Gay romance

HELD HOSTAGE to Love–Review and Giveaway

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for HELD HOSTAGE, fourth book in the Sin City Uniforms series by Morticia Knight. This is a contemporary police M/M romance and features a SWAT officer who falls for a mild-mannered everyday hero. It was so sweet, with a bit of kink to spice it all up! Comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of ALL FIRED UP, the first book in the Sin City Uniforms series.

Held Hostage (Sin City Uniforms, #4)About the book:
SWAT officer Cole can handle just about anything, until he rescues Brett – a man who makes him question all he’s ever believed about love.

As a member of the Las Vegas Police Department’s SWAT team, Cole has seen his fair share of danger, but he’s never taken a chance on love. He’s willing to have some fun when the mood strikes him, but he’s married to the job. Called in on a hostage situation, Cole is prepared for anything and everything… except for the brave and beautiful Brett.

Brett has been burned before, most recently by Officer Parker McLean. He’s hoping to settle down in Vegas, perhaps find someone he can build a life with. The last thing Brett’s looking for is another man in uniform. But when he meets Cole, there’s an attraction that can’t be denied. Still, he hadn’t expected to fall for the chiseled alpha.

What begins as nothing more than two people experiencing a great night together spirals into something far deeper. But will Brett be able to handle the stress that comes with having a lover who constantly puts his life in jeopardy? And can Cole risk his heart on an everyday hero, or will the job he knows so well remain his top priority?

How about a teaser?

Brett had already grabbed both of them a beer and had brought it straight to the bedroom. Instead of jumping him the minute they’d entered the apartment, Cole had simply followed behind, eyeing him, as Brett had moved through the motions of being a good host and getting comfortable. He wasn’t going to stop and analyze why a man who’d just told him the night before that he didn’t do relationships had shown up unannounced at his job and was once again in his bedroom less than twenty-four hours later.

“Stop.”

Brett let go of the tie that he’d half unknotted already. He’d already hung his suit coat in the closet and had toed off his loafers then pushed them out of the way over by the dresser.

“How important is that tie to you?”

Brett glanced down at the royal blue silk neck accessory that had an elegant silver paisley design woven into the fabric. He liked it. Liked it a lot even. But was it important? Not really. He’d purchased close to a hundred ties since he’d been employed by Jon Martin. He wore one every day and preferred to have on the most recent seasonal styles when he went to work. It had no significance beyond that.

“Not important at all.”

Cole stepped toward him and Brett’s heartbeat accelerated. Cole reached down to finish untying the knot then pulled one end, sliding the thin strip of fabric out from under his collar. Cole wrapped the ends around each of his large hands then snapped them. It went taut. It was strong. Brett couldn’t wait to find out what it would feel like when Cole bound him with it.

My Review:
This is a series book, but easily enjoyed as a standalone.

Brett is manager of an upscale men’s clothing store in Las Vegas. This is a step-down from his regional manager position. He made this career move to have more time with a man he thought he loved, Officer Parker from a previous book in the series. Parker didn’t return his strength of affection, but Brett had already set his mind on settling down, so he can find a long-term lover. His former high-travel lifestyle precluded this.

He’s on the job one week when a psychotic man takes his salesforce hostage and a SWAT shootout results in casualties. Brett had tried to intercede, and he’s wracked by guilt over those who died in the crossfire.

SWAT Officer Cole Silva was on the scene and fired the shot that brought the crisis to an end. Recognizing Brett from the gay club scene, Cole found him extremely attractive before, but he expects Brett will suffer emotionally from the aftermath of the hostage situation so Cole tries to comfort Brett. Their mutual attraction grows into more—quickly. Their chemistry and sexytimes, with a teeny bit of kink, is incendiary.

I really liked the story. There are some solid feelings developed in a short span of time, but both are much more raw and vulnerability due to the hostage crisis. Brett is hesitant to embark on anything with Cole–mostly because Cole doesn’t DO relationships. He’s too afraid something bad will happen while he’s on duty and he’ll leave someone mourning him. But, Brett doesn’t do CASUAL anymore. He got burned with Parker, and he wants a man who wants him.

Expect a break-up-to-make-up. Expect some intense police actions. Expect to like Cole and Brett–they are both good guys. I breezed through this one with a bit of tension and big ole smile.

Interested? You can find HELD HOSTAGE on Goodreads, Totally Bound,
Amazon (US and UK), and Barnes & Noble.  I received a copy of this book via Goodreads’ Don’t Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review.

****GIVEAWAY****

The lovely Ms. Knight is offering a copy of the first book in this series (or a backlist book) to one commenter on each blog on the tour.

So, If you’d like ALL FIRED UP let me know in the comments! You can find and comment on the other tour blogs by clicking here.

Morticia KnightAbout the Author:

Author Morticia Knight spends most of her nights writing about men loving men forever after. If there happens to be some friendly bondage or floggings involved, she doesn’t begrudge her characters whatever their filthy little heart’s desire. Even though she’s been crafting her naughty tales for more years than she’d like to share – her adventures as a published author began in 2011. Once upon a time she was the lead singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She currently resides on the northern Oregon coast and when she’s not fantasizing about hot men she takes walks along the ocean and annoys the local Karaoke bar patrons.

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

Thanks for popping in and keep reading (and commenting!) my friends! Pride-Promotions

Captivated by THE SECRET CASEBOOK OF SIMON FEXIMAL–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing another fantastic historical M/M romance from KJ Charles, this time with a heaping helping of the paranormal. THE SECRET CASEBOOK OF SIMON FEXIMAL is a gorgeously told Victorian story about Robert Caldwell, a journalist, who contracts occultist Simon Fleximal to rid his crumbling ancestral home of the ghost of one of his outre ancestors. It starts out fast and hard, and it ends so dang tender! I couldn’t quit reading it. I adore how KJ writes her stalwart British men. They are so strong and proper, yet so vulnerable.

The Secret Casebook of Simon FeximalAbout the book:
A story too secret, too terrifying—and too shockingly intimate—for Victorian eyes.

A note to the Editor
Dear Henry,
I have been Simon Feximal’s companion, assistant and chronicler for twenty years now, and during that time my Casebooks of Feximal the Ghost-Hunter have spread the reputation of this most accomplished of ghost-hunters far and wide.

You have asked me often for the tale of our first meeting, and how my association with Feximal came about. I have always declined, because it is a story too private to be truthfully recounted, and a memory too precious to be falsified. But none knows better than I that stories must be told.

So here is it, Henry, a full and accurate account of how I met Simon Feximal, which I shall leave with my solicitor to pass to you after my death.

I dare say it may not be quite what you expect.

Robert Caldwell
September 1914

My Review:
This book is written as a series of tell-all vignettes confessing the TRUE nature of the partnership between renown occultist Simon Feximal and his journalist-cum-paranormalist Robert Caldwell. The setting is 1890s London and men are not allowed, legally, to have sexual relations with each other. (But boy-howdy, do they!)

They meet because Robert has a ghost inhabiting his ancestral home. He calls out Simon, who has the ability to communicate with spirits, by means of writings that etch across his skin, when he is in the presence of a ghost. It is horrifying and fascinating to Robert, and the manner of expulsion of his ancestral ghost is sexy-sexy. This was actually so fascinating to read. It could have gone campy, but it never did.

Each chapter is a case; all of them have some heat between Simon and Robert, mostly as a way for Simon to disgorge the coldness that saps him while communing with spirits. I honestly could not get enough of this couple. There could have been a hundred chapters and I’d have continued turning the pages. There are little threads woven in the stories which connect one to the next, but each is unique and interesting while building on the developing love story between these two men.

I won’t say this is tender, because it isn’t. There is tenderness at times, but often it’s harsh and necessary couplings. The desperation they both experience, amid life-and-death encounters kept me captivated. There is incredible tenderness in their small gestures–the ones which need to be hidden to protect them both. Political machinations, revenge plots, destruction, self-sacrifice–it’s all in here. The journal-style of the writing allows an intimate look into Robert’s side of the story and he’s just a dream of an MC. He so adores Simon that it’s impossible not to love Simon through Robert’s POV.

I adored the historical setting, and the old-style British grammar and spellings. I felt like I was there, as gorgeously and clearly as the settings were described. Nothing like a good ghost story–and this book is chock full of good ones.

Interested? You can find THE SECRET CASEBOOK OF SIMON FEXIMAL on Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Author:

KJ Charles is a writer and freelance editor. She lives in London with her husband, two kids, an out-of-control garden and an increasingly murderous cat.

KJ writes mostly romance, gay and straight, frequently historical, and usually with some fantasy or horror in there. She specialises in editing romance, especially historical and fantasy, and also edits children’s fiction.

Find her on Twitter @kj_charles or on Facebook, join her Facebook group, or contact her here. She is represented by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency, and published by Samhain and Loveswept.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Building a LIFE, SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review of a new contemporary M/M romance from Kaje Harper. LIFE, SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED is a sequel that can be read as a standalone. It relates the mundane acts of a newly out gay couple as the traverse the hate-infested waters–and everyday occurrences of life–in a way that is anything but mundane. I really liked it.

imageAbout the book:
Finding love in the ashes was easy. Building a life together? Don’t make Fate laugh.

After spending the first part of his life chasing pretty girls, love has finally come to Ryan in the form of John, a tall, lanky, red-headed landscape architect with wide shoulders and a five-o’clock shadow.

For the first time in his life, love feels easy. Hell, he even ran into a burning building for John and his son, and he’d do it again if he had to. But telling his father and brothers “I’m gay. I’ve met a man”? That’s a bumpy ride he’s not looking forward to.

For John, loving Ryan is as natural as breathing. Now if only the rest of his life would fall into place. Dealing with his teen son is complicated enough, but with his ex-wife causing trouble and his daughter wanting to move in, John’s house—and his relationship with Ryan—threaten to split at the seams.

Would one month without a new surprise knocking him upside the heart be asking too much? If the sound of Fate’s laughter is any indication, the answer must be yes…

Product Warnings: Contains two formerly straight guys learning to navigate the gay-guy waters, sometimes without a paddle. Plus six kinds of family ensuring nothing comes easy.

My Review:
This is the second book in a series, and I read it as a standalone. I think the reader loses nothing in doing so. I had a brief recap of the previous book in this one, and I’m kinda glad I skipped that book, on account of I get triggers over evil-scientist plots….but that’s MY issue.

John and Ryan are two men who have always had straight relationships but have recently embarked on a relationship with each other. They came to terms with their bisexuality in the first book, and are just trying to figure this “gay thing” out. This causes a lot of conflict within their families.

John is a divorced man with two teenaged children, Mark and Torey. He doesn’t have joint custody, but Mark had run to John in the previous book, and currently lives with John and Ryan, with his mother’s grudging permission. John’s ex, Cynthia, is not cool with the “gay thing”–she and her husband are blatantly homophobic. Cynthia lives in LA with Torey, and John tries to keep a decent relationship for his daughter’s sake.

Ryan’s family is mixed; one brother is totally okay with his orientation, his father and other brother are not. Well, dad’s kinda okay, and he gets better, but Brent is really hostile. I had to give props to his bride-to-be, Anne, who makes Brent adjust his attitude.

Ryan and John are stable, and love each other, but they have a lot of stress–Ryan is a medical student, recovering from burn injuries suffered as a fire fighter. He had recently saved Mark from a fire, and John, Ryan and Mark suffer nightmares over that ordeal. John is a parent, and has the associated parental worries, especially as Mark begins to close in emotionally, and Torey’s calls from LA are becoming more regular and more upsetting–she hates her stepfather, and Cynthia is sick with pregnancy issues (and perhaps depression).

The stress peaks when Torey and Cynthia turn up on their Wisconsin doorstep, essentially destitute. Ryan is afraid that John will reconnect with his pregnant ex, and all his heart will be broken–plus he will have come out and estranged himself for nothing. John is a stalwart and the best kind of man. He only cares for Cynthia in that she’s the mother of his kids and soon to deliver his kids’ half-sister. His love is really more of agape, than amore. I didn’t wonder much regarding Ryan’s angst. Both Mark and Torey really like Ryan, and want him to remain their dad’s partner–and perhaps more.

This book is big on reality. It deals with the mundane in an approachable way. Life is messy, and Ryan and John’s life is especially messy. At times I wondered if the stress would break them apart, but they consistently took steps to come closer; even if Ryan’s motives seem selfish. It’s funny, though. People say love is selfless, and it isn’t always. Motives can indeed be selfish, and still be the right thing to do. Ryan has a right to be suspicious of Cynthia’s motives. She is a crafty gal, and focused on finding a good provider for her infant–and John is a demonstrated good provider.

The end of this book is not the end of this story, I’m sure, but it does end with a solid resolution and a solid HEA. There are some nice sexytimes that, again, are realistic. First times and fun times and aborted missions…which only drew me into this relationship more. I think there were plenty of ways for this book to go wrong, to get melodramatic and absurd, but it never did. It stayed the course and captivated me.

Interested? You can find LIFE, SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Samhain Publishing and AllRomance.

About the Author:
I live in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, the mosquito is the state bird, and where sometimes in winter it can be breathtakingly beautiful. Of course, the deepfreeze chill contributes to the breath-taking, but Minnesota’s a kindly, quiet place and it’s home to me now. I’ve been writing for far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – forty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, and currently am focused on M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, history, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories released under the pen name Kira Harp.

My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. My husband finally convinced me that after all that time writing, I really should submit something, somewhere. I was thrilled when it was accepted. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing the four novels and three freebie short stories in the series. I’ve been just delighted by the reception Mac and Tony have received.

My first free book became the first story that I actually released – I put it up a month before Life Lessons just for the fun of getting it out there. Lies and Consequences began as a reaction to the November 2010 election. It looked like the repeal of DADT might be derailed by the political shift and I put the insanity of that law into the book. Then as I was finishing the first draft in mid-December the repeal passed. Which was great, but prompted a rewrite to a lighter and more action/romance book. This was a solo effort and I learned a lot from writing and releasing it and from the reviews. Check Smashwords for that one and many of my other freebies.

I now have a decent backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my Books page. This writing thing is addictive. So read, comment, tell me what you like and what you don’t, and help me make the upcoming books even better.

You can find me to chat on my author page here on Goodreads most easily – I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group there. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.

You can also find me on my blog.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Sweet Love: CITY SLICKER AT THE HORNY GOAT RANCH–A Review for Joyfully Jay

Hi there! Just want to share my latest review from over on Joyfully Jay. CITY SLICKER AT THE HORNY GOAT RANCH by Daisy Harris is a sweet, funny new adult M/M romance between a strapping young goat rancher and the city slicker land developer who moves in next door.

City SlickerAbout the book:

Keith Kelley doesn’t normally take kindly to strangers, but his flashy new neighbor has long legs, lips made for kissing and might prove too much temptation for a boy hiding his sexuality in rural Idaho. Unfortunately, between working his mom’s goat ranch and land disputes with his wealthy father, Keith has enough problems. He doesn’t need the best sex of his life threatening to expose his precarious secrets.

Real estate developer Max Levin vows to turn the one-stoplight town of Pookataw Valley into a quaint vacation destination…and then leave before the dust clears. Given his next assignment starts in five months, Max shouldn’t start loving the quaint little town—the ranchland, the mountains, even the goats. If only Max could stop thinking about his sexy neighbor and the time they shared in the front seat of Keith’s truck. Because he especially shouldn’t fall in love with a guy who can’t openly love him back.

In a town the size of Pookataw Valley, nothing stays secret for long. If Keith wants to hold onto his birthright, he’ll have to fight for his land and his pride. Most of all, he’ll have to fight for Max before he slips through Keith’s fingers.

Warning: contains angry parents, horny ranchers and snarky city boys just asking to be hogtied.

This is a light read that still has lots of heart. Both characters are good guys who need a solid partner, but are afraid to commit for valid reasons. Keith’s parents are not likely to be amenable. His relationship with his dad is already strained due to his continued assistance at his mother’s farm. Keith is due land from the family trust, which he could forfeit if he father is opposed to his lifestyle, and his mom might just kick him out if she finds out. Max doesn’t have the same issues, his parents have long known his orientation and don’t care at all, but he’s constantly on the move, developing real estate for his company. How can he ask a guy to settle down with him, when he’ll have to move every five or six months?

Check out my full review over on Joyfully Jay Reviews.

Thanks for popping in,a dn keep reading my friends!

Caught in the Crossfire in TIME WAITS–A Review for Joyfully Jay

Hi there! Well, I’m feeling elated after yesterday’s big SCOTUS decision, and wanted to pass on my recent update via Joyfully Jay. This week, I shared my review for TIME WAITS, a fascinating near-future time-travel M/M romance recently released by a new author to me, CB Lewis, and Dreamspinner Press.

Time WaitsAbout the book:

Badly wounded and on the run from his WWII Hungarian brigade, Janos Nagy stumbles through a temporal gateway to the future. Suddenly stranded in Manchester, England, 2041, Janos wants answers about a crazy world he doesn’t recognize.

Dieter Schmidt, flamboyant historian/linguist for the Temporal Research Institution has those answers, but the TRI is a neutral entity, set up to verify historical events under a strict code of noninterference. That doesn’t stop Dieter from taking Janos under his protection. Trust doesn’t come easy to Janos, who came from a time when revealing his secrets could get him killed, but the two men slowly build a tentative friendship with a possibility for more. But Janos’s continued presence in the future and Dieter’s persistence raise questions about the limits of the noninterference policy.

Since the rules have been bent once, one agent sees no reason why he can’t push them further, and he travels back to 1914 to make a few changes of his own. Under Janos’s guidance, Dieter must leap back in time to stop the rogue agent from changing the past and risking everyone’s future—if he can survive history.

I really liked the idea of this book and felt like it was well-executed. The romance between Janos and Dieter is slow to build and develop. Each man experiences an attraction he feels is wrong—Janos due to ingrained homophobia and fear, Dieter because he feels like he’s taking advantage of a man trapped in time. Dieter and Janos were fantastic characters. They have a real chemistry that simmers. Dieter is required to retrieve his fellow time agent, and he’s intellectually prepared for a job that he is physically untrained to perform. He’s never BEEN on a mission, and his own mother was lost to a time incident, but Dieter is determined to do this right. It is heartbreaking for Janos to have to train him, both of them knowing that this time jump will likely separate them forever, even if Dieter is successful in his mission.

Check out my entire 4.25 star review on Joyfully Jay Reviews.
Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends.

Cephalopod Coffeehouse June 2015–FOR A REASON

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

Hi there, folks. Today is a landmark day in the struggle for equal rights for LGBTQ persons in the US. On June 26, 2003 the Supreme Court ruled on Lawrence v. Texas invalidating sodomy laws in the US under the 14th Amendment. On June 26, 2013 The Supreme Court ruled on Windsor v. United States to strike down the 3rd clause of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) that removed the federal definition of marriage to solely be between heterosexual couples under the 5th Amendment. I could be wrong, but I (and the various news outlets) expect the Supreme Court will render a decision in Obergefell v. Hodges today, which is expected to deem all anti-same-sex marriage laws, in the final 13 states which hold them, unconstitutional. I really hope this comes to pass. Disclaimer: I’m a straight, white, heterosexual woman who is also a feminist and equal rights activist. As if you didn’t know! 

So, in honor of these legislative victories, I’m featuring a good old gay romance set in Florida, the Sunshine State, a place where gay marriage may now be legal thanks to the Supreme Court ruling I expect to be released. FOR A REASON is a tender romance between two men who deserve a strong, loving partnership.

For A Reason (Sizzling Miami #2)My Review:
I received his book via Goodreads’ Don’t Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. This is the second book in a series but can be enjoyably read as a standalone.

Ian Jones is a 25 y/o out gay man who has long known he was a throwaway–because he actually was, twice in his life, tossed into a dumpster and left for dead. He survived hellish foster care, barely, and even completed college. He has no one in the world who knows/cares for him, and he’s moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FLA with the grim determination to build a life for himself. Despite a computer science degree, he can’t find full-time work, and his clunker of a car breaks down on his trip to Miami on his way to yet another interview.

Bull Connor is a large and in-charge mechanic, who picks up Ian and his car. Bull’s a former special forces soldier, but he now serves as a surrogate parent to his three younger siblings and as a mentor and rehabilitator to a group of ex-cons he’s trained to work his garage, who also live in his halfway house. Bull likes to help, and he’s got a serious hero complex, so refusing to leave Ian in his near-homeless Ft. Lauderdale roach motel is not even a question.

Against Ian’s protests, Bull insists on taking him to his own home–offering Ian a clean, safe bedroom, and an office job at the garage. Too good to be true? Ian thinks so, but he’s happy to be proven wrong.

After a week or so of both men sharing close quarters, they decide to become more than roommates. It takes time for Ian to really share himself, emotionally and physically, but Bull’s patient. For both men, they find a sense of security they have lacked. Bull’s used to people needing/using him, and Ian’s stalwart stance on independence is very welcome. Ian wants to feel loved, and Bull–with his large family and extended family of employees–becomes the loving community that Ian has always craved.

And, then there were more….Ian is challenged when people from his past turn up, but he’s able to get through the emotional turmoil with Bull standing beside him.

I really liked this cast of characters. I didn’t read the first book, but didn’t feel the lack-all relevant details are seamlessly woven into this story. Both Ian and Bull are such great guys, and their growing affection is wonderful to witness. There is a good amount of sexytimes with a little kink–light dominance, nothing more–and even that melds into really tender experiences for both Bull and Ian. I adored how Bull’s “people” for lack of a better word, took Ian as their own, and made him theirs, too. There seem to be many stories in the offing for this cast, and I’d gladly go back for more.

Interested? You can find FOR A REASON on Goodreads, and Amazon.

Thanks for popping in, and make sure to visit my fellow Coffeehouse reviewers. Peace and love, y’all!

 

This is FOR REAL Love–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m so excited to share my review for a newly released contemporary M/M romance from Alexis Hall. I have read his shorter novel WAITING FOR THE FLOOD, and really enjoyed his storytelling, so I jumped at the chance to pick up FOR REAL. This is a frank, sexy light-BDSM romance that develops between a 37 y/o submissive doctor and a 19 y/o Dom. It’s a fascinating  “odd couple” story.

For RealAbout the book:
Laurence Dalziel is worn down and washed up, and for him, the BDSM scene is all played out. Six years on from his last relationship, he’s pushing forty and tired of going through the motions of submission.

Then he meets Toby Finch. Nineteen years old. Fearless, fierce, and vulnerable. Everything Laurie can’t remember being.

Toby doesn’t know who he wants to be or what he wants to do. But he knows, with all the certainty of youth, that he wants Laurie. He wants him on his knees. He wants to make him hurt, he wants to make him beg, he wants to make him fall in love.

The problem is, while Laurie will surrender his body, he won’t surrender his heart. Because Toby is too young, too intense, too easy to hurt. And what they have—no matter how right it feels—can’t last. It can’t mean anything.

It can’t be real.

My Review:
This book is long, but didn’t read that way at all. Often times I feel like I want more detail in a story, want to know more about a character if a situation, but not this time. This time I had everything I needed, and all the stuff I didn’t need but learned that I really wanted once I had it. Thanks for that, mate! (PS, Anglophiles rejoice, they’re Londoners!)

Laurie is a 37 y/o pre-hospital consultant. I honestly had no idea what this was until I’d completed half the book. Turns out it’s a specialized doctor who goes out on scene to assist with stabilizing injured people before they can be brought to the hospital–a medical first-responder who is an actual doctor. He specializes in trauma cases and lives a high stress life as a result. He’s terribly alone since his lover of 12 years, Richard, left him 6 years prior. He does go out for random hook-ups but Laurie is an unapologetic sub who needs a man who will take him in a firm hand–and he won’t fall in love again, so it’s hard for him to develop the trust he needs for more than a random BDSM scene.

Out with friends at a BDSM club he sees a startlingly young man, and approaches him to tell him off for crashing the party, only to have this inexplicably fierce, short, pimply 19 y/o man turn the tables entirely. Laurie is blown apart by this Neo-Dom, and takes him home, only to break down. His Dom is frustrated with having a fantastic moment ruined by Laurie’s callous behavior, and lets him know this–but the two men find solace with each other. It is only the next day that names are exchanged. Toby, the young Dom, is less fierce than Laurie had expected, and the sex is galactic, yet it’s all a one-off as far as Laurie is concerned.

Thing is, Laurie can’t get Toby out of his brain, and is pleased that Toby turns up on his doorstep a week later for another go-round. Afraid that he’s developing actual feelings, however, Laurie behaves like an ass again–hoping to drive Toby away. Which he does, for a while. But, Toby’s persistent, and he’s fully aware that his Dom desires aren’t likely to be filled by anyone his own age. Plus, getting a posh man to drop to his knees is really the height of flattery, for Toby.

The story spans several months over which time both Toby and Laurie fall arse over teakettle for one another, even if Laurie would rather cut out his own tongue than admit it aloud. The emotions here are raw and so brutally honest. Toby is ruthless emotionally, to himself and Laurie–forcing both of them to see the strengths and frailties of their arrangement. I felt like my own heart was being cuffed up and spread open. Toby needs someone to want him, to care about him, and the only people in his life who seem to do so are his dying Grandad and Laurie. His mom cares, but not in a maternal way; it’s too pedestrian for her artistic sensibilities. Laurie’s afraid to pledge his heart to a man so young with so much life in front of him. He doesn’t want to waste Toby’s time–when he thinks Toby will just find a more suitable mate and throw him over. And he feels a bit awkward (read: he’s obsessed) about the age gap.

It’s a delicious character study, and a fantastic read with plenty of kinky sexytimes, but also chock full of tenderness and vulnerability. This is book where the tears shed aren’t only mine, but Toby’s and Laurie’s, too. So much coming to terms with life and its many choices. Of learning to trust, and to give trust. I just adored Toby’s POV. He’s unfailingly honest and open–something that disarms and charms and frightens Laurie. I was so glad their HEA came! It was also so fun to be in Toby’s head as he had his first real and positive experiences as a Dom. I think his youth and exuberance helped soften his sadist side; an older, experienced character would have come off as pompous or cruel–where Toby is more playful in his internal dialogue. Also, I loved how both Toby and Laurie were able to enjoy themselves in a judgment-free sexual zone. The sexytimes are plentiful, but never got boring. I never felt myself skimming.

Interested? You can find FOR REAL on Goodreads, Riptide Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
Alexis Hall was born in the early 1980s and still thinks the 21st century is the future. To this day, he feels cheated that he lived through a fin de siècle but inexplicably failed to drink a single glass of absinthe, dance with a single courtesan, or stay in a single garret. He did the Oxbridge thing sometime in the 2000s and failed to learn anything of substance. He has had many jobs, including ice cream maker, fortune teller, lab technician, and professional gambler. He was fired from most of them.

He can neither cook nor sing, but he can handle a 17th century smallsword, punts from the proper end, and knows how to hotwire a car.

He lives in southeast England, with no cats and no children, and fully intends to keep it that way.

You can catch up with Alexis on Goodreads, Twitter and his website.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Mysteries and Schemes at THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF–Review for Joyfully Jay

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for Jade Astor’s creepily gothic M/M mystery/romance, THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF. I enjoyed the misdirection, and characters, of this well-paced story.

imageAbout the book:
A small-engine repair degree can only get you so far in a seaside tourist town—just ask Noah Camden. But his luck takes a turn when he stops to help a man change a tire. Obviously wealthy, the man offers Noah a job at the imposing manor, Cliff House. Noah is to care for the man’s vehicles and chauffeur the man’s son, Tristan Peterson, for the summer. Tristan is afraid to drive because of a mysterious accident–and no one will tell Noah the details.

Though the young men come from vastly different social backgrounds, Tristan and Noah slowly bond. One day Tristan confesses the truth: his first love, Martin Praxley, an estate handyman, was killed in the accident. Tristan believes Martin’s ghost is haunting him, bent on revenge. Noah vows to figure out what really happened, how it’s possible Martin is back from the dead to torment Tristan, and how they can find peace and happiness together with the secrets of Cliff House looming over them.

Having been a mystery fan since my childhood, I truly appreciated the gothic quality of the story–parts of it reminded me strongly of (a gay) JANE EYRE or REBECCA, with a whole lot more steamy bits! While I didn’t think this would become a supernatural romance, there was clearly a well-crafted attempt to create doubt. The resolution is good, with an HEA for pretty much everyone…well, okay, maybe not one creepy guy. Head on over to Joyfully Jay to catch my full review.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Riding Out MY COWBOY PROMISES-Review & Giveaway

My Cowboy Promises Blog Tour BannerHi there! Today I”m sharing my review for ZA Maxfield’s MY COWBOY PROMISES, a contemporary cowboy M/M romance. This one has a less-upbeat story, featuring a severely closeted character living with the fallout of his “out”-ing. I had a bit of heartbreak for Ryder, and was glad that his life turned around for the better. Make sure to scroll down and enter the $25 Amazon GC giveaway.

My Cowboy Promises (The Cowboys, #4)About the book:
A real man needs a real love…

To become the man he’s meant to be, one cowboy will have to be the man he never wanted anyone to know he was…

Ryder Dent is a true-blue cowboy. A devoted son, husband and father, but one who is living a costly lie. When they were both young, Ryder and his closest female friend Andy thought they’d found the perfect solution to both their problems—she was single and pregnant, and he was secretly gay—so they got married and raised Jonas together.

When Ryder gets hurt at a party, his son’s new pediatrician comes to the rescue. The connection between Ryder and Dr. Declan Winters is sudden, powerful, and undeniable. Ryder loves Andy and the family they’ve created together—but they both need more. Can they pursue their hearts’ desire without destroying the life they’ve built and losing the son they love?

How about a little taste? This is the scene where Ryder is struck by a Declan lightning bolt…

The hottest guy I ever saw was playing “Pop Goes the Weasel” on the piano while fifteen cagey preschoolers circled fourteen chairs. My father-in-law’s annual Fourth of July shindig—the biggest event of the year—was a family picnic. We’d set aside a play area for the littlest kids and I’d volunteered to supervise, but the piano man blindsided me and I nearly missed an outrageous hair- pulling incident.

Like a too bright pair of headlights on a moonless night, he was all I could see.

Mayor Calder Hamilton—a cartoon bear of a man with a white handlebar mustache—snuck up on me with one of those painful backslapping man hugs.

“Ryder Dent, you son of a bitch. Which one is your boy?”

“That’s Jonas.” I pointed out my son. “Blue plaid shirt, cowboy hat. Crass determination to win?”

“I know that look, I see it every day when I look in the mirror. But how can that be him? Last time I saw him he was half that size.”

Why do people always say that? Is it some rite of passage? Am I going to be surprised kids grow someday too? “We had to buy him a new pair of cowboy boots just last week.”

“He’s a fine-looking boy. Where’s Andrea?”

“She doesn’t come to these things to hang around with me.” I glanced toward the windows. “You’ll find her wherever there’s dancing.”

“She leaves you in charge of Jonas?”

“Gosh, yeah. Andi’s the social one. She likes to kick up her heels and I don’t mind if she wants to have some fun.”

“So have you met our new doctor yet? Isn’t he something? I have never seen anyone play piano like that.”

“That’s Doctor Winters?” The doc had started playing “Pop Goes the Weasel” like a Russian folk dance, all the while yelling Hai! Hai,! Hai! Hai! The music stopped and the chaos started. Jonas ended up on another chair.

“Go, Team Jonas!” I pumped my fist like a goofball.

“Yeah. Go, boy, go!” Hamilton was already tipsy enough to be unaware he was shouting right in my ear. It didn’t matter; I was going deaf from all the kids squealing anyway. “I’d like to ask your help with something.”

“Sure thing, Mayor. Shoot.”

“I need you and your family in a campaign ad”

“My family?” Good grief. Bitterroot’s founding fathers would shit in their graves at such an idea. “I don’t think we’d make a very good ad.”

“C’mon.” He punched my arm. “You and Andrea are both attractive. Jonas is a cute kid. You had to make some tough choices in the beginning, but look where you are now.”

“Uh . . . I don’t think—”

“I need a family exactly like yours to represent my campaign to the twenty-somethings. I need them to believe they’re important to me.”

Me and Andi? My stomach did a full 360, front to back, as if I was on a Six Flags ride. Mayor Hamilton wanted some picture-frame perfect family, and we were not it. Plus, we hadn’t exactly voted for him. “I’ll ask Andi about it, but—”

“Andrea’s dad just told me he’s backing me all the way again this next election.”

“Is he?” That figures. Her dad likes politicians to owe him.


“So you just tell her you’re doing it, okay?”

“Sure, I’ll mention it, but—”

Hamilton’s wife, Sally, came up to collect him. “C’mon Cowboy. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

She grabbed his hand and, after a good-natured tug-of-war, they left together. I breathed again. Andi’s dad ran one of the most successful ranches in the area. If he wanted to see my family on a billboard, I’d have to figure a way to get out of it or learn to say “cheese.”

It was pretty hard to say no to Sterling Chandler. I’m not sure he understood the word.

Shit.

The new doc managed to make “Pop Goes the Weasel” sound like a funeral dirge and the children all lurched around like little zombies. Then he turned it into a raucous honkytonk song.

Who was this guy?

Jonas got eliminated fourth from last but he wasn’t crushed by the loss. His attention shifted right away to the buffet, where the cater-waiters had installed several trays of Texas-sized cookies, all colored with red, white, and blue sugar crystals in honor of the holiday.

Musical Chairs, the Survivor edition, came down to two particularly crafty-looking femme fatales. One wore a jeans skirt, cowboy boots, and a pretty white blouse, and the other had on a daisy-printed sundress with lacy socks and jelly shoes. Lacy socks girl won by body-checking white blouse girl out of the way and pouncing on the last chair. She gripped the seat so tight with both hands no one could get her off it.

The new doc consoled the runner-up with a box of big-block Legos and gave the winner a play set with pink and purple Ponies but it seemed she thought she was getting the chair as her prize. Eventually her mom pried her up and they all wandered off to join the party outside.

Doc Winters was left to tidy up. I figured I ought to help, being family and all. Plus, it might get me out of small talk outside.

But the doc was the best looking man I had ever seen up close. I was bound to mess up and say something super stupid, and Andi was going to hear about it, and then she was going to tease me for the rest of my life, because she was just waiting for me to lose my shit over some guy.

And Doc Winters, M.D., The Yankee Doodler?

He could be the guy.

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

Ryder is a stalwart, honorable man–for 23 y/o. He’s gay, and only out to his wife, Andi. He and Andi have been friends since childhood and when she was to become an unwed mother from her pursuit of a completely unsuitable (and uninterested) man Ryder stepped in and took care of Andi and Jonas, foregoing a football scholarship that would have taken him far away from his small-town and the anti-gay prejudice. Ryder has been a faithful husband. Well, that’s not true. He’s been a monk and Andi’s been a nun. They share a bed and parental roles, but not their bodies. Ryder has always been Andi’s biggest cheerleader and encourages her to follow her dreams, even though it goes against her father’s wishes.

Meeting Dr. Declan WInters–the new town doc–is a frightening revelation for Ryder. Declan is exactly the right man to unravel Ryder’s tightly held control. Andi recognizes that Ryder is holding back and encourages him to pursue Declan–undercover.

I liked large parts of this story. I’ll be honest that the “open” marriage solution was not my fave. I know, I know, it works for some folks, but I like my romance with a heaping helping of honesty. A large part of the book was devoted to keeping Ryder’s secret, and it added to the tension, but I was a little uncomfortable with it. Yes, Ryder does come out–and it is like a nuclear bomb in his life. He’s not sure if Andi will follow her homophobic father’s advice and move out–taking his beloved Jonas away. Ryder’s father isn’t best-pleased, either, with extreme risk of both Ryder’s home and job in the balance. And there’s fallout for Dr. Winters–his small-town medical practice might be sunk.

I thought that the resolution of all this heartache was well-told. I do like to see when families heal, and deal, once the dust settles. I’d say that the exact nature of Ryder’s relationships are more honest and stable at the end of the book, and for that I was happy, but it happened more by default than design. I didn’t get the resolution I wanted between Ryder and Jonas, but only because the focus was more on Declan and Ryder, and Andi. Andi had the opportunity to really twist the knife on Ryder, especially as she was essentially destitute and with a small child without Ryder. Her financial issues could have led her to accept her father’s mandates and money. But she made good choices about that, and Ryder was clearly the best Daddy evah.

Having known teen parents quite closely, I’ve seen some of the unhealthy relationship dynamics they experience–Andi, Ryder and Jonas were some of the best emotionally adjusted characters I could have imagined. There wasn’t a lot of sexytimes, but they were good. I guess I just wish there had been more openness, that Ryder could have been open about his sexuality, which would have allowed me to experience that euphoria more. Don’t expect a lot of cowboy life–a couple trail rides is all you’ll find–though growing up and working on Andi’s family ranch, Ryder runs the ranch supply store in town.

Interested? You can find MY COWBOY PROMISES on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and All Romance.

The Cowboys series CollageBe sure to check out all the books in the Cowboys Series.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

ZA MaxfieldAbout the Author:
Z.A. Maxfield started writing in 2007 on a dare from her children and never looked back. Pathologically disorganized, and perennially optimistic, she writes as much as she can, reads as much as she dares, and enjoys her time with family and friends. If anyone asks her how a wife and mother of four manages to find time for a writing career, she’ll answer, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you give up housework.”

Her published books include Crossing Borders, Drawn Together, and the St. Nacho’s and Brothers Grime series from Loose Id, ePistols at Dawn and The Pharaoh’s Concubine from Samhain Publishing, and Notturno, Vigil, Stirring Up Trouble, and All Stirred Up from MLR Press.

Catch up with Ms. Maxfield online on her website, twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.
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Enchanted by SPEEDY REWARDS–Review & Giveaway

speedy-fb copy
Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for a fantastic contemporary M/M romance from Jeff Erno. SPEEDY REWARDS is an ensemble story that captivated me from the first page. The story weaves between characters in and around the Speedy Mart, a gas station/convenience store, set in an economically depressed area of rural Michigan. What these folks get up to in such a small space! Outlandish, and yet fully believable.

Scroll down to check out the totally NSFW excerpt and enter the giveaway, too!

Speedy Rewards (Working Class #1)About the book:
Phil Mitchell pours his heart and soul into his job as manager of Speedy Mart, a local convenience store. He loves his work and he loves his fellow employees, but when it comes to his personal life, Phil is lonely and depressed and still pining for his long-departed ex.

He embarks upon the week from hell where anything that can go wrong does. It begins with a truck crashing into his outdoor sign and only goes downhill from there.

Add an asshole homophobic boss hell bent on seeing him fired and Phil realizes he needs to put into place a plan to save himself and his job.

First step in his plan… do something about his love life.

Meanwhile, Ezra, one of Phil’s team members, is dealing with his own roller coaster ride of a week.

As is Brandon, the local cop…

And Mark, the homophobic boss…

Perhaps, with a little… luck, the next week will be better.

How about a little taste?

Esdras Manuel Covington, aka Ezra, smiled as he slid behind the wheel of his 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix.

“Bitch, you better start,” he said in his most sincerely threatening voice as he slid the key into the ignition. As he turned the key, the engine chugged to life, sluggishly at first, until he depressed the gas pedal, revving the motor.

Wham!

Ezra about jumped out of his skin. His head snapped toward the passenger sideof the car where two palms pressed against the window. The smiling face of a familiar customer beamed between the outstretched hands.

He powered down the window. “Jesus Christ, Jeremy! You scared the fuck outta me.”

The twenty-something he-man grinned mischievously, the corners of his mouth curled upward as his lips peeled back to reveal a row of gleaming white teeth. “Yo motherfucka. Wassup?” With his forearms resting against the ledge, he leaned in. “You off work, man?”

“Yeah, I just got out.”

“I got something,” Jeremy said, lowering his voice. “Special fucking delivery.”
Ezra straightened his posture just a bit and raised his eyebrows. “Dude, that was fast.” He jerked his head slightly, motioning for Jeremy to get in the passenger seat.

Jeremy stood about six foot three inches with broad shoulders and the build of a bouncer. Actually, he did work as a bouncer on the weekends at some nearby club. Of course, that wasn’t his main gig. He also worked security at the Fashion Warehouse, a women’s clothing outlet in one of the nearby strip malls. He definitely put the “body” in “bodyguard”, with his rippling, muscular pecs and abs, and bulging biceps.

“Gonna pull around back,” Ezra said as Jeremy adjusted the seat, sliding it back to accommodate his long legs. “Dude, I didn’t expect you to deliver so quick.” He shifted into gear and backed out of his parking space then pulled around to the rear of the building.

“I told ya, man. I’m hooked up.” He slid his hand into the pocket of his leather jacket and pulled out a baggie.

Ezra parked where he could clearly see if any other vehicles were approaching, but made sure he was not in plain sight of the Speedy Mart patrons. “I… uh….” He turned to face his friend.

“Man, I don’t get paid till tomorrow. I had the cash, but….”

Jeremy’s smile never faded, and with a shrug he tossed the bag of weed into Ezra’s lap. “I know you’re good for it, man. You won’t be playin’ me.”

“Dude, this is like… man, you don’t gotta trust me.”

“Oh, I don’t trust nobody.” He reached into the inner chest pocket of his jacket and removed a pack of Marlboro Reds, flicked one out, and seized it with his lips. He fired it up with a Bic then released a stream of smoke out the open window. “Never said I trusted you. I said I know you’re good for it.”

“Oh. Well, thanks.”

Again, he shrugged. “That’s what friends are for, right? You scratch my back, I scratch yours.”

“Right.” Ezra nodded then stared down at the dope. “This ain’t no eighth,” he said.

“Quarter,” Jeremy said. “Consider it a blue-light special. Since you’re a first-time customer, ya know.”

Ezra grinned. “Really? So, it’s like, same price?”

“Pretty much.” He turned in his seat, not just tilting his head, but shifting his entire upper body, and placed his fingertips against Ezra’s cheek. “Of course, it’d be cool if you—ya know—expressed your gratitude.” He patted, then gently slapped, the cheek a couple times, staring into Ezra’s eyes.

Ezra’s heartbeat quickened as his gaze locked onto Jeremy’s. Though he wanted to speak, to reply in the affirmative, he suddenly couldn’t find his voice. So he simply nodded.

Jeremy slid back, reaching down to locate the control to recline the seat. Ezra stared at his long legs, now spread, and the sight triggered a ripple of fluttering in his own lower abdomen. A familiar tingling, undoubtedly operant conditioning. Jeremy didn’t have to be more specific or cajole him in any way. Ezra already knew. He sensed what Jeremy was after. He could feel it in his gut.

He slid a slightly trembling hand onto Jeremy’s thigh.

Jeremy’s laugh alone could have seduced Ezra, low and sultry. Evil? Well, at least tempting. He took a long drag from his cigarette and then flicked it out the window before settling back in the seat and unbuttoning his fly.

It felt like a dream or a movie, certainly not real. Ezra had chatted with Jeremy numerous times in the store. They’d established a rapport, which in turn had facilitated the transaction that just transpired. Though Ezra at times allowed himself to get overly flirty, he’d never deliberately come onto Jeremy. To Ezra’s knowledge, he’d offered Jeremy no clue of his orientation.

“I knew a joint wasn’t the only thing you liked to smoke,” Jeremy teased.
Ezra slid his hand farther up Jeremy’s inner thigh. “No. I like a nice fat blunt occasionally.”
Another bout of rumbly laughter escaped Jeremy’s throat as he looked into Ezra’s eyes. “I definitely got a fat one for ya, boy. You have such soft, pouty lips.” He extended his arm, pressing against Ezra’s mouth with his index finger. Ezra parted his lips and sucked in the digit, barely an inch then slowly retracted.

“Aw, fuck yeah,” Jeremy moaned.

Ezra felt the throb of a growing bulge beneath the fabric of Jeremy’s cargos. His pulse pounded, throbbing in conjunction with his own hard-on. He shifted in his seat, maneuvering his position to work around the gearshift, and carefully unzipped Jeremy’s fly.

Whew! Well, I guess you figured out that this is NOT a kiddo book… I loved every minute of it. I got chills, actually, reading that piece because Ezra’s about to get a real eye-opener in that scene.

My Review:
This is an ensemble cast book, with intersecting points of view centered around the Speedy Mart, a small-town convenience store/gas station in rural Michigan. If you are a fan of LOVE ACTUALLY, the cult-classic CLERKS, or PULP FICTION (sans the murders) you will love this story.

The main character of the entire story is Phil, manager of the Speedy Mart. He is a 35 y/o, out gay man who has worked in retail his whole life. His tenacity and compassion as a boss helps his eclectic team of workers thrive. Among the employees at the Speedy Mart is an aging drag queen, a secret-drinker Wiccan BDSM Domme, a glam boy, and a gruff–former-alcoholic-former-homeless assistant manager. The Monday morning rush at the Speedy Mart is no joke, and it’s further complicated when Ezra (the glam boy) is nearly hit by a Coke delivery truck. The driver, Vince, makes a heroic save resulting in minimal property damage, which brings Phil’s overbearing and homophobic manager Mark to the scene.

It is now that Phil’s professional life begins to unravel. And it isn’t helped when Ezra is held up at gunpoint the following day. Mark has an ax to grind with Phil, and it’s of a deeply personal nature. His solutions for Phil’s store: fire everyone, including Phil, but Mark can’t make that happen without some HR documentation, so he turns the screws tight waiting for the Speedy Mart to topple. With the turmoil at work, Phil is unlikely to find respite, but he does–with Humberto, a young, suave Mexican-American handyman.

Meanwhile, having two near-death experiences turns Ezra into a mess. His best friend, Jeremy, is not much help–going through some intense relationship issues with his “open relationship” live-in boyfriend, Vince–the Coke deliveryman.

There are further and deeper connections between the many characters in this story, but they all flow seamlessly via the multiple points of view. I developed such love for this quirky cast, and wanted everyone (excepting Vince) to have an HEA. I was really, really close to getting that wish-come-true. Even Mark was redeemed, and in the sexiest way possible.

Speaking of sexy, I did like the sexytimes. The book likely has more per-capita oral action than I’ve read before (if you recall the excerpt above…), but there are some rather tender scenes blending in there, too. I really felt emotionally engaged the whole time. Expect to laugh, swoon, shake your head, and wish to punch out a character, or two. *evil-eyes Vince*

I was captivated by the close interactions this “work family” displayed–and how they banded together to support Phil in his professional and personal life. My one complaint? I didn’t get to experience the company picnic! These people are a total hoot, and I was sad to turn the final page.

Interested? You can find SPEEDY REWARDS on Goodreads, and get 40% through 6/21 at Wayward Ink Publishing. Regular price on Amazon (US, UK, DE and AU), Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win one of several prizes including a $20 WIP Gift Card, a $10 WIP Gift Card, or an ebook copy of Speedy Rewards
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the author:
JEFF ERNO began writing LGBT fiction in the late 1990s. Although an avid reader and amateur writer from a very young age, Jeff pursued a career as a retail store manager in Northern Michigan. When his first gay-themed novel was published, he was shocked that anyone would even want to read it. So far, he’s published over thirty novels. Jeff lives in Southern Michigan, where he works part time at a convenience store.

Jeff’s writing credits include a variety of themes and sub-genres including male romance, Young Adult, Science Fiction, erotica, and BDSM. He is the winner of a 2012 Rainbow Award and an Honorable Mention in 2011. His style is unpretentious and focused upon emotionally-driven, character-based stories that touch the heart. Jeff is especially passionate about young adult literature and combating teen bullying and youth suicide.

You can catch up with Jeff on his website, Facebook, Twitter, or by email.