Breaking Free As a DEMON ON THE DOWN-LOW–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a M/M contemporary paranormal romance from EJ Russell. DEMON ON THE DOWN-LOW is the third book in the Supernatural Selection series that follows supes of all types finding love through a witch-run online matchmaking service. I’ve shared reviews for the two previous stories in this series, SINGLE WHITE INCUBUS and VAMPIRE WITH BENEFITS, which should be read first for best enjoyment. These books are a spin-off from the Fae Out of Water series, and set in the same world as CUTIE AND THE BEAST, THE DRUID NEXT DOOR, and BAD BOY’S BARD.

About the book:
After decades of unrequited love, this kangaroo will jump at the chance for a date. Any date.

Lovelorn kangaroo shifter Hamish Mulherne, drummer for the mega-hit rock band Hunter’s Moon, waited years for the band’s jaguar shifter bassist to notice him. Instead, she’s just gotten married and is in a thriving poly relationship. How is Hamish supposed to compete with that? But with everyone else in the band mated and revoltingly happy, he needs somebody. Since he can’t expect true love to strike twice, he signs up with Supernatural Selection. Because what the hell.

When Zeke Oz was placed at Supernatural Selection through the Sheol work-release program, he thought he was the luckiest demon alive. But when he seems responsible for several massive matchmaking errors, he’s put on notice: find the perfect match for Hamish, or get booted back to Sheol for good. The only catch? He has to do it without the agency’s matchmaking spells, and Hamish simply will not engage.

But Zeke starts to believe that the reason all of Hamish’s dates fizzle is because nobody in the database is good enough for him. And Hamish realizes that his perfect match might be the cute demon who’s trying so hard to make him happy.

My Review:
Hamish Mulherne is a kangaroo shifter who also plays drums in the super popular band Hunter’s Moon, but he’s been not-so-secretly in love with the band’s bass player, Tiff, for four decades and she’s finally settling down…with sibling jaguar shifters. Instead of pining, Hamish is contacting Supernatural Selection to find his perfect match–for a date to an impending wedding, and probably for a marriage himself.

Zeke Oz is a low-level minion demon who is the single applicant for the Sheol work-release program. The Supe council had been leaning on the Host for some reforms in Hell, and this was the compromise. Zeke doesn’t know why more demons didn’t escape to the Upper World when he did, but he’s relishing this freedom even if it’s not a perfect situation. He has an Angel Interface observer monitoring him from within a glowing cylinder that hovers in close proximity at all times. And, he’s barely paid enough to afford a little bit of human food from time to time. Well, he makes enough in wages, but he has to turn over most of that to his demon overlord, Melchom. The Supernatural Selection spells have all been taken offline, however, due to some match irregularities, leaving Zeke at loose ends. It’s a big surprise when Hamish arrives for his matching appointment.

Hamish isn’t picky about his lovers, which is a big problem for Zeke. Zeke has been ordered to make Hamish happy, and Hamish won’t engage in the process. If Hamish isn’t satisfied, though, Zeke will lose his job and have to return to Sheol. He makes a couple promising matches for dates, but they both turn out disasters for different reasons–and that’s when Hamish realizes that Zeke being nearby REALLY makes him happy. But Zeke has been a demon slave his whole existence, and Hamish doesn’t want to force him into a different kind of servitude. With a little luck, and some pre-concert champagne, these two make the most unlikely of connections.

This is the third book in the Supernatural Selection series, and sports the return of all five couples from this series and the linked Fae Out of Water books. It’s a culmination of paranormal power, which is lucky for Zeke as he has some close-to-home attacks to weather, as well as the heart-tearing decision of whether to collect Hamish’s soul–on Melchom’s orders. The end is pure Orpheus, with a dash of sassy drummer and a splash of demon in transition. The biggest enemy was in plain sight the whole time, and I liked how we knew that, without knowing the full extent of it until the climax. In the end, this is such a fun world, with such loving and lovable characters that I was sad to see it brought to a close…

Imagine my delight when I learned there is a NEW book coming out this week! Look forward to a review in the coming days.

Interested? You can find DEMON ON THE DOWN-LOW on Goodreads, Riptide Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
E.J. Russell writes romance in a rainbow of flavors — from M/F stories grounded in absurd contemporary reality to M/M tales splashed with the supernatural — but you can be sure that while the couple makes their way to HEA, they’ll never stray too far into the dark.

You can catch up with Ms. Russell on her website, Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Coming to Terms: JEREMIAH–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new M/M contemporary interracial romance from new-to-me author Jayce Ellis. JEREMIAH is the first book in her High Rise series. This urban romance features a black, mid-30s, closeted paramedic falling hard for a wealthy, queer, white man who’s trying to get his rambling life on track.

About the book:
Jeremiah Stewart’s sexuality is no one’s business. Not that he’s hiding it. When—if—he finds the right one, he’ll absolutely introduce him to Mom. But a late-night brush with a sexy stranger in too much lip gloss has him rethinking nearly everything…

To Collin Galloway, direction is a four-letter word. Sure, he hates his job, he hates living with his parents and he really hates watching everyone move on without him. But he doesn’t know what he wants to do, long-term, and he won’t figure it out by thirsting over Jeremiah, the superhot, superintense paramedic who is suddenly everywhere Collin looks.

When Jeremiah’s faced with losing all he’s worked so hard to build, he reluctantly accepts Collin’s help. They’re both determined to stay professional…which works about as well as either would imagine. But Collin only does closets with clothes, and Jeremiah has to decide if he’s finally found the one worth bringing home to Mom.

My Review:
Jeremiah Stewart is in his mid-30s and an experienced paramedic working in the Washington D.C. area. He’s a black man who became the “man of the house” at the age of 6 when his father disappeared from their lives leaving his mother to raise the four kids, seemingly on her own. He is gay–out only to his best friend–and lives in a high rise condo. One hot June night he’s arriving home and finds a slender whit man with booty shorts, eyeliner, and lip gloss wrangling two drunk friends into the elevator of his building. The guy is cute, and clearly overwhelmed, so Jeremiah valiantly assists. He would like to get to know the cutie some more, but the stranger shuts him down almost immediately. Maybe he’s dating the dude who’s passed out drunk? JEremiah can’t tell, but he also can’t forget the man.

Collin Galloway is 29 and a college grad working as a pool secretary in a law firm, a job arranged by his wealthy father–who is a longtime friend of one of the firm’s partners, Mr. Carter. Collin lives in his old childhood bedroom in his parent’s posh condo, which his father resents. He has strained relations with his parents, who had him late, after they’d already shipped his older sister off to boarding school. Collin was primarily raised by nannies and refused to go to boarding school when his last nanny quit. He feels like an outsider in his family, and has really close ties with a childhood friend, Lizzie, and Ryan–with whom he’d unknowingly shared an ex-boyfriend in college. He often crashes at Lizzie and Ryan’s apartment on the weekends to avoid being around his parents.

Collin is totally drawn to Jeremiah, but he lacks confidence due to what he feels are low circumstances–drifting through a job, sponging off his parents, and not being a full-adult despite his age. Jeremiah looks way too put-together to suffer a flight man like Collin, right?

A 4th of July incident reunites them–with slightly better results than the first meeting. And another run-in at a local cafe gets them to exchange numbers–Lizzie’s gratitude becomes an offer for Collin to re-work Jeremiah’s resume in search of a new job. In this effort, Collin’s nerves and insecurities disappear. The rapport strengthens and provides a nice segue into sexytimes. Both men have family issues, and isolation problems–there are fights and separations that neither has anticipated. They are different on the outside, but they mesh well. When Jeremiah gets some time off, he convinces Collin to play hooky from his new position as Mr. Collin’s temporary secretary. It is ultimate sexy bliss, until one of Jeremiah’s siblings gets clued in on his sexuality–and it ends up with a bail-out and a freak out–not necessarily in that order.

This is a sweet and sexy romance, with two very different men, who find full acceptance with one another. Jeremiah is awed by Collin’s resilience, and Collin is attracted to Jeremiah’s brawn and determination. Being in the closet isn’t easy, and Collin clings to the idea that Jeremiah will introduce him to his mother. The Stewart family needs to have some heart-to-hearts to clear up the mystery of what happened to their father, and how this affected the whole clan. There is a lot of emotion that needs to get sorted out, but the end is happy, with a lot of support throughout the ending. This is the first book in the series, and I would be eager to read on.

Interested? You can find JEREMIAH on Goodreads, Carina Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
Jayce Ellis is an author and an attorney. You can connect with her on twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

True Love For A VAMPIRE WITH BENEFITS–A Throwback Thursday Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a M/M contemporary paranormal romance from EJ Russell. VAMPIRE WITH BENEFITS is the second book in the Supernatural Selection series that follows supes of all types finding love through a witch-run online matchmaking service. I think reading SINGLE WHITE INCUBUS first would help you enjoy this book better. Both of these books are a spin-off from the Fae Out of Water series, and set in the same world as CUTIE AND THE BEAST, THE DRUID NEXT DOOR, and BAD BOY’S BARD.

About the book:
A match between a vampire and shifter could be deadly—but this broken beaver doesn’t give a dam.
Silent film actor Casimir Moreau had imagined that life as a vampire would be freewheeling and glamorous. Instead, he’s plunged into a restrictive society whose rules he runs afoul of at every turn. To “rehabilitate” him, the vampire council orders him mated to an incubus with impeccable breeding who’ll mold Cas into the upstanding vampire he ought to be. Or else.

As an inactive beaver shifter, construction engineer Rusty Johnson has fought—and overcome—bias and disrespect his entire life. But when his longtime boyfriend leaves him for political reasons, Rusty is ready to call it a day. Next stop? Supernatural Selection and his guaranteed perfect mate, a bear shifter living far away from Rusty’s disapproving clan.

But then a spell snafu at Supernatural Selection robs both men of their intended husbands. Rusty can’t face returning to his clan, and Cas needs somebody on his arm to keep the council happy, so they agree to pretend to be married. Nobody needs to know their relationship is fake—especially since it’s starting to feel suspiciously like the real thing.

My Review:
At 116, Casimir Moreau is the second-youngest vampire in existence, and he’s continually making mistakes the vampire council is tired of cleaning up. In an effort to “civilize” Cas to vampire ways, he has been…required to wed an incubus of good breeding, Quentin Bertrand-Harrington. This match has been wrought through the complicated spellwork of witches at the Supernatural Selection Agency, and guaranteed to be a perfect match. Not that Cas wants this–at all. He’s not eager to be married to a man he’s never met and has no faith he’d be a good partner. It was the Council that filled out all the paperwork, and Cas is barely able to contain his frustration when he learns his “fated mate” Quentin has been inexplicably married to a bear shifter.

Rusty Johnson is a big broad inactive beaver shifter who owns a successful construction business. He’s heartbroken that his longtime friend, and boyfriend, recently broke everything off to announce an engagement to a female beaver shifter. So, Rusty has signed up with Supernatural Selection to find a true mate who could also serve as a date for his ex’s wedding. He was matched with Ted Farnsworth, an affable bear shifter, but he’s dang mad to learn Ted was somehow married to a bougie incubus.

While Cas and Rusty wait for their intended’s marriage to be annulled, they agree to a temporary marriage to one another. Cas is pleased to learn that Rusty’s inactive shifter blood isn’t toxic to him–which also makes his odor palatable, too. Rusty likes Cas’s forthrightness, and won’t stand-by when he learns that Cas NOT being immediately wed is tantamount to a death sentence.

Through the shenanigans they endure for one another, Rusty and Cas develop a rapport. Instead of Rusty’s shifter blood killing him, Cas is energized in unimaginable ways. Instead of Rusty feeling down about the loss of his first love, he’s intrigued by his handsome vamp husband. There are a couple of subplots involved with power structures straining within the vampire community–and some romps through time with a naked Druid. Cas is definitely in immortal danger, and Rusty comes to his rescue more than once.

This is a charming odd-couple romance, with all sorts of zany characters, and fun adventures. I liked how these guys fit each other so perfectly, both helping the other through the hard parts of their lives. While they originally thought it was imperative to weather a temporary marriage, they soon fall for one another. Should they still honor the original match? Or, did the magic make a last-second switch for all the right reasons? Their choices sway the situation in favor of true love, and it works out to a very happy ending. As this book is connected to the larger Fae Out of Water series, there are some fun callbacks to THE DRUID NEXT-DOOR, with Dr. Bryce MacLeod making some daring appearances.

Interested? You can find VAMPIRE WITH BENEFITS on Goodreads, Riptide Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
E.J. Russell writes romance in a rainbow of flavors — from M/F stories grounded in absurd contemporary reality to M/M tales splashed with the supernatural — but you can be sure that while the couple makes their way to HEA, they’ll never stray too far into the dark.

You can catch up with Ms. Russell on her website, Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Discovering AN ALASKAN CHRISTMAS–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary Christmas romance from Jennifer Snow. AN ALASKAN CHRISTMAS is set small-town Alaska and features a driven doctor making time for romance with her old bestie’s protective brother.

About the book:
In Alaska, it’s always a white Christmas—but the sparks flying between two reunited friends could turn it red-hot…

If there’s one gift Erika Sheraton does not want for Christmas, it’s a vacation. Ordered to take time off, the workaholic surgeon reluctantly trades in her scrubs for a ski suit and heads to Wild River, Alaska. Her friend Cassie owns a tour company that offers adventures to fit every visitor. But nothing compares to the adrenaline rush Erika feels on being reunited with Cassie’s brother, Reed Reynolds.

Gone is the buttoned-up girl Reed remembers. His sister’s best friend has blossomed into a strong, skilled, confident woman. She’s exactly what his search-and-rescue team needs—and everything he didn’t know he craved. The gulf between his life in Wild River and her big-city career is wide. But it’s no match for a desire powerful enough to melt two stubborn hearts…

My Review:
Dr. Erika Sheraton is a workaholic surgeon in metropolitan Anchorage, at the same hospital where her father is the surgical department chair. She has put in countless hours as a clinician in order to prove herself to her father, and work on a research project to test a new anti-rejection drug for organ recipients. Her own mother had died when Erika was a young girl–due to a failed kidney transplant. This life-long mission is interrupted when her father suspends her privileges at the hospital for a mandatory vacation–since she hasn’t had one in years.

At loose ends, Erika returns to her small hometown of Wild River, to reconnect with her childhood best friend, Cassie. It’s awkward, mostly because Erika has arrived with barely two weeks until Christmas and the few hotels in town are book up–and Erika’s now imposing on Cassie to sleep on her couch. Not one to stay still long, Erika’s soon finagling her way into Search and Rescue missions with Cassie’s brother Reed, who has surely grown up. As part of this team, Erika makes some medical situations way easier, earning the gratitude of her father’s old boss at the community hospital.

Her attraction to Reed is inconvenient–now that Erika has time off she has time to reflect on happier days in Wild River and lament all the things she routinely gave up for a career she’s not convinced she wants any longer. Not now that her father’s pulling power plays and possibly removing her from the drug study. Reed is the emotional rock she remembers, only taller, more muscled, and sexier. It isn’t long before these two are burning up the sheets and each other. But life in the arctic wild is dangerous and soon Erika’s surgical expertise is necessary for Reed’s survival.

I’ll be honest, there were a LOT of issues in this book that didn’t make sense to me–because they fell short of the realism I enjoy in my contemporary romances. In previous careers I ran medical studies and have decades of working experience within the American medical system. So, Erika’s experiences in the hospital felt like gross exaggerations which pulled me from the story. Likewise, her assertions of power on Search and Rescue seemed farfetched and unrealistic. The romance between Erika and Reed felt rushed, and the environmental challenges of an Alaskan winter seemed conveniently mild to allow for situations that would foster the romance. In the end, Erika needs to make a choice between her previously self-sacrificing career and some level of work-life balance in a new position. She makes the only realistic choice, though it seemed a bit of a false choice within the constraints of the story. To me the story was more melodramatic than I had anticipated, and I didn’t really connect with Erika as a character until well past the halfway point in the book. I’m on a huge Alaska reading cycle now, and this was not the best book I’ve recently come across.

Interested? You can find AN ALASKAN CHRISTMAS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
Jennifer Snow is an award-winning author living in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and five year old son. She is a member of the Writers Guild of Alberta, the Romance Writers of America, the Canadian Author Association, and SheWrites.org. She is a contributing author to Mslexia Magazine, WestWord Magazine and RWR. She has also taught RWA Chapters courses online.

Her publishing credits include two holiday novellas, previously published by The Wild Rose Press, now re-released as self-published editions through Amazon. The Mistletoe Fever was an Amazon bestseller for two weeks in the category of Kindle Short Reads. Her six book small town, Brookhollow series is published through Harlequin Heartwarming and her MMA sports romance series Beyond the Cage is published through Berkley/NAL Intermix.

Catch up with Jennifer on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Goodreads.

Finding Happiness With A BOYFRIEND FOR CHRISTMAS–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary Christmas M/M romance from Jay Northcote. A BOYFRIEND FOR CHRISTMAS is a sweet story featuring a wealthy closeted virgin falling for a motorcycle-riding tattoo artist.

About the book:
Archie’s posh parents want him to meet a nice girl–how can he tell them he’s fallen for a bad boy instead?

Closeted, innocent and lonely, Archie Arandale longs for someone special in his life. A Christmas party organised by his wealth management company is the last place he expects to meet the man of his dreams.

With his leather jacket, tattoos, and piercings, Cal Turner turns heads the moment he walks through the door. He definitely isn’t looking for a boyfriend, but Archie’s hesitant charm captures his attention, and sneaking off during the party to have a little fun can only make a dull evening more interesting.

After their reckless and thrilling encounter, Archie is keen for more experience and Cal is happy to oblige. The need for secrecy means this can only be a casual fling, yet as they spend time together in the run up to Christmas, their feelings become more intense than either of them had bargained for. How can Archie find the courage to tell his family about Cal, when Cal’s the exact opposite of the ‘nice girl’ they’ve been hoping for?

Contains: A closeted virgin, a tattooed biker, class differences, a dramatic coming out, a very inappropriate Christmas gift, and a happy ending (of course).

My Review:
Archie Arandale is the youngest son of very wealthy parents. He’s lived a very sheltered life, and only just moved out on his own now that he’s completed uni. He does work for his father’s investment firm, but he truly wants to open a non-profit to help LGBT youth. Archie envisions someday coming out, but first he should probably have some physical experience with a man.

Cal Turner is a tattoo artist who won a lottery a few years back. He’s big, burly and brash, but a compassionate and sexy man. He paid off his mum’s home and bought himself a place, then donated a bunch to charity and invested the rest. He’s been out since school, but he’s never had a real relationship even though he’s nearly thirty. His best mate convinces him to attend one of the seminar dinners hosted by his investment firm–and there he meets Archie. Archie is thin, blonde and adorably shy. It’s good fun to tease him a little, if only to watch him blush crimson, but when Archie truly responds to Cal’s teasing they make a connection neither anticipated.

One rushed encounter leads to and exchange of numbers, and a continued acquaintance. Cal’s stunned that Archie has so little experience, as wealthy and attractive as he is, but he realizes that Archie’s been so scared to ask for what he wants, leaving him isolated and lonely. Cal can empathize with loneliness, and he makes the effort to be a good partner to Archie, helping him explore his sexual needs safely, and build a rapport as well. They are so well suited, despite the class differences, because Archie’s a down-to-earth guy, not a posh git like Cal had anticipated. The only real problem is Archie being closeted–and he’s warming to the idea of sharing his truth after the Christmas holidays. Can Cal trust him to make that choice? Will Archie’s posh family accept the common man he’s falling for?

This is a sweet and sexy romance. I really loved the intimate moments and Archie’s exuberance to find an attentive partner. Their growing friendship is fun and flirty, with such potential. I loved how adventurous they were with one another, and I totally fell for both Archie and Cal, as they fell for one another. Archie’s family are more accepting than he would have guess–once he revealed all his secrets, including a mismatch in their politics. I really enjoyed the coming out scene, and Archie’s unexpected advocate was a breath of fresh air. This is a holiday story, but fully enjoyable at any time of year.

Interested? You can find A BOYFRIEND FOR CHRISTMAS on Goodreads and Amazon.

About the Author:
Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. He has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

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

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

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Picked Up By ANGELS SING–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m excited to share a review for a new M/M Christmas romance from Eli Easton. ANGELS SING is a contemporary romance that features a gay coach falling for the young gay father who owns the local bookstore. This is the second book in her Daddy Dearest series, right after FAMILY CAMP. I have loved all the Eli Easton books I’ve read, including MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. MIGGLES, her HOWL AT MOON books, SECOND HARVEST, FIVE DARES and ROBBY RIVERTON: MAIL ORDER BRIDE.

About the book:
Jamie Bailey has not had such a wonderful life. He gave up his dreams of Harvard at 18 to raise his sister’s unwanted baby, and later a prized job to help a sick friend. Now the father of six-year-old Mia, and assistant manager at Raven Books, Jamie’s dreams are dashed once again when Uncle Billy admits what dire straights the bookshop is in.

Stanton Potter, son of the most notorious businesswoman in Bedford Falls, loves his job teaching at the local elementary school. But he’s less than thrilled when he is forced to put together a Christmas pageant with first-graders, including Mia Bailey.

When Stanton meets Jamie, angels sing. Jamie’s gender-bending fashion sense, and sweet aura, have Stanton suffering through the worse crush he’s had since he was a teen. But can there be any hope for them when Jamie and Mia’s lives are about to be uprooted?

This Christmas, its Jamie’s turn to receive a little help from heaven.

My Review:
Jamie Bailey is a an out-gay 24 year old father to his adopted niece, Mia. He runs Raven Books, a bookstore in tiny Bedford Falls, Oregon, where he also lives in the upstairs apartment. Jamie went to college while caring for Mia, and had good prospects for jobs, but he stayed at Raven Books to care for its proprietor, Uncle Billy, who’d helped with Mia’s care for years now. Uncle Billy promised to sell the store to Jamie, but he’s been unwilling to turn over the reins completely.

Having been literally raised in Raven Books, Mia’s as big a part of the bookstore as her father, and she helps corral kids for the highly attended story times. She struggles to connect with kids her own age, however, and is really attached to her first-grade teacher–who is placed on emergency bed rest due to issues with a pregnancy. Jamie is nervous Mia won’t get along with the substitute teacher, Coach Stanton Potter.

Stanton is in his mid-30s and not-exactly out. His mother is a businesswoman, owning many properties in Bedford Falls–now that they sold the family hockey-stick manufacturing plant. Bedford Falls has slowly declined in prosperity over the last few decades, with the loss of good quality jobs and younger people migrating to nearby cities for employment. She’s got a plan for the refurbishment of main street Bedford Falls, but it involves shutting down Raven Books. Stanton loves living and teaching PE in Bedford Falls, but he’s not excited for the huge change being handed down from his principal: cover the first-grade class for his sick colleague and get the kids ready for the annual Christmas pageant. A day into the job, Stanton realizes he’s way out of his depth and head to Raven Books to find books on classroom management. Mia’s a skeptical observer of her new teacher, but she’s always willing to help–and getting Jamie involved seems to assist Stanton in emotional, professional and physical ways.

Jamie and Stanton have immediate chemistry–and neither has a lot of options for partners, but it’s professionally questionable for Stanton to have anything but friendship with a student’s parent. Still, Stanton is drawn to Jamie, and when Jamie has a great plan for the Christmas pageant, Stanton is more than willing to accept his help. Unfortunately, they both know whatever might develop between them has an expiration date. Raven Books is in trouble financially, due to increases in rent outstripping their sales. Without the store, Jamie will have to move–and this will likely happen by the end of December.

I really loved the sweet and tender love story that develops between Jamie and Stanton, who willingly comes out in his efforts to help Jamie save Raven Books. Stanton didn’t realize his mother was involved in pushing Raven into bankruptcy, but he makes heroic efforts to bring in enough business to keep Jamie in Bedford Falls. The Christmas pageant is a hit, and Mia’s happy to have some new and caring people in her life. She’s a precocious child, with observation and literacy skills that surpass the usual for a 6 year-old, but she’s not horrible, or bratty. I enjoyed her simplistic viewpoint, even as I knew the shenanigans of her class were exaggerated for effect–as were Stanton’s shortcomings. The end is happy, with a nice small-town neighbor-helping vibe that I enjoyed.

Interested? You can find ANGELS SING on Goodreads and Amazon.

If you’re interested in more of the Daddy Dearest series, you can find FAMILY CAMP on Goodreads and Amazon.

Eli EastonAbout the Author:
Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, Eli has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has over 30 books published.

Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, bulldogs, cows, a cat, and lots of groundhogs.

In romance, Eli is best known for her Christmas stories because she’s a total Christmas sap. These include “Blame it on the Mistletoe”, “Unwrapping Hank” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles”. Her “Howl at the Moon” series of paranormal romances featuring the town of Mad Creek and its dog shifters has been popular with readers. And her series of Amish-themed romances, Men of Lancaster County, has won genre awards.

Catch up with Eli on her website, Facebook, and twitter.

Finding Himself With MR. NAUGHTY LIST

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary Christmas M/M romance from Leta Blake. MR. NAUGHTY LIST is the second book in the HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS series. This book features RJ Blitz, a rock guitarist returning to his Knoxville roots and connecting with his high school crush: his English composition teacher! Oh, how his teenaged brain had delighted in fantasies of bending that sexy young teacher over a desk and spanking his lucious bottom. Yes, it’s a very kinky Christmas romance. I liked reconnecting with Casey and Joel, from MR. FROSTY PANTS too, through RJ’s band connections.

About the book
Can this teacher’s former student spank some holiday spirit into him?

Is Aaron allowed to want a hot holiday fling with his young former student? Even more forbidden, is he allowed to want this student to spank him?

It’s another Christmas, and Aaron is still in the closet as a gay man and a natural submissive. With one youthful indiscretion blacking his ethics record, he can’t afford to indulge his desires no matter how pent up and needy that leaves him.

Until his former student comes home for the holidays.

Dominant and charming, RJ knows what Aaron needs—intense, steamy encounters and a firm hand. As Christmas nears, RJ helps Aaron unlock his true self. But family and fallout await, and all good things must end.

Or can their hot holiday affair turn them into lasting lovers?

Mr. Naughty List is a steamy Christmas MM romance set in the Home for the Holidays series that began with Mr. Frosty Pants, but can be read as a standalone. Featuring light D/s, spanking, an older sub with a younger Dom, former student/teacher dynamics, and, of course, warm, sweet holiday feels complete with a strong happy ending.

My Review:
Aaron Danvers is a closeted English teacher whose had some bumps in his career. A few years back he got caught hooking up with a gym teacher/football coach at his high school–after hours in the coach’s office. Aaron was given an ethics reprimand and fired–and the only school that would hire him was the middle school where his mother is the principal. She’s not exactly supportive, though, insisting that Aaron never come out, or bring a boyfriend to meet her. This leaves Aaron a bit desperate to satisfy his sexual needs with strangers, and often out-of-town. He has a kink for submission, and that makes finding random partners all the more risky.

Out at a bar to meet a Grindr hook-up, Aaron is stunned to see the lead singer and guitarist of the band playing that night is a former student, RJ Blitz, who is now a full-grown and very sexy man. RJ was a senior in Aaron’s high school composition class nearly seven years ago, and they had no sexytimes contact way back then–but now Aaron can appreciate how well RJ has grown. At 24, he’s taller and far broader than Aaron, and his commanding growl on the mic is doing dangerous things to Aaron’s libido. Aaron’s first hook-up bails out, as does his second. Frustrated with his rotten luck, he’s leaving the bar when RJ waylays him with the offer of a drink. This turns into a conversation that is enlightening, destroying the old image of RJ as a greasy-haired teen, and further spinning Aaron into dangerous levels of attraction. He’s even a bit turned on at the taboo nature of their connection–which RJ feeds by continually referring Aaron as “Mr. Danvers” and revealing how attractive RJ had found him way back in school.

Aaron and RJ share a kinky-sexy night that seems epically stupid, albeit completely sexually fulfilling, to Aaron in the cold light of day. RJ isn’t giving up on his attraction, however. Having Mr. Danvers bent over his lap for a spanking only stoked his teen attraction into a blaze. He wants more, though he only plans to stay in Knoxville over the Christmas holiday–and he planned to spend it reconnecting with his mom and getting to know his young half-siblings. But surely, there’s time for a holiday love affair, right?

I really loved the D/s dynamic here, and there are plenty of kinky sexytimes–where RJ helps Aaron see the kind of love he deserves–no matter how his mother interferes. It provides clarity for both men, as they build trust and rapport, meeting one another’s families and sharing precious Christmas moments. It becomes obvious that Aaron can’t keep working with his mother, or enduring their toxic relationship, but he’s not sure what he needs in order to walk away. RJ has never trusted that love could last, but seeing his mother in a healthy marriage helps him to discover that he could also build a loving relationship–maybe with Aaron. Their path won’t be easy, but Aaron is ready to explore the world, and RJ’s traveling musician lifestyle might be the route they can both walk, together.

The D/s involves intense spanking scenes, a naughty elf, a dirty Santa, and a LOT of Mr. Danvers bending over objects to take his punishments. I loved how these became really tender and intimate moments. Aaron’s self-loathing seemed to melt with RJ’s continued attention, admiration and growing affection. Aaron’s able to build stronger bonds with his father, and his father’s accepting family, which eases the pain of the situation with his mother. The end is a STRONG happy ending, with an epilogue that satisfies.

Interested? You can find MR. NAUGHTY LIST on Goodreads and Amazon.

You can also find MR. FROSTY PANTS on Goodreads, Amazon and Audible.

About the Author:
Leta Blake is the author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.

You can find out more on her website, Patreon, Facebook and twitter.

Falling for MR. FROSTY PANTS

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary M/M romance from Leta Blake. MR. FROSTY PANTS is the first book in the HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS series. This book features two estranged high school friends reconnecting unexpectedly–and revealing mutual their crushes.

About the book
Frosty former friends get a steamy second chance in this Christmas gay romance!
Can true love warm his frozen heart?

When Casey Stevens went away to college four years ago, he ghosted on his straight best friend, Joel Vreeland. He hoped time and distance would lessen the unrequited affection he felt, but all it did was make him miss Joel more. Home for the holidays, Casey hopes they might find a way to be friends again. But Joel’s frosty reception reminds Casey of just how hard he had to fight to be Joel’s friend in the first place. It’s going to take a Christmas miracle to get past that cool façade again.

Joel isn’t as straight as Casey believes, and his years of pining for Casey have left him hurting and alone, caring for his abusive father and struggling to get by. Unable to trust anyone except his rescue dog—and with no reason to believe Casey is interested in him for more than a holiday fling—Joel’s icy heart might shatter before it can thaw.

Can Casey and Joel’s love overcome mistrust, parental rejection, class differences, and four long years apart?

Mr. Frosty Pants is a stand-alone, Christmas gay romance by Leta Blake featuring a virgin hero, childhood friends-to-lovers, second chance romance, and romantically steamy scenes.

My Review:
I got to enjoy this story as an Audiobook–a few times.

Casey Stevens is a college senior who’s nearly finished his degree at NYU. He recently broke up with his longtime boyfriend–and is a little raw coming back to Knoxville for the first time since he left for college. Casey’s parents are wealthy and a bit snotty about it. They have accepted Casey’s sexuality, albeit reluctantly. It’s more that they want Casey to make a power match–if possible. And they really liked how wealthy his last boyfriend was. Casey has trouble not living up to his parents’ expectations, but he’s been in therapy to gain perspective, and he makes plans to complete his education if his dad cuts off his funding when he learns Casey isn’t planning to follow his career plan.

Reminiscing on his teen years, Casey is struck by his former attraction for Joel Vreeland, who he’d stubbornly clung to as a friend for years before moving away after coming out. They haven’t had any contact in four years, since Joel sent Casey an off-color text about his sexuality. Casey knew falling for a straight boy would hurt his heart, and he walled his hurt off for years. Now, when he runs into Joel in Knoxville, he’s stumped why Joel is so mean to him.

Joel Vreeland hasn’t had an easy life. His mom died when he was young, and his abusive, homophobic father has despised him ever since–suspecting Joel was gay despite never admitting his truth. A stroke has disabled his vile father, and Joel has sunk every spare dime he has into his dad’s nursing care and keeping their garden supply store open. Joel feels pretty self-conscious about his financial state, and his lack of friendships. He had longed for Casey back in high school, but knew his father would beat him senseless if he ever displayed any of his gay urges. He’s not afraid of that happening now, as his brutish father is so diminished, but he is still not eager to alienate himself from his only remaining family.

That said, Casey’s stubborn desire to reconnect has Joel confessing not only his sexuality, but also his inexperience–he’s a virgin–as well as his youthful crush on Casey.

I really enjoyed how these two work through past hurts and current animosities. There is a strong Christmas theme that runs throughout the story–lots of forgiveness and seeming miracles. Joel is a proud man, and he doesn’t want to reveal his near-destitute status to Casey. Casey can see how greatly Joel struggles. As his major focus has been marketing, Casey makes a publicity plan to help advertise Joel’s self-published novels. He declares his desire to rebrand Vreeland garden and hardware as a part of his senior project. Joel can’t turn down the help, not when he’s falling for Casey’s relentless pursuit–as more than just a holiday fling.

John Solo does a great job narrating this tender reconnection romance. The audiobook runs at about 10.5 hours and is paced at a speed I appreciated. Solo’s narrative emotion relayed Casey’s insecurities, and Joel’s raw grief over the shambles of his life. Casey realizes that his happiness had always been easier when he and Joel were close, and their budding romance has made him more fulfilled then ever. That’s true for Joel, too, and their nascent romance is building into a true love.

I really liked how they grew, even within the short time frame. I also enjoyed how each man built the other up, helping them each see past the misconceptions of their respective situations. This is the first book in the series, but we learn in the second book Casey and Joel are going stronger than ever, so expect a long-term happy ending.

Interested? You can find MR. FROSTY PANTS on Goodreads, Amazon and Audible.

About the Author:
Leta Blake is the author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.

You can find out more on her website, Patreon, Facebook and twitter.

Bonding Through a BITTER HEAT–Review and Giveaway

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review and giveaway for a new dystopian-Omegaverse M/M romance from Leta Blake. BITTER HEAT is the third book in the Slow Heat series. It’s set in a post-female world where males of three genders have a highly-ordered society. If this intrigues you, I’d advise checking out my review for ALPHA HEAT, which introduces us to Janus Heelies–an alpha in need of redemption. I also loved SLOW HEAT, the first book in the series and plan to share a review for that soon.

In the meantime, drop down to catch my review and enter the book giveaway!
About the book
A pregnant omega trapped in a desperate situation, an unattached alpha with a lot to prove, and an unexpected fall into love that could save them both.

Kerry Monkburn is contracted to a violent alpha in prison for brutal crimes. Now pregnant with the alpha’s child, he lives high in the mountains, far above the city that once lured him in with promises of a better life. Enduring bitterness and fear, Kerry flirts with putting an end to his life of darkness, but fate intervenes.

Janus Heelies has made mistakes in the past. In an effort to redeem himself, integrity has become the watchword for his future. Training as a nurse under the only doctor willing to take him on, Janus is resolute in his intentions: he will live cleanly in the mountains and avoid all inappropriate affairs. But he doesn’t anticipate the pull that Kerry exercises on his heart and mind.

As the question of Kerry’s future health and safety comes to an explosive head, only the intervention of fate will see these desperate men through to a happy ending.

This gay romance novel by Leta Blake is the third in the Heat of Love universe which began with Slow Heat. It’s 111,000 words, with a strong happy ending and a critically-acclaimed, non-shifter Omegaverse. It features alphas, betas, omegas, male pregnancy, mpreg, heat, and knotting. Content warning for a violent and oppressive society regarding reproductive rights.

My Review:
This book, set in a post-female “omegaverse” world is filled with males of three genders: alpha, beta and omega. Alphas are the most dominant, and have the most rights and privileges in society. They are the only gender allowed to officially mate omegas, who are genetically-altered males that have a uterus. Thus, alphas breed with omegas, and the omegas give birth to alphas, betas or omegas. Betas are relegated to service jobs in society. Omegas become the property/responsibility of their alpha husbands–and they go through heat every several months or so. Heat is a painful experience for an omega, and the clawing need to reproduce is only assuaged by knotting coitus with an alpha. And, while betas and omegas can receive an alpha, it’s forbidden by law and religion for an alpha to be “unmanned,” or mated, like an omega.

Kerry Monkburn is the contracted (married) omega to Wilbet Monhundy, a sadistic alpha who was incarcerated for brutalizing omega prostitutes. Wilbet had been violent with Kerry for years prior, but as Wilbet’s unlikely to find another omega to carry his offspring, his parents refuse to release Kerry from his contract. In fact, they force Kerry to return to Wilbet’s prison for forced coitus during Kerry’s heats. It’s degrading and debilitating, and when Kerry finally falls pregnant he’s not sure if he should kill himself or abort the fetus. How could he love the monstrous offspring of his rapist husband?

Janus Heelies is determined to set his life on a track toward respectability. Loss of his first love, his cousin Xan’s omega Caleb, set Janus on a self-destructive path of seducing contracted omegas, wrestling contests, extorting Xan, and other unsavory activities unsuited for a member of such a respected family. Readers of ALPHA HEAT know how horrible both Wilbet Monhundy and Janus Heelies are–but Janus is dedicating his life to service now, studying to become a doctor and moving to the rural mountain community of Hud’s Basin. He lets a room at Monk’s House, Kerry’s pater’s guest house.

Interested? You can find BITTER HEAT on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a copy of SLOW HEAT!
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Authors:
Leta Blake is the author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.

You can find out more on her website, Patreon, Facebook and twitter.

BITTER HEAT–Release Blast and Giveaway!

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review and giveaway for a new dystopian-Omegaverse M/M romance from Leta Blake. BITTER HEAT is the third book in the Heat of Love series. It’s set in a post-female world where males of three genders have a highly-ordered society. If this intrigues you, I’d advise checking out my review for ALPHA HEAT, which introduces us to Janus Heelies–an alpha in need of redemption. I also loved SLOW HEAT, the first book in the series and plan to share a review for that soon.

In the meantime, drop down to read the blurb and enter the book giveaway!
About the book
A pregnant omega trapped in a desperate situation, an unattached alpha with a lot to prove, and an unexpected fall into love that could save them both.

Kerry Monkburn is contracted to a violent alpha in prison for brutal crimes. Now pregnant with the alpha’s child, he lives high in the mountains, far above the city that once lured him in with promises of a better life. Enduring bitterness and fear, Kerry flirts with putting an end to his life of darkness, but fate intervenes.

Janus Heelies has made mistakes in the past. In an effort to redeem himself, integrity has become the watchword for his future. Training as a nurse under the only doctor willing to take him on, Janus is resolute in his intentions: he will live cleanly in the mountains and avoid all inappropriate affairs. But he doesn’t anticipate the pull that Kerry exercises on his heart and mind.

As the question of Kerry’s future health and safety comes to an explosive head, only the intervention of fate will see these desperate men through to a happy ending.

This gay romance novel by Leta Blake is the third in the Heat of Love universe which began with Slow Heat. It’s 111,000 words, with a strong happy ending and a critically-acclaimed, non-shifter Omegaverse. It features alphas, betas, omegas, male pregnancy, mpreg, heat, and knotting. Content warning for a violent and oppressive society regarding reproductive rights.

Interested? You can find BITTER HEAT on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a backlist book from Leta Blake!
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Leta Blake is the author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.

You can find out more on her website, Patreon, Facebook and twitter.