Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott stopping by to show off her upcoming release The Summer House, I’ve nicked a short excerpt off R.J. and there’s a great giveaway so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
The Summer House
An English Hearts Story 01
by
R.J. Scott
Ashby Sebastian Sterling-Haynes has had a lot of boyfriends, but he’s never found the one.
The only person he can form an attachment to is his fourteen year old niece, and even that is in jeopardy when babysitting her cat goes all kinds of wrong.
Veterinarian, Connor Lawson is much happier working with animals than with people. He has deliberately returned home and to the Summer House he recalled from childhood holidays for peace and quiet and the chance to heal from wounds no one would ever see.
When his next door neighbor comes into the practice with a cat that has been in a fight he hides in his office because this Ashby guy is all kinds of dangerous. Too hot, too rich, too titled, and way too sexy for his own good.
Can two men who refuse to believe in love ever learn that love is the easy part of the journey to forever?
Hi peeps, today we have Sue Brown popping in with the tour for her newest release The Hidden Wolf, Sue wrote a guest post, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Cat has done the review for not only The Hidden Wolf but for the first book The Last Wolf as well, so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
The Hidden Wolf
(Sapphire Ranch Wolves 02)
by
Sue Brown
Sheriff Milo Clarke has met his mate, Eli Watkins, and now they’re conducting a long distance relationship while Eli runs Cavalry, the security firm protecting Joe and Cal at the Sapphire Ranch from the hunters.
The long distance loving is hard on all three of them, Eli, Clarke and Clarke’s wolf, who is becoming more restless as Clarke refuses to shift. When Clarke going to give into the other side of him and how will Clarke and Eli resolve the distance between their lives?
Hi guys, today we are helping Lexi Ander celebrate her audiobooks Alpha Trine & Striker, from her series The Valespian Pact. We have a fantastic guest post from Lexi and a brilliant giveaway, we also have Tams review of Alpha Trine so she can tell you what her thoughts are about the audiobook! So check out the post and then click that Rafflecopter link for those fantastic prizes! ~Pixie~
The sole survivor on a science vessel adrift in deep space, Zeus was adopted by the Emperor and Empress of the Mar’Sani, though he is both human and blind, and seen by most as unfit to join the royal family. Though they were able to repair his vision, Zeus does not trust his eyes and the nobles of his parents’ court refuse to ever trust a frail human.
Dargon Kal-Turak, along with his symbiote and lover Alpha, command one of the most dangerous ships in the stars. Narrowly escaping a trap, they dock in a space port to make repairs, but find that the Psionics hunting them are closing in fast. In desperation they kidnap the port Master Mechanic, unaware that the man they’ve brought on board is more than he seems, and will bring far more upheaval to their ship, their lives, and the stars than any of them could have imagined.
Alpha Trine was the winner of 2014 Rainbow Awards
Audio Purchase Links: Available at iTunes and Audible
The peaceful respite for which Zeus and his intended, Dargon and Alpha, had been hoping is shattered when Zeus is unexpectedly drawn to the Waters of Poseidon and told that the safety they’ve been promised is a trap. But the Fal’Amoric aren’t the only important cargo on the Oethra 7, and countless others are depending on the success of their mission. If Zeus hopes to break the silent siege on Valespia and protect those most precious to him, he will need not just powerful allies but the fortitude to survive overwhelming odds.
Audio Purchase Links: Available at iTunes and Audible
Title: Spell Bound Series: The Warlock Brothers of Havenbridge, #1 Author: Jacob Z. Flores Genre: Paranormal Length: Novel (216 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (May 27th) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Mason Blackmoor just can’t compete with his brothers, much less his father. They represent the epitome of black magic, strong, dark, and wicked, and though Mason tries to live up to his respected lineage, most of the spells he casts go awry. To make matters worse, his active power has yet to kick in. While his brothers wield lightning and harness the cold, Mason sits on the sidelines, waiting for the moment when he can finally enter the magical game.
When a dead body is discovered on the football field of his high school, Mason meets Drake Carpenter, the new kid in town. Drake’s confident demeanor and quick wit rub Mason the wrong way. Drake is far too self-assured for someone without an ounce of magical blood in his body, and Mason aims to teach him a lesson—like turn him into a roach. And if he’s lucky, maybe this time Mason won’t be the one turned into an insect.
Not surprisingly, the dislike is mutual, and Drake does nothing to dispel Mason’s suspicion that the sexy boy with a southern drawl is somehow connected to the murder.
If only Mason didn’t find himself inexplicably spellbound whenever they are together, they might actually find out what danger hides in the shadows.
Review: Mason Blackmoor may be a warlock, but he’s also a teenager who has to deal with school, frenemies, bitchy witches and trying to keep his sexuality under wraps. He’s not in the closet per say, he just hasn’t told anyone. Mason hasn’t been able to get a handle on his powers yet either, a fact that his two older brothers taunt him with on the daily. His father is powerful and a leader among their coven, both his brothers have mastered their talents, so Mason is frustrated that he hasn’t figured out what his ability is as of yet. But watching some of his spells backfire sure was hysterical.
Drake Carpenter is a good ole boy who moseys into Mason’s life and turns his world upside down. At first the two can’t stand the sight of each other, but then Mason saves Drake from a wayward piece of glass when, get this, he casts a spell and it works. The initial irritation these two felt quickly evolves into a mutual attraction. Mason is sort of dark and brooding, whereas Drake is a blonde haired, blue-eyed ray of sunshine. They complement each other.
Mason has more than one conversation with his family about what is expected of him. To take on this dark persona, much like their dark magic, but Mason has never been one to play by the rules. Not only did Mason start to gain some control over his ability when Drake came into the picture, but the more time they spend together the stronger his control becomes.
There is something much darker than the dark magic the Blackmoor’s possess though, something that has even the council running scared. Can Mason master his powers before Drake, his brothers, or worse, Mason himself becomes the next casualty of the evil that has moved into town?
I am always excited when a new book about magic comes out. Spell Bound is the first in a new series that promises to be dark, dangerous and downright sexy. What I enjoyed most about this story was Mason and how much he grew throughout. He’s very cocky and self-assured in the beginning, when in actuality he can’t even cast a spell without it rebounding.
It reminded me of Ron Weasley trying to curse Malfoy but he ended up spitting up eels! Mason is also supposed to act a certain way because of who his family is and what they expect of him, not mingle or be friends with other magical families. Well, like I said, Mason doesn’t play by the rules. By the end of the book he’s earned that cocky, self-assured attitude and learned that he does have friends that don’t care his name is Blackmoor, or that he’s gay.
There was a lot of action going on so the story moved along at a fast, steady pace. There was some drama, a bit of angst and a lot of romance. I absolutely loved it when Mason went from his brooding nature to this romantic walk on the beach, holding hands and kissing kind of guy. He and Drake were just too cute
. I can’t wait to see where this series takes them. Flores left a trail of bread crumbs for us to look forward to following in the next book, that is for sure. What is the semblance of the necklace? And I have to wonder if Adam is going to become a problem. I’m seriously anxious to learn who is controlling the Vampyre as well.
Great start to a new series, definitely a must read for anyone that likes paranormal, romance, witches, magic and just a fun romantic story with an edge.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hi guys, Annabeth Albert pops in with her newest Portland Heat book Delivered Fast, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Cat’s review, so check out Delivered Fast and than click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Delivered Fast
(Portland Heat 03)
by
Annabeth Albert
Portland, Oregon, aka Hotlandia, where the coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries are ready to serve everything piping hot, fresh, and ready to go—like the hard-working, hard-bodied men behind the counters—with no reservations…
Sure, Chris O’Neal has problems. His restaurant is still co-owned by his ex. His flannel-and-tattoos style is making him accidentally trendy. He can’t remember the last time he went out and had fun. But he’s not lonely, he’s driven. And the hot bakery delivery boy is not his problem, no matter how sweet his buns.
Chris is old enough to know Lance Degrassi’s sculpted good looks and clever double entendres spell nothing but trouble. Lance is still in college—he should be hitting the clubs and the books, chasing guys his own age, not pursuing some gruff motorcycle-riding workaholic. Especially when he’ll be leaving for grad school in a few months. But Lance keeps hanging around, lending a hand, charming Chris to distraction. Maybe some steaming hot no-strings indulgence won’t hurt.
Then again, maybe it will…
Each book is connected by the city, and are all standalone
Hey peeps, we have Lane Hayes stopping by to show off her cover to her upcoming release The Right Time, there’s the shiny new cover to admire and pant over, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway, so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
The Right Time
(A Right & Wrong Story 03)
by
Lane Hayes
Workaholic Nate Erickson is a successful real estate developer who thrives on long hours and stress. When a Los Angeles project prompts him to relocate to Santa Monica, he welcomes the change of scenery. Nate has always considered romantic entanglements trouble, but his sexy next-door neighbor isn’t easy to ignore. Which makes no sense, because Nate is straight… or so he’s always thought.
Alex Reyes is a retired professional soccer player turned West Hollywood business owner with an insatiable lust for life. He loves his family, friends, and work. But there’s one life challenge left to accomplish: coming out publically. Respect for traditional Latino values has kept him in the closet, but Alex begins to think he and his new neighbor might help one another combat their fears. As Alex and Nate forge a strong friendship, they soon realize facing their personal demons will take more courage than either man bargained. The reward is immeasurable… if the timing is right.
Hiya guys, today we have Joy Lynn Fielding stopping by with her newest release Blowing Off Steam, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Lisa’s review. Check out the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Blowing Off Steam
by
Joy Lynn Fielding
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.
Warning: Contains train geekery, bed-hogging, a hero with no experience and another with plenty to spare, and a spider called Mabel.
Series: N/A Author: Astrid Amara Genre: Sci Fi/Fantasy Length: Novel (224 pages) Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (May 26th, 2015) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts Blurb: Worst Possible Birthday: Being sold into slavery by none other than your lover.
Tover Duke’s rare ability to move anything instantly across light-years of space makes him a powerful, valuable asset to the Harmony Corporation, and a rock star among the people of the colonies. His life is luxurious. Safe. Routine.
He has his pick of casual hookups passing through Dadelus-Kaku Station. His one brush with danger of any kind—the only bright spot in his otherwise boring life—is Cruz Arcadio, a dark-haired, hard-bodied engineer whose physical prowess hints he’s something much more.
When a terrorist abducts Tover, hurling him into a world of torture, exploitation and betrayal, it’s with shattering disbelief that he realizes his kidnapper is none other than Cruz. As Tover struggles to find the courage to escape his bondage, he begins to understand the only way to free his body, his mind—and his heart—is to trust the one man who showed him that everything about his once-perfect life was a lie.
Warning: This story contains descriptions of extreme violence and assault. It also contains graphic sexual depictions. It also has a lot of birds. And pirate movies from the future. And romance.
Review: Kidnapped on your birthday? By your lover? Well, this started off with quite the bang! Sci-Fi is not a ‘go-to’ for me, so I was thrilled to find that the world building though complex wasn’t confusing. Astrid Amara has shown such attention to detail, building a future-fantasy world so layered, so rich that the words painted vivid pictures in my mind.
The characters were fleshed out just as deeply. Tover, the ‘rock star’ navigator, living the life of luxury, naïve and/or in denial of the injustices of the world around him. We are with Tover from his initial abduction throughout his torturous captivity, witnessing his rescue, escape and freedom.
Who are the allies? The enemies? Are they one and the same? Cruz, Tover’s some-time lover, the engineer, aide to the terrorists that kidnapped him? Terrorist himself? Is he this horrible traitor, or is he really just misunderstood? Not everything is what it seems.
There is a definite darkness to this story as indicated in the blurb. There is indeed violence and torture (no rape/noncom) which though not easy to read, was completely in line with the book and subject matter, including PTSD suffered by Tover. Shining through those tough times were moments of romance and heroism, of happiness and self-discovery.
Being a romantic sap, it was not lost on me that the place Tover truly found himself, the home of Cruz and his family, was called Carida, which sounds quite like ‘querida’, an endearment of love and caring in Spanish/Portuguese. The descriptive beauty, the events and dialogue that took place in Carida are some of my favorite in this book.
Ms. Amara has penned an epic journey of loss and love, where the hero does save the day (more than once) and love does win out. Though not the usual sweet and humorous read I have come to expect from this author, this latest release has only reaffirmed why Astrid Amara is an auto-buy for me, and why I can easily recommend this to one and all.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: In the Fire Series: In the Kitchen #2 Author: Eileen Griffin and Nikka Michaels Genre: Contemporary Length: Novel (296 pages) Publisher: Carina Press (3 Nov 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts Blurb: Because the way to a man’s heart…
Eight years ago, the world was their oyster. Until, that is, competing chefs Ethan Martin and James Lassiter’s hot and heavy relationship fizzled after Jamie left for an internship in Paris. Even though Jamie’s career has taken off since his return to the States, with his own television show and a lot of fame, his feelings for Ethan have never quite gone away.
Ethan’s culinary career has developed more slowly, but he’s almost saved enough to buy the restaurant where he works and re-open it as his dream spot, Bistro 30. If only he could get the sexy chef who loved him and left him out of his mind.
But when someone starts sabotaging the restaurant and a fire threatens to take away everything Ethan holds dear, his only option is to rely on Jamie for help. Back in close quarters, the two men will have to find a way to work through their past if they hope to save the restaurant and their future.
See how Ethan and Jamie’s romance began in In the Raw
Review: This is book 2 in Eileen Griffin and Nikka Michaels’ In the Kitchen series. You really should read book 1 first, though I reckon you’ll be able to get away with skipping it if you really must. However, In the Fire is a fantastic addition to the series and like book 1, had been engrossed from the get go.
Once again we are following young chefs Ethan and Jamie and are set eight years after we left them at the airport in Seattle when Jamie was off to study in France. Of course, you will read to find out the events that have led to the guys being separated after a rather harsh break up, though really to me it was all a bit odd, but hey, I’ll suspend my disbelief for this.
So the guys are almost thirty years old. Jamie is a famous TV chef and often travels with his best friend he met in France and manager, Trevor. Ethan is head chef at a restaurant where he started some sort of apprenticeship at the end of the previous book. At this point he has gone as far as to being the manager and set to take over when the owner retires.
Once again we are revisiting the fact that both these guys suck at communicating with each other. Ethan is still a hot head and Jamie is still fiercely independent though both guys have been miserable without each other in the intervening years. I still absolutely adore Ethan, even though he is a grumpy, surly guy, he has a heart of gold. I just want to hug him!! 😉
We get a quick appearance from a few minor characters we met before. Ethan’s sister Claire isn’t as prominent as she was before, but she is still brilliant and I absolutely adore her. I would go as far to say that I would read an MF romance if only to see her get her HEA. There are also a couple a chefs from the first book, which appear more human now that Ethan and Jamie have graduated culinary school and these teachers are now their colleagues.
Two new characters we are introduced to are Trevor, Jamie’s BFF and Tyler, a young guy who had been kicked out of home and taken in by Ethan. Tyler is adorable, he’s been framed as Ethan’s unofficial little brother and has an amazing heart. I find Trevor’s character rather interesting because of how he was written. The authors could have made Trevor an outright villain in the story, but instead he is just another guy pining away for the unattainable and guilty of his own foolish mistakes.
I loved this just as much as I loved the first book, although I will go on record to say that this made me a bit emotional when I realised what had happened to the guys between the end of book 1 and the start of book 2. Just like book 1 there is a lot of fighting and miscommunication, but it is totally worth read every word!
Right… now for book 3… Trevor and Tyler’s story!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Fire and Ice Series: Carlisle Cops, #2 Author: Andrew Grey Genre: Romantic Suspense Length: Novel (200 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (May 25th 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Carter Schunk is a dedicated police officer with a difficult past and a big heart. When he’s called to a domestic disturbance, he finds a fatally injured woman, and a child, Alex, who is in desperate need of care. Child Services is called, and the last man on earth Carter wants to see walks through the door. Carter had a fling with Donald a year ago and found him as cold as ice since it ended.
Donald (Ice) Ickle has had a hard life he shares with no one, and he’s closed his heart to all. It’s partly to keep himself from getting hurt and partly the way he deals with a job he’s good at, because he does what needs to be done without getting emotionally involved. When he meets Carter again, he maintains his usual distance, but Carter gets under his skin, and against his better judgment, Donald lets Carter guilt him into taking Alex when there isn’t other foster care available. Carter even offers to help care for the boy.
Donald has a past he doesn’t want to discuss with anyone, least of all Carter, who has his own past he’d just as soon keep to himself. But it’s Alex’s secrets that could either pull them together or rip them apart—secrets the boy isn’t able to tell them and yet could be the key to happiness for all of them.
Review: Carter Schunk is a good cop and a computer genius, so he winds up spending more time at his desk than on the streets, much to his dismay. When he finally gets some street time he answers a call for a domestic disturbance, but what he finds in the home deeply disturbs him. A waif of a little boy who has been neglected and abused told he was bad and forced to live in squalor. The traumatized toddler quickly takes a shine to Carter, who is kind and gentle with him. And then the Ice man walks through the door.
Donald Ickle works for social services. A dark past that he keeps to himself made Donald want to help children that wind up in foster care, like he did. He’s seen a lot in his line of work that would make anyone question their sanity, and he copes by hiding behind a tough exterior. Hence his nick name around the department, Ice.
Carter experienced that cold exterior firsthand about a year ago when the two of them met and shared a… rambunctious weekend together. Donald turned that icy personality on full blast for Carter once their weekend was up. But there is nowhere to run to now, Donald and Carter are forced into close quarters again for the sake of the little boy who has them both wrapped around his little finger.
Little Alex is the heart and soul of this story. That little man seriously stole the show! I cried like a baby when he told Carter his name was ‘piece of shit’. I wasn’t kidding when I said he was horribly abused, so be prepared for that. I give Grey some serious props for presenting it in the classiest way possible within the story though. And then there is this twist at the end that made me tear up a little again, I didn’t expect it, very surprising and brilliant.
And while this story may initially present itself as an insta-love story, you have to consider that Carter and Donald have actually known each other for a year, and neither has forgotten the intensely passionate weekend they spent together. Carter knows exactly what he wants, Donald. It will take a lot of convincing, love and attention to get Donald to accept he feels the same way though. He’s terrified to give his heart to another man who will duck and run when he learns the truth about Donald’s past. So Carter has to prove to Donald that he’s in it for the long haul.
Not to sound like a broken record, but I am continually amazed with Grey’s imagination. He constantly comes up with fresh new story ideas to keep his readers entertained and chomping at the bit for the next story. Fire and Ice is a little bit dark and very detailed, descriptive with the storyline.
The characters are so perfectly flawed, three-dimensional and just real, which gave them depth. I devoured this book in a matter of a few hours. It’s passionate, intense, sexy and endearing. I think this just became my new favorite Andrew Grey book, will definitely be reading this one over, and over again.
I think it goes without saying, but I will, fans of Grey are going to be blown away by this one. If you enjoy a good love story with a bit of grit and grime, a hard-fought happy ever after, romance and a sexy alpha male with a protective streak, you’re going to want to grab a copy of this one.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Two for the Price of One Author: Kimberly Hunter Genre: MMF Ménage Length: Novella (93 Pages) Publisher: Kimberly Hunter (August 1st, 2013) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts Blurb: Alexandria Eastland never thought to find herself divorced.
Two years later, she’s tired of mourning her loss and being alone. It’s time to move on, to live again. Only she has no idea that decision will change her life in more ways than one.
Jared Kingston and Kai Stone have everything they could possibly want in their relationship. Except a woman to share it with. When Jared and Kai meet Alexandria at the local fetish club, they know they have found their third.
Alexandria isn’t so sure.
Getting her heart broken by one man was hard enough, two would be devastating.
But Jared and Kai won’t give up; they know that Alexandria is the one.
Review: We Meet Kai and Jared who are in a relationship, but feel that they are missing something from their life. They have been looking for the perfect women to bring in to their relationship and so far they are not working out for them. Alexandria is older women, divorce and has a college age son.
When her friends tell her they are taking her to a fetish club that is open only for that weekend, Alexandria meets with Kai and Jared.
Will they be able to get past the age differences? Alexandria get over her complex about her body shape.
Would recommended this book if you are looking for a great short ménage read
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Lynx in the Blood, 2nd Edition Series: Pack Valley, #2 Author: SA Welsh Genre: Paranormal Length: Novel (212 pages) Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc. (November 1st 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts Blurb: Can Jay keep control of his own mind or will he let the powers that be take over and cost him the person he loves more than anything?
Jay and Kyle have been mated a week. A happy, love- and lust-filled week but now everything is starting to fall apart. Nightmares plague him. Are his dreams just fiction or his destiny, is he becoming what he was always meant to be?
With no time to figure it out, Jay and Kyle have to find and rescue kidnapped shifters and navigate their way through alpha politics, all while doing damage control for Jay’s newfound uncle. He has to face his abusive stepfather, survive attacks by hunters and keep his sanity while fighting to prevent his nightmares from becoming reality.
Review:This book is part of series and should be read in order.
Jay and Kyle have barely had any time to settle into their mating when Jay starts having horrible dreams. Dreams that leave remainders on Jay body when he wakes up. Luckily, Jay and Kyle get some answers from unlikely sources. They start to fill in the blanks about Jay and where he comes from.
Not that Jay is all that thrilled with what is learned. To him, it just makes him a bigger freak. Jay still struggles with the belief he is not good enough for Kyle. Even with Kyle reassuring him and proving it.
Kyle has his own issues to deal with. The fact that he, the big Alpha of the mating is not always strong enough to protect Jay. In fact Jay winds up saving himself and Kyle. But it also leads to Jay learning more about himself and his strengths.
I honestly love Jay. His sarcastic wit had me laughing a good deal through the book. From the things he says out loud to the thoughts in his head, there is never a dull moment. But there is also a seriousness to him and the sarcasm is a way for him to deal with all the changes he is going through.
This book had so many twists and turns throughout. The hits kept on coming. Not only about Jay, but also about the missing shifters and what is happening to them. There is a lot going on in the shifter world. So much more than just missing shifters and hunters.
The first book in the series was lighter and sweeter than this one. This book really starts getting to the meat of the series. There is more drama, angst, and just plan more. Jay and Kyle have their hands full with many different things going on.
The book ends on a cliffhanger and leaves a good opening for the next one.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Benjamin Pepperwhistle and the Fantabulous Circus of Wonders Series: Weight of a Gun Author: Cornelia Grey Genre: Historical Romance Length: Novella (65 Pages) Publisher: Storm Moon Press (March 13th, 2014) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ Hearts Blurb: Benjamin Pepperwhistle has one overriding desire: to handle the glorious machinery that is a gun. So when he decides to run away to join the circus, its only natural that he should seek out the legendary pistoleer, Cole Beauchamp, and beg to be his assistant. Life in the circus has definite ups and downs, but as Benjamin settles in to his role, he finds that some perks are even better than he’d anticipated.
Review: Benjamin Pepperwhistle chases his dreams of working with world-famous pistoleer Cole Beauchamp and runs away to join him in the circus in this sharp, visceral novella. The smart writing harkens back to a time when the circus was the greatest show on earth, when feats of prowess and skill marveled crowds across the land.
Benjamin stars as the leading man in search of a home, a place, a tribe with those who are his people. He’s timid and shy, unsure of what he’ll find as he discovers more about himself than he ever thought he would. Cole Beauchamp stands his opposite: confident, strong, intelligent and brooding. Will the pair bond over the smoke and thunder call of the pistols?
Let me preface this by saying: I don’t like guns. I’m not wholly against them, I just don’t like them and they make me nervous. But boy howdy did this novella make me see guns in a different light. The entire story serves as a build of the tension felt by Benjamin – it’s sexual and electric as he handles the guns — cleaning them, loading them, shooting until every last bullet has been spent.
The story featured hardly any explicitly sexual scenes, yet every page I turned was filled with a thrumming tension built and then released and then built higher. I need a cold shower just thinking about it.
The writing is incredibly tight and strong, with even side characters feeling fleshed out and real. Grey draws on each of your senses as she leads you down a rabbit hole to a world that’s just this side of fantasy, a world you’ve always wondered about but never really seen. The circus as it was in its heyday has fascinated many authors and readers alike, and this novella makes a strong addition to the genre.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good writing and sweltering sexual tension – though you may not want to read it at work! It may make it quite difficult to concentrate.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: The Psionics Guild Series: The Astrogator, #5 Author: A.C. Ellas Genre: Adventure-Adventure/ BDSM/ Science Fiction {soft} Length: Novella (50 pages) Publisher: Extasy Books (May 22, 2015) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts Blurb: So, you think you’re in love with an Astrogator.
Captain Nick Steele discovers that being married to an Astrogator isn’t as easy as he’d thought it would be. Not that Astrogator Cai was an issue, for they remained deeply, passionately in love with one another, but everyone else seems to have an issue with it, especially the administrators of the Psionics Guild.
To what lengths will the Guild go to separate Nick from their Astrogator? What price is Nick willing to pay to keep Cai? What will Cai give up to keep Nick?
Review: I thought it sad that everyone had an issue with Nick and Cai being together. I thought they fit very well and made for a cute couple. The Psionics Guild shocked me at what they tried to do to separate them.
Although this is one of the strangest series I have ever read it is entertaining if not confusing at times.
Good read.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Bits of Magic Series: Hidden Magic Collection Author: Angela Benedetti Genre: Paranormal Length: 68 pages Publisher: Torquere Press (May 6th, 2015) Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½ Hearts Blurb: There’s magic in the world and its hiding in plain sight. Your friends, your neighbors, the guy who runs your favorite restaurant — any of them could be more than they seem. A man trick-or-treating with his son finds the courage to go after what he wants when he confiscates and eats some unwrapped candy. A park ranger who’s afraid of outing himself in public is reminded that his lover will — and can — protect him, no matter what. An apprentice mage learns that his master never forgets when he has a lesson to finish, and will always come for him when he gets himself lost in magic. And a boy from a mage-gifted family learns that life isn’t over just because the gift has passed him by.
General Review: I found myself a little underwhelmed by this collection and I think part of the reason is that this would have made sense with the stories in a different order. These are shorts set within the universe of Angela Benedetti’s Sentinel series. But I’ve decided to give the benefit of the doubt and I am going to assume to get the full effect of the story, I should probably go back to the start of it all to get a real sense of the goings in on in this world.
Chasing Fear ♥♥♥♥3 ½ Hearts Review: This one has an interesting setting – feels rather mystical and spooky. We meet Emilio and his lover Martin. Maybe I’m a little bit jaded when it comes to my MM book, but what this essentially boils down to is that on Halloween Martin wants to have sex in public but there’s this shady area of consent because of Emilio’s fears. Sure, it’s good, but I personally found it difficult to connect to the characters. Despite being set in the universe of the Sentinels series, I felt I needed a broader introduction about these guys who were otherwise unknown to this universe.
Catching Courage ♥♥♥♥ 3 ½ Hearts Review: In this second short we are back with Emilio and Martin. I think to some extent my comments of a broader introduction for the guys being needed still applies here, but this story was much easier to get into the characters. After having difficulty connecting to especially Martin in Chasing Fear I was more than relieved that I was finally able to connect to his character and relate. Now the guys are spending New Year’s Eve with Martin’s family in this charming vignette.
Reach Out and Touch ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts Review: Third story and we now move onto a second couple, this time apprentice mage Cal and master mage, Aubrey, who is also Cal’s master. Okay, this is a different and certainly interesting story, but it is told by Cal because Aubrey is elsewhere and Cal decides to cast some magic he isn’t ready to do. In a funny way, it comes down to me thinking, this couple needs to communicate.
I wish there could have been more Aubrey because he appears at the end and other than being thought/ spoken of by Cal he doesn’t really get a good introduction. There’s some intriguing interacting between the couple, where Cal describes Aubrey as amazing I feel that we just don’t get enough time to see him beyond being a grumpy mage.
Unfinished Business ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts Review: And we are once again back with Cal and Aubrey. Once again, this story is told by Cal for the most part. It is cute and sexy and, unlike the previous story, it was really easy to see the dynamics in their relationship. An interesting bit, I’ve discovered that this story is based on a scene in the novel that set up this universe, Hidden Magic, where it has now been expanded for the purpose of this story and now told from Cal and Aubrey’s POV.
Candy Courage ♥♥♥♥ 3 ½ Hearts Review: This is fun Halloween short. This time we meet Glenn, he’s divorced and wants to spend some time with his son, so takes him trick or treating. Glenn, like any adult, wants a bit of the lollies too, so swipes some of his son’s without the knowledge that they got it from alchemist who likes to add a bit of extra something. It’s the added courage that leads to the MM portion of the story, hence the title of the story.
It’s certainly a fun read especially once we meet Neal and see Glenn come out of his shell. I think it might be charming especially those that can relate to the shyness of flirting with someone they like.
Birthdays Suck ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts Review: In this final story we meet Paul MacAllister, it is like a prequel intro to the novel Hidden Magic. In this, it’s Paul’s birthday and he doesn’t like them because he has not developed any magical powers which means he cannot be a Sentinel, protector of the mortal realm. Everyone has had a horrible birthday where things don’t go your way and that made it really easy to relate to.
One criticism though, this collection would have been better off if this was the first story and acted as the introduction to the piece. Not only is it a prequel to the novel these shorts are based around, it is also a really helpful prequel to the world that we meet in the rest of the short. After reading this all of a sudden things fell into place and the previous five stories finally made sense to me.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Theseus Series: Twelve Labors, #7 Author: Cree Storm Genre: Paranormal / Fantasy / Gods Length: Novel (164 pages) Publisher: Siren Publishing, Inc. (May 23rd 2015) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3 ½ Hearts Blurb: Hera and Aries have taken over Olympus. The other Gods have one chance to free Zeus and take his rightful place. However, in order to do so the other Gods must be willing to sacrifice their freedom for his. Theseus’s labor is to capture the bull…but this is just crazy.
Taurus is thrown for a loop when he is told he is the mate to a Greek God. Theseus is amazing and keeping his hands off the man is next to impossible. However, finding out that there are rules to mating with a constellation comes as a shock to everyone.
They have three days to find Taurus’s replacement or he returns to the sky and Theseus will cease to exist. Can they do this while Phobos is hot on their tails, wreaking terror, to stop them from succeeding on their journey?
Or will he succeed where others have failed and Taurus and Theseus be doomed?
ISBN: 978-1-63259-407-5
Product Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/theseus
Reviewer: Leigh
Review:This book is part of a series and should be read in order.
Hera and Aries are up to no good once again, with help from Aries’ Phobos. The show once again how cruel and evil they can be in their goal to rule and control everything.
Taurus, the constellation at night, turns out to be a bull shifter during the day. But he is not like people think. He is good-natured and even-tempered, except for his stubbornness. He is a good man, but alone. He does not really interact much with people, except children. He loves helping them and teaching them.
Theseus, is maybe a demigod. Since the nature of his conception is at debate he had two fathers. Because of that is included, but not really part of Olympus. He suffered at the ends of some of the Gods. When he is chosen as part of the twelve he is actually happy about getting a mate and having someone all his own.
My issue with the story is that I was not really drawn into the romance of Theseus and Taurus. The sex was hot, but I was missing something to invest me in their happily ever after. I actually found the supporting characters more interesting than the main characters. They seemed to steal the show more for me.
The writing and pacing was good. But there were also some editing errors, like names in the wrong places and missing words that would throw me out of the story. There was also a scene in the beginning dealing with Aries that just make me feel icky.
All in all, it was a good read, but not my favorite from the series. Although I do look forward to reading more. I really like the concept and the different characters. I want to see what happens next.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: The Replacement Series: Hennessey Falls, #1 Author: Christiane France Genre: Contemporary Length: Novella (54 pages) Publisher: Amber Allure, Amber Quill Press (May 10th, 2015) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 ½ Hearts Blurb: When Noah loses his life partner to kidney failure, he not only grieves personally, but he also needs a replacement to help run his restaurant business. After a couple of tryout failures, Noah eventually interviews the stunning Gavin Murray.
Gavin has everything needed to become the perfect general manager. He has the education, the experience, and the polish and sophistication required in a top executive. The only problem, however, is that Noah finds the man sexually attractive in a way that borders on pure obsession. He wants Gavin, but he tells himself that he can’t have him.
He’s still mourning Brett and he’s far from ready to move on with his life. If he had any sense, he’d turn down Gavin’s application and send him on his way.
Instead, Noah eventually agrees to give Gavin a three-month trial period by convincing himself the man is his only option to fill the position and that business comes first.
But will Noah be able to resist the daily temptation he now faces with Gavin in such close proximity?
Review: This title is part of The Second Time Around AmberPax Collection. So far book one is looking pretty good. I do hope that the second book is a bit longer in length and more to it. I wasn’t so sure what to think about it though over all. It starts out pretty good, but I want more to it.
Noah had loved his life partner and when Brett died, he just wanted to give up. For over a year he continues to work and miss the man he loved. Now he had to find someone to replace his lover at work. They had ideas to expand at work and now he knew he had to continue on with life. He just wasn’t expecting to want Gavin as he did.
Gavin wanted the job, but damn he wanted his boss even more. A chance encounter at the club and he wants him even more. Now all he has to do is to get Noah to see that he can love him without hurting his memory of Brett.
This was a cute story that will have you tearing up. To lose someone so important and to know you have to go on must be hard. I had a blast reading it and look forward to the next story. I just hope it has more to it.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hi peeps, we have Jane Davitt popping in with the tour for her newest release Closing The Loop, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Zane’s review, so ejnoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Closing The Loop
by
Jane Davitt
A “closed loop” voyage occurs when a vessel departs from a port and returns to the same port upon completion of the voyage.
A week on a tropical gay cruise is just what Lee needs after a bad breakup and a Canadian winter. It’s a shame his ex is on board, but Lee is sharing a cabin with Cole, a hot lawyer who—as luck would have it—is actually from Lee’s city. So when Cole unexpectedly awakens Lee’s kinky side, Lee begins to dream that they can actually take their shipboard romance home with them.
But Cole is keeping secrets involving a troubled young man on board the ship. And Lee, after his recent brush with betrayal, finds it difficult to trust Cole when he says Justin isn’t a rival.
Then he learns the truth and is also drawn into the tragic story. His dream vacation is in danger of turning dark, but he’s determined to navigate Cole and himself to a safe harbor before their blisteringly hot romance is lost at sea.
Hi guys, we have Mia Kerick stopping by today on the first day of her blog tour for Love Spell, we managed to pin Mia down to answer a couple of questions for you, we have a great excerpt, there’s a fantastic giveaway and we have Cat’s review for you to enjoy, so check out the post and click that Rafflecopter link
Love Spell
by
Mia Kerick
Strutting his stuff on the catwalk in black patent leather pumps and a snug orange tuxedo as this year’s Miss (ter) Harvest Moon feels so very right to Chance César, and yet he knows it should feel so very wrong.
As far back as he can remember, Chance has been “caught between genders.” (It’s quite a touchy subject; so don’t ask him about it.) However, he does not question his sexual orientation. Chance has no doubt about his gayness—he is very much out of the closet at his rural New Hampshire high school, where the other students avoid the kid they refer to as “girl-boy.”
But at the local Harvest Moon Festival, when Chance, the Pumpkin Pageant Queen, meets Jasper Donahue, the Pumpkin Carving King, sparks fly. So Chance sets out, with the help of his BFF, Emily, to make “Jazz” Donahue his man.
An article in an online women’s magazine, Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love with You (with a bonus love spell thrown in for good measure), becomes the basis of their strategy to capture Jazz’s heart.
Quirky, comical, definitely flamboyant, and with an inner core of poignancy, Love Spell celebrates the diversity of a gender-fluid teen.
Title: A Shifter’s Worst Nightmare Series: Mating with Wolves, # 1 Author: Marcy Jacks Genre: Paranormal / Shifters Length: Novella (101 pages) Publisher: Siren Publishing, Inc. (May 23rd 2015) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3 ½ Hearts Blurb: Jake Taylor was just looking for some fun at the gay bar outside of his tiny ass town. He never expected to see a man who made the world shift beneath his feet.
Morgan Anson is young and good-looking, and just Jake’s type. It’s weird that he feels an immediate jealousy of everyone Morgan dances with. He needs to get the man home, right now, and make him his. Jake just never expected to wake up the following morning next to a wolf.
Morgan didn’t mean to shift. It was an accident, but he was so comfortable and happy next to his mate, that it just sort of happened while he slept.
They can’t stay away from each other for long, however, though Jake knows he should, and even though Morgan is considered a curse on his pack, Jake will have to prove himself to the Alpha if he plans on taking Morgan out of his abusive pack forever.
Review: Marcy Jacks has found her niche in writing and she sticks to it with this new series so far.
Morgan is an Omega and because of his mismatched eyes, he is seen as a curse on his pack. He gets blamed for anything and everything that goes wrong. But, because he is the Alpha’s nephew, they don’t simply kill him or throw him away.
Jake is a local ranch owner, and human. He knows nothing about the paranormal world. But he learns fast when he realizes Morgan is a wolf and his mate. I have to give the man props for not being afraid to stand up for Morgan, even against Alpha wolves. He may not be a wolf, but he sure acts like an Alpha.
I liked these two together. They are really cute and sweet at times. The sex is hot as I expect from this author. But still it was over all missing a little something. I am not really sure what. It was well written, so that was not the issue. Just something wasn’t there fully for me.
Either way it was just enough to prick my interest. I look forward to reading the more to come. Plus there was a little surprise at the end that I want to see more about.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Spell Bound
Title: Song of the Navigator
Title: In the Fire
Title: Fire and Ice
Title: Two for the Price of One
Title: Lynx in the Blood, 2nd Edition
Title: Benjamin Pepperwhistle and the Fantabulous Circus of Wonders
Title: The Psionics Guild
Title: Bits of Magic
Title: Theseus
Title: The Replacement
Title: A Shifter’s Worst Nightmare