Christmas books

An All New STATUS UPDATE–Review & Giveaway

BannerTemplate(2)Hi there! I’m so excited to share my review for a new contemporary M/M romance OUT TODAY from Annabeth Albert. You know I loved TREBLE MAKER and the Portland Heat  series, so I jumped to get this Christmas romance.  STATUS UPDATE is a heartwarming tale of two men finding themselves in a very uncomfortable position–and it turning out so, so good!

Status Update (#gaymers, #1)About the book:
Adrian Gottlieb is winning at life. He’s a successful video game designer with everything a man could ask for, including a warm comfy ride to Denver and a date for his sister’s wedding. But he finds himself in need of a total reboot when he’s left stranded at a snowy campground in Utah. Holiday plans? Epic fail.

That is until Noah Walters offers him shelter for the night and a reluctant cross-country ride. Nothing about the ultraconservative geoarchaeologist should attract Adrian, but once he discovers Noah’s hidden love for video games, the two connect on a new level. Soon, a quiet but undeniable chemistry sparks.

Something doesn’t add up, though. As the miles accumulate and time runs out, Noah must face the most difficult choice of his life. Meanwhile, Adrian must decide whether he’s ready to level up. Is their relationship status worth fighting for, or has this game ended before it’s even begun?
Book 1 of the #gaymers series

How about a little taste?

Noah knew the dog was trouble as soon as he and Ulysses entered the campground’s off-leash dog area. The little guy—some sort of Chihuahua/mini-pin mix in a yellow-and-green checked coat—stood in the center of the scrubby grass, barking his fool head off. The only human in the dog area sat at the picnic table on the far side, completely absorbed in his shiny phone, oblivious to his dog strutting around like all eight pounds of him would be enough to keep potential threats out.

Ulysses gave Noah a look, like “you really expect me to ignore that?” Noah tightened his hold on the tennis ball chucker. Ulysses never did well competing with smaller dogs for his toys. He unclipped Ulysses with a stern look.

“Be good.”

Still yapping, the little dog rushed over to inspect his new enemy. Predictably, Ulysses wandered away to do his business. He was too old for these sorts of games.

Noah gave a halfhearted wave in the direction of the owner, but the guy didn’t look up from his phone. The young guy was a typical hipster tourist—thick tortoise-framed glasses, artfully messed-up dark hair, with a thick purple streak, falling over his forehead. Slim build, but his wide shoulders stretched his too-thin jacket, making the shiny fabric ripple with his motions. He wasn’t any more prepared for November in Utah than his designer dog. Still, he was a cute guy, if one was the type to notice things like that, which Noah was not.

Noah looked away, studying the sheer cliffs that surrounded the Capitol Reef National Park. Didn’t matter how much time he spent in Southern Utah, he never got tired of the view. Phone guy was missing the light shifting into one of those perfect late fall sunsets that made the early dusk worth the loss of daylight. Pink streaks mingled with gray sky to cast a rosy glow over the scrubby grass and low fence of the dog area.

Rowwwr. Ulysses flopped at Noah’s feet, a deep beseeching whine rattling out of his barrel chest. He was eighty pounds of unhappy. He’d waited patiently all afternoon while Noah worked, and now he was missing out on his ball time thanks to the teacup gatekeeper.

“Okay, but play nice.” Noah threw the ball hard with the chucker toy, going for enough distance to outstrip the tiny dog’s ability to keep up with Ulysses. Not surprisingly, the little guy was tenacious, cutting off Ulysses’s path to the ball. Ulysses gave a warning woof, and Noah broke into a run, heading after the dogs.

“Down,” he called out. Ulysses wouldn’t attack the smaller dog, but he wasn’t above a major tantrum. And despite the smaller dog acting as instigator, people would see the huge black dog and toss out the “aggressor” label. Noah preferred to exercise him late in the day—Ulysses simply didn’t enjoy playing with other dogs, and Noah wasn’t one to force his dog into uncomfortable situations.

The little dog stood over the ball, yapping up a storm while Ulysses barked and growled, ignoring Noah’s command to sit.

Finally, the owner hefted himself off the picnic bench.

“Pixel, baby, what are you doing?” the owner called in a melodic voice that didn’t inspire Noah’s confidence in the man’s ability to control his dog. “Did the big doggie scare you?”

Hah. Typical. Noah snorted. “Can you grab the ball?” He didn’t trust those little dog breeds—too quick to snap. He’d nearly been bitten trying to retrieve a ball more than once.

“Oh sure.” The guy reached under Pixel—typical cutesy name for an annoying dog—and delicately plucked the ball free, but instead of handing it to Noah, he gave it a toss, sending both dogs running.

Oh great. Noah let out a slow breath, little puffs of vapor in the crisp evening air that did nothing to defuse his tension.

“It’ll be okay.” The way-too-handsy guy patted the sleeve of Noah’s parka. “They just need to work it out. Pixel loves to play.”

Noah took a step to the side. Who did that? Touched complete strangers? But the guy kept up his friendly grin, not unlike his dog, who kept gamely chasing Ulysses. Ulysses won the race to the ball this time and hightailed it back to Noah. Not releasing his prize, he whined softly.

“Hey, boy. You got a toy?” The guy knelt to dog level and extended a hand, but instead of sniffing, Ulysses shook his head.

“Sorry. He’s not much on new people.” Neither am I. Noah’s voice sounded rough to his own ears—too many days with only Ulysses to talk to.

“It’s okay.” The guy straightened, then extended a hand to Noah. “I’m Adrian Gottlieb. You been at Capitol Reef long?”

“Couple of weeks.” He returned Adrian’s handshake, hating it when a little buzz shot up his arm. Unlike his own gloved hand, Adrian’s hand was bare, a hint of a tattoo playing peekaboo with his cuff, his grip strong and firm. And Noah had absolutely no business noticing anything more than the guy’s relentless friendliness.

Adrian smiled expectantly as he released Noah’s hand.

“Oh, I’m Noah. And that’s Ulysses,” he added, because dog people always wanted to know all about the dog. No doubt the guy was bursting to tell Pixel’s life story.

“Add-dreeee-an,” a heavily accented voice called from the gate. A beefy guy close to Noah’s age leaned on the fence, bald head gleaming in the setting sun. “I’m lonely. When are you coming back?”

“Coming,” Adrian shouted, then gave Noah a shrug with a “what can you do?” expression on his face. He grabbed Pixel and jogged across the field.

Noah nodded like he knew anything about handling demanding friends. Adrian greeted the mammoth dude with a quick peck. Okay then. Not a friend. He should have guessed, but he was a bit slow about relationship stuff. The country was changing, even way out here, but no one would dare try even that much PDA in his tiny West Texas college town. His stomach gave a weird flip—not quite discomfort, but something else he refused to name. Time to return his attention to Ulysses. He hurled the tennis ball as hard as he could.

My Review:
This book is filled with awkward, Aww!, and awesome.

First off, Noah is a dedicated archeology professor seeking tenure in his ultra-right wing west Texas Christian university. He’s a reclusive, closeted, 35 y/o man, sharing company only with his dog, Ulysses, for years now. The pressures of publishing are weighing on Noah, who’s taken a sabbatical term to write a research book. At a desolate RV campground just outside of some of his dig sites, Noah’s quiet is disturbed when the RV parked beside his erupts in turmoil, leaving a flamboyant young man and his sweater-clad Chihuahua-mix, Pixel, standing in his stocking-clad feet watching his newest boyfriend depart with their rented RV and all of his belongings.

Talk about awkward.

Noah takes pity on Adrian, offering him temporary shelter in the event that Trent returns. Yeah, not so much. Adrian is despondent, not just because this is yet another failed long-distance relationship, but because he and Trent were supposed to bond on the drive to Denver to attend his sister’s wedding. Adrian just cannot show up alone, because reasons (which are valid!) and he doesn’t know what to do.

Noah’s not inclined to give up his precious writing time–with a serious deadline looming–but he can’t get over how drawn he feels to Adrian. Yeah. That kinda drawn. Attraction, something that Noah has squelched in all its insidious forms for years now, is burning him inside out and twisting him around. Hearing all of Adrian’s sob story he’s just, well, he’s just going to drive him to Denver, dang it!

Thing is, along the way, Adrian discovers some very real truths about the good professor. 1. He’s gay 2. He’s closeted 3. He’s sexy 4. He’s celibate

Adrian would LOVE to erase number four from the list, but only if Noah’s a willing participant. While they endure bad traffic, blizzard conditions and a budding mismatched dog friendship, Adrian and Noah become very, very close. Noah has been able to stifle his sexual desires, but the experience of companionship that he feels–for the first time–with Adrian is hard to get over. So, why shouldn’t he try? After all, Noah’s on sabbatical. His contract’s morality clause is ironclad, but what harm is there in enjoying Adrian in his RV home, relishing tea made to order and soothing neck rubs? If he takes these few days, Noah thinks, and even a few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, to share his life with a kind and compassionate man, he could build up memories that would sustain him in his life as a celibate man. (PS–this troubles Noah more because he feels as if he’s taking advantage of Adrian’s good nature, not because he feels sex is necessarily sinful…)

I seriously laughed out loud (and nearly choked on my dinner!) experiencing an epic “I volunteer as tribute” moment. In the meantime, Adrian and Noah bond over their mutual love of videogames–Adrian is a coder for a crowdfunded MMORPG that Noah has supported. They really connect, sharing other interests like bad 80s sci-fi and gay fiction.

Adrian is so supportive of Noah’s sheltered life, never condescending over the reasoning behind Noah’s reluctance to “come out.” The tenderness was an 11, for real. And the sexytimes are hawt. Appreciative and timid Noah is a great match for Adrian, who’s been criticized by partners for being too aggressive, and too picky in his bedplay. The way they work it out together is spicy and sweet, pour on the heat. Yum.

Expect some big changes for the good professor, and all for the best. Expect Adrian to stand up for himself, and Noah, and vice versa. Great emotional depth, and positive supporting characters, are present, too. This is the beginning of the #gaymers series, and I think we got a hint about the MC of the next book near the end of this one.

Interested? You can find STATUS UPDATE on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, and Google Play.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter.  In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children. Represented by Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Find Annabeth online on her website, Goodreads, twitter and Facebook.

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Growing Up in the REAL WORLD-A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary M/M romance from Amy Jo Cousins. REAL WORLD is the fifth book in the Bend or Break series, but it’s a sequel to OFF CAMPUS, and should be read after that one, for sure. Other characters in the series show up here, and that’s cool, but you don’t have to know their stories for their involvement to make sense.

Real World (Bend or Break, #5)About the book:
When talking fails, it’s time to break out the big guns.
Five years ago, Tom Worthington busted his ass to overcome the fear and paranoia that led him to withdraw from the world and nearly lose his boyfriend. He never thought he’d find himself right back there, shutting Reese out, keeping secrets again.

Reese Anders is ready to try anything to get Tom to talk: if he can’t seduce his boyfriend with food, he’ll get Tom to open up in bed. But even Tom’s confession that his dad is getting out of prison soon doesn’t clear the air between them. And as the holidays approach, intensive mentoring from a new British boss creates more distractions, until Reese is keeping secrets of his own.

At a company Christmas party, it only takes Tom one look at Reese’s new boss to figure out how much danger their relationship is in. But he’s not about to let the connection that started all those years ago at Carlisle come to an end. It’s time to deal with their problems like adults. Face to face. Or back to front. Starting in the bedroom.

Warning: This book contains two adorable guys with way too many secrets, conciliatory rigatoni, a bedroom lesson on the power of multitasking, and indisputable evidence on what makes the perfect holiday HEA.

My Review:
4.5 stars.
Tom and Reese met in college and have been an exclusive couple for five years. They graduated a few years back and both work full-time in Boston. Tom’s working in finance, and doing part-time school for an MBA and Reese is a receptionist/office gopher for a clothing concept company. Things have been going pretty well for these two, but with work and school, they are a bit on relationship autopilot, and their connection is beginning to unravel slightly.

There is a bit problem brewing for Tom, the imminent release of his overbearing and unrepentant Ponzi-schemer father from prison. He’s freaked, and decides to keep that to himself. It causes a strain that Reese immediately senses. Tom’s ringer is often off, and he’s begging off from their usual social outings. Reese has a very firm hand, and soft mouth, when it comes to opening Tom’s vault, but it’s pretty unfair that Reese has to do all the heavy lifting. When accounting irregularities begin popping up at his work, Tom’s putting in extra hours to clear any suspicion that might be directed at himself, being the son of a financial crook.

Meanwhile, Reese’s job is getting way more involved and intense as he’s called in to some creative meetings with the Marketing director, a suave Brit man named Niall. Niall thinks Reese’s ideas are great, and really admires his tenacity. As their work relationship grows, it becomes clear that Niall has designs on Reese, and not in a creepy way.

With Tom virtually ignoring him, it’s hard for Reese to confide the way his professional life is shifting, but Tom gets the hint at Reece’s company Christmas party–when he sees how close Niall and Reese are–and he’s kicking himself for summarily turning down all Reese’s invites to hang out with his work colleagues.

This is really a great established relationship read. Adult life is messy. There will always be people who wish to insert themselves into the personal relationships of others. Niall isn’t malicious, he’s ignorant of Reese’s partnership. That said, there’s a chemistry there, one that’s lacking with absentee-brooding Tom. I will assure readers that this book is all about the HEA. I hadn’t realized there was a Christmas theme here, but it comes across loud and clear. Tom reverted to his same self-isolation tactics as in OFF CAMPUS, and Reese took care of him now, as he did back then. There are a lot of steamy scenes in REAL WORLD. Because Tom is such a poor talker, he and Reese spend a LOT of time in sexytimes. Hooray for that! I was emotionally invested the entire time, and it really got to me when Tom didn’t trust Reese enough to confide. His grand gestures in the end, however, were a great sign that he’d turned that corner.

Interested? You can find REAL WORLD on Goodreads, Samhain Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, Google Play, and
AllRomance. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

Amy Jo CousinsAbout the Author:

Amy Jo Cousins writes contemporary romance and erotica about smart people finding their own best kind of smexy. She lives in Chicago with her son, where she tweets too much, sometimes runs really far, and waits for the Cubs to win the World Series. Amy Jo is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Greenburger Associates.

Readers interested in autographed copies of Amy Jo’s paperback books can order them from Chicago’s fabulous independent bookstore, The Book Cellar. They can ship anywhere, and will email me to let me know there are books to be signed if you care to order them!

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

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Life and Love Beyond the WINTER ORANGES–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for WINTER ORANGES, a paranormal M/M Christmas romance from Marie Sexton. This is a tender romance between a “washed up” child star and the time-trapped man who “haunts” his guesthouse. Check out the cover below, and get a hint for the paranormal aspect which is handled amazingly!

It’s really such a lovely story, and has a great feel-good vibe to it. I highly recommend.

Please note that twenty percent of the proceeds from this title will be donated to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) National Help Center.

Winter OrangesAbout the book:
Jason Walker is a child star turned teen heartthrob turned reluctant B-movie regular who’s sick of his failing career. So he gives up Hollywood for northern Idaho, far away from the press, the drama of LA, and the best friend he’s secretly been in love with for years.

There’s only one problem with his new life: a strange young man only he can see is haunting his guesthouse. Except Benjamin Ward isn’t a ghost. He’s a man caught out of time, trapped since the Civil War in a magical prison where he can only watch the lives of those around him. He’s also sweet, funny, and cute as hell, with an affinity for cheesy ’80s TV shows. And he’s thrilled to finally have someone to talk to.

But Jason quickly discovers that spending all his time with a man nobody else can see or hear isn’t without its problems—especially when the tabloids find him again and make him front-page news. The local sheriff thinks he’s on drugs, and his best friend thinks he’s crazy. But Jason knows he hasn’t lost his mind. Too bad he can’t say the same thing about his heart.

My Review:
This is a beautiful, Christmas, paranormal M/M romance.

Jason is a Hollywood-has-been, a former child star who’s become a B-list actor in slasher flicks, and he’s plain tired of it. The tabloids have been hounding him for years, capturing and exaggerating every foible of his life, so Jason’s moved out to rural Idaho to escape and regroup. He’s got one close friend (with benefits) Dylan, who Jason has secretly loved for the better part of ten years. Dylan’s bisexual, and not the monogamous type. He gives Jason what he can, which is never enough.

While moving in, Jason observes a stranger in his guest house. Believing it’s paparazzi, Jason calls the local sheriff, but no one is found. It is then that Jason realizes that he is the only person who can see the man looking back at him through the guest house window. A ghost then?

Not so much.

Ben, as Jason soon learns, was trapped in a snow globe by his sister, to avoid enlistment into the Confederate Army. Yup. Ben is 170 years old, and has spent 150 years trapped in the barren landscape of the scene in the globe. Jason is the first person he has spoken to since the Union deserter stole him from his family home in Tennessee.

This is a paranormal romance, and one must make some leaps of faith to love this story, but only in the scientific realm. The emotional landscape is richly textured, and the realities of Ben and Jason’s growing affection are well-sorted by the author. Over the course of two months, Jason and Ben become very close indeed, and it leads to big trouble.

Dylan is afraid that Jason’s losing his mind, and at times Jason agrees. One thing is for certain, Jason cannot imagine his life without Ben–and he doesn’t want to. Experimenting with their boundaries leads to health problems for Jason, however.

I will admit to sensing the exact path this story was going to take, and that’s totally fine because the journey was excellent. I didn’t want to miss a step, walking beside Ben and Jason on their snowy treks or movie theater escapades or dreamscapes. These are two guys who needed real love, true acceptance, and they gave and gave and gave of themselves–to each other. Jason could have easily thrown Dylan off his suspicions by simply giving in to his normal relations with Dylan, but once he had developed intimacy with Ben, he couldn’t accept Dylan’s less-than-ardent advances.

Throughout the book I has a sense of expectation, for both disaster and happiness, and both were satisfied. The climax is a bit of a thriller, and the epilogue made me chuckle. I wanted a little bit more sexytimes, but, hey, the book has tons of emotional moments, so my heart soared and plummeted along with Jason’s. I wished I had the chance to know Ben’s sister Sarah. She seems like a fantastic gal.

In all, this is a most enjoyable paranormal read, with a great small cast and a love that defied all boundaries.

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

Marie SextonAbout the Author:
Marie Sexton lives in Colorado. She’s a fan of just about anything that involves muscular young men piling on top of each other. In particular, she loves the Denver Broncos and enjoys going to the games with her husband. Her imaginary friends often tag along. Marie has one daughter, two cats, and one dog, all of whom seem bent on destroying what remains of her sanity. She loves them anyway.

Visit Marie’s website, follow her on twitter, friend her on Facebook, or join her for Coffee and Porn in the Morning.

Thanks for popping in my friends, and keep reading!

Out Today! MAGIC AND MISTLETOE–Review & Giveaway

M&MHi there! Today I’m so excited to share my review for Annabelle Jacob’s new Christmas M/M romance, MAGIC & MISTLETOE, and you had better believe there’s a good deal of both in this novella.

Check out my review, an excerpt and enter to win a backlist book from Annabelle and a $10 Amazon GC.

MagicANDMistletoe-fAbout the book:

Christmas is Harry’s favourite time of the year, but it looks like he’ll be spending it alone. When it comes to the men he fancies, his luck is non-existent. Harry’s nerves always get the better of him—especially when he tries to talk to Andrew, the hot guy downstairs.

Everything changes when Harry meets a mysterious girl in the woods who professes to be a witch. He dismisses her claims, but when odd things start happening to him, he has to reconsider.

Andrew was attracted to Harry from the start, but their awkward encounters put him off. All goes well until Harry opens his mouth—and ruins it with his stupidity and silly comments. When Harry suddenly becomes more relaxed and they have a proper conversation, Andrew realises his first impression was wrong. As the days count down to December 25, they get swept up in the Christmas spirit and their relationship moves faster than either expected.

A little winter magic might have been the push they needed, but Harry worries that when it wears off, he’ll no longer be the man Andrew wants.

How about a little taste?

Harry didn’t need to look behind him to have his suspicions confirmed. The smug expression on Jason’s face said it all. “I hate you,” he whispered.

Jason kicked his shin. “Sit up, smile, and look happy to see him.”

Two minutes later, Andrew was pulling up a chair and setting his drink on the table.

Harry looked at the red takeaway cup topped with a mountain of whipped cream, and grinned. Instead of blurting out the first thing that came to mind—“Are you really gonna drink that?”—because God only knew what would happen this time to make him stop, Harry paused and took a sip of his coffee.

Andrew darted a glance between Harry and Jason, beginning to look uncomfortable, as though he thought he’d interrupted them.

Harry took a deep breath, then gestured at Andrew’s cup. “Is that one of the Christmas specials?” That wasn’t so hard, was it?

He relaxed a little as Andrew smiled at him and settled back in his chair.

“Yeah, it’s the gingerbread latte. I don’t normally indulge, but it’s bloody freezing out there today, and I fancied something delicious and bad for me.” His gaze caught Harry’s and lingered.

A flare of warmth filled Harry’s chest. This was flirting, right? It wasn’t his imagination.

Then Jason opened his big mouth and ruined the moment, saying, “Yeah, I think Kyle has that effect on a lot of people.”

Harry choked on his mouthful of coffee, just managing to swallow it instead of spraying it over the table. He glared daggers at Jason, who feigned innocence.

Andrew glanced over at the counter, then back at Jason, and laughed, his eyes crinkling at the edges. Harry bit his lip in frustration. Why couldn’t he get Andrew to laugh like that?

“Yeah,” Andrew said, “He’s not bad to look at.” Then his gaze slid back to Harry and his smile softened. “Not my type, though.”

My Review:
Harry is a uni grad living with a roommate and pining, a bit, for Andrew his downstairs neighbor. Harry’s biggest problem is his inane comments that sneak out anytime he has a chance to speak with Andrew. While walking the woods with his mates one day, Harry meets Melia, a forest deity who stuns even dubious Harry into belief…sort of. Her curse/spell affords Harry the chance to think before he speaks, and this gives him the chance to interact with Andrew when they next meet.

Andrew is attracted to Harry, but not the bollocks that pours out of his mouth. Though, it seems that Harry’s verbal diarrhea may be a thing of the past, and that’s all to the good, in Andrew’s opinion. Andrew wants a steady man, and he’s not shy asking about it. As they explore the beginning of their relationship, the plans are falling into place for a steady courtship..but is it real or Melia’s magic?

This was so cute. Harry is delightfully unpretentious, and yet comes off as a total goof every time he and Andrew meet in their building. Harry’s mates know he wants Andrew, and they often take the chance to embarrass Harry, which makes his tongue-tied antics even worse. Melia’s a fun character, always putting Harry’s best foot forward, and arranging for just the right opportunities at just the right time (read: mistletoe everywhere and increasing alone contact).

It’s a quick story with some yummy sexytimes and a quirky mystical being taking charge of two guys’ happiness just in time for Christmas.

Interested? You can find MAGIC & MISTLETOE on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win one of Annabelle’s back list books and a $10 Amazon gift card.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:

Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with her three rowdy children, and two cats.

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

You can find Annabelle on her website, Facebook, and twitter.

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Surviving A FORTUNATE BLIZZARD–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a heart-wrenching M/M Christmas romance from L.C. Chase. Featuring a dying artist and a dead-inside attorney, A FORTUNATE BLIZZARD is a story about finding love at the best, worst, time. It was just so touching…it really got to me.

A Fortunate BlizzardAbout the book:
There are worse things than being stranded in a blizzard.

Artist Trevor Morrison has always appreciated the little things in life, treating each day as a gift. And with good reason: he’s been on the transplant-recipient list for too long now. When he learns just how numbered his days truly are, he resolves not to take them for granted. But he won’t be unrealistic, either—which means romantic commitments are off the table.

Marcus Roberts seems to have it all. He’s handsome, financially sound, and on the fast track to partnership at a prestigious law firm. In reality, though, his drive for success has meant no time for friends or relationships. Add in the fact that his family discarded him long ago, and he’s facing yet another holiday season alone.

When the biggest snowstorm to hit Colorado in decades leaves Marc and Trevor stranded at the same hotel, a chance encounter and a night of passion leads to more than either of them expected. Finding comfort in each other is a welcome surprise, but time is not on their side. Either they find a way to beat the odds, or they lose each other forever.

My Review:
Oh. Man. This one got me right in the feels.

Trevor is a successful artist in the end stage of renal disease. He’s been on dialysis for the past seven years in the hopes of finding a suitable donor, but his kidney function is failing and he probably has less than a year to live, even with dialysis. He’s 39 and facing his mortality. It’s creeping up on what will likely be his last Christmas with his large and loving family, but his flight is cancelled when a blizzard grinds all transportation around Denver to a halt.

Marc is a driven attorney, hell-bent on making partner at 38. He’s sacrificed his entire adult life to be the kind of son his homophobic mother would be proud of, only to note that he has no life except work. Stranded in the white out, he makes his way to a nearby hotel and books a room for the night. Seeing Trevor in the cafe, Marc is immediately attracted. His invitation to sit and join him becomes a long conversation and a further invite to share his room once Trevor confesses that he was unable to get a room due to a sell-out.

Neither man is really open to more than one night’s solace, despite their incendiary passion. Trevor hasn’t had a partner for years, and he’s had even less of a libido for most of that time. Something about Marc stirs him, however. In the cold light of day neither Marc nor Trevor can admit they have more than lust boiling along, even if it’s true. That said, Trevor doesn’t want to reveal his illness and Marc knows a relationship will detract from his workaholic ways. Still, Marc can’t abide with Trevor spending his Christmas Eve, and maybe longer, on a couch in the hotel’s lobby. He invites Trevor to his beautiful and barren home outside Boulder.

Trevor’s reluctant to let any connection build between himself and Marc, but it happen anyway. They spend a fantastic Christmas together, Trevor coming clean about his illness and prognosis when Marc presses him for more than their three day fling when he returns from visiting his family. It is bittersweet and melancholy and heart-wrenching and wonderful that these two lonely souls find a spark in such dire times.

I fully enjoyed the resolution to this one, which, I will state firmly, was an HEA. Marc’s selfless offering of himself helped him to realize all that he had to offer others, and allowed him to break free of his self-loathing. I really liked how he engaged himself with his colleagues and found the best way to handle his very sad situation. Trevor is a man who has resolved himself on imminent death. He’s afraid to hope one more, probably last, time. And it shows. He does find the courage to accept Marc’s lifeline, however, and it proves the adage that life is always darkest before the dawn.

I just plain loved this. It’s a well-told strangers-to-lovers story that doesn’t ooze sap, despite the medical realities of the plot. The Christmas aspect was balanced, with high and low points–love, loss, isolation, acceptance. I will admit to shedding a tear, or three. As a person with an even rarer blood type than Trevor, I sympathized with his plight. (I may B- but I will always be positive!) There aren’t too many sexytimes, but they are all about the feels. Highly recommend!

Interested? You can find A FORTUNATE BLIZZARD on Goodreads, Riptide Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, All Romance Ebooks, and iBooks. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

L.C. ChaseAbout the Author:
Cover artist by day, author by night, L.C. Chase is a hopeless romantic, free spirit, and adventure seeker who loves hitting the open road just to see where it takes her. When not road tripping or writing about beautiful men falling love, L.C. can be found designing book covers featuring said beautiful men, drawing, horseback riding, or hiking the trails with her goofy four-legged buddy.

You can link up with LC online on her website, Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Will & Patrick DO THE HOLIDAYS–Review and Giveaway

Will & Patrick Do the Holidays Banner
Hi there! You all know that I’ve been following the new WILL & PATRICK serial from Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths. I laughed a bit reading WAKE UP MARRIED, but MEET THE FAMILY wasn’t a hit for me. In fact, I was losing hope that they’d ever get their hearts together…
Well, they did! (Sorta…) DO THE HOLIDAYS is the third installment of this contemporary M/M romance series and it has made me a believer again.

Check out my review and be sure to enter the giveaway for some free copies!

Will & Patrick Do the Holidays (Wake Up Married, #3)About the book:
A couple’s first holiday season is always a special time. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are magical when you’re in love. Too bad Will and Patrick’s marriage is a sham and they’re only faking their affection for each other. Or are they?

Sparks fly in this episode of the Wake Up Married serial. Will the sexual tension between Will and Patrick finally explode in a needy night of passion? Or will they continue to deny their feelings?

How about a taste?

“Ah, the acrid smell of insulin in the morning.” Patrick’s voice is still gravelly from sleep as he turns on the shower and pulls down his black boxer-briefs revealing his tight ass.

Will looks quickly away and back to the syringe he’s filling by the bathroom sink. “I can never get the last dose to eject from the insulin pens. I always have to pull it out with a needle.”

“After living with you, I have an entire list of ways they can improve insulin pen injectors.”

“I should have my lawyer queue up an appointment for you with the pharmaceutical company.”

“You do that, puddin’-pop, and I’ll be there with a PowerPoint presentation. It’ll consist of four words over and over. ‘Do your damn job.’ If pushed, I might throw in a ‘Don’t make me do it for you’ as a closing argument.”

Will pinches a bit of fat from his abdomen and sticks himself quickly. He’s done this for years, but he never stops hating it. Especially syringes. They’re somehow worse than the insulin pens. “I’ll ask Owen to make that happen.”

Patrick snorts from behind the curtain. Will glances over and heat floods his gut as he notices the shadow outline of Patrick’s morning wood. “Oh, um, let me just—” He hustles to deal with the used needle and ends up dropping the syringe in the sink. The scent of insulin grows stronger. “Why does it smell like Band-Aids?” Will muses as he finally gets rid of the used needle and cleans up the syringe, tossing the now-empty insulin pen.

“It’s the preservative. Meta-cresol,” Patrick says. “Mmm, so clinical. So sexy.”

“And you’re so weird.”

“Nothing like the smell of a hospital to get my motor running.”

Will glances back at Patrick’s shadow behind the shower curtain. He’s still got a half chub flopping around as he washes his hair. Will clears his throat.

“Have you considered an insulin pump?” Patrick asks.

Will tries to drag his mind from Patrick’s erection. “I don’t want one.”

“Because?”

“I don’t like the idea of having something attached to me. All the time. Something I have to rely on to do its job.”

“You trust insulin pens have the right dosage, that the dial works, that they’re—“

“I know, Patrick. But I have the right to my own preferences when it comes to my medical treatment.”

“Fair enough. So what’s the deal with your daddy?” Patrick asks sans segue.

“What are you talking about?” Will packs up his testing kit and uses a black marker he keeps in his murse to make a dot on the back of his left hand. He can’t forget to drop by the pharmacy and pick up his replacement insulin pens.

“Papa Molinaro. What’s the deal with him and the holidays? He wasn’t around for Thanksgiving. Will he be dropping down the chimney on Christmas Eve with a bag full of presents for you and a nice hard dick for your mommy? Or what?”

Will rolls his eyes. “Thanks for that image.”

“You’re welcome.”

“He spends Christmas with his daughters. Or at least he used to. I don’t keep in touch with him.”

“Ah, the half siblings you’ve never met. So, no Christmas phone call from Papa?”

“No.” Will feels the familiar hot, impatient squirm of nastiness in his gut. Conversations about his father usually bring it on.

“No Christmas card stuffed with cash?”

“No card, no text, no Skype, no email.”

“Huh.”

“What?”

“He’s obsessed enough with you to have you followed by mobster spies but he can’t pick up a phone. At best, that’s inefficient.”

“At worst?”

“At worst, Starshine, you have a deeply dysfunctional father/son relationship.”

“Wow. You really are a genius.”

Patrick barks a laugh and then begins to hum the new Madonna song he’s been singing off and on for the last two days.

“That’s still stuck in your head, huh?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Better than ‘We Three Kings’ mixed with ‘Scarborough Fair,’” Will mutters. Finished with his morning insulin rituals, he starts the water in the sink to begin his shaving routine. “Tony doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to do, and being a reliable member of our family was never something he was good at.”

“When did you last see him?”

“It’s been three years. It can be ten more for all I care.” Will pumps shaving cream into his hand and smears it on his face. “He sweeps in on a whim, wreaks havoc on our lives, and sweeps out again.”

Patrick is quiet behind the curtain and Will glances over to see that he’s rinsing out his hair.

“There’s no pattern, unless you count my mom getting serious with anyone. As soon as my dad gets wind of her being happy with someone else, he has to come to town and wreck it.”

“With his dick.”

Will sighs. “Everything’s about sex for you, isn’t it?”

“Nope. A lot of things. But not everything.” He turns off the water and throws back the curtain. Will averts his eyes quickly, but his hands are already shaking enough that he’s not sure he should be trusted to shave himself. Patrick goes on. “But it’s all about sex between your parents. The Hurting Times churns with scintillating tales of your mom inappropriately hopping on your dad’s pole.”

“Like you know anything about ‘inappropriate’.”

Patrick laughs. “Like I know about that time they banged in the bathroom at some old lady’s funeral. The Hurting Times forum had pages dedicated to that one.”

Will’s ears grow hot.

“And, hey, for the record, even I know a funeral home toilet is a bad place for sex. Public bathrooms are tourist destinations for germs.” He shudders and slings a towel around his hips, thankfully covering his dangling dick. “It’s not sanitary.”

“You are such a jerk.”

“So you tell me.” Patrick grabs a hairbrush and runs it through his wet hair. The dark auburn looks almost brown and glistens brightly in the overhead bathroom lights. “There’s evidence of a genetic component to addiction.” Patrick’s eyes go foggy as he muses, “But is it addiction or abuse? Both probably.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You, mainly. But I’m also talking about them. If The Hurting Times gossip about the two of them is even half true, they are their own kind of addicts. Addicted to each other. Addicted to sex. Addicted to falling in love. Especially your mother. But it’s possible your father uses the intense sexual connection between them as abuse.”

“I…” Will’s fingers clutch at the razor and he drags it against his skin carefully. “I didn’t think you believed in psychology mumbo-jumbo.”

“I don’t believe in spiritual mumbo-jumbo. And, yes, psychology is a lot of bull-honky, but as a neurologist, I can’t deny that thoughts and experiences have physical effects on brain tissue. Dubious and whoo-hoo as most psychological theories seem compared with hard science. What’s your dad’s sign?”

“Really?”

Patrick shrugs and sidles up next to Will at the sink, examining his own face in the mirror.

Will sighs. “Early November. So, what’s that? Scorpio?”

“Ah. And your mother’s a Scorpio too.”

“How do you know? The Hurting Times again?”

“I know because I’ve met her.”

Patrick’s arm slides against his as he reaches for the can of shaving cream. Will moves slightly to the side but Patrick just scoots closer. Will can smell soap on his skin and shampoo in his hair. He wonders what those curls would feel like slick and wet under his fingers.

Patrick rubs on shaving cream and reaches for his razor. His naked chest slides against Will’s bicep.

Will tries to concentrate on shaving, but Patrick’s reflection in the mirror is distracting. His normally pale skin is flushed from the shower and his nipples are pink and peaked. Will clears his throat and scrapes his razor over his face again.

“Addiction,” Patrick muses on. “You didn’t stumble into that on your own. You drink…and your parents screw. That’s how these genes play out. And with both of them being Scorpios…”

Patrick’s arm rubs against him, and Will clicks his tongue against his teeth. Between this touching and Patrick’s speculation about his parents’ sex life, Will can’t tell if he’s going to pop an inconvenient boner or if his balls are going to shrivel up into his body.

“Two Scorpios can burn down a barn from the heat of their mutual orgasms.”

Ball-shriveling wins out. “Okay, well, this conversation has covered everything I never wanted to think about. I’m going to be late to work.”

Patrick studies Will in the mirror.

Will wipes his face clean of cream, decides not to care that he’s got one stripe of shiny skin on an otherwise stubbly face, and, grabbing his murse, leaves the sink to Patrick.

He dresses quickly. He really is going to be late. Not that anyone at Good Works would say anything to him.

“Do you have surgery scheduled?” Will calls out as he slides his wallet into his back pocket and hitches his bag on his shoulder.

“No.”

“Meet you here tonight?”

“Will there be more Capheus?”

“Yes. And more Lito.”

“It’s a TV date with the hubby, then,” Patrick says, stepping out into the room with his sharp grin in place.

The hubby.

“First person home calls room service,” Patrick adds. “Order stuff we both like. We can share.”

“Deal.”

“Oh, and Will? For the record, you’d still be hot even if you wore an insulin pump.”

“Thanks. But I’ll stick with the pens.”

Walking out of the pharmacy twenty minutes later with his new insulin pens, Will wonders what kind of sex Libras and Aries are supposed to have. You already know the answer to that. Hot enough to burn down a barn.

“God, just stop.”

He rubs a hand over his hair and decides to focus on the day ahead. He’ll take it one step at a time. Just like AA has taught him.

My Review:
This is the third episode in a serial and should be read in order.

Will and Patrick are still masquerading as a loving, happily married couple in Healing, South Dakota. They met in Vegas just prior to Thanksgiving, and got drunk and married in that order. Because Will’s inheritance, the Molinari Trust, is mafia money that will be forfeit if he and Patrick are divorced, they are making a go of it until they can figure a way out. They cohabitate the honeymoon suite in the Tallgrass Hotel, and things are awkward. The room only has a king sized bed, and Will insists on sleeping on the sofa, because he’s still in love with his ex, an emotionally abusive SOB named Ryan. Also, Will doesn’t want to just have sex with Patrick, his husband, he wants it to mean something. Patrick is a socially awkward, self-important neurosurgeon who is a survivor of child abuse. He’s a prickly one, to be sure.

This book, DO THE HOLIDAYS, spans the time between Thanksgiving and New Years. Patrick meets Will’s younger step-siblings who are all pleasant and he develops a rapport with them over Legos and deep conversations. He is still shunned/baited by Will’s mother who thinks Will should get back together with Ryan (which clearly demonstrates what a poor parent she is). Patrick puts up with it, barely.

In the previous episode Patrick began to observe his feelings for Will change from lust into deep appreciation (and lust!) and that change has progressed into affection. It’s a unique feeling for him, and he’s still not willing to share it verbally. He is the rock that Will needs, however, especially when Ryan stomps all over Will for the millionth time. Also, he’s definitely down for some Will-lovin’ and has an increasingly hard time being near Will without expressing himself physically. The sexual tension is high!

Will doesn’t want to want Patrick, but he’s not immune to the hints of affection he senses from his unwilling husband. Through is conversations with Patrick, and others, he’s seeing Ryan in a whole new, and unflattering, light. We get the first hint of this on Christmas, and it’s only stronger on New Years. I loved how Will and Patrick develop their relationship in this episode. They are nervous and scared, but clearly attracted and also becoming quite close. Patrick jokes that Will is his best friend, but it’s not really a joke after all. They have quiet moments of intense bonding, and finally consummate their relationship when they are both sober enough to enjoy–and remember!–it.

So, YAY for sexytimes happening on the page! I’m so happy these guys are getting closer and building a life together. I was getting nervous that I wasn’t going to like this serial, but I’m grooving with it now and can’t wait for the next episode.

Interested? You can find DO THE HOLIDAYS on Goodreads, Amazon, and Amazon UK

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win one of two e-copies of DO THE HOLIDAYS.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

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

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

Alice Griffiths
A long-time reader of romance novels, Alice Griffiths finally took the plunge into writing, teaming up with best-selling author Leta Blake for the ‘Woke up Married’ serialized comedy. A lover of tropes, Alice enjoys mining old ideas and putting a fresh, funny spin on them. Formerly working in the newspaper industry, Alice is now an art curator. She lives in Sydney, Australia.

You can find out more about her by following her on Twitter and Facebook.

All In on WHAT HAPPENS AT CHRISTMAS–Review & Giveaway

WHAC-Banner
Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a Christmas-themed M/M romance from Jay Northcote. WHAT HAPPENS AT CHRISTMAS is a standalone friends-to-lovers story that is just a perfect read. You know I just love these Brit boys and their sexy escapades, so I’m glad to get the chance to share that interest here. Check out the excerpt, review and giveaway below.

WhatHappensXmas_FINALAbout the book:
When two friends pose as boyfriends, could what happens at Christmas turn into something more?
Justin is recently and unhappily single. Christmas is coming, and he doesn’t want to face his ex alone at their office party. So Sean—Justin’s best mate and long-time secret crush—volunteers to go with him and pretend to be his new flame.

Sean has always lusted after Justin from afar, but there’s never been a good opportunity to ask him for more than friendship. Posing as Justin’s boyfriend isn’t a chore, and if Justin wants to rebound onto him, Sean’s more than willing. At the party pretense and reality blur, and a kiss on the dance floor leads to a night of passion.

In the aftermath, they both assume it was a one-time thing until fate intervenes. Stuck together in London over the holidays, they give in to temptation again. But what happens at Christmas stays at Christmas… right?

How about a little taste?

Justin’s phone chimed with a text, interrupting Sean’s train of thought.

Justin picked up his phone to read the message. “Ugh.” He put the phone back down without typing a reply and ran his hands through his hair.

“What’s up?”

Justin sighed. “It’s our work Christmas party next weekend. I’ve already got a ticket, and nearly everyone in the office goes, but it’s for partners as well. One of my co-workers, Jess, is bugging me to come, but I can’t face it. I bet Andy’s going to bring his new boyfriend. I know he’s a shit and I shouldn’t let him get to me, but the thought of him parading around with my replacement, and me being there on my own, isn’t very appealing.”

“Is it too late to find someone to take?”

“No, they don’t need final numbers till Monday.”

“Well, then. Take someone else and flirt like crazy in front of him. Show him you can do better and that you’ve already moved on.”

“But I’m not ready to date. It’s only been two weeks, and I’m still at the feeling-sorry-for-myself stage.”

“I’ll go with you,” Sean offered. “I could be your date. We could pretend we’ve got together and are a couple now.”

“Yeah?” Justin looked thoughtful. “Are you sure?”

Duh. It would hardly be much of a sacrifice to flirt with Justin all night. It would actually be a relief not to have to hide the way he felt for a change.

“Sure,” Sean replied. “I think I can manage to fake that I’m arse-over-tit infatuated with you. As long as it’s only for a few hours.”

“Gee, thanks.” Justin rolled his eyes. “You really know how to make an already-wounded ego feel better. But if you’re up for it, we should totally do it. Andy was always jealous of you before you went away. He saw you as competition because we lived together and were so close. I’d love to see his face when I walk in with you on my arm. I think he’ll hate it even if he’s moved on.”

“Okay.” Sean rubbed his hands together, excited at the prospect of getting to piss off Andy. “Let’s do it! Text your friend Jess back and tell her you’re in—with a hot date.”

My Review:
This is an adorable friends-to-lovers romance.

Justin and Sean have been friends since they were seven years old. Justin came out early–mostly because everyone assumed he was gay anyhow–But Sean only came out a couple of years ago. Justin felt betrayed when he learned Sean was gay, because he’d fancied Sean for ages and felt he would have been a safe harbor, plus he would have loved to experiment with him when they were close together.

Well, it’s Christmas time and Justin is newly single–what with that cheater Andy revealing all two weeks ago. He’s about to call off his plans to attend the company Christmas party when Sean arrives and offers to go as his pretend boyfriend–to make Andy jealous. Sean has just returned from a 9 month trip, and he’s camping on Justin’s sofa until he gets a job and a flat. That said, he’s not unhappy about the close quarters. He’s wanted Justin for years, but Justin was always dating a bloke and the timing was never right.

Their time is close and friendly, with each man surreptitiously checking out the other, and their date is, well, super extra hot. All that closeness, and dancing and snogging…leads to more. But, can Justin and Sean turn the one night of passion into a relationship?

I loved the realistic feel to this one. These guys are so conscious of their friendship, and don’t want to harm it in any way. They are totally gone for each other, and hold back and hold back and hold back–until they just cannot hold back any longer. Each is afraid he loves the other more than he is loved, and each is completely and totally wrong. It’s the perfect twist and the best Christmas for each of them.

Also, HAWT. They coulda lit up the Christmas tree with their passion. This is a fast read, but doesn’t skimp on the feels.

Interested? You can find WHAT HAPPENS AT CHRISTMAS on Goodreads, Amazon (US and UK)

 

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link for your chance to win a backlist book from Jay Northcote and a $10 gift card.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

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.

pride

Great M/M Christmas Collection in ONE HOLIDAY EVER AFTER

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a contemporary holiday M/M romance collection featuring three excellent novellas. Each story is well-developed with delicious characters and no cliffhangers. It’s a fantastic read with lots of love, laughs and heat.

One Holiday Ever AfterHoliday Roommates by Tere Michaels features a blossoming romance between a snarky actor and an overwhelmed, over-extended production manager.

Nathaniel has reached rock bottom. Despite his long career in acting, and his BFA in Theater from Yale, he’s out of work. Well, he’s got a job but it sucks. He’s an elf in a live do-wap Christmas production marking the grand opening of the La Kiss department store in NYC. He’s one month from eviction on his apartment and in his own words:

Facing eviction from your beloved apartment–and possibly having to move in with your mother and take her back as your manager–was enough to convince a man to take any role. Any role. If his penis were bigger he would have considered porn.

Sean owes his dad a lot of money. He didn’t want to go into the soul-sucking venture capital firm his father owns, so he borrowed cash to start a theater production company. Having few contacts and fewer bookings, he’s grasping for anything–and that includes begging his former boyfriend for a favor–which is how he got the gig producing La Kiss’ Holiday Spectacular. Of course, if it flops, he’s never going to have the cash to pay back Daddy Dearest, and as it stands his margin is so thin he’s rented a room to sleep in from a family in Bensonhurst. The commute to Manhattan is sapping his fleeting resources and hours of sleep.

Then, the star of the show–Nate–offers him a bedroom in his apartment…

The rent money would be almost the same as the cost of cabs and food eaten on the go–not to mention the fact that this would add literal hours to the time Sean could spend sleeping. It was all so reasonable and helpful and…
“I’m gay,” Sean said suddenly, interrupting Nate’s description of the room he’d potentially be renting.
Nate stopped, nodded. “Right, I knew that.”
“And that isn’t a problem?”
“Why, are you concerned you’re doing it wrong?”
Sean sputtered out a laugh. “I’m actually very good at it.”
Nate rolled his eyes. “Funny enough, so am I. Is that a yes?”

It’s a super fun read where these boys find love, acceptance and “family” where they least expect it.

Holiday Sanctuary by Elle Brownlee has two mature men trapped in a Maine cabin in the midst of a Christmas blizzard.

Paul has a doctorate in ornithology and his research has saved birds species from endangerment. He’s a solitary man, loving the solitude of his remote cabin, but he’s not averse to helping a stranger in need. Especially a strapping bear of a man who turns up as the snow tumbles down. Chris is out on a nature-challenge when the blizzard begins. Seeking shelter, he’d never anticipated finding more than a warm hearth, but bunking in with Paul is soon hotter than he could have imagined.

The bond that develops between them is far stronger than they anticipate, and each man finds the black out conditions allows for a welcome intimacy, one they are loathe to abandon, even when the plows arrive. It’s a steamer, with copious feels and smoking smexytimes.

Holiday Homecoming by Elizah J Davis is an unexpected romance between a man and the house-sitter he finds irresistible.

After a decade of campaigning, shmoozing and networking, Gavin has given up his dream of having his TV show produced. He leaves LA, for good, and drives to his parents home in remote Bonabri, Idaho hoping to catch them before they depart to his sister’s home for Christmas. Unfortunately, they left early and Eric is the person who freaks out at Gavin’s 2am arrival.

“Looks like they are still home,” Gavin said when the house creaked overhead. He scratched under Whiskey’s chin and waited, expecting the light to come on with each creak of the stairs. When it didn’t, he crept into the living room, toward the staircase, intending to switch on the light and startled his dad, who’d likely been the one sent to investigate. He secured Whiskey in one arm and darted at the light switch, flipping it on and turning to the stairs to shout, “Aha!”

“Aahhh!” The guy on the stairs yelled and then slid down several steps until he landed on his ass with a thump.

“Shit!” Gavin jumped back, because the guy on the stairs was not his dad.

Eric isn’t sure if he’s going to stay in Idaho–his BFF from college, Katie–has pestered him to visit, since, well, forever. She want’s to open a cafe, with Eric’s help, but the advent of Gavin has him reconsidering his usefulness as a house sitter now that the homeowner’s son is home. Yet, the men hit it off, and their friendship advances to one with benefits. And then some…

“Gavin?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?” Eric’s eyes were twinkling, dammit, and Gavin realized he was trying not to laugh.
“Did I not actually say that part out loud?”
Eric shook his head.

It’s a super fun read with a heartwarming plot.

Interested? You can find ONE HOLIDAY EVER AFTER on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Dreamspinner Press.

You can clickety-click the author names above for further info on their books and online links.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Christmas Read Round-Up…

Hi there! Today I’m catching up on all the Christmas reads I’ve read this fall. Some made the blog, others haven’t. Still, I’ve enjoyed these books, and hope you might find one (or three) to entertain you.

Hetero Romance

I adored Brenda Novak’s THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS. A great story about an unlikely couple finding love (and more) in Whiskey Creek.

In THE TROUBLE WITH CHRISTMAS a rich man finds a real holiday with a quiet, unassuming chef who pulls his coals from the fire. This is a novella.

Kat and Stone Bastion’s THREE CHRISTMASES is a steamy/sexy read.

A VERY MARRIED CHRISTMAS reunites an estranged couple on the brink of divorce. This one had a bit of steam, and a lot of heart.

Rivals find love in JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. It’s a fun reconnection story about adults who had a teen attraction and come together to make it happen years later.

For those who want to reminisce over Christmases gone by, I loved 8-BIT CHRISTMAS about a boy growing up in the 1980’s and wishing for a Nintendo. It is not a romance, but it cracked me the heck up.

Super erotica from Lily Harlem–in the form of CHRISTMAS CRACKERS: CANDY CANES AND COAL DUST puts a downhearted woman at the center of a man-sandwich.

Kelly Jamieson’s THREE OF HEARTS features three country singers finding love…with each other. It’s a sexy menage.

HOLIDAY AT MAGNOLIA BAY is a nice military romance with a heart-warming familial reconciliation.

Gay Romance

Heidi Cullinan’s SLEIGH RIDE is a great M/M romance, with a super Christmas theme. I just adored this story, of a shy librarian and a out-and-proud lumberjack. D-Lish.

Charlie Cochet’s three novella North Pole series is sure worth checking out. MENDING NOEL, THE HEART OF FROST and VIXEN’S VALOR are building a well-landscaped world in the hinterland.

Cat Grant’s A YEAR IN THE LIFE begins a new series and a tender romance between a young, interracial couple.

Piper Vaughn’s THE WORKING ELF BLUES features a lonely man and the Christmas elf who loves him.

I just finished reading ONE HOLIDAY EVER AFTER which is a three novella compilation–and it’s fantastic. I haven’t had a chance to write a review for it, but oh! it’s a great read. I’ve attached the DREAMSPINNER LINK because it’s on sale there for 25% off. But you can also find it on Amazon.

Well, folks, that’s a good list to get started. I hope all who read this have a great holiday season and a Happy 2015!

As always, thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Swooning for VIXEN’S VALOR–Blog Tour and Giveaway

CCValorBlogTourBanner

Hello all! Thank you so much for joining me on another stop of the Vixen’s Valor Blog Tour celebrating the release of Vixen’s Valor, the third book in the North Pole City Tales series. And thank you to my lovely host for having me. On the last stop we talked about the Rein Dears–Mayor Kringle’s handsome ace pilots. Two of those Rein Dears have caught the eye and heart of a couple of Frost monarchs. It would seem those imposing winter spirits are rather hotblooded.

The Frost monarchy has been around since the beginning. No one even knows how old the Frost King is despite his youthful appearance. He could easily pass for Jack’s older brother rather than father, though his eyes are near black in color instead of the Frost family signature silver. They share their imposing stature and natural grumpiness, as well blustering temper. The King lost his queen back when the Frost War broke out. At the time, Jack was attending Clause College with Rudy, and that day Jack lost his heart to the ice. The King was devastated, but he was able to keep himself from losing his heart to the ice as his son had. He had a kingdom in mourning and a war to bring to an end. Two hundred years have passed and he King still mourns his loss, most often than not confining himself to his icy palace with only the staff to keep him company. The king isn’t the most sociable of elves.

Vale FrostMalachi Frost, the king’s brother and most trusted chancellor is far less blustering. He lost his wife during the birth of their twin sons Vale and Hollis. Vale has his father’s temperament. He can be imposing when he needs to be, especially when it concerns commanding their kingdom’s army, but he tends to be sweet and kind, often smiling. Hollis has taken after his cousin and uncle. He’s grumpy and has no trouble speaking his mind. There is no one in the kingdom who doesn’t fear the Frost monarchy.

Back during the war when Jack lost his heart to the ice, Rudy was able to save him. Their love bloomed from there and they have been together since. As imposing and frightening as Jack can be, no one can touch his heart or spread warmth through him like his sweet Christmas elf. When Rudy once again rushed to Jack’s aid in The Heart of Frost, Vale found himself smitten by the cheeky Vixen Rein Dear. He sees something Vixen that no one else–not even Vixen sees, and he’s hopeful that Vixen will give him a chance. But don’t let Vale’s sweet nature fool you. Beneath the impeccable uniform is a fiery winter spirit with the power to command snow and ice. Vale may not be as powerful as his cousin or uncle, but he’s still a spirit elf. He’s also very prim, proper, and shy. Perhaps Vixen is just the sort of elf to stir the embers inside the timid lieutenant.

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VixensValour200Vixen’s Valor (North Pole City Tales: Book Three)
Genre: M/M romance, Fantasy, Humor, Christmas
Length: Novella 82 pages
Published: December 3rd, 2014
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 9781632165183

Story Summary

Rein Dear is a prestigious title, accompanied by admiration, devotion, and celebrity status, all of which one saucy Vixen thrives on. Alas, Vixen’s only concerned with having fun, unlike his stuffy and sensible best friend, Rudy Rein Dear, who Vixen has always been jealous of. Aside from being chosen by Mayor Kringle to be Captain the Rein Dear Squadron, Rudy’s managed to snag himself a prince, even if that prince is the dangerous and imposing Jack Frost.

All’s not lost for Vixen though. He discovers Jack’s cousin Vale has a soft spot for him. Vale Frost might not be a dashing prince, but he’s the next best thing: a decorated Lieutenant for the Toy Soldier Army, and a member of the Frost monarchy.

Determined to get what Vixen feels he deserves, he sets off on a mission to ensnare the kind-hearted lieutenant. But Vixen’s selfish ways are sure to lead to disaster, and it’ll take more than a little courage to set things right.

Out now at

Dreampisnner Press eBook | Amazon | All Romance eBooks

Alert! All novellas, including the North Pole City books, are discounted 25% through December 13th over at DREAMSPINNER!

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Read the first chapter here

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

baublesccMy Review:

This is the third book of the North Pole City Tales series. Click these titles for the reviews on book 1, Mending Noel, and book 2, Heart of Frost.  Vixen’s Valor is a M/M romance featuring Rudy Rein Dear’s BFF, Vixen, and Jack Frost’s cousin, Vale Frost.

Vixen has craved affection and adulation his entire life. Abandoned young, he was adopted and loved, until his new parents conceived their own elfling and Vixen was again forgotten. Vixen is a bit of a tart, eager to have his merry way with any and all Toy Solidiers who’d buy his drink. He envies his friend Rudy, because Rudy has the heart of Jack, the Prince of Frost. Well, catching Vale Frost’s eye is *nearly* as good. Right?

Vale Frost is a soft-spoken man, despite being a Lieutenant in the Toy Soldier army and cousin to the Prince. He carries a fiery passion for vivacious Vixen, and hopes to demonstrate how eager he is to not only have Vixen as a partner, but to build a real love together.

Their time together is nothing like Vixen has ever experienced, or had hoped to have; no man has been so kind, loving and considerate with him before. Despite his brashness, Vixen has a very tender heart, and Vale’s earnest love is winning his way deep into Vixen’s affections.

Well, until the espionage and punishment ensue, that is.

Poor Vixen, and poorer Vale. They get caught up in something neither had anticipated, but it affords Vixen the opportunity to show exactly what he’s made of, and he just might win back Vale’s affection–if he isn’t turned into an elf-cicle, first.

I adored this tender romance and the interplay of all the characters from previous books in the series. Vixen’s initially gold-digging intentions are swiftly derailed by the force of pure love. *swoon*

And, this book features some enchanting elf-loving, too! 4.5 Stars.

About the Author

CCochet100Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!

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

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

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Other books in the series

MendingNoel200 HeartofFrost[The]200

Mending Noel: Book 1
The Heart of Frost: Book 2

Mending Noel also available in audiobook. All books can be read as standalone but for maximum enjoyment, it’s recommended they be read in order as characters appear in previous books.

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Tour stops

1st Dec – Prism Book Alliance
3rd Dec – Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
4th Dec – MM Good Books Reviews
5th Dec – Hearts on Fire Reviews
10th Dec – V’s Reads
11th Dec – The Novel Approach

Other Events

Dec 9th – Twitter Takeover

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