adult contemporary

They Found Love OFF CAMPUS–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary new adult M/M romance from fellow Chicagoan, Amy Jo Cousins. OFF CAMPUS is an “Odd Couple” for the college set, with d-lish loving, redemption, prejudice and good ol’ fun.

Off Campus (Bend or Break, #1)About the book:
Everyone’s got secrets. Some are just harder to hide.

With his father’s ponzi scheme assets frozen, Tom Worthington believes finishing college is impossible unless he can pay his own way. After months sleeping in his car and gypsy-cabbing for cash, he’s ready to do just that.

But his new, older-student housing comes with an unapologetically gay roommate. Tom doesn’t ask why Reese Anders has been separated from the rest of the student population. He’s just happy to be sleeping in a bed.

Reese isn’t about to share his brutal story with his gruff new roommate. You’ve seen one homophobic jock, you’ve seen ’em all. He plans to drag every twink on campus into his bed until Tom moves out. But soon it becomes clear Tom isn’t budging.

Tom isn’t going to let some late-night sex noise scare him off, especially when it’s turning him on. But he doesn’t want any drama either. He’ll keep his hands, if not his eyes, to himself. Boundaries have a way of blurring when you start sharing truths, though. And if Tom and Reese cross too many lines, they may need to find out just how far they can bend…before they break.

Warning: This book contains cranky roommates who vacillate between lashing out and licking, some male/male voyeurism, emotional baggage that neither guy wants to unpack, and the definitive proof that sound carries in college housing.

My Review:
Tom Worthington is homeless. Destitute. A college junior who earns his tuition money as a cab driver in Boston. Life hasn’t always been this way, however. He was rich, once. The only son of a successful investment manager. Tom’s mother died when he was young, and his relationship with his dad was always more of a mentoring, rather than nurturing, one. Well, until his father was convicted of running a Ponzi scheme and Tom’s silver spoon was yanked straight from his mouth. It took Tom a year to save up enough money for his college term, and he’s not giving that up for anyone.

Reese Anders is sophomore who survived abuse last term. He was promised a single room, and is livid that a “brutish jock”, Tom, has been assigned to share with him. Reese is out, a bit of a “twink” and planning to make Tom’s life miserable–parading a line of sex partners and nude man posters into their room.

Problem is, Tom’s not so put off. Seems Tom is bisexual, and strangely attracted to the hands-off spitfire, Reese. Tom has had precious little contact with anyone for nearly 18-months, not since his dad was arrested, and later tried to commit suicide, so he’s basically on emotional sensory overload sharing living space with Reese.

Okay. There are lots of issues at play. Tom is too proud to admit he’s homeless. Reese assumes he has money, because many of their fellow students are pretty well off, and Tom does nothing to dismiss this notion. Tom works really hard, studying like crazy, knowing he must make the most of this time–he may not earn enough money to pay for next semester. Reese begins to confide in Tom why he’s so afraid of big guys, jocks, and Tom, in particular. It’s not as (completely) horrifying as I had anticipated, but violation is violation and I’m not going to downplay it. It, nonetheless, is a big part of Reese’s character, and an issue he and Tom must work through if they are to forge ahead with a relationship.

Of course, Tom doesn’t want to be a blip on the radar anywhere. He had troubles with tabloid articles in the past–some stories having been sold from “friends” when he actually broke down and confided in some of them–and is intensely private, now. So, being “out” with Reese is a Not Gonna Do It scenario. I was a bit dismayed by Tom’s rationalizations–as was Reese.

This story unfolds over the course of two semesters, and is completely told from Tom’s POV. Tom’s fear of scrutiny and Reese’s unwillingness to be silenced clash, a good bit. It was great to see Tom open up, be more of a real person than a shadow-student. He and Reese are unlikely partners, but they work. I appreciated Tom’s pain and embarrassment over his father’s criminal activity–and how determined he was to not take help that should go to “more deserving” kids. One’s whose parents weren’t thieves. His righteousness was admirable, in that regard. I wasn’t so taken with his reticence to accept his sexuality, but I think that goes along with the age. Tom’s 22, and Reese’s 20.

I got a real kick out of Tom’s buddy, Cash.

Tom ignored Cash’s staring back and forth between the two of them.
The struggle to wrap his brain around the sex thing was occupying most of Cash’s working brain cells.
“Just, why?” He needed to talk it out. Great. “Okay, cute dude, not my thing, but whatever floats your boat. And I guess it makes sense that a dude knows his way around a dick, so okay, I can see how that works. But your ass, man. Why you wanna go sticking something up there?”
“Does my sex life have to make sense to you? Because I am not having this conversation!” Tom’s words were muffled by the sweatshirt he dragged over his head, but he was pretty sure everyone on the hall heard that one.

The resolution is good. The story has real heart and some fun bits. It’s also very naughty, in parts, so….yay for me! Not for the kiddos, however.

Interested? You can find OFF CAMPUS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, iBooks, and on the Samhain website. I got a review copy of this book from NetGalley.

Amy Jo CousinsAbout the Author:

Amy Jo Cousins lives in Chicago, where she writes contemporary romance, tweets more than she ought, and sometimes runs way too far. She loves her boy and the Cubs, who taught her that being awesome doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with winning.

You can find Amy Jo online on her website, Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Just In Time FOR VALENTINE’S–Review and Giveaway

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Hi there! Today is the release day launch for For Valentine’s the nightcap novella to Kat and Stone Bastion’s No Wedding series. I’ve been posting about this couple’s romantic journey since September, and just in time for Valentine’s Day we get a super steamy conclusion to this true love story. And for release day only, you can get a signed digital copy with a bonus scene from Hannah!!! Be sure to check out this fantastic novella and grab your copy today!!

FV_AmazonGRSWFor Valentine’s Synopsis:
This steamy nightcap novella, the fifth book in the No Weddings Series, takes us on a post-happily-ever-after adventure as Cade attempts to rewrite Valentine’s Day with his new wife, Hannah.

Wedded bliss. After everything Hannah and I have been through, we finally have it. Yet dark dreams from my troubled past continue to escalate as we approach Valentine’s Day. Determined to fill our present with great memories that overtake all others, I plan a trip to New York—down to every scheduled detail. Yeah, there will even be a musical.

But Mother Nature has a few tricks up her sleeve. And the universe keeps throwing us curveballs…
*** PLEASE NOTE *** Scorching (explicit) sex scenes. Fire extinguisher highly recommended.

My Review:
A nice cap to the No Weddings Series.

Hannah and Cade are newly married and building a new business together. It seems they are poised on the brink of happiness, yet Cade has recurrent nightmares that increase in intensity as Valentine’s Day nears. Three years ago he had his heart mutilated by this then-girlfriend who not only didn’t accept his marriage proposal, she confessed to infidelity right at the dining table. He was crushed so bad he never expected to find love again–then Hannah came along.

Their love story hasn’t been all sugar kisses and love dumplings. They had to work to trust each other, become friends, and then lovers. In fact, their wedding was more a surprise than an event.

In an effort to create all new scorching memories with Hannah, banishing his traitorous nightmares, Cade plans a romantic NYC escape–and nothing, not a car wreck, nor lost reservations, nor missing the first act of WICKED will put a damper on his plan.

This is a fun, sexy way to close out Hannah and Cade’s love story. They find a way to turn every irritation into titillation, every wrong turn into Oh, Baby…

Expect copious copulation and kinky kitchen antics. And a resolution that’ll put a sappy smile on your face.

Exclusive Excerpt:

When Hannah removed her hand from my crotch, cooler air seeped through the denim. Then her soft lips touched my earlobe seconds before hard teeth tugged on it. She reached over to the ignition and twisted the key, cutting the engine. “We won’t need the heat for a while.”

She was right. Windows? Already fogging.

The coat that she’d been huddling under only seconds ago, slid off of her as she shifted and knelt onto her seat. She bundled up the woolen material and tossed it into the back.

I’d planned this trip to be amazing, to get my troubling dreams in line with my incredible reality, and when we hit a little black-ice speed bump? Hannah grabbed the wheel…

My pulse kicked up at the desire in her darkened eyes. Needing to touch her, I slid a hand up her thigh.

My one-track mind screeched to a halt. “Uh…” Those knit-tight things still clung to her legs. “How do you propose we have sex with these things on?” I pinched the material away from her skin, then released it. The fabric was so soft, it didn’t even snap against her skin properly. I scowled. “These come off.”

She shook her head with an amused smile. “No. They’re keeping me warm. Besides, who said you’re getting any? We said ‘making out.’”

I choked out a laugh. “For over an hour? You trying to kill me with blue balls?”

That luscious lip of hers disappeared behind her teeth as she negotiated carefully around the gearshift to attempt to straddle my lap. Not in any way resembling merely “making out.” Interesting.

With my long legs, the seat was already adjusted back as far as possible. The steering wheel had nowhere to else go. But none of the cramped quarters made any difference to my determined woman. And she fit perfectly.

As her body settled over mine, all soft curves and temptation underneath the thin fabric of her dress, her lips brushed over my ear. “I promise you won’t die. And there will be no blue balls.”

Translation: sex.

She just wanted to play a little. Or a lot.

And I was the happiest fucking man on Earth to be her toy.

Her lips began a sensual path over my skin, trailing below my ear, dotting small kisses over my jawbone, until she reached my chin. Then she paused and swallowed hard.

Her chest heaved up and down, breasts pressing against me with every inhalation. Her fingers found their way into my hair, cradling the back of my head. Her intense gaze penetrated down deep, piercing my heart. “I love you, Cade Michaelson.”

My lips curved into a smile. Before I had a chance to respond, her eyes drifted closed and she kissed me. Not hard and rough. Not urgent. She took her time, savoring each touch. Her tongue tasted mine, then her lips closed, denying me access. Until she sucked on my lower lip.

Unhurried, lazy and seductive, she backed up her words with her body. Our lips touching was the only skin to skin, but her body undulated over mine. Hips arched, then curved against me in slow rhythm. Her fingers tugged at my hair.

I groaned and closed my eyes, my cock hardening painfully behind my denim button fly. But I didn’t pull the plug on her slow seduction. Nothing in the world would make me take control away from her.

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FOR VALENTINE’S ~ Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

NO WEDDINGS ~ Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

ONE FUNERAL ~ Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

TWO BAR MITZVAHS ~ Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

THREE CHRISTMASES ~ Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Enter Kat and Stone’s fantastic giveaway!!

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
a $25 Giftcard and signed copy of FOR VALENTINE’S
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

About the Authors:
Shoe and Boot PhotoAward-winning and bestselling romance author Kat Bastion has teamed up with her husband Stone Bastion to create the new contemporary romance series No Weddings.
A few factoids about the writing team…
Kat enjoys her chocolate rich and dark, her music edgy and soul-filling, and her vacations exotic with toes dug into the sand. And she’s wildly, madly, deeply in love with Stone.
Stone likes pounding the trails on a mountain bike, vibrating the sound system with rock music, and down time spent on a stand up paddleboard. And he loves Kat wildly, madly, deeply…and then some.
Together, they’re having a blast bringing fun-filled romantic stories to life and hope you’ll join them in the exciting adventure.
Kat’s first published work, Utterly Loved, was a twentieth anniversary gift of love poems to Stone that they decided to share with the world to benefit charity. Net proceeds from Utterly Loved, and a portion of net proceeds from all their books, go toward charities involved in the fight against human trafficking.
Kat and Stone live amid the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Visit their blog at http://www.talktotheshoe.com, website at http://www.katbastion.com, and their Twitter accounts at https://twitter.com/KatBastion and https://twitter.com/StoneBastion for more information.
Keep informed about new releases by joining their Email Subscription list.

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Caught Up In GLITTER AND GRIT–Review and Giveaway

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Hi there! Today I’m sharing in the blog tour for GLITTER AND GRIT, a contemporary cowboy romance from Jessie Evans. I’ve read two other books in this series, LEATHER AND LACE and SADDLES AND SIN, and loved them! GLITTER AND GRIT is no different in THAT regard. While all the books in this series feature recurring characters, to some extent, they are all standalone reads with complete stories.

* *20% OFF for the first weeks following release in a limited time Reader Appreciation Sale!* *

GaG AmazonGRSWAbout GLITTER AND GRIT
A sexy small town romance from New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jessie Evans

This ride is going to last a lot longer than eight seconds…

Female professional bull rider, Reece Hearst, graduated from the school of hard knocks. With honors. Because life is like bull riding–when it sends you to the dirt, you do whatever it takes to get on your feet, even if you have to crawl. Like when officials stripped her of her rodeo queen title on the basis of vicious gossip years ago and not even her father would believe her side of the story. Reece could have stayed in the dust, wallowing. Instead, she fixed Lonesome Point in her rearview, joined the pro circuit, and never looked back. But now a serious injury threatens to end her career and she’s back in Lonesome Point, living next door to the family that once made her life a living hell.

After multiple tours of duty in Afghanistan and his father’s death, all Grayson Parker wants is to get his family’s cattle business back in the black and live a quiet life. But the return of Reece Hearst opens old wounds, throwing his ordered world into chaos. Grayson was serving overseas when Reece was a teenager and can’t believe the girl he once knew has grown into a heartbreaker as hardened as she is beautiful.

Grayson finds a kindred spirit in wounded Reece and soon longs to be the man to show her that there is life after pain and loss. But can two people as damaged as Reece and Grayson find their way to happily ever after? Or will the scars on their hearts forever keep them apart?

My Review:
Reese Hearst is a champion bull rider on the professional circuit, but 12 years ago she was stripped as a rodeo queen for “consorting” with a judge–if nearly being raped by her trusted mentor/coach is “consorting”… Even Reece’s dad didn’t believe her side, but then he was best friends with Neil Parker. Reece ran away and hasn’t been back to Lonesome Point TX in all that time, but now she’s recovering from a severe head injury incurred in her last rodeo and needs a quiet space in which to recuperate. Knowing her parents are off in Montana visiting her sister over Christmas, Reece holes up at the Hearst Ranch, but not before making the acquaintance of a hot mature cowboy.

Grayson Parker is trying not to lose his family ranch, now that his father’s dead and he’s sheltering his sister from her abusive husband. He’s not looking for a little recreation when he meets a spitfire at the Lonesome Point tavern. But, if she hadn’t passed clean out, he’d have made a happy woman of that one–until he learns who she is the next morning. Grayson was never a fan of his father–not especially once his dad took to dating all sorts of young women when Grayson’s mom died–so he up and left at age 18. Joined the Air Force for 20 years, and this homecoming is more bitter than sweet.

Grayson knows he should stay away from a woman his father favored, but he soon learns all Daddy’s dark secrets and finds the truth more than nauseating. He’s determined to see right come from it, and that means helping Reece, if she’ll let him. Thing is, she’s real stubborn. And acknowledges herself to be crazy. But, it turns out she’s attracted to him, and the feeling is more than mutual.

Still, Reece has no illusions about love–and has even less desire to stay in Lonesome Point. Plus, the head injury she suffered seems to be worsening. And the investigation behind Neil Parker’s suspicious death turns up even more dirt. Can she and Grayson find something more than a brief spark between them?

I really loved this book. Reece is a headstrong, impetuous character who actually acknowledges the mistakes she makes and seeks to fix them. She loves deep, which makes the hurts she suffers twice as agonizing. She did a whole lotta healing in this book, both physically and emotionally. Grayson is a treat for a male lead. Confident, not cocky, and steadfast. He does the right thing, because it’s the right thing, even when it means trouble for his own family. He puts his love out on his sleeve, and wears it proudly. Excellent smexytimes. And, a swoonworthy couple. Loved.

Interested? You can find GLITTER AND GRIT on Goodreads, Amazon, iBooks, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Google Play

Giveaway

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
e-copies of the FOUR books in this series. Yay!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About Jessie Evans

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessie Evans, gave up a career as an international woman of mystery to write the sexy, contemporary Southern romances she loves to read.

She’s married to the man of her dreams, and together they’re raising a few adorable, mischievous children in a cottage in the jungle. She grew up in rural Arkansas, spending summers running wild, being chewed by chiggers, and now appreciates her home in a chigger-free part of the world even more.

When she’s not writing, Jessie enjoys playing her dulcimer (badly), sewing the worlds ugliest quilts to give to her friends, going for bike rides with her house full of boys, and drifting in and out on the waves, feeling thankful for sun, surf, and lovely people to share them with.

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They Found Love RIDING IT OUT-Release Day Review Blitz

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Hi there! Today I’m joining the release day celebration for RIDING IT OUT, a contemporary romance from Jennifer Foor.

RidingItOut_Mock44
About the book:
One woman
One man
An empty bed and breakfast
A summer storm
One night they’ll never forget – so they thought…

When my aunt passed away and left me her dilapidated bed and breakfast it was all so surreal. I hadn’t been back to that beach in many years, and the idea of revisiting left me sad and vulnerable.

I never planned on having guests. In fact, I just wanted to close up the place and sell it, so that I could move on with my life.

Then the storm happened.

Taken by surprise, I planned on waiting for it to pass. The house creaked and the power went out. That’s when someone knocked on the door.

He was a stranger, dripping wet, cold, and looking for shelter. I couldn’t turn him away…

What happened next between us opened new doors, changing everything I thought I wanted for myself. The only question is if I can trust him, or will his secrets destroy it all?

My Review:
Erica is youngish career-focused woman who has inherited her beloved aunt’s B & B on the Maryland coast. She plans to sell the sprawling house and return to her job in Baltimore, but must check out the property, first. Erica is isolated when a tropical storm blows in.

The house is battered and loses electric with the ferocity of the storm, and Erica is even more spooked to find a soaked stranger on the doorstep. Reluctantly allowing Reed a room, she’s lucky to learn he’s got the skills she needs–mainly carpentry, on account of freak storm damage. But, Reed’s also interested in more. Erica’s a bit of a “prude” and won’t have anything to do with Reed’s sexual challenges, well, until she does. In a single night she finds the companionship she’d always wanted, but put off, with a virtual stranger.

The morning’s light brings restored power and more passion—until they anger each other with questions of trust…and split. For a bit. The first part of this book is told from Erica’s POV which wasn’t terribly sympathetic. The language is verbose and stilted to my ear, and Erica seemed whimsical and erratic for a self-professed career-minded gal. I had a bit of trouble connecting with the story, as a result. I also could have done with a few more specifics in her backstory–for example, what was her job? How old was she, exactly? The story suffered, I thought, from too much telling. The smexytimes were decent.

Part Two of this series tells more story from Reed’s POV, and we learn that Reed isn’t the man he says he is. Literally. The big secret of his history is something he’d rather never confess, but the ill woman and unclaimed child on the doorstep of his and Erica’s B & B are not easy to explain away. We get some confused meanderings and soul-searching and as HEA as one can imagine for a couple in the midst of a huge transition. Less smexy in this book, and what there is is awkward. I had liked Reed a bunch in Book One, and a lot less in Book Two. Still, he’s okay. He’s trying to do the best he can repairing his mistakes in this world. Erica went up in my esteem the second go-round, so there’s that.

Interested? You can Find RIDING IT OUT on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author:
Jennifer Foor is an award winning Contemporary Romance Author. She’s best known for the Mitchell Family Series, which includes ten books.

She is married with two children and spends most of her time behind a keyboard, writing stories that come from her heart. You can find her on her website, Facebook, twitter and Amazon.

 

Cephalopod Coffeehouse Dec 2014–STONE AT YOUR SERVICE

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

This month I’m featuring an Alpha Male romance from Rie Warren. What I found so interesting about this book is it’s a romance told entirely from the man’s POV, and while it’s not the first book I’ve read like this, it’s also a complete hoot.

Stone, At Your Service (Carolina Bad Boys, #1)About the book:
Hell on wheels meets Hell in high heels.

Bad boy mechanic Josh Stone likes to get his hands dirty any way he can—the filthier, the better. Ever since his wife walked out on him and their young son, he’s only had room in his heart for two loves: the kid and cars.

Roped into playing his best buddy’s gay boyfriend during a romance writers convention, the player meets the girl who’s gonna rock his world. Leelee Songchild. Shy, bashful, beautiful Leelee who blushes at the drop of a hat yet writes hardcore smut to rival Josh’s backlist of Penthouse Forum.

The only problem is his hands are tied. Josh can’t stab his old friend/fake lover in the back even though all he wants to do is take luscious Leelee to bed, and maybe, love her. When the truth comes out, all hell breaks loose.

Too bad romance is just for books.

My Review:
I do love me a strong, funny man! Josh is a super lovable, very sympathetic single father. His four year old son, the kid (JJ, named in honor of Josh’s late father), is four and traumatized by the abandonment of his mother. Josh has never left him alone for more than a night–and now he’s going on a week-long trip with his BFF Nick, aka indie romance author Nicky Love. Nick has had some bad run-ins with fans and fellow authors and, despite his hetero reality, he has cultivated a “gay persona” to shield himself from unwanted attention. After all the support Nick has given Josh–helping out with JJ and at his garage–Josh agrees to posing as his boyfriend for a fan convention.

Josh has no interested in another relationship. He’s super bitter over the abrupt end of his marriage, and then he sees Leelee from across the hotel’s crowded lobby and he’s struck. He’d like to add her to his list of anonymous conquests, but meeting her turns a switch in his brain. She’s beautiful and demure, a real Southern lady–who writes some of the filthiest romance he’s had the pleasure to consume. In short, he swoons. But…he’s the very public boyfriend of Nick and that’s a big problem.

Josh is such a fun narrator. Watching him straddle the line between supporting Nick and wooing Leelee is pure heaven. This is an adult read with plenty of cussing, carousing and cock-ups, not the least of which is poor Josh’s continually interrupted self, uh, “management.”

For her part, Leelee is a temptress. She’s totally attracted to Josh, but has her own dark secret, and it’s exactly why Josh is just not he right man for her. So she thinks…

I adored the banter between Josh and Nick, Josh and Leelee, well, Josh and anyone. He’s such a great sport about all the come-on’s and flirts of the conventioneers, even allowing himself to get rolled into a cover model’s contest and hitting the highlights/lowlights of a sex shop and a male strip club as part of the junket. Throughout, Josh’s just implacably funny.

I already have the sequel, Nick’s finding love story, so I’m on board with the series.

Interested? You can find STONE AT YOUR SERVICE on Goodreads, and Amazon.

Thanks for popping in and don’t forget to check out other reviewers’ picks on today’s hop.

1. The Armchair Squid 2. WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME
3. Hub City 4. mainewords
5. Cherdo on the Flipside 6. Trisha @ WORD STUFF
7. My Creatively Random Life 8. A Creative Exercise
9. StrangePegs — An Acceptable Time 10. Words Incorporated
11. V’s Reads  

The LONE WOLF Finds Love–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m reviewing a contemporary gay romance from the writing team of Aleksandr Voinov and LA Witt. I’ve enjoyed other books of theirs int he past, and LONE WOLF is no different.

Lone Wolf (Bluewater Bay #4)About the book:
Hunter Easton is screwed. Fans, producers, and his agent are all chomping at the bit for the next book in his wildly popular Wolf’s Landing series, but he’s got epic writer’s block and is way behind deadline. Then he reads The World Tree, a fanfic novel by his online friend “Lone Wolf.” It isn’t just a great story—it’s exactly what the series needs.

Kevin Hussain is thrilled when “Wolf Hunter” wants to meet up after reading The World Tree. When Wolf Hunter turns out to be Hunter Easton himself, Kevin is starstruck. When Hunter tells him he wants to add The World Tree to Wolf’s Landing, Kevin is sure he’s being pranked. And when their online chemistry carries over—big time—into real life, Kevin is convinced it’s all too good to be true.

The problem is . . . it might be. The book deal, the sex, the money—everything is amazing. But fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and Kevin is left wondering if Hunter really loves him, or just loves his book.

My Review:
Hunter Easton is a multi published, best seller author of a paranormal shifter book series called Wolf’s Landing. He’s horribly blocked on book 8 of the series and frittering away his time and advance with no real forward motion. He’s been a member of a fandom website for a few years, and corresponds regularly with the website’s adminstrator, Lone Wolf, and Lone Wolf has sent Hunter bits and pieces of fan-fic, and slash (porn scenes), based on the characters in Wolf’s Landing. This has all been anonymous–Hunter posts under a pseudonym–and though the men have never met in person they do feel a kinship for each other.

Well, Lone Wolf writes a fanfic novel, half out of desperation with the delay in getting a new book in the series, and sends it to his online friend, aka, Hunter. Hunter LOVES it. Unequivocally. He arranges a meeting with Lone Wolf, knowing he’ll break his cover, but desperate to somehow adopt Lone Wolf’s story into the Wolf’s Landing series.

Kevin thought he was meeting another fan of Wolf’s Landing–not the creator of the fiction universe he adores. His excitement over meeting with the notoriously reclusive Hunter Easton in public is only eclipsed by the attraction Kevin feels for the silver fox at his cafe table. Then, Kevin remembers all the gay slash he’d written and unwittingly sent to Hunter, and he’s almost too embarrassed to breathe, let alone absorb all the chat about how great the book is, and can Hunter share it with his agent…

I REALLY loved all the banter between these two.

Kevin held his gaze. “Uh, well, for one, the part where it turns out I was sending explicit slash porn to my favorite author.”
Hunter laughed. “Fair enough.”
“Which I guess explains why you never sent me any of your racy stories.” Kevin groaned and pressed his elbows against the table as he buried his face in his hands. “Oh my God . . .”
“Kevin.” A gentle hand squeezed his arm. “Do you think I would’ve kept asking to read them if it bothered me?”
“Well, no.” Kevin lowered his arms, and as Hunter took his hand back, added, “You weren’t, uh, laughing at them, were you?”
Hunter’s cheeks reddened. “Laughing isn’t the word I’d use.”
“It’s—oh. Oh. You weren’t kidding about that part.”
Good God, if the man’s face got any brighter . . . “No. I wasn’t.” Hunter watched his thumb run up and down the handle on his mug. “Honestly, I kind of wanted to put more explicit stuff into the Wolf’s Landing books, but that was pretty much moot once the TV series came around.”
“Yeah, I guess they didn’t sign up for Fifty Shades of Gray Wolves.”

And the steam?

Kevin laughed softly, and suddenly his startled expression turned to something a little different. Sly, maybe. Devilish. Shit, yes. Definitely devilish. He met Hunter’s eyes. “Let’s just say you’re really, really good at describing settings.”
“Huh?” Hunter glanced around. He’d never used this place in any of the Wolf’s Landing books. In fact, he’d completely wasted the opportunity to use this as a setting for anything except—
Oh.
OH!
“This is where you set All In, isn’t it?” The playful lilt in Kevin’s voice had an undercurrent that made Hunter’s heart race.
He gulped. Then nodded. “Yeah. I’d forgotten all about that.”
“Forgotten?” Kevin took a step closer to Hunter. “I don’t see how you could forget about that scene.”
“Well, it’s been a long time since I wrote it. I wrote that one, um, years ago. I think. It’s been—”
“You think the light fixtures would really support handcuffs?” Kevin looked thoughtfully at one of the sconces and its faded bare bulbs. “They do seem pretty solidly anchored.”
“I . . . I’ve never tested them.”
Well that was just asking for it.

Like real life, there are so many pauses in this book. Wait for the agent. Wait for the editor. Wait for the publisher. Contracts. Advances. Good thing the time is filled with a smoking hot passion between silver fox Hunter and 20-something Kevin.

Kevin has a lot of adjusting to make. Selling a book into a best selling series means lots of money, and insta-fans. He and Hunter work well, rewriting his book together to create two books out of one, and spending their downtime in bed, or wherever, together. But, Hunter’s never had a relationship, and Kevin feels like he’s getting too attached and overwhelmed by the whirlwind that is Wolf’s Landing. He doesn’t tell this to Hunter, because he doesn’t want to admit the depth of his feelings and risk being rebuffed–little does Kevin know that Hunter’s been quietly rearranging his life and priorities to accommodate Kevin, for keeps.

I super enjoyed the honesty of character, and the fun “insider” scoop on writing, and publishing, which are TWO very different things. Hunter is a delightful curmudgeon, and Kevin’s bright shiny outlook is seriously blotted out as he learns how the wheels turn. Also, we get not just an age difference to overcome, but a racial diff, as Kevin is of Middle Eastern descent, and Muslim.

Interested? You can find LONE WOLF on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Riptide Books. I haven’t read other books in this series, but they look great, and I’m inclined to grab them, now, to get into the Bluewater Bay world. I received an ARC via NetGalley.

About the Authors:
“Aleksandr Voinov is an emigrant German author living near London, where he works as a writing coach, complementary therapist and freelance corporate editor. At 39 years of age, Voinov has written more than a dozen novels and commercially published five print books with German publishers. After many years working in the horror, science fiction, cyberpunk and fantasy genres, Voinov is now primarily writing contemporary and historical erotic gay fiction. A recurring theme in his fiction is “the triumph of the human spirit” or an individual rising to challenge the status quo in a world gone bad.”

You can connect with Aleksandr on his website, on Facebook and/or join his Facebook group here. He has an author forum at Goodreads and is active on twitter.

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who, after three years in Okinawa, Japan, has recently relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband, two cats, and a three-headed clairvoyant parakeet named Fred. There is some speculation that this move was not actually because of her husband’s military orders, but to help L. A. close in on her arch nemesis, erotica author Lauren Gallagher, who has also recently transferred to Omaha. So, don’t anyone tell Lauren. She’s not getting away this time…

Visit her website, Facebook, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in my friends, and keep reading!

Fun and Heat in TO ROME WITH LUST–Review and Giveaway

releaseblitz_rome

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a super steamy erotic read from KD Grace. TO ROME WITH LUST is the third book in The Mount series, and takes place in beautiful Rome. There are so many smexytimes, I was overwhelmed…in the good way.

To Rome With Lust: - The Mount SeriesAbout the Book:
The adventure that Rita Holly began in The Mount in London and Nick Chase took up in Vegas continue with journalist Liza Calendar, when a sizzling encounter with perfumer Paulo ‘The Nose’ Delacour, leaves them both in sexy olfactory heaven.

The heir of Martelli Fragrance, Paulo wants Liza’s magnificently sensitive nose to help develop Martelli’s controversial new line. What Liza doesn’t know is Paulo’s secret weapon – Martelli Fragrance is the front for The Mount, an ancient sex cult of which Paulo is a member. He plans to use the scent of sex to enhance Martelli’s new Innuendo line, and as Liza and Paulo sniff out the most potent aphrodisiac, they become their own lab rats – discovering just how well their perfume works. But when the perfume formulas are stolen and the blame lies at Liza’s feet, she and Paulo must find the culprit and prove Liza’s innocence before more is exposed than just secret formulas.

My Review:
This was a super fun read. If I had a guilty pleasure genre, which I don’t, I’d say lighthearted erotica would be it. Sure, everybody swoons for the BDSM stuff now, but there something to be said for copious amounts of vanilla lovin’ too.

To be fair, this book has a bit of Dom/sub, but it’s like one scene. The rest? So much lovely smexy. And the story? FUN!

Liza has a super nose. For real. She can smell the bitterness of a person’s anger, and the tangy scent of arousal. This is often a real challenge for her, as she can barely find a man whose scent she can tolerate–her current long-distance “BF” actually makes her sneeze. Well, he did until she found him diddling another gal and she booked it to Rome, on assignment. See, Liza’s a reporter, and she’s doing a feature on Martelli fragrances. On the trip she encounters a man whose scent is so erotic she cannot bear to be away from him.

And the feeling is mutual for Paulo.

Paulo knows a good nose–and Liza continues to amaze him, not only with her ability to experience scent, but with her sexual appetite as well. Together, they are an unstoppable force, sniffing out the pheromones of sex to build the sexiest of aroma combinations to build a line of perfumes. Liza takes it as a personal challenge, knowing it’ll make the absolute best article, but a deep bond is building between herself and Paulo, too. Looks like life is coming up roses…

Well, except for the stolen formulas.

Expect menage. Expect espionage. Expect smexytimes. Expect voyeurism. This is a flirty, fun read with a plot that cracks along. Read with an open mind.

Interested? You can find TO ROME WITH LUST on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

****GIVEAWAY****
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
a $50 Amazon gift card.
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Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:

Voted ETO Best Erotic Author of 2014, K D Grace believes Freud was right. In the end, it really IS all about sex, well sex and love. And nobody’s happier about that than she is, otherwise, what would she write about?

When she’s not writing, K D is veg gardening. When she’s not gardening, she’s walking. She walks her stories, and she’s serious about it. She and her husband have walked Coast to Coast across England, along with several other long-distance routes. For her, inspiration is directly proportionate to how quickly she wears out a pair of walking boots. She also enjoys martial arts, reading, watching the birds and anything that gets her outdoors.

K D has erotica published with SourceBooks, Xcite Books, Harper Collins Mischief Books, Mammoth, Cleis Press, Black Lace, Erotic Review, Ravenous Romance, Sweetmeats Press and others.

K D’s critically acclaimed erotic romance novels include, The Initiation of Ms Holly, Fulfilling the Contract, The Pet Shop. Her paranormal erotic novel, Body Temperature and Rising, the first book of her Lakeland Witches trilogy, was listed as honorable mention on Violet Blue’s Top 12 Sex Books for 2011. Books two and three, Riding the Ether, and Elemental Fire, are now also available.

K D Grace also writes hot romance as Grace Marshall. An Executive Decision, Identity Crisis, The Exhibition are all available.

Find KD online on her websites: KD GRAGE and GRACE MARSHALL, hanging with the Brit Babes, on Facebook, twitter and Pinterest.

They Found WHERE DARKNESS LIES–Review and Giveaway

Hi there! Today I’m joining in the release party for Bella Jewel’s newest release, WHERE DARKNESS LIES. This New Adult romance puts contemporary pirates in a sexy new light.

About the book:
Anger and pain brought them together, but their passion might just set them free.
Dimitri wants only one thing: revenge. His stepfather, Hendrix, has caused him nothing but pain and heartache. At last Dimitri can take something—someone—important to Hendrix and make him pay: Jess.

Jess is feisty and strong headed. Her past haunts her and connects her to the dangerously dark Dimitri in an unexpected way. Dimitri keeps his secrets locked deep inside, and Jess is drawn to this broken man like no one before.

With little to cling to besides their haunting pasts, both could have been doomed to lives spent raging against the darkness that holds them prisoner. Instead, it seems that as their pain draws them closer together, it is their desire that will set them free.

ADD TO GOODREADS

My Review:
Jess and Dimitri suffered horrific abuse in their youth. Jess blames her foster father, while Dimitri blames Hendrix–his stepfather. The difference? Jess manages, and Dimitri doesn’t.

He kidnaps Jess from Hendrix’s ship, sure that Hendrix will come after her and the showdown will ensue, but Dimitri isn’t satisfied–in the least. He has to keep Jess near him at all times, fearing she’ll escape, and this puts a serious cramp in Dimitri’s smexytimes with his cadre of gals. Jess is attractive to Dimitri, but she’s not the whore he took her for.

See, Jess hasn’t willingly given herself to a man, ever. She didn’t think she’d ever want to, not after Roger ruined her, but something about the sheer masculinity of Dimitri calls to her. She can see he’s been broken before–the way he won’t let people touch him is a sign with which she can empathize–and she wants to help him get over his hatred of Hendrix. After all, Hendrix is like the father Jess never had. He protected her when she was alone and floundering and Jess has a strong kinship to him.

I’ll admit, I thought this would be a Regency romance, with swashbuckling and high seas raiding. It’s not. It’s kinda FIGHT CLUB meets 50 SHADES with boats thrown in. I liked the slow build of the affection between Dimitri and Jess, and also her steadfast loyalty to Hendrix. Jess’ relentless pursuit of understanding gets Dimitri out of revenge mode, but it’s a hard battle. It’s a fun read with a dash of drama and a double kidnapping that turns a meek gal into a hellcat cage fighter. Well, for a short while anyway. Decent heat, with flawed, yet likable, characters.

Interested? You can find WHERE DARKNESS LIES on AMAZON: US, UK, and AU, as well as Barnes & Noble.


Also Available: Book One in the CRIMINAL OF THE OCEAN series:

ENSLAVED BY THE OCEAN. This book is the love story between Hendrix and Indigo. I haven’t read it, but imagine this book flows right into WHERE DARKNESS LIES.

You can find it on AMAZON: US, UK, and AU and well as Barnes & Noble.

 

 

****GIVEAWAY****
Click the Raffle Copter link below for your chance to win

a signed paperback copy of WHERE DARKNESS LIES

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author
Bella Jewel is a self published, USA Today bestselling author. She’s been publishing since 2013. Her first release was a contemporary romance, Hell’s Knights which topped the charts upon release. Since that time, she has published over five novels, gaining a bestseller status on numerous platforms. She lives in North Queensland and is currently studying editing and proofreading to further expand her career. Bella has been writing since she was just shy of fifteen years old. In Summer 2013 she was offered an ebook deal through Montlake Romance for her bestselling modern day pirate series, Enslaved By The Ocean. She plans to expand her
writing career, planning many new releases for the future.

You can catch up with Bella online on her website, Facebook, Amazon, Goodreads and Twitter.

Available Now! FREE ME from Laurelin Paige–And $50 Gift Card Giveaway

Banner FB
Hi there! Today I’m getting the word out on a new release from Laurelin Page. FREE ME is the first in a two-book series that gets to the heart of a woman’s pain. Gwen was an accessory character in the FIXED series, and now she has her own spin-off series.

FreeMeCoverAbout the book:
Screw fairytales. The only reward Gwen Anders got from her rough childhood was a thick skin and hard heart. She’s content with her daily grind managing a top NYC nightclub—Eighty-Eighth Floor. So hers isn’t a happily ever after. She doesn’t believe in those anyway.

Then she meets J.C.

The rich, smooth talking playboy is the sexiest thing that Gwen has ever encountered, but she’s not interested in a night-in-shining latex. But when a family tragedy pushes her to the brink, it’s J.C. who’s there to teach her a new method of survival, one based on following primal urges and desires. His no-strings-attached lessons require her to abandon her constant need for control. Her carefully built walls are obliterated.

Gwen discovers there’s a beautiful world outside her prison. Freedom is exhilarating—and terrifying. When she starts to feel something for J.C., she fears for her heart. Especially as she realizes that he has secrets of his own. Secrets that don’t want to set him free.

BOOK ONE OF TWO. This series can be read alone or with the Fixed Trilogy.

FreeMeTeaser1

Interested? You can find FREE ME on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IBooks, and Google Play.

***GIVEAWAY***

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
a $50 Gift Card!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

imageAbout Laurelin:
Laurelin Paige is the NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Fixed Trilogy. She’s a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Mad Men and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine.

You can catch up with Laurelin on Facebook, Twitter, her website, her newsletter, and Pinterest.

Great Contemporary M/M Romance From Kimber Vale

Hi there! Today I’m chatting about a series of books I’ve received as a reviewer in the M/M Romance group on Goodreads. This is a closed group, but you simply need to request admission, and voila! You’re in. I started reading M/M, or Gay, romance about two years ago. As I’ve mentioned before, I find the struggles of gay/lesbian characters to be uniquely poignant. Not only do these characters have to overcome enormous social pressures, they often have many unsatisfying relationships–either straight, or gay–before finding that “special” match. And I love me a good love story.

Kimber Vale has put out three books this year that I have read. They are a series, but can be read separately. As a reviewer, I received all of these free in exchange for my honest review. And, honestly, I really enjoyed them. Perhaps you will too. I have posted a mini-review for each to give you a flavor of my opinion, with the links to my full Goodreads review if you’d like more info.

These are adult reads, and have a decent level of steam, all within the confines of a monogamous, newly-developed, gay relationship.

Forever Is Now (Shooting Stars, #1)FOREVER IS NOW (Shooting Stars Book 1) Amazon Barnes & Noble

My Mini Review: (Full review here!)

Alex Bremen and Chance Ralan were high school boyfriends, in the closet, until Alex’s abusive father found out. They had written music together and Chance looked to break out with a band–when they are caught he flees Alex, and doesn’t look back.

Nine years later, Alex is a buff, out gay man, successful in his career as a filmographer. He’s pretty much coasting romantically, unwilling to trust his heart long-term. Then a love song he wrote for Chance back in high school suddenly plays on the radio. With Chance singing it. Outraged, Alex decides he’s going to confront Chance the best way he can–by contracting to make a rockumentary film about Chance’s up-and-coming metal band Armageddon Showdown.

It’s a strong M/M romance with all the right elements. Also, I’m a fan of rock romance, so this one really played to my interests. Alex is a solid character. Despite his anger and hurt surrounding Chance’s abandonment, he’s willing to get to know Chance again, and finds the man has developed a maturity that is as attractive as his rock-god persona. Chance, now grasping the success he’s always craved, realizes that it’s a hollow victory without someone to share his personal life. And Alex is only ten thousand times more appealing as a full-grown man.

The sex? Molten. Really. Delish, having these two experience the passion of youth tempered with experience. Liked the book a whole bunch. Had a few issues with plot logic, but they were minor. Supporting cast was exactly that–supportive–excepting one jealous lover and one bigot. But the coming out party was way better than Chance had expected. This book is sure to satisfy.

Double Takes (Shooting Stars, #2)DOUBLE TAKES (Shooting Stars #2) Amazon  Barnes & Noble

My Mini Review: (Full review here!)

Gio Savale is an agin rocker (41 y/o) going through a nasty divorce. His band is working on a come back album, and he’s in the midst of a reality show about rockers’ real lives. Only, the show is boring. The producers want to cancel, but it would mean Gio losing out on a ton of cash–money he needs to pay for his attorneys and studio time. The show producers think it would be a great idea to bring in a love interest to spice up the show–and they hire a gay man, citing a long ago comment in a Rolling Stone interview when Gio confessed to being bisexual.

Well, those dodgy escapades all happened when Gio was strung out on drugs. He’s not really into guys, or is he? Having no way out, but through, Gio allows the farce to go on, hoping that the added publicity will get him some new gigs to pay his way out of the show’s contract.

In the meantime, Gio heads to an antique shop to get help selling all the furnishings his ex left behind. There he meets buff, masculine Lance. And, Lance is a BIG fan of Gio’s music. Suddenly Gio isn’t wondering if he’s bisexual. He’s wondering if he isn’t gay altogether.

Oh, and Lance has a deep dark secret that just might end in murder, if it’s uncovered.

So, yeah. It gets uncovered.

I liked the story. I really liked the tie in to FOREVER IS NOW, a previously published K. Vale book which I enjoyed. There is a desperate chase scene, and a part where the reader is left hanging, wondering if Gio is going to find happiness again. In all the pacing was excellent. The smexytimes were well-written and interesting. In all a satisfying quick read.

Hard Act to Follow (Shooting Stars, #3)HARD ACT TO FOLLOW (Shooting Stars #3) Amazon Barnes & Noble

My Mini Review: (See full review here!)

Kyrie is an out gay man. He’s just graduating from college as a theater major, and had previously been featured as the *possible* romantic interest of an aging rocker, Gio Savale, making a comeback and a reality TV show in book two of the series, Double Takes. His ex-brother-in-law, Greg was also a part of the book.

Greg is an attorney who has burned his candle at both ends to make junior partner. It probably cost him his marriage to Kyrie’s elder sister, Jasmine. They had an amicable divorce, however, and Greg is still close with their family–he’s an extremely close friend of Kyrie’s which makes things uber-awkward that he’s also frighteningly attracted to Kyrie. Romantically.

Lookit, this is a romance. And things get really romantic. The occasion of their reunion is tragic, but their chemistry–once they get the medical okay–is totally organic. And incendiary.

Kyrie and Greg are a good couple, if they can get past their selflessness. Greg was willing to stay away from Kyrie to not make life weird in Kyrie’s family, and Kyrie was willing to shun Greg so he could advance at his law firm–but it turns out neither of these sacrifices were necessary. Yay for us, because this is a super hot, sexy read!

I put the buy links up in the titles, just to keep it simple.

About the Author:

Kimber Vale is an avid reader, writer and gardener. She worked as an RN once upon a time, but is currently a stay-at-home mom to three busy hobbits. She is fortunate to have an understanding husband who never refuses to help with her “writing research.” He answers questions like, “What do you think eyeballs taste like?” and, “Does the term ‘cock-rockets’ sound more like a joke or an explosively good time?” with equal consideration and without batting an eye.

Kimber enjoys crafting in a number of genres, including both gay (under K. Vale) and straight erotic romance, horror, bizarro, and sci/fi. Dark themes frequently creep their way into her stories, but she loves a good romance and is sure to give her MCs their much-deserved happily-ever-after once she is done abusing them.

You can connect with Kimber on her website, email [kimbervale (at) hotmail.com], Facebook and twitter.
Thanks for popping in my friends, and keep reading! 😉