Hi guys, we have J.J. Harper stopping by today with her new release Gage, we have a great excerpt, so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~
Gage
(Redemption 02)
by
J.J. Harper
Gage is happy, happier than he thought possible. He has Wolff Mannheim, the man he has always loved, even when he hated him, back by his side and in his bed. He is confident that their relationship can only grow stronger as they continue to rediscover each other.
When a letter appears after twelve years of silence from the family that disowned him and cast him out, he has Wolff to lean on. The contents of the letter have left Gage reeling but also have him reuniting with his estranged sister. When the shocks keep coming, it forces Gage back to his family home—a place he never thought he would return to. At least, this time, he has Wolff by his side as well as his sister.
As Gage faces the man who threw him carelessly away, he proves himself to be the better man, a stronger man, than the one forced away so many years earlier. With all his demons put to rest, can Gage live his life with his one true love?
This is book two in the Redemption Series and follows on immediately from Wolff, book #1.
While it can be read as a standalone, it’s best enjoyed reading in order. Contains some very steamy man-on-man loving and is advised for 18+ only.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (27th February 2018)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Dante Rivers just lost the rodeo by two 100ths of a point; he’s frustrated as hell, needs to get laid, and he knows just where to go. That night, he meets Ryan Abbott and catches his eye – Ryan watched the rodeo and is still riding high on the rush. The chemistry between them ignites, but Dante, unable to deal with complications, leaves while Ryan’s asleep.
Ryan figures he’ll never see Dante again, but they’re fatefully reunited when Dante’s grandfather, Hy, hires Ryan to help straighten out some old investments. The attraction between Ryan and Dante still sizzles. Sex slowly turns to more, but obstacles abound: Hy’s failing health, Dante’s homophobic sponsor, an attack on Ryan, and Dante’s own struggle with his identity. Any one thing would be enough to separate them permanently…unless they both decide to hang on for the wild ride.
Review: I love a good cowboy book and throw in the fact that it’s written by Andrew Grey and I’m sold. I love the rugged sexiness of a strong cowboy with a heart of gold as much as the next person. For those into that type of thing then you’ll probably enjoy this book.
The book begins with the high adrenaline scene of cowboy Dante Rivers doing his final ride on the back of a bucking bull in the rodeo finals. He heartbreakingly loses first place by the narrowest of margins (to someone who is a bit of dick, if you ask me, and I guess you have in a way). So to vent his pent up frustration he meets a guy in a bar for a hot and heavy one night stand.
Dante never thought that he would meet Ryan Abbott again. In fact, Ryan, who thought about Dante long after their one-night stand, never expects to get a phone call that would bring him back into Ryan’s orbit again. Ryan is an investment guru who is hired by Dante’s grandfather, Hy to help fix up some old investments. The attraction is sizzling hot but being a cowboy story, the guys have to deal with coming out of the closet and homophobia – because, you know, no cowboy can be gay, right? Dante’s grandfather is also ill, which is another stress in his life. Hy is an old rascal and such a lovable character, his character is wonderfully reflected in Dante, showing the strong link between the two after Hy had raised his grandson from a young age.
The plot line is fairly simple, but it is all heart and emotion. I don’t want to go too much into it because I feel there would be too much spoiler.
For me the narration by John Solo was the icing on the cake. I’ve always enjoyed Solo’s work. He has a fantastic grittiness to his voice that especially suits the voice of a rough and ready cowboy. I especially enjoyed the voice that he gave Dante, although Ryan’s voice was also pretty damn good.
After losing his family’s station in Australia to the bank, Jacko Hennesy moves in with his best mate, Lochie McBride. Trouble is, Lochie already has a roommate—his new lover, Jamie. Trying to settle into everyday life with two men isn’t as easy as Jacko had hoped. Although he’s been in love with his best friend for years, Jacko also finds himself attracted to Jamie. Watching the constant flirting and touching every day is enough to reduce the tough bushman to a puddle of need. What’s a bloke to do when he falls for two sexy men?
Publisher’s Note: This book is a sequel to Harvest Heat and is best read in sequence. This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.
Review: Sunshine, Sex & Sunflowers is the sequel to Harvest Heat by Carol Lynne. As the publisher recommends, you should read book one first. There isn’t a lot of character introduction or development in this book and I feel most of it actually happens in the first book. This book was published previously, however, I think I somehow missed it because I really don’t remember reading it before. Which seems a bit odd for me because I absolutely fell in love with the authors two big series, Campus Cravings and Cattle Valley and would actually look for her other releases.
The story continues the story of lovers Lochie and Jamie. They’ve recently fallen in love and have moved in together on Lochie’s farm. In fact, Jamie has moved to Australia from the States to be with his man. Now we’re adding Jacko into the mix. He’s recently fallen onto hard time and is living and working with his best mate, Lochie. Jacko has always been attracted to Lochie but he finds himself torn with now developing an attraction to Jamie as well. Lochie and Jamie are happy together and yet they see the possibility for a lot more love in their lives with Jacko.
I can’t go further because this is essentially the bones of the book and if I say anything else there’s no point in reading it. I think part of the reason I didn’t read this in the past was because there are so many books that are set in Australia that just don’t capture the true Aussie nature. I suppose that is true for others who read books set in their own country but written by an author who does not live there. For any Aussies, I recommend ignoring the stereotyping of farms and regional life because for me it did come across as a little silly at times.
This is a simple, quick read. If you want to just read something sexy without thinking too much, this is probably a good choice. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of character or plot depth, which is annoying because I like the author so much, but come (no pun intended) for the romance and stick around for the sex. That’s all I can say.
Blurb:[Winner of the EPIC Award – Best Horror] 2015 REVISED EDITION
Becket Merriday is a tortured soul: abandoned at birth, abused, haunted by strange memories of a life he never lived, and marked by an uncanny ability to see into the minds of killers.
After a harrowing stint in the FBI, Beck marries and tries to make a new life for himself as a small-town police chief, but the wounds of his past refuse to heal. He can’t sleep, he drinks too much, and his wife leaves him for having an affair with a male officer. When a string of beautiful young men turn up brutally murdered in town, it feels like his bloody history at the FBI has come back to stalk him.
It isn’t until Beck begins having visions of the killer that he turns to Sean Logan—the man named in his divorce—for help, because strangely, only Sean seems to understand what’s happening to him.
*Author has chosen to warn for violent content and disturbing themes.
Warning: This story contains rape, non con and violent scenes from the killer.
Review: Wow, just wow. This story has so much going on. You have Beckett who is a tortured soul trying to overcome what happened to him as a child at the hands of a someone he should have been able to trust. Not to mention his falling out with his wife as he is actually gay but fighting it. Sean, a member on the police force is the one he wants but pushes away.
Then there is the mysterious deaths of young men happening and Beckett being forced to use his FBI skills to figure out who the culprit is. But there is so much more going on than mere humans being murdered. There is another level to the story that takes it further as angels, nephilim and a killer who is not what he seems.
I loved this story minus the non con m/f scene as I’m an m/m reader. Beckett’s true identity was mind blowing but then again I knew there was something more to him but did not know what exactly. The past history of the angels and the fallen was fascinating as was the result that happened when god punished them.
I loved the story and was immersed immediately into a fantastic read that took my breath away.
Blurb: Freddie Dark is looking forward to some rest and relaxation at a ski resort. When he gets stuck with a hunky human named Justin Isaac as his roommate in a luxurious cabin, he is none too pleased. In his mind, shifters and humans don’t mix. But his predisposition quickly changes when he realizes that Justin is his mate.
Justin Isaac is about to be evicted from his apartment when he wins a ski trip. Hoping to escape his dire financial woes for a little while, he sets out on his vacation. To his delight, his new roommate, Freddie Dark, is a giant wolf shifter with super good looks and strength. It may be cold and snowing outside, but things soon get hot and steamy in their cabin.
There’s a murderer in the ski resort who’s killing guests one by one. Freddie and Justin are next on his hit list. Can they figure out who the killer is before he strikes again?
Review: Each book in the Magnificent Beasts collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
Freddie was about to go crazy. He is going through the empty nest syndrome. Two of his three younger brothers have found their mates and the third is never home. He is going bored with each minute. That is until he wins a free skiing trip. He is paired off with one hell of a sexy human.
Justin is broke, soon to be homeless and nothing good in sight. Then he won a trip of a lifetime. He might as well have a bit of fun with it. Then he gets an eye of his sexy roommate and well we shall see. Then things start happening that just might end them both.
It is a pretty sweet story, but it doesn’t flow off the pages as it should. It came off rushed and a bit off. Freddie might be an alpha wolf, but he comes off as a paranoid idiot in parts. In other parts, like with his brother, the alpha shows. Also is it just a pack of three, because even in real life wolves need packs.
I honestly not really sure about this story, but it is still a nice read.
Blurb: Nate Smith is a wild omega. A tormented past changed the course of his life forever, making him less than human, with almost no control and a fear of being touched. Had he not been taken in by the Greywolf pack, he would most definitely be dead by now. His lust for an alpha wolf Orion eats at him. After suffering his trauma, Nate was left with a fear of being penetrated, and alphas want to dominate by their very nature.
Orion has always felt protective of Nate, even though the former human made a habit of being alone. It’s difficult for an alpha when his mate refuses his touch and can’t control his wolf. Orion knows he can cure Nate’s wild wolf if he would just let Orion in.
But if Orion pushes it, he will chase his mate away from him, and if he does nothing, he risks losing Nate to his feral instincts.
Review: Because of what happened to Nate he has been fighting with his nature regarding Alpha wolf Orion. Orion takes this slow and steady. Giving Nate the time he needs. I liked this story and thought the interactions between Nate and Orion were sweet and considerate.
Orin also shows up in this story with a mate but disappears shortly after. We find out there was more going on with him that we did not know.
Blurb: On the Road: When a fae prince makes a bad bet, he must rely on strangers to win his freedom.
Lord Elron Paxton is a fae prince–one of many. Bored with the never-ending politics of the Fae Court, he takes a dare to enter the human world. Elron gives his bodyguards the slip, finds a fun gay club, and prepares for a night of revelry. Unfortunately, Elron wakes in a dirty room crowded with other men. He finds himself stuck there for days, weighing the pros and cons of revealing his true nature to a number of humans–something against fae law–just to save himself. When a crow shifter appears outside the window, Elron hopes he’s found an alternate way of saving not only himself, but those stuck in the room with him–even if they do think he’s nuts for talking to a bird. Can he trust the crow to get help before the men who kidnapped everyone sells them on the black market…or will he have to break fae law to save them, sentencing himself to certain death?
Review: Each book in the Kontra’s Menagerie collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order. This story is branched off to several other series, so you might want to check those out also.
Warning for those of you who have triggers, this tale talks of abuse and rape.
I have never really cared for the fae in stories, but Charlie made him rock. He is a prince and usually has to have guards watching and protecting him. But thanks to a bet, he manages to enter the human world for a bit of fun. He just hadn’t expected to wake up in dirty room filled with men that were being abused. Now his night out has led him into a few days and trying to find a way out for them all. Then he see’s the answer, a crow shifter. However that crow shifter, turns out to be his mate.
Castor is flying around enjoying the day. He see’s something and decides to check it out. What he finds is his mate and several others being held. He goes to find help and it leads him straight to Kontra.
Excitement, danger, trouble and some hot sex is just a bit of what you get in this story. And what a story it was, rocked it out of the park this time. I got a kick out of it and cannot wait for the next story.
I had a lot of fun reading it and will definitely recommend it.
I say that like I know what I’m talking about. I don’t. I was simply running off a ton of steam one day when I was around eleven and bam! Okay, not quite that easy or fast but it happened when I was young and stupid. I’m also gay. I say that like I know what I’m talking about with that too. I simply don’t.
I’m grown up now and living in the big city which has me too busy to much care about either one of those things. I get out and run my wolf when I can, trying like hell to stay out of the local pack’s territories. Belonging to a “family” just sounds like too much work, and honestly I don’t have time for such things. Besides, I was told when I was young the color of my wolf was all wrong. Too silver…or something. Metallic. I kinda thought it looked cool in the full moon. “Pack Alpha would kill ya soon as look at ya.” My grandpa used to say. Course he wasn’t my real grandpa. Just an old man who lived down the street, but he was a shifter too and I thought he knew it all. He probably knew diddly either, but a guy can’t be too careful. And romance? Way off the radar.
Only now someone has started killing wolves. Started leaving broken bodies lined up in a nice little row next to the high school in my home town and it’s got me to thinking. If a shifter is killed in his or her wolf state, do they stay that way? Were these dead wolves like me? The hell of it all is this: being a shifter isn’t common knowledge. It bothers me enough that now I want to find out more. See if there’s anything I can do. Kind of like a super hero.
Oh yeah. Probably forgot to tell you this too. I can turn invisible.
Review: Trevor is a wolf shifter with absolutely no clue as to what that means or what he can do. He was adopted so has no one to show him the ropes. He meets an old man who becomes a friend. This man is a shifter but really doesn’t help Trevor besides telling him stories. When he passes he leaves Trevor a ring that can make him invisible but leaves no instructions on how to use said ring or whatever else it can do.
Trevor Meets Ryan, the leader of a pack and his mate but things get complicated as there is someone who wants Trevor as well. All in all it was a pretty good read with some things that I didn’t get. Trevor’s character seemed a little naive to me.
I liked all the twists and turns throughout the story that had me going WTH. Though it did have it’s funny moments I felt I would have liked more action than the funny parts.
Blurb: Welcome to Tucker Springs, Colorado, where you’ll enjoy beautiful mountain views and the opportunity to study at one of two prestigious universities—if you can afford to live there.
Jason Davis is in pain. Still smarting from a bad breakup, he struggles to pay both halves of an overwhelming mortgage and balance the books at his floundering business. As if the emotional and financial pain weren’t enough, the agony of a years-old shoulder injury keeps him up at night. When he faces a choice between medication and insomnia, he takes a friend’s advice and gives acupuncture a try.
Acupuncturist Michael Whitman is a single dad striving to make ends meet, and his landlord just hiked the rent. When new patient Jason, a referral from a mutual friend, suggests a roommate arrangement could benefit them both, Michael seizes the opportunity.
Getting a roommate might be the best idea Jason’s ever had—if it weren’t for his attraction to Michael, who seems to be allergic to wearing shirts in the house. Still, a little unresolved sexual tension is a small price to pay for pain and financial relief. He’ll keep his hands and feelings to himself since Michael is straight… isn’t he?
Review: Oh, Jason has it real bad. His life seems to have taken the downfall on all departments. His love life sucks, his lover abandoned him for a sugar daddy and left him with the mortgage which he can hardly pay on his own. His professional life sucks even more; his partner died and left him with a great deal of loans and a night-club that hardly makes any profits. But, you know what they say,” if you got your health you got everything”. Problem is that Jason has health issues to top it all. A shoulder injury resulting in chronic pain that leaves him up all night, making his life quality reach bottom. This is where Michael makes his appearance.
Michael is an acupuncturist. After being drilled for several years from his friend, Seth, Jason makes it up his mind to go and see this miracle worker acupuncturist for his pain. It helped a lot the fact that he can barely move his arm or do his work anymore. But the moment he lays eyes on Michael, he doesn’t know what hits him. Michael is magnificent and to put it in Jason’s words “He’d taken that old cliché “tall, dark, and handsome” and made it his little bitch.”
I don’t think I’ve read a book where the protagonists have such an incredible chemistry as Michael and Jason. Although this book is written entirely from Jason’s point of view, the author manages to convey that feeling, at least to me. I was literally bouncing on my chair while reading this book.
Anyway, this story is more a “coming out” story. Jason is gay, but Michael is straight, or at least that’s what he’s been convincing himself and his entire environment for way too many years. The plot has him moving in with Jason as a roommate, leaving Jason in a frustrating state. who said it was easy living with an eye-candy? But, that much tension, that much lust can hardly be contained, and when they finally get together, it’s like rocks colliding. What a hot, HOT scene. Their feelings are so damn intense that make their following break-up even more so. They don’t fight, no; Jason understands that Michael can’t from one day to another change everything in his life, especially when his son is around. How do you explain that to a little boy, but understanding doesn’t make it the least bit easier. Emotions build up and lead to frustration and stress, which leads to awkwardness and pain, which leads to…
Yeah, I loved this book. This was the kind of romance I like and it had me hooked so tightly I once again forgot to sleep. Yes, this book was one of those that you only close when the end has hit the page and you suddenly look around and see the sun rising. It had it all.
Great characters, check. Both of them were fantastic, so real, with real issues, with real reactions. God, I loved those characters.
Supporting team, check. Seth, their mutual friend couldn’t be better, adding to their life greatly and the ex-wife, hah, I so loved how she reacted. Michael’s kid, Dylan, greatly portrayed. All in all people-wise it was very well done.
The plot was brilliant portraying everyday life in such a realistic way I thought “damn, who’s she been spying on”. The emotions conveyed was what had me in tight grip though. From the day-to-day life, to the sexual scenes emotions had me by my neck holding me in place to feel and live them all along with the characters. A very, very well written book, one I’d strongly recommend anyone to give it a go.
Blurb: Home, love, and possibilities he never imagined are waiting for Billy Joe to claim them. But first he needs to escape the horrors of his past.
A twisted act of cruelty and prejudice drives Billy Joe from his Mississippi home, and he makes it as far as Pennsylvania – where his car breaks down just as the year’s first snowstorm blows in. Fortunately, Carlos is there to lend a hand.
Carlos is no stranger to hardship. His family rejected him for being gay, but with determination, he put himself through school and became a librarian. Carlos sees the same willpower in Billy, and he wants to help Billy and his son succeed in a new life that is very different from the one they left behind.
With his support, they start to adjust, and before long, both men want more than encouragement from each other. They want the chance for a future together, but their families have other ideas…and Billy’s will stop at nothing to get what they want.
Review: Running to You is a standalone novel by Andrew Grey. Fans of Andrew Grey will be familiar with his trademark formula and may also love his ability to create and development character with deep emotional connections, who are also totally relatable. Suffice to say, if you’re a fan of Grey, you will enjoy this book.
The story is about Billy Joe and Carlos. The story starts with Billy Joe having to sneak off, running away from his white supremacist family, with his much beloved 2-year-old son, Tyler. Tyler is absolutely adorable, by the way. The situation Billy Joe is running away from is pure tragedy. It is no surprise that he feels he must go to the lengths that he does to steal away with his son before his parents could do much more of their monstrous acts with their fellow white supremacist buddies. Billy Joe drives as far as he can before his car breaks down, leaving him stranded in Pennsylvania. He just hopes its far enough away from the horror he left behind in Mississippi.
Billy Joe and Tyler are saved by a good Samaritan, Carlos. Carlos knows what its like to have to run away from an unaccepting family. However, his family situation is nowhere near as frightening Billy Joe’s it’s still a tragedy in itself. Carlos helps Billy Joe and Tyler settle, although it is quickly apparent that the guys have an intense chemistry.
This is a real sweet, slow burn type of story. The guys don’t rush into their relationship as this learn how Tyler also fits into their lives, as well as dealing with their baggage. The families of both guys also make an appearance to cause some drama, but through it all, it becomes increasingly clear that these guys belong together.
The narration for this audio was wonderful. Jack Richmond is a totally new narrator for me and I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the smooth, southern tones he gave to Billy Joe, he also nailed Billy’s emotion, which for me was the most important part of this story. He also does a remarkable job with Carlos and conveying his emotions, but Billy Joe’s voice is by far the highlight of the audio narration.
Hi guys, we have C.J. Baty stopping by today with her The Knights Club series and the newest release Finding Forgiveness, we have a fantastic $15 Amazon GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Finding Forgiveness
(The Knights Club 05)
by
C.J. Baty
Xavier Knight lied and now his past was catching up to him. Sebastian Brady meant everything to him. Losing him wasn’t an option Xavier was ready to accept. Ghosts from his past threaten to open up a secret that needs to stay hidden. He wasn’t going to let Zach Brady or anyone else take his happiness away from him.
Zachary Brady had lived in the shadow of his father his entire life. He’d lost his family, his job—everything. What happened between him and Xavier Knight was long ago and best forgotten. He wasn’t going to allow it to sabotage his chance to be accepted by his brothers and sister as family again.
Neither man realizes that they don’t hold the key to their peace of mind. And when the truth is revealed, it will shake their worlds. Family isn’t always the one you are born into, sometimes it’s the one you create for yourself.
The Knights Club (formerly the Gentleman’s Club) first appeared in the Warfield Hotel Mysteries Series. It was owned by Stony Whitecastle and is located in Atlanta, GA. At the beginning of the Knights Club/Starting Over, Stony is selling the club to Xavier Knight. He renames the club the Knights Club and instead of a private club opens it the public. Some patrons still hold membership though.
This series involves Xavier and his crew of employees and their involvement with a local police family. We meet Sebastian Brady in Starting Over along with his dysfunctional family. Seb’s struggle with his homophobic oldest brother and the shadow of his dead father, Detective Delmonico Brady, haunts Seb as he tries to make a new life for himself.
Occasionally, a character from the Warfield Hotel series will pop up but they are not central to the story line. Everyone who works at the Knights Club has a past and secret they are running from. They are mixed bag of people who have been suffered many things. The Knights Club is their home and the people who work there are their families. But, even families don’t like each other all the time…
C. J. Baty lives in southwest Ohio. Her heart, however, lives in the mountains of Tennessee where she hopes to retire some day. The mountains have always provided her with inspiration and a soothing balm to the stresses of everyday life.
The dream of writing her own stories started in high school but was left on the back burner of life until her son introduced her to fan fiction and encouraged her to give it a try. She found that her passion for telling a story was still there and writing them down to share with others was much more thrilling than she had ever expected.
She has a loving and supportive family who don’t mind fixing their own meals when she is in the middle of a story, and a network of friends who have encouraged and cheered her on in her quest of being an author.
One thing she has learned from life and she is often heard to say is: “You are never too old to follow your dream!”
Hi guys, we have Brina Brady stopping by today with her new release Buried Secrets, we have a brilliant giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Buried Secrets
(Buried Secrets 01)
by
Brina Brady
When Alek Belanov loses his family at four years old, his Russian mobster uncle raises him.
Now, at twenty-two, Alek wants nothing more than to find out who murdered his family and why. After Alek gets out of prison for a crime he didn’t commit, his uncle sends him away to the Gay Protection Society, claiming Alek’s life is in danger.
Sexy Rafe Escobar is the head of the secret Gay Protection Society, and he chooses Alek as his personal charge. Rafe warns Alek that if he breaks security rules, he will discipline him. Alek has some slip-ups here and there, but he adores his protector and wishes to please him in every way.
Alek quickly finds his place among the other men who seek shelter and those who guard them. What was supposed to be a safe haven becomes a group on the run as security breaches and threats force them to move from town to town.
Is Rafe and Alek’s relationship strong enough to withstand the secrets and deceptions of people trying to destroy them?
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This book contains mild BDSM elements including restraints, blindfolds, and spanking. While Buried Secrets is a stand-alone book with no cliffhanger, the story will continue with Emilio and Kaden.
I am from Huntington Beach, Ca. I taught various subjects at a Continuation High School in Los Angeles, California for 27 years. I obtained a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in history, Secondary Social Science Credential and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Reading and Secondary Education from California State University, Long Beach. I also enrolled in some creative writing classes at UCLA. I am currently taking classes from Romance Writers of America.
Hi guys! We have Christine Twigg stopping by today with her debut release Memoirs of a Triangle, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant $10 NineStar GC giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Memoirs of a Triangle
by
Christine Twigg
When Edith instigates a new game with her two best friends, May and Peter, on a warm spring day in 1869, she ignites sexual awakenings that will influence and shape the rest of their lives.
Although Edith lusts for Peter, she is aware that May’s desires are directed toward her, and when their triangular involvement begins to splinter, she leaves her two best friends to begin a career in Boston.
However, even after choosing what they thought was the more stable path, they learn that the past is not so easily left behind.
On their separate, yet connected paths, they find themselves drawn together, experiencing eroticism, love, confusion, trust, and grief throughout the course of their lives.
Warning: Scenes with infidelity and characters undergoing hypnotherapy, and the death of a main character
Hi guys, we have M.A. Hinkle stopping by with her new release Diamond Heart, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant $10 NineStar GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Diamond Heart
(Cherrywood Grove 02)
by
M.A. Hinkle
Gareth has a problem. He got expelled. Now he and his twin brother, Morgan, have to start over at an artsy new private school, and it’s all Gareth’s fault. Not to mention Morgan’s crippling social anxiety and Gareth’s resting jerk face aren’t making them any friends, and their father is furious with him. Gareth could live with this, but Morgan’s mad at him too, and Morgan is the only person alive who can make Gareth feel guilty.
Good thing Gareth has a plan. Cute, bubbly Felix, a student at their new school, has a crush on Morgan, and they both want to act in their school’s production of Midsummer Night’s Dream. Gareth figures it’s the perfect way to help Morgan come out of his shell and set him up with Felix. Then, maybe Morgan will forgive him, and Gareth can go back to not caring about anything or anyone.
But Gareth has another problem. He’s been cast as Oberon, and Felix is Titania. Oh, and Morgan doesn’t like Felix back. And maybe Gareth is enjoying the play and making new friends and having a good time at his new school. And maybe—just maybe—he’s got a crush on Felix. Can Gareth keep up his tough-guy act long enough to repair his relationship with Morgan, or will Felix get caught in the fallout of Gareth’s dumb schemes?
Warning: grieving and the discussion of suicide and the previous death of a family member
Blurb: Dayton “Day” Ingram is recovering from an injury suffered in Mexico – and from his failed relationship with fellow Scorpion agent Knight. While researching an old government document, Day realizes he might be holding the key to finding an artistic masterpiece lost since WWII. But the Russians are looking for it, too, and they have a team in place in Eastern Europe hunting it down. Day and Knight are brought back together when they are charged with getting to the painting first.
Knight wants to leave Mexico and everything that happened there behind and return to the life he had – except it wasn’t much of a life. When he’s partnered up with Day, keeping his distance proves to be challenging. But Day is as stubborn as Knight and isn’t willing to let him walk away.
Their assignment leads them through Germany and Austria with agents hot on their tail – agents willing to do whatever it takes to get to the masterpiece first. If Day and Knight can live long enough to find the painting, they might also discover something even more precious – each other.
Review: Sun & Shadow is the second book in Dirk Greyson’s Day and Knight series. Since having discovered that Dirk Greyson is Andrew Grey’s pen name, I’ve been keen to get my hands on some of his books. I’m quite particular about my suspense books, but I have to say that I have enjoyed the two books in this series.
If you’ve not read the first book, Day and Knight, you have to go back and read it, it is vital as Sun and Shadow picks up where it left off. This is the continuation of Dayton’s, aka Day, and Knighton’s, aka Knight, romance, which is just as rocky as it was in the first book.
Day is still recovering from the gun shot wound he got in Mexico on his mission with Knight. Knight wants to forget about Mexico, everything including his feelings and his failed relationship with Day. The problem is a piece of art that went missing in WWII means that Scorpion, the agency the guys work for, bring the guys together again. The Russians are desperate to get their hands on the artwork. To stop a delicate international relations situation from exploding Day and Knight need to find the art work. Knight is the big tough guy with all the skills he got from this marine training, he also possesses some of the brains of the operation. While Day is a great deal of the brains and the intel of the operation. Their abilities compliment each other. Their professional life together fits together as well as their personal life. Regardless of how well they fit though, with two argumentative men it makes their professional relationship just as rocky as their personal.
This is a fun, Cold War kind of espionage story line. In fact, I have to say that I enjoyed this second installment a bit more than I enjoyed the first book. Day and Knight are two very complex characters and their character development tends to raise tensions between them rather than ease them. These guys are fighters and so it’s so easy to believe that once they get their acts together, that they really do belong to each other. Just like in the first book, the narration was totally top notch reflected the tone, emotion and suspense necessary to pull of this story.
Blurb:When Broadway actor Jonah receives word that his uncle has passed away and named him the heir to a property in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Jonah’s plan is to settle the estate as quickly as possible and return to his life in New York City. Much to Jonah’s surprise, the inheritance includes the Ashford Cemetery—and its hunky groundskeeper, recent Bosnian immigrant Luka Pavelka.
Jonah soon discovers Luka is more than easy on the eyes. He sees into Jonah’s heart like no man ever before, and his job at the cemetery is all he has. If Jonah sells, Luka is left with nothing. Luka is there for Jonah when Jonah needs someone most, and there’s no denying the chemistry and connection between them. But Jonah has a successful career back in New York. Now he must decide if it’s still the life he wants….
Review:Buried Passions by Andrew Grey is something of a sweet diversion. One of the sugary sweet type stories, which I have to say is something different to what I’m used to from Grey. Still, this book has the same flow and use of language that I associate with Grey’s writing and something that I really connect to.
The story starts off with Jonah, a Broadway actor who has dreams of stardom. However, he is stuck when the show he is in ends and there doesn’t appear to be anything on the horizon for him. Yet, when the uncle he never knew dies, Jonah leaves the bright lights of New York for the small town where his uncle had loved and had been loved by the entire community. Jonah had a complicated relationship with his parents which plays into the uncle story line. As we get to know Jonah, we find out more about his family and the wonderful uncle that he missed out on knowing. However, Jonah doesn’t expect to discover that part of his inheritance is also the old town cemetery which is how he meets Luka.
Luka is a kind soul and he had no choice but to leave his homeland of Bosnia. Luka was in trouble when Jonah’s uncle befriended and helped him. Luka mourns the death of his friend, but he is on a road to self-discovery as he opens his heart to Jonah. With Jonah probably needing to go back to New York at any moment, as soon as his agent can get him an audition, neither men fight their growing attraction and the love that is starting to form.
The only real criticism that I have for this audio is the narration. While in general I enjoyed Joel Lesley’s narration, I had a little bit of trouble with the accent used for Luka throughout the book. It sometimes felt a little disjointed. I’m not too sure how to explain it but suffice to say that it didn’t really gel with me too much.
However, despite my thoughts on the narration of Luka’s accent this was a sweet romance. I liked the chemistry of Jonah and Luka. They were sweet together but there was a lot of hidden depths to both guys that I really appreciated.
Authors: Michael Murphy, Anna Martin, Grace R. Duncan, Kim Fielding and Sean Michael
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Collection (5 full length novels)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (5th May 2017)
Overall Heat Level: Explicit
Overall Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts
Blurb: Enjoy a selection of the greatest hits of gay romance published by Dreamspinner Press combined into one exclusive volume: by Anna Martin: Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me, a story of a boy who he wanted to marry his best friend at age six, and the journey that finally gets them there; by Sean Michael: The New Boy, a romance between a shy photographer new to the scene and an experienced model and Dom; by Grace R. Duncan: Beautiful boy, about a Dom with a hurtful past and the sub who shows him love again; by Kim Fielding: Rattlesnake, where a drifter on a quest finds hope and a home; and by Michael Murphy: The President’s Husband, in which the first openly gay president and first husband of the United States must deal with the pressures of their demanding new jobs.
Review: I always like to have a bit of look over of Dreamspinner’s Greatest Hits collection at the end of every year. For the most part, I am always satisfied by the novels featured. I’m going to change up the review format to include an individual heat and heart rating for each of the five books featured. I’m not going to go into too much detail either, just a quick summary on my thoughts of the book and an equally brief summary on the overall plot.
Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me by Anna Martin and One Time I Kissed Him First
Rating: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts
This is a friends to lovers type of story, between two besties who have been fighting an attraction between each other since they were children. I’m not entirely familiar with Anna Martin’s work, so this was an interesting one for me. This is a charming tale and quite cute. I love how we get to know the characters so deeply before they get their HEA. I understand that this is greatly due to the format of the novel, the five times Scott kissed Evan is presented to us out of chronological order. Despite liking the premise (usually a sucker for these types of novels), I personally didn’t mesh well with the format and thought that it prevented me from relating to the characters, though I’m sure others will enjoy this one.
The New Boy by Sean Michael
Heat Rating: Explicit
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts
The New Boy is the first book in the Iron Eagle Gym series by Sean Michael. I was curious about this book because I love Sean Michael, although for me BDSM books are usually hit and miss for me. I think I enjoy books by authors that understand the lifestyle, rather than others that make the book seem like a flimsy porno. And so, long story short, I did enjoy The New Boy. Lance is a photographer just won a once in a lifetime contract to shoot photos of models in an exclusive BDSM club, the only problem he has is finding models. One model that he does meet is Tide, he is not only a model but he’s also a Dom. I loved the introduction to the host of characters and the careful way in which the relationship between Lance (the sub) and Tide (the Dom) is defined and how it works. They are contrasting characters, Lance is quiet and shy (almost naïve), while Tide is in your face, a little cocky and knows what he wants. In short they are the typical sub/Dom duo. The only issue I found was that there was not a lot of development of either main character.
Beautiful Boy by Grace R. Duncan
Heat Rating: Explicit
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 2.5 Hearts
You know how I was just talking about those hit and miss BDSM novels? Yep, this is one of the misses for me. In part I think it’s because of the couple of Grace R. Duncan books I’ve either heard the audio for or read, I’ve always found myself struggling with connecting to the characters I think it’s now safe to say that I find the author’s style not to my taste.
This is an insta-love BDSM romance, so I know that will turn off a number of people alone. Also, I know people that don’t like orgasm denial in BDSM, yet the BDSM itself is very basic, so there is not really a lot of balance in terms of the sex play. Mal is the Dom and after tragedy struck in an ill fated relationship, he decided to turn his back on the lifestyle. But Kyle, a sub he wins at a charity slave auction, is the young man that brings him back into the lifestyle. There is danger in the form of a serial and a heck of a lot of baggage from both men.
The other thing is, I swear I’ve read a book with a very similar storyline. I’m certain it’s a different book and one that I read sometime in the past couple years – I’ve definitely not read this book before. There are details that I remember from the other book that aren’t in this one. Regardless, I can’t remember what book it was, so maybe I’m wrong.
Rattlesnake by Kim Fielding
Heat Rating: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.5 Hearts
This is a charming book. Although I missed it’s initial release earlier in the year I looked forward to it mostly because I love Kim Fielding’s writing. This story has a lot of heart and a sweet romance between drifter, Jimmy Dorsett and small town, average guy Shane Little. Jimmy’s encounter with a hitchhiker has him heading to Rattlesnake to deliver a letter that has come so many years too late. Shane helps Jimmy when he breaks down and the sparks light immediately between the guys. Jimmy first fights his drifter instincts, but later this turns into fighting to keep them when the prospect of settling down with Shane scares him. These guys are great together, they have a lot of chemistry but the romance is sweet.
The President’s Husband by Michael Murphy
Heat Rating: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
By far my favorite book of the collection. This is a novel from the Dreamspun Desires line, which I fell in love with earlier in the year when I heard the audio for the book. My initial thoughts haven’t changed between hearing the audio and reading the novel. Essentially, this is a story of a relationship that becomes strained due to stress. Specifically, it’s the new POTUS and his husband who are struggling between the sudden inauguration from Vice President to POTUS within the space of an hour, and the President’s husband who wants to maintain his life as doctor and med school professor while battling the conservatives that believe that the very male President’s husband cannot be in the spot light.
Blurb: Reyes Caldero keeps his past buried deep and his emotions buried deeper. But what he doesn’t say he always makes up for with his actions. When the hot chef he once saved from an abusive ex turns up at Clean Slate Ranch, the quiet cowboy is happy to act on their sizzling chemistry, even if he’s not ready to share his secrets—or his heart.
Miles Arlington needs to get the hell out of San Francisco, and heading north for a job near Clean Slate Ranch seems like just the thing. It doesn’t hurt that his secret crush slash onetime rescuer happens to work at the ranch. Miles has never been one for the outdoors, but the superhot Reyes has him ready to saddle up.
Reyes is happy to keep things casual, even though his heart has other ideas. And when Miles is forced to confront his past again, Reyes and Miles will have to put all their trust in each other if they want any chance at building a future together.
Review: A sweet romance about Reyes and Miles. These two men have tragic pasts they are both trying to deal with. Reyes is an ex firefighter that had something bad happen on the job. While Miles is trying to get away from his crazy ex.
Despite the way they met, Reyes saves Miles they both have a mutual attraction to each other. What I liked most was these two took things slow. They got to know one another and were there for the other when they needed it most.
Sweet, tender and romantic are words that come to mind with these two. For all the drama they have been put through they eventually are ready to saddle up for a new relationship with each other.
Blurb: A complicated web of lies threatens Jace’s life and he must fight his way to happiness through a maze of romance, murder and intrigue.
Jace O’Neal is slowly rebuilding his life after a disastrous romance with an actor named Dylan Malone in NYC sends him back to Atlanta in disgrace. Living with his mother and his brother, a fourteen-year-old with Fragile X syndrome, one of the known causes of autism, Jace is pursued by Malone, who finally persuades him into another relationship. Then Dylan goes missing and the evidence left at the scene points to Jace’s involvement.
The detective on the case, Will Jordan, is drawn to Jace right away, and learns that Jace’s former lover was manipulative and cruel. Will fights his attraction to Jace as he seeks the truth of what happened to Malone. As more clues emerge and point to Jace, Jordan begins to believe Jace is in danger. A complicated web of lies threatens Jace’s life and he must fight his way to happiness through a maze of romance, murder and intrigue.
Review: Jace got out of a bad relationship with Dylan and went home to stay with his family. His mother was depressed and his little brother had some problems that had to be taken care of with special care. However Dylan follow’s him and things just take a twisted turn. When Dylan goes missing Jace is the one they suspect. That is except for one of the Detectives.
The story was fast paced but left me with more questions then answers. Will, the detective likes Jace and things heat up. Only problem the detective is kind of flaky, then at the end it just moves forward to fast. This story does have you trying to figure out the mystery of what happened to Dylan, but it wasn’t really that hard to figure out. I can tell you that this author put a lot of work in learning about domestic abuse, it showed in the story. That was a nice surprise.
I liked Jace quite a bit and the poor guy just didn’t get a good chance at all. However Will is a pompous jerk and couldn’t stand him. Although I do understand he was the detective and Jace was the suspect and what would happen if it came out, but really the guy still pushed it sometimes. I wasn’t as caught up in this story as I should have been and that was disappointing.
It is a very good story but for me it felt like the author rushed the last part of the story. It was a nice surprise from some of her other stories, but I am afraid that I just didn’t much care for parts of it.
Review: A cute short story where a dragon investigator, Ulric, and a merchant, Peter discuss’ a dragon who eats trees but destroys nothing else.
I found it cute that you could tell these two men had feelings for each other. Even though Ulric informs the king somewhat of what he discovered Peter still wanted to be with him.
Title: A Wild Ride
Title: Sunshine, Sex & Sunflowers
Title: Angels of the Deep (2nd Edition)
Title: The Wolf in Your Cabin
Title: No Longer an Outsider
Title: Counting on a Crow’s Wing
Title: Ghost Wolf
Title: Where Nerves End
Title: Running to You
C. J. Baty lives in southwest Ohio. Her heart, however, lives in the mountains of Tennessee where she hopes to retire some day. The mountains have always provided her with inspiration and a soothing balm to the stresses of everyday life.
Title: Sun & Shadow
Title: Buried Passions
Title: Dreamspinner Press Year 9 Greatest Hits
Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me by Anna Martin
The New Boy by Sean Michael
Beautiful Boy by Grace R. Duncan
Rattlesnake by Kim Fielding
The President’s Husband by Michael Murphy
Title: Saddle Up
Title: Crossing Jordan
Title: Dragon Trees