Reviews

Books I’ve read and reviewed

Love Happens WHERE THE GRASS IS GREENER–Review & Giveaway

Grass Banner
Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for WHERE THE GRASS IS GREENER, a contemporary M/M romance that blends two of my fave guys in love, an Irishman and a cowboy! Though this is the second book in a series, this is easily a standalone romance from Raine O’Tierney and Debbie McGowan and I very much enjoyed it.

Don’t forget to scroll down and enter the book giveaways for Raine and Debbie!

DMRO_WTGIG_533x800About the book:
Mistakes were made, that’s for sure. But was it the night of passion? Or walking away afterward?That’s the question Seamus Williams must face when he gets a late night phone call from someone he never expects to hear from again.
“I miss you, Shay.”

Chancey Bo Clearwater is a cowboy through and through. He spends his days finding work on whatever ranch will take him and his nights at the pool hall. He’s always done what needed doing and never thought much about what he wanted. ’Til that drunken night with Seamus.

A world of problems now stand between Seamus and Chancey exploring what might have been, the least of which being the Atlantic Ocean. On one side there’s Chancey’s daughter who mood swings from angel to demon in two seconds flat; on the other there’s the new lodger, hogging Shay’s telly and his cornflakes, and making private Skype time hard to come by.

Is this relationship doomed before it ever begins? Or can a surprise announcement from Seamus’s brother be enough to help the two find their second chance?
Where the Grass is Greener features Seamus Williams – the older brother of Patrick from Leaving Flowers.

How about a little taste?

“You’re quiet today, Seamus. What’s up?” the landlord asked.
“Just tired, is all. Got a leaky roof and the fecker was drippin’ all the damn night. And didn’t I get up this morning and kick the bucket?”
“You look alive and well to me, so you do. I say well…you look like shite.”
“Yeah, thanks very much. Think I’ll go join the lads, see if I can’t get a few more insults thrown at me.”
Seamus gave the landlord a wry grin and went over to the others, who were already well into the first of the three games they got in every lunchtime. He watched one of them take a bad shot and accidentally pot the black, the clunking of the ball as it rolled its way through the machinery of the table setting Seamus’s teeth on edge. John was right: he was dog-tired and probably did look like shite. He’d barely slept after the missed call, trying to decide whether to return it or not. His mind played tricks on him, one minute convincing him it was urgent and he should call back, the next telling him to stay strong. He’d made the move. He’d come back to Ireland. That’s what he’d wanted all along.
He had wanted it. Ever since Mam died, his sights had been set on coming home. He’d only stayed for Paddy’s sake, and now Paddy had Aidan there was nothing to keep Seamus in the States, although he was no further away from his brother now than he had been in Kansas. Never mind that he’d already made the decision before he knew Aidan even existed. No. It was a good decision. He was just—
He already knew, before he pulled his phone from his pocket: same Kansas number, same caller. His thumb hovered over the red button. Reject the call. Reject the call.
He answered.
“Seamus Williams.”
“At last! I thought I was calling a wrong number. Man, it’s so good to hear your voice.”
“Er, yeah. Yours too. What’s up? Has something happened?”
“Nothing new. I just…”
The rapid-hard thump of Seamus’s heart filled the pause, two seconds, three, four, and more. He drew breath to speak, but there was nothing to be said. Or nothing he should say.
“I miss you, Shay.”
***
The first call had been a drunk dial. Thank the heavenly father that Seamus Williams hadn’t picked up. Lord, the shit that might have come tumbling out of Chancey’s mouth. Now he was dead sober, but only slightly more composed. Had he really just said he’d missed Seamus? He tried for a laugh. It sounded as fake as it felt. Well he had missed Seamus. Nothin’ wrong with that.
“You gonna say somethin’?” He knew he was putting on the accent. Drawing out his vowels, droppings his g’s. His grandmother—who was from south Texas and who had an accent so deep it was digging itself a hole to the centre of the Earth—used to yell at him when he’d get lazy with his words.
You jus’ sound ign’rant, Chancey Bo Clearwater. Full name, cue snickering cousins, and young Chancey sank down low in his chair, ashamed at the way he sounded despite the fact they all talked just alike. The accent followed him when he moved to Oklahoma, where he picked up a whole set of strange ‘O’s, and even having lived in Kansas now for the better part of his life, it was still there underneath, just waiting to crop up in stressful situations.
“I didn’t expect to hear from you, that’s all.”
“Surprise.” He was trying for friendly, for calm. Trying to keep the I wanna put my fist through the wall and did you really mean to let me find out through Lulu? out of his voice.
“Isn’t this call costing you a million dollars?”
“Skype. On my phone. I bought minutes, y’know?”
“Is that right then?”
“But I didn’t think. It’s probably charging you too.”
“It’s fine.”
Is it? Seamus sure as hell wasn’t saying much. There was a long pause as Chancey considered his next move. He’d called because he’d wanted to talk. Not talk. Not like that. Nothing to say on that front. Seamus had made it all as clear as crystal dropped in the mud when he’d left his parting message with Lulu down at the pool hall, Rack ’Em. In a last-ditch effort, Chancey said the only thing he could think: “Boss Tina asked after you the other day when I went around for work.”
That got a laugh out of Seamus, which gave Chancey more relief than he cared to admit.

My Review:
Seamus and Chancey were ranch hands on a Kansas ranch. They’d known each other for years, had a solid friendship, and shared one night of drunken passion. And then Seamus left without a goodbye. He returned to Ireland, bought a cottage and tried to put aside his desire for the man he wasn’t sure he could keep.

He’s still unsure 10 months later when his phone rings and it’s Chancey. That Texas drawl alternately chills and heats his blood. Like Seamus, Chancey’s bisexual–though neither of the men had acted on their urges until that night. Even more stunning than Chancey’s call is his admission–that he missed Seamus.

There begins something that Seamus had been too afraid to hope for: a connection to Chancey. Naturally, it would come when there were 4000 miles and an ocean separating them. Still, it is likely that distance which allowed both men to be honest, and inordinately brave. They begin to Skype, video sexytimes being far more enjoyable than phone sex, but life gets in the way. Chancey’s got a teenaged daughter, Dee, and a hellcat of an ex-wife who’s out on the road searching for her fame and fortune. Being both dad and mom is an exhausting experience, and it leaves little time for even cyber-dating.

Plus, Seamus feels compelled to take in one of his work crew when the boy is kicked out of his home after coming out. The cottage isn’t big, and it cramps Seamus’ arousal. Though there’s a plan brewing for a return to the States–and a potential rendezvous with Chancey. Is it meant to be for them? Will Dee accept their relationship? Will Chancey’s ex be even more of a self-serving human?

I just adored this book. I’m not sure there are readers who can withstand the lure of not only an Irishman, but also a cowboy. The swoons! I wasn’t sure if I stepped into THE QUIET MAN or BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, but in any case I was enchanted by this quiet romance. Seamus and Chancey are lonely men who develop a connection as friends and then lovers. They struggle with coming out. They struggle with finding time for each other. Their lives are complicated, but they find a way through–to each other.

Really, the storytelling was beautiful. This is a long slow burn, with many fits and starts. We get to see deeply into each man’s world, and understand his experiences, thanks to the dual POV. I really admired Chancey’s relationship with Dee. He’s a fantastic father, and just protective enough. Man, Dee is a quintessential 13 y/o. The boys. The catty friendship angst. The sorrow over being fifth, or lower, on her mother’s list of priorities. Even when I wanted to smack her, I loved her. And, yes, she is one potty-mouthed girl. #HeckYeah

Seamus is a tentative man, quite used to moving on. He’s never had such strong feelings for anyone as Chancey and he’s afraid to admit it to himself, but he finds the courage to admit it to Chancey.

The ending was so spectacular. I ached for it, and I was rewarded for my patience, much like Chancey and Seamus. I can only wonder how their new life together will turn out. I think I’ll go search the clover for a shamrock. I gotta wish these guys some luck.

Interested? You can find WHERE THE GRASS IS GREENER on Goodreads, Beaten Track Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win an e-copy of one Debbie McGowan titles and an e-copy of one Raine O’Tierney titles. (winner’s preference of file type and title)
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the authors:
DEBBIE McGOWAN is an author and publisher based in a semi-rural corner of Lancashire, England. She writes character-driven, realist fiction, celebrating life, love and relationships. A working class girl, she ‘ran away’ to London at seventeen, was homeless, unemployed and then homeless again, interspersed with animal rights activism (all legal, honest ;)) and volunteer work as a mental health advocate. At twenty-five, she went back to college to study social science— tough with two toddlers, but they had a ‘stay at home’ dad, so it worked itself out. These days, the toddlers are young women (much to their chagrin), and Debbie teaches undergraduate students, writes novels and runs an independent publishing company, occasionally grabbing an hour of sleep where she can.

You can find Debbie online on her website, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Tumblr.

RAINE O’TIERNEY wants to change the world…one sweet story at a time.
Known as “The Queen of the Sweetness” (well, a few people have said it anyway!) Raine loves writing sweet, character-driven stories about first loves, first times, fidelity, forever-endings and…friskiness? In addition to her solo works, she’s one half of a collaborative team with author Debbie McGowan.
When she’s not writing, Raine is either playing video games or fighting the good fight for intellectual freedom at her library day job. She believes the best thing we can do in life is be kind to one another, and she enjoys encouraging fellow writers.
Contact her if you’re interested in talking about point-and-click adventure games or discussing which dachshunds are the best kinds of dachshunds!

Raine online on her website, LGBT Author Interviews, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
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Traveling a ROUGH ROAD-A Review

Today I’m sharing a review for Vanessa North’s ROUGH ROAD, a contemporary M/M BDSM romance. It the sequel to DOUBLE UP, which I greatly enjoyed. This time, it’s Ben’s best friend, Eddie, who is finding his perfect match. Perhaps…

Rough Road (Lake Lovelace, #2)About the Book:
Eddie Russell is many things: A wealthy pillar of the community. An outrageous flirt. A doting best friend. A masochist with a kink for brawling with his bedmates. But he is definitely not a man who invites intimacy. His friends are close but few, his lovers rarer still.

When Eddie runs his Mercedes off the road on a hot July afternoon, Wish Carver comes to his aid—and leaves his number in Eddie’s phone. Wish, a road crew worker half Eddie’s age and sexy as sin, seems fascinated by Eddie’s different sides. Mutual attraction and compatible kinks ignite the sheets, but it’s their connection outside the bedroom that Eddie begins to crave.

When the two come down on opposite sides of a local issue, Eddie finds his growing feelings for Wish at odds with his business interests and his devotion to his best friend, local wakeboarding legend Ben Warren. Torn between old loyalties and his new love, Eddie is reluctant to make a choice. But he knows he can’t make Wish wait too long to make up his mind.

My Review:
This is the second book in a series, and is probably best enjoyed if read in order. That said, it can be read as a standalone.

Eddie Russell is a 44 y/o flamboyant gay man. He’s been that way since he was unceremoniously outed in his teens, and he’s had a chip on his shoulder ever since. He’s wealthy, owning a boat dealership in Lake Lovelace, FL. He’s embarrased by his wealth, most of the time. Still, he knows having his money helps his friends, most notably Ben. Ben is currently engaged to Davis, and they are planning their wedding. So, why can’t Eddie be happy for them? Does Eddie’s love for Ben include attraction? Or, is it simply the deep love of a longtime friend?

This is a big issue for Eddie to contemplate, because–when he meets strapping, young, sexy “Wish”–Eddie’s not sure if he can see a future for himself. See, Wish is a 22 y/o road construction worker. He’s been staying near Lake Lovelace due to a current road improvement project and the recent relocation of his sick mother to his brother’s home. Wish likes Florida, and would like to stay–which can only happen if the new bridge project widening the access to Lake Lovelace gets funded. Unfortunately, the proposed site of the construction would take out Eddie’s boat dealership and Ben’s pro shop. Eddie’s opposed, and politically connected–which is a problem for his fledgling relationship with Wish. His campaign against the bridge has very real implications for Wish’s ability to stick around.

I loved the straight talk in this book. Wish has no compunctions with calling Eddie on his BS. Eddie has all sorts of reasons why he and Wish shouldn’t start anything, but the plain fact is, Wish is a strong Dom, one who can control a bossy sub, like Eddie. The sexytimes are often very physical, definitely pushing the edge of rough play. Eddie likes it VERY rough, and has no qualms about blood play and deep bruising. It was this need which kept Eddie from seeking a permanent relationship with Ben. I think Ben and Eddie have a very strong relationship, and their discussions only strengthen these emotional bonds, while still providing freedom for both men to find happiness.

Wish is a breath of fresh air for Eddie, who’d been in a serious rut. The end doesn’t turn out right without the candor and hopefulness that both Eddie and Wish share. I adored the deep rapport they build, and the fantastic sexytimes were a delicious bonus. HAWT!

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

Vanessa NorthAbout the Author:
Author of over a dozen novels, novellas, and short stories, Vanessa North delights in giving happy-ever-afters to characters who don’t think they deserve them. Relentless curiosity led her to take up knitting and run a few marathons “just to see if she could.” She started writing for the same reason. Her very patient husband pretends not to notice when her hobbies take over the house. Living and writing in Northwest Georgia, she finds her attempts to keep a quiet home are frequently thwarted by twin boy-children and a very, very large dog.

You can catch up with Vanessa on her website, Goodreads, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Becoming ONE MARINE, HERO–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m reviewing a new release from EM Lynley. ONE MARINE, HERO is a contemporary military M/M romance that features a broken hero and a disillusioned reporter finding love–and danger.

One Marine, HeroAbout the book:
He’s a hero to everyone but himself.
Marine helicopter pilot Captain Jake Woodley struggles after receiving the Medal of Honor for a mission where he didn’t bring every man back alive. Being called a hero and having his photo plastered across the news makes him hate himself more. He despises his cushy job flying with the Marine One squadron, carrying the president and other officials, when he’d rather risk something, even death. He gets his wish when he’s ordered to fly a series of classified trips.

Matt “Beau” Beaumont has been relegated to covering the fashion beat after getting downsized from a hard-news position. But an unexpected invitation to a White House dinner might be the boost his career needs. Offering a hot marine an after-dinner blowjob wasn’t on Beau’s agenda, but when Jake takes him up on the proposition, some phenomenal casual sex soon blossoms into a relationship both of them crave.

When Beau’s extracurricular research uncovers defense department funding anomalies, he soon discovers the trouble goes higher than he imagined. Just as events start to make sense, the investigation puts Beau and Jake in deadly danger. It takes a daring play by Jake—risking everything he loves—to uncover the truth

My Review:
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Captain Jake Woodley is a marine helicopter pilot who survived a crash in Afghanistan and came home hailed as a hero. He’s suffering PTSD and survivor’s guilt, but doesn’t seek treatment because it will ground him from active duty. He is part of the crew that pilots helicopters for the Prez, VP and press corps. He doesn’t want to give this up, and instead spends his off-flight duty hours getting blind drunk. While attending a White House party, he’s approached by Matt “Beau” Beaumont–and given an indecent proposal, one Jake doesn’t turn down.

They spend that night together and decide on more–which is new for Jake. He’s never “come out” because he’s never wanted a relationship, but this changes with Beau.

Beau is a fashion reporter, a big demotion from his downsized DC newspaper reporting job. He’s kinda sensitive over this, and finds Jake’s esteemed position to be admirable and intimidating. In the effort to boost himself to a new byline, Matt undertakes some investigative reporting–which plays into the intrigue subplot that takes over the second half of the book.

Jake’s alcoholism is a problem at work, and it seems he’s being given strange assignments as a result–he begins to wonder if he’s being set-up as a fall guy. And Beau is unwilling to be with a drunk; he’s lived that life before. It’s clear that Jake is struggling, but he works hard, not only for his career, but also for Beau’s approval.

I did like this book. The author adds unique details from her experience at White House events, and also as a helicopter pilot. I also liked the hurt/comfort aspect of the story. I honestly wished for a bit more romantic development–and some more intriguing sexytimes. That said, the mystery subplot was and interesting twist I hadn’t anticipated. It built into a high stakes game that led to injury and further hurt/comfort…and the relationship between Jake and Beau took a bit of a beating, before the end came. Expect some tears.

Interested? You can find ONE MARINE, HERO on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance.

EM LynleyAbout the Author:
EM Lynley writes gay erotic romance. She loves books where the hero gets the guy and the loving is 11 on a scale of 10. Her Precious Gems series is best described as “Indiana Jones meets Romancing the Stone”—only gayer. The Delectable series is Gay Romance with Taste.

A Rainbow Award winner and EPPIE finalist, EM has worked in high finance, high tech, and in the wine industry, though she’d rather be writing hot, romantic man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.

She is the author of Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells, the Precious Gems series from Dreamspinner Press, and the Rewriting History series starring a sexy jewel thief, among others. Her books are available in print and e-book from Amazon & other book distributors.

You can find EM Lynley on Goodreads, her website, Facebook, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Introducing the Ludzecky family! Review & Giveaway

The Ludzecky Sister Series BannerHi there Today I’m sharing my review for a new contemporary romance series, The Ludzecky Sisters, from Kathryn Shay. I’ve had the chance to read the first book, and enjoyed it.

There’s a whole lotta extras in this post, and a giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card, so keep reading!

Begin Again (The Ludzecky Sisters Book 1)About the book:

BEGIN AGAIN tells the story of Paulina Ludzecky who, since her husband died three years ago, runs a contracting business with her twin, Antonia. She’s ready to dip her toes in romance, when she meets Adam Armstrong, the architect on the new music hall her company is building.

For Adam, opposites attract and he’s drawn to this no-nonsense, down-to-earth girl next door. She’s equally interested in him though he’s too different from her to settle down with. But alpha male Adam has other plans for Paulina and isn’t about to let her go, even when Paulina has trouble with committing to him. Sex, yes! Love, no! This second chance at love story will tug on your heartstrings.

And a taster!

The Ludzecky family was well acquainted with tragedy, but none as horrific as this one.

The matriarch, Donuta Ludzecky, affectionately known as Matka, sat in the front pew of a Catholic church next to her best friend, Rosie Pettrone. The woman had suffered the worst loss any mother could have visited on her—losing a child or, in this case, losing two. Twin boys. Twenty-eight years old. The driver of a truck had barreled through a red light and crumpled the front of the car. The boys were killed instantly. They had been married to Paulina and Antonia, Donuta’s two daughters. Like the good Polish woman that she was, Donuta sat stalwart, holding back any display of her own emotions. Of course, she suffered with and for her friend. But she also could not help thinking of the effect this obscene event would have on her eight children.

Her gaze traveled first to her twin girls, dressed in black, shoulders hunched, sitting on either side of Rosie. Antonia had dissolved into tears the moment they had walked into church and had not stopped crying. Lukasz had to take care of her two-year-old son, who cried into his uncle’s chest. Paulina, stronger both physically and emotionally than Nia, had slid her arms around her boys, and remained stone-faced. The crying would come later for her, Donuta knew. And their lives would never be the same without their men. Donuta had learned that fact from the death of her own husband when she was in her forties.

My Review:
This is the first book in a series about a Polish-American family and the love they share. Adult contemporary romance.

Paulina is the youngest of a long line of Ludzeckys. Well, she and her twin, Antonia. She and “Nia” shared more than the womb; they married twin brothers, their high school sweethearts, who were tragically killed in a car wreck three years ago. Since then Paulina and Nia moved into their childhood home with their mother, raising their three children together. And, after three years of grief and celibacy, Paulina is branching out. Beginning to date.

This is a hurt/comfort story about a family that is moving past tragedy. Paulina likes a colleague, Adam Armstrong, who is the architect of a new structure Paulina and Nia’s construction company are building. That’s right these ladies are builders–they shared the company with their husbands and continue to run it on the day-to-day. Paulina is attracted to Adam, and they agree to a no-strings relationship. Mostly because Paulina doesn’t want to get involved. Adam agreed, never suspecting he’d fall hard for the competitive tomboy who’d much rather a picnic and a beer than champagne at a gala. She’s nothing like the women he usually dates, and it blows his mind how strong he feels toward her.

Of course, Paulina is protective of her twin sons, and won’t let Adam meet them–or any of her family. They develop a nice bond, always at arm’s length–until Adam wants more. Much more.

This is a bittersweet story, with a solid resolution. There are some ensemble aspects, with the POV mostly centered on Paulina and Adam, but occasionally shifts to Matka (matriarch of the Ludzeky family) and Nia. Nia is a woman who cannot let go–she desperately mourns her lost love, and it’s affecting both her young son Sal and Paulina. I was touched by the constant love of Paulina’s large and boisterous family. They are really so sweet, and Adam is a likable guy. I ached for his frustration with Paulina’s reticence.

There’s a bit of sexytimes, but nothing too graphic. I think I’d have liked a bit more story, but there’s more to come with this series, so I’ll likely learn more about them in the future.

Interested? You can find BEGIN AGAIN on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

And, if you like the first one, guess what? There’s a whole lotta Ludzecky to go around…

Primary Colors (The Ludzecky Sisters Book 2)Primary Colors (Ludzecky Sisters Series, #2)

In PRIMARY COLORS, Nia Ludzecky Pettrone is stuck in her grief and can’t find a way out of her sorrow over the untimely death of her beloved husband. Then she meets famous modern artist Rafe Castle, and she’s intrigued by his gentle demeanor and lack of arrogance. When he shows interest in giving her son the confidence and skills to nurture his budding art talent, she starts falling for him. Still, she finds it hard to leave the past behind and embrace love after loss.

Rafe is definitely interested in a relationship with Nia. If he has his way, she’ll come to love him and he vows to be patient. But when she rejects him in the most elemental of ways, can he control the comparison to past hurts she resurrects for him?

A taste!

Nia glanced up to see Rafe Castle approaching them. Before he greeted any of them, he knelt down so he was eye-level with Sal. How thoughtful. “You did good, Salvador. Just like your namesake.”

“What’s a namesake?” Ben asked.

Sal announced proudly, “Who you’re named after.”

“Our Uncle Salvador?”

A male chuckle from the artist. “Nope. I told him I bet he has roots going back to Salvador Dali, the famous twentieth-century artist.”

“Like you, Rafe.” Nia noticed Sal used his first name. “You said maybe you got roots to…who was it?”

“A painter from the Renaissance time period. Raphael Sanzio da Urbino.”

“Yeah, that’s him.”

Standing, Rafe turned his gaze to Nia. “Mrs. Pettrone?”

Nia cleared her throat. Though she’d seen pictures of him online since the school chose him for this position, his physical presence was daunting. Those navy eyes focused on her, increasing their effect. “Yes, I’m Sal’s mother.”

“You’re son’s very talented.”

“So you said.”

This one’s going to be a heart-tearer, I’m sure!

Interested? Find PRIMARY COLORS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes.

Risky Business (The Ludzecky Sisters Book 3)Risky Business (Ludzecky Sisters Series #3)

Magdalena Ludzecky is a career woman extraordinaire. A child prodigy, she’s worked her way into a successful private equity firm by the time she was twenty-four. Seven years later, she’s still the gentle, good-hearted sister who hasn’t forgotten her roots, but in business she’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s a woman who has everything, including Logan Price, her coworker and her best friend outside of the family. They support each other through tragedy and loss, vacation together and make million dollar deals together.

But suddenly, they find attraction growing between them. And no, they both think, this can’t happen! They like the status quo. An office romance is unthinkable. It doesn’t seem to be up to them, though, as fate intervenes and brings them together as lovers. Yet fate can be cruel, too, and pulls them apart when Logan’s circumstances change dramatically. Does this friends to lovers romance have a chance or are Logan and Magdalena going to lose each other forever?

A taste!

Magdalena stomach knotted. “What’s most important to me is to have you in my life, Logan. I don’t want to lose that.”

“Yeah, kind of like that saying you use. ‘Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.’”

“Right. Things are great now between us. I’m afraid that will change.”

Straightening, he faced her. “Then I don’t think we should let this go further. I don’t want to take the chance.”

The disappointment was almost overwhelming. Still she eked out, “All right.”

“You sure you agree?”

“I do, Logan. I promise, I’d tell you the truth about something so important. I am disappointed. More than. But this is the right thing to do.”

He stood. “I’m going to take a shower.” He shook his head. “A cold one. When I return, we start over. Let’s not ever mention what happened.” He held out his hand. “Deal, partner?”

“It’s a deal, Logan.” She meant it, though she held on to him a little longer than she should.

And as she watched him leave, she knew she hadn’t lied to him. She did think this was for the best. She just wished she didn’t feel sad about it.

Interested? You can find RISKY BUSINESS on Goodreads, Amazon,  Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

The Way We Were (The Ludzecky Sisters Book 4)The Way We Were (Ludzecky Sisters Series #4)

Ana Ludzecky had it all—a sexy husband, a beautiful daughter, her dream house and the best extended family in the world. Then, tragedy strikes them and her life turns upside down. Unable to bear the suffering of her sisters, she makes some bad choices that eventually lead to the dissolution of her marriage.

Dr. Jared Creswell, a professor at Mount Mary College, always believed he and Ana would last forever. He’s never loved anybody like he loved her. But a year after the tragedy, she’s still suffering because of the horrific events her family suffered. Jared weakens and makes the biggest mistake of his life.

When their daughter is stricken with a rare kidney disorder, both Ana and Jared must come together to see her through this difficult time. Will his and Ana’s past love be rekindled or have they put it out forever? You’ll root for these two who’ve been dealt a bad hand in life and are trying to find their second chance at love.

A taste!

“The dinner was awesome, Daddy.” Opal smiled at her father like she always did, as if he’d hung the moon.

“I’m glad you liked it, princess.”

“Mom does, too.” Her dark-haired, green-eyed daughter looked over at Ana. “Right, Mom?”

“Yep, my favorite of all your dad’s dishes.”

“Did you know, Opalinski­”—his Polish nickname for her—“that I made this meal for Mom the first Valentine’s Day after you were born?” Opal had turned ten in October.

“How come you didn’t go out for dinner?”

Ana steeled her heart against the story and transferred her gaze to the family room, where a fire blazed in the hearth and could be seen from the table in the kitchen. Jared had been living here because Opal had to have surgery in a week and he’d insisted he be close to her. Ana had nixed the idea of Opal at his house; instead, he’d moved into the home they used to share. But it was harder than she imagined it would be. These reminiscences were as difficult to listen to as much as rereading the notes Jared, a literary man, had written to her all their lives together.

“We had a babysitter all lined up—Aunt Magdalena. But when she got here, your mother started to cry.” His expression, when he turned to Ana, was the one he used to give her when he loved her. “She didn’t want to leave you on your first Valentine’s Day. So I went out to the store, got ingredients for this dish, and we ate at home.”

And, Ana thought, made sweet love that night. Memories of how good they were together devastated her, so she stood. “I’ll clean up.”

Jared’s gaze intensified. God, it wasn’t fair that he looked better at thirty-nine than when she’d met him. He had a touch of gray hair at his temples, but it made his eyes stand out like emeralds, even when he wore his glasses. “Does that have to be done right away?”

Interested? You can find THE WAY WE WERE on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

Handle with Care (The Ludzecky Sisters Book 5)Handle with Care (Ludzecky Sisters Series #5)

Of all the Ludzecky sisters, Sofia is the calmest one. She’s had to be. Diagnosed with leukemia at sixteen, the disease has affected her entire life. When bad things have happened to her—her father’s death, her Secret Service sister and brother getting shot, the deaths of her brothers-in-law–Sofia has gone into herself and found the strength to help them out and also take care of herself. The easy going, laid back lifestyle suits her and she likes it. Her chosen profession is as a yoga instructor and owner of Serenity Yoga, which enhances this way of living.

 

Football Coach Max Walker doesn’t know what to make of this sweet, demure and pretty woman who is hired by his high school to teach yoga to students. But he’s part of the Physical Education department and has to deal with her every day. Soon he comes to learn how special she is, and though he steered clear of romance with another teacher, he’s drawn to her. But she shies away from him—big time. Why? Women usually flock to Max.

Little does he know that his outgoing personality, his rabid bent for competition and his boisterous athletic family upset her. Opposites attract is not true in her case. But Max wants her, and he’s always gotten what he wants.

A taste!

Sophia sighed. “I’m sorry we’re getting off on the wrong foot, Max. All I was suggesting was that you and your team could be better if you did yoga poses and breathing exercises. I was hoping some of the guys would sign up for the fall session.”

“Ain’t gonna happen.”

“Obviously not, with you as a role model.”

He sat up straight and his fist clenched on the table.

Leaning in, she put her hand over it and felt the tension. She was surprised he didn’t snatch it back. “Again, I apologize. We have a difference of opinion on this. I won’t bring it up again.”

“Yeah, sure, that’d be okay.”

“On one condition.”

Now his gaze narrowed. “What?”

“Come to Serenity Yoga, my studio. Take a few classes. They don’t have to be from me. But we’ll do it free of charge. If your experience there doesn’t convince you that you’re not in as good shape as you think, I’ll be silenced till the end of time.”

As soon as she touched him, Max went off-kilter. He stared at their hands, her small one covering his big paw. Both strength and comfort transferred from her to him. He couldn’t explain it. He raised his head. It was a mistake. She wasn’t exactly pretty, though the long hair, hanging down her back in a braid, was probably stunning spread across a guy’s pillow. In her eyes, he saw…what the hell was that? Confidence. Security. Ah…peace. Which he longed for all of a sudden.

Interested? You can find HANDLE WITH CARE on Goodreads,
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

Love Story (The Ludzecky Sisters Book 6)Love Story (Ludzecky Sisters Series #6)

Elizabeita Ludzecky is two different women: one the risk-taking, hip, wild child in the Ludzecky family. Her other side is the Rhodes Scholar and businesswoman who works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The problem is she doesn’t know which is the real her. But what she does understand is the secret she carries inside her, and how it’s helped her survive a family fraught with tragedy.

Hardened cop Nick Casella decides to leave the NYPD because of his distaste for anti-police sentiment that developed after several high profile shootings were not prosecuted in the courts. But he’s asked to be part of a task force for the NYPD, an undercover unit specializing in unique crimes. He’s sent to the Met, ostensibly as a new employee do to set ups and other odd jobs. The famous museum has been besieged by odd emails, hackers and maybe even a stalker.

Nick works with Elizabeita when they put up a new exhibit and, at first, is not at all charmed by her winsomeness, her upbeat attitude about life or her sexy charisma. She’s a baby anyway, as he has more than a decade on her. But she’s getting the emails, too, and might be a victim, so he has to spend time with her. When she sets her sights on him, his first instinct is to run in the other direction. Soon, that changes dramatically. With secret and lies as the basis of a relationship, especially an older man/younger woman romance, does it have any chance of surviving?

A Taste!

Nick read further. “Passionate touching. Short bursts of energy that disarm your partner.”

“I love surprises.”

“I’ll remember that. It involves unexpected full-body hugs. Out-of-the-blue squeezes of the buttocks. Face cradling. You can do that to me anytime, babe.”

She laughed. And the devil danced in her eyes. “The next is sensual touching.”

“Of course it is. That’s what this is leading up to, right?”

“No. The last one is sexual touching. Learning your partner’s erogenous zones.”

“I think we’ve got that covered.”

“We’re nowhere near there yet. Lay flat out on your stomach.”

She straddled him and started with light pressure on his shoulders. After a while, she dug her fingers into his muscles. He hadn’t realized how tight they were. He’d been missing workouts during this assignment. “You can go a little harder.” She did, for another few minutes. Then she eased off him and the bed.

“I’ll be right back.”

When she returned, he opened one eye. “What’d you get?”

Without answering, she knelt next to him and put something warm on his upper back.

“Man, Lizzie, that’s sinful.”

“Change in temperature awakens the body.”

“I don’t think I have that problem with you, hot stuff.”

“Hush.”

While the towel soothed his muscles, she ran her fingers down his spine. Slow at first. Then she did it quickly and exerted more pressure. “The article says to change the tempo.”

“Lucky me.”

After a moment, she leaned over him and opened the nightstand drawer. “What are you doing?”

“Keep your eyes closed.”

He heard a buzz. She spread his legs and then something touched the inside of his thigh. Something vibrating. “Holy shit, Lizzie, is that…?”

“Yep. It is. Now enjoy. We have the whole weekend to spend like this.”

Nick was sure he’d died and gone to heaven. Suddenly, all he could think about was her and what she was doing to him.

And he couldn’t remember the last time he was this happy.

Interested? You can find LOVE STORY on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopeter link for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

ks.candid.1[1]About the Author:
A NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author, Kathryn Shay has been a lifelong writer and teacher. She has written dozens of self-published original romance titles, print books with the Berkley Publishing Group and Harlequin Enterprises and mainstream women’s fiction with Bold Strokes Books. She has won five RT Book Reviews awards, four Golden Quills, four Holt Medallions, the Bookseller’s Best Award, Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year and several “Starred Reviews.” Her novels have been serialized in COSMOPOLITAN magazine and featured in USA TODAY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL and PEOPLE magazine. There are over five million copies of her books in print, along with hundreds of thousands downloaded online. Reviewers have call her work “emotional and heart-wrenching.”

Find Kathy Shay on her website, Facebook, twitter, Goodreads and Pinterest.

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Cephalopod Coffeehouse Sept 2015–THE SCORPION RULES–A Review

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Hi there! Welcome one and all to the Cephalopod Coffeehouse, a cozy gathering of book lovers, meeting to discuss their thoughts regarding the tomes they enjoyed most over the previous month. Pull up a chair, order your cappuccino and join in the fun.

This month I’m sharing THE SCORPION RULES, a YA dystopian story by Erin Bow. Set 400 years in the future, the world is a very different place and peace is kept by means of hostage exchange where the children of world leaders are kept and educated together–and executed if factions go to war. It was a slow build, but a wild ride.

The Scorpion Rules (Prisoners of Peace, #1)My Review:
4.5 Stars, I think. I’m pretty sure, in fact. There was something that captivated me in this story. There were things that didn’t work, too, but mostly it got me. Or, I got it. Or, something.

This is a YA dystopian story of survival, in a way–excepting the fact that we know from the start that the main character, Greta, will die. Yep. Greta Gustafson Stuart Duchess of Halifax and Crown Princess of the Pan Polar Confederacy, next-in-line for the throne, will die.

Here’s how:
She is a hostage, sheltered and educated in one of Preceptures for royal hostages. This is Earth, 400 years into the future. Earth ruled by alliances that one hadn’t dreamed possible, but that’s what happens when the ice caps melt, there’s widespread famine, and wars to end all wars have ravaged the globe enough to hand the control of the orbiting weapons systems over to AI in order to save humanity.

Talis, specifically, was the UN AI in charge of conflict abatement. And he stopped the wars.

I saw the plague pits, I saw the starving armies, and eventually I…
Well, it was my job, wasn’t it? I saved you.
I started by blowing up cities.

By city number seven–Fresno, because no one’s gonna miss that–I had everyone’s attention. I told them to stop shooting each other. And they did.
But of course it couldn’t be that easy.

The general terror led to a global stand down, and now Talis enforces peace by “making it personal”–essentially keeping a Child from each territorial ruler as a hostage. This Child of Peace will be killed if that ruler goes to war. Simple, brilliant, and effective. Despite marginal resources on a global scale, there have been modest amounts of incursion, and fewer wars.

Greta is a Child of Peace, raised in the 4th Precepture since age 5. She regularly visits home to her mother–like all Children of Peace–so as to reinforce the family bond, but her actual home has been on a self-sustaining farm in what was once Saskatchewan. Now 16 she has grown up around other Children of Peace, her cellmate Xie, who is considered to be descended from a Goddess in her homeland, and Atta whose people consider him a prophet, among others. They work hard raising goats for milk and cheese, fruit and vegetables and grains and honey–all the foodstuffs they require, and they learn about war, and peace and philosophy. Greta is an excellent student, but Greta’s time is coming close. She knows because her land has water (Lake Ontario) and the people to the south, the new Cumberland Alliance, cannot survive on the dregs of Lake Erie. When a Child arrives from their current War Secretary, Elian, Greta recognizes that her life is likely numbered in months, or even weeks.

Elian is like no other Child of Peace. He was raised in his home, with his parents. His Grandmother rules the Cumberland Alliance. He knows there will be war, and he knows he’s been sent to die, and he will not go quietly.

The Precepture is guarded by electronic monitors that use electric shock to keep the peace. As Elian soon discovers, he will be tortured until he is compliant. Greta and her comrades have seen nothing of resistance in their years there. Being raised from early childhood they learned to comply, to code their speech so that it didn’t sound insubordinate or revolutionary, but Elian has no scruples, and his torture breaks something open in Greta. She was resigned to death, but perhaps it doesn’t need to be something she accepts.

I was caught in the state of constant readiness, alongside Greta. Most of her comrades are safe from the threat of death, by virtue of having no encroaching enemies, or too much power in their region. Greta and Elian should be enemies, but she cannot hate him. It is not his fault their people are at the brink of war. This is where the usual dynamic goes awry. People will expect Greta to fall for the bad-boy rebel Elian, and she does, but not the usual way.

He did not seem happy about it. “I don’t get it. From the day they dragged me here, I was going to die–we were both going to die–and you were okay with that.”
“I was wrong.”

There are a whole lot of fantastic, unprecedented changes in store for the Children of Peace, not least of which is meeting a hostile enemy and the savior of the human race.

At no point does Greta become a soppy mess of a lovesick girl. She does change and affection comes, but it is unexpected and bittersweet.

“You don’t love me.”
“Oh, Elian.” It was not that simple. Not nearly. “I–I’m sixteen years old. And I’ve been asleep my whole life.”

“You woke me up, Elian Palnik.”

I found the almost Stockholm syndrome scenario of Greta’s world to be intriguing. She knew that her mother could not/would not save her. She was resigned to sacrifice, and yet, she made choices that enabled her a modicum of freedom, in a way. A death of her choosing. Greta dies, but she also lives on–and not in a martyred memory. She is wise and she is capable–the unelected leader of the Children of Peace in her Precepture. She reaches out for help, and she sways a god. In her cool and calculating mind she finds a middle passage that saves hundreds of thousands, and, in particular, the one she promised to save.

There is a love story here, but it is not between Greta and Elian. He is boy she hardly knows. No, Greta finds love with the people she has leaned on throughout her childhood. That love she never allowed herself to experience, fearing she would lose it, becomes a purpose in her final hours.

If I was going to put my life down–as Wilma had–then I wanted to mourn it. I wanted to regret it, and fiercely. Maybe the grey room would kill me, and maybe not, but one way or another it would transform me, and this life would be done. I wanted to be alive before that happened. I wanted to be alive before I died, and I wanted death to terrify me, not slip in like a long expected guest.

As for the book, there were parts I wanted to move faster, that then became important later. Those deft touches, and full-circling, brought my enjoyment back when it began to falter. There was a sharpness to the narration, a gallows humor, that kept the prose light. I did not weep for Greta. I did admire her, and I expect that her sacrifice will bring change to her world. And that’s the best compliment I can give to a protagonist.

Interested? You can find THE SCORPION RULES on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Also, libraries will be getting this one soon, fo sho.

Thanks for popping in. Please stop by my fellow Coffeehouse reviewers and catch their fave books of the month. And, as always, keep reading my friends.

Taking Love AGAINST THE GRAIN–A Review

Hi there! I’m so excited to get back to my THIRDS fixation. I started this series about a year ago with HELL AND HIGH WATER, then BLOOD AND THUNDER, RACK AND RUIN and I had savored every minute of RISE AND FALL, but it was a while before I got AGAINST THE GRAIN into my hands!

How I missed my sexy shifters! This series follows a squad of THIRDS police agents made up of humans and Therians–who have the power to shift at will into ferocious animals. The first four books of the series focused on the relationship between human Dexter J Daley and his partner and commander, a jaguar Therian Names Sloane Brodie. This fifth book is filled with the love story between lion Therian Ash Keeler (Sloane’s best friend) and cheetah Therian Cael Maddox(Dex’s adopted brother. And it is SOOOOO good.

Against the Grain (THIRDS #5)About the Book:
As the fiercest Defense Agent at the THIRDS, Destructive Delta’s Ash Keeler is foul-mouthed and foul-tempered. But his hard-lined approach always yields results, evident by his recent infiltration of the Coalition. Thanks to Ash’s skills and the help of his team, they finally put an end to the murdering extremist group for good, though not before Ash takes a bullet to save teammate Cael Maddock. As a result, Ash’s secrets start to surface, and he can no longer ignore what’s in his heart.

Cael Maddock is no stranger to heartache. As a Recon Agent for Destructive Delta, he has successfully maneuvered through the urban jungle that is New York City, picking up his own scars along the way. Yet nothing he’s ever faced has been more of a challenge than the heart of Ash Keeler, his supposedly straight teammate. Being in love isn’t the only danger he and Ash face as wounds reopen and new secrets emerge, forcing them to question old loyalties.

My Review:
This books is best enjoyed after reading the previous books in the series. When this book opens, Cael and Ash are still healing from wounds sustained in the previous story. That said, they are finally developing the bonds that Cael has long hoped to build. Sure, they had been the closest of friends, and definitely affectionate, but it had never gone past the occasional tender kiss, or cuddling. Cael wants more, and Ash wants more, but Ash has a long history of self-loathing.

As a child, Ash had feelings for another boy, and a series of tragic incidences chased him far from his love and all the people he held dear. He grew up in a testing facility for cast off Therians, alongside Sloane Brodie. Ash survived the emotional and physical testing to later join THIRDS as one of the first agents in the program. He’s kept his heart held tight, but now he’s thinking there’s one person who would keep it safe: Cael.

This is a definite hurt/comfort story, with both Ash and Cael working toward the kind of relationship they have always desired. In the background we have another diabolical plot hatching–one which had first come to light in BLOOD AND THUNDER but the full extent is only now being revealed. Someone has been developing a drug to control Therians in their animal form–creating drones with ultimate killing capability and no consciousness or conscience to stop them. Ash and Sloane are among the targeted, due to their history as Therian test subjects. It’s a dangerous and covert business, getting control of the drug before it’s used, and might put Cael in specific danger, as well.

I really enjoyed the cafeul relationship building. Just because Ash and Cael have been close for several years, Ash is stunned to learn of Cael’s tragic pre-THIRDS history. Ash knows he needs to tread carefully, but it’s not that long before he recognizes that he can’t be the man Cael needs without taking chances on love. There’s a lot of vulnerability here, and super sweet steps toward coupledom. I think THIRDS fans will be well-satisfied.

Interested? You can find AGAINST THE GRAIN on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press (eBook & Paperback) All Romance eBooks, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Charlie CochetAbout the Author:
Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!

Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

Website | THIRDS HQ | Facebook | Facebook Author Page | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Instagram | Charlie’s Newsletter | Email: charlie@charliecochet.com

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Learning How TO LOVE A TRAITOR–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a new historical M/M Romance from JL Merrow. TO LOVE A TRAITOR is a quiet intrigue set in the immediate aftermath of what was once called “The Great War,” but we now call WWI. I really enjoyed this slow burn, between a man who mourns his brother, and the person who may have been responsible for his brother’s death. I read PLAYED! by this author, and enjoyed her work enough to seek out another book.

To Love a TraitorAbout the book:
Wounds of the heart take the longest to heal.

When solicitor’s clerk George Johnson moves into a rented London room in the winter of 1920, it’s with a secret goal: to find out if his fellow lodger, Matthew Connaught, is the wartime traitor who cost George’s adored older brother his life.

Yet as he gets to know Matthew—an irrepressibly cheerful ad man whose missing arm hasn’t dimmed his smile—George begins to lose sight of his mission.

As Matthew’s advances become ever harder to resist, George tries to convince himself his brother’s death was just the luck of the draw, and to forget he’s hiding a secret of his own. His true identity—and an act of conscience that shamed his family.

But as their mutual attraction grows, so does George’s desperation to know the truth about what happened that day in Ypres. If only to prove Matthew innocent—even if it means losing the man he’s come to love.

Warning: Contains larks in the snow, stiff upper lips, shadows of the Great War, and one man working undercover while another tries to lure him under the covers.

My Review:
Roger George Cottingham is a scourge to his noble family. The younger son, a bookish sort, continually passed over for affection by his parents in favor of his gregarious elder brother, Hugh, Roger knows he’s second best. When it was time to enlist in the war against the Hessians, he balked. No, he didn’t just balk, this Cambridge-educated man who speaks several languages refused to join up–knowing he was unable to kill a man. He was jailed for a miserable year as a Conscientious Objector before he was sprung and worked as a cryptographer for the Navy.

Hugh was killed in a mission that seems quite dodgy on its surface. Roger’s been tasked by Hugh’s bereaved fiance (and Roger’s close childhood friend) to find out if there’s truth to the rumor that Hugh’s espionage mission was leaked to the enemy beforehand. Inquiries have led Roger to a boardinghouse, home to Matthew Connaught, an amputee veteran of the war–and the man who Hugh replaced in the covert mission. Roger takes a room at the house under the pseudonym, George Johnson, in order to befriend Matthew, and glean information regarding Hugh’s death–information which might implicate Matthew as a spy.

Trouble is, Matthew is a fantastic man. He’s upbeat, and lovely, and he and George immediately hit it off. Not only that, George is attracted to Matthew–and it seems that Matthew may return his interest. For George this is a revelation that is fraught with pain. Could he possibly be falling for the man who had a part in Hugh’s death?

All of his instincts say no, that Matthew is too kind and honest a man to have been a spy, but the deeper he gets involved, the more he recognizes that Matthew has some deep secrets–and he knows more about Hugh’s death than George could have predicted.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. Do not expect a lot of steam–though there is some, for sure. George has a day of reckoning in his future, and his inquiries result in peace for more than one family–though it causes a significant amount of distress for Matthew, and himself. For his part, Matthew finds himself in more than one uncomfortable position, and his confessions are a balm to George, as well as Hugh’s fiance. I ached for George throughout. He’s been abandoned and cast off his whole life, and Matthew provides the compassionate friend and partner that George has been too afraid to admit needing. This is a true hurt/comfort story, with an HEA for men who’ve suffered much, and carry on in the face of grief and loss. Plus, the historical details were a delight. I truly felt as if transported to that era, and was glad for it.

Interested? You can find TO LOVE A TRAITOR on Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance. 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.

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

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Hiding OUR LITTLE SECRET–Review & Giveaway

OLS BT bannerHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for OUR LITTLE SECRET, a contemporary YA romance from Ashelyn Drake. This one is quite the quandary: the best friend, or the boyfriend…

Make sure to pop down and enter the Amazon gift card and book swag giveaway!

OLSAbout the book:
Becca Daniels needs a passing math grade…but what she wants is to spend more time with Toby Michaels. The only problem is Toby is her best friend’s twin, and Tori has a very firm “no dating the brother” policy.

But Becca’s grade has hit rock bottom and she needs a tutor. It just so happens that Toby is a math genius and more than happy to help—lucky her! Working so closely with the handsome, popular Toby, Becca can’t hide her attraction, and it soon becomes obvious he feels the same way.

Becca doesn’t want to lose her best friend, but she isn’t willing to give up Toby either.

At first, sneaking around is fun, stealing kisses right under Tori’s nose. But things take an ugly turn when Toby’s ex-girlfriend Meredith catches them together. Meredith demands Toby take her back and restore her reputation, or she’ll tell Tori their secret. Do they dare tell Tori the truth? Or would that just make things worse?

Surrounded by secrets and knee-deep in deception, something has to give. How far is Meredith willing to go to keep Toby and Becca apart?

And how much is Becca willing to risk to keep…Our Little Secret?

My Review:
Becca is a junior in high school, as is her BFF Tori and Tori’s twin brother, Toby. Becca has known the twins for more then ten years, and has been best friends with Tori nearly that long. She’s grown up with Toby and can’t help appreciating all the ways he has grown up, too. Toby’s a fit boy, captain of the basketball team and an all-around popular kid. He’s always been nice to Becca and Becca has a secret crush–one that she can never reveal to Tori, because Tori will dissolve their friendship. It’s happened before with other girls. Plus, Toby’s popular and Becca’s not–he’d never go for her…

Then, Becca’s risking failure in trig, and Tori insists that Toby help Becca out. It’s heady, being alone with him, even if it is to study trig. But that not all that’s happening behind Toby’s closed bedroom door. Nope. He’s admitting to having feelings, and they decide to “try out” dating in order to see if it’s worth upsetting Tori over. They keep it behind closed doors, but Tori’s suspicious of Toby’s excellent mood, and Toby’s ex-girlfriend Meredith is ALWAYS turning up to cajole Toby back. Well, until Meredith learns that Toby and Becca are together. She’s had a mean streak over Becca for years, and seizes the opportunity to hurt Becca while also getting Toby back.

This is a high-stakes high school romance that is pretty clean. I really liked both Becca and Toby, who want to find a real connection without the interference of sisters and exes and best friends, but it’s just not meant to be! Tori and Meredith are not nice girls, in this book. Meredith is the worst kind of conniver, and is set up to be the truly bad guy, but Becca makes plenty of dumb decisions, like going along with Meredith’s mean spirited plans. At first.

Toby’s caught in the crossfire. He’d happily reveal all, and see if he and Becca can withstand the pressure, but he caves to Becca’s needs–Tori isn’t just her best friend, she’s her only real friend. Losing Tori is not an option, at least, until the decision is taken from her.

I really did like the high school cattiness, to an extent, because it was so high school drama. That felt painfully real, but it carried on a bit long for me, and the resolution was super dramatic, with an auditorium reveal that is straight out of a sit-com. Meredith’s ultimatums were a tad too mean-spirited and hinted at illegal. That said, there were plenty of real emotions of the page. Becca never wants to hurt anyone, and FINALLY that included herself. I loved when she got over her self-sacrificing for Tori and began living her own life; it made the final pages much better, for me. I liked that Toby was a good, human, kid. He’s not perfect, doesn’t pretend to be, but he acts maturely throughout. He’s a good boyfriend to Becca, and a good brother to Tori–who is a spoiled rotten queen of a girl who only wants more social power. I really didn’t care much for her until the very end, and then only a little.

Interested? You can find OUR LITTLE SECRET on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a swag pack and $10 Amazon gift card.
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Goodl luck and keep reading my friends!

KHauthorphotoAbout the Author:
Ashelyn Drake is a New Adult and Young Adult contemporary romance author. While it’s rare for her not to have either a book in hand or her fingers flying across a laptop, she also enjoys spending time with her family. She believes you are never too old to enjoy a good swing set and there’s never a bad time for some dark chocolate. She also writes speculative fiction under the name Kelly Hashway. She is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Catch up with Ashelyn online on her website, blog, Facebook, twitter, Amazon Author Page, and Goodreads.
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Love With EYES WIDE OPEN

LucyFelthouse_EyesWideOpen_BlogTour_WebBanner-750_final copyHi there! I’m so excited to share my review and awesome extras on a new ménage romance from Lucy Felthouse! EYES WIDE OPEN pairs a determined young woman with two men that share kink and compassion. It’s hot, and fun!

Make sure to check out the excerpt, author insight and giveaway!

EWOAbout the book:
An ordinary girl catapulted into an extraordinary world meets two even more extraordinary men—but what will she do when she discovers their sexy secret?

Fiona Gillespie moved to London shortly after graduating to take advantage of the opportunities the capital could offer. However, months later, she’s still living in a horrid flat and working in a grimy East End pub. The problem is, she doesn’t really know what she wants to do, career-wise. So when she happens upon an advertisement for a job at a plush Mayfair hotel, she jumps at the chance. A great deal of determination and a spot of luck land Fiona her dream role.
But working at the Totally Five Star London is just the beginning. She adores the role and flourishes, impressing her bosses and making her increasingly determined to climb the career ladder.

While her career is flying, though, her love life is non-existent. She hasn’t even thought about men, never mind met or dated one for months, so when she bumps into two gorgeous businessmen in the hotel, she’s surprised to find her head has been well and truly turned. Even more surprisingly, they flirt with her—both of them! She’s drawn to James and Logan, despite feeling that they’re way out of her league.

When a misunderstanding leads Fiona to James and Logan’s sumptuous top-floor suite, she has no idea what she’s about to uncover. Scenes of people-trafficking, drug-pushing and wild sex parties all appear in her active imagination. Yet what she actually sees is something she’d never even considered before, something that piques her interest.
After discovering their sexy secret, what will she do with this new-found knowledge?

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of anal play, spanking, sex toys and bondage.

Some thoughts from author Lucy Felthouse!
Ever since Totally Bound Publishing first mentioned they were launching the Totally Five Star imprint, I fancied having a go at writing a novel for it. I had (as usual) several projects in my to-write queue, so it wasn’t something I could start straight away. In order to “reserve” my location (each standalone story is set in a different city location around the world) I had to submit a synopsis which would need approval before I started writing.

Therefore, I had to start being specific about what I was going to write! Sometimes, I don’t really know what I’m going to write until I start, but I didn’t have that option this time. And so I put my mind to it… what and who would I create this time?

Because the action in Totally Five Star books has to be centred around a hotel, I figured it would make sense to have the lead character work there. And so Fiona was born—she does (or should I say ends up doing) a job I know a fair bit about, being in PR & Marketing myself, and some of her back story in the lead up to her career is similar to mine (i.e. her degree, her ending up in PR almost by mistake…).

Lead character decided, I needed to figure out who she would meet, where and how. And my brain decided that Fiona, in spite of her innocence and naïveté, should end up with not one man, but two! Just to add another layer of complication, they’re in a committed relationship… with each other. Fiona is well and truly thrown in at the deep end, meeting two gorgeous guys with lots of kinky, sexy secrets. But how will she deal with them? I’m not telling… you’ll have to read the book and find out! 😉

Perhaps needless to say, my inspiration isn’t always particularly kind to my characters. But then, if nothing much happened, it wouldn’t be a very exciting book, would it?

How about a little taste?

Continuing to surreptitiously peer at the men over the rim of her glass, it hit her that this was the first time in months that she’d looked at a man with interest, much less two men—and at the same time! But, ready to snatch her gaze away if one of them happened to glance at her, she realized that it wasn’t surprising that the pair had attracted her attention.

The tailored business suits would draw the eye even on an ugly guy. But on these two, the fine clothing was practically an orgasm for the gaze. They sat opposite each other, and their angle to her meant that she had a view of both their profiles—lucky her.

The one to her right had very dark, almost black hair, with a bit of a curl to it, a long straight nose, a trimmed goatee and, if she wasn’t mistaken, deep blue eyes. It was hard to tell for sure from this distance and perspective.

The one on her left had lighter, shorter hair, stubble that by some magical feat still looked smart, and the most sinful lips she’d ever set eyes on. And speaking of eyes, she thought perhaps his were green. What she wouldn’t give to go and check both of them out close up, preferably naked.

Shocked at her own sudden lustful thoughts, she inhaled more than drank another sip of the juice. Unfortunately, it hit her throat all wrong and she almost slammed the glass down as she started to cough. She tried so hard to suppress the cough, eager not to draw attention to herself, that she made it worse. Snatching up the thick linen serviette from the table, she held it to her mouth as she spluttered in a most embarrassing manner, and tears began to roll down her cheeks. By now, she was sure that the whole damn restaurant was staring at her, and she wished the tablecloths reached the floor, like the ones in the restaurant upstairs, so she could hide under the table until she regained her composure.

Swallowing repeatedly to try to soothe her irritated throat, she gasped as a gentle hand laid on her shoulder, which set her off all over again.

“Oh God,” came a voice. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you jump. I just wanted to make sure you were all right. See if I could help.”

Unable to speak, Fiona waved a hand to try to signal that she’d be okay, but unless the guy was a mind reader, he’d have no luck figuring that out. Blinking through the tears that marred her vision, her urge to hide underneath the table grew stronger. Christ, it was only the hottie with the blue eyes. And, if she wasn’t mistaken, his sexy friend with the green eyes was also hovering close by, concern etched into his handsome features.

Managing to drag in a breath, she huffed out, “Thank you.”

Just then, Jeremy arrived with a carafe of water, complete with ice, and poured her a glassful. “Here you go, Fiona. Drink this. Are you all right? Anything else I can get you?”

My Review:

Fiona’s a struggling uni grad, working in a tavern and wondering what to do with her degree in creative writing when she finds a job listing for a PR associate. It sounds like she’s a perfect fit, but the application period closed the day prior! Undaunted, she sends in her resumé, and is ecstatic to learn she got an interview. And, soon, she’s being whisked off to posh Mayfair as the newest member of the Totally Five Star London staff.

As all staff members are able to live in the hotel’s discount employee quarters, Fiona’s really on her way. She loves her job, and she’s making new friends–among them a pair of wealthy guests who are regulars of the exclusive penthouse suites.

James and Logan are delicious. Women and men alike are drawn to them, but they are also funny and sweet–well they charm Fiona, at first. She recognizes that they are a couple, and cannot figure out what they’d want with a woman, but it turns out the James and Logan are bisexual, and have a strong desire to add a third every now and then. If only Fiona will have an open mind…

What she finds upstairs, however, isn’t the tawdry business she suspected. Instead, she finds a kinky tableau that intrigues her, opening her eyes to a wider world of sensuality. I really enjoyed how her expectations were completely flipped, and also how she fit so well with Logan and James’ dynamic. There are some mild scenes of BDSM, but they are not the focus of the action. Instead, it’s more of a passport to a new sexual freedom. As she and the boys explore their kinky sides, she’s excited, but also saddened. It’s tough being a third wheel…but is she really, or is that how she sees herself?

I liked that Fiona was a strong, independent woman. She went after what she wanted, be it a new job, a promotion, or a kink education. She was fearless, and I think that’s what really drove James and Logan to dig their hooks in–she was an equal part of their experience by the end, and a happy threesome they made.

It’s smoking hot, and (bonus!) has a plot. *swoon*

Interested? You can find EYES WIDE OPEN on Goodreads, Pride Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click here to enter Pride Publishing’s September giveaway.

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

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

Surviving in a BANE New World

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for Amelia Gormley’s BANE, out today. This is the next (and perhaps last) book in the Strain M/M romance, post-apocalyptic series. As you know I read and loved STRAIN and JUGGERNAUT, and those books must be read first in order to properly enjoy BANE.

Bane (Strain, #2)About the book:
The weapon that nearly destroyed humanity may be their only salvation.

Rhys Cooper’s unique immunity to all three strains of the virus that nearly annihilated humanity has brought him the unwanted attention of Clean Zone scientists. They’ve summoned him for testing—ostensibly in the hopes of finding a vaccine—but Rhys’s partner, Darius Murrell, has good reason not to trust any government. He and his comrades in Delta Company were unwitting test subjects for Project Juggernaut, the military experiment that gave them superhuman abilities and unleashed the pandemic. Doubting the government’s intentions, Delta Company refuses to let Rhys go alone.

Fear of infection has kept Zach Houtman and his lover Nico Fernández apart for a decade. They meet rarely, just long enough to coordinate their spying on the head of the government’s virus research division. Secretary Littlewood is a vicious predator, and they suspect he’s trying to acquire the strain of the virus that would make him superhuman. To stop him, they need the perfect bait: Rhys.

For Rhys, helping them might cost him his relationship with Darius—or his life. For Zach and Nico, even if their plan succeeds, they still face the ultimate question: can infected and uninfected people ever live together safely?

My review:
This is the third book in the STRAIN world and should absolutely be read after JUGGERNAUT and STRAIN. It picks up the story where both JUGGERNAUT and STRAIN left off, bringing their romantic pairs (Rhys and Darius from STRAIN and Zack and Nico from JUGGERNAUT) in direct contact to save what is left of the world.

This series of books is set approximately 100 years in the future after a military-developed supervirus decimated the population. People left on the planet? Estimates are in the ten thousands–the majority of them uninfected survivors living in small-to-large enclaves, the largest a settlement in Colorado Springs. The others are experimentally-treated soldiers, Jugs, who help comb the country to kill the lingering revenants–ravenous, Bane Gamma infected zombie-like persons.

Rhys is a survivor who is likely to be immune to all three strains of the Bane virus, and the scientists who remain in Colorado Springs want to test his blood and determine if a vaccine can be developed. Rhys’ partner, Darius, is a Jug who will not leave Rhys to the whims of the scientists. The Jugs are outcasts, and rather bitter about it, due to their lethal blood. He and several other jugs travel from the Seattle area to keep Rhys safe.

They encounter Zack in Colorado, as he is a health worker for the scientists–this meeting is scarring for Rhys who was the subject of abuse from Zack’s father and brother for nearly half his life. Over the course of testing, however, they build a rapport, and Zack confides in Rhys, Darius and the other Jugs about the disappearances in the compound, and how he knows that there are real scary things going down–likely due to the machinations of the sadistic Secretary Littlewood.

There are lots of political issues with the still developing society in Colorado, not least of which is a forced breeding program. Zack enlist Rhys’s cooperation to help discover the secret lab of Littlewood, and the chase–quite literally–is on.

If you were hoping Zack and Nico would work things out, they do, but it’s not pretty–for a long time. I just marveled at the deft plot twists and fantastic use of character in this book. I could honestly see and feel the scenes unfold. The love between Rhys and Darius is as harsh as their world, and it’s erotic and delicious, too. Expect extreme monogamy. Yay! Also, expect the Jugs to save the freaking day, yet again. I hate to say it, but this book is frighteningly on-point with contemporary issues (think: corporations buying up the natural park lands) and with the supramilitaristic response when faced with the viral outbreak.

Rhys was a child when the outbreak occurred, and his adult insight–as he travels past burned out hospitals and tenements where the infected were locked down and incinerated alive–is poignant. Darius’ constant love is engaging, Zack’s commitment to his purpose (to remain Bane Alpha-free) is as noble as it is frustrating. Nico has known for years that he could sexually transmit safety to Zack, but Zack feels called to remain unprotected. His faith has a surprising reward and gave me the ability to breathe again–after holding my breath so long in fear that Zack would become infected and turn revenant.

The series is phenomenal, and I cannot love it more.

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

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAbout the Author:

Amelia C. Gormley may seem like anyone else. But the truth is she sings in the shower, dances doing laundry, and writes blisteringly hot m/m erotic romance while her son is at school. When she’s not writing in her Pacific Northwest home, Amelia single-handedly juggles her husband, her son, their home, and the obstacles of life by turning into an everyday superhero. And that, she supposes, is just like anyone else.

Her self-published novel-in-three-parts, Impulse (Inertia, Book One; Acceleration, Book Two; and Velocity, Book Three) can be found at most major ebook retailers, and be sure to check http://RiptidePublishing.com for her latest releases, including her Highland historical, The Laird’s Forbidden Lover, the The Professor’s Rule series of erotic novelettes (co-written with Heidi Belleau), and her upcoming post-apocalyptic romance, Strain.

You can contact Amelia on Twitter, Facebook, GoodReads.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!