Hi peeps, we have Josephine Myles stopping by today with her new re-release Handle With Care, we have a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and Tams’ review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link! <3 ~Pixie~
Handle With Care
by
Josephine Myles
Great things come in small packages…
Ben Lethbridge doesn’t have many vices left. He lost his youth to raising his little sister to adulthood, then made up for lost time with reckless abandon. Two years of constant partying—and ignoring his diabetes—has left him tied to a home dialysis regimen.
He can work from home, fortunately, but most of life’s little luxuries are forbidden. Except for watching porn… and fantasising over Ollie, the gorgeous purple-haired skateboarder who delivers his discreetly packaged DVDs.
Their doorstep banter is the highlight of Ben’s solitary day, but his paranoia over his illness-ravaged body prevents him from seeing their flirting for what it really is. He knows Ollie is far too young for him anyway, but he figures there’s no harm in sprucing himself up a bit.
Then one day, a package accidentally splits open, revealing Ben’s dirty little secret. But instead of Ollie being repelled they make an unexpected connection that has Ben wondering if he’s been reading the situation wrong all this time. The only way to find out if they have a chance at love is to risk showing Ollie every last scar. And that could take more courage than Ben owns.
Warning: Contains superhero porn comics and a pint-sized, accident-prone delivery guy with colour-changing hair. Readers may experience coffee cravings, an unexpected liking for bad mullets, and the urge to wrap Ollie up and take him home.
Hi peeps, we have Bellora Quinn & Sadie Rose Bermingham stopping by today with their new release Burning Boundaries, we have a great excerpt and Shorty’s review, so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Burning Boundaries
(Elemental Evidence 02)
by
Bellora Quinn and Sadie Rose Bermingham
Mari Gale’s life has been a whirlwind since meeting Jake Chivis. A new job prospect and his mother’s health preoccupy him, so when Jake invites him on a date he’s ready to cut loose. Their night out turns into a nightmare when a fire breaks out in the basement of the bar and they barely escape.
Soon Jake learns that the horrific accident is being investigated as a possible homicide, and it’s not the only case. Detective Inspector Cordiline of the London Met hints at spontaneous human combustion, but as far as Jake knows, SHC doesn’t exist.
When Mari looks into a group called Birthright, he finds a connection to the victims of the fires and Jake risks himself to go undercover at the shadowy organization. The race is on to determine the truth before Jake becomes the next target.
Reader Advisory: This book contains a non-consensual scene.
Blurb: The promise of a dream job lures Murphy to Tampa, but he arrives to the rude awakening that the offer is on hold. Now he’s got two choices: slink back to Michigan with his tail between his legs or stay and look for work. Things perk up when he goes into a coffee shop and learns the owner is looking for someone to renovate the apartment above it. He happily takes the job, only later realizing he’s met Joe Sterling, Kaffeinate’s proprietor, before… when they hooked up at a club Murphy’s first night in Tampa.
Murphy and Joe are both proud, passionate, and outspoken. Neither is looking for a relationship, though they can’t deny they go together as well as coffee and doughnuts, in spite of their tempers. But that’s before Joe learns Murphy will be working for the corporation he believes is harming local businesses and the environment—and if Murphy will be supporting it, Joe will want nothing to do with him, dooming any possibility of an unexpected happy ending.
Review: Murphy left Michigan to follow his dreams; the problem is his dreams were on hold. The company he was going to work for put his dream job on hold. He had no clue what he was going to do, but thank god for the coffee shop. It seems that the owner needs someone to work on the apartment upstairs. He just hadn’t expected the owner to be the man he hooked up with.
Joe owns Kaffeinate and wasn’t too sure what to think when he came into work, to find the one man that turned him on fast to be working on the upstairs apartment. Between the two of them things heat up real fast. Joe learns why Murphy was working on the apartment, and then found out who he was going to go work for in the end. He knew trouble when he saw it, and he was right on. Now it was up to Joe and Murphy to figure out how to make it good.
When I first started reading this story I have to say that it is a very slow paced story and a bit boring to me. Even the trouble was over real fast and no real danger. The characters were a bit like each other, both stubborn asses but they seemed to work. I wasn’t too sure about Murphy but I did like Joe quite a bit. He was the feisty one and went after what he wanted.
I was expecting something different with this story but it was still pretty good. I enjoyed it but can admit that it wasn’t something I would read more than once. It was a bit to normal and boring for me to really get into. Even with my issues with the story, I would honestly say that you might get a kick out of this story.
Blurb: Once upon a time, the wizard’s apprentice Sam of Wilds got his happily ever after in the arms of his cornerstone, Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart. A year has passed, and while Sam’s been captured five or six more times since then, things are pretty great. His parents are happy, Gary and Tiggy still eat sass for breakfast, Randall is somehow alive despite being older than the gods, the King rules with a gentle hand, Kevin the dragon is as gross as ever, Morgan sighs a lot, Ryan continues to be dashing and immaculate, and Sam is close to convincing Prince Justin they will be best friends forever.
Life is good.
Until it’s not.
Because Vadoma, the leader of the gypsy clan and Sam’s grandmother, has come to the City of Lockes with a dire prophecy written in the stars: a man of shadows is rising and will consume the world unless Sam faces his destiny and gathers the five dragons of Verania at his side.
And she brings along her second-in-command, a man named Ruv.
Review: In this exciting sequel we find Sam is not happy about a grandmother he never knew trying to manipulate him to do a quest. A quest that will have dire consequences if not done. Sam finds himself in the middle of a destiny that has been in the making for thousands of years.
The sarcastic group, as always, heeds the call with some resistance on Sam’s part. A lot is riding on Sam. It shocked me to discover who the villain is in this book. My heart broke for both Morgan and Randall upon discovering who it is and why it came to pass.
Zero, the newest dragon is a lonely teen wanting to fit in. Sam is patient with him after the initial terrifying meeting. Kevin and Gary are having relationship problems as well as new cornerstone Ruv in the picture.
This a great story that had me enthralled from start to finish. The journey was dangerous but not without its funny moments. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen. I love this series and am on pins and needles to see what happens to the merry bunch next.
Blurb: There is another world existing alongside the one most see everyday, and although it is a place of magic and wonder, the dangers are very real.
Aran, an artist, grew up on his grandmother’s tales of the Side-by-Side world. He never expected his knowledge of folklore would aid his boyfriend, Brandon, in an arson investigation, but the snakes that burst into flames when agitated are something he recalls from those childhood stories.
When Aran vanishes, Brandon knows his time as a state trooper won’t help find him, so he enlists the aid of Aran’s grandmother, Ruth, and they venture into the Side-by-Side world.
But Aran has no memory of his life prior to crossing between worlds, and he’s enjoying the company of his handsome new companion, Ren. Even if Brandon and Ruth reach him, convincing him to return to his former home won’t be easy. In a contemporary fairy-tale adventure set among forests and trails, Aran must choose between a mystical fantasy world and the man he loves.
Review: Tray Ellis is a new author to me so I wasn’t too sure what to expect. I grabbed it up because of the title, but I had not read the blurb for the book, which was my mistake. I went in totally blind to what I was getting. I will admit that if I had paid attention to the fact that it was an urban fantasy, I would have probably passed it up.
I have never heard of snakes that start fires, but damn if these ones don’t do that. However that is what brings us into the story, but they were not the whole story. Brandon is an arson investigation and was looking into who started the fire that almost killed a family. He took the case because it was on the way to where him and Aran like to hike.
Aran is an artist and knew in his memory what kind of snakes they were. It led him into remembering the folklore that his grandmother had told him about. Out on a hike, when it got dark Aran disappeared. Brandon knew he needed Aran’s grandmother help to find him. It led them into a world that he did not know existed. A world in between or in this case side by side world. A venture where he did not belong. Now Aran needs to make a choice of which he wanted more.
I am sorry but this story was just way too weird for me. I got it because of the fire starting snakes, not the other world. It was easy to follow in reading but the story itself was too descriptive and strange to even get into. The characters were hot, but there was no love story in the way one would think. You could sense it between the men, but it was just weird.
This author has one hell of an imagination and it made me think of old legends. However it also told me that I need to stay away from these types of books and to look at what I chose before grabbing it up. I am sorry but this book was definitely not for me.
Blurb: With his lover, Kade, missing, androgynous former model turned private investigator Ollie Petroskovic is ready to kick some ass to bring him home.
Ollie and his ex, rock star Jacob Elias, need to find Kade and free him from the clutches of his manipulative family. But with Ollie suffering from chronic migraines and Jacob unable to bear loud noises, they are hardly the dynamic duo. It takes a lot of sweet talking on the part of Jacob, and patience Ollie doesn’t have, to find Kade. Only Kade’s not whole anymore. The fight for Kade’s heart and mind is far from over.
It’s Ollie’s turn to guide Kade through nightmares, self-doubt, and PTSD. Kade’s memories are scattered, fragmented with possible horrors, and he’s not quite sure what is real. Ollie will have to draw on his investigative skills to clear Kade of the terrible accusations his family has made and help Kade unlock the truth. But in doing so, he ignores his own health, which could have catastrophic consequences for everyone, especially when digging up the past could be lethal for them all.
Review: Each book in the Haven Investigations collection features Kade and Ollie and their story. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
As with the previous books, this one ends with a major cliff-hanger, which I will admit drives me nuts, but it also makes you wish the next book was already waiting for you to read. I wasn’t sure that I liked where it went through, but for these two amazing men it just seemed to work. Although, I definitely don’t like where Kade ended up, but you will have to read to find out what I am talking about.
Kade and Ollie end up in an accident, but when Ollie awakes he finds out that Kade’s family had taken him from the hospital. Ollie knew they needed to get him away before he lost Kade forever. Then things get crazy and out of hand. There are some pretty amazing twists to this story that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and gasping.
I hate to admit that I had to go back and read the previous books because I couldn’t remember who they were and what their story was. For me, that is not a good thing, as if the story is awesome it will stick with me for quite some time. However even with those issues, I had a lot of fun reading this and cannot wait to see what happens to our sexy men.
This is probably the only series that I do enjoy where the characters are used as main characters in every book. That has not usually been a favorite series type of mine and I tend to lose interest in the whole thing, however, like I said, that is not the same with this series and story. My interest was kept throughout the whole book and I can guarantee that it will probably be the same with future books.
I would definitely recommend this book and the previous stories.
Blurb: Neal and Way from The Closet Boy are back, only now they’re Dom and sub, and exploring their relationship through the lifestyle. Way is eager to learn everything, and more in love with his master every day. For his part, Neal can’t believe how lucky he is to have found such an innocent but sensual boy.
As they learn what works best for them both, Way has trouble obeying some of the rules Neal imposes. Like the no touching himself rule. Neal wants Way to learn control, but Way, after so long holding back, has trouble not indulging. The two men must work together to find the balance that brings them each the most satisfaction and happiness.
Review: Neal and Way are back in this instalment of the Iron Eagle Gym series. They are happy together but still learning about one another. Way has trouble following some of Neal’s rules which at times causes tension between the two men.
Neal for his part understands Way’s reluctance and they both find common ground so to speak. I loved the characters. They seemed so different from one another yet meshed very well together.
This was a great addition to the series as it explores deeper into Neal and Way’s characters. I enjoyed the flow of the story, the tension and the sexy times.
Blurb: Return to Oceanside Fire, where the sizzling passion between men scorches everything they touch—especially each other. For firefighter Chris Matthews and instructor Morgan Daniels, it’s dislike at first sight—but that doesn’t mean there’s any relief from the heat building between them, and it only takes a spark to set the tinder ablaze.
Will Chris and Morgan go from enemies to lovers, or will they remain enemies with healthy libidos who stoke each other’s flames? Morgan is no fan of firefighters in general, and he finds Chris especially grating. But when they’re together, the sexual tension is thick enough to cut with a knife—and there’s only one way to work it off. A battle of wills is sure to follow. Add in an age difference, and finding common ground will be an uphill battle. Even if they succeed in building a relationship, secrets and suspicion could reduce everything to ash.
Review: Chris and Matthew have enough tension between them to cut a knife. The give and take between them was intense as well as the sexy times they had with each other. I found it intriguing that two men who seem to hate one another are also attracted to each other.
There was no shortage of sexual tension throughout. I felt at times it was a little overboard but still a good read to continue. I felt they should have talked rather than fight. Then maybe there would have been a better understanding between them.
Overall it was an enjoyable read. Chris and Matthew sizzled on the pages throughout.
Ambitious fashionista Perry Goodwood lands the project of his dreams—track down a celebrity family’s missing brother in the Scottish Highlands and bring him back to London for a TV reality show. But first he must transform the rugged loner into a glamorous sophisticate.
Greg Ventura has no use for high fashion. He lives on the isolated island of North Uist to escape the reminder that he’s nowhere near as handsome as his gorgeous brothers and avoid the painful childhood memories of being bullied.
Greg wants nothing to do with city life, and Perry’s never been outside London. When Perry is stranded on North Uist, this conflict seems insurmountable. But Greg is captivated by the vivacious Perry, and Perry by both the island and his host. However, Perry’s one heartfelt wish remains: that ugly duckling Greg fulfill his potential as a swan.
Review: This is a totally sweet story. For me I was looking forward to this one because I particularly enjoy to read Clare London’s book. Her writing style speaks to me and makes the time fly as I consume the offering on my computer screen. The other thing is that I can never resist a book based in the UK – and nothing says romance like the guy running away from the big city, and romance on a Scottish Island.
Greg Ventura is the guy who left the hustle and bustle of the city to live in an island in the Scottish Highlands. Seriously, Outlander Obsessenachs will probably want to read this one for that alone, and I admit that is probably another part of why I was looking for to this. He comes from a family and famous, ridiculously good looking and ridiculously talented brothers. He’s the Ugly Duckling. He doesn’t think that he is as good looking as his brothers – mostly because his brothers instilled this thought into his mind. But now his brothers are calling on him again. They need him to be part of a reality TV show and look like a happy family.
That’s how Greg meets Perry (Peregrine) Goodwood. Perry is a ambitious about his career as a designer/fashionista. It’s hard to explain his career except that he is the guy that does the fashion makeovers. He’s been hired by Greg’s brothers to find Greg, make him over and get him to London to his family. The problem is that Perry gets more than he bargained for when he discovers the gentle, carefree soul that is Grey Ventura – very much unlike his brothers. On top of all that, he needs to be in London because he needs his job desperately, as mistakes from his past threaten to keep him in debt for longer than he can handle.
I love the story and the whirlwind Scottish romance. It is as simple as that. It appeals to that side of me that loves everything about British dramas and the Scottish Highlands (even with all his rain and cold).
Blurb: Don’t people know that cats and dogs don’t mix?
Connor Ragbone finds things. Sometimes it’s gold, sometimes jewels, sometimes people. Set in his hippie ways, he never thought he’d find a pack, but with Sam and Gus and their goofy shifter family, he fits right in. Then he finds Brock.
Shifter Brock Herman is undercover alone, working to break up a poaching ring. The last thing he needs is for Connor to wreck his sting. And now the crazy bobcat just won’t go away!
The poachers lead Brock and Connor on a merry chase all over Western Colorado, looking for shifter bears, but it’s a lost pup who brings them back to Nevada and the pack Sam and Gus are building. That’s when Brock has to decide whether he still travels alone or if Connor and his crazy family are where his heart belongs.
Review: Each book in the Sanctuary collection features a new romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
Just like the first book, I looked at the title and new I had to check it out. Then I read the blurb and new I had to read it. It has a serious tone to it but it is mixed perfectly with the humorous side to it as well. There is nothing better than a book with a lot of humor in it, especially if it is about two very sexy shifters. I love the idea of a cat and dog as mates.
Connor is a blast and funny as hell. He has this gift that he uses to find things and people that are lost. There is just something about him that makes you want to grab him up and hug him tight. He got the call to find someone lost and it leads him to Brock.
Brock is a wolf shifter who goes undercover to break up poaching rings. Right now the focus is on bears. At first he finds this bobcat shifter with dread locks who just won’t leave him alone. Tells him that he must stay with him till he gets him to where he truly belongs. Connor and the poachers sure do take him on a twisty adventure.
I love the twists that this story has going on. Connor is a character that I would not have expected. He looks like a hippy and the way he talks is so damn funny. Brock is more of a serious guy, but you mix these two up and you are in for one hell of a good time.
I enjoyed reading this book and cannot wait to find out what is in store for them all.
Blurb: Drew Nolan is a loud-and-proud mystery writer with a brutal case of writer’s block. He needs practical experience with the Baltimore police beat to get his latest manuscript to his publisher on time. When he wins a ride-along at a writer’s conference, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot… until he meets his partner.
Closeted cop Josh de Oliveira lost his family, his partner, and the respect of his unit—all for doing the right thing. Recently busted back down to patrol, he’s relieved to get a cushy assignment at the Author’s Police Institute where he’ll take one lucky writer on a ride-along. Unfortunately, his author looks like he belongs in the backseat of Josh’s squad car—long, ginger dreadlocks, piercings, and an “I would bottom you so hard” T-shirt. But there’s something about Drew Josh is having a hard time resisting.
It’s going to be a long night and one hell of a ride as opposites attract and realize they share a lot in common beneath the surface. As animosity becomes desire, they realize they can help each other out—in more ways than one.
Review: This story is part of the State of Love, which spans every corner of the United States.
This is the first book by this author that I have read and I have to say it will not be the last. I have not had the pleasure of reading any stories by this author and I will have to catch up with her other books now.
At first I wasn’t too sure if I was going to like it but let’s just say that my mind was changed. Drew wrote a story that won him an award, but now he had writers block and needed to fix it. So he decided to try to win the ride-along with a police officer at a writer’s conference. Too bad the cop has a bad attitude. Then he finds out that Josh was just wasn’t having a good life. Josh had thought himself in love with his partner but then had to do the right thing and report his partner to their boss. Now he was getting it from the other officers, not to mention his family disowned him. Things slowly heat up between these two, but Drew didn’t want to be someone’s dirty secret.
I enjoyed watching these two guys getting it right. At first I was stuck on the fact that police officers would really turn on one of theirs just because he did the right thing. They came off as cowards to me, but in the end they stood behind Josh. I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to check out the rest of this author’s work.
Blurb: Spanning the six years before the events of Talking in Code, this collection of short stories recounts highlights of how Richard, Tim, and Eric fell in love—and into bed. These seven tales reveal the early adventures of the two former Navy SEALs, an expert sniper, and their paramilitary organization, Strike Force Omega. Between dangerous missions and their aftermath, the three men find time to explore the limits of their relationship and what it might become, whether it’s blistering physical passion or something with the potential to run much deeper—something that will see them through their most difficult battles.
Review: A collection of short stories that highlight certain events that chronicle when Richard, Tim and Eric take notice of each other and begin their relationship. Each story is about five pages long so it starts right at each scene as opposed to a long drawn out scene.
Blurb: SSA Rain Christiansen used to be the agency’s golden boy. It just takes one moment of weakness, one slight, tiny, itty-bitty paranormal sighting, and all of a sudden he’s the agency’s embarrassment. His boss gives him one last chance to redeem himself—go down to Brickell Bay, play nice with the local police, and leave the ghost sightings behind. Rain is determined to do exactly that, even if it kills him.
Cold-case detective Daniel McKenna’s latest investigation is going nowhere fast. Five years earlier, high school student Amy Greene went missing after leaving her part-time job and was never seen again. Daniel is glad to finally have the FBI help that his department requested, even if it does come in the form of his ex.
It doesn’t help that Rain is pretty sure he’s falling in love with Danny all over again—if he ever stopped. Add to that the frustration of seeing ghosts at every turn while he works a case that’s stalled in its tracks, and Rain is starting to wonder if second chances and happy endings are just for fairy tales.
Review: This is the first book by this author that I have read and I have to say it will not be the last. I have always loved paranormal romance especially if it is also m/m. When I saw the title to this, I really wanted to get my hands on it. The cover of the book is just a bit creepy, but for this type of story let’s just say it rocked.
Rain is a federal agent who has had a bit of bad luck one would say. He see’s spirits and doesn’t really believe that he sees them. So much so that he just figured he was losing it. He had not mentioned it to anyone, until one day he told a family that their daughter was gone. You can guess which way his job was going to go with that one, but his boss decided to give him one last chance. To find out what happened to a young girl. To top it off it would send him home, to the one man he had loved and left.
Danny had been in love with Rain from the very beginning but he didn’t trust him not to run. Five years ago Amy went missing and now the FBI was sending in a specialist. A specialist that was also his ex. He wasn’t too sure what to expect, but it sure wasn’t the fact that Rain saw spirits. Things heat up and there are a lot of twists in this story. Especially when you add in Ethan, who just happens to be dead.
When I started reading it, the story was a very slow paced but it soon picks up. I can say that I hope this author makes this into a series because I want more from Rain. It caught my attention and damn if it didn’t keep it all the way to the end. There are ghosts, hot sex, dangerous situations and suspense in this story, plus so much more. It gave me everything I could possibly want in a story and I can guarantee that you will get a kick out of it also.
Blurb: When life throws you a curve ball, you have to deal with it as well as you can.
When Rabbit arrived in Gillham, he was only trying to get away from his ex-boyfriend. He never expected to find a pack, a family, but he feels at home in Gillham. Finding his mate makes that feeling even stronger, at least until he realizes Elton isn’t only his mate, but also Samuel’s.
Elton’s in Gillham to visit his brother when he ends up in the middle of a spat for him. He might not know a lot about shifters and mates, but he does know that one human guy having two shifter mates isn’t normal.
Samuel is ready to fight for Elton, and really, it shouldn’t take much with how tiny Rabbit is. But Rabbit reveals himself to be stronger and more stubborn than Samuel had thought, and when Elton gives them an ultimatum, they have to learn to work together—or be without their mate.
They know a three-way mating is possible, but it doesn’t make it easy. Rabbit, Elton, and Samuel all have their own insecurities and problems. Will they manage to work around them and be happy together, or will the stress of having to share a mate make their relationship implode?
Review: Each book in the Gillham Pack collection features a new romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order. This series is also connected to the Whitedell Pride and Council Enforcers collection.
There is nothing better than a good paranormal romance with two gorgeous men involved. I think what I love most about this series and the ones they are connected with is that even though they are tough shifters or nix, they do have a soft spot for those around them. Also the fact that it isn’t just one or two kinds of shifters, you get a wild mixture which makes it more fascinating. Then you add in nix’s and it is going to get wild.
A house cat shifter with a ducks name and nicknamed Rabbit. Rabbit lived on the streets as a normal black cat that is until Ms. White picks him up as a stray. Then she wants to neuter his ass and oh hell no, he is not going to let it happen. Then shifters come to his rescue and lets just face it, Rabbit is an cat with an attitude. Guess he is just like a normal cat. Then in comes his mate, or should I say two mates with a twist. It seems like Rabbit and Samuel are mated to Elton, but not to each other. Now is that a tongue twister or not.
I love the way Catherine puts together a story that not only draws you in but keeps you entertained as well. They have a serious tone to them, but there is quite a bit of humor floating around. I do get a kick out of the whole thing. They are not long size novels, but just the right size for me to really enjoy. They have so much depth and details that if will feel like you are right there with them. I love that there is even the hint of danger surrounding them sometimes. Trust me that this is one series that you will enjoy quite a bit. I loved it and cannot wait for the next book to come out.
Blurb: Tucker Wilde’s life is in a tailspin. Twenty-four hours ago, he was one of the top second basemen in the all-shifter professional baseball league. Now, he’s lost his starting spot to a rookie, been dumped by his girlfriend, and had a night of explosive passion with a man—a teammate at that. He can’t get Dixon out of his mind—even though Tucker still believes himself to be straight. With his career in jeopardy, he’s unsure where to turn or how to fix the mess.
Dixon Foxx is a baseball prodigy, though a perfectionist father stole any joy he might find in the game. He only sticks with it because it’s all he knows—and because of Tucker, the man Dixon’s wanted since they met. His dreams come true one night, only to turn into a nightmare the next morning when Tucker blows off their incredible time together as a drunken mistake, never to happen again.
The life of a switch hitter is all about mixing things up. Tucker excels at it. Only this time, the game isn’t on the line—his heart is.
Review: I read a tonne of books and so I admit, sheepishly, that there are a lot of series which I completely forget about existing until I get flagged that the next book is out. I suppose you can call me a voracious reader, although I probably only write reviews for 10% of what I consume – I really don’t have that much time. Shifter Hardball is one of those series, but don’t take that to mean that it’s an unforgettable series. No, instead just understand two things 1) I got a horrid memory and 2) there clearly isn’t enough room for me to remember all the books I read.
With those pleasantries out the way, let me tell you this, once I remembered about the series and what it was – I was instantly desperate to read the next installment. Let’s face, there are many of us who will be instantly drawn to this series because 1) there are shifters – sexy alpha shifters, and 2) these sexy shifter play a damn good game of baseball. I admit, I did a quick reread of the first two books, but honestly I don’t believe that it is essential to read the previous books but I highly recommend doing so if you haven’t. We get a number of quick glimpses at our two previous couples which could potentially be a tad confusing.
Tucker Wilde is one of the stars on his baseball team in his position as the second baseman. However, his game has been off recently and he loses his top position to one of the rookies. To top that off, he also breaks up with his girlfriend, who he really wasn’t completely into to be perfectly honest. And this is where his life begins to change.
Dixon Foxx has been micromanaged into a baseball career by his father. He’s shy but is a total kick arse when it comes to the sport. The only thing keeping him in the game is his stubbornness, despite the fact he no longer enjoys the game, and his infatuation for Ticker. Dixon has been crushing on Tucker since they first met, just Tucker doesn’t realize it. But as I said, things are changing for Tucker, and that means that things are also changing for Dixon.
Tucker and Dixon discover new facets of their evolving relationship, and Dixon discovers just where his passion for baseball now lies (and is not dependent on his love for Tucker). Super sexy. Super sweet. Lots of chemistry ready to explode. Seriously, how can you go wrong with a story about shifters who play baseball?? What I also like about this series is that the shifter aspect is actually secondary to the baseball – as opposed to the other way around, which is probably more common. It makes for a very interesting tale and makes me want more from the series!!
Hiya guys! We have Josephine Myles popping in today with her new re-release Stuff, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Aerin’s review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link! <3 ~Pixie~
Stuff
(The Bristol Collection 02)
by
Josephine Myles
When Mr. Glad Rags meets Mr. Riches, the result is flaming fun.
Tobias “Mas” Maslin doesn’t need much. A place of his own, weekends spent clubbing, and a rich boyfriend for love and security. Pity his latest sugar daddy turns out to be married with kids. Mas wants to be special, not someone’s dirty little secret.
When he loses his job and his flat on the same day, Mas’s world starts unravelling… until he stumbles across a down-at-heel vintage clothes shop. Now he just needs to convince the delightfully shy owner he’s in need of a new salesman.
Perry Cavendish-Fiennes set up Cabbages and Kinks solely to annoy his controlling father. He’d much rather spend every spare moment on his true passion, art. That is until Mas comes flaming into his life, talking nineteen to the dozen and turning his world upside down.
Against his better judgment Perry offers Mas a job and a place to live, but it turns out he should have listened to his instincts. The shop is already financially on the brink, and Mas’s flirting makes him feel things he’s never felt for a man. Yet Mas seems convinced they can make a go of it—in the shop, and together. That is, until Mas’s past starts to catch up with him…
Warning: Contains an eccentric bumbling Englishman, a gobby drama queen, fantastic retro clothing, scary fairies, exes springing out of the woodwork, and a well-aimed glass of bubbly. Written in brilliantly British English.
Blurb: Family is worth fighting for—and family doesn’t always mean blood.
No one knows what calamity poisoned the earth and decimated the human population, but living close to the toxic ground means illness and death. Justin is determined to keep his twin sister and younger brother from that fate—no matter what he has to do. To earn enough to keep his family safe in a high-rise, Justin enlists in a deadly sport called Shadow Fray. He quickly finds himself in over his head, especially when he is scheduled to face the most dangerous player.
Hale—who competes as Black Jim—knows he won’t be on top forever, despite his skills. He fights for a better life for his daughter, but his time is running out as Shadow Fray becomes increasingly lethal. Something about the newest fighter intrigues him, but does he dare defy his masters to investigate? Justin and Hale will clash in the ring, while beyond it the powerful elite and the crumbling world seem determined to keep them apart. If they can find common ground, they might have a chance to fight for their futures.
Review: This book was intense. It has fighting to the extreme in it. So be advised of that. It’s brutal and gory.
Shadow Fray is a no holds bar fight ring that never stays in one place. Fighters are anonymous when they fight. The bosses do not care if they die in the ring either. I found that even though this story is no so much a romance as it is a survival in a time when things are not so great.
The main character’s, Hale, who fights as Black Jim and is known in the fighting world for his impressive winning streak fights for his daughters wellbeing. Justin, a beginner to the scene, has aligned himself with the wrong handler who really does not care anything about him except the money he brings in. But Justin is fighting for his family to have a better life.
I really liked the explanation of the epidemic that tore the wold apart and found it intriguing that no one could actually walk on the ground due to the contamination. As a result all the population that is left has to live in high rises.
I don’t want to give away too much but I will say I loved the plot as it was more than fights. The rules to this new earth are downright scary. At times it seemed that civilization went backwards instead of forward. The mystery surrounding the bosses was intriguing. It’s truly a well written story about two men trying to survive any and all dangers.
After a critic’s review attacks both Chef Liam Walker’s culinary skills and his personal life, Liam can no longer take the heat of the cutthroat New York City restaurant scene. He needs to get out of the kitchen—at least long enough to cool down and regroup.
At the Overlook Resort in North Carolina, Liam meets owner Carter Galloway. Carter has a passion for the hospitality business to rival Liam’s own, and it’s not hard to see where their shared interests—and attraction—could lead. But Carter has no interest in a fling, and Liam has no intention of walking away from the career he fought so hard for. If they want a taste of happiness together, they’ll have to find the courage to break the bonds threatening to pull them apart.
Review: Before I get started on Breaking Bonds, just a quick note – this is the second in Ari McKay’s charming series the Walker Boys. They are only related in so much that one MC (the Walker boys) from each both books are actually cousins. You don’t necessarily need to go back except for a thoroughly enjoyable story which I liked a lot.
Breaking Bonds is a highly enjoyable story – a little predictable and had me thinking of rating this only 3.5/5 but in the end I couldn’t do it. In the end this is lovely and sweet romance that holds up its own and like the first book it’s a good read for fellow Food Channel addicts.
The story’s MCs are Liam Walker and Carter Galloway. Liam Walker had made his career in New York City in the, forgive the pun, cut throat cooking/restaurant industry. Liam is a world of difference away from Liam. He owns and runs a North Carolina resort. Like Liam is passionate about food, Carter is passionate about hospitality. It’s not difficult to see why the sparks fly when Liam offers Carter some much needed help to get his resort’s restaurant up to scratch. It’s also perfectly charming to see Liam come to a number of realizations about what makes him passionate about his job as he gets to know Carter more.
As I said, I had initially thought the book a tad bit predictable – in so far that I conjured up a few books I’ve read in the past and thought this was a good mix of them. But ultimately, these guys have a wonderful chemistry which is what really stuck with the most from this book. They are definitely the reason why I fell in love with the story, which in the end, isn’t that exactly what an author strives for when they write a story.
Hi guys, we have Josephine Myles stopping by today with her new re-release Junk, we have a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and Aerin’s review, so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Junk
(Bristol Collection 01)
by
Josephine Myles
He loves a good book, but he could love a good man more…
When an avalanche of books cuts off access to his living room, university librarian Jasper Richardson has to face up to the truth. His ever-growing heaps of books, magazines and newspaper can’t be classified as a collection any longer. Jasper is a hoarder, and he needs professional help.
Professional clutter clearer and counsellor Lewis Miller thinks he’s seen it all, but even he has to admit he’s shocked. Not so much from the state of Jasper’s house but from the attraction he still feels for the sexy bookworm he went to school with.
However, Lewis’s ethical code forbids relationships with clients, and besides, he’s determined to get over his habit of falling for unsuitable men he hopes to “fix”. But as Jasper continues to make steady progress the magnetic attraction between them is so strong even Lewis has problems convincing himself it’s merely a temporary emotional attachment arising from the therapeutic process.
Jasper is determined to prove to Lewis that this is the real deal. But first he’ll have to explore the root of his hoarding problem—and reveal the dark secret hidden behind his walls of books.
Warning: Contains a level-headed counsellor with a secret addiction, a bespectacled geek with a sweet tooth, a killer “to-be-read” pile, embarrassing parents, a van called Alice, and deliciously British slang.
Carter Hamilton and Riley Porter-Wright room together as Harvard undergraduates. An immediate friendship forms, but as the years pass it deepens into something neither man understands. As attraction simmers under the surface, lines begin to blur. When they move back to Manhattan, they gradually slip into the lives their families have envisioned for them.
Both men marry, but in time, Riley realizes he’s ended up in a passionless relationship like his parents’ while his career takes center stage. Although he loves his wife, Carter misses the emotional and physical connection he shared with Riley.
The weight of Riley’s feelings and his growing discontentment with his life eventually push him to tell Carter the truth about how he feels. Shocked and unable to face his own feelings, Carter rejects Riley.
As each man comes to terms with the lies they’ve told themselves, each other and the people around them, they find their lives changing in ways they never imagined. They soon discover that the truths they’ve been longing to tell shake the foundations of their friendship.
Reader Advisory: This book contains polyamory and infidelity, expressions of homophobia by multiple secondary characters, divorce, scenes of M/F/M intimacy, references to parental neglect, disownment, one brief scene involving a physical altercation.
Review: Over the years Carter and Riley have become best friends, they spend a lot of time together and they’ve shared women together, even after they both marry their friendship doesn’t change. But Riley is becoming discontent with his life, so much so that he decides he needs to face up to what he really feels for Carter and he can only pray Carter feels the same way.
This story was a hard story for me to get into; the opening prologue left me with distaste for both men because of their casual disregard for their wives, it was just shocking that the polyamory,MFM and infidelity that the reader advisory is talking about was with a prostitute… all without the knowledge of the wives so that blasts the polyamory tag out the water.
Anyway, what we have here is a classic case of two men not knowing how they really feel for each other, and two men living up to the appearances that their parents expect them to live. The angst in most parts is about trying to parse through their feelings for each other and Carter angsting over the fact that Riley has decided to no longer live a lie, Riley does angst as well over Carter basically turning his back on Riley but you can understand that because it was easier for him to focus on that rather than his leaving his wife and his parents turning their back on him.
I’ll be honest and say that the story really didn’t need all the past between the two men throughout the years, just bits from the last couple of years would have done it. I had to really cling hard to keep reading as it just felt like filler to me. I mean yeah once it was to the present time for the guys I couldn’t put it down, but most of the stuff that came before had me fighting to keep reading.
Now in the present time we get all the turmoil, the desperation, the hope and, for Riley, acceptance. Riley comes into his own even as he struggles with the aftermath of his decision, Carter begins to flounder and he’s barely hanging on to his ‘safe life’. It’s sad really; you feel pity for Carter as he desperately tries to hang on to his perfectly normal life even as it crumbles around him. You do feel desperately sorry for Riley but it quickly changes to hope as he begins to emerge from the lies and begins to build the life he’s always wanted.
I can’t say that this is a happy for now ending; I can’t even describe the ending to be honest as it’s left in a place where one man has accepted his new life and the other is still desperate clinging to his life with his finger nails and barely there sanity. Oh and by the way the physical altercation that’s warned about in the reader advisory… well its domestic violence plain and simple, just because it’s a woman doing it doesn’t make it any less domestic violence.
I recommend this story to those who love angsty stories, lives being pulled apart and reshaped, friendships tested, relationships in limbo and a desperate need to read the next book!
Title: A Destiny of Dragons 
Title: Model Investigator 
Title: The Tinder Stories 
Title: Revelations 
Title: P.S. I Spook You
Title: Rabbit
