Sexy Reads

Matched in SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS–Review and Giveaway!

SFA_BLOGTOUR copy
Hi there! Today, I’m sharing of SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS by Jennifer Probst. This is the 4th book in the Searching For series and it is published by Gallery Books. I recently reviewed SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL and had to continue with the series. SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS features the love story of Arilynn, yoga teacher, counselor and rescuer of dogs everywhere! Can this do-gooder save the heart of alpha male Officer Stone Petty, meat-eating, stress-case, extraordinaire? Check out the teaser and giveaway below.

SearchingforAlwaysAbout the book:
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Probst sparks a blissful mind-body connection as her “sexy, satisfying” (Kirkus Reviews) new series continues!

She’s an expert in helping others de-stress, but Arilyn Meadows is running on fumes. Along with her job counseling singles seeking soul mates at the Kinnections agency in Verily, New York, she’s a yoga teacher, animal shelter volunteer, anger management therapist, and helping hand to her beloved grandfather. No time to find Mr. Right—but after discovering her yogi boyfriend in a compromising asana, Arilyn would rather dog-sit for her honeymooning friend Kate than risk her heart on another downward dog. And when police officer Stone Petty—radiating masculinity and bad-boy attitude—is sent to her for mandatory lessons in cooling off when the job gets too hot, Arilyn vows to ignore his seductive glances and sexy grin. But there’s no halting their sizzling flirtation—a red-hot, high-speed chase that’s breaking all the limits.
SFA_Teaser2 copy
My Review:
This is the 4th book in a series, but able to be enjoyed as a standalone.
4.5 Stars.

Arilynn is a vegetarian, holistic, dog-fostering, yoga-teaching counselor who works with her college friends, Kennedy and Kate at a computer-matching service, Kinnections, in rural Verily, NY. Her only remaining family is her grandfather–her parents died via lung cancer and suicide in the past ten years. Having witnessed her parents’ illness, she has dedicated her life to living the healthiest life possible. She regularly encourages clean-living behaviors to the people she meets, and counsels, and can be a touch sanctimonious about it. Arilynn has just broken up with her secret lover of the past five years, Jacob, who is a holier-than-thou yogi with monogamy-averse ideas. (And good riddance!!!!)

Officer Stone Petty is a cop with an anger problem, sent to Arilynn’s 6-week anger management program for counseling after a brutality incident. (He beat up a domestic abuser he caught beating the heck out of his wife and child.) As it turns out, Stone is extremely sensitive to domestic abuse as an abuse survivor. He’s also a meat-loving, fast food scarfing, dog-hating recent ex-smoker, and totally wrong for Arilynn–so why are they attracted to each other?

This is low-conflict odd couple romance with lots of heart and some good heat. I really enjoyed the alternating POV, with the large swing in emotions. Stone has a lot of emotional scars, and he’s quick to judge as a result. He is a big proponent of justice, and I liked his remorse regarding the incidents that led to his discipline. I think readers will find kinship with a man having a violent response to child/spousal abuse, even if he’s a cop. Arilynn is a heroine with lofty ideals and down-to-earth solutions. She works hard to channel her frustrations with Stone, who is REALLY difficult to work with as a client. Setting her attraction aside, he’s constantly challenging her and works hard to make her angry–so their interactions are always a lesson in patience. I rejoiced every time she got the better of him, in class and out of it. I also loved that Arilynn found a man who wanted to treat her right and never considered keeping her a secret, like Jacob had. They have some excellent passionate moments, and delicious sexytimes occur after they’ve been in contact daily for a few weeks. They start out, intentionally, to only be casual partners but it quickly turns into something far more.

As this is a series read, we get some of Arilynn’s pals in the mix, but the character interactions are toned down from recent books. This allows for greater development of accessory characters, like Arilynn’s busybody neighbor and her grandpa. Those two are a hoot! Oh, and don’t forget the dogs! Stone has a bad history with dogs and is not best pleased that his anger management includes animal therapy–his experience will melt readers. Pinky is the best, BEST, medicine for his hardened heart.

I really enjoyed this one.

Interested? You can find SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

****GIVEAWAY****

SFA_RescuePet
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win! Help pet rescue shelters by posting a picture of your rescued pet, or sharing your favorite shelter, and using the hashtag #SEARCHINGFORRESCUES. 4 shelters will get a $50 prize (winners choice) and 1 a grand prize winner will also get a prize pack from Jennifer Probst.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Jennifer Probst
Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers.

You can catch up with Jennifer online on her website for updates on new releases and her street team. Also check her out on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

InkSlinger PR Blogger Banner - New

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!

A Series HARD TO LET GO–Review & Giveaway

HTLG RWB banner
Hi there! I’m so excited to share in the Release Week Blitz for Laura Kaye’s HARD TO LET GO! This is the fourth book in the Hard Ink series published by Avon Romance and wraps up the plot arcs…completely. I read HARD TO COME BY and HARD TO BE GOOD and really enjoyed those, so I jumped to get the last book!

This contemporary military romance links the taciturn Beckett Murda with his team leader’s sister—the beautiful and intelligent Kat Rixey. I really enjoyed their love story. Two people who’ve seen a lot of pain and personal loss finally find happiness. *swoon*

Don’t forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway for one of 2 $25 gift cards.

Hard to Let Go - cover
About HARD TO LET GO:
Beckett Murda hates to dwell on the past. But his investigation into the ambush that killed half his Special Forces team and ended his Army career gives him little choice. Just when his team learns how powerful their enemies are, hard-ass Beckett encounters his biggest complication yet—a seductive, feisty Katherine Rixey.

A tough, stubborn prosecutor, Kat visits her brothers’ Hard Ink Tattoo shop following a bad break-up—and finds herself staring down the barrel of a stranger’s gun. Beckett is hard-bodied and sexy as hell, but he’s also the most infuriating man ever. Worse, Kat’s brothers are at war with the criminals her office is investigating. When Kat joins the fight, she lands straight in Beckett’s sights . . . and in his arms. Not to mention their enemies’ crosshairs.

Now Beckett and Kat must set aside their differences to work together, because the only thing sweeter than justice is finding love and never letting go.

How about a little taste?

Beckett was a wrung-out mess. He’d just spent the past hour talking to Emilie, and it was maybe more than he’d talked at one time in his whole life. He couldn’t exactly say he felt good, and maybe not even better, but he could say that he was a little proud of himself for facing his past. Didn’t matter that dealing with that shit was as comfortable as swallowing crushed glass, because choking it down was the only way he’d have a chance at a future.

At least, a future that he really, truly wanted.

One where he wasn’t alone. One where he wasn’t angry. One where he wasn’t wasting the time he might have left on this earth—time his seven fallen teammates no longer had.

Jogging down the stairs from the third-floor apartment, Beckett headed to the gym. No matter how trashed he felt, he had one more conversation that absolutely had to happen tonight.

With Nick. About Kat.

Beckett had seen the all-knowing looks on Marz’s and Jeremy’s faces when he and Kat joined the all-hands’ meeting earlier in the evening. If he didn’t go to Nick soon, the guy was going to learn about them some other way. And then the hell was going to be even worse to pay. And Beckett didn’t want that to happen. Not just because he didn’t want the hassle. But because he owed it to Nick—as his friend and his brother—to come clean.

Didn’t mean that his gut wasn’t all twisted up about whether Nick would think him good enough for his baby sister, though.

He reached the gym door, took a deep breath, and punched in the pass code. Man up, Murda. Right.

Inside, things were hopping, despite the fact that it was pushing eleven o’clock. Some Ravens were lifting weights. Others were shooting the shit around the table. And two guys were tossing a ball back and forth, driving Eileen crazy by bouncing it over her head. Easy was pounding out a fast pace on the treadmill. And, in the back corner, Nick, Marz, and Shane were poring over something on Marz’s desk.

Beckett had faced down terrorists who wanted nothing more than to take his life with their very hands, and he’d probably never been as nervous as he was right now. For fuck’s sake.

He moved into the room. About midway across he spied Cy peeking out from behind a weight machine. “You and me are gonna have a talk soon, too,” he said, pointing at the cat. A one-eyed blink was his only answer.

And then he was standing on the far side of Marz’s desk next to Shane, peering down at what the three men were examining.

Marz gave him a smile and tapped his finger against the pages. “Just going over all these instances when Merritt noted Kaine as having changed orders regarding counternarcotics missions.”

“Marz was right,” Nick said, looking up at him. “Some of these gave me a bad feeling in my gut at the time, because they seemed out of character for Merritt. He was never a last minute kinda guy. Every damn time he’s marked those changes as having been ordered by Kaine.”

Beckett nodded. And then his mouth acted without his brain’s permission. “I’d like to date your sister.”

My Review:
This is the final book in the Hard Ink series and should be read in order.

Becket Murda is one of five survivors of an ambush of his SF squadron a year ago. Since then he’s been guilt-ridden, and less-than-honorably discharged, drifting between security gigs. Three weeks ago he was called into action by his former squad leader, Nick Rixey, to help them track down the missing children of their dead former commander, Merritt, and help solve a serious mystery regarding their ambush, missing heroin, and $12 million in Merritt’s bank accounts. This is the backdrop of the series. Each of the other men in his squad found a special person to love during this timeframe, all with sexy books detailing their romances, and this book is Beckett’s ungrateful backslide into love…. 😉

Beckett has a lot of issues with self-esteem, basically because his mother drank herself to death, and his murderously-abusive father beat him regularly as a child. He stands as an outsider, never believing that he is worthy of love. Yet, Kat Rixey, the Justice Dept attorney and younger sister of his friend and comrade Nick, won’t put up with his crap. She challenges him regularly, and he relishes the connection, even as he doesn’t believe himself worthy.

Kat Rixey is a tenacious woman who is just extricating herself from a sticky relationship with a stalkery colleague. She had no idea what she was stepping into when she fled to her brothers’ compound, a now bombed warehouse that holds Jeremy’s tattoo studio and Nick’s colleagues and more than a few collateral strays. Learning that Nick’s mission is centered around a security company now under Justice Dept investigation leads Kat to make some ethically-questionable, but morally-sound, decisions.

In the midst of the unravelling of the larger “restore our honor” plot arc, Kat and Beckett find their tinderbox chemistry provides some smoking sexytimes, and brings out new vulnerabilities. They are a sweet couple who face some incredibly high challenges. As with all the previous books in the series, expect high octane situations, shoot outs, injuries, double-crosses and, finally, a resolution for these injured heroes that will have readers more than satisfied. The HEA is excellent, for all our Hard ink pals, even when it looks to be bleak. Beckett proves time and again why he is a survivor, and, enjoyably, finds something and someone to live for.

Hard Ink Series Trailer:

Link: https://youtu.be/qM45fjLJXXk

 

HTLG Reviews Tease

Praise for HARD TO LET GO:
“Kaye wraps up her bestselling series with this action-packed story, highlighting her talent for alpha military heroes, hot romance, and an ensemble cast of characters who are unique and engaging. A super sexy, high-octane romantic suspense novel that concludes the popular Hard Ink series in a completely satisfying way.” ~Kirkus Reviews

“TOP PICK! Kaye brings her Hard Ink series to a spectacular conclusion that successfully wraps up the overarching mystery and brings closure to her compelling characters. Kaye really nails it with this awesome book and series!” ~RT Book Reviews

“HARD TO LET GO will blow you away! Anyone who has been following Laura Kaye’s fantastic Hard Ink series will expect something great for the last book in the series, and to say HARD TO LET GO does not disappoint would be the understatement of the year! Ms. Kaye writes sex scenes like it’s nobody’s business, and the blistering chemistry between Kat and Becket will leave you panting and begging for more! If you expected world-class action in HARD TO LET GO, think again and multiply that by ten! HARD TO LET GO has to be the most explosive conclusion to a series ever! Do not miss it at any cost!” ~Fresh Fiction

Interested? You can find HARD TO LET GO on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, and Kobo.

And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:

Hard as It gets

HARD AS IT GETS

Hard as You Can

HARD AS YOU CAN

Hard To Hold On To

HARD TO HOLD ON TO

Hard To Come By Cover

HARD TO COME BY

Hard to Be Good - Cover

HARD TO BE GOOD

Praise for the Hard Ink Series:
“TOP PICK! If you’re looking for danger, gritty action, and sizzling passion, then Kaye has just the book and the series for you.” ~RT Book Reviews Magazine

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on the Rafflecopter link for your chance to win on of two $25 gift cards to Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Author PhotoAbout Laura Kaye:
Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

You can catch up with Laura online on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Newsletter SignUp.

InkSlinger PR Blogger Banner - New

Happy Book Birthday to SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS!

SFA_BLITZ
Hi there! Today, I’m celebrating the release of SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS by Jennifer Probst. This is the 4th book in the Searching For series and it is published by Gallery Books. This book features the love story of Arilynn, yoga teacher, counselor and rescuer of dogs everywhere! Check out the teaser and giveaway below.

SearchingforAlwaysAbout the book:
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Probst sparks a blissful mind-body connection as her “sexy, satisfying” (Kirkus Reviews) new series continues!

She’s an expert in helping others de-stress, but Arilyn Meadows is running on fumes. Along with her job counseling singles seeking soul mates at the Kinnections agency in Verily, New York, she’s a yoga teacher, animal shelter volunteer, anger management therapist, and helping hand to her beloved grandfather. No time to find Mr. Right—but after discovering her yogi boyfriend in a compromising asana, Arilyn would rather dog-sit for her honeymooning friend Kate than risk her heart on another downward dog. And when police officer Stone Petty—radiating masculinity and bad-boy attitude—is sent to her for mandatory lessons in cooling off when the job gets too hot, Arilyn vows to ignore his seductive glances and sexy grin. But there’s no halting their sizzling flirtation—a red-hot, high-speed chase that’s breaking all the limits.
SFA_Teaser2 copy
I really liked this one! Look for my review next week.

Interested? You can find SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

 

****GIVEAWAY****

SFA_RescuePet
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win! Help pet rescue shelters by posting a picture of your rescued pet, or sharing your favorite shelter, and using the hashtag #SEARCHINGFORRESCUES. 4 shelters will get a $50 prize (winners choice) and 1 a grand prize winner will also get a prize pack from Jennifer Probst.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Jennifer Probst
Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers.

You can catch up with Jennifer online on her website for updates on new releases and her street team. Also check her out on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

InkSlinger PR Blogger Banner - New

Cephalopod Coffeehouse June 2015–FOR A REASON

0ed81-coffeehouse
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!

Stripped Bare: KINKAID-A Review

Hi there! Today I’m wishing a Happy Book Birthday to KINKAID, an erotic romance from Rie Warren. This is the second book in her Retribution MC series, though it can be read on it’s own. I’ve been faithfully following her Carolina Bad Boys series of books featuring tough, sexy, lovable men: STONE, LOVE and STEELE, and the first MC spin-off HUNTER was sexy and swoony, but KINKAID is ready for his spotlight…

Kinkaid (Bad Boys of Retribution MC, #2)My Review:
Kinkaid Ryder is a young, fit, male stripper. He is loud and proud on the stage earning money to pay down his grandpa’s medical debts, but keeps that part of himself secret from his childhood best friends, Sadie. Oh, and also from the guys at Retribution, because they wouldn’t accept a stripper into their club, and he really wants to join.

See, Kinky Kaid, as he’s known on the stage, doesn’t have a lot of people in his life. His dad left before he was born, and his mom died when he was a toddler, leaving him to his Grandpa’s care–and now that Gramps is sick, Kinkaid is gonna make sure his life is comfortable. Then, Sadie spots Kinkaid while out at a bachelorette party. and Kinkaid is just as stunned by the dressed-up version of his overall’s wearing artistic tomboy BFF. The attraction is magnetic, but Sadie’s so furious she cuts Kinkaid off for a bit. He’s frustrated, and angry. And can’t believe that she’s harbored a secret crush on him for years. Finding him bare-ass naked, writhing for a lust-crazed crowd is too much for her to take.

While the make-up is tender, Kinkaid’s job is one mountain on the path they can’t seem to climb. I really enjoyed this quick read. Kinkaid is a 21 y/o, dumb, sexy dude who wants to eat his cake and have it, too. While he can’t bear to have men ogle a clothed Sadie, he sees nothing wrong with giving hundred-dollar lap dances. I had to shake my head at his naivete. Still, he’s earnest and compassionate and he learns his lessons right before the end comes. There’s a lot of heart here and the soulful discussions Kinkaid shares with his ailing gramps are really something special. I’ve read lots of stories with a young gal stripping to support her family or education, so it was fun to get the flipside. It’s a cool literary complement for fans who clamor to catch Magic Mike XXL this summer. Expect graphic sex, crude language, and a cocky stripper who learns to bare his heart and cover his body.

Interested? You can find KINKAID on Goodreads and it’s surrently $.99 on Amazon.

Rie WarrenAbout the Author:
Badass, sassafras Rie Warren is the author of Sugar Daddy and the Don’t Tell series—a breakthrough trilogy that crosses traditional publishing boundaries beginning with In His Command.

She lives in gorgeous Charleston, South Carolina with her small family where she basks in the sunshine during the day, and adjourns to her woman cave at night. A nocturnal creature, she stays up way too late talking to herself, her characters, and anyone who will listen. She’s all about writing with heat, heart, and a hint of the dark, and she doesn’t shy away from the impossible.

Rie’s work has been called “edgy”, “daring”, and “some of the sexiest smut around”.

You can find Rie online Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Changed by a RITE OF SUMMER–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for Tess Bowery’s newly released M/M historical, RITE OF SUMMER. It’s actually an all-male menage, but that’s only part of the story. It’s set in England, in 1810, and brings in some really scary homophobic issues–as well as packing some incredibly tender and erotic moments. It was a great read.

Rite of Summer (Treading the Boards, #1)About the book:
There are terrors worse than stage fright. Like falling in love.

Violinist Stephen Ashbrook is passionate about three things—his music, the excitement of life in London, and his lover, Evander Cade. It’s too bad that Evander only loves himself. A house party at their patron’s beautiful country estate seems like a chance for Stephen to remember who he is, when he’s not trying to live up to someone else’s harsh expectations.

Joshua Beaufort, a painter whose works are very much in demand among the right sort of people, has no expectations about this party at all. Until, that is, he finds out who else is on the guest list. Joshua swore off love long ago, but has been infatuated with Stephen since seeing his brilliant performance at Vauxhall. Now he has the chance to meet the object of his lust face to face—and more.

But changing an open relationship to a triad is a lot more complicated than it seems, and while Evander’s trying to climb the social ladder, Stephen’s trying to climb Joshua. When the dust settles, only two will remain standing…when they’re not flat on their backs.

Warning: Contents under pressure. Contains three men, two beds, one erotic piercing, and the hottest six weeks of summer the nineteenth century has ever seen. (m/m/m – m/m).

My Review:
Evander and Stephen have been together for nearly a decade, living the gay life in London. Evander is a composer and Stephen a violinist. Evander has a patron, the Earl of Coventry who invites Evander and Stephen for a six week holiday at his country estate. Stephen doesn’t want to go, he hates being confined in places where he can’t be himself, and being openly gay is not possible on the earl’s estate. Plus, he has to suffer the constant company of ‘his betters’ which is aggravating. But, if Evander demands he go, Stephen goes. Plus, Stephen knows their livelihood is dependent on Coventry’s whim and funding so he goes… The only upside is beautiful Joshua, a talented painter who is the distant relation, and personal painter, of one of the noble guests.

Joshua has been without a lover since his beloved sailor sank with his ship two years before. He is terribly attracted to Stephen, and cannot understand why Stephen lets Evander lead him around so much. He is startled to observe Evander and Stephen en flagrante delicto in the dead of night, and is even more surprised when Evander invites him to share their bed. Once.

But once is not enough for Stephen who had secretly desired Joshua, or Joshua. They continue until the party is overtaken by news of catamite (homosexuals) arrests in London. Stephen and Evander are shattered–some of the men taken into custody and hung were friends and former bedmates. Joshua wants to comfort Stephen, but his ability to do so is hampered by the suspicions of their hosts and patrons.

The book is a careful study in the emotional lives of both Joshua and Stephen, who share the POV. Stephen is routinely belittled and abused by Evander, and he knows no other life. Joshua calls to Stephen, supports him in a way Evander never has (or hasn’t in years) and Stephen wants to be with Joshua, but cannot due to Evander’s control.

I was really glad to see the unraveling in this dysfunctional relationship. Stephen really grew in terms of his emotional well-being. Joshua, did not grow so much as curl inside himself. He has lost in love before, and is rather brutal with Stephen in order to prevent being hurt again. He wants Stephen terribly, but won’t accept him if Evander is a part of the deal–forcing Stephen to re-evaluate his relationship, and make choices that are healthy instead of comfortable.

The end was a little too drawn out for me. I liked the story, but wanted it to progress a little bit faster. The characters were all well-drawn and felt very realistic in their goals and behaviors. I really enjoyed the depictions of actual historical events–namely the famous London raids–and how it affected the characters. Expect an HEA and some super sexytimes involving both M/M and M/M/M.

Interested? You can find RITE OF SUMMER on Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Author:
Tess has been a fan of historical fiction since learning the Greek and Roman myths at her mother’s knee. Now let loose on a computer, she’s spinning her own tales of romance and passion in a slightly more modern setting. Tess lives on the east coast, with her partner of fifteen years and two cats who should have been named ‘Writer’s Block’ and ‘Get Off the Keyboard, Dammit.’

You can connect with Tess on her website, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

All About BLOWING OFF STEAM–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for BLOWING OFF STEAM, a contemporary M/M romance that features an awkward trainspotter and a reformed playboy. Joy Lynn Fielding has written a truly delicious romance that celebrates all the best in geekery and do-overs.

Blowing Off SteamAbout the Book:
Two guys, a train, and lots of steam.

Sam Chancellor has been in love with the steam engine Old Bess since he was six years old. Well, maybe not literally, but even when he’s lost everything else in his life, he’s always had her. But now her place in his heart has been unexpectedly challenged. Her new driver, Ryan Saunders, is the embodiment of all Sam’s fantasies.

Ryan has written off Sam as just another geeky trainspotter—until the moment Ryan sees him without his usual shapeless hoodie, and realizes that for a nerd, Sam’s pretty built.

When Ryan overlooks Sam’s awkwardness long enough to suggest a hook-up, Sam seizes the opportunity—and Ryan—with both very eager hands. Finding common ground in their shared love of Bess, their time together is better than Sam ever dared dream.

But there’s a reason Ryan never talks about his past. And when Ryan’s job is threatened, Sam’s well-meaning intervention puts both Ryan and Bess in deadly danger.

Product Warnings: Contains train geekery, bed-hogging, a hero with no experience and another with plenty to spare, and a spider called Mabel.

My Review:
Sam is a small-town man, living alone in his late great-uncle’s home in Cardyle. He has always been awkward and not had many friends–growing up a scrawny gay orphan who loves trains did not engender many personal friendships, though he is very well-known in the local and online trainspotting community. Not long ago, Sam spotted something else of interest: Ryan Saunders, the new driver of Old Bess, the prized steam locomotive of Cardyle.

Ryan Saunders has been a flamboyant playboy most of his life. He’s run his wealthy father ragged, and is now under strict orders to not seek any contact or else his monthly allowance will be cut off. This isn’t ideal when he new boss insists Ryan speak to his father for a large endowment to Old Bess’s Trust–or else Ryan can just move on to another job.

Ryan is frustrated over his situation, and takes solace in picking up the geeky but earnest Sam one night after work. Sam is an exuberant, if completely inexperienced lover, and this has a peculiar effect on jaded Ryan. They begin to discuss Ryan’s trouble at work, and Sam is outraged. His attempt to fix the situation pulls up some really disastrous information, the kind that puts more than Ryan’s job security on the line. I really enjoyed the tension here–I didn’t know how or what form the attacks would come, but I was sure that Ryan, and perhaps Sam, was in life-threatening danger which really added a whole different dimension to the story. What I expected would be a wrongful termination suit, or perhaps a botched blackmail scheme, turned out some much more harrowing! I loved it.

I also loved the tenderness that developed between Ryan and Sam. It was entirely sweet, and funny, too. Poor Sam and his pet garden spider! Ryan certainly had no love for Mabel/Shelob. He did, however, have love for Sam, so I guess all was as it should be. As a Yankee, I swoon for British men, and the manner in which they treat themselves. From disparaging each others’ tea strength to the side-eyes they gave over train configuration, I adored every moment of Sam and Ryan together.

This book has a crazy-good amount of sexytimes, though not all of it is described in gritty detail. The scenes were often emotionally present, and that was charming, and sexy, too. As a mother of boys, I get the train fascination and I really enjoyed the trainy details. It was heartwarming to see such a stodgy experience, trainspotting and steam locomotives, brought into contemporary life. And, really, I can’t help loving when a geeky guy lands a sexy keeper. Both Ryan and Sam are essentially alone in the world, and they find such companionship with each other I was rooting for them all the way.

Interested? You can find BLOWING OFF STEAM on Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the author:

Joy Lynn Fielding lives in a small English market town, where she indulges her passions for vintage aircraft, horse-riding and gardening (though not all at the same time).

Joy has a tendency to wax lyrical about the fascinating facts she discovers during her research for books. Thankfully she has a very patient Labrador who has a gift for looking interested in what she’s saying while he waits for the food to arrive.

You can find Joy online on her website, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Happy Book Birthday to HUNTER!

Hi there! Today I get to share my review for the newest release from indie author Rie Warren. You know I’ve loved her Carolina Bad Boys, (check out my reviews for STONE, LOVE and STEELE) and now she’s spun off a new motorcycle club romance. HUNTER is the guy the spooks call in to clean up their messes. And he’s found the right people to change his life for…

Hunter (Bad Boys of Retribution MC, #1)About the book:
Hunter:
My call-sign is GHOST. My roadname, too. I keep my head down, stay off the grid, fly under the radar. I’m the rough, gruff, good guy who does bad things for pay.

JB is my most recent mistake. The MC babe is innocence wrapped up in a rockin’ body. Don’t get me wrong, she has a wicked side, too. She’s kickass in bed, when we make it that far. But she’s the ultimate wholesome good girl, and I don’t want to dirty her up.

Hey, no one said life was all fun and games, right?

JB:
Good girl? I prefer to think of myself as a rebellious hellion. I live my life like I ride my bike: carefree, in your face, and full throttle. My soft side? Well, that’s reserved for my job.

I’m not looking for love, and I certainly don’t need any relationship complications. Too bad complicated is the only way Hunter comes.

He’s a quiet, deadly storm. He prowls. He hunts me. He wants me. He’s sexy, sinful . . . secretive. Hunter will turn my life inside out no thanks to his dangerous past about to come back and bite us both in the ass.

Who’s gonna save us now?

Warning: Graphic sex, graphic action, graphic language. Triple X caution.

My Review:
We’re all friends here; you can admit to licking the cover of this book. 😉

This is the first book in a spin-off series, but I’m happy to report that it’s fully-readable as a standalone. There’s not a lot of jabbering explaining past book events or persons, which is also awesome. I love when I can just hop into a whole new world with only minimal introduction.

Hunter “Ghost” Sexton is a part-time liaison to the Mt. Pleasant Police, now on furlough from his government mercenary job. His last big mission went sideways, resulting in a lot of dead specialists and one escaped drug lord. Hunter is always on guard against the creeps finding out about his little boy, an adorable 6 y/o named Jack, so he keeps he true last name under wraps, and keeps a low profile.

Still, even a ghost needs lovin’ and he’s really, really attracted to a fellow biker, JB, aka Miss Jessica Barnes, who knows Ghost’s little Jack in the teacherly sense. I loved the banter between these two. JB is no shrinking violet. She rocks a Ducati and corset like the baddest of biker babes, but she’s also tender and smart with a wicked humor.

Ghost learns Jack and JB are being targeted and is ready to sacrifice himself and what does JB do? She smacks some sense into Ghost’s brain. Good girl!

As you can imagine, there’s gonna be an Okay Corral-type showdown–only it happens with a horde of Retribution bikers at Hunter’s back. He’s not only found the woman he never dreamed of, he’s found a real home for the first time. And, this is an erotic romance. So..sexytimes galore. (Can I get an amen?)

(Thanks 31.media.tumblr.com That gif hits my spot. Or something… 😉 )

Interested? You can find HUNTER on Goodreads and Amazon. $.99 for a limited time!
Rie WarrenAbout the Author:
Badass, sassafras Rie Warren is the author of Sugar Daddy and the Don’t Tell series—a breakthrough trilogy that crosses traditional publishing boundaries beginning with In His Command.

She lives in gorgeous Charleston, South Carolina with her small family where she basks in the sunshine during the day, and adjourns to her woman cave at night. A nocturnal creature, she stays up way too late talking to herself, her characters, and anyone who will listen. She’s all about writing with heat, heart, and a hint of the dark, and she doesn’t shy away from the impossible.

Rie’s work has been called “edgy”, “daring”, and “some of the sexiest smut around”.

You can find Rie online Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!