Reviews

Books I’ve read and reviewed

Finding Out if LOVE CAN’T CONQUER–Review and Giveaway!

Love Can't Conquer Blog Tour BannerHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a fantastic contemporary M/M romance from Kim Fielding. LOVE CAN’T CONQUER kept me turning pages long into the night. It features two mature men finding a forever connection…perhaps.

Check out the excerpt, my review and get in on the big giveaway, below!

LoveCantConquerFSAbout the book:
Bullied as a child in small-town Kansas, Jeremy Cox ultimately escaped to Portland, Oregon. Now in his forties, he’s an urban park ranger who does his best to rescue runaways and other street people. His ex-boyfriend, Donny—lost to drinking and drugs six years earlier—appears on his doorstep and inadvertently drags Jeremy into danger. As if dealing with Donny’s issues doesn’t cause enough turmoil, Jeremy meets a fascinating but enigmatic man who carries more than his fair share of problems.

Qayin Hill has almost nothing but skeletons in his closet and demons in his head. A former addict who struggles with anxiety and depression, Qay doesn’t know which of his secrets to reveal to Jeremy—or how to react when Jeremy wants to save him from himself.

Despite the pasts that continue to haunt them, Jeremy and Qay find passion, friendship, and a tentative hope for the future. Now they need to decide whether love is truly a powerful thing or if, despite the old adage, love can’t conquer all.

How about a little taste?

Night had fallen some time ago, and the black sky spit cold, stinging raindrops, making Qay shiver as he descended from the loading bay onto the street. He had to walk a couple of blocks to his first bus; he’d be soaked and miserable by then. Wouldn’t it be nice if someday he could afford a car? Although he’d always lusted after muscle cars, he’d be happy with even the most basic little econobox as long as it ran and kept him dry. He certainly didn’t need anything as burly as the dark SUV parked a few yards away.

Just as he realized that he recognized the SUV, the driver’s door opened and a big man in a green uniform slid out. Qay froze in place. The man walked over until he was just out of arm’s reach, and then he stopped.

“You worked late,” Jeremy said.

“What… what are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you.”

“But…. Why…. How did you…?” As usual, Qay was eloquent when flustered.

Jeremy’s grin was small and tight, but it was there. “We’re getting soaked. Can we have this conversation in my car? I’ll crank the heat.”

Not trusting himself with words, Qay simply nodded. When Jeremy held the passenger door open, something lively fluttered in Qay’s chest.

They sat silently in the SUV for a long time, fogging the inside of the windshield. The radio was off, but the fan blew full blast. Qay watched rain droplets fall from his hair onto his lap. They left little circles of darker blue on the denim.

“Stuart is an asshole,” Qay finally said.

“Your supervisor?”

“Yeah. That’s why I worked late.” He snuck a peek at Jeremy from the corner of his eye. “Have you been here since five?”

“Four thirty, actually. And I’ve had to pee for at least half an hour.”

“I could probably talk the security guard into letting you into the factory. The bathroom’s pristine. I just cleaned it.”

“I guess I can hold it a little longer.”

Qay nodded. He glanced at Jeremy’s right hand, which lay on the console between them, and saw that the knuckles were scabbed and slightly swollen. “What happened?” Qay asked.

“Stupidity.”

They were quiet again, the pause dragging on long past awkward. Then Jeremy cleared his throat. “How did the exam go?”

Qay couldn’t stop a wide smile. “I aced it. The prof even kept me after class to tell me I’m brilliant.”

Jeremy looked as happy about this news as Qay felt. “Hell yeah, you’re sharp as broken glass.”

“Appropriate comparison.”

“I tried.”

A little of the tension between them eased. Qay picked at a thread on his slightly frayed jeans, then stopped himself and drummed on the armrest instead. “Why are you here?” he asked, looking through his window into blankness. “And how?”

“I used to be a cop, remember? You told me you work at a window factory in Northwest, which narrowed it down. I made some phone calls.” He snorted a laugh. “Didn’t want to get you in trouble or let you know what I was up to, but I remembered Stuart’s name and asked for him. I found him yesterday. Pretended I was a bill collector when he came to the phone. He was just about in tears—kept insisting he’d paid what was due on his credit card.”

The thought of Stuart nearly crying over an imaginary unpaid debt cheered Qay more than it should have. “So that’s the how. What’s the why?”

“I have… questions. And an apology, if I can man up enough to spit it out.”

“Apology? For what?”

Jeremy gave him a long look. “Let’s go somewhere, okay? I can piss and we can eat and… and we can talk.”

Maybe he was courting disaster, but Qay nodded. “All right.”

My Review:

Jeremy is a 43 year old single out-gay park ranger in Portland, Oregon, who’s tired of being single. He’s had two serious relationships in his life, one in college and one that ended six years ago, when he kicked out his longtime lover, Donny. Donny was a fellow officer when they both served on the police force, but Donny was a self-destructive alcoholic and Jeremy needed to save himself, after a while. Jeremy is a widely respected ranger, known for rescuing many of the homeless in the parks he patrols.

Donny turns up on Jeremy’s doorstep one night, bleeding from superficial stab wounds. While Jeremy won’t let himself get pulled into Donny’s drama, he does help him out. His discussion of the crazy night to his good friend, Rhoda, is overheard by Qayin Hill, a patron in Rhoda’s coffeehouse.

Qayin (Hebrew for Cain) is a drifter, ex-junkie who’s been clean seven years and is trying–at 45 years of age–to rebuild his life. He wasn’t always that way. Once he was an abused kid who sought refuge in a suicide attempt–and hails from Jeremy’s home town. In fact, they knew each other way back when. Qayin’s ashamed of his past, but he’s attracted to Jeremy, who really grew up from the short, pudgy boy that was teased mercilessly in school. Qayin hides his true identity from Jeremy, but only for a short while.

This proves a small setback in the courtship. Bigger issues press, like when the guys who messed up Donny decide to toss Jeremy’s apartment, and bodies begin to turn up. While Jeremy isn’t a cop any longer, this does have elements of a police romance. Bad guys on the distant edges are a constant threat, but the real danger is the emotional investment of Jeremy and Qay. They have a lot of scars that they wouldn’t generally share, but they do, creating an intimacy that is more valuable than sex–which they decide to postpone for several dates–despite a significant attraction.

I really liked how these guys made themselves vulnerable. Qay has so much shame over his past, and still owns it. He’s a depressive, who’s had more than one suicide attempt, and admits his recovering addictions (to prescription and illegal drugs) on their first meeting; Jeremy is only ever supportive. Jeremy has a bit of a hero complex, and he knows it can be overwhelming. His life really has been in the service of others, which is why it’s so crappy that Donny brought huge problems to his doorstep. No matter what, Qay won’t add more burdens to Jeremy’s back. Even if it means walking away from the only man he ever loved, and who loved him in return.

The book spans several tumultuous weeks, which seems a little fast for a true love to develop, but these guys have a history of attraction. Once Jeremy gets over his initial shock, he remembers that Kevin (Qayin’s birth name) was his first crush. For all the guilt and terror that Qay still carries of his childhood, he recognizes that young Jeremy Cox was a bright spot. Their intense attraction and deep confessions lead to a strong emotional bond. Plus, these guys are in their mid-forties. They have learned a lot of the world, and are open-minded about past mistakes.

Trouble comes, as it is wont to do, and Qay is as rock-solid as he can manage to be. Especially as Jeremy is in very bad shape. That said, it is the growth of their relationship that most distresses Qay. He’s never had a stable relationship, and he feels unworthy to Jeremy’s goodness. I think I knew where, specifically, this book would take Jeremy, Qay, and me, but I wasn’t a bit put off by the journey. There are some ghosts that can only be laid to rest by confrontation. It was a fairly spectacular reunion, and a sweet epilogue. I’m quite sure that readers will disagree with the title. While romantic love may not conquer all, in this story it was pretty close. In the end self-love, for Qay, won the day.

There are some great secondary characters here, most notably Rhoda, Patron Saint of Caffeinated Beverages, but also Nevin Ng, another close friend of Jeremy’s who has the mouth of a drunken trucker, despite being an awesome cop. Trigger warning, there are lots of discussions of depression, suicide and abuse. Also, a brief scene of graphic violence and torture.

Interested? You can find LOVE CAN’T CONQUER on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press (ebook or paperback), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win an E-copy of Rattlesnake, Audiobook of Good Bones, and $30 Dreamspinner gift card.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
venicebigKim Fielding is the bestselling, award-winning author of numerous m/m romance novels, novellas, and short stories. Like Kim herself, her work is eclectic, spanning genres such as contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and historical. Her stories are set in alternate worlds, in 15th century Bosnia, in modern-day Oregon. Her heroes are hipster architect werewolves, housekeepers, maimed giants, and conflicted graduate students. They’re usually flawed, they often encounter terrible obstacles, but they always find love.

After having migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States, Kim calls the boring part of California home. She lives there with her husband, her two daughters, and her day job as a university professor, but escapes as often as possible via car, train, plane, or boat. This may explain why her characters often seem to be in transit as well. She dreams of traveling and writing full-time.

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

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Making It Work–ROCKIN’ IT FOREVER–Review and Giveaway!

tour-banner-e1466348530531Hi there! I’m so excited to share a review and giveaway for an new contemporary M/M rock romance from Morticia Knight. You know how I loved ROCKIN’ THE ALTERNATIVE, and ROCKIN’ IT FOREVER is the full-frontal sequel, sharing Bryan and Aubrey’s love with each other and the world.

Catch an excerpt, my review and enter to win one of three stunning prize packs below!

Rockin’ it ForeverAbout the book:
Music journalist Bryan Gallagher’s life has completely changed in an unexpected way. Not only has he snagged a dream assignment as the memoirist to alternative music’s rock superstar Aubrey King, but he’s also promised to give the beautiful and enigmatic musician a chance for them to forge a relationship. It’s all very overwhelming for Bryan since, up until he spent a sexually charged day and night with Aubrey, Bryan has never even dreamed of being with a man.

Aubrey is completely smitten with the boyishly handsome, young rock writer, Bryan. After their instant spark grows into something more, Aubrey is desperate to keep Bryan by his side for always. He’s promised Bryan that their love is for real, that Bryan isn’t simply one of his rock star conquests.

Their road isn’t an easy one, though. Despite their deepening bond and growing need for each other, other factors intrude. Neither Aubrey nor Bryan is ready to come out, and their relationship needs to remain a carefully guarded secret. In addition, Aubrey has to answer to the demands of his profession and Bryan has to traverse the shifting waters between his personal and business relationship with his famous lover.

Then a secret is revealed and everything in their joint world implodes. When a love is so strong that two men can barely take a breath without thinking of the other, will that be enough to bridge the loss of trust? The only way they can rock their love forever is if Aubrey can reach Bryan before it’s too late.

How about a little taste?

Aubrey barked out an easy laugh and Bryan joined in. Once they’d gotten a hold of themselves, Bryan spoke up again.

“This is probably going to sound really stupid, but I have to ask.”

“Ask me whatever you want, Bry. I don’t want you to think I’ll mock you in any way. I get it, man. This is all new. Unexpected. You didn’t sign up for it and I guess…”

Bryan waited, but it seemed as if Aubrey might not continue. “You guess?”

“Aw, man. I suppose if I want you to feel free to say anything, I should give you the same respect. Like we said before—no games, no bullshit. Right?”

“Absolutely.”

“Well, I’m worried I pushed you too fast. I’m not gonna lie. I wanted you before I met you, I… Shit.” Aubrey mumbled something unintelligible. “Fuck. We should wait to have this conversation in person.”

Bryan swallowed down the fear of what Aubrey might be about to reveal. “Come on, Aubrey. You’ve already brought it up and it’ll be at least a couple days before we can talk face to face.”

“Oh hey, that’s right. When are you—?”

“Aubrey. What conversation?”

Aubrey let out a slight groan on the other end. It didn’t sound happy. “Please, Bry. Please don’t be angry. I care about you. I believe in you as a writer. I wouldn’t want anyone else to do my memoir—I’d rather not do it at all if that were the case. This isn’t just about sex. For real, no games.”

“That’s… That’s all wonderful. But I don’t see how that would make me angry.”

What amounted to a small, strangled noise could be heard from Aubrey. “I only decided to do the memoir so I could have the chance to meet you.”

Aubrey’s confession was like a rock that had landed in the pit of Bryan’s stomach. “You… You what?” He breathed in through his nose a few times, his heart pounding at the thought he’d been played by the master player.

“Bry, baby, please listen. Think about it. I couldn’t very well call you up and ask you out on a date. I had no idea if you were gay or straight, or open to the possibility of exploring or if we’d click… Anyway, I wasn’t about to send you an email inquiring if you’d ever considered whether your sexual options should include cock.” Aubrey mumbled a ‘fuck’ under his breath. “Do you know how difficult it is to meet a decent guy in my position? Someone who I might actually have a real connection with, who might ‘get’ me?” Aubrey’s voice had risen in pitch. He paused, then sighed before speaking again. “I’m a public figure. I’m in the closet. The men I meet only want to put their dick into a celebrity or they want an out and proud partner. The few others who might be prospects are usually a part of the circle I’ve always traveled in—sanctioned members of the wretched institution we call the music business.

“I don’t like the industry. I hate the corporate machine. Does that mean I’m biting the hand that feeds me? Probably. But I can’t help it. I came back to the music biz because I decided I had more I wanted to say. I don’t need the cash. The adoration is great, as long as it’s from a place of sincerity, from a love of the tunes. But I don’t need that mindless hero worship I once had.”

Aubrey lowered his voice, spoke with a pleading tone that gripped Bryan’s heart. “I need real. A genuine bond. A future with the possibility of love. Everything I said to you before was the absolute fucking truth, Bry. I’ve been looking for someone who speaks the only language I understand, the language of music. When I asked you if you might be that someone, I said it from my heart. Yeah. I orchestrated our meeting and I’m damn glad I did. Because you’re the best person I’ve come across since I can remember and I’ll do anything to be worthy of you.”

My Review:

Bryan Gallagher is a rock writer who has signed on to write the memoir of his rock idol, Aubrey King. In their first meeting Aubrey made it clear that he’s gay, closeted, and totally attracted to Bryan. They shared a weekend of sexual exploration together, and separated with the promise to reunite in a week–after Bryan settled his affairs (temporarily) in New York and Aubrey appeared at a concert in Italy.

Time and distance certainly makes these hearts grow fonder, and they become bold when they meet again. Bryan’s supposed to stay at an apartment in LA, but Aubrey convinces him to stay in his home. There, Bryan and Aubrey explore each other, in depth. The bond between them is strong, and growing, but neither man is ready to come out. Bryan’s never been with a man, and Aubrey has had horrible problems with homophobic band mates in the past. He can’t bear to suffer that emotional abuse again.

Still, Aubrey’s inner circle recognize the relationship for what it is, and one of Aubrey’s ghosts decides the time is ripe for another shake-down. In the middle of everything, keeping their growing love a secret proves to be difficult, and pointless.

The pace of the book is good, with the span of time roughly several months. There are moments of intense heat, and sweet longing, and dismay for separations. Aubrey’s both smitten and stubborn. He wants Bryan all the time, and struggles with how to accomplish a lasting relationship under cover of the memoir. He’s sure that at some point Bryan will tire of him, or finish the book. Then what? Bryan is conflicted. His friends all assume Aubrey’s gay, and he’s hard pressed to keep denying his own changes. That said, Aubrey’s the one person he’s connected with at so many important levels. Could he come out? Would Aubrey and he make it in the long run, if he did?

I liked how compassionate these guys are, and how they took care of one another, but I was frustrated with how quickly Bryan was able to walk away when faced with a problem. That said, we didn’t spend a ton of page time in angst about loss. Just the pertinent scenes, which were heartbreaking. The reunion at the end was pretty much epic and I think readers will really enjoy how it all worked out.

Interested? You can find ROCKIN’ IT FOREVER on Goodreads, Pride Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Rockin’ it Forever Grand Prize giveaway:

Grand Prize – Rockin’ it Gift Basket including: 

Signed paperback copy of Rockin’ it Forever, Skull Candy ear buds, a $30 Spotify gift card, a Falling in Stereo Concert T-shirt (made to order for your size), a music speaks necklace, Mosh Potatoes – a rock ‘n’ roll cookbook and a Rockin’ it Forever canvas messenger bag.
 
2nd prize: Signed paperback of Rockin’ it Forever, $10 iTunes gift card and Falling in Stereo concert T-shirt.
 
3rd prize: Signed rack card, Morticia Knight pen, 2017 calendar magnet.

Click here to enter!!

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
M/M Erotic Romance author Morticia Knight enjoys hot stories of men loving men forever after. They can be men in uniform, Doms and subs, rock stars or bikers – but they’re all searching for the one (or two!) who was meant only for them.

When not indulging in her passion for books, she loves the outdoors, film and music. Once upon a time she was the singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She is currently working on more installments of Sin City Uniforms and The Hampton Road Club, as well as the follow-up to Bryan and Aubrey’s story from Rockin’ the Alternative.

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

Easier Done Than Said–CONVINCING THE SECRETARY-A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a recently published M/M historical romance from Ava March. I really enjoyed HIS CLIENT, HIS REQUEST and VISCOUNT’S WAGER, so I was eager to read CONVINCING THE SECRETARY.

Convincing the Secretary (London Legal, #3)About the book:
Business and pleasure is a mix no gentleman should consider.
Lord Grayson Holloway goes after what he wants—be it in the law office on his clients’ behalf or in the bedchamber. His new position as partner puts him closer to achieving his goal of becoming the most successful solicitor in London. There’s just one problem—his new secretary. Broad of shoulder yet mild of manner, Edward tempts Gray like no other. Yet the young man barely notices him.

Edward Fenton tries to be a good secretary, but being in Lord Grayson’s hard, commanding presence rouses Edward’s most forbidden desires. Wicked, naughty desires no gentleman should consider giving in to, let alone with his new employer.

Gray is more than willing to mix business with pleasure. But convincing Edward to take a chance on a future with him? That might be the most challenging case Gray has ever taken on.

Warning: Includes buttoned-up gentlemen who become undone, improper use of a desk, spankings, and a big bad lord who has a soft spot for his virgin secretary.

My Review:
This is the third book in a series and a fully enjoyable read on its own. It’s an historical M/M romance set in 1820s London.

Edward is a Cambridge grad, serving as a secretary for a law firm in accordance with his father’s wishes. Edward truly has no love for law, or becoming a solicitor. He follows his father’s dictates because he is a dutiful younger son in a large family he has no desire to embarrass. Still, Edward is a 22 y/o virgin, who desires men, art and punishment–perhaps in that order.

Lord Grayson is a hard-nosed solicitor, new to his firm. He’s unhappy that his attractive secretary, Edward, always seems to be eyeing his partner, Mr. Barrington. Why does the man not look upon Gary? Is it because he knows Gray’s family “secret” that he was claimed, but not sired, by his “father” the earl? It seems he does desire men…just not Gray. (Well, that’s what Gray thinks!)

Thing is, Edward is terrifyingly attracted to Gray, and afraid his interest would be rewarded by a visit to Newgate prison as a sodomite. He has NO experience in sexual matters, or emotional ones, it seems. When Gray determines that he turns Edward on, he proceeds to give Edward exactly what he requests: punishment. Oh, and a couple of dates, and some seriously hawt first time action.

There’s a kerfuffle, but it’s contained to jealousy, meanness, and rejection between these two and is quickly resolved by second hard thinks and first frank discussions. I loved how these guys patched up their differences and made the best kind of HEA that they could manage given the time period of the book. Edward took charge of his life for the first time ever, and Gray learned that his parentage was not a matter of concern for a man who honestly loved him.

Very sweet, steamy and satisfying in a short read.

Interested? You can find CONVINCING THE SECRETARY on Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
Ava March is a bestselling author of sexy, emotionally intense M/M historical erotic romances. She loves writing in the Regency time period, where proper decorum is of the utmost importance, but where anything can happen behind closed doors. With over fifteen works to her credit, her books have been finalists in the Rainbow Awards and More Than Magic contest, and deemed ‘must-haves’ for Historical M/M romance by RT Book Reviews readers.

Catch up with Ava on her website, blog, Facebook, twitter, and Pinterest.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Finding Love Could SET ME FREE–Excerpt and Giveaway!

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Hi there! Today I’m helping to spread the word on a new contemporary M/M romance from Kitty Stephens. SET ME FREE is a

Be sure to drop below and enter the giveaway for a $25 GC or one of FIVE ebooks of SET ME FREE.
Set Me Free 1600px FRONT (Smashwords, Amazon)
About the book:
When an affluent college-bound boy falls for a young artist, he must choose between the life that’s been mapped out for him and the chance at true love.

How about a little taste?

They found a secluded spot to sit off the main drag and scarfed down pieces of pizza and people-watched. Aaron had been full of nerves earlier, but Lucky put him at ease. He had that way about him.

“I’ve got a few minutes left,” Lucky said when they finished their food.

They got up, sipping at their drinks as they made their way through the crowd back toward Lucky’s booth. It was now or never. He had to ask, had to get the words out, or miss his shot.

“Can I ask you something?” Lucky spoke up before Aaron could. Maybe Lucky would… Aaron held his breath, nodding. “It might sound weird.”

“Sure,” Aaron replied, his heart beating a little faster. He had no idea what was coming now; what could Lucky possibly want from him? A kiss?

“Can you take your picture for me?”

Aaron blinked at him. Lucky tilted his head off to one side and Aaron turned his head the same direction. His gaze landed on a photo booth, realization sinking in. His mouth fell open, unsure what to say. It was a little weird because they barely knew each other, but also flattering.

“I’d really like to draw you again.” Lucky seemed slightly embarrassed. “I mean, I could take pictures on my phone if that’s better for you, but that seemed creepier somehow.”

Aaron couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped at Lucky’s words, even as the idea of Lucky drawing him again and again left him breathless. “Um,” he managed to get out, glancing around at the crowd. A familiar blonde head caught his eye and he nearly choked.

Was Lyn at the carnival? Wasn’t she supposed to be with their mothers?

Aaron pulled Lucky by the hand into the photo booth and slid the curtain shut.

Lucky slid money into the slot as they sat down. His breath caught as Lucky’s hands touched his face gently. “Like this,” Lucky whispered, turning his head to the side. The camera flashed. Lucky’s fingers turned his head to the front, pulling away just in time for the camera to go off again. Once again, Lucky’s fingers turned his head to the side, only now he was facing Lucky, staring deeply into his eyes.

Aaron tried not to hyperventilate as he held Lucky’s gaze. The camera flashed for the last time but neither of them moved.

“Go out with me?” Aaron suddenly blurted out. He had to do something or he might do something even more insane, like kiss Lucky. Aaron so wasn’t ready for that yet. Lucky’s eyes widened and he smiled.

“Sure,” Lucky drawled after a moment. “When?”

It sounds sooooo sweet! 😀

I have some great insights from Kitty, too…
My name Kitty Stephens. I currently reside in Ohio, with my husband, my son, and our three guinea pigs. I’ve been an avid reader since I was very young and started writing when I was around nine or ten. Once I had internet access, I became active in fan communities and started posting my work on various fan sites. Set Me Free is my first book.

What’s the easiest thing about writing?
Creating an outline/planning out the story. The planning stages are always the easiest.

Name one author (living or dead) you’d like to write with?
Wow, maybe Chris Colfer? He’s one of my favorite actors/authors and his books are great. I think we could write something amazing.

Tell us about your cover and how it came about.
The cover of Set Me Free is of Aaron and Lucky sitting on a bench on the beach, looking out on the carnival and the ocean. We knew when we talked about the cover we wanted to involve the carnival, since it’s at the forefront of the story. We also wanted to include the ocean and the bench from the pier. The back cover also includes some art supplies, a reference to Lucky’s artwork.

Is this book part of a series? Do you have ideas that could make it into a series? If it is a series, tell us a little about it.
It is not! I considered trying to develop it that way very early on in the writing process, but I passed that idea over almost immediately. This story works better as a standalone novel.

Interested? You can find SET ME FREE on Goodreads, Interlude Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Smashwords, IndieBound, and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $25 Interlude Press Gift Card or one of FIVE E-copies of ‘Set Me Free’ by Kitty Stephens!
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the author:
Kitty Stephens’ writing aspirations date back to her childhood, when she and her brother would make up stories about characters in their favorite books. She eventually started writing stories in online fan communities, and majored in English at Ohio State University. She lives in Ohio with her husband and son. Set Me Free is her first novel.

You can catch up with Kitty on her Tumblr Facebook, and Twitter.

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Love’s Value: More Than RAG AND BONE–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new magical M/M romance from the historical Charm of Magpies world conjured by KJ Charles. RAG AND BONE marks the beginning of a new series and features an interracial couple who’ve got some true dilemmas. As you know I simply loved A GENTLEMAN’S POSITION, THINK OF ENGLAND, and THE SECRET CASEBOOK OF SIMON FEXIMAL, so I knew I’d love this historical, magical romance.

Rag and Bone (Rag and Bone, #1)About the book:
It’s amazing what people throw away…
Crispin Tredarloe never meant to become a warlock. Freed from his treacherous master, he’s learning how to use his magical powers the right way. But it’s brutally hard work. Not everyone believes he’s a reformed character, and the strain is putting unbearable pressure on his secret relationship with waste-man Ned Hall.

Ned’s sick of magic. Sick of the trouble it brings, sick of its dangerous grip on Crispin and the miserable look it puts in his eyes, and sick of being afraid that a gentleman magician won’t want a street paper-seller forever—or even for much longer.

But something is stirring among London’s forgotten discards. An ancient evil is waking up and seeking its freedom. And when wild magic hits the rag-and-bottle shop where Ned lives, a panicking Crispin falls back onto bad habits. The embattled lovers must find a way to work together—or London could go up in flames.

This story is set in the world of the Charm of Magpies series.

Warning: Contains a warlock who needs to go straight (but isn’t), a waste-man running out of patience, blood magic, bad-tempered justiciars, and a pen with a mind of its own.

My Review:
Crispin is a disgraced warlock attempting rehabilitation. He had no idea when he was recruited, as a child, by a blood magician that he was doing anything illegal. It was only when his mentor and caretaker was found guilty of murder that Crispin’s involvement became known. He’s been offered several mentors to re-train him in acceptable use of magic–and has failed all attempts, his magic–graphimancy–simply doesn’t work like other types. Using his forbidden bone pen (fashioned from one of his own finger bones!) Crispin can draw with his own blood and make magic happen. It’s a bit harrowing, and highly frowned upon.

Ned and Crispin met when Ned assisted in the capture of Crispin’s murderous mentor. They have maintained a clandestine love over the past several months, despite Ned’s aversion to magic. He is “flit” able to hear magic, and he also despises this ability. As Crispin takes on yet another mentor, Ned’s getting embroiled in a magical plot–jar sellers, like his neighbor, are being killed in extraordinary ways. Ned can hear the use of magic, and Crispin breaks his oath to save Ned and his rag shop for certain destruction. As the story unfolds Ned and Crispin learn that a great danger is being unleashed, and it’s up to them to save London…

It’s a fantastic mystery, and a sweet romance. This book is the first in a spin-off series from the Charm of Magpies, and fully enjoyable on its own–though I will admit to rushing back and buying up the Charm of Magpie books. I’ve not read a book by this author that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed, so it’s not a big gamble.

Interested? You can find RAG AND BONE on Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance.

About the Author:
KJ Charles is a writer and freelance editor. She lives in London with her husband, two kids, an out-of-control garden and an increasingly murderous cat.

KJ writes mostly romance, gay and straight, frequently historical, and usually with some fantasy or horror in there. She specialises in editing romance, especially historical and fantasy, and also edits children’s fiction.

Find her on twitter, Facebook, join her Facebook group, or contact her here. She is represented by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency, and published by Samhain and Loveswept.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Hunting Love: BEAUTY INC–Review and Giveaway!

Beauty Inc Blog Tour Banner
Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review and giveaway for a new contemporary fairytale M/M romance from Tara Lain. You know I enjoyed SINDERS AND ASH and DRIVEN SNOW so I was eager to read BEAUTY INC, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with a gay twist! It’s a sweet romance with a compassionate “beast” who only wants the best for the people around him.

Catch the excerpt, my review, and enter to win a $20 GC below!

Beauty,Inc Book Cover
About the book:
Is beauty only skin deep?
Chemist Dr. Robert “Belle” Belleterre loves flowers, green trees, his best friend Judy, and “his baby”: the new face cream he developed to help put his father’s small cosmetics company on the map. Sadly he gets no help from his alcoholic, gambling-addicted father who loses Belle in a poker game to Magnus Strong, the CEO of Beauty, Inc. the largest American cosmetics company—a man infamous for his scarred ugliness.

Belle finds himself uprooted from his home, living in a wildly crazy apartment in New York owned by Mr. Pennymaker, and completely unprepared for his mad attraction to the charismatic Strong. Feeling like a traitor, Belle fights his passion only to see more and more of the goodness and humility hidden by Strong’s ugly face. But when Belle’s family starts manipulating his life again, the odds turn against happiness for beautiful Belle and his beloved beast.

How about a little taste?

“Looking for someone?”

“Yes. Judy. My friend. I thought she was coming here.”

“Oh yes. She has her apartment on the ground floor. Mr. Strong thought it would be best if she didn’t have to climb too many stairs while she’s being treated.”

Belle just stared. He felt the tears welling in his eyes but couldn’t stop them. Limb by limb, he collapsed to the floor like an old plastic bag. His own father hadn’t even paid attention, and Magnus Strong put Judy on the ground floor to keep her from having to climb stairs.

Mr. P closed the door and flopped down beside him. “So, my dear, what seems to be the trouble?”

Belle shook his head and snuffled.

“Try again.”

“I did a really bad thing.”

“What might that have been, my dear?”

He sniffed. “I humped my boss.”

“Hmm. Humped. I’m failing to get a mental image.”

Belle sighed. “It’s probably just as well. I got overzealous and threw myself on Magnus Strong. That might have been okay, but then I—” He dropped his face in his hand. “Oh God.”

“I’m starting to get an image. Continue.”

He popped his head up. “I kissed him, okay? And then, as if that wasn’t the stupidest thing ever done since W said “mission accomplished,” I managed to get my penis in contact with his and—humped. Now do you get the picture?”

Mr. P clapped his hands. “Perfect.”

“Oh, so far from perfect.” He fell back against the large Asian throw rug. “Why did I do it? Why?”

“Excellent question. Why did you do it?”

“He turns me on.”

“What?”

Belle sat up, in his best Frankenstein’s monster imitation. “He turns me on like a large neon light.”

“Because he helped your friend?”

“Way before he helped Judy. Before he helped me, in fact.”

Mr. P smiled. “So you acknowledge that he’s helped you?”

“Oh hell, Mr. P, I’m so confused. I mean, getting won in a poker game doesn’t exactly kick a relationship off on a sterling foot. Plus, that was after he seemed to be stalking me. I assumed he was trying to get me here to—you know—screw me instead of my father.”

“Ah, I see. And now you’ve thrown at him the very thing you assumed he wanted—and he refused it.”

“In a word—yes. I don’t know what to think.”

“There’s only one answer, my dear. Outside the box.”

My Review:
Rob “Belle” Belleterre has a solid love for his crumbling family. His mother died a few years ago and his father, once the dignified head of their small cosmetics company, has devolved into alcoholism and gambling, aided by Belle’s two older brothers. Belle wants the company to succeed and has developed a miracle face cream that will be the company’s best moneymaker–but his father’s mismanagement not only crushes that dream, it sends Belle to NYC to work for Magnus Strong, a direct and powerful competitor.

Belle isn’t happy to be uprooted, and he’s less happy that his family has seemingly abandoned him, but he doesn’t find Magnus, the scarred but compassionate CEO, to be an adversary. On the contrary, Magnus is beloved by his staff, and eager to make Belle comfortable. A stranger in New York, Belle is put into digs that are more plush than a millionaire might be able to afford. And, when his best friend Judy gets bad news, Magnus is the first person to make Judy’s scary diagnosis something positive. In fact, Belle’s never been so motivated to perform–and I mean in the workplace; He’s a consummate professional. Also, he practically climbs Magnus at his desk. Rawr. #Gratitude

This is a modern fairytale, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and I really enjoyed it. There are some campy bits and I took those in stride, because of the fairytale setting. This is the third Pennymaker tale I’ve read, and I think I like it best. The whole vibe is mainly upbeat, with a sweet and strong love story. Magnus is scarred because he wants to punish himself for a childhood mistake, and Belle’s so captivated by Magnus’ compassion that he fails to see the outer dents in Magnus’ appearance. It’s a mating of souls and hearts, so much so that Belle never wants Magnus to change, even as he has the resources to hand. Magnus is a great man, and he’s so vulnerable regarding his facial and emotional scars, but Belle’s love helps him feel acceptable–even lovable.

Belle’s family is a bit cartoonish, again the fairytale, but they are a back-burner element of the plot. I adored Belle’s devotion to Judy, and his pure love for Magnus. Naturally, there’s a misunderstanding/setback, which causes everyone to pause, but it’s easily remedied once Belle takes his own destiny in hand. Expect some yummy sexytimes, and an HEA to hang one’s dreams upon.

Interested? You can find BEAUTY INC on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes, and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

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

About the Author:
Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her best­selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft.

She lives with her soul­mate husband and her soul­mate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

You can find Tara at:

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Heart and Soul: DAMNED IF YOU DO-A Review

Hi there! Today I want to share a review for a sweet supernatural M/M romance from Marie Sexton. You know I adored WINTER ORANGES, so I had to go back for another of her tales. DAMNED IF YOU DO is a story of a devil (or demon, whatevs) in danger of being demoted if he doesn’t harvest some souls. And, man it’s a problem when he falls for the guy whose soul he’s determined to collect.

Damned If You DoAbout the book:
The path to temptation is paved with a hellish amount of paperwork.
Soul acquisition is a drag, but if Abaddon doesn’t catch up on his quota, he could be demoted to scooping poop for the Hounds of Hell. With a deadline hanging over him, he heads for the Bible Belt, looking for the perfect combination of sweetness and challenge.

Seth is a blind musician, part of a traveling tent revival. He’s cute, mystically talented, and quotes the Bible at every turn. His soul is pure enough to fill Abaddon’s quota for months to come, and Abaddon is determined to claim it.

The problem? There’s the revival foreman who watches Abaddon’s every move. Then there’s the mystery of Seth’s many unusual talents. Lastly, there’s Abaddon himself. He’s beginning to like Seth a bit too much. Maybe Seth deserves something better than damnation.

But Hell’s agenda isn’t negotiable, and time is running out. If Abaddon doesn’t play his cards right, he could condemn both of them to the worst fate of all—an eternity apart.

Warning: Contains a Bible-quoting twink and an irreverent devil who’ll do anything to avoid going “back to the office”. Also, snakes. Lots and lots of snakes.

My Review:
Abaddon’s a mid-level devil who’s required to collect a certain quota of souls, but not all souls are equal. Like, corrupting one pure soul is worth more than a dozen athletes dying to Go Pro…for example. Abaddon really dislikes soul harvesting. He avoids it, at all cost, but he’s gotten a warning due to his lack of productivity and is due to be demoted if he doesn’t get one soul in the next month.

So, Abaddon searches high-and-low for a sterling soul, one that will push his quota far back. He locates one such soul, a shining beacon of a man, in Seth. Seth is the blind virtuoso who plays for a tent revival group which travels the southeastern US. He’s also more than just a man–as Abaddon soon learns.

Seth is 21, innocent, sweet and complete catnip for Abaddon. His soul-hunger is off the charts whenever he’s near Seth. Seth was an orphan, dropped at the doorstep of the revival, and adopted by the late revival master. He gets along with his surrogate family, and truly believes in the word of The Lord, but he wants a true love, and he’s both a virgin and gay. It’s interesting and cool that the revivalists are totally unaffected by that. The more time Abaddon spends in Seth’s presence, the more he begins to realize that Seth is mystical in a way that’s nearly unheard of. I don’t want to give too much away, but expect trials with snakes and faith healing that works.

In the meantime, Abaddon is plotting his harvest of Seth’s soul, and he’s also really wrecked over it. How can he condemn such a good man to an eternity in Hell? There are surely things Abaddon can trade Seth to make his human life more bearable, but will Seth accept them, knowing these gifts come from a Devil’s hand? As atonement, Abaddon plans to pull every string he can to ensure that he and Seth will be able to connect in Hell, and spend their eternity together. It’s still cold comfort for Abaddon…

It’s a quick read and an interesting story. I do love me a conflicted devil, and Abaddon is really a fun character to enjoy. The scenes in Hell are amusing and made me chuckle many a time. The unfolding romance was tender and touching, and I swooned for Seth just as hard as Abaddon did. I hadn’t quite predicted the full path of this book, which charmed me, as a reader. I loved the positive portrayal of the revivalists, and the stalwart and battle-ready chaperone that Seth and Abaddon had to avoid whenever they wanted some alone-time. There’s a heady build up of sexual tension, and a sweet love that’s on the page.

Interested? You can find DAMNED IF YOU DO on Goodreads, Samhain Books, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and AllRomance. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

Marie SextonAbout the Author:
Marie Sexton lives in Colorado. She’s a fan of just about anything that involves muscular young men piling on top of each other. In particular, she loves the Denver Broncos and enjoys going to the games with her husband. Her imaginary friends often tag along. Marie has one daughter, two cats, and one dog, all of whom seem bent on destroying what remains of her sanity. She loves them anyway.

Visit Marie’s website, follow her on twitter, friend her on Facebook, or join her for Coffee and Porn in the Morning.

Thanks for popping in my friends, and keep reading!

GOLDFISH Out of Water–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a terrifyingly funny contemporary YA story from Nat Luurtsema. GOLDFISH is a humorous sports romance, in a way, about a British girl whose championship dreams are busted and how she gets her life back together in the void.

GoldfishAbout the book:
Lou Brown is one of the fastest swimmers in the county. She’s not boasting, she really is. So things are looking pretty rosy the day of the Olympic time-trials. With her best mate Hannah by her side, Lou lines up by the edge of the pool, snaps her goggles on and bends into her dive…

Everything rests on this race. It’s Lou’s thing.

… or it was. She comes dead last and to top it all off Hannah sails through leaving a totally broken Lou behind.

Starting again is never easy, particularly when you’re the odd-one out in a family of insanely beautiful people and a school full of social groups way too intimidating to join. Where do you go from here? Finding a new thing turns out to be the biggest challenge Lou’s ever faced and opens up a whole new world of underwater somersaults, crazy talent shows, bitchy girls and a great big load of awkward boy chat.

Lou Brown guides us through the utter humiliation of failure with honesty, sass and a keen sense of the ridiculous. This girl will not be beaten.

My Review:
I woke my hubs, twice, reading this book in bed and laughing uncontrollably.

Louise is a 15 y/o champion swimmer, dubbed “Goldfish” by her family for taking home so many gold medals, but she fails spectacularly at the youth time trials and doesn’t get accepted the High Performance Training Center. Hannah, her BFF, does get accepted. Lou falls into a funk. Without swimming and without Hannah, Lou has no friends and no activities. She’s lanky and odd, not perky and cute like her elder sister, Laverne. Lou and Lav–both short names for the toilet–part of the understated and charming British humor that kept me constantly sniggering.

Lou has few goals for her time in school: learn, make friends, get by. But she struggles to even do these things. She has too much time on her hands and spends hours ruminating over the lack of swimming in her life. One night she sneaks into the pool and she’s approached by three older boys who observe her screwing around in the water. They are a dance group and want to be on Britain’s Hidden Talent but they need a new hook, as they’ve been refused a tryout; too many boy dance teams, it seems.

They, Pete, Roman and Gabe, think Lou can teach them to perform a dance routine underwater–not synchroswim exactly–and it’s a new mission for Lou. Something to strive for. Enter inexplicable and enormously entertaining comedies of errors. Pratfalls abound. Whatever can go wrong, will. And I laughed so hard! The odd-ball shenanigans caught me just right, and I really had no defense against Lou’s dead-pan delivery.

So this summer I stopped swimming and met our postman. And I finally got all that crying done that I’ve been meaning to do for ages, so that’s good, isn’t it? Plus I really explored the concept of Lying in Bed All Day Feeling Nothing but Despair. A summer lived right to the edges.

My hair doesn’t grow down; it goes out, like Hannah’s. We don’t look like the princess in a fairy tale. We look like the enchanted vines that covered her castle for a hundred years.

Laverne is sixteen, with glossy black hair, actual boobs, and a tattoo that Mom and Dad don’t know about.
Nature made her and then, a year later, took the same ingredients and made me. It’s baffling. Good thing they didn’t have a third child; it would probably have a face like a knee.

(Note: I barely avoided soiling myself while reading this book… #WeakBladder #TooMuchLaughing)

So, yeah, plot. There’s a power dynamic with Lou’s former coach, and mean girls, and general isolation, and unexpected friendships, and a touch of romance, and a dramatic rescue for a confused athlete. It’s really a sweet, funny story that manages to appear light and breezy while also having a strong story line and a wellspring of emotion. Lou needs to start over from a pretty harsh setback. I’m not sure why she can’t simply swim with her school’s team, but part of that stems from callous coaching and mean girls. I can’t truly believe she was so unwelcome, but that’s the story and the reminders of her bullying are swift and sharp as dagger wounds.

The quest for fame is brutal, and captivating. Lou is engaging. Her self-deprecation is absolutely cutting, and shockingly humorous. Her family is odd and quirky and endearing. They do what’s right even when it’s the opposite of convenient. The boys, who are far too cool for Lou, end up being alright guys and great friends. The budding romance is tender and sweet and unfolds in the final pages, but was deftly foreshadowed.

Interested? You can find GOLDFISH on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Author:

Nat Luurtsema is a BAFTA-nominated screenwriter, a BAFTA Rocliffe alumni, stand-up comic, author, actor and a third of sketch group Jigsaw.

She has just finished directing WYRDOES, a comedy feminist ‘Macbeth’, with backing from Film London, Film4 and the British Arts Council. It will be a part of the Shakespeare Lives worldwide tour, which will play to an audience of 500 million.

Nat plays Tallulah Bankhead in FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS, directed by Stephen Frears.

Nat is developing two feature films and adapting the novel Spilt Milk Black Coffee by Helen Cross, for Mighty Atom Entertainment.

Nat’s latest book is a Young Adult novel – GIRL OUT OF WATER – to be published June 2016 in the UK, Germany, France and Italy. It will simultaneously publish as GOLDFISH in USA.

You can catch up to Nat online on her website and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Release Day Review and Giveaway–GIVE ME YOU!

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

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

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

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

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

How about a little taste?

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

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

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

“For now, right?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

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

I open my mouth to argue but he rushes on.

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

Geez. Why the sudden interest in my shoes?

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

“You’re missing the point.”

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

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

“And this is a problem because…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

He turns to me with raised brows.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Because you never met anyone worth missing.

Until now.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

****GIVEAWAY****

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

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


She is represented by Kevan Lyon of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

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

Getting In Deep THE HARDER HE FALLS-A Review

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

The Harder He Falls (Kick, #1)About the book:
Expert whitewater-rafting guide Grady Kelley lives for that rush of adrenaline: at work, as the newest employee of a Portland-based outdoor-adventure sports company, and off the river, where liaisons with anonymous men keep him satisfied. Grady prefers no drama and no strings attached, but when tragedy strikes, fate leads him to Micah Swaine. He’s hot, masculine, distracting—and offers the kind of deeper connection Grady has sworn off, no matter how badly he craves it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!