STRIP SEARCH–Exclusive Excerpt, Review and Treasure Hunt Giveaway!

Hi there! I’m so excited to share a new release from Morticia Knight’s Sin City Uniforms contemporary M/M romance series. I really enjoyed HELD HOSTAGE, NEGOTIATING LOVE and SEARCHING FOR SHELTER, so I jumped at the chance to read and review STRIP SEARCH.

Check out the exclusive excerpt, my review and follow the blog tour clues so you can get in on the signed paperback and book swag giveaway below.

About the book:
Stripping used to be fun, lucrative and a place for Dakota to practice for his professional dancing career. But the owner of Glitter Boys wants Dakota for himself and will stop at nothing to possess him. When his thirteen year-old brother runs away from home to escape their abusive father, Dakota is determined to find him before something awful happens to him on the streets.

Patrol officer Reed hasn’t been attracted to a man in a very long time, but when he’s called to an assault in progress at the LGBTQ teen shelter, a young man approaches him, begging for help in finding his missing brother. An instant spark occurs, but he pushes it away. When the same man is attacked outside a strip club later that night, he discovers the desire is mutual.

As the two men learn more about each other and become closer, the spectre of his obsessed ex-boss remains. In addition to that, Dakota has to fight the system to gain guardianship of his brother and keep him out of foster care. Dakota doesn’t know if the hunky cop he’s fallen so hard for can handle a relationship with an ex-stripper struggling with raising a teenager. But, will Reed be able to give up dating women for good and dedicate himself to their new family?

And now for that EXCLUSIVE excerpt!

Backstage at the Glitter Boys strip club:

“What about you, Kota?”

Dakota jerked his head up at Rocky standing in the doorway with Noah. “What about me?”

“Yuri said you’d be there tomorrow.”

Rage coursed through Dakota. That fucking snake. He took a deep breath through his nostrils. He didn’t want his anger to be misconstrued by his friends as being a judgment against them.

“Oh, uh, I wasn’t planning on it. You must’ve misunderstood him.”

“No misunderstanding.”

Yuri appeared between them, his friends quickly stepping aside, their surprised expressions making it clear they hadn’t realized Yuri was standing there either. Yuri didn’t take his eyes off Dakota.

Rocky rubbed his hand across the top of his head. “So, uh, yeah. Tom’s waiting for me outside, so I should bounce. See ya to… Uh, see ya later.”

As Rocky shuffled out of the door, Noah moved back into the room. “Hurry up, Dakota. We don’t want to be late. Everyone’s waiting back at the apartment.” Noah widened his eyes, silently begging him to pick up on the ruse.

“Sorry, Noah. Almost done.” He glanced at Yuri, working with all his might to keep his expression implacable. “It totally slipped my mind, Yuri. Maybe we can talk in a couple days, after my next shift?”

“Out.”

Dakota blinked a few times, trying to grasp what Yuri meant and who he was directing it at.

“Out.”

The second time had been laced with anger and clearly meant for Noah.

“Cool. Yeah.” Noah shuffled nervously on his feet. “So I’ll just be waiting –“

“Out! Out of the room, out of my club, out!”

Noah’s reaction was instantaneous. He bolted from the dressing area before Dakota had been able to utter a word. Dakota clutched his dance bag in front of him on his lap. The false sense of security it hinted at was all he had in the face of Yuri’s ire.

Yuri advanced closer, looming over him. His features softened as he gazed down, his expression as he seemingly drank in Dakota’s form one of intense lust. Yuri licked his lips, then skated his palm across the growing bulge in his pants.

He wouldn’t…take me against my will? Would he?

Dakota’s breathing accelerated as he calculated what his chances of success would be if he were to push the formidable Yuri out of the way then make a run for it. Probably not so great.

“Oh, my little bublik. Why you fight me like this?”

“I…” Dakota cleared his throat. “I don’t know what you mean, Yuri. You know my situation. I want to be a dancer in one of the aerial shows, be a star there. That’s my dream.”

He wasn’t sure if he’d been stupid or smart to share what he hoped for when he’d first met Yuri. Back when Yuri had pretended to be warm and welcoming to him. It had come to the point where Yuri could either be made to understand that it was nothing personal that Dakota didn’t want to be in his films, or instead be something Yuri could somehow use against him.

“I’ll make you a star. Everyone will want you. You can have money, clothes, jewelry, cars, anything you want. I buy you beautiful estate for us to live in together.” Yuri stroked Dakota’s cheek as he tried not to cringe. “You’ll be mine.”

Dakota drew his eyebrows together. Wait. What? The last he’d heard, Yuri wanted him for his porn flicks. He must’ve missed the part where he’d be Yuri’s little pampered bitch.

“That’s an amazing offer, very generous. But…” How to word this? “I don’t really know you. We’ve never even dated or anything.” Wait. Could’ve been a wrong move.

“Oh, I see.” Yuri laughed, looking almost pleased. “Baby wants sample first.” He tapped his own temple. “Smart boy.”

Dakota panicked. “I… No. What I meant, uh, well, I didn’t mean that. No sample.”

Yuri’s features clouded over. “What you mean ‘no sample’? I’m not good enough for you?”

Oh Jesus. “I’m sure you’re great. Really, really great. But I don’t want to be in a relationship with anyone right now, no matter how wonderful they are. I just want to dance. That’s all I meant.” He swallowed hard, praying that his words would placate the beast.

“Maybe you let me show you what real man can give you and dancing will mean nothing.” Yuri caressed his face again. “Except when dancing for me.”

Fuck. I gotta quit this place. There’s no way I can come back here.

My Review:

Dakota Crane is a 23 y/o trained dancer who is working at a Vegas strip club to save money for aerial dance classes, all to attain his dream of professional aerial performing in the big shows. Dakota is a relatively quiet, out gay man sharing an apartment with a fellow stripper and eschewing club life to save every penny. He hates giving lap dances and sees his current job as a means to an end–one that’s becoming difficult as his boss Yuri pressures him (unsuccessfully for the moment) to do porn and unwelcome sexual favors. His family accepts his sexuality, but the connection there has been crumbling due to his father’s recent gambling addiction and violent temper.

Dakota’s overwrought by the disappearance of his thirteen year old brother, Donovan, frequent target of his father’s rage. While searching for him Dakota meets patrol officer Reed Armstrong who is totally banging–and Reed finds Dakota instantly appealing, as well. They don’t make a strong connection, but a spark exists.

Knowing the situation with Yuri is untenable, Dakota flees his apartment and finds a new job–but his stalker finds him. Reed is called to the scene of a disturbance: Dakota being nearly kidnapped by Yuri. This time, Reed and Dakota can’t deny their attraction. As Dakota can’t go back to his own apartment, he agrees to meet Reed for dinner after his shift ends. Their conversation stretches into the wee hours and ends with Reed chaperoning Dakota to empty his place. Oh, and sexytimes.

Over the course of a few days they become close, and Reed helps Dakota track down Donovan. As time winds on Dakota’s life becomes a wrangle, balancing his nascent love, keeping Donovan safe, and staying out of Yuri’s grasp. I liked how this all developed. There was time for the romance to build, for real life to intrude, and for the specter of Yuri to raise the tension. For Reed and Dakota, the sexytimes are incendiary. Reed’s bisexual, yet had very little experience with men. He was married–and faithful–for years and has a teenaged daughter for whom he shares custody. With Dakota’s lust turned loose Reed gets a crash-course in all things gay sex as their intimacy deepens.

Expect Yuri to make things bad–for a few very tense moments, and for Dakota and Reed to make things good–for a lifetime. It’s a sweet read with a fun and yummy couple. Little bit of instalove, but I was still on board.

Interested? You can find STRIP SEARCH on Goodreads, Pride Publishing, Amazon, and AllRomance.

GIVEAWAY

Morticia has a special contest for you! The exclusive excerpt for Strip Search that I shared today may or may not have really happened to Morticia. Follow the tour to read the other excerpts. If you believe you know the correct one then come back and enter your answer in the Rafflecopter giveaway link. Of the correct entries, one winner will be chosen to receive an autographed copy of Strip Search and bag filled with book swag!

Here are the tour dates and links, so you can keep up!
19-Apr: The Novel Approach
20-Apr: V’s Reads
21-Apr: Carly’s Book Reviews
22-Apr: Love Bytes
25-Apr: MM Good Book Reviews
26-Apr: Molly Lolly
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:

Author Morticia Knight spends most of her nights writing about men loving men forever after. If there happens to be some friendly bondage or floggings involved, she doesn’t begrudge her characters whatever their filthy little heart’s desire. Even though she’s been crafting her naughty tales for more years than she’d like to share – her adventures as a published author began in 2011.

Once upon a time she was the lead singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She currently resides on the northern Oregon coast and when she’s not fantasizing about hot men she takes walks along the ocean and annoys the local Karaoke bar patrons.

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

Baby Steps–THE HEART AS HE HEARS IT-Review & Giveaway!

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review and giveaway for a new contemporary M/M romance from A. M. Arthur. THE HEART AS HE HEARS IT is the third book in her Perspectives series, but can be fully enjoyed on it’s own. Like THE WORLD AS HE SEES IT, and THE TRUTH AS HE KNOWS IT, this book features a small-time gay porn actor finding a new life and a true love, as a sub-plot.

Catch the excerpt and enter to win a backlist book from AM Arthur in the giveaway below.

About the book:
While most of his friends have moved on to “real” careers, Jon Buchanan is content skating through life as a part-time waiter and gay porn star. Firmly single thanks to a previous relationship disaster, he focuses his spare time on Henry, a dear friend dying of cancer.

And with Henry’s happiness paramount, Jon is on a mission to help Henry meet his recently discovered grandson.

Isaac Gregory hasn’t set foot outside for the past year. He has everything he needs delivered, and his remaining family knows better than to visit. When a complete stranger shows up claiming to be his grandfather—with a distractingly handsome younger man in tow—his carefully structured routines are shaken.

Despite his instant attraction, Jon senses Isaac is too fragile for a relationship. Yet tentative friendship grows into genuine companionship. And when Henry’s health begins to fail, they realize Fate brought them together for a reason.

How about a little taste?

Jon studied him, his gaze taking in…something. “May I ask you something?”
“Of course.” His chest flushed with anticipation.
“How do you feel when you’re with me?”
Isaac tried to push aside the anxiety still attempting to blur his thoughts, an old friend that wanted to be part of the conversation. Only anxiety wasn’t allowed in, not this time. He shuffled through different words, emotions and adjectives, searching for the one that best described how he felt about Jon. How Jon made him feel, despite being a near-stranger, bigger, stronger and far more experienced in pretty much everything. Jon still made him feel… “Safe,” Isaac said.
Jon’s eyebrows crept up. The corners of his mouth quirked into something not quite a smile. “Really?”
“Yes. The first time I saw you on my security feed, I noticed how beautiful you were.” His cheeks warmed.
Jon flat out grinned. “Yeah?”
“You’re kind and patient, and I feel safe because you don’t try to fix me, and you don’t act like I’m broken. My family thinks I’m broken, and I don’t want them to fix me. I just…” Something in Isaac shifted, accepting this new truth. “I need to feel safe, Jon. That’s why I hide. But you make me not want to hide.”
Jon’s eyes glittered. His expression melted into something so warm, so sweet, that it burned in Isaac’s blood in a way he didn’t understand at all. The strange sensation urged him to reach out, to initiate contact of some kind. Deep-rooted fear kept Isaac still, unable to make that first move. Unable to do anything except soak in the wonderment on Jon’s face.
“I think that’s the greatest compliment I’ve ever gotten,” Jon said. His voice was hoarse, strange. Almost difficult to hear, so Isaac paid more attention to his lips. “Is it cheesy to say your strength makes me want to be better too?”
Isaac shook his head. “I’m not strong.”
“You’re stronger than you think. You proved that by letting me and Henry in two weeks ago. You proved it again by going out to rescue a kitten. Twice, by the way. You told me you want to get better, get into the world, and that takes a fuck-ton of courage when you’ve lost as much as you have. I know it won’t be easy, but I still want to help you do that.”
“I know you do. I want that too.”

My Review:
While this is the third book in a series, it follows a new lead and a new romance, with brief appearances from a couple previous characters.

Jon is a 25 y/o man who is in a good place in his life. A recovering anorexic, he has battled back from the brink, and built some true friendships, notably Gabe, from previous books, and Henry, an older man who took Jon in when his family cast him out and helped him through his recovery. Jon prefers his regular porn shoots for no-strings sex, as his last relationship (with emotionally-abusive Rick) was completely toxic. He’s not looking for a partner, and is busy caring for Henry who has end-stage prostate cancer. When Henry learns he has a long-lost grandson, he wants to meet him, and spend whatever time he has making one last connection. Jon assists, and is struck by Isaac.

For his part, Isaac suffers PTSD from domestic violence–Henry’s unknown son was an abuser–and witnessing his mother be attacked by criminals. Though he’s 22, Isaac is agoraphobic in the extreme and hasn’t left his home willingly since his grandmother died a year ago. He’s also mostly deaf, due to his father’s battery.

Isaac is initally terrified of Henry, whose resemblance to his abusive son is traumatic, but he braves out a single meeting a little mystified by the beautiful man who accompanies Henry, Jon. Not long after, Isaac rescues a lost kitten who strayed onto his porch, and he reaches out to Jon to bring supplies. They hit it off, and begin a casual friendship mostly via online messaging, at first. Jon wants Henry’s dying wish to become true, so he continues to build a friendship with Isaac in the hope that Henry will be invited to spend more time. It doesn’t hurt that Jon feels attracted adn protective of Isaac, wanting to make his sheltered life better, too. In the meantime, Jon’s ex, Rick, returns and his ED is triggered. Jon and Isaac’s friendship becomes more than friendly, with brief forays into the physical. It was all so new, and unwelcome, for Isaac at first, given his history with abuse and violence. Ultimately, Jon and Isaac are sweet for each other, and their cooperation turns into a tentative passion, and then a tender love.

I loved the time frame, here, with very reasonable baby steps forward for both Jon and Isaac over the course of months. Jon’s job as a porn actor isn’t seedy, and his views on it change as he develops strong feelings for Isaac. For those who may be concerned about fidelity issues, there are no cross-overs; Jon is highly respectful of himself and Isaac. I really liked the open and honest communication that was present throughout. Jon is so compassionate and this really turns Isaac’s head in the best way. It was so fun, also, to have a front row seat to Isaac’s awakening, emotionally and sexually. I was captivated by his self-sheltering, and also with his management of his hearing. It was really interesting how he chose to wear his hearing aid some times, and not others, based on whether he wanted to interact, or shut out, those around him. All of his many mechanisms to keep the world safely locked outside his door, but Jon was able to sneak inside–inch-by-inch–Bear, the playful kitten, was a huge part of that process.

A lot of the book is sweet and tender, though there are some bits that are tragic, what with Henry’s progressive illness, and others that are downright creepy-scary. What are Rick’s motives? And, is he behind the mysterious visits and packages Jon’s receiving? Expect some harrowing moments while that gets sorted. I was glad that everything turned out so good, and look forward to more excellently-told stories of the Mean Green porn boys, now that we’ve gotten to know a few of them in this book.

Interested? You can find THE HEART AS HE HEARS IT on Goodreads, Samhain Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance.

GIVEAWAY

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

About the Author:
A.M. Arthur was born and raised in the same kind of small town that she likes to write about, a stone’s throw from both beach resorts and generational farmland. She’s been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long, in a losing battle to make the fictional voices stop. She credits an early fascination with male friendships (bromance hadn’t been coined yet back then) with her later discovery of and subsequent love affair with m/m romance stories. A.M. Arthur’s work is available from Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, Dreamspinner Press, and SMP Swerve.
When not exorcising the voices in her head, she toils away in a retail job that tests her patience and gives her lots of story fodder. She can also be found in her kitchen, pretending she’s an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments.

Catch up with Ms. Arthur on her website, Facebook,
Twitter, and Tumblr.

Reconnecting in the BLACK DUST–Excerpt and Giveaway!

Hi there! Today I’m sharing an excerpt, review, and giveaway for a new contemporary M/M romance from Lynn Charles. BLACK DUST is a reconnection romance between lovers who got separated by tragedy, and attempt to rebuild their relationship after fifteen years of separation.

Check out the excerpt and review and enter to win a $25 GC for Interlude Press or one of FIVE ebooks of BLACK DUST below.

About the book:
Fifteen years after a tragic car crash claimed a friend’s life and permanently injures his then-boyfriend, Broadway musician Tobias Spence reconnects with his former love.

As Emmett and Tobias explore their renewed relationship, the two men face old hurts and the new challenges of a long-distance romance.

Will Tobias lose his second chance at love to the ghosts he can’t seem to put to rest?

How about a little taste?

“I can’t, Emmett. I—can’t go back.”
“Then we are clearly not ready for any sort of commitment.”
“Wait. You won’t agree to—to us—unless I come to Indiana?”
“I won’t,” Emmett said. “It’s all feeling a little one-sided to me, and I’m not okay with that.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I do understand, Toby. I was there for everything that makes you afraid of that place.”
“Yes. You were,” Toby said, taking Emmett’s hand in his. “But my concerns about going back have nothing to do with you.”
“Maybe they should have something to do with me.”
“That’s—” Toby pulled his hand away. “That’s not fair.”
“It really is,” Emmett said. He reached across the table for Toby’s hand again. “Please?” Toby took his hand and Emmett squeezed, holding on as if he might never let go. “We experienced a great tragedy together. And while Scotty’s parents lost their son, no one felt the things we felt. No one else woke up screaming and sweating when we heard the sounds of the crash in our sleep.”
“Emmett—”
“No one else knew the fear of maybe never walking again. No one else lost weight and a semester of school because he might get thrown in jail. No one else felt the things we felt together. That’s all ours. As much as you want to, you cannot take me out of the equation.”
“But, that’s just it, Em. I don’t want to feel those things again. I cannot walk back into that—that darkness.”
Emmett pulled their joined hands to his lips and kissed Toby’s knuckles. “You already have. You have been so enamored¬—you’ve practically spent this entire week making love to my scars. You’re there. And it’s not so dark anymore.”
“No, because you’re whole again. You’re not broken anymore.”
Emmett saw it, then. He saw in the way Toby had almost obsessed over the ridiculous tattoo and Emmett’s scars, as if begging for them to also bring him the powers that Derek had wished upon Emmett’s body those years ago. He saw it in Toby’s insistence that they start all over as if the accident never happened, as if the years of silence weren’t strung between them like a rope and plank bridge connecting two separate lands.
So he said it. To give it power. To make it a truth they shared—like their shared tragedy. “And you still are. Broken.”
Toby nodded, grasping at Emmett’s fingers like a lifeline. “I’m so—” He took a deep, shuddering breath. “I’m so exhausted making sure no one knows.”
“Oh, Toby.” All the more reason “trying again” was a bad idea. Unready to let go, Emmett kissed Toby’s fingers again. “Then come to my home,” Emmett offered, trite as it sounded in his own ears. “I’ve remodeled the master and made a party room in my basement for the kids.”
“You’ve never told me—”
“It’s beautiful, really. It’s on a couple of acres, and the back of the property is lined with a stream you can hear from the kitchen when the windows are open. It’s very peaceful. It sounds like you need some peace.”
“You deserve a beautiful life.”
“So let me share it with you. At least think about it?”
Toby nodded and began to clean up. “Will you still come see me in San Francisco after school’s out?”
“I don’t know. I’d really like an answer before I agree to see you again.”
“Okay. I’m sorry it’s not as easy as it should be.”
“I am too, Toby. Being with you was always so easy.”

My Review:

This is a realistically-told reconnection romance between two high school sweethearts who survived a car wreck that left them both broken, inside and out.

Toby and Emmett met in local community theater, when Emmett was a performer and Toby the accompanist. They dated long-distance for two years, as Toby had begun in college in New York. The night before Emmett’s senior prom Toby coasted through a stop sign in their rural Indiana locale, and the results were disastrous. Their car was broadsided at high speed. Another passenger, Emmett’s best friend Scotty, was killed instantly and Emmett suffered pelvic and leg fractures that had a painful recovery. Toby was barely injured physically, but his emotional landscape was shattered. As much as Toby stuck by Emmett, anger at his pain, loss of his friend, and his injury-dashed Broadway dreams made Emmett snarly as a wounded boar. The fallout was a fifteen year separation.

Toby never forgot his first love, but years of guilt caused him to never set down any roots. He traveled extensively, directing and coaching off-Broadway productions wherever he could sell his services. Emmett had a great many number of wild years, never finding a man he would settle with for long. He’s been stable for the last several years, however, and longing connection. Encouraged by his best friend, Emmett calls Toby to set up a meeting so he can gain some closure on their tragic love story–only to have the flame rekindled.

Over the next year, Emmett and Toby go back-and-forth across the country to meet and come to terms with who they are, who they want to be, and if that includes a “together” for them. It is a story that encompasses a lifetime of missed opportunity, and a whole lot of healing. These guys have really been through some bad times, and they can’t trust each other enough to not get hurt–or do the hurting. I liked that there was no easy road here. They each have hard truths to face and accept. I found it fascinating, the inclusion of the musical soundtrack of their lives, how they couldn’t build it alone, but could together. How Emmett’s forgiveness and understanding, without the platitudes, was so healing for Toby.

Also, their long-distance love affair was on-again and off-again and back on- again. There was sufficient tension to keep it real, and interesting. The secondary characters, where they existed, were fun and engaging. And, who doesn’t love a grand gesture-ending with an original score that was worthy of (at least) off-Broadway.

Interested? You can find BLACK DUST on Goodreads, Interlude Press, Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, AllRomance, Smashwords, Book Depository, and Indiebound.

GIVEAWAY

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for a chance to win a $25 GC to Interlude Press or one of FIVE copies of BLACK DUST.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Lynn Charles earned her degree in music education and for many years performed and directed choral music. When she’s not writing, she can be found strolling through local farmers markets near her home in Central Ohio in search of ingredients for new recipes. Her novel Chef’s Table was published in 2014 by Interlude Press.

You can find Lynn online on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Pinterest.

Rebuilding Hearts in IMPERFECT HARMONY–Review and Giveaway

Hi there! I’m so excited to share a release day review for Jay Northcote’s new contemporary M/M romance, IMPERFECT HARMONY. I’ve read several of Jay’s books (The Marrying Kind, Like A Lover, What Happens at Christmas, and The Law of Attraction) and I must say this one was the most poignant, for me. Depression, grief and loss are my hot-button topics, and this book hit them all, and served me up a generous helping of love to soothe all my heartaches–personal and fictional.

About the book:
Imperfect harmony can still be beautiful…
John Fletcher, a former musician, is stuck in limbo after losing his long-term partner two years ago. He’s shut himself off from everything that reminds him of what he’s lost. When his neighbour persuades him to join the local community choir, John rediscovers his love of music and finds a reason to start living again.

Rhys Callington, the talented and charismatic choir leader, captures John’s attention from the first moment they meet. He appears to be the polar opposite of John: young, vibrant, and full of life. But Rhys has darkness in his own past that is holding him back from following his dreams.

Despite the nineteen-year age gap, the two men grow close and a fragile relationship blossoms. Ghosts of the past and insecurities about the future threaten their newfound happiness. If they’re going to harmonise in life and love as they do in their music, they’ll need to start following the same score.

A delicious taste!

Luckily there were still some parking spaces outside the church hall where Maggie’s choir met. John made sure they arrived a little early so Maggie wouldn’t have to walk too far. She was managing well on one crutch, but she still tired easily. After he parked, he got out and hurried around to help her out of the passenger door.

“Thanks, love,” she said, patting him on the arm. “I can manage now.”

A vicious gust of wind whipped a strand of hair into her face. It was dark, still sleeting, and probably slippery underfoot. There was no way John was going to leave until she was safely indoors. “I’ll just see you inside. Let me take your bag.”

Maggie let him have it without argument, and he popped it over his arm. He hovered close to Maggie as she made her way slowly to the double doors. He held one open for her and was hit by a blast of warm air. Then he accompanied her inside as she crutched along the corridor towards an open door. Yellow light flooded out, and the sound of a tenor voice singing “I Can See Clearly Now” raised the hairs on the back of John’s neck with its pure, clear beauty.

“I thought you said the emphasis was on fun rather than perfection?” he said quietly. “He’s got quite a voice.”

“That’ll be Rhys, our choir leader,” Maggie said with a smile. “Come and meet him, even if you’re not staying.”

Maggie paused when she reached the doorway and put a finger to her lips. They listened and waited for Rhys to finish singing. John peered over Maggie’s shoulder, hoping for a glimpse of the man the voice belonged to. Rhys, John presumed, was alone in the room. With his back to the door, he stood at a table pushed to the edge of the room, shuffling through some papers as he sang. All John could see of him was that he was small and slight, and quite young, based on the cut of his clothes. A hood covered his hair.

When he finished, Maggie started clapping.

Rhys wheeled around. “Oh my God! You made me jump.” He pushed his hood down and his face lit up as he beamed. “Maggie. How are you?”

John’s eyes widened as he took in Rhys’s front view as he approached Maggie and gave her a careful hug. His hair, which was shaved at the back and sides, was long on top and dyed peacock blue. His eyebrow was pierced, his arms were covered with tattoos, and the front of his T-shirt was emblazoned with a glittery equals sign in rainbow colours. All in all, he was at least twenty years younger than John had expected and completely unlike how John would have imagined a choir leader to look. In this dingy church hall in their small market town, Rhys looked like a bird of paradise that had accidentally ended up in a cage full of sparrows.

My Review:
John is a musician and music teacher who hasn’t even picked up his violin in the two years since his vibrant and loving life partner of 20 years, David, was killed in a car wreck. Since then his mother became ill with cancer and John moved into her home to care for her in her last days–she died four months prior to the beginning of the story. John’s a virtual recluse in his mother’s empty home; he works as a substitute teacher, and has one friend, Maggie–his mother’s longtime neighbor who’s like a second mom.

While caring for Maggie after a hip replacement, he takes her to choir practice and is instantly struck by the larger than life choir director, Rhys. Rhys is so shiny he’s like staring into the sun–and his passion for music jars John from his long doldrums. For many, music is a healing balm and John–a born and trained musician–has prevented himself from experiencing music for so long he’s a desert awaiting the rain. John allows himself to join the choir for the night, and finds it’s just this side of too much to bear. Maggie is pleased that John could find some solace in the music, and overjoyed that he decides to continue accompanying her to the practices. John, for his part, is experiencing an almost unwanted attraction for Rhys–a man too young and too direct and too much for John to handle in his vulnerable state. Learning that Rhys, too, mourns a lost lover, their union becomes a situation that is nearly unavoidable.

Rhys may only be 23, but he’s lived his years. Well, not the last year and a half, perhaps, not since Lyle’s tragic accident in any case. Rhys and Lyle were first lovers, and performing sensations, sure to secure that recording contract they both sought, and the dramatic end of their love and life together left Rhys broken inside. Finding John to be in much the same state, Rhys is drawn to him, a kindred spirit, despite the 19 year age gap. Rhys sees that singing helps John to emerge from his grief shroud, and gently encourages him to embrace the second love of his life: music performance. I can tell you, reading this book was not a breeze. It’s bittersweet, and raw, and captivating all at once. I had so many emotions coursing through me, channeling the grief and loneliness and reluctance of both John and Rhys to move forward in life and love. Their guilt at finding happiness was so understandable, and so poignant. And, John has some real doubts about being so much older than Rhys. Even if they work at it and it works out…John expects he’ll die first breaking Rhys’ tender heart again. Can he do that? It seems unconscionable to him.

There’s a powerful adage that goes something like this: Joy shared is joy doubled. Grief shared is grief halved. I think that Rhys and John experienced that in the story, and I know it’s true in my life. I loved every second of the pain I felt while experiencing John and Rhys’ story, and I loved it even more when I watched their love grow and develop and become a new and bright thing for them to share. As you can imagine, there are some ups-and-downs to the story, yet it ends on a note that is so happy, it’s impossible to believe that the harmony between John and Rhys is anything short of perfection.

interested? You can find IMPERFECT HARMONY on Goodreads and Amazon.

GIVEAWAY

Ms. Northcote is giving away single copies of a backlist book to one random commenter on each of the blog posts in support of IMPERFECT HARMONY. For an entry into the contest, tell me what pastime would become (or has already become) a bittersweet memory for you if you lost someone especially dear to you. I’ve already kicked off the comments with my own experience.

About the Author:
Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats. She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

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

Thanks for popping in and don’t forget to comment in order to win!

Falling For The PRINCE OF THE PLAYHOUSE-Review and Giveaway!

Hi there! I’m so excited to share my review for a new contemporary M/M romance from Tara Lain. As you know I adored KNIGHT OF OCEAN AVENUE and KNAVE OF BROKEN HEARTS, so I couldn’t wait to read PRINCE OF THE PLAYHOUSE.

Catch the excerpt, my review and enter to win the $25 GC in the giveaway below!

About the book:
Driven by his desire to become a successful fashion designer and concerned with hiding his questionable past, Ru Maitland lets his obsession with action movie star Gray Anson on the big screen replace his social life. Then obsession and reality collide when Ru is asked to design fashion costumes for a special performance of Hamlet at the Playhouse in Laguna starring none other than Gray Anson. Gray turns out to be a compelling mix of shy and brash and, despite a high profile engagement to a female socialite, the signals Gray sends Ru have his libido doing the salsa.

Gray Anson has what most people only dream of—great wealth, huge fame, a job he loves. For that, he’s given up any semblance of privacy and the right to say no to the thousands of people who depend on him and the millions who love him. He sees everything he’s ever wanted just outside the bubble of his life, but how can he make the compromises needed to embrace it? When Ru’s shady past crashes into Gray’s paparazzi-haunted present, both men have to learn that sometimes the only acceptable compromise is the truth.

How about a little taste?

Food arrived. Ru had ordered the salmon, one of his faves, and Gray copied him. Merle had gone for Rick’s famous fish sandwich, as had most of the others. As the waiter placed the plates in front of Ru and Gray, Gray’s napkin dropped to the floor between his legs. He scooted back, spread his knees so he could reach between them, and managed to press the full length of his hard-muscled thigh against Ru’s. Perfect paralysis. Don’t move, don’t speak, don’t make him aware of what he’s done. Shocks of heat streaked into Ru’s balls, and he enjoyed the boil.

Gray snagged the napkin, scooted his chair back in, and—didn’t move his leg. From knee to hip, his long limb rested fully against Ru’s. Didn’t he notice? Was being pressed against another man normal for him? Maybe an action-star thing?

Forget about food, conversation, breathing. Don’t miss a moment.

Artie started talking to Gray about some entertainment industry thing. Gray ate heartily. Nothing abnormal or extraordinary going on in his universe. Ru pushed his salmon on the plate and gazed into near space, every ounce of his consciousness living in his tingling flesh.

“Ru?”

Ru’s glance flicked up to find Merle staring at him. “Sorry?”

“Boy, you were a million miles away. Designing costumes?”

“Oh yes.” He liked Merle. He didn’t want to wish the guy would shut up so he could listen to the sound of his balls expanding.

Merle lowered his voice. “I wondered if you’d like to get that drink we didn’t quite get to have later?”

Gray shifted and pressed his knee harder. Ru sucked wind. “Oh!”

Merle cocked his head. “Is that an unexpected invitation?” He grinned. “I did everything except hire a billboard.”

“Oh no. Sorry. I, uh, have so much to do—”

“It’s not really late. We could go over to the Ocean Bar for a little while, and then you can get home to your designs.”

“I—”

Gray turned abruptly to Ru. “Did you talk with Artie about your great design concepts for the Hamlet character?”

“Oh no, not yet.”

Artie grinned. “I’m all ears.”

Ru glanced at a deflated-looking Merle but launched into an explanation of his glamorized gangster costume. The more he talked, the more excited he got. “It immediately sets Hamlet apart from his family and everyone else. He has other allegiances, a different take on the world. When he says ‘to be or not to be,’ he’s not just depressed and melancholy. He’s seriously considering his options, and they’re violent.”

Gray started beating out a rap rhythm on the edge of the table. “To be or not to be. Yeah, to be or not to be. That’s the question in front of me.”

The others laughed, and Merle joined in.

Ru nodded. “Horatio would have some of the same gang colors as Hamlet, but we can see that he’s being sucked in by the man.”

Artie clapped. “Brilliant idea, Ru.”

“But remember, this will be fashion, not costume, so it will suggest the look but not be slavish.”

“Can’t wait to see it.”

Beverly nodded and sipped more wine. “Amajing. Ruj’s amajing.”

Ru sat back and smiled. Even while he’d been rapping, Gray had never moved his leg. If anything, he’d pressed it harder against Ru. Jesus, he wanted to pull Gray to his feet and press more than their legs together.

Penelope leaned forward and looked toward Ru. “I agree, you’re amazing.”

He nodded. “Why, thank you, lovely lady.” It made him feel a little squirmy to think he was lusting after this woman’s boyfriend, but maybe she and Gray had some kind of agreement?

She put a hand on Gray’s arm. “I think I should ask him.”

Gray frowned. “No, not now.”

“No better time. Ru, I’m soon going to be looking for a designer for my wedding gown, and I’d like to invite you to submit a concept. It’s not right away. I know you’re working on a collection, but I wanted to tell you, so you can keep my needs in mind.”

Ru didn’t move. Even his heart must have quit. He couldn’t hear it beating over the rushing in his ears.

My Review:
This is the third book in a series, but can be enjoyed on its own.

Ru Maitland is a man of fashion talents, and the right-hand designer to stylist Shazam, MC of the first book in the series. Ru has an unhealthy obsession with action movie star Gray Anson. Gray is a bit of a beefcake, but that turns Ru’s crank. Life and love collide when Ru agrees to make the costumes for a charity run of Hamlet at the local playhouse…starring Gray Anson.

Gray Anson feels like he got lucky, in many ways. He was picked out for a role in a film when he was 19, and has had several hits in the following six years. He’s a hot commodity, with a horde of hangers on that his “enterprise” supports. He’s also deeply closeted and practically despondent over his lack of love. Meeting Ru in the playhouse makes Gray want more than he can have–namely the honesty that Ru lives in. (Spoiler Ru’s hiding some dark secrets!!)

Between Ru and Gray there is a definite attraction, and Ru won’t even entertain the idea of dating someone else–and there are suitors. Merle, one of Gray’s out co-stars in the play is smitten with Ru. Oh, and another man from Ru’s past would like to be open with him.

This book took a few turns I didn’t expect, dealing with topics I don’t often read. One was police profiling, which happens and is unpleasant–in real life and the book. I also found the street gang issues to be unexpected and interesting. I don’t feel like there is enough representation of gay life in the Hispanic community, and I liked how Ru and his buddy came from very poor backgrounds to achieve critical and monetary success in their lives. That’s a powerful message, and it’s seconded by the fact that these men live an out-gay life, as well. I feared that the gang aspect would drift into caricature, and was grateful when it did not.

I liked Ru and I liked Gray, but I didn’t like the way Gray treated Ru, much of the time. Mostly, Gray had problems with Ru’s many admirers, and hoe he felt like it was okay for himself to have a “beard” but not for Ru to have a boyfriend. Ru didn’t want anyone besides Gray, but felt being true to a man he’d barely see and could never publicly acknowledge would be too difficult. I can only imagine the pain in that scenario, and Ru certainly felt some of that pain, which was hard for me as a reader to forgive, if you will.

There are moments of the book that felt a little silly, for me, and much of that had to do with Ru’s hand-to-hand combat skills which were hard to comprehend, even with his childhood. I couldn’t reconcile the button-counting mama’s boy with the switchblade-toting gang member–in the given context. That said, it was an interesting attempt, and I loved the depth of character. I also had trouble with the ages of the characters–they are barely mid-twenties. They have accomplished SO VERY MUCH in such a short adulthood, that I’m almost shamed by my lack of success…it seemed to me more believable if they were just a touch (five-ish years maybe) older, because they would then have a bit more gravitas and emotional maturity, which would have made their banter fit their characters better.

There are some serious elements of mortal peril, and bad publicity, and a tender coming out, for Gray. That was far lovelier than I had expected, in truth. I really enjoyed all the play aspects, and how Ru and Gray built a love quietly and privately–all while balancing Gray’s life in the public eye. Those fame aspects felt very true, and a bit sad. I’ve really enjoyed this series, and I’m anxious now for sweet Merle to find himself a man to love. He seems to deserve one.

Interested? You can find PRINCE ON THE PLAYHOUSE on Goodreads Dreamspinner Press (ebook or paperback) Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, Kobo, and AllRomance.

GIVEAWAY

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

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

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

You can find Tara at:

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Building Love: LISTEN TO ME–Review and Giveaway!

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a release day review for a spectacular contemporary romance from Kristen Proby. LISTEN TO ME is a tender read featuring a romantically-downtrodden gal and the rocker who turns his life around.

Catch my review, an excerpt, and enter to win a grand prize of TWO $25 gift cards–one for books and one for tunes…

About the book:

In New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby’s brand new series, five best friends open a hot new restaurant, but one of them gets much more than she bargained for when a sexy former rock star walks through the doors—and into her heart.

Seduction is quickly becoming the hottest new restaurant in Portland, and Addison Wade is proud to claim 1/5 of the credit. She’s determined to make it a success and can’t think of a better way to bring in new customers than live music. But when former rock star Jake Keller swaggers through the doors to apply for the weekend gig, she knows she’s in trouble. Addie instantly recognizes him—his posters were plastered all over her bedroom walls in high school—he’s all bad boy…exactly her type and exactly what she doesn’t need.

Jake Keller walked away from the limelight five years ago and yearns to return to what’s always driven him: the music. If he gets to work for a smart-mouthed, funny-as-hell bombshell, all the better. But talking Addie into giving him the job is far easier than persuading her that he wants more than a romp in her bed. Just when she begins to drop her walls, Jake’s past finally catches up with him.

Will Addie be torn apart once again or will Jake be able to convince her to drown out her doubts and listen to her heart?

How about a little taste?

“‘In summary,’” Cami, one of my very best friends, and a business partner, reads from the Portland Tribune, “‘Seduction is a restaurant unlike any other I’ve experienced. The food is delicious, the wine bar impressive, and the ambiance so sexy, it will take your breath away. I highly recommend this restaurant for your next date night.’”

“I want to send that reviewer flowers,” Mia says with a wide smile. “Who would have thought that just six months after opening this place, we’d already have a review like this?”

“Well, it’s a no-brainer that they’d love the food,” I reply, and reach for the paper so I can read it again for the fifteenth time. “You’re a genius in the kitchen, Mia. We’ve known that since we were in high school.”

“I still get nervous, especially now that I never know who the customers are going to be. We didn’t even get a heads-up that this guy was going to be here.” Mia bites the cuticle on her thumb and frowns. “Maybe I should add to the menu.”

“The menu is perfect,” Cami replies with a shake of her blond head.

“He loved us.”

We smile at each other, and finally I do a little happy dance in my seat. We haven’t opened for the day yet. Kat and Riley, the final two business partners in our fivesome, haven’t arrived. But Mia, Cami, and I have read this article over and over again, smiling and dancing.

Rejoicing.

Because damn it, we’ve worked our asses off since we opened the doors six months ago. All of our eggs are in this basket. We can’t fail.

And we won’t.

We hear the front door open and close, and I expect to see either Riley or Kat, but instead Jeremy saunters into the dining room, looking all rumpled and messy from sleep. His eyelids are still heavy. His chin is scruffy. His blond hair is standing on end, still in chaos from my fingers last night.

Jesus, this man makes my hormones work overtime.

He grins and kisses my head, then picks up my coffee and sits next to me.

“Why are you here?” Cami asks with a frown. “I’m in too good of a mood to have to pretend to like you.”

I glare at my best friend, but she just shrugs.

“My girlfriend is here,” Jeremy replies and sips my coffee. “I missed her.”

“Please,” Mia whispers with a roll of the eyes. My friends used to like Jeremy, in the beginning, but now they make it no secret that they don’t care for him. But they are just overprotective. They don’t want to see me get hurt. Sure, he’s a musician. Not a particularly gifted one at that, but he does well, booking gigs for his band, Hells Roses, regularly.

And, oh my God, what the man can do in the bedroom should be a felony. He makes me laugh, and despite his arrogant persona around everyone else, he has moments of real vulnerability and sweetness when we’re alone.

Is he the one? Probably not, but I’m pretty much convinced that the one was invented by romance novelists and Disney. “Be nice,” I snap and continue to read the paper. “We got a kick-ass review in the Tribune,” I inform Jeremy with a grin.

“Of course you did,” he replies and kisses my cheek. “Are the music reviews in there too?” He snatches the paper and shifts through the pages, then reads through the reviews of the music and club scene in Portland. “Not one fucking mention?”

Cami catches my gaze, then crosses her eyes in annoyance. I simply shrug. He’s not in the restaurant business. He wouldn’t understand what a big deal this is for us.

“I’ve been thinking,” I begin, and lean my elbows on the table. “Now that business is picking up, I think we should add live music on the weekends.”

“Sorry, cupcake,” Jeremy says with a sigh. “We’re booked.”

Thank God. Jeremy’s band isn’t the one I’d want for my place. But rather than jab at his ego, I simply smile and kiss his shoulder.

“I know, babe. But I’d still like to bring in someone.

Maybe just a one-person act, just a microphone and a stool, you know?”

“We can afford it,” Cami replies with a thoughtful frown. Cami is our chief financial officer. She handles all things money, and she’s a wizard at adding up figures in her head. “Who are you thinking?”

“I don’t know.” I reach for my coffee mug and frown when I see that Jeremy has sucked down every last drop. “Babe, will you please run over to Starbucks and get us more coffee?”

“I forgot my wallet,” he replies with a scowl. I reach into my bag and pass him a twenty. “You got it.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, and one place you might look for a musician,” he adds as he steps away from the table, “is the open-mic night at Crush this Saturday. There are usually some good acts there. I’d bet you’d find what you’re looking for.”

I grin at my sexy boyfriend and blow him a kiss. “Thank you.”

He winks and saunters out of the restaurant. When the door closes behind him, Mia shakes her head at me. “Seriously?”

“Open mic night is a brilliant idea,” I inform her. “That’s not what she’s talking about,” Cami says. “Jeremy is a douche bag.”

“He is not.” I roll my eyes and sit back in my chair. Okay, maybe he has douchey moments. “He’s sweet. And sexy.”

“And mooching off of you. His wallet was in his back pocket,” Mia argues. “And I’ll bet all of this month’s chocolate budget that he’s staying with you too.”

“His roommate moved out, and he couldn’t afford his place alone.”

“Addie.” Cami reaches for my hand. “You are not a doormat.”

“He doesn’t treat me like a doormat.”

“Yes. He does.” Mia sighs and takes my other hand. “You deserve so much better.”

“I love you both,” I begin, my stomach heaving. “I know you just want to protect me. Jeremy is a good guy. I like him.”

“Okay.” Cami sips her coffee, then shrugs one slim shoulder. “But when he breaks your heart, we’ll be here.”

“Let’s talk about this open-mic night. Who’s going with me?”

Mia and Cami exchange glances.

“I’ll be working,” Mia says. “I have some new Saturday night specials I want to try.”

“I don’t want to,” Cami says honestly. “I trust you to find exactly what we need.”

“I’ll take Kat.” I chew my lip, ideas already swirling in my head. “She’s a good judge of these things.”

“Good idea.”

The door opens again.

“Oh good. Mr. Wonderful is back,” Cami mutters.

My Review:

This is the first book of a new series and thoroughly enjoyable. The series will revolve around the lives of five women who own and run a restaurant, Seduction, in Portland.

Addison has a broken man-picker, always falling for the bad-boy rocker who is guaranteed to break her heart. She’s barely past the latest doofus, Jeremy, when she catches the attention of Jake Knox, of the rock band Hard Knox. Jake’s band broke up five years ago, but he’s still writing and producing music. Though he hasn’t performed in public in those five years, he turns up at an open mic night and captivates Addie–even though she knows she won’t pursue him. Why bother? All these musicians are bad news.

Thing is, Jake isn’t. Well, not anymore. He still wears the guilt of a friend’s injury like a shroud–which is why he doesn’t perform and is totally clean and sober. That one night, that single song performance, however, has awoken the sleeping beast within him, and he turns up at Seduction to answer their call for a live musician, on a friend’s recommendation.

Addison wants to stay far away from Jake, but she can’t–not now that he’s playing in her restaurant two nights a week. It’s a nice little sexual tension build up–nothing happens for a few weeks, not until Addie’s ex–Jeremy–shows up. And even then, there’s little in the way of romance, just an immediate human connection that both Addie and Jake really need. A friendship, with the potential for far more.

I really enjoyed this slow-burner. I liked how Jake was a great guy, and Addie was a great girl, and they were great together. There’s the patterned “take-a-break” period, which demonstrates the largest part of the ‘romantic’ elements. In truth, I was worried that the book would be too busy, with Addie’s many friends and Jake’s friends and co-workers and exes, and yet I rarely felt overwhelmed. Expect some yummy sexytimes, once Jake and Addie get rolling, and an HEA for this first couple of the series. The stage is set for the next couple at the very end of the epilogue…

Interested? You can find LISTEN TO ME on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo.

GIVEAWAY

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a grand prize of TWO $25 gift cards–one for Amazon/Barnes & Noble and one for iTunes!
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps.

Visit Kristen online on her website, Facebook, twitter, Goodreads, or sign up for her newsletter.

Happy Book Birthday to STUCK-UP SUIT!

Hi there! Just getting the word out that STUCK-UP SUIT from Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland is now available. This a contemporary romance will surely charm fans of COCKY BASTARD. I’m looking forward to reading it.

About the book:
It started out like any other morning on the train. Until I became mesmerized by the guy sitting across the aisle.

He was barking at someone on his phone like he ruled the world. Who did the stuck-up suit think he was . . . God?

Actually, he looked like a God. That was about it. When his stop came, he got up suddenly and left. So suddenly, he dropped his phone on the way out.

I might have picked it up.
I might have gone through all of his photos and called some of the numbers.
I might have held onto the mystery man’s phone for days—until I finally conjured up the courage to return it.

When I traipsed my ass across town to his fancy company, he refused to see me. So, I left the phone on the empty desk outside the arrogant jerk’s office.

I might have also left behind a dirty picture on it first though.

I didn’t expect him to text back.
I didn’t expect our exchanges to be hot as hell.
I didn’t expect to fall for him—all before we even met.
The two of us couldn’t have been any more different.
Yet, you know what they say about opposites.

When we finally came face to face, we found out opposites sometimes do more than attract—we consumed each other.

Nothing could have prepared me for the ride he took me on. And I certainly wasn’t prepared for where I’d wind up when the ride was over. All good things must come to an end, right?

Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.

How about a tasty text battle…

Graham: What are you wearing, Soraya?

Soraya: Are you serious right now?

Graham: You ruined my day. You owe me.

Soraya: I don’t owe you anything, you fucking perv.

Graham: This from the woman who sent me a shot of her cleavage. Nice tits, by the way. They’re so big, at first, I thought it was a picture of an ass.

Soraya: You’re the ass.

Graham: Show me your face.

Soraya: Why?

Graham: Because I want to see if it matches your personality.

Soraya: Which would mean what?

Graham: Well, that wouldn’t bode well for you.

Soraya: You won’t ever see my face.

Graham: Probably better off. So, give me a hint about what you’re wearing.

Soraya: It’s red.

Graham: So you haven’t changed out of that dress?

Soraya: No, I’m naked with dye dripping down my body and my tongue is throbbing thanks to you.

That was an odd thing to say.

Graham: That’s an interesting visual.

Soraya: You are seriously crazy, dude.

Graham: I AM a little crazy, actually. I probably need my head checked because I’ve been fantasizing about a headless person all day.

Soraya: Well, the naked pic ain’t gonna happen.

Graham: How about I go first?

Interested? You can find STUCK-UP SUIT on Goodreads, Amazon (US & UK), iBooks, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

About the Authors:
Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult/contemporary romance genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 9-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life. Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island. She is the author of RoomHate, which hit #2 on the New York Times Bestseller list and #1 on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list. Her novel, Stepbrother Dearest, also spent four consecutive weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list. Other works include the New York Times bestseller Cocky Bastard (co-written with Vi Keeland), Sins of Sevin, My Skylar, Jake Undone, Jake Understood and Gemini.

You can find Penelope on Facebook, her website, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads and her Private Fan Group.

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is an attorney and a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today Bestselling author. Over the last three years, ten of her titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestseller lists and three on the New York Times Bestseller lists.

You can find Vi on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads and Pinterest.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Adulting in MANTIES WITH A TWIST–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary M/M BDSM book that it totes out there from J.A. Rock. MANTIES WITH A TWIST is an absotively posilutely entertaining ride through the brain of a (possibly ADHD) 27 y/o sub named Kamen who has finally begun adulting in earnest, by moving in with his boyfriend/Dom of 4 months, Ryan. I honestly cannot count the times I burst into chuckles, giggles and straight-up guffaws while reading this one.

About the book:
Look, I’ll never stop missing Hal, but this Subs Club my friends started to review suck-ass doms isn’t gonna bring him back or give him justice. For me, it’s just another chance to hang out with my friends, even if they think I’m too dumb to understand the important work we’re supposedly doing.

But maybe I’m not as dumb as they think—at least I know when I’ve got a good thing going. Which is why I just moved in with my dom. Ryan’s awesome possum. He’s really short, never makes me feel stupid, and is up for anything. One word: costumes. Two more words: women’s underwear. We’re all about the lace, no leather.

Except when we do pony play. We first tried it as a joke, but turns out I’m ballin’ at it. Now PetPlayFest is coming up, and I wanna take down the Subs Club’s archrival, Cinnamon the ponygirl, in the horse show.

My friends think I’m spending too much time with Ryan and ignoring my obligations to the group. But since when is friendship an obligation? Ryan’s my first serious relationship, and I want to take it . . . seriously. At some point I need to think about my future, not my past.

—Kamen

My Review:
This is the third book in a series and I’ve not read the two previous, but that was fine. I slid right into Kamen’s head, which is an extremely busy, yet paradoxically simple, place.

Kamen is one of four childhood friends, and he’s still close to Dave, Miles and Gould–the other principals of the Subs Club. They started the club to raise awareness within their community about bad Doms and much of that was due to the death of their dear friend, and fellow sub Hal, who choked in a public rope-play scene. Dave and Gould are still traumatized by this, as is Miles and Kamen, but Miles and Kamen seem to be getting past the grief–which upsets Dave and Gould.

Kamen’s happy with his live-in Dom, Ryan, who is far smaller than Kamen, a burly athletic man. It’s part of Ryan’s attraction, actually, Kamen loves feeling like a dragon at the end of his diminutive Dom’s leash. I seriously dug their dynamic. Kamen is totally gaga for Ryan, and gets frustrated that his peers are not so enthusiastic. It was bittersweet for him, and I thought it poignantly reflected that break in life, where that first serious relationship intrudes and makes a person less-available for the “buds” than they have ever been before. That resentment was clear between Kamen’s bros and Ryan.

Within their apartment Kamen and Ryan indulge in play they have never considered previously. An errant pair of panties sparks a whole new level for them, with Kamen dabbling in not only manties but also drag. Then, a nasty altercation with ponygirl Cinnamon launches another new phase for them: pet play. (This type of play requires one of the partners to dress and act the part of an animal, while the other behaves as a trainer. It is not always sexual.) Cinnamon was present when Hal had died, and the Subs Club considers her to be Public Enemy #1, so joining the PetPlayFest competition with the intent to best Cinnamon at her own game is a vengeful step.

All of this seems odd and sordid, and I’ll be honest, it is and isn’t. It’s fun and free and flexible and still damn funny, because Kamen is a rock star and does absolutely nothing by halves. He’s never been into pet play but he dives in with and enthusiasm that is unquenchable. He and Ryan invest a ton of cash to purchase all the accoutrements, they build a cart (for the cart race, natch…) Kamen learns all about dressage and how to be the most graceful Thunder Canyon (that’s his stallion name, yo) that he can be.

Through all of this, Kamen has to come to terms with his mostly adult life, and it seems to work out. I had some Whoa! moments where Kamen’s awesome possum insight struck very close to the bone, and it made me love this book. The voice took me a bit of time to enjoy, because Kamen speaks like a twitter account, and I had to acclimate. After that, it was off to the races.

Interested? You can find MANTIES IN A TWIST on Goodreads, Riptide Publishing, Amazon, AllRomance, Barnes & Noble, Kobo , and iBooks. I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley.

About the Author:
J.A. Rock is the author of queer romance and suspense novels, including BY HIS RULES, TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME, and, with Lisa Henry, THE GOOD BOY and WHEN ALL THE WORLD SLEEPS. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Alabama and a BA in theater from Case Western Reserve University. J.A. also writes queer fiction and essays under the name Jill Smith. Raised in Ohio and West Virginia, she now lives in Chicago with her dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

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

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Confronting Love–MORE THAN A FEELING–Excerpt and Review

Hi there! I’m sharing a review for a contemporary cowboy romance from Sara Richardson. MORE THAN A FEELING is a book about the lies we tell to ourselves to keep us safe, and how those can be the most damaging of all…

About the book:
Stop running…and start falling
For Ruby James the Walker Mountain Ranch is her safe haven. Here in Aspen, Colorado, she can finally build a quiet life for herself without fear of her old one rearing its ugly head. Or so Ruby thinks. Any single woman would be happy to indulge a tall, dark, and curious cop-but the closer Ruby gets to him, the closer she gets to losing her newfound peace.

Police officer Sawyer Hawkins is no stranger to secrets. He’s ready to leave town for good until a security threat brings him back to Walker Ranch, and Ruby’s gorgeous green eyes soon have him second-guessing his decision to go. Her kindness and quiet strength awaken feelings he’d thought long buried, even as her reluctance to talk about her past worries him. The cop in Sawyer only wants the truth-but the man in him wants Ruby in his arms forever.

A little taste…

“Sawyer…” There was so much she couldn’t tell him. So many reasons she should ask him to leave, to leave her alone. But the ache tightening inside of her would never go away if she didn’t touch him, if she didn’t feel the generous hunger of his lips against hers, the thrilling sensation of his hands reading every curve of her body. So instead of saying anything, instead of casting him out of her life, she scooted to her knees so she could reach his lips, first touching them lightly with her fingers. “You’re a good man, Sawyer Hawkins,” she whispered. And though she knew he couldn’t have her forever, she could give herself to him now. He could have her for this one moment.

His gaze fused with hers, the mesmerizing blue of his eyes smoldering like the center of a flame. His large hands settled on her hips and tugged them until she straddled him.

The swing pitched forward and she wrapped her arms around his neck to keep from losing her balance.

“This isn’t why I came here,” he informed her hoarsely.

“That’s disappointing,” she breathed against his neck. The stubble made her lips tingle.

Sawyer sighed in a helplessly delicious way and took her chin in his hand, bringing her lips to meet his, brushing them lightly in teasing preview.

Oh, lordy, lordy, lordy…the man could kiss.

He pulled back to look at her, but what good was that? She wanted to feel him against her, solid and safe and warm. So she wrapped her legs all the way around his waist cinching them tighter until the hard bulge of his desire for her pulsed between her legs. It was blinding the way he made her lungs pound, the way he sent her dizzy heart twirling in circles. His touch brought her somewhere else, made her feel like someone else. Someone whole and unbreakable. The person she’d always wanted to be.

My Review:
This is the third book in a series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone. I want to also note what may be a trigger warning: the plot centers on a domestic violence survivor who fled her abusive fiance just a year before. There are some recollections that are troublesome, but no graphic depictions.

When Ruby James arrived in Aspen a year ago she knew no one and was luckily able to find shelter with the loving family at the Walker Mountain Ranch. She’s been a baker in their resort kitchen, and lived in a rental property adjacent to Elsie Walker, family matriarch. She has made friends with Elsie and two other ladies and feels safe and at home for the first time in her life. Thing is, she’s not Ruby James, and she can’t reveal her true identity or her ex might find her and make good on his many threats.

Sawyer Hawkins has moved into the Walker Ranch for the final month of his contract with the Aspen PD. He’s fresh off a nasty divorce and looking to start fresh in Denver, but his house sold too quick and he’s got taken temporary lodgings at the urging of his cousin Bryce Walker. Besides, as a cop he might be able to track down who’s stealing from the Walkers. Sawyer thinks it could be Ruby, she’s there early enough and nobody knows much about her. Digging deeper, Sawyer’s dismayed to recognize the signs of an abuse victim in her interactions. He’s also frustrated to find her attractive. He’s supposed to be leaving in a few weeks, not getting his heart tangled up before then is on top of his to-do list.

I really liked how this one played out. At first, I thought it would be a SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY scenario, with Ruby’s ex becoming a ruthless stalker, and was glad that was not the case. Truthfully, I’ve read a few books like that and I dislike the formulaic feel to them. This book is very different, and the twists were refreshing. Ruby has a whole new life in front of her, if only she’d open up a bit. She’s still a victim, in many respects, and I was so glad to watch her break through the walls she’d built around herself. I also loved how she worked with everyone in the book–foster kids, abused animals, even helping Sawyer face the depression he’d trapped himself within–Ruby sparkled brightest when she advocated for others–and that brought about an ending that was as much a redemption as a resolution.

This is a really sweet book, with a handful of steamy bits, but nothing too blush-worthy. The stage is set for another romance, I believe, with perhaps the widowed Elsie finding love again.

Interested? You can find MORE THAN A FEELING on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, GooglePlay, Kobo, and BAM.

Interested in the book series?
NO BETTER MAN (Heart of the Rockies, #1)
When it comes to business, Avery King always comes out on top. So after a very public breakup, work is the perfect excuse to flee the Windy City for the gentle breezes of Aspen, Colorado. Her mission: acquire the land of a rundown mountain ranch. Avery expects an easy win . . . until she meets the rugged and irresistible rancher who won’t give up his property without a fight.

Bryce Walker is stunned by the stubborn beauty determined to get what she wants. But what she wants is his last connection to the life he used to have. Bryce has plans to return the ranch to its former glory and no way will he sell his family home. Yet the more time he spends with Avery, the more her sweet touch makes him forget his painful memories. Now Bryce must decide whether living in the past is worth losing his future…

SOMETHING LIKE LOVE (Heart of the Rockies, #2)
IT’S GONNA BE A WILD RIDE

Ben Noble needs to do some damage control. Fast. His heart has always been in ranching, but there’s no escaping the spotlight on his high-powered political family. Now the only thing that can restore his reputation is a getaway to the fresh air of Aspen, Colorado. Not to mention that the trip gives Ben a second chance to impress a certain gorgeous mountain guide. But Paige Harper is nothing like the shy girl he remembers . . . she’s so much more.

Paige is serious about Ben, too: seriously annoyed that the playboy cowboy is using her mountain for his PR. Once upon a time, she fell for Ben’s aw-shucks charm, but the fairy tale didn’t end happily. Paige doesn’t intend to let down her guard again. But keeping their relationship all business and no pleasure may be harder than she thinks-especially if the moonlight, the Rockies, and a certain irresistible rancher have anything to say about it…

About the Author:
Sara Richardson grew up chasing adventure in Colorado’s rugged mountains. She’s climbed to the top of a 14,000-foot peak at midnight, swam through Class IV rapids, completed her wilderness first-aid certification, and spent seven days at a time tromping through the wilderness with a thirty-pound backpack strapped to her shoulders.

Eventually, Sara did the responsible thing and got an education in writing and journalism. After five years in the corporate writing world, she stopped ignoring the voices in her head and started writing fiction. Now, she uses her experience as a mountain adventure guide to write stories that incorporate adventure with romance. Still indulging her adventurous spirit, Sara lives and plays in Colorado with her saint of a husband and two young sons. Her first contemporary romance, No Better Man, was released by Grand Central forever 2015.

Catch up with Sara online on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Yay! Out Today! THE MATCHMAKER’S PLAYBOOK–Review and Giveaway!

Hi there! I’m so excited to share a release day review for a sassy New Adult romance from best-selling author Rachel Van Dyken. The first book in her new Wingman Inc. series, THE MATCHMAKER’S PLAYBOOK features a former NFL recruit and the hidden gem he discovers while trying to get her oblivious crush to open his eyes…

Catch the review, and excerpt, trailer and the giveaway below.

About the book:
Wingman rule number one: don’t fall for a client.

After a career-ending accident, former NFL recruit Ian Hunter is back on campus—and he’s ready to get his new game on. As one of the masterminds behind Wingmen, Inc., a successful and secretive word-of-mouth dating service, he’s putting his extensive skills with women to work for the lovelorn. But when Blake Olson requests the services of Wingmen, Inc., Ian may have landed his most hopeless client yet.

From her frumpy athletic gear to her unfortunate choice of footwear, Blake is going to need a miracle if she wants to land her crush. At least with a professional matchmaker by her side she has a fighting chance. Ian knows that his advice and a makeover can turn Blake into another successful match. But as Blake begins the transformation from hot mess to smokin’ hot, Ian realizes he’s in danger of breaking his cardinal rule…

How about a little taste?

The Matchmakers Playbook Creed
1. Head held high.
2. Always smile.
3. Never slouch.
4. Wear clothes appropriate to the season.
5. Let him open the door.
6. No kissing on the first date.
7. He comes to you.
8. Lingering is frowned upon.
9. NO Facebook stalking.
10. NO STALKING stalking.
11. Don’t be too available.
12. Listen to Lex and Ian.
13. See Number 12.
14. No seriously, go back, re-read #12.
15. If after one week you aren’t satisfied, we will dissolve the contract.

“If you hurt her, I’m going to break off your favorite appendage.”

“Silly Gabi.” I grinned. “Is that an invitation to touch?”

“Guarantee if I ever do touch you, it will only end badly.”

“Tease.” I winked.

“Stop that.” She flicked me on the nose. “Your sexual prowess is dead to me. Dead!”

Rolling my eyes, I wrapped an arm around her and steered us both into the kitchen, where the smell of French bread and spaghetti filled the air. “Have I told you how much I miss our weekly dinners? Think we should do it daily? You know, so I don’t starve?”

Gabi shrugged out of my embrace. “Learn how to cook.”

I jutted out my lower lip. “It’s not for lack of knowledge.” I broke off a piece of warm bread, then poured myself a large glass of wine. “It’s because yours always tastes better.”

Gabi groaned loudly. “Damn, do the girls really fall for that? Still?”

“Eh.” I shrugged and made a so-so motion with my hand. “Nine out of ten.”

“You disgust me.”

“You say that every day.”

“Because it’s true every day.”

“When’s dinner ready?” Serena bounced into the room, literally, her head bobbing from left to right. Maybe that’s how girls like her built up more brain cells. They shook the air, and the pressure between their ears exploded, making tiny little brain-cell babies.

Gabi poked her head into the fridge. “When Lex gets here.”

“So it’s ready now?” she asked.

Never mind. No brain-cell babies. I fought the urge to point to the steaming spaghetti and bread sitting on the breakfast bar. Didn’t it look ready, kiddo?

“Technically,” I answered for Gabi. “But we aren’t eating”—I stressed the word “eating” even though I’d just taken some bread—“until my sidekick gets here.”

“Sidekick, huh?” Serena crossed her arms, forcing her boobs to kiss one another and nearly hit her in the chin.

“Oh, I thought you knew.” I gave her a sad face. “I’m the hero in this scenario . . . Even own my own cape. He’s basically the Robin to my Batman.”

“Batman’s hot.”

“So is Robin,” Gabi said defensively.

Whoa. Did she just defend Lex? I felt her forehead. She pushed my hand away and handed me some parmesan cheese.

The door flew open, and Lex stepped through, holding up two bottles of Cab. “Sorry, traffic was shit.”

“Language,” Gabi called.

Lex and I shared a look before Lex stomped over to the swear jar and tossed in a dollar bill.

My Review:
Ian Hunter is a class A womianizing jackass who’s decided his prowess with the ladies is best cultivated into a Love Coach business. Together with his best friend Lex, Ian is the “superman” of getting shlumpy co-eds the man-boys of their dreams. And, then he goes off to find some tail on his own. Lex is no better, they both screw first, take names later–but only with the “dumb girls” who are only in it for a one-nighter.

The girls who seek out Wingmen Inc’s pricey services are highly vetted, as are their conquests. Ian, All-American bad boy, gives them style tips and dating rules. He uses his own reputation and persona to goad the unsuspecting males into jealousy-induced courting, and the girls are mostly (99%) satisfied.

It’s all going great until Ian’s newest client is one he doesn’t want to let go to her Prince Charming. Blake is the roommate of his best gal-pal, Gabi. She’s fit and fun, but is a tomboy in love with her childhood bestie, David. David sees Blake as a boy, mostly, and Ian’s charmed by her sassiness and girl-next-door looks. Ian never pursues his clients, but he’s never met a girl like Blake, and he senses the same isolation and loneliness in her that he, as an orphan, struggles with daily. the more time he spends coaching Blake through the steps, the more he wants Blake to decide David isn’t the man for her.

This is a romance, and Ian is an antihero. He’s meant to come off as brash and ridiculous, to a degree, and boy does he nail that. His commentary, both internal and in dialogue, is so wholly sexist it’s almost intolerable. For the first half of the book I wished Gabi would bite the bullet and actually smother Ian with a pillow while he slept, as she repeatedly threatened. I can’t say that I warmed to him in the second half, but I could see that he made changes in his own behavior that signaled both maturity and self-sacrifice–absolutely new concepts for him where women were concerned. He’s slightly sympathetic, on account of having been an orphan a long time, and also his NFL career-ending injury–before his career even began. I did like how he loved Blake, and how he made her well-being his focus, even against his desires and interests. It’s Ian who tells the story, and the one readers need to bond with, and I was able to enjoy the book almost despite him.

It’s clear that the next book will be a battle of wills for Lex and Gabi, both have a hate-hate experience going on. It sounds intriguing.

Catch the book trailer here:

Interested? You can find THE MATCHMAKER’S PLAYBOOK on Goodreads and Amazon (US, UK, CA and AU).

GIVEAWAY

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win your very own Boyfriend-in-a-Box, courtesy of Wingmen Inc. You’re welcome.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text MAFIA to 66866!

You can connect with Rachel on her website, Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, twitter or sign up for her newsletter.

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