Gay romance

Bend or Break Twofer–LOVE ME LIKE A ROCK and HARD CANDY!

Hi there! I’m so happy to share TWO reviews for contemporary New Adult M/M romance books from Amy Jo Cousins. I’ve been a fan of the Bend or Break series, and read several of the books including OFF CAMPUS, NOTHING LIKE PARIS, and REAL WORLD. Both LOVE ME LIKE A ROCK and HARD CANDY are spin-offs from LEVEL HANDS, which I also enjoyed. These two long novellas feature a besties-with-benefits relationship that doesn’t work, and how these guys find the love that fits them just right.

Love Me Like a Rock (Bend or Break, #6)About LOVE ME LIKE A ROCK:

In art and in love, it’s the rough edges that make things interesting.

Having grown up with artistic implements always in hand, there’s almost nothing Austin can’t make real. Except for one thing—an official relationship with his best friend, rowing teammate and occasional hookup, Vinnie.

The combination of emotional and sexual frustration fuels a spark between Austin and the nude model in his drawing class. Austin isn’t used to having trouble focusing; models are merely challenging subjects to be rendered on paper. But the geology TA’s direct blue gaze is powerful enough to drag Austin’s focus away from his physique.

After a quick and very dirty post-class encounter, all the reasons that Austin has been waiting for his best friend go fuzzy in his mind. Sean is nothing like Vinnie. Sean is persistent, pays attention, and makes it clear he wants to be together.

But if Austin can’t get his head and his heart on the same page, he could lose his friend, or his lover. Or both.

Warning: Contains rock geeks, tent sex, a dictatorial cox whose idea of a good time is drawing naked dudes, plus one naked dude who wants to be more than a good time.

My Review:
While this is part of an extended series, it can be fully enjoyed on its own.

Austin and Vinnie have been best friends, and casual sex partners, for seven years. They are juniors at college and both on the crew team, Vinnie as a rower and Austin as coxswain. Austin is an art student who longs for a serious relationship with Vinnie. It seems that Vinnie’s only interested in having a physical relationship with Austin after he’s settled all of his own issues with school–and then he gets drunk and tries to hook-up with Austin. It’s a bit demoralizing for Austin who tells this story.

While at a live drawing night Austin finds himself to be unexpectedly attracted to the nude model, Sean. Sean makes no pretense of not being interested. He’s been following Austin for while–hoping to gain his attention. Austin finds this to be remarkable, and exciting. Such a contrast to closed-off and unavailable Vinnie. While the attraction is intense, Austin is quick to let Sean know that he’s not exactly looking for anything serious. Austin has this heartbreaking-misplaced loyalty to his bestie, Vinnie. He doesn’t want to give up on their friendship, and arrangement, especially for someone new who may not stick around. As Austin and Sean spend more and more time together, however, Austin finds exactly what he’d always needed from a partner. His affection for Vinnie remains, though his interest in continuing their sexual relationship has totally waned. Mostly because he and Sean are rather insatiable for each other.

What started as a casual affair becomes the most important thing–and Austin learns to value himself more because he sees that he’s worthy of great love. I really dug this book. It’s so sweet and totally sexy and I loved how Austin and Vinnie worked things out, despite the strain of Austin’s new love. Sean is a rock, in more than one way, and he’s so lovely and passionate and compassionate. I had a couple *squee* moments on Austin’s behalf.

Hard Candy (Bend or Break, #7)About HARD CANDY:
How to get over someone? Get under someone else—as soon as possible.

Vincent Lim always assumed his best friend (and occasional hookup) Austin would be waiting for him—that eventually they’d end up together. But now that Austin’s in love with another man, Vinnie is at a loss.

After the world’s most awkward one-night stand with a dance major, Vinnie knows the drill. Minimize the embarrassment by pretending they’ve never met. Yet Bryan’s vibrant spirit and calm center lure Vinnie like a shelter from an emotional storm.

But Vinnie’s thrown off his game by the rest of Bryan’s total package. Vinnie’s a rowing jock with a single-minded focus on living up to his parents’ academic and social expectations. Bryan might as well be outfitted with glittery butterfly wings—with plenty of pride to match. Vinnie’s haphazard attention to a lover won’t cut it this time.

Physically, they can match each other stroke for booty pop. But for the lovers to meet on common ground, they’ll have to find a way to get moving in the same direction.

Warning: Contains one uptight rower, a dancer who can rock a skirt like nobody’s business, yoga lessons, and the benefits of being very bendy.

My Review:
This is the 7th book in a larger series and probably best enjoyed after reading LOVE ME LIKE A ROCK (Bend or Break #6).

Vincent Lim is a rower, worry-wort and dedicated student. He’s never had time for a boyfriend and only occasionally hooked up with his bestie, Austin, when he had a night to spare getting drunk and laid, in that order. This wasn’t enough of a commitment for Austin who found a real boyfriend in LOVE ME LIKE A ROCK. Vinnie’s now left out, naturally, and, in one of his weaker moments attempts a drunken hook-up with Bryan, a flamboyant, out-gay, femme dancer in their college. He’s a sweet and sassy mix, this Bryan, and he’s got an aloofness that intrigues Vinnie.

Vinnie has never pictured himself with anyone who wasn’t like himself, really. Sure, he liked Austin, but he truly felt Austin was a bit flaky, I think. Bryan is not a man to be set on the shelf. Vinnie doesn’t want to like him, but he is drawn to Bryan’s vulnerability, and his steadfastness. Also, they are more of a match than Austin and Vinnie ever were when it comes to sexual compatibility. Vinnie relishes the closeness and sensuality of his experiences with Bryan, which are mutually satisfying without all the “mess” of sex.

I liked how Vinnie continued to challenge himself regarding his fledgling relationship with Bryan. He knows that he has to work at it, and soon finds that it’s not actually work at all to spend time with such a compassionate man. They develop an intimacy that is comfortable with companionship. Vinnie has plenty of moments to distance himself from Bryan, and he chooses to step closer, even when it catapults him outside of his comfort zone. Introductions to friends, teammates, and family are riddled with danger, and yet, Vinnie avoids almost all the missteps he’d have made with Austin. His growth as a character was exceptional, and it was clear that Bryan neither expected nor demanded this to occur, though there is a bit of trouble over Bryan’s continued harassment at the hands of some homophobic students. Vinnie’s commitment to being a real partner to Bryan is what makes this story fantastic.

Also, I really enjoyed the inclusion of different cultures here. Bryan is black and Vincent is Korean-American–the expectations, and acceptance, of their families are very different. That was well-demonstrated here, and, while a bit heartbreaking, was also poignant and real. Great story!

Interested? You can find these books here:
LOVE ME LIKE A ROCK: Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

HARD CANDY: Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

I received a review copy of these books 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!

Inconvenient Love–TALK DIRTY TO ME–Review & Giveaway!

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Hi there! I’m so excited to share a review for a new motorcycle club M/M romance from Jessie G. TALK DIRTY TO ME is the second book in the Devil’s Pride MC series and features two DEA agents, one in deep cover and the other his dedicated contact, finding love at the best and worst possible time. For Jessie G fans, there are plenty of Sizzling Miami cameos.

Catch the excerpt, my review and a twisted giveaway below!

Talk Dirty To Me - Final - 400 x 600About the book:
As a secret agent for the DEA, Snake’s gone deep into Devils Pride MC with the hope of bringing down the head of Miami’s lucrative drug trade and finds himself saddled with the club’s volatile and secretive SA instead. Unfortunately, after years as partners doing shit neither of them wanted to do for reasons neither of them felt comfortable sharing, Snake considers Trick his best friend. Now he’ll do anything to repair the damage his own necessary lies did to their friendship because, while Trick may have walked away from the MC, Snake needs someone he trusts to have his back.

Meanwhile, Snake’s contact at the DEA has him tied up in knots. The sexy voice and inappropriate comments have him walking around with a permanent set of blue balls. Life undercover is lonely and he lives for every phone call, but his own personal Deep Throat is skittish about committing to a date once Snake returns to headquarters. As far as Snake’s concerned, they only have one shot to build something together and he’s not willing to waste it.

Greg knows he’s not Snake’s type, or anyone’s for that matter. Former love interests called him plain, chubby, and boring. More comfortable in his tech cave than with people, he’s a grade A nerd who isn’t exactly GQ material. Normally he would never be brave enough to flirt with anyone—much less the very hot and very dangerous ginger who’d been starring in his nightly fantasies—but Snake needed something to keep him from getting lost undercover. What started out as a helping hand quickly became an integral part of their relationship—if one could call a five year phone conversation a relationship—and Greg is terrified that once Snake’s sees the wizard behind the curtain, he’ll lose the only man he’s ever loved.

Now the DEA has called Snake home to plan the next stage of the mission, leaving Greg no more places to hide. When fantasy and reality collide, will it be everything Snake hopes for or everything Greg fears? The trick will be staying alive long enough to figure out the answer.

How about a little taste?

Knowing what Gene needed before he actually asked was what made them a good team and his growing personal feelings aside, he believed they worked well together. Greg also knew Gene felt the same way because he never failed to show his appreciation. “Thanks, Sunshine, I knew I could count on you. So, tell me how the move to Tampa’s going?”

Greg sighed and leaned back in his chair to look at the ceiling. He had been working at the DC office since joining the agency and while he enjoyed the work, DC was a stressful place to live. He’d adapted just as he’d done when he went to MIT in Cambridge, but it wasn’t his first choice. When the request to transfer and be closer to the undercover operation he’d been devoting ninety percent of his time to came in, he jumped at it even though he questioned his superior’s motives.

But moving was stressful, fitting in with new coworkers more so, and doing both while keeping up with Gene’s needs was damn near exhausting. It was worth it, but he was more tired than he ever remembered being and none of that was Gene’s problem. As an undercover agent in an outlaw motorcycle club, he had more important things to worry about, so Greg downplayed the stress he’d been under. “Florida’s better than DC, that’s for sure.”

“But?” Gene asked knowingly and Greg sighed. He should have known better than to think he could bluff his answer. They’d been talking multiple times a day for almost a year. If there was anyone who could tell just by the tone of his voice what he was feeling, it was Gene.

“When I first got this assignment, it seemed odd that I wasn’t immediately transferred to a closer office. Not that location really mattered in the past, but our partnership was a first in the agency. Normally, undercover agents have full use of the entire Intelligence Division and everyone in ID works together so nothing falls through the cracks.” Maybe he was becoming more like Gene, because he was seeing shadows everywhere lately. “That didn’t happen and it obviously wasn’t necessary because I was able to do whatever you needed from DC. So why, out of nowhere, did Crockett and Stimer request me in the Tampa office? If they wanted me closer to your operation, why not Fort Myers or even the Miami office?”

Gene didn’t immediately respond and Greg knew he was choosing his words. Lately, they’d begun to wonder if someone within the agency, or any branch of law enforcement, was working with Durango. Crooked agents were an unfortunate fact of life and the more information he uncovered about Durango and the MC, the more things didn’t add up. Namely, putting an agent in what they had to know would be a long term undercover operation only to bitch about how long it was taking him to get the job done. It was like they were setting him up for failure and that didn’t sit well with Greg at all.

He was fully invested in doing the best job he could and that was only solidified by the growing personal feelings he was developing for Gene. The last thing Greg wanted was to see him get burned by the agency they both joined in the hopes of doing something good.

“I can hear those wheels turning from here, but we both know how dangerous it is for you to go poking around into Crockett or Stimer. You’re the new face in the office so you have no allies you can trust. If anyone catches wind of what you’re doing…”

“They won’t.” Greg wanted to sneer at the suggestion that he didn’t know how to cover his tracks. The only thing that stopped him was the knowledge that Gene cared about the risks he might be taking. That concern was a foreign concept that he didn’t know how to deal with. “I know how to hide a trail, Gene.”

“I don’t doubt your abilities for a second,” Gene assured, taking the wind out of any potential argument between them. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt. If Crockett or Stimer or someone else has a hidden agenda, you’ll find it in the work we’re already doing. You’re already cherry picking the information you put in the files, already deciding what they can and can’t be trusted with, right?”

“Yes,” Greg grudgingly admitted. He just didn’t know if those precautions were enough.

Gene chuckled at his tone. “You and I both know if they’re in any way involved in Durango’s business, if they’re doing anything to hinder the case, you’ll uncover it in the intelligence you’re already gathering. I know it’s not enough, but I’m already in play and there’s no way to step back now. If you go digging and someone catches wind of it, you paint a target on both our backs.”

Which was the only reason he hadn’t already gone digging and why he was coming clean now. The very last thing he wanted to do was make Gene’s job more dangerous than it already was. “Fine.”

Gene laughed at him again and he found himself pulling up a photo of the agent. It was unfair how good looking the man was. Tall, broad, scruffy, with piercing eyes and a strong chin, and lips made for doing sinful things. Gene was all of Greg’s weakness wrapped up in a hard body that made his fingers itch to touch.

A soft sigh and the sound of a bed creaking brought his attention back to their conversation. “I’m done thinking about this for tonight. Tell me something good before we hang up.”

My Review:
This is the second book in the Devil’s Pride MC series, and likely best understood when reading in sequence. To catch up, Snake/Gene is a DEA agent that infiltrated the Devil’s Pride club in Ft. Myers Florida. In the previous book, TRICKING CHASE, he helped the MC get rid of a drug dealer, Durango, who had possibly kidnapped the sister of a patch member–Ty. Ty was a marine, who didn’t re-up when his sister went missing. For years Ty and Snake worked within the club to find out who was dirty, and they eventually teamed up to get rid of Durango and find Ty’s sister. This operation also included many of the Sizzling Miami characters. Snake broke his cover and guaranteed immunity to Ty in exchange for halting the trafficking of drugs, guns and humans.

Well, cut the head off a worm and you get new worms. See, Durango’s brother Santos picked up where his bro left off. And Snake (Gene) is exposed to the MC as an agent. The feds are considering taking out the whole MC, and Gene feels responsible. He spent five years with these guys and doesn’t want them all to get tarred with the criminal brush. He enlists Ty to help him track down Santos, much to Ty’s frustration. He was finally settled with his boy, Chase, and their growing family.

Also, both Gene and his DEA contact Greg think Gene’s been further compromised, by a mole in the DEA. Greg has been the voice at the other end of the phone for five long years. During this time they have built a strong rapport, and that includes sharing hopes, dreams, and fantasies. Greg is completely infatuated with Gene, but suffers crippling body dysmorphia as he’s not the fittest or the sexiest man alive. He’s softer, fuller, and nerdier than the gay men he’s idolized, and has been hurt by many a partner for his non-GQ appearance. Gene absolutely doesn’t care. Greg has kept him safe for five grueling years of deep cover, and he loves the man behind the voice.

Gene so looks forward to meeting Greg, and their first face-to-face does not go well. Oh man! I had the awkward laughs going strong. I really loved how Gene embraced Greg and loved all of him so thoroughly. When they have to separate again, so Snake can fix his mess with the MC club, there’s a lot of wanting going on. Both Gene and Greg want a life together, and that likely means leaving the DEA. Besides, they’re rather disillusioned with the agency after learning one of their superiors is planning to cut them loose.

There’s a whole lot of plot and scheming to settle the business of the book, but it’s an HEA and that includes Greg and Gene riding off on Snake’s bike into the glorious sunset. The stage is set for another book–I’m sure it will include Carlos, Devil’s Pride MC Prez, and Mateo, the young, manipulative son of a rival MC Prez. If you like motorcycle club romance, you’ll probably like this one. I found I enjoyed it far more than TRICKING CHASE, the first book in the series, because it centered on a developing romance. There’s a little bit of sexytimes–I would have liked more, but I’m not complaining. Gene and Greg are sweet together, for all the dirty talk they share.

Interested? You can find TALK DIRTY TO ME on Goodreads, Amazon,  Barnes & Noble, Kobo and All Romance eBooks.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click this a Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a $30 Amazon GC, OR signed paperbacks of TRICKING CHASE and TALK DIRTY TO ME (Grand prize) Three runners’ up will win an ebook of TALK DIRTY TO ME and a Happy Guy wine opener.

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the author:
Like many readers, the dream of being a writer has been with me a long time. After three decades of trying, I’d begun to doubt. Thanks to social media, I followed my favorite authors hoping to glean some words of wisdom as I pounded out half-formed ideas with alarming regularity. Two repetitive themes emerged: to be a great writer you must read a lot and your butt must be in the chair every day like it’s a job. The more you write, the easier it will be to write and the better you will be at writing. I took that advice to heart and write every day. With three series in the works and a full schedule of releases planned for the next two years, it’s been amazing to have made this dream my reality.

I am a firm believer in marriage equality, love at first sight, power dynamics, and happily ever after. I’m a lover of strong secondary characters, and series filled with families—biological or chosen. All are themes you’ll find throughout my books.

Catch up with Jessie G online on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, Tsu, Google+, Ello, Tumblr, and Goodreads.

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The Plot Thickens–PRINCE’S GAMBIT-A Review

Hi there! I’m really excited to share a review for the second volume of C.S. Pacat’s Captured Prince trilogy. PRINCE’S GAMBIT is a fantastic sequel that had no hope of slowing down. You know how much I loved CAPTIVE PRINCE, well, this book’s BETTER!!!

Prince's Gambit (Captive Prince, #2)About the book
With their countries on the brink of war, Damen and his new master, Prince Laurent, must exchange the intrigues of the palace for the sweeping might of the battlefield as they travel to the border to avert a lethal plot.

Forced to hide his identity, Damen finds himself increasingly drawn to the dangerous, charismatic Laurent. But as the fledgling trust between the two men deepens, the truth of secrets from both their pasts is poised to deal them the crowning death blow…

My Review:
This is the second book in a fantasy M/M series that needs to be read in order.

Damen, who is also Prince Damianos of Akelios, was captured and sold into sexual slavery followed by a coup masterminded by his elder half-brother. Damen now slave to the Crown Prince of Vere, Laurent, must hide his identity in order to stay alive. Laurent’s most fervent wish is to kill the Akelians, and is particularly frustrated that Prince Damianos, who killed his elder brother Auguste, died before Laurent could claim his vengeance. Damen’s fervent hope is to return to Akelios and regain his throne, striking down his brother.

At age 20, Laurent is months from gaining his own throne from his uncle, the Regent king, who has served for the past seven years. Laurent’s not interested in his slave Damen, except to torture him, at first. They have reached a rapprochement in the first book, as Damen convinced Laurent that he can help him survive the treacherous Akelios-Vere border patrol the Regent king has pressed Laurent into performing.

Laurent wants to live. Damen knows that keeping Laurent alive will prevent war between Vere and Akelios. Damen knows that Akelios will fall if war erupts, divided in loyalty as it has been by his brother’s ascendancy. Damen is a born leader, having been proven a top commander and combatant in the wars against Vere. Laurent knows that Damen is strong and has a quick mind, but no one will follow the orders of a slave. That said, the commander of Laurent’s troops–a rag-tag batch of mercenaries–is a pawn to the Regent who’s likely been told to maintain disorder, enabling a poor defense for the Prince. Laurent fully expects that he will never see the crown, if his uncle has any say in the matter.

As with the previous book, the plot is rife with cunning and duplicity. Laurent must stay three steps ahead of his uncle’s schemes, and he seems to do so. Damen, against his better instincts, advises Laurent admirably. He knows that he can slip off across the border and regain favor with his own people, but the entanglements the Regent has put in motion threaten to destabilize the entire region, and will undoubtedly cause war.

Damen trains Laurent’s troops, under the guise of another officer, as well as becomes the ultimate protector of Laurent–who engages in espionage more than once. Damen’s internal conflicts are many and fierce. Laurent is his sworn enemy, and would kill him if her knew his identity. Yet, their close quarters raises feelings of respect and admiration for the man that had brutally punished him previously. Also, the more that Damen is placed in battle, the more that his adversaries begin to see he is not a pleasure slave. He is a battle-hardened warrior, and resembles greatly the lost prince–threatening his anonymity.

I absolutely loved this story. The twists and turns are astounding. Laurent will stop at nothing to keep his life, and land, from war, even fighting his own lords to destroy the Regent’s influence. The Regent is just as duplicitous, and has the might of the land on his side. Laurent, Damen and their troops are often outnumbered, and usually out-matched, and yet they persevere due to Damen’s martial acumen and Laurent’s bravado. I could not turn the pages fast enough.

The book series is a M/M romance, and we do see the elements build here. The first book: no intimacy. This book, some intimacy. Laurent is called the Ice Prince for good reason. (I’m betting that he hasn’t had a “lover” in many years because he’s a molestation survivor.) That said, the long hours of travel, training, strategy and escape have welded Laurent and Damen together. Damen wants to escape and is simultaneously drawn to Laurent, not entirely out of duty. The print edition has a bonus chapter that really gets into the nitty-gritty of their intimacy. #Love

Still, it’s a very, very small part of this story. Expect so much more.

The book, as part of a larger series, ends on a cliffhanger. The third book, Kings Rise, will decide who survives. My money’s on Damen and Laurent. And not only as kings who share a border. I’m thinking these two will share a royal bedchamber as equals, too.

Interested? You can find PRINCE’S GAMBIT on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author:
C.S. Pacat is a Melbourne writer. Her first series the Captive Prince trilogy began its life as an original web serial. Self-published in 2013 to critical and commercial success and acclaim, the Captive Prince trilogy was acquired by Penguin, and will be published worldwide in 2015.

You can find Ms. Pacat on her website, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Taking Chances MENDING THE RIFT–Review and Giveaway!

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Hi there! I’m eager to share this review for a dystopian future M/M romance from Chris T. Kat. MENDING THE RIFT is an mpreg (male pregnancy!) tale in a society where alliances are forged by marriage and breeders are a hot commodity.

MendingTheRift-Preview
About the book:
In a future where man’s ability to reproduce is severely compromised, humanity has adapted to survive. Breeders—male and female—have become precious commodities, and they are strictly guarded and subject to limitations.

Luca Walker is a breeder. Though he knows what’s expected of him, as the youngest son of the Northern Confederacy’s Vice President, he’s held out against the pressures of an arranged marriage because he longs to marry for love, not duty. But he’s been promised to Colonel Liam Smith and there’s little he can do about it, no matter that Luca is secretly in love with his bodyguard, Marcus Gray.

When Luca finds himself pregnant with Marcus’s baby, Smith is furious and vows to take what is his—by force, if necessary. Now Luca must fight for his life and the life of his unborn child… as well as the love of Marcus and the happily ever after he’s always dreamed of.

Who about a little taste?

Marcus rappelled off and stepped onto the ground with a crunch of his boots. Pointing at the opening with the askew ladder, he asked, “Don’t tell me you seriously considered climbing down this way.”

Luca shrugged. “I’d have preferred spontaneous levitation, but it didn’t happen.”

He yelped when Marcus put an arm around his torso and lifted him to his feet, as if he weighed nothing. “Hey!”

Marcus silenced him with a glare, and Luca gritted his teeth while Marcus thumped dust off his clothes. “Your father is livid.”

Luca swallowed. He’d expected worried, maybe a bit mad, but livid? His father never got furious at him. Not for long, anyway. Being the baby of the family had its perks. “Why?”

“Why? Seriously, Luca, you have to ask why?” Marcus patted Luca’s behind more firmly than was strictly necessary.

Luca shifted, trying to get away from Marcus’s arm. When that didn’t help, he slapped Marcus’s hands away and stepped aside. He couldn’t think when he was so close to Marcus—when the man touched him, he sent shivers up and down his spine. He ignored the glower Marcus directed at him. “Yes, seriously. He knows I don’t want to marry Smith. I don’t want anything to do with all that shit. I want to decide what I’m going to do with my life.”

Marcus shook his head. “Smith is a good man. My brother Kyle worked for him. He said he always treated his people well. If you want I could try to get Kyle on the phone so you can talk to him. That is, if I can get a hold on him. Trust me, you’ll be in good hands.”

“You don’t get it! I don’t want to be in good hands!”

“No?” Marcus raised an eyebrow.

Luca huffed, a small smile forming on his lips. “Well, yes, of course I want to be in good hands. But I want someone to love me, and not just for my ability to become pregnant. I want… you.”

Luca’s heart thundered in his rib cage. There, he’d said it. The ball was in Marcus’s court. Sure, it had only been one night, and Marcus’s reaction afterward hadn’t been promising, but maybe he’d just been scared? Maybe he feared to lose his job? Nonetheless, there was more going on between them, and they both knew it. That one night had just been the last logical step. Luca regretted nothing.

For a moment Marcus seemed startled, and there was a softness in his eyes that was solely reserved for Luca. The softness vanished too quickly for Luca’s liking.

Instead, Luca was greeted with Marcus’s usual, scrutinizing gaze. “You don’t want me, and you better never mention this again. It was a mistake. Now get it out of your head and be a good boy.”

My Review:

This is an interesting dystopian future M/M romantic suspense. Several hundred years in the future, after war ravaged Earth and what remained of civilization has adapted to lowered fertility, it seems that males begin to spontaneously develop internal female sex organs–what we would consider semihermaphroditic, as they have no external female genitalia.

Breeders, male and female alike, had been sheltered and kept from working and even being present in society when they are pregnant, but times are changing in the Northern Confereracy (which exists where Germany and Austria once did) where Luca is the youngest of ten children sired by his father and carried by his dad. All of Luca’s siblings are prolific breeders and Luca–at 22–is well past the usual age of marriage. He’s holding out for a love match and is enamored of his bodyguard, Marcus. Luca is headstrong and frustrated that he’s betrothed to Captain Liam Smith, a man he’s barely met. He runs on the eve of the wedding, only to be tracked down, again, by Marcus. In the kerfuffle, Luca learns he’s been made pregnant–against his will–and is only calmed by the knowledge that his baby is Marcus’ and not that of Capt. Smith.

While Luca, his family and Marcus, do their utmost to keep the pregnancy hidden until the 10th week so Marcus can claim Luca and petition for marriage, Capt Smith becomes enraged. No one expects the lengths he will go to to get Luca–and when this does happen, the terror and torture is bad, bad, bad. The Southern Union, under a tentative truce with the Northern Confederacy, wants to study Northern breeders, and Luca’s a perfect specimen. There’s a lot more going on than simple revenge.

Expect multiple attacks, kidnappings, delayed nuptials, a growing bond between daddy, belly, and daddy, and some yummy sexytimes. This is a book that does not spare the action, and Luca’s life is not the simple path one would imagine for the youngest son of a nation’s Vice President. Lots of political intrigue, and danger, are part of this plot. I will admit to getting a little exhausted by the constant high tension/high stakes. I really just wanted Luca and Marcus to disappear into a cave, or something, to avoid the threat of capture and cuddle.

I struggled with the dialogue, as I truly expect speech patterns and idiom to change in the span of 200 years, and it felt very much 21st Century American-English, when we were set in 23rd Century central Europe. There didn’t seem to be many advances in technology, either, besides the medical breakthroughs regarding Breeders. So, the worldbuilding, as a whole, was lacking, for me. I did like the subplot/subtext of breeder prejudice, and respected both Luca and his dad’s attempts to subvert the restrictions placed on Breeders so that they could be whole persons with occupations and aspirations, not just baby factories.

In total, it was an interesting story. I like Mpreg and this one was really about the pregnancy. We follow Luca throughout the 36 weeks of gestation, and beyond. All of that was fascinating, to me. I loved how dedicated Marcus and Luca were to each other. There are several loving relationships present in the book, which was good to read.

Interested? You can find MENDING THE RIFT on Goodreads, Dreamspinner (ebook, paperback), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance.

 

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this a Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a $15 Gift Card to Amazon!
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the author:
Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there’s any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.

Catch up to Chris online on her blog, Goodreads, Amazon and twitter
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Life Was Rotten. THEN SAWYER HAPPENED–Review and Giveaway

BannerTemplate(22)Hi there! I’m excited to share a review for a new contemporary cowboy M/M romance from Hurri Cosmo. THEN SAWYER HAPPENED is a sweet love story, and a dangerous mystery wrapped together.

Catch my review, the excerpt and enter to win in the $50 worth of AllRomance giftcards giveaway below.

SawyerAbout the book:

Trace is nursing a broken heart. He lost his job, his boyfriend of two years was cheating on him, and his apartment building burned right to the ground with all his worldly possessions.  It was time for Trace to get out of Minnesota.

So Trace heads for Texas and Riven Creek Ranch, the horse farm his Aunt Lois owns. But hours before he arrives, Lois is in a terrible car accident that nearly takes her life, and Trace finds himself in charge of the ranch kitchen. Sounds simple enough and it’s the least he can do for his recuperating aunt.

Then Sawyer happens.

Sawyer is his aunt’s big, beautiful, muscle bound, incredibly sexy straight ranch manager. Someone who has no clue Trace is gay. And meeting the big man should have been okay, except it was in the middle of his aunt’s kitchen at five in the morning and Trace was nearly naked. Embarrassing? Yep. But the very next day Trace proceeded to ramp up his embarrassment by quantum leaps when he nearly sets his aunt’s house on fire and the brooding Sawyer has to come to the rescue.

Seems like Trace’s “luck” followed him. Not to mention that Aunt Lois’s “accident” was actually attempted murder. And now, they just might want Trace dead, too.

Can Trace figure out who’s behind the attempts on his aunt’s life AND keep Sawyer from finding out he’s hot for the cowboy?

He probably can’t. But he’s going to try.

How about a little taste?

“Sawyer! Damn. You scared me.” Trace fell back against the freezer suddenly feeling light headed. He took in the big body blocking any escape he had and his cock twitched as if it liked the idea there was no way out. “I didn’t hear you… behind me.”

“I saw your car in the driveway. How’s Lois?”

Trace shook his head in an attempt to clear it. “She’s awake and very alert… but…” But someone wants her dead. Who? Someone on this ranch? Could it be Sawyer? I trust him with my life… That’s what she said.

“But what?”

Trace looked up into hard cold eyes. The question was genuine. He cared about the condition of his aunt. But what condition did he care her to be in? “Nothing… just… well… I guess you’re going to have to know… I mean…” Damn, he had to stop acting like a horny teenager in front of this man. “Let me… I’m going to make coffee…”

“It’s made. The big insulated urn on the counter is full. Just made it about a half hour ago so it’s fine.”

“Oh. Good. Let’s sit down. I need to sit down.” Trace took a few steps forward which brought him right in front of the cowboy. He expected Sawyer to move, to back up, but he didn’t. Then Trace did the unthinkable. His body reacted on its own as he put his hand on the big man’s chest and pushed. There would have been no way on God’s green earth he would have been able to physically move the cowboy without his express permission, not to mention help. But Trace’s brain seemed to totally malfunction in this man’s presence.

And, as expected, being pushed in any direction was never going to work for Sawyer. Sawyer grabbed his wrist, twisted it tight behind Trace, which brought Trace up solid, against Sawyer’s hard body, chest to chest. Being several inches taller, Sawyer glared down into Trace’s shocked face, a smoldering look in his eyes. Trace could feel Sawyer’s hot breath on his face, sense the man’s tense muscles from his pecs down through his thighs…

My Review:
Trace is a 20-something college graduate who’s having a run of really, really bad luck. Laid off, newly-single, and suddenly homeless, he returns to his aunt’s Texas ranch for the first time since his mother died several years ago. His aunt, Lois, is critically injured in a car wreck just before he arrives, however. She charges Trace with taking care of her ranch hands’ meals and managing the bills–while she recuperates. Her foreman, Sawyer, will be responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the ranch.

Trace is dumbstruck when he meets big, burly, beautiful Sawyer. His imagination often goes wild, but he knows better than to out himself on an isolated Texas ranch. Sawyer is a kind man, which only makes Trace more swoony. In the meantime, Trace has some hilarious escapades, messing up meals, getting bucked off his horse, needing general rescue which always seems to come in the form of Sawyer.

As the story winds on, we learn that Lois had been being pressured to sell her ranch to a neighbor, and her car wreck was clearly no accident. Goons try to physically intimidate Trace into convincing Lois to sell. Expect some homophobia and hair-raising moments as Trace endures beatings and serious physical threats. Also, expect Sawyer to make it clear that his intentions regarding Trace are thoroughly dishonorable…and a little kinky.

I liked the story, though I felt the pace was a little slow and the dialogue was a little juvenile in parts. Trace is a really neurotic guy, and his headspace is cluttered with needless doubt and questionable choices. I wanted to reach into the book and shake him every time he lied about his intentions, and his feelings, and his abuse. I loved Sawyer, and I really liked Trace a lot. He’s such a compassionate guy. I had some questions regarding Aunt Lois’ recovery–because it was written as if she was 80 years old, but that didn’t make any sense. Even if she was twenty years older than Trace’s mother, she’d still only be in her late 60s. She could have easily been rehabilitated enough to return home–to my experience. *shrugs*

If you’re looking for a mostly-breezy gay cowboy romance, this one will wet your whistle.

Interested? You can find THEN SAWYER HAPPENED on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, AllRomance and Smashwords.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win one of FIVE $10 GC to AllRomance.

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Hurri Cosmo lives in Minnesota where she holds tight to the idea that there, where it’s cold a good part of the year, she won’t age as fast. Yep, she avoids the truth as much as she avoids mirrors. But one of the reasons she loves writing is reality doesn’t always offer up a “happily ever after” and being able to take control of that is a powerful lure. Being a happy ending junkie, writing just makes them easier to find. Oh, she doesn’t mind “real life” and she does try to at least keep it in mind when she writes her stories, but she truly loves creating a wonderful couple, knowing they will fall in love and have their HEA. Every – single – time. And, of course, that is exactly the reason she loves reading this genre, too. Give her a glass of red wine, some dark chocolate, and her computer, whether she is reading or writing, and she will entertain herself for hours. The fact she actually gets paid to do it is Snickers bars on the frosting on the cake.

Catch up to Hurri online on her website, blog, Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Finding Love BEYOND THE SEA–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary M/M romance from Keira Andrews. You know I’ve enjoyed her books about gay Amish love (A FORBIDDEN RUMSPINGA, A CLEAN BREAK, and A WAY HOME) and epidemic disaster survival (KICK AT THE DARKNESS) so I had to get her latest release. BEYOND THE SEA is a fascinating story of survival and love that develops when one least expects it.

Beyond the SeaAbout the book:
Even if it means quitting their boy band mid-tour, Troy Tanner isn’t going to watch his little brother snort his future away after addiction destroyed their father. On a private jet taking him home from Australia, he and pilot Brian Sinclair soar above the vast South Pacific. Brian lost his passion for flying—and joy in life—after a traumatic crash, but now he and Troy must fight to survive when a cyclone strikes without warning.

Marooned a thousand miles from civilization, the turquoise water and white sand beach look like paradise. But although they can fish and make fire, the smallest infection or bacteria could be deadly. When the days turn into weeks with no sign of rescue, Troy and Brian grow closer, and friendship deepens into desire.

As they learn sexuality is about more than straight or gay and discover their true selves, the world they’ve built together is thrown into chaos. If Troy and Brian make it off the island, can their love endure?

My Review:
Troy is a member of a boy band fleeing his drug abusing bandmate/brother Tyson after learning his bro’s on heroin. Brian is the co-pilot on the long range charter flight to bring Troy from Australia to LA.

The plane crashes, killing the pilot, leaving Brian and Troy marooned on a desert isle in the uninhabited atolls of the south Pacific. They are lucky to have survived, and to find nourishment on the island. They set to work surviving, in the hope of being found. They bond. Slowly, Troy–the sunny optimist–begins to realize what Brian has known all along…a rescue is unlikely, and less likely with every passing day. It’s a hard truth to own, as Troy feels terribly guilty for chartering the plane. He agonizes over Tyson’s well-being, and he’s lonely. He is used to never truly being alone, and this isolation with Brian is both a comfort and a curse. He’s held tight to some very ugly secrets and this connection to Brian–as the closest confidante he’s ever had–is confusing for him. He admires Brian, and this admiration leads to feelings of intimacy that he questions, a bit.

Brian, for his part, is overwhelmed by loss. This was not his first plane crash and he never anticipated surviving another. He’s stunned at how well Troy takes to marooned life. He’d expected a diva, and he’s pleasantly surprised at Troy’s unfailing strength and constantly upbeat nature. As an introvert, Brian needs some alone time, and soon recognizes that he looks forward to seeing Troy more and more. His usual erotic fantasies aren’t cutting it, not when Troy’s image intervenes. This is troubling to Brian, but not too much. Troy is the closest friend he’s had in…ever? He’s sexually frustrated, but that’s a small issue. Brian had closed himself off to his friendships a few years before and his forced occupation with Troy opens wounds he’d thought healed. Together, Troy and Brian find companionship and connection they hadn’t experienced, and it’s great for them. It leads to some sexual experimentation, and that helps to bond them closer.

I totally enjoyed this book. I was so captivated by the survival aspects and how these guys made it work. There are really harrowing bits, from the crash to the establishment of shelter, and the creepy-crawlies in the jungle. I liked how they had to work hard to survive, to some degree. Likewise, their attraction is something the characters work for. They get to know each other. They learn to like each other. They are deeply connected friends before they are anything more. Each man has a bit of a crisis with regard to their developing attraction. At first it’s all: We’re the last two people on the planet, practically, so why should we get bogged in societal norms/issues. They each adjust their hetero minds into a more “bi” space. As they experience more physical intimacy their feelings creep into love–and that’s when it gets a whole lot more complicated.

Whatever people may feel about Gay For You as a trope, I think that there are a lot of people who believe themselves to be bisexual and resist same-sex attraction for myriad reasons. I enjoy stories that have characters make big choices and have big adventures. I enjoy stories that have some logical progression, and I’m rather certain that survivors on a desert isle would likely find physical and emotional solace with each other. Of course, I grew up watching THE BLUE LAGOON on cable TV and, well, two healthy, isolated, straight dudes tentatively getting it on (okay it was some yummy sexytimes!) is nothing compared to two Victorian cousins discovering puberty, love and sexuality together… at least not in my 9 y/o brain.

Interested? You can find BEYOND THE SEA on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, Smashwords, and AllRomance.

Keira AndrewsAbout the Author:
After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, paranormal and fantasy fiction, and—although she loves delicious angst along the way—Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said, “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”

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

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Finding a FIRE OF THE HEART–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new book from the writing team of Havan Fellows and Lee Brazil. FIRE OF THE HEART is the third book in the Hearts of Parkerburg series, and it’s a sweet read.

Fire of the Heart (Hearts of Parkerburg, #3)About the book:
Craig Gilchrist is the oldest of five siblings, the captain of the Parkerburg Fire Department, and all around buddy his friends run to when they have a problem. Unfortunately, he’s keeping a secret not only from the whole town, but his family as well. Living in the shadows works for him until one fateful night when a hot stranger walks across a smoky barroom, forcing Craig to make a move that could rock the foundation of his existence…and fill the void in his heart he doesn’t realize he has.

Melrose escaped the end of a bad relationship to start over in Parkerburg. With the support of his cousin and a job waiting tables at a great restaurant, he thinks his life is finally going pretty smoothly. That’s when his path crosses that of Craig Gilchrist, local fire captain. The big, beefy firefighter is definitely not his type. So why does he suddenly star in all of Melrose’s fantasies?

With Melrose at his side, Craig finally has the motivation to step out of the shadows and let Parkerburg see the real him…until trouble arises and the truth comes to light that perhaps he doesn’t know the real Melrose.

Lies and fears play havoc with their newly acquired relationship. Luckily, once ignited, the hearts of Parkerburg don’t burn out so easily.

The Hearts of Parkerburg stories can be read as standalones, each with a HEA…but trust me, you’ll want to read about all the sweet happenings in this quaint little town.

My Review:
This is the third book in the Hearts of Parkerburg series and can be enjoyed as a standalone. Melrose is living with his cousin and has taken a job as a waiter at the upscale restaurant Alimentaire, rebuilding his life after leaving his abusive ex behind. He’d spent seven years with Bas and never wanted to admit to the abuse–because he’s a man, and Bas’s smaller than he is. People would think less of Melrose for admitting that weakness, right?

It’s been a year since he walked away and Melrose hasn’t been with anyone. He’s oddly attracted to a burly, likely straight, fire chief, Craig. They subtly cruise each other, until Craig confesses his interest. He’s been with women his whole life, but is a closeted gay man. At thirty-five he’s feeling a little peculiar about lusting after Melrose, who he initially assumes is barely legal…he’s stupefied to learn Melrose is 30.

Things would have gone great if Bas hadn’t turned up out of the blue and attacked Melrose in a drunken fit. Melrose is too ashamed to confess what truly happened and the police force of Parkerburg is looking for the suspect–assuming it’s a hate crime. This is unsettling for Melrose, as he assumed a “mugging” would get brushed aside quickly. Craig’s put the heat on, however, afraid that Melrose will head back to the big city if he feels unsafe in Parkerburg. Melrose is terrified of losing Craig if he admits to his lie about the mugging, but he can’t take the pressure any longer. Meanwhile, Craig has to decide if he’s ready to take the step he’s dreaded for years: coming out. To bee with a guy like Melrose it seems that he is.

Expect a bit of fireside loving, a nasty ex, a surprised but supportive family and two of the best buddies a fire chief could ever have. This one’s a sweet breezy read that’ll warm you up inside.

Interested? You can find FIRE OF THE HEART on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

About the Authors:
LEE BRAZIL
Somewhere in a small town in up-state New York are a librarian and a second grade teacher to whom I owe my life. That might be a touch dramatic, but it’s nevertheless one hundred percent true. Because they taught me the joy of reading, of escaping into worlds crafted of words. Have you ever been nine years old and sure of nothing so much as that you don’t belong? Looked at the world from behind glasses, and wondered why you don’t fit? Someone hands you a book, and then you turn the page and see… There you are, running from Injun Joe in a dark graveyard; there you are fencing with Athos; there you are…beneath the deep blue sea- marveling at exotic creatures with Captain Nemo.

I found myself between the pages of books, and that is why I write now. It’s why I taught English and literature for so many years, and it’s why my house contains more pounds of books than furniture.

If I’d had my way, I’d have been a fencer…or a starship captain, or a lawyer, or a detective solving crimes. But instead, I am a writer, and I’ve come to realize that’s the best thing in the world to be, because as a writer, I can be all those things and more. If I hadn’t learned to value the stories between the pages, who knows what would have happened? Certainly not college…teaching…or writing.

Where to find Lee online:
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Newsletter

HAVAN FELLOWS:
I annoy, love, respect, scare, seduce, hurt, anger, infatuate, frustrate, flatter, envy, amuse and tolerate everyone. I just do it better in writing thanks to a little thing called…edits.

Okay no, seriously…I’m a simpleminded person who enjoys the escape from real life through a book. I write with the group Story Orgy and hope to continue doing so for a long time. I also am privileged to be with the Pulp Friction writers, creating intermingling books in a world all our own.

I recently took the drastic step of quitting my EDJ (evil day job) and am now living in the gorgeous desert in Arizona making a go at this writing stuff full time…and I can’t see me regretting this decision ever.

Just like every other red-blooded human—I get a little bouncy when I get mail (any kind too…email, comments, private messages…you wanna do it, do it with me *winks*). So feel free to drop me a line—whether it’s on my blog, twitter, Pinterest, or you track me down on FaceBook or Google +…it’s easy to catch someone who wants to be caught.

I specialize in writing boyxboy though I read almost everything…and I fancy myself as slightly funny every once in a while. 🙂

Find Havan online on her blog, Facebook Page, twitter, Pinterest.

Oh! To Be SPANKED IN THE WOODSHED! Excerpt and Giveaway!

BannerTemplate(20)
Hi there! Just getting the word out on what looks to be a yummy new contemporary M/M BDSM romance released today by Brina Brady. SPANKED IN THE WOODSHED is the last book in a series, which should be read in order.

Spanked in the Woodshed E-Book CoverAbout the book:
Young Shane gets himself in trouble again with his Dom. Afraid of Julien thinking he is insane when he believes someone is following him at the university, he makes matters worse for himself. He wants to please him, make him happy, and be the best sub for Julien.

His Dom gives him everything he needs. He helps him learn to deal with his problems the right way and not with drugs. He pays for his college and lets him work at one of his clubs to be independent and earn some of his own money.

Something or someone always seems to get in the way of their progress. This time besides the lies and rule breaking, it’s a couple of different people trying to ruin their relationship.

Julien tries to be patient with Shane. He loves him and wants to be the safe place Shane can always come home to, but misunderstandings, lies, and shortcomings threaten the one thing they need more than anything else:  each other.

This story is steamy hot, but it isn’t just a story of BDSM. It is a story of love with a super HEA to end the series.

A little taste…

When Shane O’Rourke’s cell phone buzzed on the end table, he straightened up against the headboard in bed to read the message. There was no question as to who was messaging him at noon. Sure enough, Julien’s leather-clad picture wallpapered his screen. Shane’s stomach constricted and his clammy hands trembled. He inhaled a deep breath to center himself. Fuck no. Julien had told him that they couldn’t meet for lunch because of some business meeting with his partner, Adam. Shane didn’t have a clue what prompted him to check up on him.

Shane hadn’t attended school the entire week. He didn’t mention it to Julien, because he was supposed to attend all of his classes according to their agreement for tuition.

Julien: “Where are you?”

Shane: “UCLA.”

Julien: “Did you take a bus?”

Shane: “My motorcycle.” Why would he ask me if I took a bus? He knows I ride my bike. It doesn’t make any sense.

Three minutes later the bedroom door busted open. Julien stood in the doorway, arms folded and glared at him. Shane knew that particular look, and it never meant anything good on the horizon. He shouldn’t have lied to Julien. He always found out, one way or another. When would he learn from his past mistakes? His father had been right; he was nothing but a liar going straight to hell.

Tut, tut, Shane! You’d better learn this lesson. Now!

Interested? You can find SPANKED IN THE WOODSHED on Goodreads and these Amazon outlets: US, UK, DE, FR, CA, and AU.

****GIVEAWAY****

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

About the Author:
Brina Brady hails from Huntington Beach, CA where she taught various subjects for 27 years. A lifelong fan of learning, Brina’s sure she’ll never stop.

Catch up with Brina online on her blog, Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

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Finding Love FOR NEVER AND ALWAYS–Review and Giveaway!

BannerTemplateHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a fantastic supernatural M/M contemporary romance from Ana J. Phoenix. FOR NEVER AND ALWAYS is an emotional tale about two friends who had secretly loved one another finding themselves in the afterlife. It’s a total tear-jerker…

Catch the excerpt, my review and the giveaway below.

forneverandalwayssmallerAbout the book:
Seth finds himself alone at an abandoned train station, with no idea what happened, or how he got there. He boards a train, only to discover it’s a special express transporting the recently deceased to their final destination.

The conductor tells him he’s having a near-death experience. Seth wonders if it has something to do with his violent boyfriend, but that doesn’t matter. All that matters is getting the hell off the train before he actually dies. But when he spots his best friend and secret crush among the traveling dead, the urge to leave fades…

How about a little taste?

For a minute, they sat in silence with only the rumbling of the train disturbing the quiet. When it became apparent that Seth wasn’t going to start speaking, Carter asked, “Still want to go on that road trip?”

“Not without you.”

“Mhm… If we could go together?” It wasn’t possible, of course, but Carter wasn’t interested in reality right now. One reason he hadn’t told Seth he was dying was because he’d enjoyed making all those unrealistic plans, after all, and he still did.

“I would go anywhere with you.”

“Yeah?” Carter let go of Seth’s neck and tightened his grip around his shoulder. “Where would you like to go first?”

“Seattle.”

“Why there?”

Seth looked at him with that certain shine in his eyes he got when he talked about technology and space and all that. “The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame,” he said, predictably.

“God, you are such a geek.”

“Geeks rule the world.”

“Yeah? I don’t know about that.”

“It’s true, though! We created the Internet and launched mankind into space. What did zombie fanatics ever do?”

“Uh… we make good movies?”

Seth scoffed. “We have Star Wars and Star Trek and—”

“Aren’t those the same thing?”

“Oh no, you didn’t!”

Carter laughed. He’d rarely seen Seth look so offended. But whatever it was Seth had been worrying about earlier, he wasn’t thinking about it now, and that was a win.

My Review:

Seth and Carter have been friends since forever. They haven’t kept in touch over the last couple years because Seth’s controlling and abusive boyfriend, Tony, has isolated him from his few friends and family. Seth felt this was acceptable, to some degree, because he harbored a long-time crush on his straight best friend. A good boyfriend wouldn’t talk to guys he finds attractive, right? And, especially not when his boyfriend doesn’t want him to do so, right? Besides, Carter’s at college, and he has a girlfriend. He doesn’t want to hear Seth’s troubles…

The book opens with Seth on a strange train platform, uncertain how he arrived there, and wondering how to get home so he can make Tony’s dinner. Immediately the reader knows that something awful has happened to Seth, and that Tony has likely had some role in it. A ghostly train arrives and Seth steps aboard. The conductor gives him the low down–it’s a train of souls on the way to their final destination. Thing is, Seth’s not dead…yet. He has the power to step off the train at any station, as long as the doors remain clear to his vision. If he lingers, however, that option will disappear, and Seth will be dead. While Seth sorts out if he should disembark, he’s shown to his cabin, and his roommate is Carter.

Carter has only 6 stops remaining until he’s a lost soul. He knows this, knows he must make peace with himself and his choices, but he’s struggling. He hid his disease from the two people he loved most in the world–Seth is one of them–and he’s saddled with regret for never telling Seth that he loved him.

Even now, as they share space and final moments on this train, both Seth and Carter are shielding their deepest secrets from the other. Carter wants Seth off the train, right now, but Seth won’t leave. He can’t remember how he came to be on the platform, and he needs to solve this mystery before he decides if he wants to return. Did Tony beat him into a coma? Was is some other trauma? This makes a difference to Seth; he doesn’t want to return to the living if he’s only going to make the same mistakes.

Carter watches the stops tick off, and is unable to let go of his past–mostly because his love for Seth is so strong. When he finally confesses, it’s not to the reaction he expected. Seth is angry that they never had their chance, and frustrated that Carter hid his bisexuality. These do work it out, over the course of the train ride, and they get their collective houses in order, too.

I’m not going to say more about the plot. It’s fantastic, and heart-rending, and tumultuous. I feel better having read this book, not for any sense of spirituality, but for thinking about my own regrets and soul burdens, and considering how best to let them go. This is a love story, at it’s core. Seth and Carter have an epic love for each other that was never acknowledged in life, but this ride of reckoning allows it time to bloom.

Small flashbacks allow the backstory to be inserted at poignant moments. The clock is always ticking, however, and Seth wishes to linger with Carter forever. Will he? Carter died young, and his regrets are many. Can he clear his soul and enter the afterlife? Or will he be one of the tormented lost souls that claw at the doors of the train whenever it stops? I will say that the book has a happy ending, even if it’s not a convenient as it could have been. I liked that. Hard choices make for good conflict and interesting stories. At each turn we could have had the “easy” answer, and we really never get that, here, which is a credit to the story. I loved the idea of soul mates meeting as souls, and it’s very well handled here. It’s even a bit steamy, which was awesome. Highly recommend!

Interested? You can find FOR NEVER AND ALWAYS on Goodreads and Amazon. It’s a phenomenal deal for $.99!

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a set of Star Wars cookie cutters!
Good Luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Ana writes m/m romance and erotica. Her interest in hot guy-on-guy action was first sparked by reading scandalous Japanese mangas. A dirty secret she couldn’t resist. In a long bout of insanity – also known as her life — she decided to learn the language and escape to the land of sushi, sumo, and yaoi.

She’s since moved back to Europe to be with the love of her life – delicious European chocolate.

Now she resides in the sunny part of Germany where she fills her days chasing her dreams and writing about men in complicated relationships. Her family believes she’s writing “erotic manga stories.” She’s pleased they got the erotic part right, at least.

Catch up with Ana online on Facebook and twitter.

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Giving Him 6 DAYS TO GET LUCKY–Review and Giveaway!

BannerTemplate(18)Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review and giveaway for a new contemporary M/M romance from LE Franks. 6 DAYS TO GET LUCKY is the sequel to 6 DAYS TO VALENTINE and should be read in order. That said, I enjoyed it fine on its own.

12597096_10208671112325666_1761266609_oAbout the book:
Mixologist Nick Valentine never thought love was in the cards, but after a scorching Valentine’s Day kiss from bouncer Davis “FatBoy” Newman, he’s beginning to think it’s possible. After four weeks of dry spell, Nick’s losing patience—it’s time FatBoy stop acting the gentleman and just throw him over the bar or Nick may just change his mind.

All FatBoy wants is a shot at winning Nick’s heart. As long as meddling bosses, an Irish hurling team and a bar riot don’t ruin his chances forever, he might just get lucky and take the man of his dreams, home.

How about a little taste?

Reaching across the empty bed next to me, I rode out the last waves of my dream alone. I could still feel his phantom kiss on my lips and the sensation of a hand stroking along my thigh.

The rest of it was just a blur of emotions and sticky residue on my sheets—though I could guess at it without much effort. FatBoy Newman had been a specter haunting me at work so it was no great leap to assume he’d shouldered his way into my dreams as well.

In fact, he was at the root of my problem: I’d been having a hell of a dry spell.

Four weeks of near misses had done nothing but stoke my bad mood and turn my balls a lovely shade of indigo that matched my jeans…

Four weeks of dashed hopes…

Four weeks since the most romantic kiss of my life…

Four weeks of nothing.

Fuck the South and its mythology of the Southern Gentleman—if FatBoy Newman didn’t stop treating me like a delicate flower and throw me up against a wall soon, I was going to explode.

It was six days until St. Patrick’s Day, and FatBoy had until then to make his move, or I was moving on.

My Review:
This is the second book in a series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone.

The previous book, 6 Days to Valentine, was apparently about one romantic kiss that happened between mixologist Nick Valentine and Davis “Fatboy” Newman, the strong silent and “straight” security manager at the restaurant/bar Frisson where they both work–on Valentine’s Day. That was three weeks ago and there’s been nothing between them but a lot of heated looks, and passing gropes, since.

Both men work a lot of evenings, and their nights off hadn’t lined up, and inexplicably they cannot meet during the day. Also, Davis is closeted and doesn’t acknowledge his interest in Nick unless they are behind closed doors. Nick’s been a party boy in the past, and was never one to miss out on a cooler quickie until this “thing” with Davis developed. His three week drought is more than he can stomach, quite frankly, and he’s equally intrigued and frustrated. He’s got a self-imposed six days to make it happen, or walk away.

So, that the premise. The intervening six days, ramping up to St. Patrick’s Day are filled with more heated looks, and some promising sexy phone conversations, a missed date, two aborted trysts, and tons of bar hi jinks. The constant undercurrent of desire keeps the sexual tension high, especially when the National Irish Hurling Team pulls into Memphis. These well-put-together gentlemen are more than a bit taken with Frisson, and their captain Corwyn is certainly swoony for Nick. Davis is not happy, but he’s also not out. And it does not seem that this will change.

I liked the book. It’s funny and quirky and downright wacky in parts. There are Little People causing bar brawls and drunk Irishmen, and bad cover bands and a running fight over the possibility of dyeing the beer green–Nick is very much against–but the book lack connection, for me, between Nick and Davis. Nick needs a partner who’s all in, and despite Davis’ words, his actions aren’t quite there. The book ends on a happy note, but it felt more Happy For Now, with conflict remaining about the status of their relationship. There were very tender words exchanged, but I never saw one public declaration on the part of Davis to either claim or acknowledge Nick as a partner. As a reader who adores swoony romances, it left me feeling a bit cold toward these guys. Well, mostly Davis.

The oddest thing was, there were people in the book who totally would have supported them. Davis is closeted because his absentee dad is a powerful judge. *shrugs* I didn’t see why that was an impediment, if Nick is all that Davis says he is, for him. Davis is a grown man, a 30 y/o combat veteran, with his own income. Why does Daddy have a say in his happiness? Part of why I didn’t love this book was the separation I felt between Nick and Davis, even at the end. The other part was the inexplicably long wait these guys experience before taking steps to be together. Nick’s apartment is blocks from where they work. They get out late at night. They cannot crash there, together, once in a month? Felt a little suspect, which made me continually question Davis’ interest in Nick–pretty much the same as Nick did.

The rest of the book is amusing. Lots of situational comedy. And I’m always a fan of traveling Irish athletes. The mad cap misadventures of the Little People were funny and horrifying, by turns.

Interested? You can find 6 DAYS TO GET LUCKY on Goodreads, Wilde City Press, Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win an e-copy of 6 DAYS TO VALENTINE and a $5 gc to Wilde City Press.
Good luck and keep reading my friends.

About the author:
LE Franks lives in the SF Bay area and writes M/M Romance in a unique mix of humor and drama with enough suspense to produce fast paced stories filled with emotion and passion and featuring characters that are quirky and complicated and sometimes a little bit dark. LE Franks is a best selling author and finalist for 2013 & 2014 Rainbow Awards. Her books are available through her publishers at MLR Press, Dreamspinner Press and Wilde City Press and Pride Publishing and online bookstores.

You can find LE online on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, twitter and Tumblr.
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