, email, twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!