M/M Romance

Mix-Ups And Meyhem in WITH THIS BLING–A Review

Hi there! today I’m sharing my review for a funny contemporary M/M romance from LB Gregg. WITH THIS BLING is the third book in the Romano and Albright series, and it’s a fast-paced adventure/romance.

With This Bling (Romano and Albright, #3)About the book:
Caesar Romano’s catering career is doing better than he’d ever dreamed. And so is his love life—even if his boyfriend’s house in Staten Island is way too far from civilization for his liking. But then in short order, Caesar is duped into helping his cousin propose, is tricked by his best friend and business partner into appearing on live television, and is harassed by a thug-like personal trainer and his far too beautiful wife. In fact, Caesar is almost too busy to notice that something is troubling his PI boyfriend, Dan Albright.

Almost.

Laid-back, open, charming—that’s the impression hunky former NYPD Detective Dan Albright gives everyone. Caesar can add sexually adventurous and a bit of an exhibitionist. But he also knows that Dan is hiding something—something dark and a little dangerous—and when Dan’s silence over his mysterious past threatens to harm them both, it’s Caesar’s turn to save the day.

But then again, a break-in, a gallery party, an heirloom ring, a new suit, and a stalker with bad BO are all just a typical week for Caesar Romano.

My Review:
This is the third book in a series, but it read fine as a standalone. 4.5 Stars.

Caesar and Dan have been dating for a short while. They are still getting to know one another, and enjoying their incendiary passion. Dan is a 40ish former NYPD cop turned private detective. He’s big and bossy and totally gone for Caesar, a 28 y/o Brooklyn native and member of a giant Italian famiglia that may or may not have mafia ties…he’ll never say. Out loud. Caesar has begun managing his friend Poppy’s catering business, and his cousin is trying to woo a very pregnant Poppy to FINALLY marry him.

Caesar is caught in this misfire/crossfire wedding proposal gone totally wrong when he is pressed into filling in for morning-sick Poppy on a local cable morning show. It’s actually quite hysterical, and leaves Caesay a black-eyed, bloody (possibly engaged!) mess. Is this the result of using his Nonna’s cursed rings? The jury is out…

Dan’s newest case is bleeding into their private life, too. Expect parkour-style espionage and explosions. Lots of explosions. Caesar always seems to be on the wrong end of a concussion, and yet, his dead-pan NYC humor is riotous. Complaining that the squirrel and bird he spies in Dan’s Staten Island backyard is “too much nature” for him. Deciding that the best way to handle being kidnapped and stuffed into a cool box is to snack on fresh-made cannoli? I died.

I loved Caesar’s family. From his flashy Nan to his Goodfellas-esque uncles and father. They’s good people. We don’t get to see much of Dan , as Caesar tells this story, but he’s a bit of alright. Honest, and loyal. Maybe a bit too trusting for some–especially as he’s an ex-cop. Caesar and Dan get really close in this book, so close that Caesar has to meet an ex. Unwittingly. And they continue building on an established pattern of semi-public sexytimes; all to the good in my book.

I breezed through WITH THIS BLING, and would surely head back for another episode.

Interested? You can find WITH THIS BLING on Goodreads, Riptide Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Apple, AllRomance. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Author:
LB Gregg (Lisabea) writes fun, fast-paced contemporary male/male romances for a variety of publishers including Riptide, Samhain, and Carina Press. Her wildly successful Men of Smithfield books feature hot, hunky men looking for love in small town New England. You can find more information about LB, The Men of Smithfield, and her fun series Romano and Albright at her website.  Catch her also on twitter and Facebook.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Captivated…IF ONLY IN MY DREAMS–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a sweet New Adult reconnection romance from Keira Andrews. IF ONLY IN MY DREAMS Puts former best friends in an awkward position–a cross-country drive in a blizzard. Charlie and Gavin have a lot of ‘spaining to do. And, they get it done.
Like bosses.

If Only in My DreamsAbout the book:
To be home for Christmas, they must bridge the distance between them.
Charlie Yates is desperate. It’s almost Christmas and his flight home from college has been delayed. For days. Charlie promised his little sister Ava he’d be home for her first holiday season since going into remission from leukemia. Now he’s stuck on the opposite coast and someone else grabbed the last rental car. Someone he hasn’t even spoken to in four years. Someone who broke his heart.

Gavin Bloomberg’s childhood friendship with Charlie ended overnight after a day of stolen kisses. With years of resentment between them, they don’t want to be in the same room together, let alone a car. But for Ava’s sake, Gavin agrees to share the rental and drive across the country together.

As they face unexpected bumps along the road, can Charlie and Gavin pave the way to a future together?

My Review:
This is a feel good, frenemies-to-lovers New Adult, coming-out, cross-country-drive romance. Whew! I think I got it all…

Charlie and Gavin were best friends the summer before high school began. On Labor Day weekend they shared one hot kiss–the first for either of them–and the next day it was over. Gavin was dating Candace, cheer captain and otherwise It Girl. Gavin never acknowledged Charlie again, excepting that fateful day in the pizza shop.

Fast forward four years. It’s Christmas break and Charlie is desperate to return to Connecticut to spend Christmas with his family, especially his 8 y/o sister Ava. She had spent the last two Christmases in hospitals suffering the complications of leukemia, but she’s in remission (great story there!) and anxious to see her big brother. Unfortunately, the East Coast had been hit by Snowmageddon and San Fran’s airport is in it’s second day of grounding due to Fog-mageddon. There are no flights out, the buses are overbooked, and Charlie’s desperate. His last-ditch effort is to rent a car and drive the 43 hours, but yeah, no cars.

Well, there is ONE car. It’s been rented, but the driver hasn’t left yet. And, it turns out, the driver is going the exact same way Charlie would be–because it’s Gavin and their family homes are on the same street back in Connecticut. There’s a whole lot of tension in that tiny Jetta!

In the four day drive, they experience the traditional Airing of Grievances, oh wait that’s a Festivus ritual. Well, anywho, Gavin and Charlie slowly reveal their fears and issues. There’s mishaps and mayhem and matching sweaters and pancakes with fake maple syrup. And love. Because Charlie never forgot Gavin, and Gavin always remembered Charlie, no matter how deep he buried him in his closeted consciousness.

It’s such a sweet story, with real guys finding real love. There’s lots of love to go around, in truth. Charlie is a devoted brother to Ava, and they have a deep bond with touching rituals and open affection. Charlie’s parents are care worn but lovely, and include Gavin in their Christmas (because he’s special to Charlie, and because he’s Jewish and has no Christmas tradition). Even Gavin’s shell-shocked parents express a lot of love for him (and reservations! They have big reservations!) that helps heal a rift they didn’t even know existed.

It’s a solid HEA, and a sensational holiday story. It was fun to witness all of Gavin’s “firsts” and to know they were also special to Charlie because his tortured love was now at peace. The forgiveness was strong in this story, and that showed a maturity in these two young men that I totally dug.

Interested? You can find IF ONLY IN MY DREAMS on Goodreads, Amazon, Amazon global, AllRomance, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, and Smashwords.

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!

Out Today! AGAINST ALL ODDS–Excerpt and Giveaway

BannerTemplate(5)
Hi there! Today I”m wishing a very Happy Book Birthday to AGAINST ALL ODDS, a contemporary M/M romance from Chris T. Kat. This is the second book in the Odds Are series, and needs to be read in order.

Check out the excerpt below, and be sure to enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card.

AgainstAllOddsFSAbout the book:
And then they lived happily ever after…
Sometimes Joshua Stone thinks he’s died and gone to heaven. How else can he explain Michael’s love for him? And now they’re living together… in a real relationship. This is the stuff of fairy tales, a love like other people take for granted.

Sure, they have their moments, what couple doesn’t? But a small doubt lingers in Joshua’s heart. Can this really be true? Can a gorgeous man like Michael really love someone like Joshua—the guy with cerebral palsy, who’s helpless without his walker or his tricycle to get him around?

Michael senses Joshua’s worries, but there’s nothing he can do to dispel them because that would mean revealing his secret—and he’s not ready for that. Their mutual secrets hang between them like time bombs waiting to explode. They might not survive the inevitable blast.

How about a little taste?

“I’m awake! I’m awake, really!” Joshua panted.

“Really? I don’t want to take advantage of you, you know.”

“Michael! Excuse me for being tired. I keep going to bed later than I should because someone… namely you”—Joshua poked a finger into Michael’s chest—“works overtime all freaking week, and when said someone comes home, he still expects me to spend time with him.”

A guilty feeling settled in the pit of Michael’s gut. He inspected Joshua’s face more thoroughly, difficult as it was with only a small sliver of moonlight illuminating their bedroom, and noticed blue smudges under his eyes that hadn’t been there weeks ago. Furrowing his brows, Michael slid his gaze over Joshua’s face. Joshua had always been slim—too slim in Michael’s opinion, but that was a sore topic with Joshua—but now his cheeks were hollowed, accentuating his sharp cheekbones even more.

“Michael, do not freak out on me now, okay? It’s all fine.”

“You can go to bed if you’re tired; you don’t need to wait for me.” Michael tried not to wince when he mentally added, especially not on Tuesdays and Thursdays because on those days, I’ll always be late.

“Then we’d most likely only see each other on the weekends.” Joshua pressed a kiss to Michael’s lips, licking along the seam and demanding entrance. Joshua’s boldness had only developed recently, but wow, what a total turn-on it was for Michael.

Michael opened his mouth for Joshua’s exploration, quashing the urge to apologize to Joshua—again. It wasn’t his fault he currently had to drive up to Philadelphia each day for work, and he certainly couldn’t afford to say no to this job.

He’d finally managed to score a real job with some benefits. A couple more months and they could look for a new car… one Joshua could climb into on his own.

Joshua unlocked their lips, sighing. “I… I don’t think I can… I mean….”

Michael tilted his head, still reeling from the intense sensations Joshua’s tongue had evoked. Joshua’s left hand flopped next to his side and his right hand moved restlessly. Smiling, he said, “Bad muscle control?”

Joshua seemed to force his gaze up before he nodded. Michael captured his lips in a searing kiss. “Can I ride you?”

Hmm… definitely sounds like these guys have some challenges ahead.

interested? You can find AGAINST ALL ODDS on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card.
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Good luck adn 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, twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon page.

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Catching a HEART ON THE RUN–Review and Kindle Fire Giveaway!

HotR-BannerTemplateHi there! Today I’m sharing my review and a big giveaway for HEART ON THE RUN a contemporary M/M Christmas romance from Lee Brazil and Havan Fellows. Chaz and Sprocket were good friends before one night of passion sent Chaz running. Will they be able to patch things up, or are they destined to always be on the chase?

Catch an excerpt, my review and be sure to enter the giveaway for a Kindle FIRE!

Beacon Hill, Boston in snow.About the book:
Charles Darwin Millsworth, Chaz to one and all since infancy, has no wish to live up to the grandeur of his name. Fortunately, his Southern belle mama isn’t at all inclined to push her son into a career that won’t make him happy. She thinks he needs to loosen up and enjoy life. After all, that’s the whole point of being independently wealthy, isn’t it?

Chaz can see her point, but his father died in his forties as did his father before him. As far as Chaz is concerned, he has limited time on this earth to make his dreams come true. And he refuses to leave anyone weeping over a wasted life.

Sprocket Moretti is a simple guy. He loves his job, enjoys college, lives in his beloved childhood home—why worry about the little things when the big stuff looks so good. Unfortunately one of the little things he tries not to stress over is a broken friendship with a very hot and bewildering sous chef. They were pals, hung out and had fun. But one night they stepped over that invisible line, and the next morning Chaz kicked Sprocket out of his bed and his life.

Now, no matter how much Sprocket tries to charm Chaz, the guy has no desire to return to their pre-sex playful bantering ways. And if Sprocket stays true to his motto, this little thing—Chaz—should be written off and never worried about again.
If Sprocket had known one night of reality altering orgasms would endanger their easygoing friendship… How do you finish that sentence when all your mind wants is its friend back and all your body wants is another taste?

How about a little taste?

Sprocket grabbed the grande hot chocolates—with a dash of his favorite flavoring, pecan—and reached the gazebo with five minutes to spare, per the clock tower. He set the drinks on the bench of the gazebo so he could spread the blanket across the floor.

“Wow, that’s a huge blanket,” Chaz stated as he took the three step up to stand at the edge of it.

“Never took you for a size queen.” Sprocket winked as he handed him a cup of steaming goodness. “So, what’s for lunch?”

“Oh, well…” Chaz held the basket close to his chest as he slipped off his shoes and situated himself in the middle of the blanket. “Not much.” He pulled a thermos from the basket. “I made homemade tomato soup and chicken salad sandwiches.” He set the thermos down and pulled out wrapped sandwiches, a bag of croutons, a plastic bowl with a translucent red lid, and a small stack of china dishes in rapid succession.

“My grandma used to make me tomato soup and grilled cheese all the time. Except she’d actually grill the cheese before putting it on the sourdough toast. I tried to make it once…didn’t end so well.” He laughed as he shook his head, settling down next to Chaz on the blanket.

“But I’ve heard you and Mason talk; you cook most of the time between the two of you.”
Sprocket accepted the sandwich handed to him and nodded. “Yep. Well you know, we both can cook, but neither of us gets much fun out of it.” He unwrapped the sandwich and picked up half, biting into it. He couldn’t suppress his moan. Damn that was good, and Chaz put nuts in it for crunch, walnuts and pecans. How did he know pecans were Sprocket’s favorite? A part of him wanted to believe maybe Chaz had asked around. Anyone in Craft Time would know and Prudence did too.

Not that it mattered either way. Nothing strange about a friend—and only a friend—knowing something as mundane as that. He quickly chewed and swallowed. “And we definitely don’t do fancy. Unless you count roast, but even then I sprinkle the seasoning on it and throw it in the oven. No fuss, no muss.”

With his next bite, something popped in his mouth, making him want to gag. He held it back, and while Chaz gazed out over the park at the kids running in the playground Sprocket lifted the toast to see what he bit into. Grapes. He grimaced as he quickly plucked the halved grapes out of the salad and dropped them on the napkin by his leg.

“You don’t like grapes?”

Sprocket jumped. Fuck…busted. “I like them fine. I like them right off the vine, frozen, even mashed up as wine…don’t like them so much with seeds, though.”

“Or in a sandwich, apparently.” Chaz noted, gesturing to the evidence on the blanket between them.

“Well…” Sprocket jammed the rest of the sandwich in his mouth and chewed slowly, biding himself some time. While he was trying to break down the enormous amount of food in his mouth, he grabbed the other half of the sandwich and proceeded to pick the grapes out of that also.

Chaz raised an eyebrow at him, and he shrugged. He’d already been caught, no use faking it up now.

Reaching over, Chaz snatched Sprocket’s wrist and guided it to his mouth. Sprocket gulped the food in his mouth down, his stomach somersaulting either from the partially chewed lump it just received or because of the man sitting across from him on the blanket.

This wasn’t what friends did. Friends didn’t use their friend’s fingers as utensils. Still, he probably could’ve gotten past this moment if there hadn’t been a smidge of mayonnaise on the tip of his nail. Chaz spotted it, and while staring Sprocket in the eye, he put that spot right in front of his mouth. They sat like that for an eternity. Sprocket could feel his heart pounding fast, wondered if his pulse alerted Chaz to his extreme interest in the man’s next move.

He wanted to shout at Chaz to lick him. Do it now. Put him out of his misery. There was nothing Sprocket wanted more than to experience the wetness of Chaz’s tongue as it cleaned the white stuff from his finger. That was a lie. Sprocket wanted them to make more white stuff that had to be cleaned off, the kind you couldn’t purchase in a store. Well, maybe you could purchase it…but he really didn’t want his brain to go off on that tangent.

Finally—finally!—Chaz licked the condiment off. Before he could move back and call an end to this little episode, Sprocket broke free of his grip and hooked his hand behind the other man’s neck, holding him there, unable to move away.
When their lips met, it wasn’t gentle and coaxing. Sprocket wasn’t in that kind of mood. He wanted bad and he wanted now. Fuck friends. That whole concept was overrated if it kept him up all night in need. Anyway, this wasn’t his fault. Chaz started this shit; Sprocket would finish it.

And this time, he’d be better prepared. When Chaz kicked him the fuck out of his life, it wouldn’t tear him apart. Because no matter what, he’d make sure there wasn’t a spot in his heart for Chaz. Sprocket willingly would give up half his bed for the man, but nothing more.

While diving his tongue in Chaz’s mouth—reaching far enough back he could say with great certainty Chaz no longer had tonsils—Sprocket damn near convinced himself that he could do that, too.

Then Chaz whimpered, his hand pressing against Sprocket’s chest, right over his heart, and Sprocket knew he was a goner.

My Review:
This second-chance romance has a whole lotta feels. It’s the second book in the Hearts of Parkerburg series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Chaz is a man who believes he’s a ticking time-bomb. Literally. With both his father and grandfather dying young of heart attacks, he doesn’t want to burden a lover with his loss. So he mostly lives a half-life, working hard as a sous chef and lamenting his poor judgment.

See, Chaz really liked Sprocket. They work near each other and have a lot of casual contact. It was natural to strike up a friendship. When it moved into the physical, however, Chaz got spooked. His feelings overwhelmed him and he dashed. He has a romantic sense of wanting a serious relationship, but not ever GETTING serious due to his mortality fears.

Sprocket was crushed when Chaz bolted. It’s been months since that one night together, and Sprocket’s moved on from the sex, but not the emotional loss. Chaz is the only man he’s had sex with that hasn’t aslo remained a friend. His live-in housemate, Mason, is a perfect example. They’ve been casual partners since childhood, and that’s a bit off-putting for Chaz.

I liked Sprocket, though I thought he was way to casual about a lot of his life. Mason, I kinda wanted to knock out. He’s a big distraction, and he definitely inserts his way into situations he should not–and never owns up to that. Chaz is a timid lover, for his “health” reasons. I honestly thought we’d see some consideration about that with either Chaz or  Sprocket, but that didn’t I know those fears are hard to shake, and expected there to be some actual discussion, and bonding even, about it. Sadly, no. Sprocket and Chaz do get back together, and things are great, until they are suddenly not. Expect Mason to be a part of the problem.

That said, Chaz’s pull for Sprocket is strong and when things get dicey, Chaz makes his claim to be a part of Sprocket’s life. In a way that was hilariously out-of-place, but considerately managed. As I read that part, I was all: Oh no you didn’t! I turned the page and Sprocket was all: Oh no, you didn’t; so I felt completely justified. That said, the ending is sweet and feel-good. We have a young couple, beginning again (third time’s the charm, peeps!) with honest communication and a goal to work on their relationship. If only we could get Mason to move on/out…

Interested? You can find HEART ON THE RUN on Goodreads, Amazon, Smashwords and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a KINDLE FIRE, pre-loaded with books from Havan Fellows and Lee Brazil!!!
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

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.

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An All New STATUS UPDATE–Review & Giveaway

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

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

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

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

How about a little taste?

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

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

“Be good.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finally, the owner hefted himself off the picnic bench.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adrian smiled expectantly as he released Noah’s hand.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Talk about awkward.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

****GIVEAWAY****

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

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

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

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

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Growing Up in the REAL WORLD-A Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amy Jo CousinsAbout the Author:

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

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

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

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Hidden in the RAIN SHADOW–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a newly published episode in the Bluewater Bay series. RAIN SHADOW by LA Witt is an adult, M/M contemporary romance that features mature men finding love even if they don’t want to… I’ve enjoyed many books in this series, including LONE WOLF and WEDDING FAVORS. While all the books take place in the Bluewater Bay universe, they are all able to be enjoyed as standalones.

Rain Shadow (Bluewater Bay, #10)About the book:
Jeremy Rose came to Bluewater Bay to work as Anna Maxwell’s bodyguard, not to escape his increasingly bitter relationship with his estranged kids. He just wants to focus on his job and be alone for a while. He’s done with love, especially now that three years after his long overdue divorce, he’s got a front-row seat to the rapid deterioration between Anna and her girlfriend. Cynical doesn’t even begin to describe him.

Then Anna and Leigh’s attempts to reconcile put him in the crosshairs of marriage counselor Scott Fletcher. Scott’s exactly what Jeremy needs right now: gorgeous, hot, horny, single, and 100% uninterested in a relationship. The problem is, too much no-strings-attached sex—and too much time in each other’s company—inevitably builds emotional connection.

Except Jeremy refuses to seek counseling for his broken family, and Scott refuses to get seriously involved with men who work dangerous jobs. They both need to realize they can only hide for so long from the pain they came here to escape. They must face their pasts before they lose their shot at a happy future.

My Review:

This is part of the Bluewater Bay series, but can be fully enjoyed as a standalone.

Jeremy is a 40ish man who recently
1. Came out of the closet
2. Divorced his wife of 15+ years
3. Moved to Bluewater Bay to give his family space, and work as a private security detail to the Wolf’s Landing film crew.

In particular, Jeremy is the main protector for one of the show’s director/producers: Anna. Anna and her live-in girlfriend Leigh have a rocky relationship, and are in counseling which is hard for Jeremy to experience. He spent years in couples therapy after coming out, trying to make the marriage work “for the kids’ sake”

News flash: It didn’t work, and Jeremy’s convinced that counseling is a waste of time and money. He want’s nothing to do with relationships now, or ever, partly because his kids are having SERIOUS problems with dad being gay.

He meets silver fox Scott while he escorts Anna and Leigh on one of their “togetherness outings”. Jeremy senses an attraction, but fails to get Scott’s contact info. Imagine his frustration to learn that Scott is a marriage and family counselor at the same clinic where Anna and Leigh seek advice. Scott’s tentative with Jeremy when he learns he’s in security–Scott’s one and only love was a cop killed in the line of duty.

These mature men embark on a no-strings sexual extravaganza, all the while sliding headfirst into Relationshipville. Neither wants to admit it, and neither wants to let it go, but the animosity that each feels for the other’s job is problematic. Scott wants to counsel Jeremy on his family troubles, and Jeremy wants to assure Scott he’s safe in his security duties.

They have struggles. Part of this is not having a healthy communication. Also, Jeremy’s daughter, particularly, doesn’t help. She’s a serious brat. Unfortunately, remembering my own kids in their teens brings back nightmares of that combativeness, so she’s got some authenticity in my read. I think Jeremy and his ex gave her too much power, however. Jeremy seems bent on weaving himself a hairshirt to wear regarding his late coming out, and being a closeted gay man married to a woman. And Scott is not as understanding as I’d like, for a counselor. For mature men, they make some juvenile decisions. Scott’s ultimatum to Jeremy: counseling or else, was completely uncalled-for and jarring due to poor foreshadowing.

That said, there’s lots to be enjoyed in the sexytimes. I love mature men finding love, and this book has that, as well. I admired the amiable relationship between Jeremy and his ex; that was pleasant. The book ends a little shy of an HEA, but it’s implied. So…HFN, hot men, and thoughtful partners, for the most part.

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

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

Visit her website, Facebook, and twitter.

Life and Love Beyond the WINTER ORANGES–A Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not so much.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for popping in my friends, and keep reading!

Out Today! MAGIC AND MISTLETOE–Review & Giveaway

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

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

MagicANDMistletoe-fAbout the book:

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

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

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

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

How about a little taste?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

****GIVEAWAY****

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

About the Author:

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

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

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

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Out Today! LEGAL BRIEFS–Excerpt & Giveaway

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Hi there! Today I’m sharing an excerpt from a new contemporary M/M erotic novel from Kyan Christopher. LEGAL BRIEFS is the third book in the Bathhouse Series, but it’s fine to read as a standalone.

Check out the excerpt below and be sure to enter the gift card giveaway, too.

Legal BriefsAbout the book:
Josh works hard. Between school and an internship at an investment firm, he has little time and even less funds for an adventurous lifestyle. When a friend buys him a membership to a bathhouse, he encounters his knight in shining armor. But when his regular hookup seems to be too good to be true, suspicions and lies may end the relationship before it even starts.

Kimball’s law firm sends him to New Orleans to expand their Dallas law firm into the Crescent City. Deciding to have a little pleasure while in town for business, Kimball falls for a younger guy that he wants to spend time with. But living his life with secrets may prove to be his undoing, and moving to New Orleans to live out his happily-ever-after may become a distant dream.

A little taste…

Kimball

Once my last interview for the day is over, I decide on a light lunch and run to a deli around the corner. I’ve only been to the French Quarter a few times, but I’m quickly learning my way around the area.

Stepping through the door, the aroma of fresh baked breads and hearty soups fill my nostrils. I look towards the menu and read the daily specials posted behind the cashier. The writing boasts clam chowder, turkey club on rye, and spinach quiche. They all sound great, but since the weather has turned chilly, or at least chilly for the South, I decide on the chowder.

After placing my order, I sit down at one of the tables to sip on my sweet tea and wait for my order. A few minutes pass before I hear one of the clerks call out. “Order for Josh.”

A young man walks toward the counter. His lean frame catches my eye. Wearing slacks and a button down, long sleeve shirt, I’m grateful he isn’t wearing a jacket since I get a great view of his ass.

Before I realize it, he’s turned around and I’m staring at his crotch. My eyes quickly move upward and I know I’ve been caught spying. Glints of yellow and green meet my eyes from beneath a mop of golden hair. I smile sheepishly and notice he gives me a quick smile and a nod before walking towards the door and exiting with his order in tow.

Damn. He’s probably one of the cutest guys I’ve ever seen. I commit to memory his facial features. His strong jaw line, high cheekbones, and those eyes. Those gorgeous, piercing eyes.

I can tell you, this book heats up fast!

Interested? You can find LEGAL BRIEFS on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the author:
Kyan Christopher was born and raised in Louisiana. A southern boy who loves the city, he is a romantic at heart. Never thinking he would become an author, a fan fiction piece he wrote inspired a series that launched his desire to weave tales of passion and romance. Kyan is supported by his loving partner of 15 years. They live in the South with their three four-legged kids.

You can catch up with Kyan on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and Goodreads.

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