Reviews

Books I’ve read and reviewed

Giving Him 6 DAYS TO GET LUCKY–Review and Giveaway!

BannerTemplate(18)Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review and giveaway for a new contemporary M/M romance from LE Franks. 6 DAYS TO GET LUCKY is the sequel to 6 DAYS TO VALENTINE and should be read in order. That said, I enjoyed it fine on its own.

12597096_10208671112325666_1761266609_oAbout the book:
Mixologist Nick Valentine never thought love was in the cards, but after a scorching Valentine’s Day kiss from bouncer Davis “FatBoy” Newman, he’s beginning to think it’s possible. After four weeks of dry spell, Nick’s losing patience—it’s time FatBoy stop acting the gentleman and just throw him over the bar or Nick may just change his mind.

All FatBoy wants is a shot at winning Nick’s heart. As long as meddling bosses, an Irish hurling team and a bar riot don’t ruin his chances forever, he might just get lucky and take the man of his dreams, home.

How about a little taste?

Reaching across the empty bed next to me, I rode out the last waves of my dream alone. I could still feel his phantom kiss on my lips and the sensation of a hand stroking along my thigh.

The rest of it was just a blur of emotions and sticky residue on my sheets—though I could guess at it without much effort. FatBoy Newman had been a specter haunting me at work so it was no great leap to assume he’d shouldered his way into my dreams as well.

In fact, he was at the root of my problem: I’d been having a hell of a dry spell.

Four weeks of near misses had done nothing but stoke my bad mood and turn my balls a lovely shade of indigo that matched my jeans…

Four weeks of dashed hopes…

Four weeks since the most romantic kiss of my life…

Four weeks of nothing.

Fuck the South and its mythology of the Southern Gentleman—if FatBoy Newman didn’t stop treating me like a delicate flower and throw me up against a wall soon, I was going to explode.

It was six days until St. Patrick’s Day, and FatBoy had until then to make his move, or I was moving on.

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

The previous book, 6 Days to Valentine, was apparently about one romantic kiss that happened between mixologist Nick Valentine and Davis “Fatboy” Newman, the strong silent and “straight” security manager at the restaurant/bar Frisson where they both work–on Valentine’s Day. That was three weeks ago and there’s been nothing between them but a lot of heated looks, and passing gropes, since.

Both men work a lot of evenings, and their nights off hadn’t lined up, and inexplicably they cannot meet during the day. Also, Davis is closeted and doesn’t acknowledge his interest in Nick unless they are behind closed doors. Nick’s been a party boy in the past, and was never one to miss out on a cooler quickie until this “thing” with Davis developed. His three week drought is more than he can stomach, quite frankly, and he’s equally intrigued and frustrated. He’s got a self-imposed six days to make it happen, or walk away.

So, that the premise. The intervening six days, ramping up to St. Patrick’s Day are filled with more heated looks, and some promising sexy phone conversations, a missed date, two aborted trysts, and tons of bar hi jinks. The constant undercurrent of desire keeps the sexual tension high, especially when the National Irish Hurling Team pulls into Memphis. These well-put-together gentlemen are more than a bit taken with Frisson, and their captain Corwyn is certainly swoony for Nick. Davis is not happy, but he’s also not out. And it does not seem that this will change.

I liked the book. It’s funny and quirky and downright wacky in parts. There are Little People causing bar brawls and drunk Irishmen, and bad cover bands and a running fight over the possibility of dyeing the beer green–Nick is very much against–but the book lack connection, for me, between Nick and Davis. Nick needs a partner who’s all in, and despite Davis’ words, his actions aren’t quite there. The book ends on a happy note, but it felt more Happy For Now, with conflict remaining about the status of their relationship. There were very tender words exchanged, but I never saw one public declaration on the part of Davis to either claim or acknowledge Nick as a partner. As a reader who adores swoony romances, it left me feeling a bit cold toward these guys. Well, mostly Davis.

The oddest thing was, there were people in the book who totally would have supported them. Davis is closeted because his absentee dad is a powerful judge. *shrugs* I didn’t see why that was an impediment, if Nick is all that Davis says he is, for him. Davis is a grown man, a 30 y/o combat veteran, with his own income. Why does Daddy have a say in his happiness? Part of why I didn’t love this book was the separation I felt between Nick and Davis, even at the end. The other part was the inexplicably long wait these guys experience before taking steps to be together. Nick’s apartment is blocks from where they work. They get out late at night. They cannot crash there, together, once in a month? Felt a little suspect, which made me continually question Davis’ interest in Nick–pretty much the same as Nick did.

The rest of the book is amusing. Lots of situational comedy. And I’m always a fan of traveling Irish athletes. The mad cap misadventures of the Little People were funny and horrifying, by turns.

Interested? You can find 6 DAYS TO GET LUCKY on Goodreads, Wilde City Press, Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win an e-copy of 6 DAYS TO VALENTINE and a $5 gc to Wilde City Press.
Good luck and keep reading my friends.

About the author:
LE Franks lives in the SF Bay area and writes M/M Romance in a unique mix of humor and drama with enough suspense to produce fast paced stories filled with emotion and passion and featuring characters that are quirky and complicated and sometimes a little bit dark. LE Franks is a best selling author and finalist for 2013 & 2014 Rainbow Awards. Her books are available through her publishers at MLR Press, Dreamspinner Press and Wilde City Press and Pride Publishing and online bookstores.

You can find LE online on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, twitter and Tumblr.
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Trouble Awakens THE STAR HOST–Review and Giveaway!

BannerTemplate(19)Hi there! I’m so excited to share a review of a fantastic sci-fi M/M YA romance for FT Lukens. THE STAR HOST is an interesting and engaging adventure with a dash of romance and a whole lot of power.

Catch the excerpt, my review and enter the $25 GC and book giveaway below.

Star Host 1600px (web smashwords)About the book:
Ren grew up listening to his mother tell stories about the Star Hosts – a mythical group of people possessed by the power of the stars. The stories were the most exciting part of Ren’s life, and he often dreamed about leaving his backwater planet and finding his place among the neighboring drifts. When Ren is captured by soldiers and taken from his home, he must remain inconspicuous while plotting his escape. It’s a challenge since the general of the Baron’s army is convinced Ren is something out of one of his mother’s stories.

He finds companionship in the occupant of the cell next to his, a drifter named Asher. A member of the Phoenix Corps, Asher is mysterious, charming, and exactly the person Ren needs to anchor him as his sudden technopathic ability threatens to consume him. Ren doesn’t mean to become attached, but after a daring escape, a trek across the planet, and an eventful ride on a merchant ship, Asher is the only thing that reminds Ren of home. Together, they must warn the drifts of the Baron’s plans, master Ren’s growing power, and try to save their friends while navigating the growing attraction between them.

How about a little taste?

Once at the hangar, Ren broke away from the two guards and entered the lancer, walking up the stairs, irritation a heavy feeling in his chest.

“Reporting for work,” Ren said, his tone heavily laced with annoyance.

Janus popped up from a console she had been working under, goggles on her face, gray hair sticking up everywhere. “You!” she snapped. “I told you not to come back.”

Ren rolled his eyes. “It’s not my choice. I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me here.”

“Where are your guards? I told the dumb one not to bring you back, Abiathar’s orders be damned. I don’t want your kind working on these ships.”

She poked a finger hard into Ren’s chest and he staggered back, and rubbed his hand over the spot.

“What the stars do you mean by my kind?”

Her eyes grew comically large behind the goggles. “You don’t know?” She laughed, bordering on hysterical. “You’re more dangerous than I thought. You can’t try to control it if you don’t even know what you are.”

Ren frowned. His tolerance for the cryptic nonsense everyone had spouted since he arrived was gone. He took a step toward the hull and Janus stiffened.

“Don’t,” she barked.

“Don’t what? Touch it? What will happen, huh?”

Her face paled and her chest heaved with panicked breaths. “You don’t know what you’re capable of.”

Ren laughed. “I’m capable of nothing. I’m a duster, planet-born with very limited experience with tech. You have no reason to be frightened of me.”

He moved closer to the hull, hand outstretched, fingers splayed.

She whimpered. “Please, don’t.”

Ren slammed his hand against the hull, his fingertips leaving greasy marks on the shiny surface. As he predicted, nothing happened.

He turned back to Janus. “See? Nothing–”

His word tangled in his throat, cut off, because suddenly, Ren was consumed with power, rushing from his toes to his fingertips. A blue tint clouded his vision, and his body suffused with golden warmth. And then he was floating amongst the wires, connected to the ship, to the energy source, to everything. The lancer pulsed under his skin, tangling in his veins, its systems integrated with his senses.

It was freeing and frightening.

His consciousness raced along the circuits and he could fix it. He could fix everything. He found the tangle of wires in the artificial gravity system and bypassed it. He found the broken circuits in the air recyclers and with a pulse of power, refurbished them. He saw the static in the com system, a physical entity, and he cleared it away with a brush of his metaphysical hand.

The longer Ren floated through the ship, the less connected he was to his physical body. And if he thought about it, he didn’t need his body. Why would he need his body? He was free here. He moved around with ease, the wires and the systems his route, and the more he pushed, the more he felt the other ships too. They were nearby, on the edge of his perception, and he could go to those, he could jump to the other ones and repair them too.

He could.

He could.

My Review:
Ren is captured while trying to hide his brother from the gangs of soldiers who range the countryside near his home. Forced to march several days to the citadel of the Baron who rules Ren’s segment of the planet Erden, Ren learns that he’s got powers that rival the legends his mother taught him. he has the ability to shutdown the electric cattle prods and stunners that are continually aimed at him.

He wants to escape, but he knows he needs to be strategic about it. The baron seems to be amassing an army–to what purpose none of the new captive can even guess. The citadel is a fortress, and the baron’s general knows that Ren’s power allows him to control any machine. Ren’s a star host, and his gift is technopathy; he’s soon put to work fixing all the broken tech that serves the baron’s army. And this includes spaceships that seem poised to go offworld.

Ren is housed in a technopath-proof iron prison alongside Asher, a political prisoner. Asher was born and raised on a drift–a space station. He was a member of the Phoenix Corps who crashed on Erden. The only reason he’s still alive is because his mother is a galactic counselor–and providing regular evidence that Asher lives keeps the Phoenix Corps from landing on Erden and wrecking the baron’s plans for offworld domination. These plans include coercing Ren into tapping into ships and space stations, defending and controlling them in the name of the baron. Ren has other ideas, however. He wants to go home, but knows this is impossible. With Asher’s connections they may just be able to escape Erden together, and keep Ren from fusing with the machines that call to him.

It’s a fascinating “chosen one” tale with elegant prose and a fast-paced plot. Ren comes into his powers slowly, but realizes that he’d likely had them all along. His memories of the legends his mother would whisper to him at night and their home strangely devoid of all tech now seems so prescient. He’s just seventeen, but Ren must grow up quickly and hone his abilities if he’s going to survive as a human with free will. Every time he joins with the machines (and the bigger the machines the worse it is!) he risks staying in his star form, detached from humanity and thinking only of the power that courses through him. It is Asher who has the ability to connect with Ren when he’s trapped in the tech-phase. And, as Ren becomes more and more dependent upon Asher to keep him grounded he recognizes that his feelings are getting involved.

This is a YA adventure/romance and there is a dash of romance to go along with the story. Ren’s attracted to Asher, and they are fast becoming the best of friends…maybe more? Could they be? What will happen if Asher can’t get into Ren’s head when he’s in his star form? The last battles of technopath star hosts broke the sky, according to the legends. Ren can see how it happened, and he fears repeating these mistakes as he’s not yet strong enough to control his power lust when fusing with a large machine. Naturally, the only way to save himself and his friends is by joining with a gigantic space station…

Honestly, I loved the book. I found it fresh and interesting. There are very sweet friendships and harrowing escapes and lessons that need learning and boundaries that must be tested, and bested. Ren and Asher together are so perfectly mismatched, and that’s totally adorable. There’s a bit of kissing, but nothing else. Great for YA readers who enjoy clean romances and sci-fi adventures. This world is rich and lush, and there’s no condemnation for same-sex pairing–so no one thinks anything derogatory of Ren and Asher for falling for one another. The book ends with a complete resolution of all hostilities, but you can bet there will be more where this came from, and I look forward to a sequel.

Interested? You can find THE STAR HOST on Goodreads, Interlude Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, iBooks, and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $25 GC from Interlude Press or an ebook of THE STAR HOST.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
F.T. wrote her first short story when she was in third grade and her love of writing continued from there. After placing in the top five out of ten thousand entries in a writing contest, she knew it was time to dive in and try her hand at writing a novel.

A wife and mother of three, F.T. holds degrees in psychology and English literature, and is a long-time member of her college’s science-fiction club. F.T. has a love of cheesy television shows, superhero movies, and science-fiction novels—especially anything by Douglas Adams.

Connect with F.T. on her website, Twitter, Tumblr and on Goodreads.

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Earning JACKSON’S TRUST–Review and Giveaway!

jt-releasedayHi there! Today I’m so excited to share a release day review for a contemporary romance from Violet Duke. I really enjoyed LOVE EXES AND OHS so I was eager to read more of her work. JACKSON’S TRUST is a fun and flirty romance that blooms between a football analyst and a sideline reporter–but neither is who they claim to be…entirely. And earning each other’s trust, is well..fraught with difficulty.

Catch the excerpt, my review and enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

Jackson's Trust_Duke (1)About the book:
New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke kicks off her sizzling-hot new Fourth Down series with a friends-to-lovers romance between a no-strings-attached sports analyst and the hottest damn tomboy he’s ever met.

It’s no secret that sports analyst Jackson Gray doesn’t do relationships. What is a secret, however, is the reason why. Jackson’s life is…complicated. And it doesn’t help that his current hands-off “friendship” is with the cute-as-hell new sideline reporter he’s assigned to train. Turns out, not only is the woman damn sweet, she also knows as much about football as he does. Like it or not though, Jackson has to remind himself that sex is the only thing he has to offer…until now.

Leila Hart’s fast-growing friendship with Jackson is something she’d never risk, no matter how unbelievably seductive the reward. Becoming an NFL sportscaster has always been the goal, and thanks to Jackson’s fierce support and mentoring, it all finally seems within reach. Problem is, a girl can only take so much of that sexy-as-sin voice whispering dirty, filthy football stats in her ear before she loses all self-control. A workplace romance with Jackson is a disaster waiting to happen, especially for someone with big dreams . . . and secrets of her own.

Advance praise for Jackson’s Trust…
“I totally love this hotter side of Violet Duke. You still get the same sweet, emotional story but with a little bit of extra sizzle. Jackson’s Trust is a must-read novel.”—New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett

“A delightfully fresh read . . . Violet Duke delivers it all in Jackson’s Trust!”—New York Times bestselling author Jen McLaughlin

“Violet Duke’s writing jumps off the page and grabs you from the first sentence. You will love Jackson’s Trust.”—New York Times bestselling author Bella Andre

“Jackson’s Trust is hot, sweet, and filled with tender moments. Violet Duke writes heroes who make me swoon!”—New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryan

How about a little taste?

“So what’s your stance on morning-after breakfasts?”

Her gaze never wavered. “I actually like cooking breakfast for one,” she replied with an honesty he could hear clear as day. “But,” she concluded softly, “I think that’s an irrelevant point for us.”

Coming from any other woman, the finality in that statement would be merely disappointing. Coming from Leila, his brain was finding it almost unacceptable. “Let me guess. You don’t sleep with guys you work with.”

She answered via a slight head tilt, before driving the point home. “This job is really important to me.”

Enough said. That was that.

Jackson did his best to curb the disappointment while he dropped his hands from the wall and backed away. “I don’t blame you. It’s a great opportunity for your career.” He grit his teeth against the urge to crowd her back up against the wall when he saw her chest rise and fall, at a pace that matched his own.

Hell, even the way the woman breathed was a turn-on.

Being the consummate professional around her was going to be a damn nightmare. But not impossible. He just had to focus. “So that brings us right back to why we’re here today; throwing you into the deep end so you can hit the ground running in this amazing career opportunity.”

Her eyes widened the slightest bit in surprise. “Just like that? No muss, no fuss? I’m now in the same category as Rachel, never to be flirted with again?”

He almost laughed at that as he swept another quick glance over her. Commercial-shiny, sleek layers of caramel and toffee framing her face, ultra-feminine curves he couldn’t spend too much time on without disrupting the fit of his slacks, and approximately a mile or two of toned legs. Seriously, she was superheroine pretty. Tough and sexy, with a sweet country rock goddess smile, and a hella cute tomboy way about her that she couldn’t hide. Not even under that chic thigh-high skirt and five-button blouse—yes, he’d counted—she had the rightfully held confidence to wear unplastered to her body . . .

The same category as Rachel? Was she kidding? Christ, she belonged in a category all her own. When you threw in her wit, fire, and football chops, Jesus, she was basically his dream girl.

“Don’t think it’s going to be easy for me not to flirt with you, sunshine. But I respect your commitment to your career.” So saying, he walked over to the refreshment bar at the corner of the conference room and poured them both some coffee, giving his brain the time it needed to shift gears and make good on his declaration.

This wasn’t going to be easy.

Because while he had absolutely no problem stepping back when a woman wasn’t interested, Leila wasn’t disinterested. In fact, all evidence would point to her being about as interested as he was.

She was just . . . off-limits.

A volatile combination.

My Review:
Leila and Jackson both have secrets. They are both haunted by families that have serious dysfunction–in Leila’s case she’s the “other” child. The one her congressman father only sees as a commodity to barter for political power. For Jackson, he’s well, on the outs with his half-brother who runs their late father’s company. At any moment, however, he might be needed to correct his brother’s missteps.

Jackson’s a well-respected football analyst with a fledgling sports network and he’s earned the respect of many teams’ management. He’s wondering why the newly-hired sidelines reporter, Leila, is allowing their producer to speak down to her, as if she doesn’t know anything about football. Jackson sees immediately that Leila’s putting on an act–but why?

Thing is, Leila’s a football guru. And a well-educated woman. Sports reporting is her dream job, the one she pursued when her beloved Gram died. Jackson’s drawn to her–because he sees her intellect, and that’s even sexier than her pleasingly-plump frame. Over the course of their time in the office each sees the little kindnesses the other extends to the rest of the staff. Leila’s a big hit with the management, well, until her SOB of an ex reveals some of Leila’s secrets involving sports gaming and gambling websites. It’s all a wash, however, and she win’s Jackson’s trust completely.

Just when we think it’s going to go completely right we get a squib kick to the guts. I don’t want to give things away, but I’ll say that Jackson’s big bro is at the root of the problem, and he steadily endeavors to make things worse. There are some harrowing bits here, I won’t lie about it. While Leila and Jackson pull through, they aren’t quite together…for a bit. I so loved how each of them made sacrifices for the other, both assuming they’d never be a couple again. It was charming in an O. Henry Gift of the Magi sort of way. Expect an HEA, and a football fantasy come true.

There isn’t a lot of conflict here–between Leila and Jackson. They have a mutual respect and grow to care for each other long before this gets physical. The conflict all comes from outside–mostly resulting from one or the other’s family. this is the first book in a series, and it’s likely the next one will feature one of Jackson’s best friends.

Interested? You can find JACKSON’S TRUST on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Google Play.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author Violet Duke is a former professor of English Education ecstatic to now be on the other side of the page writing wickedly fun contemporary romances filled with strong, unique heroines and memorably romantic heroes. With just under a million books sold to date, since becoming an author in 2013, Violet has appeared on the USA Today bestseller list thirteen times and the NYT bestseller list three times, with the additional honor of charting in the Top 10 across the major eretailers both in the U.S. and internationally. Her fans, who she just adores to pieces, affectionately call her books sweet & sexy ‘laugh & cry’ love stories.

When she’s not feeding her book-a-day reading addiction, Violet enjoys tackling reno projects with her power tools, trying pretty much anything without reading the directions first, and cooking impossible-to-be-duplicated ‘special edition’ dishes that laugh in the face of recipes. A born and raised island girl, she spends her days in Hawai’i chasing after her two cute kids (daughter Violet & son Duke) and similarly adorable husband (their ringleader).

Connect with Violet on her website, twitter, Facebook, Facebook Fan Page, or sign up for her newsletter.

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Out Today! MOSAICS: Stories by Women–Review and a Giant Giveaway

Hi there! I’m so glad to share a release day review for MOSAICS: A COLLECTION OF INDEPENDENT WOMEN, an anthology of poems, short stories and art that celebrate womanhood in all it’s terrible grace. All proceeds will be given to the Pixel Project to support the production of films that will highlight, and hopefully end, violence against women.

Don’t forget to enter the mega giveaway, including a Kindle Fire, a $50 gift card, and a paperback library, at the end of this post!

A project focused on bringing women’s voices to readers and celebrating the stories they have to tell. Including stories by Keyan Bowes, Carol Cao, Chelo Diaz-Ludden, Sarina Dorie, Naomi Elster, Jordanne Fuller, Ari Harradine, Karen Heuler, L.S. Johnson, Tonya Liburd, Kelsey Maki, Julia Ray, Patty Somlo, P.K. Tyler, Deborah Walker, Keira Michelle Telford, Kim Wells, Elizabeth Wolf, and Sylvia Spruck Wrigley

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.jsMosaic CoverMosaics: A Collection of Independent Women will inspire and shock you with its multi-faceted look at the history and culture surrounding femininity. If gender is a construct, this anthology is the house it built. Look through its many rooms, some bright and airy, some terrifying- with monsters lurking in the shadows.

Mosaics Volume One features twenty self-identified female authors writing about Intersectionality, including women of color, and members of the disability, trans, and GLB/ GSD* (Gender and Sexual Diversities) communities. We have curated amazing short fiction, flash fiction, poetry, essays, and art. It’s personal, political, and a great read.

This collection includes Hugo Award Nominees, Tiptree Shortlists, Pushcart Prize Winners, USA Today Bestsellers, indie superstars and traditionally published talents alike. The anthology combines leading and new voices all proclaiming their identity as Women, and their ability to Roar.

My Review:
This is a collection of stories, poems, and art from female authors collected into an anthology for charitable sale. All proceeds will be given to The Pixel Project to support the production of films that will highlight, and hopefully end, violence against women.

The stories are not related in any way. They are diverse, with characters who are of color, disabled, of varying ages, and in various states of control regarding their lives and opportunities. All together these stories represent many people, all female, who are taking steps toward empowerment. The tone varies from story to story, but you should expect all of them to resound with desire to better their situation. From the African woman whose husband abuses her and her daughters finally taking a stand, to the wheelchair-bound woman fighting Social Security to get her due benefits, to the elderly woman, shamed at the lack of interest she receives from her only child–the one she continually sacrifices herself for, these women want a life free of drama, and pain, and suffering. And they deserve it. And they take it, make it happen.

These are very uplifting messages. The characters empower themselves. Oh, how I gloried with the octagenarian stealing her own car back from her shiftless daughter. Oh, how I giggled when Captain Obvious had to cool his heels so the narrator could tour with Star Girl. Oh, how I felt the rage of gamer girls /deleted by hate speech, or Lilith’s impotence when Ya gave Adam the power to name all in creation. There are so many points of view to experience in this collection.

Length of each offering varies from short poems to longer stories. There’s a little bit for everyone.

Interested? You can find MOSAICS on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win the mega giveaway, including a Kindle Fire, a $50 gift card, and a paperback library!

ALSO!!! For those who dig Facebook parties, there’s a launch party tomorrow March 8th beginning at 9am CDT. Tons of giveaways to be had! Click here for more info.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Crime Most Foul–CAPTIVE PRINCE-A Review

Hi there! Today I’m catching up with the whirlwind that is C.S. Pacat. Her CAPTIVE PRINCE trilogy began as a net sensation and is now a three-book M/M fantasy romance adventure that is a bestseller. I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole on these books, and cannot be more grateful. Fantastic fiction. Let us press on!

Captive Prince (Captive Prince, #1)About the book:
“This was Vere, voluptuous and decadent, country of honeyed poison”

Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the truthful heir to the throne of Akielos, but when his half brother seizes power, Damen is captured, stripped of his identity and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave.

Beautiful, manipulative and deadly, his new master Prince Laurent epitomizes the worst of the court at Vere. But in the lethal political web of the Veretian court, nothing is as it seems, and when Damen finds himself caught up in a play for the throne, he must work together with Laurent to survive and save his country.

For Damen, there is just one rule: never, ever reveal his true identity. Because the one man Damen needs is the one man who has more reason to hate him than anyone else…

My Review:
This is a fantastic read. It’s not a M/M romance, per se, but the beginning of one, perhaps.

The action begins with Prince Damianos of Akelios being captured, stripped and bound as a pleasure slave to Prince Laurent of Vere. Akelios and Vere are enemy nations under a tentative truce since their last war 6 years ago. The decisive battle in this war was the one where both the king and first born son were killed, and Damianos had bested the prince in hand to hand combat on the field. Prince Laurent, only 13 at the time, was too young to take the crown and Vere has been held by the Regent king, Laurent’s pedophilic and profiteering uncle. “Damen” as Damianos is dubbed, has been made a particular gift for Laurent–who at 20 years of age is ten months shy of his coronation–by Damen’s half-brother who has unlawfully assumed control of Akelios. See, everyone thinks Damianos has died, tragically, allowing the crown to fall to the usurper.

This is a taut political drama with plenty of intrigue. Laurent wants nothing to do with Damen. He hates all Akelians due to the loss of his father and brother in battle with them. He also hates his uncle, which this reader suspects has something to do with the Regent king’s sexual proclivities and Laurent’s own frigidity.

This is not a romance. Damen is smart enough to understand that his life hangs in a very dangerous balance. Were any of the Veretians to learn his identity he’d be killed. In the meantime, Laurent spares little thought to brutalizing Damen. There is a wary respect that develops as Damen makes requests that confuse and intrigue Laurent, particularly regarding the disposition of two dozen Akelian pleasure slaves that languish in Vere. True to the insight of Tsun Su, one can expect that Laurent knows his life is also in a precarious position. Ten months remain until he takes the throne and it seems his uncle has played a very deep game to cement his further rule.

This book is titled Volume One, and is part of a richly-written series. It ends with Damen and Laurent at a rapprochement. Laurent needs soldiers who will defend him against his uncle’s schemes, and Damen knows that Laurent staying alive is the only thing keeping Vere from waging war on a divided Akelios. Keep you enemies closer, indeed.

Interested? You can find CAPTIVE PRINCE on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author:
C.S. Pacat is a Melbourne writer. Her first series the Captive Prince trilogy began its life as an original web serial. Self-published in 2013 to critical and commercial success and acclaim, the Captive Prince trilogy was acquired by Penguin, and will be published worldwide in 2015.

You can find Ms. Pacat on her website, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Tasty Revelations WHEN ADAM FELL–Review and Giveaway!

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Hi there! Today I’m happy to share my review of a new contemporary M/M romance from Pat Henshaw. WHEN ADAM FELL is a reconnection romance from Ms. Henshaw’s Foothills Pride series. As you know I liked BEHR FACTS, so I was eager to read this one.

Don’t forget to catch the excerpt below and be sure to enter to win one of THREE $10 Starbucks gift cards.

WhenAdamFellFSAbout the book:
When his lover Jason’s drug addiction spiraled out of control, TV celebrity chef and cookbook author Adam de Leon walked away from him. Adam also abandoned his renowned restaurant in San Francisco to start a small bistro in the Sierra Foothills.
Five years later Adam is battling the conservative leaders of Stone Acres, California, to open a new restaurant in historic Old Town when Jason turns up on his doorstep—a recovered Jason, now going by the name David and claiming he’s overcome his addictions. What’s more, he begs Adam to take him back and says he’s ready for their happily ever after.

Adam has enough on his plate with problems plaguing the opening of his restaurant. And now he’s having a hard time deciding which to follow—his head or his heart.

I watched Jason rise from the stoop.
He looked good. His golden hair sparkled in the day’s first light. A happy smile tinged with nervousness spread across his lips. He was wearing a silver-gray Bogner jacket, some sort of expensive pants, and sturdy boots. Hanging from his shirt collar, his sunglasses looked like those high-priced titanium ones. All in all, the guy standing in front of me could easily have fit into the young, hip app crowd now flooding the valley. Too much money and no idea where to spend it. He looked like a guy who’d eat at the Bistro and then fucking strut up to me after dinner, put a wad of Franklins in my pocket, and whisper, “Quit this job and come cook for me.”
Nothing tempted me, especially not the hundred-dollar bills I’d thought were Monopoly money the first time I’d seen them. Nothing had moved me like this, seeing Jason rise straight up in front of me like a fucking miracle.
Standing there in my scuffed clogs, beat-up jeans, and ratty Stanford Cardinal T-shirt, I felt underdressed for this particular dream. Shouldn’t I at least be wearing my chef’s regalia, toque and all? Shouldn’t I have a Henckel in one hand and a Wüsthof in the other? Or maybe clutching a shield made of my cooking classics, which I’d written with an angry, tormented mind but a clear eye to royalties?
“Cat got your tongue?” the vision asked.
“Fucking A, man. Is it really you, Jason?”
“Sorta. Who else would come knocking at your door looking like me?” He flung his arms out like he wanted me to hug him or some shit.
I backed away and kept my hands to myself, though my dick perked up immediately. Did Jason have a twin or a younger brother, somebody who resembled him? I didn’t think so. All I’d thought for five years was nobody—and I mean nobody—could ever have come back from where my Jason had buried himself. At least I never thought so.
There’ve been moments in my life when I was sure I was losing my mind. When I knew whatever tenuous grasp on reality I thought I had was really smoke up my ass. This moment smacked of those. As the legendary John Fogerty sang and the great Yogi Berra is supposed to have said, it was like déjà vu all over again. Only not.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked. Suspicion tasted bitter on my tongue.
Slowly his arms came down, and he gave me a pained but understanding look.
“Yeah, well, it was too much to hope we’d just kiss and make up.” His husky croak had once made me roll over and do anything he asked, but not now. “Can I come in? It’s a little chilly out here.”
I wasn’t cold, but then I’m tall and stout, a real cliché chef image. Fuck, I guess somebody’s got to be the cliché, right? It’s how clichés are born.
I shrugged at his question, swiped at the sweat rolling from my forehead, and moved aside. “Kitchen’s downstairs.” I gestured to the steps.
He walked past me, letting his hand trail over my groin. Once I would have nearly come at the gesture. Now I ignored my dick because my mind was numb and had been for years. He might think he could reawaken my love and lust, but I was pretty fucking sure that ship had sailed and gotten lost at sea.

My Review:
This is the fourth book in a series, but can be enjoyed on it’s own.

Adam is a world-weary celebrity chef who’s always lamented the loss of his first love, Jason. They were two scared kids growing up in Stone Acres and left for San Francisco the first chance they had. While Adam scrabbled to become a chef, Jason was at his side, but things got muddled. Jason started using drugs and their partnership spiraled with his addiction until it hit rock bottom. Adam had to walk away, fearing that the only man he’d ever loved likely died alone.

Then, five years later, Jason appears on the stoop of Adam’s restaurant. And he’s not the emaciated shell Adam remembers. Now calling himself David, instead of his middle name Jason, he’s the pretty boy Adam fell in love with back in high school all growed up. Having had his heart broken once, Adaom’s wary, but every move David makes seems complimentary to Adam’s purpose. He’s the support gruff “thug chef” Adam always wished for.

The Foothills series is set in a town that’s rebelling against the influx of neuvo riche citizens out of the Bay area, particularly gay citizens. Each book has some drama related to a business enterprise and the meager attempts of citizenry or the town council to upset the progress. I’d really love for these conflicts to have a bit more meat on their bones. Chef Adam has to contend with vandalism and harassment, but he–and his trusty posse of gay entrepreneurs–seem to have the rapscallions bested before the first volley is even launched.

David, for his part, is a changed man who beat back addiction one app at a time. I would have loved to get into his head a bit. He’s the one carrying the guilt of their first failed love story, and while he’s apologetic, energetic and committed I never really got a sense of his struggle. I liked how he asserted himself, with Adam and with childhood tormentors, and felt he was a good guy–just the same as Adam did. I just would have liked more of his story and more of his angst. There had to be enormous challenges for him, in his past and also seeking this reunion with Adam. I wanted to experience his vulnerabilities, and was disappointed that I didn’t.

The book’s a romance, but it’s also a walk in Adam’s life. It’s not been easy, and he’s battled through. One of his adversaries noted that Adam’s a survivor, and he is, but he leaves the book far better off than surviving. Reuniting with David is the key ingredient his adult life had lacked. Do not expect any steam from this one. It’s breezy and shiny with a “we’ll conquer their town!” spirit that’s just a shade light. I’m always happy to see bullies and bigots get shafted, and you can expect that happens here.

Interested? You can find WHEN ADAM FELL on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press, Amazon (US and UK), Barnes & Noble, AllRomance and Kobo.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win one of THREE $10 Starbucks gift cards.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Pat Henshaw, author of the Foothills Pride Stories, was born and raised in Nebraska where she promptly left the cold and snow after college, living at various times in Texas, Colorado, Northern Virginia, and Northern California. Pat enjoys travel, having visited Mexico, Canada, Europe, Nicaragua, Thailand, and Egypt, and Europe, including a cruise down the Danube.

Now retired, Pat has spent her life surrounded by words: Teaching English composition at the junior college level; writing book reviews for newspapers, magazines, and websites; helping students find information as a librarian; and promoting PBS television programs.

Her triumphs are raising two incredible daughters who daily amaze her with their power and compassion. Fortunately, her incredibly supportive husband keeps her grounded in reality when she threatens to drift away while writing fiction.

Catch Pat on her website, Facebook, Amazon, twitter, and check out the Foothills Pride website for more deets on the series.

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Faith, Friendship and Love: THE BEST LAID PLANS–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new MMF menage romance from Lauren Gallagher. This author has many hats, and many names. I’ve really enjoyed several of her books, including LEAD ME NOT, WHAT HE LEFT BEHIND, and LONE WOLF. THE BEST LAID PLANS is a little different as it’s not a gay, or M/M, romance. It features a committed married gay couple who want desperately to have a child and continue to be denied adoption due to one of the characters being Muslim. Then one of their dearest friends volunteers to be a surrogate…and life get complicated.

The Best Laid PlansAbout the book:
It’s a foolproof strategy…until the emotional balance shifts.

After yet another adoption falls through, Gabe is ready to give up, and Shahid isn’t far behind him. Apparently, being a gay couple—half of which is Muslim—is just one strike too many for the powers that be.

When their friend Kendra offers to carry their baby for them, both men balk at first, but gradually warm to the idea. Especially Gabe, whose bisexuality is open to the chemistry among the three of them.

The plan seems simple. Kendra and Gabe, foregoing the cold, impersonal IVF clinic, paperwork and red tape, will conceive the old-fashioned way. They’ll all share parenting responsibilities, and live happily baby after.

But as the heat flares between Gabe and Kendra, Shahid’s long-suppressed insecurities bubble to the surface. Then some unexpected news catches the trio off guard and derails their plans—and now one heart could be left out in the cold.

Warning: Authors subsist on the tears of readers. Please recycle your hankies by wringing out and reusing. We’d hate to be the cause of a worldwide shortage of Kleenex.

My Review:
This is a contemporary MMF menage romance between a married gay couple and a woman who volunteers to be a surrogate. Expect MM, MF, MMF and MFM pairings.

Gabe and Shahid have been together since college. Eleven years of monogamy, married, with a home they’d love to fill with children. They’ve been trying to adopt for years, but the process has been stymied three times when mothers back out on account of Shahid being an observant Muslim. Gabe is completely in love with his husband, even though their clash of religion makes life uncomfortable with his devoutly Roman Catholic family. Their rather callous insensitivity to Muslim customs and law is a constant aggravation, and Shahid’s grueling work schedule as an ER nurse precludes more than one or two visits annually, and never during christian holidays. (Because Shahid is a boss and takes double shifts so his christian co-workers can spend Christmas and Easter with their families…). Plus, Gabe’s bisexual, and wouldn’t life be easier with a woman. Or, not a Muslim… (These aren’t words that they speak, but the intent has been there all along, and don’t think Shahid isn’t sensitive to this. Because, trust me…he is.)

When this latest adoption falls through, Gabe’s work colleague (they are both high school science teachers and cross-country coaches) Kendra begins to consider offering herself for surrogacy. She’s been divorced from her cheating husband for three years and can’t seem to find a good man to date. Gabe and Shahid were her rocks through the divorce and it’s aftermath. They are all good friends, often spending movie nights and meals together. Kendra and Gabe have a solid friendship, and while Kendra’s not convinced she wants the own children yet, it pains her to see both Gabe and Shahid suffer without. After some soul searching she makes the offer.

Gabe and Shahid are gobsmacked, wary and curious. Neither man really wants to go through IVF–for religious and medical reasons–and Kendra’s a dear friend, willing to undertake Operation Pregnancy in the old-fashioned way: knocking boots… Shahid’s old jealousies regarding Gabe’s bisexuality are dusted off and presented afresh. Would Gabe leave him for Kendra? Again, and again, Shahid’s feared Gabe walking away, simply because of the complexities of their religious and familial detente. They all agree to think it over. A lot.

Shahid prays over it, and considers it. Kendra’s offer may be their one and only shot at parenthood. He agrees to see if Gabe and Kendra are compatible. Boy are they. And while it’s awkward and weird and fraught with complexity, Gabe having a taste of Kendra ramps his desire for Shahid up x 1000. (Not that they EVER had an issue with intimacy before.) The aftermath, however, results in Gabe offering to have Shahid present at their next tryst–so he can be a part of the process, and not feel excluded. And Kendra’s down for it. She’s always found both Shahid and Gabe attractive, and she so wants to help them–and not make it weird. The results are sexy-sexy. Shahid’s stunned at how aroused he is with Kendra in the middle. His fears of being excluded are invalidated; though he’s not particularly attracted to Kendra, the experience is mighty arousing. Shahid’s a confirmed gay man, though. That remains the same… well, mostly the same.

Fast forward, and there’s gong to be heartache. I was just as nervous that Shahid’s fears for Gabe and Kendra would be realized, and they are to a degree. This is a complicated relationship. Three dear friends, two committed spouses and a third, finding a love within each other. One that satisfies a need for family that Gabe and Shahid had been experiencing. I really loved how the intricacies of this all got discussed, rationally, and in detail. I loved Kendra, for her heart, and her selflessness. I didn’t want her to be alone when all was said and done.

What was really intriguing was the issue of faith. Shahid’s faith is strong. He’s observant in his religion, more so than Gabe and far more than Kendra. He’s in constant reflection of his actions, and decisions and if Allah would approve. For him, all things come from Allah, and that included Gabe, who initially approached Shahid under the guise of better understanding Islam in their comparative religions class. Though we do not have any contact with Shahid’s family, his reflections tell the reader that they are kind, compassionate people who are also faithful and believe that their son is who Allah intended him to be. I’m not sure if this is “pie in the sky” hopefulness, but the representation of a well-adjusted Muslim-American family (Shahid emigrated with his family from Pakistan when he was four) with a beloved gay son was powerful for me, from a diversity standpoint.

I also loved that the HEA actually hinged on what had been a source of conflict at the beginning: Shahid’s religion. I don’t believe it was convenient, either, because these characters all had a whole lot of suffering to get through before they got there. It’s an emotional read, with a lot of sexy moments, too. I don’t think the author left an unanswered questions for the reader, which was nice. This kind of story, an evolution of the standard relationship, is often tricky to balance. The characters are all good, kind, decent people who make good, kind, decent decisions 99% of the time. I have a hard time believing readers will not love all of them.

Interested? You can find THE BEST LAID PLANS on Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Author:
Lauren Gallagher is an abnormal romance writer who has recently been exiled from the glittering utopia of Omaha, Nebraska, to an undisclosed location in South America. Along with her husband, a harem of concubines, and a phosphorescent porcupine, she remains, as always, in hiding from the Polynesian Mafia. For the moment, she seems to have eluded her nemesis, M/M romance author L.A. Witt, but figures L.A. will eventually become bored with the wilds of Spain and come looking for her. And when that time comes, Lauren will be ready. Assuming L.A. doesn’t have her hands full keeping track of Lori A. Witt and Ann Gallagher, which she probably will.

Visit her website, Facebook, and twitter.

Fierce Love: RISE OF THE ALPHA SQUIRREL–Review and Giveaway!

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Hi there! Today I’m bursting with excitement over another weresquirrel novella from Kate Lowell. RISE OF THE ALPHA SQUIRREL is a rollicking tale about a weresquirrel and the human he adores above all sense and hazelnuts. Well, maybe most hazelnuts. You know I loved NUTS ABOUT YOU, and this second book in the Nutty Romances series was just as charming.

Catch my review, the plush giveaway and a fun excerpt from this world…

RiseoftheAlphaSquirrelfinalAbout the book:
Nathan’s met Vince’s family, but Vince hasn’t met Nathan’s, and Nathan would like to keep it that way. Holy smoked almonds, what else do you do when you know how completely nuts your relatives are?

Why, you ease your man into it, by introducing him to normal shifters. Assuming you can find any.

But with a gossipy werehummingbird spreading the news, and a pair of young red pandas wreaking havoc with their fainting goat friends, Nathan’s about ready to climb into a pine cone and pull it in after him.

Then the local playboy weremoose hears about Vince, and Nathan has to find his inner alpha or the consequences will be worse than moldy hazelnuts.

How about a savory nibble?

“Breakfast,” Vince said and waved a hand toward the table.

It was a squirrel’s wet dream. Or it would have been, if good-enough-to-lick-all-over-then-eat Vince hadn’t been sitting on the other side of the table. Maybe he could say it was any other squirrel’s wet dream—whatever, it was the breakfast of Roman squirrel emperors.

A pile of thick, deep brown pancakes waited for him in the center of his plate. Raspberries and shaved almonds sprawled seductively over the side of the stack, glistening with sweet, sticky maple syrup. Some of the less audacious ones hid decorously beneath the edges of a heavy daub of whipped cream, but Nathan knew they were there, waiting for him to discover them. He could see them peeking diffidently out, uncertain whether they wanted to attract his attention or not.

And the best part—the most gorgeous massage therapist in the world was sitting across the table from him, watching him with eyes that were dark in more than just the usual way. He looked at Nathan like Nathan was a maple walnut ice cream with a peanut dip. Like he wanted to lick him all over and suck bits of him deep inside his mouth…

My Review:
Nathan is back, and he wants to keep Vince all to himself. He’s definitely head over tail for his sexy human, but he’s getting the vibe that Vince wants to take their relationship the next level: meeting the parents. Vince’s folks adore Nathan, and Nathan doesn’t want Vince to meet his truly crazy family.

Instead, he decides to compromise by bringing Vince out to a shifter campground to meet some friends that Nathan’s fairly sure will welcome a human in their midst. The first misstep occurs when Nathan and Vince stop in for supplies at Nathan’s friend Charlie’s store–that werehummingbird couldn’t keep a secret if his wings depended upon it.

The adventure gets more ridiculous by the moment when their campsite is invaded by red pandas, kids (the juvenile goat variety), Charlie and a rather pompous weremoose. I really dug the way these shifters were initially wary of Vince, but melted once they got to know him. It was also fun to see young shifters frolicking and running amok, unwilling to control either their shifting or their urges for food or affection. It totally charmed me that Vince was so openly accepted by the orphaned red pandas.

Like the first novella, there’s lots of sexual tension throughout. Nathan and Vince are equally smitten, but Nathan’s terrified that another shifter will be more attractive as a partner. Vince is supportive and rightfully indignant with Nathan’s fear that Vince could be wooed away. The showdown for supremacy was hysterical, and hard fought. Nathan truly is an Alpha Squirrel. There’s some sticky sexytimes at the end, and a promise for further antics to come. I’m eager to read on in this series!

Interested? You can find RISE OF THE ALPHA SQUIRREL on Goodreads, Amazon and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a ruby-thrated hummingbird! (stuffed, and not a werehummingbird, either!)
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

fake book 2 copyBonus scene from the completely fictional mind of Kate Lowell:

Appendix A: What to Buy to Disguise Your Baby as Human
Babies and young children don’t always have the strongest control over their shifts, nor can one say that they have a developed sense of when is a good time to shift, and when would be a good time to choose their human form.

But, there are clothing choices you can make which can ease the risk of discovery and severe hysterics on the part of your neighbors.

The first, and easiest, option is a simple pair of sunglasses to hide their eyes. If more coverage is desired, humans also produce a line of glasses with fake noses attached, though babies may find the hair on the underside of the nose to be either bothersome or a temptation.

In more extreme situations, or when an older child proves incapable of sufficiently controlling their appearance, a tiny costume, such as those worn during the human holiday of Halloween, will cover any errors of appearance such as fins or a tail.

Ah, the travails of shifter parenthood…

About the author:
Kate Lowell lives on the east coast of Canada, in an old farm house that has way more personality than it has any right to. During the winter, she spends her time dreading snow, cursing at snow, shoveling snow, and scheming ways to shove it down the kids’ necks. During the summer, she prays not to have snow. 🙂

Kate likes to play in ALL the sandboxes. While her main genres are paranormal and contemporary suspense, she is also interested in science fiction, fantasy and–weirdly–romantic comedy. She’s willing to pay large amounts of money to anyone who can come up with plot-bunny repellent, which she will first use on herself, then sell to LA Witt for an exorbitant price to recoup her costs.

You can contact her at katelowellbooks (at) gmail.com . If you think you’d like to try writing gay romance, come visit her critique group (Link can be found at http://katelowell.com). New members are always welcome.

You can catch up with Kate on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Goodreads.
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Battling the CURSE OF THE SPHINX–Review and Giveaway!

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Hi there! I’m happy to share a review for a new YA romance adventure from Raye Wagner. CURSE OF THE SPHINX is a contemporary imagining of a world where Greek Gods still rule, immortal demigods and monsters walk among mortals, and murderous Skia keep the balance. It was rather inventive and thoroughly engaging.

Check out my review below, and be sure to enter the giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card.

cursecoverbiggerAbout the book:
How long can a monster stay hidden in plain sight?

Seventeen year-old Hope Nicholas has spent her entire life on the run. But no one is chasing her. In fact, no one even knows she exists. With her mom, she’s traveled from town to town and school to school, barely staying long enough to meet anyone, let alone make friends. And she’ll have to keep it that way. It’s safer.

When her mother is brutally ripped away from her, Hope’s life shatters. Is this the fulfillment of Apollo’s curse, murder from the shadow monsters of the Underworld? Or, have the demigods finally found her? Orphaned and alone, Hope flees again, but this time there’s no one to teach her who to trust—or how to love.

Set in a universe where mythology is alive and well in the modern world, Curse of the Sphinx irresistibly blends action, suspense and romance.

My Review:
This is a fun YA spin on contemporary mythology. The gods of Greece still rule from afar and their sired children, demigods, walk amongst the mortals. They are not many in number, and are often collected into conservatories in order to keep them safe from Skia, the spawn of Hades who hunt them and bring them to the Underworld. All of society understands that gods exist, or did, and kids learn Mythology as a regular subject in school. Much like the demigods of yore, monsters of myth live, too.

Hope is trapped in a curse that spans thousands of years. Her grandmother was the famed Sphinx at Thebes, and each female offspring is immortal, a monster and untouchable by any other than Apollo or his sons. Hope’s mother fell for a mortal and sealed the curse of Apollo–and was punished for it. Orphaned and alone at age 16, Hope must find a way to survive her curse, and also society. She moves to a small town in eastern Washington and endeavors to get past her grief.

It’s not easy. She has plenty of money, thanks to her grandmother’s golden treasure, but she’s never been on her own. She knows she should keep moving, running from the Skia that she sees with more and more regularity, but she has managed to make friends for the first time in her life. Plus, being a vagabond brings another element of vulnerability that Hope cannot truly contend with.

Athan, a new student in school seems to charm everyone–except Hope. She’s upset with the world, though, and his sympathy eventually allows him access to her isolated realm. Expect the usual high school cattiness. I liked how Hope stood up for herself, and attempted to right wrongs. Her grief was deep, and her world so sheltered. She’s not sure what to do with the growing feelings she has for Athan, but she’s not willing to tell him her true secret. When she learns he’s a demigod her brief respite must end. She’s got to get on the road. Now. Or, so she thinks.

I really liked all the supernatural elements of this one. The prose is a mostly effortless read with plenty of tension scattered throughout. Athan’s a swaggering boy, but he drops that act once he gets to know Hope. He could never have guessed her true nature, but he handles the big secret very, very well. It’s not ideal for him to love Hope, mostly because his father, Hermes, has some big plans to use Hope as a frustration to Apollo. That said, Athan acts honorably. This is a bit of YA romance, but it’s completely clean and age-appropriate. Well, if you don’t count the violence. For some reason violence is far more acceptable behavior for teens than sexytimes, but I digress.

All-in-all, the plot is interesting, Hope’s big secret is different from one I’ve read before, and the book ends with new trouble on the horizon. So expect a MILD cliffhanger because the next book seems to be a completely new adventure for Hope. Not a problem for me, as this is a series I’d gladly dive into.

Interested? You can find CURSE OF THE SPHINX on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

raye wagnerAbout the Author:
Raye Wagner grew up in Seattle, the second of eight children, and learned to escape chaos through the pages of fiction. As a youth, she read the likes of David Eddings, Leon Uris, and Jane Austen. Inspired by a fictional character, Raye pursued a career in nursing, thinking to help the world one patient at a time. One summer afternoon, when her then young children were playing in the pool, a plot dropped into her head, and she started writing.

She enjoys baking, puzzles, Tae Kwon Do, and the sound of waves lapping at the sand. She lives with her husband and three children in Middle Tennessee. Origin of the Sphinx, a novella detailing the story leading up to the creation of the mythological creature, is her first publication. It is the beginning of the Sphinx series.

You can catch up to Raye online on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

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Going For It: LOVERS LEAP–A Review

Hi there! I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary M/M romance out today from JL Merrow. I’ve loved several of her books already–OUT! PLAYED! and To Love A Traitor–so I jumped at this one. LOVERS LEAP is a funny odd couple romance between a young budding chef and the big, burly, gift from Poseidon he rescues from the waters off the Isle of Wight.

Lovers LeapAbout the book:

If they looked, would they ever leap?

Good-looking, confident, and doted on by his widowed mum, Michael is used to thinking only of himself. Getting shoved off an Isle of Wight pier by an exasperated ex ought to come as a wake-up call—but then he meets Rufus and he’s right back to letting the little head take charge. Rufus is cute, keen, and gets under Michael’s skin in a disturbing way.

Would-be chef Rufus can’t believe his luck when a dripping wet dream of a man walks out of the sea on his birthday, especially when Michael ends up staying at the family B&B. Life is perfect—at least until Michael has to go home to the mainland.

Rufus can’t leave the island for reasons he’s entirely neglected to mention. And though Michael identifies as bi, breaking his mum’s heart by coming out and having an actual relationship with a guy has never been his plan. With both men determined to keep their secrets, a leap of faith could land them in deep water.

My Review:
4.5 Stars for this humorous and heart felt contemporary M/M romance.

Michael is the youngest of four children, by a ten year margin, and the only son. His father died before Michael was born, so he’s been highly sheltered and protected by his mother and three older sisters. Micheal is a closet bisexual, as he’s sure his mother won’t approve of him with a bloke. Michael is visiting the Isle of Wight in February with his girlfriend of three weeks, Trix, and deciding right then that he’s rather tired of her–at which point she pops The Question. His stammered refusal results in Michael swiftly plummeting off Sandown Pier and into the water.

Rufus Kewell is a leapling–a child born on Leap Day and he’s strolling under Sandown Pier when he crosses a dripping Michael–clearly a gift from Poseidon for his “fifth” (20th!!) birthday. There’s some humorous banter and it’s not long before Michael’s forgetting all about his wet adventure in bed with dear young Rufus. Rufus was born and raised on Wight, and stays on as cook for the B & B that his father and stepmother run. In order to keep it afloat, Rufus has turned down all offers to leave the island to go train as a chef in restaurants on the mainland.

During the course of several days Rufus and Michael get tightly acquainted. But Rufus won’t leave Wight (he claims fear of the water crossing) and Michael won’t tell his mother about having a boyfriend. For these two, they need to take a leap of faith to make it work.

This is such a rollicking, sweet tale, with aggressive, obnoxious and obtuse Michael swaggering his way in to Rufus’ life. And, for Michael, Rufus’ tender charms and selflessness make him want to reach beyond his self-centeredness and be a stronger man. There were some tough love moments carried by Rufus’ best friend, Liz, and even Trix as they both try to convince Rufus that Michael is no good for him. Also, Liz wants Rufus to man-up and go to culinary school. And, there’s a poignant and difficult ordeal with Michael’s staunchly Catholic mum.  I really liked the sentiment and comedy of errors that this plot followed. Plus, a Love Shack was not only located, it was employed. Such fun.

I pretty much inhaled the book in one early morning read. The one thing I might have loved more: more sexytimes. Things got a bit subdued on that front early. *tuts* That said, it’s a fun one filled with delightful Briticisms, great banter and a few praises to Poseidon. Take the leap!

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

About the Author:
JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.

She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.

JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.

Find JL Merrow online on her website, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!