Category: GLBT Release Day Review

On Duty by A.R. Barley

Title: On Duty

Series: Smoke & Bullets 01

Author: A.R. Barley

Genre: Contemporary 

Length: Novel (245pgs)

ISBN: 9781488079221

Publisher: Carina Press (December 18 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Aerin

Blurb: Number one rule for a firefighter: never take your eyes off the flame. Male/male author A.R. Barley is back with a new contemporary romance series.

Former marine and seasoned firefighter Troy Barnes has always kept his sex life on the down low, until he takes back-to-back hits: physically injured in a suspicious warehouse explosion and emotionally blindsided when he’s ditched by his boyfriend. When a flirty young paramedic offers him a place to crash, Troy’s not so willing to give in. He’s never needed help before. But if anyone can break through his tough-guy act, it’s Alex Tate.

Alex has crushed on Troy since the minute he saw him. Now here he is, stripped of his turnout gear and recuperating in Alex’s bed. The tattooed hero may be a fantasy-come-true, but Alex wants more than rebound sex—and he’s not sure Troy’s ex is gone or forgotten.

As each night brings them closer together, Troy realizes there’s more to Alex than he’d ever imagined. And with an arsonist loose in Manhattan, neither he nor Alex realizes just how combustible things are going to get.

Purchase Link: Carina Press | Kobo | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: I loved this book even though I went in it totally blind and had no idea what to expect. When I requested this book for review, there was no summary available, no genre, no cover, nothing but a title! I’m not that brave usually, but I thought I should give this book a chance, and I’m so happy that I did!

So….. do you (like me) love FIREFIGHTERS and PARAMEDICS in your books, especially when there’s a romance happening between the two? If yes, then you should definitely read this book, because it’s really good!

Troy and Alex both work at the same fire station, Alex as a paramedic and Troy as a firefighter, but that’s all the connection these two have with each other. Troy is pretty much closeted at work and in a secret relationship/friends-with-benefits situation with his best friend and police officer Ian. Alex is out and proud and has been crushing on Troy for a long time, but he knows better than to hit on straight guys.

After battling a dangerous wearhouse fire and rescuing a teenager by taking a dangerous jump out of a window, Troy is beat up all to hell and wants nothing more than a relaxing night at home with Ian. But Ian has a nasty little surprise in store for Troy, and Troy finds himself homeless and without a boyfriend. Alex offers to let Troy crash at his place (with no ulterior motives except maybe ogling tha’ ass) and a beautiful friendship is born between these two.

Troy is determined to include Alex in his group of friends because he truly likes Alex as a person. The chemistry between them is the real deal and once they make it in bed together….phew! So hawt! But Troy is not looking for another friends with benefits relationship, and Alex wants nothing to do with serious relationships after being burned in the past. Something’s gotta give!

There’s lots of action happening in this book, and there’s a sense of mystery to the story due to an arsonist who’s determined to hurt Troy’s team. There’s no dull moment and there’s no disbelieving factor about this story, which is great. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is that Troy constantly got hurt. I know it comes with the job, but did he always have to be the only one from the whole team to be constantly beat-up and cut-up (not to mention shot)? There’s only so much a guy can take and I felt like Troy was punished by the author for some unknown reason.

I’m so happy I chose to read this book, it really is a well written story! And…… FIREFIGHTERS!!!! I can’t wait for the next book!

Junkyard Heart by Garrett Leigh

Title: Junkyard Heart

Series: Porthkennack 07

Author: Garrett Leigh

Genre: Contemporary 

Length: Novel (195pgs)

ISBN: 978-1-62649-549-4

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (4th December 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Aerin

Blurb: Tired of the London rat race and the heartbreak that comes with it, photographer Jas Manning returns to Porthkennack, the Cornish seaside town where he spent every childhood summer on his father’s farm. Resigned to year-round rain, wind, and homemade jam, he’s sorely unprepared for the impact that artsy carpenter Kim Penrose has on his heart.

Kim’s free-loving reputation precedes him, and he’s as generous with his inked-up body as he is with his time. The sex is hot, the easy friendship even better, and Jas’s time with him building his family’s new farmhouse canteen is everything Jas was missing in his empty city life.

But Kim’s carefree existence isn’t as simple as it appears. He’s worked hard to vanquish his demons and build his dreams, but the devil on his shoulder is ruthless, and when it comes to call, their happy bubble bursts like it was never there at all. The canteen opening looms, but Kim is gone in more ways than one, and it’s down to Jas to shore up Kim’s soul and convince him that he deserves his place in Jas’s heart.

Purchase Link: Riptide Publishing 

Review: I’ve admitted long ago that Garrett Leigh is like crack to me, but unlike some addicts, I don’t have any desire to get clean. I love Leigh’s brand of angst, love how it rips my heart and makes me bleed, love feeling the angst like a physical blow while I fear it at the same time. Junkyard Heart is definitely Leigh’s creation and I feel like I could tell who wrote it even if I had to guess.

We know Kim from the previous Porthkennack book written by Garrett Leigh. Kim is a bisexual man whose open relationship with his long-time girlfriend made me skeptical about reading his book. Kim is battling his own demons in the form of alcohol addiction and a sometimes fragile mental health. His need for Jas runs bone-deep; Jas a that one person that Kim needs to have in his life in whatever way possible.

Jas has been a player all his life, a serial cheater who has always dated both men and women at the same time. That is until karma caught up to him, and the person Jas fell in love with and has dedicated 5 years of his life to was revealed as a married man. Jai’s broken heart drove him all the way to Porthkennack, where his father, step-mother and brothers all live. Jas believes he’s no relationship material and he’s done falling in love with men or women both, but his chemistry with Kim turns his world upside down. Staying away from Kim is simply not possible, no matter how complicated their relationship is.

I loved Jas and Kim together, their relationship and chemistry is intense and passionate, pretty much everything I could hope for. What didn’t work for me, and the real reason this book only gets 4 hearts from me, is Lena and the weird part she plays in Jas and Kim’s relationship. I get who she is to Kim, I understand their friendship, but…. why the fuck would Jas desire to see Lena and Kim fuck? I didn’t feel like Jas and Kim’s relationship had any room for a third, even if that third person is only hypothetical. I disliked that Lena watched Jas and Kim fuck, and it creeped me out that she kissed Jas’s head in the middle of it. I was half expecting her to guide his dick as well! *Lena did not have any actual sex with either of them and there was no cheating!*

Aside from the awkwardness that is Lena, I love everything about this book! Great read!

Junkyard Heart by Garrett Leigh Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!

Garrett Leigh - Junkyard Heart TourBanner

Hiya peeps! We have Garrett Leigh visiting today with her new release Junkyard Heart, we have a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and Aerin’s review, so check out the post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~

Junkyard Heart

(Porthkennack 07)
by

Garrett Leigh

Tired of the London rat race and the heartbreak that comes with it, photographer Jas Manning returns to Porthkennack, the Cornish seaside town where he spent every childhood summer on his father’s farm. Resigned to year-round rain, wind, and homemade jam, he’s sorely unprepared for the impact that artsy carpenter Kim Penrose has on his heart.

Kim’s free-loving reputation precedes him, and he’s as generous with his inked-up body as he is with his time. The sex is hot, the easy friendship even better, and Jas’s time with him building his family’s new farmhouse canteen is everything Jas was missing in his empty city life.

But Kim’s carefree existence isn’t as simple as it appears. He’s worked hard to vanquish his demons and build his dreams, but the devil on his shoulder is ruthless, and when it comes to call, their happy bubble bursts like it was never there at all. The canteen opening looms, but Kim is gone in more ways than one, and it’s down to Jas to shore up Kim’s soul and convince him that he deserves his place in Jas’s heart.

Continue reading “Junkyard Heart by Garrett Leigh Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!” →

Tap-Dancing the Minefields by Lyn Gala

Title: Tap-Dancing the Minefields

Author: Lyn Gala

Genre: Science Fiction

Length: Novel (334 pages)

Publisher: DSP Publications (November 14, 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: Sometimes the fiercest battle a man faces is against himself.

In the hidden alleyways of New York City, George “Tank” Tankersley defeated what he believed were demons. But the victory cost too much. Tank joined the Army in the hope of outrunning the guilt haunting him—only to stumble into a vast and deadly conspiracy, the enemies he’d hoped to never encounter again, and the arms of the brilliant, eccentric scientist tasked with saving humanity.

In a world where the line between dark magic and alien science is thin, Dr. Lev Underwood must reverse engineer recovered alien technology to give humans a fighting chance against the extraterrestrial beings who consider Earth nothing more than a petri dish. His old friend, Colonel Clyde Aldrich, wants to protect Lev from entanglement with the scarred and emotionally volatile young soldier, but Lev cannot help the pull he feels toward Tank. Still, his first loyalty is to the secret government program, and love might have to take a back seat to protecting the world. But if he can find a way, Lev wants both.

ISBN-13: 978-1-63533-762-4

Product Link: https://www.dsppublications.com/books/tap-dancing-the-minefields-by-lyn-gala-422-b

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: Tanks life takes a turn when he is thrust into a secret alien base. Not one who is new to the strange Tank learns that everything he thought he knew was wrong. I liked the story. It has all sorts of twists and turns that delve further into the aliens and what they are up to.

The aliens themselves are not that different from humans. You have your good ones and bad ones. The slave ships were horrifying for the humans they had captured. These things were mentioned but not in deep detail.

Overall I found the characters in the story complex at times yet intriguing. They all added to the story in some way or another. The biggest shock was about Tank himself. But, I won’t spoil what all happens for the readers. Needless to say it was an adventurous, action packed, and mysterious story that captures your imagination and attention from the start.

Good read.