Recovering With a RENTED HEART–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary M/M romance from Garrett Leigh. I really enjoyed WHAT REMAINS, so I was anxious to read RENTED HEART.

rented-heartAbout the book:
Ex-surfer-turned-businessman Liam Mallaney moved back to Holkham, Norfolk, to mourn the loss of his husband. Grief and loneliness keep him a solitary figure, and he likes it that way. There’s no room in his broken heart for anything else.

Rentboy Zac Payne left London and most of his demons behind, but he still only knows one way to make a living. When he spots Liam in a club one night, it seems he’s found his mark. But Liam proves nicer—and their connection far deeper—than he’d bargained for.

Their arrangement quickly becomes too complicated for Zac, who has other things on his mind: namely his BFF and wayward flatmate, Jamie. Zac owes Jamie the world, and even as Jamie’s drug addiction destroys all they have, Zac won’t leave him behind.

Besides, Liam knows nothing of Zac’s home life, too caught up in his own head to think much beyond the crazy heat he and Zac share. But when trouble comes to Zac’s door, putting his life in danger, Liam must set his grief and anger aside to pick up the pieces of Zac’s shattered heart and his own.

My Review:
Zac Payne is a rentboy in Norwich, England. He’s twenty-three and six months clean of his heroin addiction, after his best pal, Jamie, saved him from an overdose. Jamie’s still using, and hooking, disappearing from their flat for benders that last days on end. One night Zac spots Liam hanging outside a bar and decides to entice him into a trick. Liam’s a bit older, clearly wealthy, and bloody gorgeous, but the reason Zac marks him is the dead look in his eyes; Zac’s familiar with that “checked out” look.

Liam Mallaney hasn’t been with another man since his beloved husband, Cory, died in a wreck. Over those nearly two years, Liam had to assume full control over their company, leaving his art director position behind. Despite living within a mile of his twin sister’s family and also his father’s home, Liam’s a virtual hermit. His constant comfort are two Labradoodles that nudge him out to the beach for their walks. Meeting beautiful and nubile Zac is a chance event, and he’s willing to pay for some no-strings, one-off sex to calm the void of grief in his chest for an hour, or so.

Their chemistry is electric, and Zac’s so shell-shocked he gives Liam a card with his personal number, hoping Liam might become a regular. Thing is, Liam’s not just interested in sex. He needs companionship, too. And he hires Zac to be a companion–as well as a lover. In their few trysts, Liam begins to thaw his frozen heart, wondering about Zac, and if he could convince him to try working as something other than a rentboy. Zac’s gone over Liam by their second meeting, and wishes he was more, someone suitable for kind and compassionate Liam to cherish. But, he isn’t. And, Jamie sees Zac’s pain over it immediately. Things between Zac and Jamie have been complicated since Zac got clean, but Jamie’s addiction is reaching critical mass; he’s clearly getting too far into the scene to get help, but–beyond that–Jamie’s bringing trouble home.

While Zac and Liam figure out what they want from the other, Jamie’s problems land Zac in a dangerous situation–that’s what happens when your vindictive drug dealer shows up looking for his money. Jamie does the right thing, but it’s not the end of the drama, for Liam or Zac. Still, it brings them together, and gets Jamie the help he needs, both legally and medically.

There’s a bit of angst here, with Zac unsettled by his attraction for a john. He’s not the sentimental sort, and struggles maintaining the proper boundaries–which is heart breaking. Liam’s a good man, but he doesn’t know how, or if, he can love again. And, should he really fall for a hooker? It’s kind of shocking to Liam when he decides that answer isn’t NO. There’s other issues at play–notably Liam’s father experiencing dementia, Zac’s struggle to stay clean, and Liam’s crushing depression–but those are a small part of the building romance. As we’ve got a rentboy-romance, expect lots of sexytimes. For all the steam, there’s tons of tenderness, too.

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

About the Author:
Garrett Leigh is a British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Black Jazz Press. Her protagonists will always always be tortured, crippled, broken, and deeply flawed. Throw in a tale of enduring true love, some stubbly facial hair, and a bunch of tattoos, and you’ve got yourself a Garrett special.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible. That, and dreaming up new ways to torture her characters. Garrett believes in happy endings; she just likes to make her boys work for it.

Garrett also works as a freelance cover artist for various publishing houses and independent authors under the pseudonym G.D. Leigh. For cover art info, please visit blackjazzpress.com. Otherwise you can find her on her website, twitter or Facebook.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Reconnection: KISSING MR. MISTLETOE–Review and Giveaway!

kissing-mr-mistletoe-bt-banHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a sweet Christmas romance from Kate Kisset. KISSING MR. MISTLETOE is the first book in her Holidays in the Vineyard series and features a second-chance romance between a country singer and the girl who didn’t follow his showbiz dreams years ago. Since I liked JUST A KISS, I thought I’d give this one a whirl.

Check out the review and enter to win in the giveaway below!

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00067]About the book:
You are cordially invited to spend your HOLIDAYS IN THE VINEYARD
Ever since his last remaining relative died, Country music star Trace Montgomery has avoided California, specifically his home town, Napa Valley. Trace can’t stand the memories.

Seven days before the holiday, he’s forced to return to wine country to sell the St. Helena Christmas tree farm he inherited from his uncle. With his sidekick guitar Lola nearby, a past love, the one that got away, falls into his arms while trying to turn a vineyard bunny sculpture into a reindeer. Now, Trace can’t stop thinking about her. He’s making up naughty lyrics to Christmas songs…

Single mom, Monique Jacobson doesn’t have time for a bath, never mind a romance. She’s working hard to secure a promotion and pay raise from Santino Winery that will allow her and her daughter to move out of Nana’s little B&B.

St. Helena and Napa Valley hotels are booked for the holiday, and Monique finds Trace holed up with her and her daughter at her gran’s Napa B&B for a Christmas in wine country. Will they rediscover the love they lost and rekindle Christmas magic under the mistletoe?

*Kissing Mr. Mistletoe is a standalone read. Although you may recognize some of the names, this Christmas gem features its own cast of lovable and sexy characters.

My Review:
This is a standalone romance in a new series featuring Napa Valley love.

Trace Montgomery left his Napa Valley roots six years ago to chase his music dreams. He’s got a couple tours under his belt, and is well on his way to becoming ahousehold name. He returns to St. Helena to close down and sell his uncle’s Christmas tree farm. His uncle, his last living relative, died just over a year ago, and the farm is not doing so well under the stewardship of a long-time employee. Trace either needs to commit to being there, and making it profitable, or sell it.

Monique Jacobson is a practical woman. She and Trace had only dated for six months when his star began to rise. Going on the road seemed a flight of fancy she couldn’t follow. Six years, and one failed marriage later, Monique works as a wine tour operator and lives in her gran’s B & B with her four year old daughter, Adele. Turns out her deadbeat husband had a gambling addiction. No matter. Monique will work her way back, and key to that is putting on a stellar company Christmas party to impress her boss and hopefully get promoted to an event organizer for the winery.

Trace delivers the wrong tree, however, as a favor to his one employee. Monique freaks, but it’s not only her job on the line. Seeing Trace is a shot through her heart. When Trace realizes that his cottage burned down months before, and he was never notified, he ends up staying at Monique’s gran’s B & B. There he falls for both Monique and Adele–if only he didn’t have to leave for his empty, soulless NYC apartment.

This is a cute read, with low conflict and a little bit of sexytimes. Trace is a clueless man when it comes to his personal affairs. He has no idea how to run his tree farm; even Monique has a better business sense than he does. Monique’s willing to give Trace a piece of herself, now, knowing he’s not sticking around because she’s learned life isn’t fair. For me there seemed to be a lot of conveniences in the plot and stuff that was mentioned, like her wanting a better job, but not resolved on the page. While it gave me a sense of incompleteness, I doubt it’ll bother most readers. As with the previous book from this author, it’s super breezy, with a nice group of people getting all their Christmas dreams come true.

Interested? You can find KISSING MR. MISTLETOE on Goodreads and Amazon.

Kate Kisset, Kissing Mr. Mistletoe, standalone contemporary romance,

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a Christmas pack filled with goodies!
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

HeadshotKateKissetLGFile.About the Author:
Former San Francisco Radio Disc Jockey Kate Kisset has a passion for telling great stories. After playing thousands of Hot AC, Country, Rock and Oldies tunes, for her primarily female fan base, she changed her tune and became an author.

Just a Kiss is the first book in her wine country romance series, The Single Girls Wine Club.

She lives in Northern California and Santa Barbara with her family and rescue pup “editor” Luciana Parmigiana, where she hikes, reads, listens to music, and drinks wine.

Catch up with Kate online on her private Facebook Readers Club, website, Amazon Author Page, Twitter, Facebook Page, and on Goodreads.

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Release Day Blitz & Giveaway for A CHRISTMAS KISS

Hi there! I’m getting the word out on a new contemporary M/M Christmas romance out today from Annabelle Jacobs. A CHRISTMAS KISS is a sweet friends-to-lovers romance for a pair of best friends who each want more.

christmas-kissAbout the book:
Keeping secrets from your best friend isn’t right, but it’s easier than admitting you’ve fallen in love with him.
Sharing a late-night kiss with his best friend, Alex, is Riley’s dream come true. Waking up to discover Alex was too drunk to remember anything is more like a nightmare. Scared the truth could destroy their friendship, Riley keeps quiet and pretends nothing happened.

Alex can’t shake the feeling that he said or did something stupid on their group’s drunken weekend away—why else would Riley be avoiding him? Although the explanation he finally gets sounds plausible, Riley’s still acting strange, and trying to figure out why that is unearths emotions Alex has worked hard to bury.

Riley knows not telling Alex how he feels is probably selfish, but he wants one last normal Christmas before he has to come clean and face the potential fallout.

He should have known it wouldn’t be that easy.

I really liked this one! Look for my review next week. In the meantime, you can get the book for yourself. Be sure to enter the giveaway, too!

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

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $10 GC to Amazon or AllRomance and a backlist book from Ms. Jacobs.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They’re usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.

Catch up with Annabelle online on her website, Facebook, twitter or email at ajacobsfiction (at) gmail (dot) com.
signal boost

Making Things Right DIRTY WICKED–Review & Excerpt

dirty-wicked-tour-bannerHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new romantic suspense novella from Shayla Black. DIRTY WICKED is part of her Wicked Lovers series and features a disgraced PI helping his best friend’s widow find justice…and love.

11-5-dirtywickedAbout the book:
From New York Times bestselling author, Shayla Black…
After being framed for a crime he didn’t commit, former private eye Nick Navarro has nothing but revenge on his mind—until a woman from his past returns to beg for his help.
Beautiful widow Sasha Porter has been hunted by his enemies. Desperate, she offers him anything to keep her young daughter safe, even agreeing to become his mistress. The last thing either of them want are emotional entanglements but as they entrap the ruthless politician who arranged Nick’s downfall and passion sizzles between them, danger closes in.

Will he choose love over vengeance before it’s too late?

How about a little taste?

Nick Navarro had been out of prison exactly thirty-five hours. Long enough to get a good night’s sleep, stock up on a few necessities, and visit his old friends, the Santiago brothers. Then he’d started putting his P.I. skills to good use, methodically searching for the woman he hadn’t forgotten a single detail about during the fifteen months of his incarceration.

He intended to hunt down the bastards who had framed him and offed his childhood friend so he could repay them in spades.

Sasha Porter was the key.

At first glance, it looked as if she had disappeared off the face of the earth. She’d fled her house, quit her job, abandoned her car, maybe even changed her name. But his gut told him she was still alive. She had reasons to fight.

He would burn down the world until he found her.

Nick was forcing himself not to pace manically when his doorbell rang, sounding above the din of pounding rain. He zipped his gaze to the clock. Quarter ’til midnight. Obviously this wasn’t a social call. Had his late buddy’s enemy gotten wind of him shaking the trees for Sasha? Or had that corrupt son of a bitch just come back for another pound of flesh?

With every light in the living room on, Nick couldn’t pretend he wasn’t home. Besides, he refused to let this asshole think he was afraid. So he drew his weapon and jerked the door open, wearing a snarl.

Nick expected trouble, a gunfight, a battle for his life. Instead, Sasha Porter stood under his little portico, clinging near the door to avoid the deluge of November rain. Without a coat, she shivered. An exhausted little girl slept on her hip under a baby blanket, blond curls askew. A ragged duffel bag hung over her other arm. Rain had seeped through Sasha’s tattered blouse. Water ran down her cheek, which was marred with an unmistakable bruise. Dark circles discolored the skin under her hazel eyes, now wide with fear as she stared at his SIG. Cursing, Nick scrambled to holster his weapon.

My Review:
Nick Navarro is a PI just fresh out of prison. He was framed for raping a crooked DA’s niece, and while he was in jail his childhood best friend Mike Porter was murdered. Mike, an assistant district attorney, had sought Nick’s help getting evidence on his boss, DA Walter Clifford. Nick promised he’d take care of Sasha, Mike’s wife, if ever Mike got into trouble, but Nick had been locked away when she needed him.

Now out, Nick’s desperate to keep Sasha Porter, and her toddler daughter Harper, out of Clifford’s crossfire. She’s known the danger since the night before Mike was killed, but she’d never turn up on Nick’s doorstep if she wasn’t desperate. Clifford’s goons have hounded her steps for over a year, and Harper’s illness isn’t going away. Nick agrees to help–in return for Sasha’s full cooperation…in the bedroom.

Okay, okay, he’s not really that mercenary. His offer isn’t fully serious. He’s mad attracted to Sasha, but he’s not about to make her prostitute herself. Not when what he really wants is her full cooperation, anyway. He fell hard for Sasha when they first met–when she was Mike’s wife, and all he wants is for her to love him like she loved Mike. Not so easy. Still, we get a few cameos from previous stories, notably Xander, London and Javier and their adorable daughter, who take Harper so she’s out of the fray and can recuperate in safety. That leaves Sasha and Nick to hunt down evidence Mike had planted deep in the heart of New Orleans.

Naturally, along the way, the brute with the heart of gold wins over the shrinking violet, the bad goy gets worse, and the grand gesture gets completely out-of-hand…
I honestly liked the progression of Nick and Sasha’s affections, even if I felt the “L” word got thrown out there way too soon. The end was a little nutty–but justice was served with a side dish of cold revenge. So, HEA all the way, and a juicy interlude for the hero and his heroine.

Interested? You can find DIRTY WICKED on Goodreads and Amazon.

About the Author:
Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty novels. For over fifteen years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold well over a million copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past seven years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her teenage daughter, and a very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

You can find Shayla on her website, Facebook and twitter.
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Ultimate Sacrifice for THE LOST CODEX–A Review

codexblogtourbanner
Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new urban fantasy from Heather Lyons. THE LOST CODEX is the fourth book in the Collecters’ Society series, which features fictional characters from well-known books being warriors against censorship and book destruction. It’s all very enthralling… I really loved THE HIDDEN LIBRARY and THE FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN, so I couldn’t wait to read the final book in this series.

thelostcodex_ebook_450x675About the book:
Allies, once inseparable, splinter until they break apart.

An insidiousness carves its way through Wonderland, challenging the land’s very existence.

Battle lines will be drawn as pages, long languishing in darkness, are finally illuminated.

Swords will clash, blood will be spilled, and lives will be lost.

For what is written can still be erased.

Just to recap, the Collector’s Society is a series that pulls characters from storybooks into our daily lives. Alice, Queen of Wonderland, is a heroine of the first order, as she gave up her true love in Wonderland to assist the Librarians to take down rogue agents who seek to destroy entire fictional worlds. She’s partnered with Finn, think: Huckleberry, who is another true match, and boy howdy to the get it on…but they ALSO work together to take down the most nefarious enemy the Librarians have ever faced: the Pied Piper.

There’s much more to the story, but if this intrigues you, check out my reviews for THE HIDDEN LIBRARY and THE FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN.

villain
As part of the blog tour, author Heather Lyons has asked readers for their pick for a fave villain to insert in the Collectors’ Society world. The book, and series, feature three major villains: The Pied Piper, the Queen of Hearts and the thirteenth wise woman (also known as the one who cursed Sleeping Beauty…Maleficent of Disney fame.)

These are some serious baddies, and they cause the destruction of many Timelines, “real” worlds behind their books, all the characters and people who lived within them. It’s a disastrous business, one Alice (of Wonderland) and Finn (don’t call him Huckleberry) are striving to stop.

For me, I’m not sure about which fictional villain should pay a social call to Alice…I don’t read a lot of fairy tale fiction anymore. The villains are all evil sorcerers/witches, which makes a lot of sense. We did also have Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett in earlier books. Pretty much we’d need a homicidal maniac, who may, or may not, have magical powers. I suppose Voldemort is a good candidate, though I know there would be copyright issues. Still, he’s evil through-and-through and definitely bent of world conquest. Another good candidate could be Moriarty, from Sherlock Holmes, though he may have already been featured. It’s been a while (literally hundreds of books ago) since I read the earlier books and my memory isn’t THAT good. 😉

My Review:
This is the final book in a four-volume Collectors’ Society series and needs to be read in order for it to make sense. When we last left Alice, Wonderland’s exiled Queen of Diamonds, and her lover Finn (don’t call him Huckleberry) these agents of the Collectors’ Society had just stolen the Codex, a mystical book that contains the Timelines of all realms that exist from fictional stories. In short, Wonderland is real. Alice really went there, she was a Queen, betrothed to Jace, The White King, whom she had to leave behind to break a horrific prophecy.

Alice was recruited as a Collector, to help preserve the Timelines by securing their catalysts, physical elements in our world that protect the fictional worlds they represent. For Wonderland, it’s Alice’s crown. For One Thousand and One Nights, it’s Scheherazade’s veil. Since leaving Wonderland Alice’s broken heart for Jace has healed into a true love for Finn, her Society partner. Their efforts to find more catalysts has been derailed by several literary villains, but mostly by The Pied Piper, who has destroyed several catalysts and the lives behind them.

In the process of getting the Codex out of the Piper’s mountain fortress, Alice, Finn and Finn’s adopted brother Victor (von Frankenstein) were trapped by the Piper’s luring melody. They are tortured and nearly killed, saved by Alice mastering her delusions, and her ruthless quest to save the man she loves. For those expecting a demure damsel, you are mistaken. She’s an excellent swordswoman, and monarch of the first order. She will cut you.

Getting back the their New York headquarters is only the first step in this adventure. They tried to kill the Piper and the thirteenth wise woman by detonating explosions that collapsed the mountain, but it seems they, and the Queen of Hearts, Alice’s brutal nemesis, escaped without injury. Not so for Finn and Victor. They’ve been changed in horrific ways, and are susceptible to destructive suggestions from any of their previous captors. Alice learns the Queen of Hearts is in Wonderland, converting her subjects into Chosen, the soulless followers of the Piper. In order to defeat the Piper before he can come claim the Codex, Alice and her comrades joins Jace in the war against Hearts. There, Finn, healed by magic and science, plays a huge and unexpected role in the coup against both Hearts and the Piper & wise woman.

The action is pretty much non-stop, and it’s gory and gruesome. Land sakes! These are the GRIMMest of (fairy) tales, with lethal spiders and Frankenstein-like horror. I loved every second. There’s a bit of naughty business, too, because Alice and Finn get it on, a little, while the Artful Dodger enjoys some erotic fun with The Hatter and Co. At it’s core this is a deep love story, one that causes Alice to sacrifice everything in order to save Wonderland, even if she isn’t meant to see the next dawn. The imagination barrier is high. Reading a grown Alice, a kickass warrior queen with all her regal charms, is a hoot, but it’s also a bit heart breaking. She’s had to sacrifice so much, and maybe that wasn’t exactly necessary.

That said, the ending here is truly wonder…ful. With the right amount of heart, I’m sure it will satisfy readers. The wrap of the series is a little melancholy, for me, because I really enjoyed my time in this worlds-within-worlds experience, and I could certainly go back and wallow.

Interested? You can find THE LOST CODEX on Goodreads, Amazon (US and UK) and iBooks.
on US:

****Don’t forget to read these first!!****
THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY can be found on Amazon (US and UK) iBooks and Kobo.

THE HIDDEN LIBRARY is available on Amazon (US and UK) Barnes & Noble, iBooks and Kobo.

You can find THE FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN on Goodreads, Amazon (US and UK), Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks.

About the Author:
Heather Lyons
Heather Lyons writes epic, heartfelt love stories and has always had a thing for words. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.

Catch Heather on her website, Goodreads, twitter and Facebook.

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THE BILLIONAIRE AND THE WILD MAN–Review and Giveaway!

tourbutton_wildmanHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary romance from Lucy Felthouse and Victoria Blisse. THE BILLIONAIRE AND THE WILD MAN is a sweet and tender love story between a hotel magnate and the off-the-grid veteran she meets while on holiday.

Catch the author’s note, a sexy excerpt and enter the multi-book giveaway below.

billionaireandthewildman-evernightpublishing-oct2016-smallpreviewAbout the book:
Flynn Gifford is enjoying a simple existence in a rural Derbyshire village when Caroline Rogers crashes into his life, barefoot and panicked.

Their lives could hardly be more different—she owns a successful luxury hotel chain, and he’s a penniless nomad who’s off the grid—yet neither can deny the attraction that burns between them. As Caroline reluctantly starts to open up to him, Flynn finds himself divulging some secrets of his own, secrets he thought he’d take to his grave.

But can a billionaire and a wild man ever make a relationship work, or will their secrets keep them apart?

Thoughts on writing from Victoria Blisse…

Can you Co-Write a novel with a Friend? By Victoria Blisse
I’ve been a published author for 10 years now and until recently I’d never co-written anything. Sure, I’ve batted ideas to and forth with other authors before now, played around with story ideas but they’ve never turned into anything more.

But now, I have written a novel with my partner in Erotica (not crime, well, least not yet) Lucy Felthouse. We’ve been mates for ages, Northern birds with very similar senses of humour and both part of the amazing Brit Babes. We’ve talked about co-writing for ages and then BOOM. We did it.

What was it like? Well, it was fun. No, I’m not just saying that because Lucy will read this, it really was. I got instant reaction to each chapter I wrote and it was a challenge to keep the story going. I’m not sure we expected it to be a novel when we started but Carrie and Flynn just wouldn’t get it on! There’s loads of hot chemistry and snogs but blimey, it was hard work getting them into bed together.

I had an on hand editor to pick me up on stupid things like changing the Doctor’s name from chapter to chapter and someone to help get past those plot holes. 2 heads are better than one for that, definitely.

Would I co-write a novel again? Yeah, I think I would. It’s different but variety is the spice of life.

Would I co-write a novel with Lucy again…

I have to say yes, or she’ll thump me. 😉 Actually, more to the point, would she want to write with me again? If she does, I reckon another Blisse/Felthouse best seller will soon come around.

Now, I’ll leave you with an excerpt that really made both me and Lucy laugh!

Worst end to a romantic picnic?

I want to fuck him. I want to feel him inside me. The words of invitation hover on my lips when I hear a shrill bark. We both stop, lips locked, and listen. All I can hear at first is our panting breaths, but then the yip of a little dog clearly sounds on the air. I snatch my hand from his pants, and Flynn pulls back from me. Just as a wet doggy nose hits an exposed patch of flesh on my back.

I yelp then turn to see the little Jack Russell looking at me with a mischievous glint in its beady eye. Cock-blocked by a bloody dog. Nice. The dog leaves me alone and pounces on the cocktail sausages.

“Skipper, behave!” A shrill voice yells, drawing my gaze up to meet the white-haired woman in chintz blouse, navy skirt and heavy duty sandals walking towards us. “Skipper, get out of it! Skipper, stop!”

The dog doesn’t even flutter an eyelash, just continues eating.

“I’m so sorry.” The lady gasps as she bends down to pull on the recalcitrant dog’s collar. “He’s such a naughty little thing.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” I smile. “He’s only doing what comes naturally.”

Skipper is clipped onto a lead, but his little tail still wags. Nothing’s going to get him down, especially now he’s got a belly full of sausage.

“I’ll leave you two in peace to enjoy your picnic now.” She smiles. “It’s a lovely day for it.”

“Thanks,” Flynn finds his voice and chips in. “Enjoy your walk.”

She waves and drags the little dog behind her.

“He’s still eyeing up our picnic,” Flynn laughs.

Ha! That made me giggle when I read it too!

My Review:
Caroline Rogers is a self-made woman having a rough patch. She owns a luxury hotel chain, but got caught up in all the pressure and had a bit of a meltdown. Now, she’s in northern England recuperating under the watchful eye of her harping mum. She’s seeing a psychiatrist every few days and trying not to strangle her mother for being a mean-spirited, overprotective nag; their relationship has always been problematic.

After a particularly gruesome shouting match, Caroline hopped over the stone wall at the back of the garden and encountered Flynn Gifford, a clearly unkempt homeless man, picking up litter as an odd job. He’s sweet and a little saucy with her, shaking her from her doldrums. Carrie wants to forget all her troubles–personal and professional–so she joins Flynn in the work, despite being barefoot and half-hysterical. They pass the time talking, and both open up; Carrie about her breakdown, and Flynn about his career in the Armed Service, and how he’s AWOL after a mission went bad. The lack of judgment on either side is refreshing for both. As a favor, Carrie invites Flynn to return to her mum’s house later, when she knows her mother will be gone, so he can get a shower and shave.

The attraction that had developed during their talk is only bolstered by increased company. I’d thought this book would be erotica, honestly, but it’s more a straight romance. These two lost souls find each other at just the right moment. They each need support and comfort, and a little bit of protection, too. They pass a few days together, and it looks like Carrie’s about to propose something wild, but before they can get too far Flynn does what he needs to do: account for himself with the service. He can’t very well court a woman like Carrie if he’s off the grid, can he? Plus, he’s got loads of pride and wants to be able to make something of himself, other than a beggar boy-toy. Not that Carrie ever treated him as such. Her heart’s broken when she finds him gone, but that break is necessary for both Carrie and Flynn to put their respective worlds in order.

I really liked this one. It was honest and practical, and still very sexy and emotional. These two get battered a bit in life, no matter their financial circumstances, and they’re guarded. Giving confidence to a stranger was never in the plan, yet it worked so beautifully for those shining moments. Flynn’s a stand-up guy, who won’t let Carrie boss him around, though, and when he makes good on his promise to find her once he’s made his amends I really felt for him. She doesn’t make apologizing  easy, but I understood that too! Her heart was torn up, and she’s finally gotten over him, only to have him return?

Still, the reunion is sweet (after all the shouting and tears!) and the future looks brighter than ever before. It’s tender and touching and real. I really enjoyed it!

Interested? You can find THE BILLIONAIRE AND THE WILD MAN on Goodreads, Evernight Publishing, Amazon, BookStrand, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and All Romance eBooks.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link to be entered to win a boat-load of erotic reads!
Follow the tour and enter as many times as you can, for your best chance. Good luck and keep reading my friends.

About the Authors:

Lucy Felthouse:

Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of, and an Amazon bestseller), Eyes Wide Open (winner of the Love Romances Café’s Best Ménage Book 2015 award, and an Amazon bestseller) and The Persecution of the Wolves. Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 150 publications to her name. She owns Erotica For All, and is one eighth of The Brit Babes.

Find out more about her writing on her website, or on Twitter or Facebook. Sign up for automatic updates on Amazon or BookBub. You can also subscribe to her monthly newsletter.

Victoria Blisse:
Victoria Blisse is a Mother, Wife, Christian, Manchester United Fan and Award Winning Erotica Author and all round Cheeky Wench. She is also the editor of several Bigger Briefs collections, and the co-editor of the fabulous Smut Alfresco, Smut by the Sea (Vol.1), Smut by the Sea (Vol.2), Smut by the Sea (Vol.3), and Smut in the City Anthologies.

She is the mistress of Smut UK putting on Smut Events, Days & Evenings dedicated to erotica, socializing, fun and prizes. Check out Smut Nights, Smut by the Sea: Scarborough, and Smut Manchester for more info.

Born near Manchester, England, her northern English quirkiness shows through in all of her stories along with her own particular brand of humour and romance that bring laughs and warm fuzzies in equal measure.

Passion, love and laughter fill her works, just as they fill her busy life.

You can find often find Victoria procrastinating on Facebook , Twitter and Pinterest.

Coming Soon FIRE IN YOU–Excerpt Reveal!

fire-in-you-fb-bannerHi there! I’m so excited to share an excerpt for a new contemporary romance from best-selling author Jennifer Armentrout, writing as J. Lynn. FIRE IN YOU is a second-chance romance, and I’m told there will be tears. O.O

It comes out in a couple of weeks, but there’s an excerpt to tease you and a chance to get a little extra sumpin’ if you pre-order and follow the instructions below…

fire-in-you-coverAbout the book:
About FIRE IN YOU (Standalone Contemporary Romance Releasing November 28, 2016):
From the # 1 New York Times and International bestselling author comes a richly moving story about heartbreak and guilt, second chances and hope. Full of familiar, fan-favorite characters and no two people more deserving of a happy ending, Fire In You will burn bright beyond the last page…

Jillian Lima’s whole world was destroyed in a span of a few hours. The same night her childhood love, Brock ‘the Beast’ Mitchell, broke her heart, her life was irrevocably altered by the hand of a stranger with a gun. It takes six years to slowly glue together the shattered pieces of her life, but Jillian is finally ready to stop existing in a past full of pain and regret. She takes a job at her father’s martial arts Academy and she’s going out on her first date since a failed relationship that was more yuck than yum. Jillian is determined to start living.

She just never expected Brock to be a part of her life again. But he’s firmly back in her life before she knows it, and not only is he older, he’s impossibly more handsome, more teasing and more everything. And when he sees Jillian, he’s no longer capable of thinking of her as the little girl who was his shadow growing up or the daughter of the man who gave him a second chance at life. He sees the woman who’d always been there for him, the one person who believed in him no matter what.

Brock knows she’s the one he should’ve made his, and what begins as a tentative friendship quickly turns to red-hot chemistry that sparks a flame that burns brighter than lust. Falling for Brock again risks more than her heart, because when the sorrow-filled and guilt-ridden past resurfaces, and a web of lies threatens to rip them apart, the fallout could lay waste to everything they’ve fought to build together, and destroy the dreams of those they care most about.

How about a little taste?

Brock’s gaze flickered over my face and the line of his jaw softened. “It’s been a really long time since you and I have sat and talked to one another. I know you have every reason to hate me. I don’t blame you.”

“I don’t hate you.” That twisting motion in my chest picked up. What I had said was true. Maybe at one point I did. Okay. I’m sure I had, but I’d never been one to hate anyone. It just wasn’t in me. Well, I hated plenty of fictional characters, but some people would claim they didn’t count. I drew in a shallow breath and repeated, “I don’t hate you.”

Brock was still as he stared at me, a flicker of surprise and relief mingling across his chiseled features. “I’m…I’m glad to hear that.”

I pushed all that mess aside and focused. “Why are you even the GM? You’ve probably made enough money to live a very, very long time without having to worry about a paycheck.”

“I have. When I retired from professional fighting two years ago, I could’ve lived quite comfortably for the rest of my life.”

I wanted to ask why he’d retired so young. At his age, he still had a couple of more years left, but I resisted the urge. “So why take this job?”

A frown started to appear. “Do you really need to ask me that?” Before I could respond, he lifted a hand, thrusting his fingers through his hair as he said, “Your father saved my life. That’s not an exaggeration. You know that. If it hadn’t been for him, I would’ve died on those streets. The Academy became my life and it is a part of me. This company is important to me, and even if I’m not fighting, representing the Academy, I still need to be a part of it.”

Lowering my gaze, I squirmed in my chair. Of course I knew that. No matter what had happened, that would’ve never changed for him.

“I love scouting, looking for fresh talent,” he continued. “As the GM, I can still do that. I can give back to your father for everything he did for me. I need to do that. Especially considering how badly I let him down.”

“How in the world did you let my father down?” I asked, genuinely curious. “You’ve won championships for him. Brought so much attention to the—”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.” Tone serious, he held my gaze. “You never told him why you were at Mona’s that night.”

I stilled.

“If you had, he would’ve—”

My eyes snapped to his. “Brock.”

“And I would’ve deserved everything I had coming to me,” he continued, leaning forward. “And the only reason why I never told him you were there because of me was because you made me promise not to.”

Closing my eyes, I pressed my lips together. I had made him promise not to say a word. I’d begged him, because I knew what would happen if he’d been honest. Brock would’ve lost everything.

The knot was back, expanding in my throat. I couldn’t sit here and think and talk about these kinds of things if I was going to be able to make this job work. Curling my hands together, I opened my eyes. “What happened back then has nothing to do with now. It can’t.”

Brock leaned back and straightened.

“And I don’t want to talk about it,” I continued, struggling to keep my voice steady. “We don’t need to talk about any of that for us to work together.”

He was silent for a moment, his body deviously relaxed, but he was like a coiled cobra, and could strike at any moment. “I don’t agree with that, but I’ll let it go.”

Some of the tension seeped out of my shoulders even though I had a feeling there was an unspoken “for now” at the end of what he said. “That’s all, then? I would like to get my office set up and get to work.”

Brock nodded and pushed off the desk. Walking around it, he scanned the paperwork on his desk. “I do believe we have a meeting today with the sales team. Two o’clock.”

“Sounds good.” I rose on oddly shaky legs and turned to the door. Everything felt surreal.

“Jillian.”

Stopping, I faced him. “Yes?”

His shoulders rose with a deep breath as his gaze drifted over my face once more, and I wondered what he thought about how I looked now. “I really want this to work for us, Jillian,” he said, and I felt the very sharp twisting motion in my chest give one powerful stab. “It’s a second chance for us.”

It sounds SOOOO good. Expect my review in the coming weeks.

Interested? FIRE IN YOU will be available in paperback and eBook November 28th, 2016! You can preorder it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks. For readers for pre-order a digital or paperback copy of FIRE IN YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout, writing as J.Lynn, AND fill out THIS FORM, they’ll get an exclusive bonus scene-an Epilogue featuring POVs from all the major couples throughout the Wait For You World!

Just enter your name, age, email address, and the order number from your digital or paperback pre-order receipt HERE to receive your exclusive FIRE IN YOU bonus scene! All entrants will receive the bonus scene on December 5th, 2016 through email using the email given when the entrant filled out THIS FORM.

About the Author:
# 1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. She spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories…which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.
Catch up with Jennifer on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
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Falling for the Big Sky–HOLIDAY HEAT: THE MEN OF STARLIGHT BEND–Review

holidayheat_btbannerHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a boxed set of 5 All-New, Never-Before-Published Holiday Romances for .99¢! Holiday Heat: The Men of Starlight Bend is now LIVE and features stories by Jennifer Ashley, Erin Quinn, Calista Fox, Mary Leo, and Jennifer Probst! I’ve dipped deep into the collection and definitely recommend it for readers that enjoy Christmas romances with a little western and mythical twist.

erinquinn_starlightbend_2d_hrAbout this boxed set:
Starlight Bend is a cozy Montana town nestled between glacial lakes and snow-capped mountains. This Christmas, holiday magic is in the air and wishes can come true–all it takes is believing. Visit us in Starlight Bend and meet five sexy, heartwarming heroes and the women who steal their hearts…

Snowbound in Starlight Bend ~ Jennifer Ashley
Haley McKee is furious to find herself stuck in the tiny town of Starlight Bend so near Christmas, helped out by the handsome Maddox Campbell, a cowboy who’s not impressed with her fancy job titles and parents’ money. In fact, no one has given her this much crap her entire life. But there’s a lot more to Maddox than at first seems–he’s a hard-working man who gives much of his time and patience to help those who have little. When a spark of Christmas magic promises Haley all she wants, will she make her wish with her head or her heart?

The Long Gone Girl of Starlight Bend ~ Erin Quinn
Kari has big plans that are about to pay off, and she doesn’t have time for tall, dark, and amazing Ty Timberlake. Ty knows he’s in trouble as soon as he meets smart, beautiful Kari. He understands her goals, but knows the rat race won’t make her happy. Kari is hell-bent on making her mark and moving onto the next challenge; Ty is determined to win her love and make her stay. As Christmas approaches, Kari begins to question what she wants. Should she stick to her plan and be long gone by the New Year, or choose the man who’s stolen her heart?

His Angel of Starlight Bend ~ Calista Fox
Anna Voss and Nick Hoffman are Starlight Bend’s star-crossed lovers. They were inseparable growing up, but destined for different paths. They haven’t seen each other in over a decade, but this Christmas, Nick returns home—with some startling surprises that turn Anna’s world upside down.
Love and desire have always burned bright between these two, but they’re both haunted by the past. Yet there’s a mystical entity working in their favor this time around—if they can open their hearts and minds to a destiny rewritten, with the help of family and a little holiday magic…

Ropin’ the Lone Cowboy of Starlight Bend ~ Mary Leo
Jolie Shepherd didn’t want to spend Christmas alone. So when she accepts an open invitation for a visit to Starlight Bend, Montana from her best friend, Jolie expects to pass most of the holiday season holed up inside a rustic cabin, not playing cowgirl with quite possibly the most adorable cowboy in the entire state. Red Weisman is a man who prefers to ride alone . . . that is until he meets Jolie Shepherd. Once they team up to grant a Christmas wish for a needy child, something magical happens between them. Now all they have to do is believe . . . but can they?

The Grinch of Starlight Bend ~ Jennifer Probst
Noah used to be a beloved member of the Starlight Bend community, until a tragedy turns to betrayal and drives him into solitude. His face horribly scarred, he retreats to his mountain top mansion—until a stubborn social worker asks for a Christmas wish to help a sick child. He never expects to fall for the spitfire, do-gooder, but when she offers love as the solution, can he let go of the past? When Josephine convinces Noah to host a Winter Carnival, she’s intrigued by the fascinating man hiding a bruised heart. But will her love be enough for him to take a chance on a brand new future?

My Review:
This five-book set seems to have a theme regarding city slickers coming to Starlight Bend, and being enchanted by the simple, straight-talking locals. Also, there’s a sweet thread of the mystical running through each story, regarding a certain Wishing Tree for poor kids to hang their Christmas wishes upon, and a maybe-too-authentic Santa with the power to make romantic wishes come true. Those elements tie the books together, but none of them seem connected otherwise–no repeating characters, that is.

The series kicks off in Snowbound in Starlight Bend by Jennifer Ashley with a hardware store CEO, Haley McKee, who lands in a snowbank. She’s rescued, on horseback, by cowboy and horse trainer Maddox Campbell. Haley’s distraught at the idea of not making it home to Seattle for Christmas with her father. He’s been single since her mom left, twenty-ish years ago, and they have a tremendous bond. Maddox’s only family, Aunt Jane, is a town pillar, and takes Haley under her wing straight away. There’s friction between Maddox and Haley, but not enough to thwart their building passion. Both of them are rather lonely, solitary people. This unintentional break is the first “vacation” Haley’s had in years. And, Maddox isn’t about to let the feisty woman escape with out bleeding out a little passion.

This one has a sweet core, but I didn’t quite connect. I think I had problems with the pacing, and the ending, and other parts, all seemed to happen too fast, or without the right context for me to really catch on.

However, the second story, The Long Gone Girl of Starlight Bend by Erin Quinn got all up in my feels! Kari is a boutique men’s outfitter, and she’s arrivedin Starlight Bend to open her fifth store. Her brand HardWear is chic clothes for the rugged man, and it’s poised to get picked up by a department store chain, if she can just build a little bit more momentum. She meets Ty Timberlake on the eve of taking possession of his estranged father’s local hardware shop, not knowing who he is, other than the sexy history teacher currently propping up the bar beside her. Their night together is a bonfire in the darkness, and Ty wants more. Kari’s afraid to commit herself, because she only planned to pen her shop and stick around for the first couple months before looking for the next opportunity, elsewhere.

Funny thing about plans…Kari can’t stay away from Ty, and he’s doing his level best to keep her here. He’s full of good stuff, high ideals, and gentlemanly ways, but Kari’s grasped for success so long, she’s not sure what it would mean to let go, make a new plan, dream a new dream. It’s an emotional read, especially when you factor in the repair of Ty and his father’s relationship, and the Wishing Tree gifts Kari hunts out for a down-on-their-luck family. Tears, I tellz ya!

His Angel of Starlight Bend by Calista Fox is a second-chance romance for childhood sweethearts reuintied decades later when Nick returns to Starlight bend, with his son, to care for his ailing grandmother. Anna and Nick grew up in Starlight Bend, and were the best of friends and first lovers until college and careers separated them. Anna had a child who died, and takes to Nick’s son, Jake a quiet, respectful boy who really loves the animals Anna cares for at her veterinary clinic.

Now that Nick’s in town, however, Anna’s feeling less like the spinster, but wary to fully reclaim the love of her life–expecting Nick will disappear as he always has. Lots of poignant moments, and some hard truths, but a sweet tale filled with love and hope. Had a little confusiong regarding the time line of everything, honestly, because it seemed they’d been separated by at least fifteen, maybe twenty, years, in order to create such professional lives, yet the book hints that it’s roughly a decade. That’s a peeve, for me, but it wasn’t enough to ruin the read.

That’s as far as I got since the book came out on Tuesday. It’s a thick one! Definitely recommend it for the price alone.

Interested? You can find HOLIDAY HEAT: THE MEN OF STARLIGHT BEND for a mere $.99 on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo,

Catch up with the many authors online…
JENNIFER PROBST: website | Facebook | Twitter

JENNIFER ASHLEY: Website | Facebook | Twitter

MARY LEO: Website | Facebook | Twitter

CALISTA FOX: Website | Facebook | Twitter

ERIN QUINN: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!
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Growing Into A BETTER LOVE–A Review and get a FREE book!

betterlovebtHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary romance from Daisy Prescott. BETTER LOVE is a second-chance romance and is the fourth book in the Wingmen series. I really enjoyed READY TO FALL, CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMED TOM CAT, and ANYTHING BUT LOVE, so couldn’t wait to discover another idyllic Whidbey Island love story.

BL-Prescott-e-cover-RGBAbout the book:
Maybe that old song got it right.
Maybe love can be better the second time around.

When one of my wingmen needs help, I’ll do anything for him, including calling in a favor with the one person I swore I’d never speak to again. Not after I walked away from that life five years ago and ditched the trappings of my success. The keyword being trap.

I left it all behind.
Including her.

Now the ambitious, brilliant, talented, and undeniably beautiful Roslyn Porter is back in my life. I’m not the same person she knew. I’m trying to be a better man.

No man is an island, but Dan Ashland comes close. He’s content with his quiet life on Whidbey, a world away from the rat race on the other side of the ferry. Dan has three great loves in his life: solitude, pizza, and Roslyn Porter.

Better Love is a standalone second chance romance featuring Dan Ashland and the fourth book in the Wingmen series.

My Review:
Dan Ashland is a man haunted by his younger self. He’s in his early forties and living his new dream of owning a well-respected pizza joint on quiet Whidbey Island. In a previous book Eric Kelso, a friend of Dan, became an unfortunate social media sensation, and Dan reached out to his former publicist, Roslyn Porter, to help guide Eric through the maelstrom. Roslyn is the woman who got away–or who Dan left behind in truth–when he eschewed the nuovo riche life he’d fallen into after a lucrative business deal left him inordinately wealthy and spiritually broken.

Reuniting with Roslyn, even incidentally, after several years is a shock to Dan’s hermit-like existence. He’s got a few close friends, and had some casual lovers in the interim, but no one like Roslyn. Not that he expects he can truly court her; she’s still the same driven, workaholic who didn’t accept his ultimatum to quit work and run off with him five years before. However, she’s just as smart, snarky and beautiful as he remembered, and Dan’s driven to catch her eye. Sure, he’s gone silver fox now, but he’s still fit, and interested. Could he convince her to step out of the rat race this time?

I liked how Dan leaped out of his comfort zone again and again, and used his own vulnerability as a guide for Roslyn. She’s a once-bitten, twice-shy kinda gal, not sure about trusting Dan with her heart again. Still, she’s seeing how solitary her own life is, and meeting Dan’s friends on the island allows her to see the new Dan, a man committed to keeping his island an unspoiled haven. Dan’s a patient man, willing to put in the elbow grease in order to re-discover Roslyn, as well. But, he’s not so patient that he doesn’t commit some serious tomfoolery at Tom Cat’s nuptials… Oh baby!

The pacing here was really well-dome, giving Roslyn and Dan time to ensure their feelings were secure, and they were set on building a life together. I liked how it all turned out. There’s a good mix of slow burn, and sexytimes, with a heavy emphasis on wooing with a dash of silliness.

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

PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

READYTOFALL_FREE

Get READY TO FALL (Wingmen #1) for FREE!

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

24327646

CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMED TOM CAT (Wingmen, #2)

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

AnythingbutLoveANYTHING BUT LOVE (Wingmen #3)

Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

————–

new daisy prescott full sizeAbout the Author:
USA Today Bestselling author Daisy Prescott lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with her husband and an indeterminate number of imaginary housegoats. When not writing about people falling in love, she can be found traveling, gardening, baking, and reading a good book. Her novels include the Modern Love Stories series, the Wingmen series, and several short stories. She’s also working on expanding the world of Bewitched this fall.

Catch up with Daisy on her website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, or sign up for her Newsletter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

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The Heights Of Deception: ROMANCING THE WRONG TWIN–Review and Giveaway

wrong-twin-release-bannerHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary M/M romance from Clare London. ROMANCING THE WRONG TWIN sounds like a steamy comedy-of-errors.

Be sure to scroll down to read the excerpt and get in on the gift card and book giveaway!

perf4.250x7.000.inddAbout the book:
How tangled can a romantic web get?
When gruff mountaineer Dominic Hartington-George seeks sponsorship for his latest expedition, his London PA insists on a more media-friendly profile—like dating celebrity supermodel Zeb Z.

Zeb can’t make the date, so he asks his identical twin, Aidan, to stand in for just one evening. Aidan, a struggling playwright, shuns the limelight to the extent people don’t even know Zeb has a sibling, but he reluctantly agrees.

When the deception has to continue beyond the first date, Aidan fights to keep up the pretense. Dominic likes his sassy, intelligent companion, and Aidan starts falling for the forthright explorer. But how long can Aidan’s conscience cope as confusion abounds? Will coming clean as “the other twin” destroy the trust they’ve built?

How about a yummy taste?

The pretty young woman who met Aidan at the door smiled warmly. “I’m Tanya, Mr. Hartington-George’s personal assistant. I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Z. I’m quite a fan.”
“Zeb,” Aidan said, hoping he hadn’t hesitated for too long. “Please just call me Zeb. And… yes. Thanks.”
“Come on through.” She gestured him into the hallway. “You’re on time.”
Aidan wondered why she sounded surprised at that. He repitched his natural voice a little higher to Zeb’s teasing tone and smiled brightly in return. “Of course.”
A sneaked look in the hallway mirror had him rolling his eyes. Mission accomplished, Zeb! He barely recognized himself. Usually he was most comfortable in a sweatshirt and jeans, but now he was dressed in what Zeb Z would wear on a daily basis: a pair of skintight, distressed-denim jeans with inexplicable splits across the knees; high-top boots in soft purple leather that screamed expensive yet were surprisingly comfortable; and two lightweight T-shirts under an off-the-shoulder, electric blue sweater. Admittedly the blue brought out the color of his eyes—no one ever said Zeb didn’t have a well-developed sense of personal style—but the rest of it made him look like an overaged member of a boy band.
A younger man darted out from what must have been the living room, clutching a leather jacket to his chest as if in protection. He saw Aidan, glanced at Tanya with widening eyes, then back at Aidan. Then he thrust out his hand and said perfectly cheerily, “I’m Eric. He threatens to kill me on a daily basis.”
Aidan just shook hands and nodded. He had no idea what to say to that, or even what it meant.
Tanya frowned at Eric. “Whatever. We’re just going. The car will come for you at seven. In the meantime, if you’d like a drink?”
But Eric took her arm and guided her toward the front door. “They can cope with that themselves, Tanya. Come on.”
And Aidan was left on his own in the hallway.
He took a deep breath to center himself. The house wasn’t huge, but it was in a very fashionable area of Ladbroke Grove and far more luxurious than his own small flat. That said, there wasn’t much furniture and the decoration wasn’t modern. The hallway walls were painted in plain, cool colors. No pictures hung on the walls, and there was only a single bureau and hat stand, albeit in quality wood. Eric had left the living room door ajar behind him, and Aidan took a quick peek inside before announcing himself. From what he could see, again the walls were plain and the furniture sparse. It was as if the owner was in the process of moving out—or had never really settled in.
A male figure paused in front of the half-open door. He was distracted by something on the other side of the room, so Aidan got a first secret glimpse of the man he’d been told so much about.
H-G.
He was much more handsome in real life than on TV, though in most of the documentaries, H-G was wrapped up in furry parkas or oilskins with his face more than half-hidden with a scarf and balaclava. Today he was wearing a very smart pair of dark trousers, a startlingly white dress shirt—which had to be brand-new to still have that sheen—and a well-cut suit jacket that settled comfortably across an impressive set of shoulders. H-G’s hair was a fabulous thatch of dark curls, and he had a dark beard and mustache to match. Guiltily Aidan recalled Zeb’s mischievous nickname: Hairy Guy. But that conjured up a Wild Man of Borneo kind of image, and H-G was far from that. The hair was naturally unruly but had been styled to a level just off his shoulders, and the beard was well trimmed.
Aidan had never been attracted to hairy bears, not that he’d ever had much of a choice. As Zeb had gleefully pointed out more than once, Aidan seemed to attract needy and spiteful wankers who got off on bleeding him dry of any compassion and care. Oh, and his money too.
Okay. Self-pity over, right now. I’m not Loser Aidan now. I’m the charismatic and disgustingly fascinating Zeb Z.
For the first time in this bizarre performance, Aidan felt the tickle of mischief. This just might be fun after all. He pushed the door fully open, walked into the room, and cleared his throat.
H-G turned slowly around to face Aidan fully. His gaze ranged over Aidan’s body, and his eyes widened. “Well. They didn’t lie.”
“Who didn’t? What about?”
H-G raised his eyebrows. “Well, firstly, they said you were a bit feisty.”
Feisty? Aidan hadn’t heard that word outside of romance-novel blurbs.
“And you wouldn’t be fazed by… you know.”
“No, I don’t know. By what?” Aidan bit his lip to stop a laugh escaping.
“My celebrity.”
Jesus. Zeb was right. The man was one big blob of arrogance. “No,” Aidan said coolly. “I’m not.”
“That’s from working in the business, I suppose.”
“Business?” Oh, right, he was meant to be Zeb. “Yes, of course. When you’ve seen so many guys without the spray tan and makeup,” he gabbled without thinking first, “you soon realize they’ve got the same equipment under it all.”
H-G blinked twice, hard. And then he laughed—a loud, bold sound, echoing warmly in the bleak room.
Aidan wanted to laugh with him, but maintained his cool stare. “What’s so funny?” Had he blown it already? He hadn’t even left the house with the man yet.
“They didn’t tell me you were witty, Zeb. I may call you Zeb?”
Why? “Oh yes, right. Of course.”
Dom’s language was quaintly old-fashioned, but Aidan found it rather charming, especially after the theatrical bickering of the Dreamweavers and his brother’s exuberant and affected chatter.
“And secondly?” Aidan prompted.
“I’m sorry?” H-G frowned at him.
God, what a scowl he has. “You said they didn’t lie, and then you gave the first reason.”
H-G raised his eyebrows. “You have a good memory.”
Yes, he does have lovely eyes. “Yes, I do. Especially when I’m listening.”
H-G’s mouth twisted as if he were trying not to smirk. “Secondly, they didn’t lie about your looks, and that you were even better-looking in real life. I concur. You’re bloody gorgeous.”

My Review:
Dom is a burly, strapping, quietly gay mountaineer following his father’s expeditionary exploits. Unfortunately, despite his blue-blood pedigree, he’s rather out of funds for the final leg of his newest climbing plan. His publicist suggests a celebrity date with out-gay model Zeb Z.

Aidan and Zeb are identical twins. Aidan stays so out of the limelight that few people even know he has a sibling. Zeb’s got an engagement that he can’t miss, however, not even for the fees he’s make to go out on the town with Dom. So, he begs Aidan to cover for him. And, Aidan has a great time with Dom, as he pretends to be Zeb.

Dom is super attracted to sexy “Zeb” but not just because he’s gorgeous. No, “Zeb” is intriguing and articulate, even knowing about the climbs Dom’s made and sharing his own experience on some smaller mountains. The first date has a rough ending, but Dom really wants to meet with “Zeb” again, and Aidan only agrees to stand-in after Zeb reveals that he’s out of the country caring for an ill, beloved friend, a man Zeb’s loved a while on the down-low.

The more Dom and Aidan interact, the more they really connect. Aidan’s so mystified to find such a compatible man, he’s loathe to reveal his subterfuge. Plus, using Zeb’s persona gives Aidan the freedom to be bold in a way he never indulged in before.

This is a sweet romance with the right amount of angst, for Aidan. Dom’s a blustery, gruff man who’s rough edges are softened by his good behavior around “Zeb.” The hard truth of Aidan’s identity becomes an issue at the very end–but not for the reasons I expected, which was fun. Dom and Aidan are really sweet guys. I wanted to spend even longer with them, to just roll around in the glow of their budding romance. They have a nice bit of sexytimes, and they are two stalwart British blokes, which, yeah. #Swoon

Expect a sweet and sexy romance and a happy ending to rival the highest peaks.

Interested? You can find ROMANCING THE WRONG TWIN on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press, Amazon (US and UK) Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes, and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Clink on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $15 GC and a backlist book from Clare London.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

copy-of-clarelondonheadshotAbout the Author:
Clare London took her pen name from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with her other day job as an accountant.

She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with award-winning novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic, and sexy characters.

Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter three stage and plenty of other projects in mind… she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.

Catch up to Clare on her website, blog, Facebook, twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, and Google+.

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