Month: August 2016

Crisped + Sere by T.J. Klune

T.J. Klune - Crisped +Sere CoverTitle: Crisped + Sere

Series:  Immemorial Year # 2

Author: TJ Klune

Genre: Science Fiction

Length: Novel (340 pages)

Publisher: DSP Publications (August 23, 2016)

Heat Level: Low – Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Twenty-one days.

In a world ravaged by fire and descending into madness, Cavalo has been given an ultimatum by the dark man known as Patrick: return Lucas to him and the cannibalistic Dead Rabbits, or the town of Cottonwood and its inhabitants will be destroyed.

But Lucas has a secret embedded into his skin that promises to forever alter the shape of things to come—a secret that Cavalo must decide if it’s worth dying over, even as he wrestles with his own growing attraction to the muted psychopath.

Twenty-one days.

Cavalo has twenty-one days to prepare for war. Twenty-one days to hold what is left of his shredded sanity together. Twenty-one days to convince the people of Cottonwood to rise up and fight back. Twenty-one days to unravel the meaning behind the marks that cover Lucas.

A meaning that leads to a single word and a place of unimaginable power: Dworshak.

ISBN: 978-1-63477-068-2

Product Link: https://www.dsppublications.com/books/crisped-sere-by-tj-klune-286-b

Reviewer: Shorty 

Review: This is the second book in the Immemorial Year series and continues where the first book left off.

In this story Cavalo attempts to convince the people of Cottonwood to rise up and fight Patrick and his deadly rabbits. The townspeople are scared and frightened, yet they are tired of it as well.

Lucas and Cavalo grow closer as the story progresses. There are some intense fight scenes as well as some scenes that caused me to shed tears at the waste of human life. I hated Patrick with a passion and felt he was totally insane with the atrocities he committed. 

The most heart-breaking scenes were when we learn of what happened to Lucas, and Sirs decision near the end. Both made me cry. I felt that what Lucas went through was unimaginable and could not believe someone who was supposed to love him did that. 

I loved all the details and the planning the group did to prepare for vicious battles. Though not all went according to plan it was still effective to a point.

This story will have you on the edge of your seat all throughout. Fantastic book and I highly recommend it.

What It Looks Like by Matthew J. Metzger Release Blitz & Giveaway!

Matthew J. Metzger - What It Looks Like GraphicOne s

Hi peeps, we have Matthew J. Metzger stopping by with his new release What It Looks Like, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~

Matthew J. Metzger - What It Looks Like Cover

What It Looks Like

by

Matthew J. Metzger

Eli Bell is the only son of a police chief inspector and a forensic scientist. He’s grown up wonky in a world that only deals with the straight and narrow — and his new boyfriend isn’t helping.

Rob Hawkes is six feet of muscle, tattoos, and arrest warrants. A career criminal and a former guest of Her Majesty’s Prison Service, he’d rather hit Eli’s parents than sit down to dinner with them. One wrong move, and Rob could destroy Eli — and his family — without a second thought.

But this isn’t what it looks like.

Rob’s not in control here — and Eli’s the one to blame.

Continue reading “What It Looks Like by Matthew J. Metzger Release Blitz & Giveaway!” →

That Darn Muse by Dan Skinner Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway!

Dan Skinner - The Misadventures of Doc and Dirk Volume IBlog Tour Banner s

Hi guys, we have Dan Skinner stopping by with his new release That Darn Muse (The Misadventures of Doc & Dick Vol 01), we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway, so check out the post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~

Dan Skinner - The Misadventures of Doc and Dirk Volume I Cover s

That Darn Muse

(The Misadventures of Doc & Dick 01)
by

Dan Skinner

He’s a middle-aged, newly single, gay photographer starting life over. Along comes a freshly out nineteen-year-old, irreverent free spirit who wants to be his apprentice. Mismatched by more than a generation, what could possibly go wrong? Everything! And it’s AWESOME!

Dirk’s First Time. Every gay boy has his first experience. Usually it’s a memorable, exciting personal time of discovery and intimacy between two young people. But two comic book characters? Is it horseplay or Cosplay?

The Boy At The Gym. First impressions can be deceiving. Sometimes that boy in the baggy clothes, talking to himself in the gym isn’t as shy as he appears. Sometimes there’s a deviant imp lurking beneath that freckled mask of innocence. Beware the Trojan Nerd!

Continue reading “That Darn Muse by Dan Skinner Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway!” →

Hiding In Plain Sight by Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone - Hiding in Plain Sight Cover sTitle: Hiding in Plain Sight

Series: Vegas Hustle 02

Author: Ethan Stone

Genre: Contemporary, Thriller, Suspense

Length:  Novel (196 pages)

Publisher: Pride Publishing (9 Feb 2016)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: What happens when happily ever after ends in heartbreak?

After surviving a harrowing ordeal in Las Vegas, Javi Campos and Adam Brand seemed destined for a lifetime of love. However, life and insecurities got in the way, and Javi left, nearly destroying Adam in the process.

They’ve spent ten years apart, but circumstances bring them together again. Now a personal escort, Javi is terrified when his companion for the evening is killed in the bed they shared. As the obvious suspect, he turns to the only man in Portland he knows he can trust…his former lover, Adam.

Adam is shocked to hear from Javi, but he believes in him and agrees to help. The investigation takes them into the backstabbing world of Big Pharma as well as the religious homophobic culture of Russian Old Believers. While attempting to find the real killer, Adam and Javi have no choice but to deal with their lingering feelings for each other.

The situation might be the catalyst they need to finally find their long-awaited happily ever after. But first they have to solve the case before either one of them becomes the next victim.

ISBN: 978-1-78430-980-0

Product Link: https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/hiding-in-plain-sight

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Hiding in Plain Sight is the sequel to Ethan Stone’s 2014 book, Vegas Hustle. To be completely honest, I did not realize that this was a series until it came to looking up information for this review, so this does easily read as a standalone without missing details that scream “go back to book 1”. I was really torn when it came to rating this book. I wanted it to be a 4, but there were some things that I could just not overlook and in the end settled on my 3.5 heart rating.

After being apart for ten years, wealthy Adam Brand gets a call from the ex who broke his heart, Javi. Javi who was a hustler and now an escort left Adam 10 years ago after a harrowing experience together in Vegas where Javi saved Adam because he believed that he was holding Adam back from going to college, etc. Something that really didn’t need to happen if only the two guys actually communicated, but I won’t get into that because that was not a problem.

Now living home in Portland with his father still, Adam is in his early thirties and still not really over Javi. This is evident when he think that he sees Javi in an upscale restaurant and his best friend, Cory, starts harping on about Javi being the scum of the earth. But the truth is Javi is in Portland as part of his job as an escort to wealthy men, he actually lives in Washington but a couple of clients bring him to Portland and in the orbit of Adam. When one of his clients is murdered while the two men were sleeping, Javi turns to the one man in his life he has ever trust – Adam. And Adam comes to the rescue.

Ok, so I need to say this, I really enjoyed the book. I loved the sexual tension between Adam and Javi, it was clear that these guys belong together. I loved the mystery, the thriller and the suspense of the overall plot. The plot and character development, as well as the pace of the book, are exactly spot on.

I just have a couple of issues: I was really annoyed by the vigilante justice where Adam basically shuts out the police to solve the crime. It also annoyed me that the police detective so happily went along with getting information from Adam without thinking of implications for when it came to court. Was it his wealth and influence that allowed it to be accepted? I’m not sure, probably, but it did annoy me.

Another big thing that got to me was the conspiracy theory “woo-woo” about “Big Pharma”. Once I read the ridiculous line “it won’t make money to cure people so Big Pharma will never sell it”, I was thoroughly disappointed being that I know the nature of the scientific process I found a lot of that part unbelievable. Seriously, every scientist especially those working for companies have to have their notes accessible and in a form that can be audited upon request. However, I will admit that I found the stuff about the religious Russian sect, Prava, quite interesting.

As for the ending, although it was satisfying, I really do wish that there had been more to it. All the loose ends were tied up quite nicely. I’m just being greedy and want to know more. It also leaves me wondering if one of the minor characters might get his own story and a chance at a happily ever after.

Mitch & Austin: Boys of Banana Court 01 by Alex Carreras

Alex Carreras - Banana Court Book 1 - Mitch & Austin Cover sTitle: Mitch & Austin

Series: Boys of Banana Court 01

Author: Alex Carreras

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (22K words)

Publisher: Wilde City Press (30 Dec 2015)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: Mitch Montgomery should be happy. He’s just got his own apartment with his best friend from high school, Josh Connors, recently landed a job at IGNITE, the coolest and gayest gym in town, and his new neighbor is hot, hung, horny, and above everything else, interested.

So why isn’t he…. happy?

It’s because he thought that by now his life would be way better. Instead of attending a crappy community college, Mitch should be at a big name school busy being Big Man On Campus and scoring touchdowns, not wiping down lockers and giving workout advice to wannabe gym dudes. This was not the way it was supposed to be. But a devastating knee injury during his junior year ended all of his hopes and dreams of ever going pro.

Austin Grey is gorgeous. Everybody wants him, but he only wants Mitch Montgomery who recently moved in across the way. Austin has a problem. A big very problem. He used to be… fat.

While in high school, Austin was an outcast, unpopular and bullied. After graduation he vowed to leave the fat boy behind and become the wet dream on legs he is now. Easier said than done. While working on his outer self, he neglected his inner self, and he can’t seem to accept the new person he’s become no matter how hard he tries.

All on the same city block, the boys of Banana Court learn to love, live, and sometimes lose as they strive to have a little fun along the way.

ISBN: 978-1-925313-63-5

Product Link: https://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-romance/boys-of-banana-court-book-one/#.VywLVIR97IU

Reviewer: Prime

Review: This is a fun and quick read. It’s one of those no stress, relaxing type of books that you can only get angry at if you want more melodrama or whatever. Really, the whole premise is just a bit of fun – young, gay college students just trying to get by between work and school and maybe throw in a love life in between all of that. It’s really a few hissy-fits away from being a gay soap opera.

Obviously, this story follows Mitch and Austin. Mitch and his best friend since school, Josh, find an apartment together in Banana Court where they are surrounded by like minded young men. It is there where Mitch meets one of their new neighbors, Austin.  Mitch doesn’t realize it at first, but Austin was a year level above him and Josh, and is quite unrecognizable because he has lost quite a bit of weight and has basically become some sort of Adonis.

That is essentially the main guts of the story. There is nothing super involved, which is why this is such an easy and enjoyable read. This is one of those books that is great to read after you have just gone through a particularly harrowing book and your poor little heart that takes fiction too seriously needs time to recover.

Totally enjoyable with some really hot sexual tension and sex, Alex Carreras does not disappoint with a sexy story with a HEA.

Places in Time by Cardeno C. ~ Audiobook

Cardeno C. - Places in Time Cover AudioTitle: Places in Time

Series:  N/A

Author: Cardeno C

Narrator: John Solo

Genre: Contemporary, Fantasy

Length: 1 hr, 41 mins

Publisher: The Romance Authors, LLC

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: A relationship-challenged actor unexpectedly finds love in the arms of his childhood best friend.

“Sexiest Man Alive” and Golden Globe-winning actor Ethan Baker lights up the screen but fizzles in his personal life. When his latest girlfriend breaks up with him, Ethan turns to his one “forever” person – Jude Harrison. But as Ethan makes the familiar drive to his best friend’s house, an unexpected detour and a bewildering passenger take him through places in time he’d long forgotten. Suddenly, Ethan sees Jude’s actions over the years from a different perspective, but it’s his own reaction that’s the biggest surprise.

Product Link: Audible AU | Audible UK | Audible US

Reviewer: Prime

Review: This is a super short and super enjoyable serving of romance from Cardeno C. Under two hours in length, this is the type of sugary perfect romance that is great when you’re commuting. There is nothing hard hitting going on and not a lot of angst or drama, so you can just relax (or concentrate on the road if you’re driving) as you listen to the story.

The story follows Hollywood heart throb Ethan Baker, who just can’t work out why his personal life isn’t working outside of his friendship with childhood BFF, Jude Harrison. It’s a light, fluffy trip down memory lane fuelled by a touch of fantasy that either really happened or could be caused by some worrying medical issue which is not at all part of the story. This isn’t some sort of insta-love, this is a dawning realization of what really lies between two best friends and the sacrifices that they have made for each other.

I have to admit this is probably now my favourite story by Cardeno C because for me it had all the vital elements fitting together in such a short story. As much as I would have enjoyed a longer story I think what we got works well. It’s just so damn satisfying to read. Throw in John Solo’s great narration, I’ve heard him narrating both Stormy Glenn and Andrew Grey in the past and I have never been disappointed by his narration. OK, so right at the end of this he pronounced dolmades as “dole-mades” not “dole-ma-des” and that has been plaguing me because I have some in the fridge at the moment, but I’ll live.

Dr Zach's Hot Fireman by Tamsin Baker

Tamsin Baker - Dr Zach's Hot Fireman CoverTitle:  Dr Zach’s Hot Fireman

Series: N/A

Author: Tamsin Baker

Genre: Contemporary, Firemen

Length: Novella (130 pages)

Publisher: Evernight Publishing (12 Aug 2015)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

Blurb: Zach has fulfilled all of his goals in life. He’s successful, wealthy, and a good person. It’s time to find the right guy, and his brother’s hot friend may be just what the doctor ordered. 

Dylan loves his life as a firefighter, and when he meets the gorgeous Doctor Zach he decides that a relationship might be worth while. 

But Zach isn’t used to putting his work second for anyone, and Dylan’s one night stands haven’t prepared him for the ups and downs of a real relationship. Can a hot fireman and a super sexy doctor make their crazy schedules fit each other? Or will the hazards of their jobs be the end of their happily ever after? 

ISBN: 978-1-77233-464-7

Product Link: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/dr-zachs-hot-fireman-by-tamsin-baker/

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I’ve read a few Tamsin Baker books in a matter of weeks and I have to say that I quite enjoy the stories. They are simple and to the point. This story will draw a lot of people because the MCs are the two dreamiest occupations when coupled with sexy men – fireman and a doctor.

Obviously the titular, Dr Zach, is the doctor of this piece. He’s an emergency room doctor who got to where he was because of his dedication to his study and his career. And that is not unexpected for a doctor, really. Through his fire fighter brother, Zach meets Dylan and at first treats him at the fire station when Dylan refuses to go to hospital. The two of them give into the sparks and hot sexual tension between them. The story then becomes a tale of two guys getting to know each other, having hot sex and trying to reconcile their personal and professional lives.

Despite the fact that I enjoyed this book, there were a number of issues that did come up in the course of the book. I think I found comfort in some of the Australian-isms that came up throughout the story. But then, right at the end there was mention of a road trip to Vegas – wait, what? Are they road tripping to Brisvegas (a name given to Brisbane, Queensland to pay them out)? This book really needed to have the setting specified if the author was to write in their native tongue, so to speak. If we had known from the outset that we are town X, USA it would have been easier to swallow.

The other thing was that the main fight that happened between them, and there were a couple other spats, but it was all down to frustrating miscommunication and me trying to figure out how they could not understand each other’s schedules. However, I did see the cause for the conflict well enough, it was Zach’s devotion to his work over his life, and that could have probably been explored better.

Over all, the story was enjoyable, just take it on face value and you will find that this is a fun way to pass some spare time.

Shatterproof Bond by Isobel Starling Series Recap Blog Tour, Excerpt & Reviews!

Isobel Starling - Shatterproof Bond Banner s

Hi guys, we have Isobel Starling popping in today with her brilliant series Shatterproof Bond, we have excerpts from Illuminating the Shadows and Return to Zero, and we have Prime’s reviews of all three books! So check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~

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As You Wish

(Shatterproof Bond 0.5)
by

Isobel Starling

“1 wedding, 2 best men, one hell of a love story!

Declan Ramsay’s brother Oliver was marrying Annabelle Aiken at a fairy tale Castle on the banks of Loch Ness in Scotland. The bride and groom decided, so that he didn’t feel left out, Annabelle’s gay younger brother Sam Should share the best man duties with Declan.

Declan had never met the kid who was to be his joint best man.
Sam Aiken was abroad, working as an interpreter and finishing his studies. He wouldn’t meet Declan until a few days before the wedding, so the best men communicated and planned their speech by email for more than a year.

But on meeting Sam Aiken, Declan is surprised to realise the kid isn’t a kid at all, but a tall, blond and athletic young man. Declan is alarmed by the ferocious attraction he feels for Sam. And as the attraction is reciprocated, the events at Dunloch Castle change everything Declan has ever believed about himself.

But is Samuel Aiken all that he appears to be?

This story continues in the up and coming novel ‘Illuminate the Shadows’ Book 1 of the ‘Shatterproof Bond’ series

*free at time of posting*

 Amazon | ARe | Smashwords | B&N

Isobel Starling - Illuminate The Shadows Cover

Illuminate The Shadows

(Shatterproof Bond 01)
by

Isobel Starling

The thrilling, funny sequel to ‘As You Wish’. 

A Scotsman and an Englishman fall in love…

After the most amazing week of Declan Ramsay’s life, at Dunloch Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, in Scotland. The charming, mysterious Samuel Aiken has turned Declan’s life upside down. Declan has experienced a remarkable change. He has come to terms with the fact he is bisexual, and he has fallen head-over-heels in love with his boss’s son Sam.

However, falling for his boss’s son was never going to be an easy path to happiness, mainly because the boss in question is multi-millionaire property tycoon and former MI5 operative, Sir James Aiken. 

Sir James is repulsed by his son’s homosexuality, and so discovering that his employee Declan Ramsay- the man he installed to run his luxury property rental empire- is in a relationship with Sam, does not go down well.

The lovers cannot hide from the looming presence of Sir James Aiken for long! Soon enough James makes his move, and Declan finds out what he will have to endure to stay with Sam, and what he will have to give to feel worthy of Sam’s love.

**The story continues in “Return to Zero” (Shatterproof Bond #2)** This second book will be released on 6th June 2016

Amazon | ARe | Smashwords | iTunes | Kobo

ISOBEL STARLING - RETURN TO ZERO cover_release blitz

Return To Zero

(Shatterproof Bond 02)
by

Isobel Starling

Pulled into a world of secrets and lies for the man he loves, Declan Ramsay’s life has changed immeasurably in the eight months since meeting, and falling for his boss’s son, Sam Aiken.  Declan journey of personal discovery is about to take a darker turn, and for Sam, the world becomes more treacherous than he could ever have imagined.

Two agents are missing — presumed dead, while on a reconnaissance mission at an outdoor adventure centre in the Scottish Highlands.  Sir James Aiken sends his son and Declan to follow the trail, and discover the fate of the agents.

As the mission offers his first chance to use the skills he learned on the MI6 training course in Morocco, Declan is keen to get started. However, Sir James sees to it that the seeds of doubt and discord have been sewn between the couple, as they begin their mission.

The journey to their Highland location, and the discoveries they make when they reach the G’wan Adventures centre, prove that Sir James Aiken has been less than honest with his son.  Events in the Highlands force Sam and Declan to face their greatest fears, and understand what they both really want from life — and from each other.

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Adulting 101 by Lisa Henry Blog Tour, Guest Post, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!

Lisa Henry - Adulting 101 TourBanner

Hi peeps, we have Lisa Henry stopping by with her new release Adulting 101, we have a brilliant guest post, a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Aerin’s review, so check out the post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~

Lisa Henry - Adulting 101 Cover s

Adulting 101

by

Lisa Henry

The struggle is real.

Nick Stahlnecker is eighteen and not ready to grow up yet. He has a summer job, a case of existential panic, and a hopeless crush on the unattainable Jai Hazenbrook. Except how do you know that your coworker’s unattainable unless you ask to blow him in the porta-potty?

That’s probably not what Dad meant when he said Nick should act more like an adult.

Twenty-five-year-old Jai is back in his hometown of Franklin, Ohio, just long enough to earn the money to get the hell out again. His long-term goal of seeing more of the world is worth the short-term pain of living in his mother’s basement, but only barely.

Meeting Nick doesn’t fit in with Jai’s plans at all, but, as Jai soon learns, you don’t have to travel halfway around the world to have the adventure of a lifetime.

This is not a summer romance. This is a summer friendship-with-benefits. It’s got pizza with disgusting toppings, Netflix and chill, and accidental exhibitionism. That’s all. There are no feelings here. None. Shut up.

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Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters by Angel Martinez Blog Tour, Guest Post, Excerpt & Review!

Angel Martinez - Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters Banner s

Hi guys, we have Angel Martinez popping in today with her new re-release Lime Gelatin & Other Monsters, we have a brilliant guest post, a great excerpt and Shorty’s review, so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~

Angel Martinez - Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters Cover

Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters

(Offbeat Crimes 01)
by

Angel Martinez

Kyle Monroe’s encounter with a strange gelatinous creature in an alley leaves him scarred and forever changed, revealing odd abilities he wishes he didn’t have and earning him reassignment to a precinct where all the cops have defective paranormal abilities.

Just as he’s starting to adjust to his fellow misfit squad mates, Kyle’s new partner arrives. Tall, physically perfect, reserved, and claiming he has no broken psychic talents, Vikash Soren irritates Kyle in every way. But as much as he’d like to hate Vikash, Kyle finds himself oddly drawn to him, their non-abilities meshing in unexpected ways. If they can learn to work together, they might be able to stop the mysterious killer who has been leaving mutilated bodies along the banks of the Schuylkill.

Continue reading “Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters by Angel Martinez Blog Tour, Guest Post, Excerpt & Review!” →