Blurb: I’m rather used to the crazy cases, because let’s face it, most cops can handle the run-of-the-mill with their eyes closed. I’m only called in when the situation is weird or they need to solve the case fast.
This case is a little of both.
Someone’s attacking women as they get off of work, hitting them in the back of the head. What started as a case of battery has steadily built up to homicide. With three murders, six victims, and no leads, the Clarksville PD are desperate to catch the assailant. But there’s no real leads for us to follow, either, and for once my eyes can’t really help.
A madman running around attacking women is bad enough, but the police are demanding answers we can’t give them, and they’re not taking no for an answer. It’s pushing us all past our limits, and frankly, I don’t know what’s going to break first: The case or Donovan’s patience.
Review: Jon is once more involved in a case that is bizarre and deadly. A man is bashing women in the head then taking off. However it is a case that has some surprising twists to it. With multiple victims leading to the death of three it is going to take them into some crazy areas.
Donovan does everything in his power to keep Jon out of danger, but lets face it Jon usually doesn’t have to go far to find himself in that position. He is one of the most powerful magic any one has ever seen and he needs an anchor to make sure he doesn’t get lost.
A police department that definitely has no love for the paranormal and our sexy guys need all the protection or should I say the police officers are the ones that are going to need protection. Donovan definitely doesn’t let anyone talk smack about our cutie pie.
While I loved the book there were some small issues with it. It just seemed to go over certain spots multiple times which was not needed. And the ending was dull and didn’t seem to spark that much attention. Other than that it was a good read that kept my attention throughout. So much so that I had started on the next book.
This is a series that I can see myself reading over and over. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.
The entire world, all of human existence, comes to three hundred souls born and reborn again. No more and no less. Countless billions of people share these souls, each individual with a slight piece or sliver of grace. But when gods corrupt and upset the most delicate of balances, a hero must come forth to lead people toward a brighter day and a better life.
Review: This was an awesome story of epic proportions. Where being in good with GOD will give you everything you ever wanted and more. But all is not what it seems and many atrocities are taking place as those seen as lesser and labeled as sinners, orphans, and many other terms are rounded up and taken away.
As with any society where there are those that feel injustice or unfairness is at play a revolution will sometimes occur to set things right. This is what happens in this story. Many different MC’s play a significant role throughout. Too many to name in this review. We have plenty of different POV’s to understand where each is coming from and how they feel. Needless to say the road they travel is not without danger and not everyone will make it out alive at the end.
This story does contain at least one rape scene and many other brutal atrocities that take place in the name of GOD. I loved the story despite this and was riveted to my seat until the end.
Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc. (October 7th, 2019)
Length: Novella (112 Pages)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 3 Hearts
Blurb: His entire life Roy Benton has tried to be half the man his father had been. Unfortunately, he was born with his mother’s petite stature. Not even joining Maple Grove police department makes him feel manly, especially when the other deputies are built like linebackers. Roy is always trying to prove he can handle the job, that he doesn’t need anyone’s help, until a psychotic vampire sets his sights on Roy.
Calhoun Reckless left his pack behind when he agreed to help Panahasi shut down two drug labs. However, the men running one of the labs escape, and are now after Calhoun. One twisted vampire. One evil wolf shifter and a crazed demon want him dead. When Panahasi hides Calhoun in a small town, he has no idea he would find his mate. But the men after Calhoun will stop at nothing to not only destroy him, but the human who has come to mean everything to Calhoun
Review: Calhoun was working for the Ultionem but needed a very long break from it all. He could still remember the bodies in their cages. He needed a change of pace from it all. Seeing his brother had him finding his mate. A mate that was human and had no clue of what was creeping in the dark.
Roy had went out and got stinking drunk then woke up to the sexy bartender. To bad he was still a virgin, it could have been nice. What was not nice was the creeps coming out. To learn he was a mate was shocking but not as shocking as what danger was coming.
Slow and easy read with characters that were quirky as hell. Their world sounds pretty cool if not dangerous. However the fact that even though it does give you the happy ending, it just cuts out. It was to short for my liking and there was so much more that could have been added to make this story stand out. It felt very rushed and made me feel like I was missing so much.
Over all I have always loved reading stories by this author, but the way the stories are being told leave a lot to be desired. There is so much potential in it but the story fell short. Other than that I still enjoyed reading it.
Blurb: Covington left home for college and has been back to Talonwitch many times, but when he’s summoned home he knows there has to be a So, with his lover in tow, Cove heads home finding danger stalking the town and an inheritance he never expected to get.
Cameron’s relationship with Cove is on the verge of falling apart, but Cameron can’t just let Cove go without trying to work it out. As a result, he tags along with reconciliation in mind.
Cove’s family is anything but receptive to him bringing home a man so pretty he could be a woman. Not only that, Cove’s mother insists Cove settles down with a woman, only his hawk isn’t willing to let Cameron go. To claim Cameron, Cove knows he has to be honest with Cameron, and Cameron has to release his own fears. But will Cameron take that final leap and accept the claim?
Review: With Heart is a standalone paranormal romance by E.A. Reynolds.
I’m familiar with Reynold’s writing and while I am always to happy to give one of their books a go, I will say my opinion goes between liking and loving some books, while others leave me feeling “meh”, although I would never go as far to say that I dislike a book but more simply it’s unlikely that I’ll re-read it. Definitely one of those authors that is on my radar but I don’t think I’ve really formed a personal opinion on their writing because it does feel like a 50/50 split between “awesome” and “meh”.
And, unfortunately, With Heart is one of those books that falls on the “meh” side of the scale. There is basically only one reason for this and I’ll go into soon.
The plot is quite simple, although I have to admit that I find the blurb a little clunky to read. Covington is a shapeshifter who has lived away from his hometown and his family for some years. He escaped to the big city where he became a cop to get away from his controlling mother and the judgmental family members that do not approve of him being openly gay. But after being summoned home, Covington reluctantly goes. He brings along his human lover, Cameron.
Cameron is a little lost. His relationship with Cove is floundering. He’s happy enough but he knows he needs more from life. He’s grown up without a family, with no parents or siblings, and the confusion over his relationship feeds into this loneliness. Going to Talonwitch with Covington is an eye opening experience. He meets Cove’s disapproving family, finds out some of his boyfriend’s secrets, finds something that could link him to actual family and discovers a world he never thought possible.
However, there is also danger as a number of poorly investigated crimes over the past decades has culminated to this moment. Cove investigating and while Cove is discovering new depths to his relationship, there is also an immediate danger to Cameron.
I like the storyline for the most part. Cameron’s plotline of self-discovery was the most interesting part of the book in my opinion. I also liked the mystery and crime aspect as Cove unravels the darkness plaguing the town.
However, while there is chemistry between Covington and Cameron, I truly struggled. This was a couple on the brink of breaking up, with Covington hoping that Cameron tagging along would speed up this process. However, like with an instalove scenario, these guys suddenly get their shit together without much explanation. In fact, it made Covington a tad unconvincing and unlikeable at first. I get that this was where the BDSM really should have come in, this was part of what was missing between them, but I just didn’t feel it all. I
In general, I think this book is worth a go to anyone that loves paranormal romances, particularly those that like other paranormal titles published by the myriad of Siren authors.
I recommend this one to anyone that is a fan of Reynold’s previous work, particularly those that like their work without reserve. The BDSM elements aren’t particularly strong, but may appeal to those that like a bit of kink with shapeshifters.
When Mayfair jewelers Starsmith Stones wins the commission for a gay royal wedding, CEO Joel Sterling is recommended to the brilliant young designer Matt Barth—only to discover Matt’s the man with whom he shared an anonymous and passionate kiss on the celebration night.
Disenchanted with the commercial jewelry industry, Matt nowadays prefers muddy archaeological digs to designing. Openly resentful of Starsmith’s hostile takeover of his family’s firm, he is horrified at the realization he’ll be working with the man who engineered that deal—but the opportunity to create something fabulous and unique for the royal couple is too tempting to refuse.
Working as a team reignites the spark between Joel and Matt. But when betrayal from within Starsmith threatens both the project and Joel’s confidence, will they have built enough trust to keep their newfound love as precious as the royal jewels?
Review: Romancing the Rough Diamond is the fourth book in Claire London’s Romancing The… series. It is not necessary to have read the two previous books; this is a standalone book and the couple are totally unrelated to the other. The only real link between them is being set in England/United Kingdom and these are people that are in the upper crust of society – businessmen, celebrities, social darlings, old money, that kind of thing. This series has been released as part of the Dreamspun Desires, and this book is everything that I love getting my hands books released in this house line. It’s sweet, sexy, full of big drama (sometimes bordering melodrama) and equally big personalities.
There’s a royal wedding about to take place and this one is a bit different because it will be the first same sex royal wedding. The hype is big and the competition to win the rights to be the jeweller for said royal wedding is a big deal. So much so, when CEO of Starsmith Jewellers, Joel Sterling, found out that his firm had won the commission, he locked lips with a stranger. Not thinking about that little episode further, Joel is intent on making this the most perfect pieces that his people have created. And with the importance of such a commission, everything is to be kept under lock and key to keep the project top secret. Now he needs to recruit a designer for the project, and is strongly recommended to approach designer Matt Barth. It just so happens that Matt is the man Joel kissed and the man who is the son of a company that Starsmith took over.
Matt is a complicated and stubborn man. His is brilliant, proud and passionate about his work, which is mostly doing archaeological digs on some of his family’s land. He’s a man who hasn’t done a lot of commercial designs but is a designer that is raved about in many jewellery design circles in England and Europe. Yet, with his family’s successful jewellery firm sold off, Matt doesn’t want to be involved with the man he perceives as his enemy.
Matt and Joel are so different and yet at the same time they are both so similar. It is their similarities that draw them together and their differences that make them perfect for each other. They have excellent chemistry. They are also very passionate men, which makes some of the drama about the designs and their relationship so much fun.
As a side note, because it tickled me so much. For someone who had watched so much Time Team and in a Time Team fan group on Facebook, the talk of archaeology on the family farm had me thinking of Tony and Phil et al., I had to laugh though when London also made reference to the TV show.
If you’ve liked anything from Dreamspun Desires or if you’ve enjoyed Romancing the Wrong Twin, Romancing the Ugly Duckling and Romancing the Undercover Millionaire you’ll definitely like this book. I recommend this this to those that love the opulence of upper society (i.e. me and my love of aristocratic-type romances) mixed with business and artistry. I would quite label it an enemies to lovers type of book, but for those that do like that in a book, I think this could be the book for you too.
Native American veterinarian—and werewolf—Chayton Wilson dreams of a fair-haired mate. However, he’s shocked to find his mate is a man. He’s not quite sure what to do with a male mate, but he’s more than willing to find out.
Keaton Reynolds wakes up in wolf form and finds himself with a mate. He’s instantly attracted, but not thrilled to find out the man is supposedly straight. A past relationship where his partner denied being gay left a bad taste in his mouth. Keaton wants to make a break for it and pretend he never set eyes on Chay—but Chay is not ready to let him go.
Together they work to battle prejudice and solidify their shaky relationship. Chay must deal with not only his mother’s preconceptions about gay men but also her hatred of white people. When a power struggle in Keaton’s pack threatens Keaton’s life, the two men must quickly learn whether they can depend on each other.
Review: Without Reservations is the first book in JL Langley’s With or Without series.
I’m not unfamiliar with Langely’s work, but at the same time I’m not 100% certain on my opinions on their writing style and don’t remember how much I’ve enjoyed their books in the past. So I’ve come to this with an open mind, just looking forward to what looks to be a pretty decent shapeshifter romance, which I love.
That being said, it’s also not surprising that I didn’t even realise that this was a second edition until it came to writing this review. Previously published back in 2006 by Samhain Publishing, I can tell you right now, this didn’t make my radar back then, which would have been a couple years before I got into MM romances in the first place. And wow, I just checked out the series page on Good Reads – as it seems that Langley is going to re-release the whole series, I’m really looking forward to delving further in this world.
The book is the romance of Chayton Wilson and Keaton Reynolds, they are both werewolves but come from different packs.
Chayton is a veterinarian, who also happens to be Native American. He has dreamed of having his mate since he was a child, knowing that his mate would have golden hair and beautiful eyes. When Keaton and Chay first meet, Chay is shocked to discover that his mate is a man – he had always assumed that he would have a female mate. However, his dream of meeting his mate is enough for Chay to embrace the thought of having a male mate and more than willing to make a go at the relationship.
Keaton, though, has be burned in the past by a boyfriend who refused to acknowledge his homosexuality, and is therefore wary of his mate. It’s a disappointment after the excitement of realising that he had found his mate. Yet, Keaton gives Chay a chance. But this is the least of their obstacles. With Keaton being a white – as well as male – they face homophobia and Keaton is particularly disliked by Chay’s mother for also being White.
This is a great romance and while there is drama, it is more forces external to the two men that are throwing the obstacles in their direction. I found both men immensely likable and found that their situations were relatable to some extent, which made fall in love with both characters. This isn’t a super tense book by any stretch of the imagination, so this will appeal to those that like a light-hearted meeting and romance between fated mates.
Blurb: Luke Schumaker designs computer games, working from his home. Every day he walks his dog in the woods nearby, never suspecting that someone who is completely smitten is watching.
The watcher is Alex Shaw, and he too works from home, designing logic and crossword puzzles. Alex’s options are limited: he’s too shy to approach Luke and his wheelchair won’t let him follow into the woods. His solution? Secret messages for Luke in the crosswords he writes for the local paper.
When Luke decodes them, romance begins, but then they face greater puzzles, like Alex’s interfering sister and what commitment to a man in a wheelchair really takes. And, most puzzling of all, how do you know if love is real?
Review: Puzzle Me This is a standalone novel by Eli Easton. It’s a quick and fairly easy read that was totally enjoyable. It doesn’t hurt that I’ve discovered an appreciation for Eli Easton’s writing style and stories in the past year or so. I just find it very easy to connect to the characters and Puzzle Me This is no different. Admittedly, this is a re-release, however, I’ve never gone far enough back in Easton’s catalogue to find it before this new edition was released.
The story is a sweet romance between Luke Schumaker and Alex Shaw. Luke works from home designing computer games. He loves his job and is good at it. He lives a somewhat quiet life, not realising that he has a secret admirer near by who has been (no creepy-like) watching him from afar. He only realises that he does have a secret admirer when he does the cross word in the local paper and notices that the solutions are about him. Intrigued, Luke tries to find out what’s going on.
That semi-stalker is Alex. Alex is shy, that’s why he watches. He admires Luke, but some of his shyness stems from the fact that he needs a wheelchair. He can’t find the courage to confront Luke, but since Alex is a crossword creator for the local paper, he sends out his message that way.
This is fun and cute. You have to suspend your disbelief or else you would go crazy – who does the cross word in the local paper that Alex could hope that Luke would even see it and do it? Why isn’t Luke more creeped out? I feel my questions are valid.
However, it is totally worth it to set aside your doubts and enjoy the story. In many way Alex and Luke are two sides of the same coin, they are different enough to be similar but not complete opposites. They have a gentle chemistry that I really appreciate and find very relatable. This is the type of story that warms the heart and leaves the reader with a smile on their face.
Blurb:Jazz Vanessen is weird—and not just because he’s a werewolf. For most of his life, he’s felt different from his alpha male brothers and friends. Since he’s adopted, he can’t even blame it on family.
Now eighteen, Jazz meets his idol, the social activist Lysandra Mason, and her breathtaking nephew, Dash Mercury. When Dash is around, even stranger things start to happen, including Jazz falling hopelessly in lust. Not only is Jazz having visions, making people disappear, and somehow turning invisible, but somebody’s following him and threatening to reveal his pack’s secrets to the world.
Together with Dash and Jazz’s equally amazing friends—Carla, BeBop, Khadija, and Fatima—they discover the danger is even more lethal than they thought, and Jazz’s weirdness may save all their lives. .
Review: This is a spin off to the Harker’s Pack series. I read those books years ago and forget them.
A lot of information regarding the characters from those books take up a lot of room in the beginning. There was so much I felt bogged down at times. But then it levels off and we get to Jazz and Dash’s story which I liked but felt it was too fast paced at times and sometimes there were things that did not make sense.
Never the less this story, when it gets going, is intriguing and I enjoyed the plot and the new characters introduced. Jazz’s power was interesting and the way it played out was entertaining. The mystery was well written with a side of danger.
Blurb: Raven McCoy is in hiding from his pack. He has no desire to take over the mantle of leadership when his father steps down. But Robert McCoy isn’t taking no for an answer. His father sends his best man to track Raven down and bring him home. But Raven isn’t going anywhere. Not when he’s just found his mate, and not when Jet has trouble on his heels.
Jet Atherton leaves the dark realm once a month to visit his cousin. But on his last visit, something went terribly wrong. Jet is missing two weeks of his life, and he has no memory of what happened to him. All he knows is that he showed up at a mechanic shop, and the owner saved his life. There’s just one problem. Raven is his mate and Jet has to get away from him before the wolf shifter discovers that Jet is unseelie, the most hated fae in the preternatural world.
Review:Each book in the Maple Grove 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 branched off from many other series and I would suggest starting with book one in the Brac Pack collection.
Jet is fae but not just any kind of fae, but Unseelie. They are the darkest and most evil of the fae, however Jet is not like the rest of his family. There were many rules and one of them is they can never leave the realm. However he always goes to see his cousin who was in hiding once a month. So lets face it it was not his fault that he was caught and abducted.
Raven has found his mate. He had not expected the young man to show up to be his mate but then again he hadn’t known that he was not human either. When the young man fainted he took him to the one place where a human should go when injured but of course he runs with him as soon as he saw his cute ears.
He just has a few problems going on. Someone wanted his mate, his father wanted him to lead the pack and well just guess.
These stories have been going on for so long that they are starting to resemble each other in parts. The problem is that they are just getting rehashed in similar ways. However it is still quite entertaining and I do enjoy the humor that you can find in them. The characters are quirky and funny as hell in parts of it. There is danger mixed in the story to give you that little bite. I was glad to see some of the old characters from the beginning show up to give it a bit of a push.
Other than my own issues with the story it is still a good read.
Blurb: Mingus had one true love in life, animals. None of them were off the list, although, if he were completely honest, his favorite was his cat, Pretty Baby. He never imagined one day he might have to put someone else first. Not just anyone, but the man who has stolen his heart.
For centuries Oluf has dreamed of finding the one destined to be his. He’d even anticipated the need to woo him by becoming a chef. After all, according to his mother, the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. What he hadn’t expected was that he would come in second to a cat with sharp claws, who seemed to enjoy using people as her personal scratching post.
As Mingus, Oluf, and their friends get closer to Samhain, the Fae will try to stop them using everything at their disposal. It means finding a way to work together, even if it takes shedding a few Tears of Life to do so. But in the end, will the fate of the human world come down to a cat?.
Review: I loved Mingus and Oluf’s story. A lot takes place in this exciting addition as the group once again begin to make plans for the ritual. I was impressed by Mingus and was awed when his ability made itself known in a huge way. Mingus’ cats story was so sad it brought tears to my eyes.
The Unseelie and Seelie both made it known what they wanted in different ways. But it was the near the end that both broke my heart and angered me at what happened to Kyleigh and what of Fin. I hope to find out more about them in the next book and to see all eight druid’s in action.
These books must be read in order to enjoy them fully as each picks up where the last leaves off. I highly recommend this intriguing series with it’s colorful characters a well as their unique abilities in each book.
Each story is brought to life with an amazing cast of people as well as an epic plot that has evolved from book one.
Blurb: Out of the Cage: While out hunting with family in the woods, a wolf shifter finds something he never expected.
Castrose Zukan returns to the hideaway his brother, Clayton, had been using, only to find it destroyed. After checking the escape route they’d created, he discovers Clayton didn’t leave alone. While it takes a few days, Castrose figures out who took him…and where. He sneaks into the United States and heads to a little mountain town called Stone Ridge. What he doesn’t expect is to become the hunted.
When Eion MacDougal watched his two eldest brothers and dozens of others in their wolf shifter pack find their mates, he never lost hope that he would find his own someday. Out hunting with family in wolf form, that day comes when he runs across a guy with a sniper rifle. Revealing himself has unexpected consequences. The big, blond human faints.
With help from his family, Eion takes him home. Help from his pack tells him who the human is…and why he’s there. When Castrose wakes, can he win the man’s trust? Or will his mate flee from Eion when he learns he’s part of the group that kidnapped the human’s only family?
Review:Each book in the Wolves of Stone Ridge 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 series is the start but there were many different series that are connected to this.
Castrose and his brother Clayton are assassins and damn good at their job. They are very close but Clayton is the one that doesn’t border on being truly bad. Now Clayton is missing and Castrose is going to get him back. He just had not expected to the one being hunted since he was the hunter. He also didn’t expect the sexy man to tell him they are mates.
Eion was talked into hunting with his family and in fact lost a bet because of it. However today is a damn good day for it to happen, he has found his mate. A mate with a sniper’s rifle aimed at his alpha’s house, maybe might not be the best day for it either.
It has been a long time since I have gotten to read one of these stories. I use to love getting to read them and loosing myself in their world. The only true downside to them is that they are not long enough to truly get lost in them. They are full of action and danger plus lets not forget to say sexy times. I liked the characters quite a bit. Although I do think that they give in to soon to the love side of things.
It is a very enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing what is next in this amazing series.
Blurb: Soulmates across time. Two hearts, stronger together.
In present day, Maxton is good at finding trouble and bad at everything else.
In 1892, Trent Harrington, sheriff of Trinidad, Colorado, lives a respectable but lonely life, devoid of any closeness.
Trying to escape a past that keeps chasing him, Maxton drives south to avoid getting arrested. When his car spins off the road, he is swept up in a desert whirlwind and finds himself in the year 1892. Lost and alone, unused to the laws of the wild west, Maxton gets arrested anyway.
Trent is tasked with escorting Maxton to Trinidad. The request isn’t unusual, but the miscreant is. Maxton draws Trent’s heart out of its shell with his flashing green eyes and lush head of hair. It isn’t right. It isn’t natural. It’s illegal. Yet Trent cannot resist the impetuous young man.
As the two men travel through the vast, empty desert to their destination, will they find in each other the love and companionship they never thought they’d have?
A male/male time travel romance, complete with the scent of desert roses, brilliantly colored sunsets, starlit nights, bitter campfire coffee, growing honesty and trust, and true love across time..
Review: Maxton is Laurie and Zach’s friend who is at a loss since their disappearance. Nothing seems to be right for him as loses his apartment, ends up in trouble with a biker gang and the FBI are looking into him for the disappearance of his two friends. Trying to avoid jail he leaves but gets caught in a fierce wind that transports him to 1892 where lost and alone he ends up in jail anyway.
This is where he meets sheriff Trent, a man who is good and kind when he needs to be. Laurie gets wind that Maxton is in jail and asks Trent to bring him to Trinidad. Along the journey the two men get to know one another better and share intimacy with each other. Afterwards Trent goes back into his shell.
Trent spends a good majority of the book hiding who he is and what he wants. While I agree that people need to work things out in their own time I felt it was too long for a story. But nevertheless he comes to his senses and accepts who he is.
Blurb: Painting themselves a life together will be a royal ordeal.
Small-town boy Cal Walters doesn’t know whether he owes his phenomenal success as an artist to talent or to his connections to famous people. Doubt leaves him secluded—until a lost bet lands him on yet another blind date. But this one is different.
To Teofilo Vabriga-Kastav, playboy prince of the tiny nation of Porvunia and passionate art lover, Cal’s paintings are as intriguing as Cal himself. When Teo invites Cal to his country for an art competition, a whirlwind romance sweeps them up. But it can’t last—loyalties and obligations bind them to lives that are worlds apart.
Cal and Teo might’ve found their perfect complements in each other, but to hold on to their happiness, they’ll have to get creative.
Review: Drawing the Prince is the third book in Kim Fielding’s Stars from Peril series, which is released as part of the Dreamspun Desires house line. The series has been very enjoyable for anyone that loves a good light-hearted romance, but also as a fan of Fielding’s writing, I was more than satisfied to read the present instalment to the series.
The book works as a standalone, although there is mention of the previous two characters who are also the “Stars from Peril”. It’s a pretty cool concept, one small town in America which has produced (at this point) three celebrities – a rock star, a style guru and now an artist. Each man is gay and gets his own chance at a HEA. The artist being the subject of Drawing the Prince, obviously.
Cal Walters has become a wildly successful artist, in some part he is sure that he can attribute this to his fellow Peril celebrities, but of course he also has a measure of talent that has also made his work and commissions highly sought after. Despite his success he doesn’t have a lot of self-confidence, he doesn’t really date a lot either. The only reason he’s being sent on a blind date is because he lost a bet. Cal didn’t expect the attraction he felt to Teo, who comes from a small European principality of Porvunia (which had me thinking back to the first book in the series, The Spy’s Love Song). Teo is not only an engaging man, he is also an art lover and particularly admires Cal’s talent. Cal assumes that Teo works for the government of Porvunia, not realising that he is a prince (and an openly gay prince, to boot).
Teofilo Vabriga-Kastav (that’s a mouthful and a half), is known as a playboy prince. He works hard for his homeland, but he also knows how to appreciate the finer things and people in life. He’s been drawn to the American artist Cal Walters for a while and to meet him on a blind date is an opportunity Teo refuses to squander.
This is a fairy tale romance, so I’m not going to go further into details and spoil everything. However, if you’re one of those people that can’t resist a corny Christmas movie about Princes and Princesses and commoners, or books and movies that generally are about wealthy aristocrats/royalty falling for a “commoner”, this book will appeal to you and make you happy.
Blurb: Will their attraction grow into something deeper, or will it wither and die on the vine?
After the Syracuse Stallions clinch the championship, Nathan Zinkan, the renowned wild man of the AHL is arrested for a DUI. Again. When a no-nonsense judge adds a heavy dose of community service to an already stiff sentence, Nathan has to forget a summer of partying and slide on a pair of gardening gloves. His entire future now rides on how well he can behave while helping elderly urban gardeners tend to their tomatoes.
Watching local garden center owner Bran Cavanaugh working without his shirt is a benefit he wasn’t expecting. Pity Bran is also the one in charge of the community garden as well as keeping tabs on Nathan’s hours served. The two men are instantly at odds due to Nathan’s rebellious nature and Bran’s icy demeanor. Yet there’s no denying the attraction that begins to build between the hot-headed athlete and the cool as a cucumber master gardener.
Review: The Good Green Earth is the third book from VL Locey’s Colors of Love series, which is based around the lives of men from various teams of the AHL (this is the development teams that feed into the NHL). As the characters aren’t related this works as a standalone book, but so far this has been a fantastic series so I also recommend going back to the previous books if you enjoy this one.
For those readers that have become attached to many of Locey’s ice hockey romances, The Good Green Earth is a wonderful book to add to your list. I don’t hide the fact that I adore Locey’s work, particularly the hockey romances of recent years.
For others unfamiliar, but love a sweet sports romance, I highly recommend this. This also deals with themes that I know will attract many readers, including main characters with an age gap, enemies to lovers, moving on after the loss of a loved one and addiction.
Nathan Zinkan is known as a the AHL’s wild one, having been arrested previously for a DUI, another arrest after his team wins the championship has Nathan in front of a judge. Nathan had hoped that his lawyer could get him out of any trouble, but instead the judge gives him 1000 hours community service at a local community garden centre.
Then Nate meets Bran Cavanaugh, the older man that owns the garden centre and the men that will sign off on Nathan’s community services hours for the court. Nathan’s laid-back nature is at complete odd with Bran’s more conscientious outlook on life.
Both men have their issues and they undergo an intense but satisfying character development. Bran is dealing with the loss of his husband, the people in his life tell him he needs to move on but Bran is simply not ready to let go yet. As for Nate, he doesn’t think he needs to get his shit together, and he acts like a resentful, spoilt child at first when he first arrives at the garden centre. But he needs to battle his own demons and recognise that he has issues when it comes to alcohol.
This book is an emotional roller coaster, but it’s a great read with hugely relatable characters.
Hi guys! We have James Brock visiting today with the tour for his new release Dog Tagged, we have a brilliant guest post from James, a great excerpt, an awesome $20 Amazon GC giveaway, and my review so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Dog Tagged
by
James Brock
Drill Sergeant Clay Norris has his military life running right on schedule. Career focused he appreciates that he joined up when his sexuality is at least acknowledged under Don’t Ask, Don’t tell, even if he doesn’t get to act on his urges as much as he likes.
In formation with his new trainee group he locks eyes with Chevrolet Banks and his life, their lives, are changed forever.
Dog Tagged is an insta love military romance based on real life incidents.
Hi guys, we have A.E. Via visiting today with the tour for her new release Bishop, we have a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and my review, so check out the post and then enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Bishop
(A True Lover’s Story 01)
by
A.E. Via
At only thirty-two, Bishop Stockley has lived a hard-knock life. His gang was his family, the streets his home. Until the crew he’d always called his brothers betrayed him. After doing five years in a federal prison, Bishop is back at his dad’s trailer and working for his landscaping company, thrust into a legit world where he’s no longer the alpha—a world where a criminal record is the least of his disadvantages, because Bishop can’t read or write. Illiteracy had never been an obstacle for him on the streets, he didn’t need to know how to read Moby Dick to survive, he needed to know how to read people… and that was a hustle he’d learned hard and fast. Now, he had to change his life.
Bishop’s only support system was a young, inexperienced dad who’d insisted he call him Mike all their life—since they looked more like brothers than father and son. And his hot-tempered, childhood, best friend from ’juvie, Trent. Bishop already had the deck stacked against him, but he wasn’t afraid of hard work to change his situation, and he did want to change. Especially after he encountered Edison Scala, a kind-spirited office manager who didn’t hesitate to come to his defense… a man that saw past Bishop’s grass-stained coveralls. A man who wasn’t intimidated by his stern features and his silence.
Edison hadn’t grown up the way most of his peers had. He’d been raised by a single father who’d owned an old-fashioned barber shop where Edison was taught how to not only shave with a straight razor, and shine shoes, but also how to treat others, to not judge, to be a gentleman, to be respectful and speak without profanity. But, the biggest lesson he’d learned, was to always be himself. His lack of friends and a social life wasn’t his fault. No matter how much weight he gained, no matter how many times his staff called him a square, Edison did not need to change.
Bishop knew Edison was off-limits. He’d made personal vows to himself when he was released from prison, ones that he never intended to break. But, when Edison asked him about providing landscaping services at his home, there was no way he could refuse. He hadn’t expected Edison to feed him, praise him, encourage him, and look at him the way he did—as if Bishop was somebody. Mike and Trent warned him not to mix business with pleasure and he didn’t intend to.
No multiple pairings. No cliffhangers. Ends with a very, very HFN. Warning: This book is a M/M contemporary romance, a hardened man’s struggle to find real love. There are no police chases or doors being kicked in, in this one. But, don’t worry. Bishop is still intense enough to keep you on the edge.
After two years grieving the death of his best friend, Silas Franklin is back on the road with his metalcore band, Hush. With a new member, a brilliant new album, and a headlining spot on the last cross-country Warped Tour, life couldn’t be better—unless Silas could meet the intriguing music blogger known only as the Guru. Silas has followed his blog for years and feels the Guru might be the only person who “gets” him.
For years Krishnan Guruvayoor has reported on the metal scene as an anonymous blogger, and he’s just landed an internship on the Warped Tour as well as a potential position with a well-respected music magazine. His best friend arranges for him to meet singer Silas Franklin—but only as Krish the Intern. Their chemistry is instant, and Krish is thrilled to get to know the man behind the music.
The rock star and blogger quickly go from meet-cute to cuddle session, but secrets, overprotective bandmates, meddling media, and a terrible accident all conspire against them. Can their romance survive the summer of Hush?
Review: Kris is a blogger who hopes to one day write for an alternative rock band magazine. He starts his internship with the Warped Tour and is quickly introduced to his secret crush Silas from metal core band, Hush. The two hit it off instantly and the chemistry is off the charts.
Silas has been intrigued with a blogger named guru for years. When he meets Kris he is smitten. Despite many obstacles thrown at these two between meddling bandmates and secrets they seem to be made for each other.
I wish I had liked the story more but I’m not a fan of rock stories unless there’s something more with it.
The story was good and I liked the interactions the characters throughout the book. But it was not enough to make me love the book. I’m sure others who are into this type of story will be thrilled with it.
Blurb: Deputy Roman Charsguard survived Afghanistan where he lost his best friend—his K-9 handler James. Roman was a military dog until two years ago when he developed the ability to shift into a human. It’s not easy to learn how to be a man. He found a place to live in Mad Creek, a haven for the secret world of dog shifters. Finding a reason to live has been harder. That is, until a certain human walks into the Mad Creek Sheriff’s office and starts making trouble.
Matt Barclay has the worst luck. First he was shot in a SWAT drug raid, then he was sent as DEA investigator to Mad Creek, a little town in the California mountains. Matt’s job is to keep a lookout for illegal drug farms, but nobody in the town wants him there. And then there’s Roman, Matt’s erstwhile baby-sitter. He’s the hottest guy Matt’s ever seen, even if he is a bit peculiar. If this job doesn’t kill Matt, sexual frustration just might.
The town is counting on Roman to prevent Matt from learning about dog shifters, Matt’s counting on Roman to be his work partner and tell him the truth, and Roman’s trying to navigate love, sex, and a whole lot of messy human emotions. Who knew it was so complicated to walk like a man?
How to Walk Like a Man is the second book in Eli Easton’s Howl at the Moon series. While I hadn’t known what to expect when I started book one, I was really excited to read book 2. I strongly recommend reading this series in order, not only is it a fun, charming and sweet series, it is also totally unique. Also, there are a number of sub plots that are directly linked to book one and I think it would difficult to appreciate this book on its own.
After reading book 1, I couldn’t wait to start How to Walk Like a Man after I read the blurb. We me Roman, one of the MCs of this book, while reading Lance and Tim’s story in book 1. Roman had instantly intrigued me in the first book, he had such a gentle, firm but protective nature that I wanted to know more about the man and the dog that he was. After all, Roman is quickened, meaning that he had been born a dog but the love and emotion from his human owner meant that Roman received the spark that caused him to transform after his owner died.
Roman’s back story is one that will appeal to most readers. He was a military dog and had complete adoration for his handler, of course this affection was returned him. He was in Afghanistan with his handler, sniffing out bombs and the like. I won’t spoil and give the full back story, but it’s easy to figure out even reading the book. I loved the emotional connection I felt to this story line.
But now that he lives in Mad Creek and over the past couple years has learnt to be a man, he finds a new place in life. His military training makes him perfect to help the sheriff and has been recently made a deputy. With drugs threatening to encroach, Roman now has the job of babysitting the human DEA agent who has come to scope out Mad Creek for drugs.
In fact, the human DEA agent, Matt Barclay had also appeared in book 1, albeit very briefly. He had been shot in the cross fire and Roman had saved him then. Again, I won’t go into it because this all ties in with Roman’s backstory. But trust me, it is all very sweet. Matt knows that there is something different about Mad Creek, and he also knows that Roman is keeping him away from the town, which puts him on alert. The fact that the two men have a lot of chemistry is just another added layer for Matt.
This story is everything that is sweetness with the added strength of characters that are from law enforcement. Roman is naïve when it comes to human love and physicality, so he is learning a lot along the way. It is this naivety that adds the charm into the story, while Matt is more worldly but isn’t about to storm Roman’s defences. Once again, I loved this story. This is an excellent series I recommend to those that love a good shape shifter story.
Shorty’s Review: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
I loved this story about Roman and Matt. Keeping a secret from Matt was hard for Ro as he was such an honest and open person but keep it he did. With the threat of possible drug being grown in their town Lance and Roman attend a meeting where they learn a DEA agent will be assigned to their town. It’s up to Roman to keep the man from learning the truth about them.
Roman’s back story is both happy and heartbreaking. He was a brave German shepherd and served his country well while in the service. He had a hard time adjusting as a human which was to be expected. Matt suspects things are going on but does not report the strange things he see’s to his superior. As the investigation continues he and Roman grow closer.
I found this story to be dramatic, humorous and intense at times. I liked the way the story flowed and progressed. Amazing addition to the series.
Miller Sykes’s meteoric rise to award-winning chef is the stuff of culinary dreams, but it’s all crashing down around him. He’s been given a diagnosis that could cost him something even more precious than his life: his sense of taste. Rather than risk the very thing that defines him, Miller embarks on a last tour of his favorite meals while he still can.
But there’s a catch: he needs a financial backer to make it happen, and he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s sick.
Dr. Clancy Rhodes has two weeks to come to terms with putting aside oncology to work at his father’s thriving plastic surgery practice. When the opportunity to travel with a Michelin-starred chef presents itself, the foodie in him can’t believe it. It doesn’t hurt that Miller’s rugged good looks are exactly Clancy’s cup of joe.
As Clancy and Miller travel from coast to coast and indulge in everything from dive bars to the most decadent of culinary experiences, they’re suddenly sharing a lot more than delicious meals. Sparks fly as they bond over their love of flavors and the pressures of great expectations. But when Miller’s health takes a turn for the worse, Clancy must convince him he’s more—so much more—than just his taste buds. And that together, they can win a battle that once seemed hopeless.
Review: Miller is a top renowned chef whose career has come to an end with a debilitating illness. He decides to take a tour eating world renowned food before he is affected by illness that will render him unable to taste. Clancy is a doctor who has just finished his residency. His parents give him a gift of travelling with a renowned chef eating delicious foods.
First off let me say I do not usually read contemporary stories. Once I finished this one I remembered why. There was no mystery, suspense or action. The so called romance did not feel real to me. Now I like food not going to lie. But the foods mentioned throughout this book I had no clue as to what they were so I was at a loss. There were a couple of names I recognized but some I would never have eaten myself as they sound gross and have alcohol in them which I do not drink due to it hurting my stomach.
I liked Clancy and Miller’s interactions. It felt more like a friendship than anything else with a side of crush on Clancy’s part. The places they went were awe inspiring and luxurious yet only the rich would ever be able to afford to eat there. This story was well written and progressed beautifully. Sadly, it was not the book for me as I did not enjoy it overall.
With that being said it an o.k. read for me that I’m sure others would love.
Blurb: Two of W.S. Long’s best-selling gay romance stories are now available in a box set! Fall in love with Pad and RJ’s love story. Contains the stories:
Ask and I’ll Tell: Raised by his aunt, after his mother died, Pad McLaughlin enlisted in the Air Force to see the world, and save money for college, but he didn’t expect to fall in love with his supervisor, RJ Davis, a handsome, dashing officer. Rather than return home right away after his tour of duty in Saudi Arabia, Pad gambles on love by joining RJ in Bangkok, despite the government’s policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” When Pad realizes RJ doesn’t love him, he returns home broken-hearted only to be distracted by Wayne, another hunky airman, who keeps secrets from Pad.
When RJ finally realizes after Pad’s gone what Pad means to him, is he too late? Will Pad choose the officer or the airman? Set in 2008, this love story takes place before the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” when gay men who loved each other were forced to remain in the closet and deny themselves happiness.
Splendidly Ever After: Seven years after they meet, and more than four years since RJ initially proposes, RJ and Pad are back. The wedding invitations have been sent again and the date is set. This time, both men are more committed than ever to each other and willing to make their relationship work.
But old issues surface that cause conflict before their big day. Will RJ’s recent diagnosis of sexual addiction disorder tear them apart? Can they weather the growing disapproval from their families over same-sex marriage before they walk down the aisle? Will RJ and Pad finally tie the knot?
Review: Forbidden in Uniform Box Set is the collection of the two books that make the Forbidden in Uniform series, Ask and I’ll Tell and Splendidly Ever After, by WS Long. This is my first encounter with WS Long, so I had no idea what to expect, but I was attracted by the fact that this was a military type romance. I’m a bit of a sucker, even when (or especially because) of those based around DADT, where the romance holds a forbidden element (hence the name of the series, I suppose).
I’m going to give a quick review for both the novel and the novella which is featured in this collection. However, I’ve not rated them individually because for me they both get the same rating, whether individually or bundled together.
To me they weren’t really individual stories as such, the second book carries on from the first (about the same couple) and is completely dependent on the reader having read book 1 first (lucky it’s a box set). With that in mind, I find it really easy to make a number of overall comments about the story and treating it as one.
The first book starts when your two MCs meet. This is the romance between enlisted Air Force person, Pad McLaughlin, and Pad’s supervisor/commanding officer, RJ Davis. Pad has had a crush on his supervisor while they have been both stationed in Saudi Arabia, but DADT means that Pad could never act on his feelings. Not only that, he has no idea if RJ would be receptive. A little bit of scheming on Pad’s part and they end up in Thailand, indulging in a wild time of sex. But things get messy when emotions become involved. RJ, as an officer is in a difficult place, too, as any misstep could spell the end of his career. Meanwhile, Pad is moving to the base in Tampa, Florida and desperately wants to make a relationship with RJ work. However, when Pad realises RJ doesn’t love him, he goes back to Florida alone and picks up the pieces. Obviously the story doesn’t end here, because RJ has to get his shit together and the bumpy journey to a full fledged relationship continues.
The second book, Splendidly Ever After, picks up seven years later. RJ and Pad are still together and they are on their way to get married, with the stressful lead up wreaking havoc on their relationship. They’ve already been engaged and almost married once, but they broke up and got back together and (I hope) they’re stronger than ever. This is another serving of angst. Once again it seems that RJ is the cause of conflict, he suffers from sexual addiction disorder and his addiction to porn put a strain on their relationship.
I’m going to be upfront. While I didn’t dislike the book and didn’t have any trouble finishing it, I felt a little disappointed by the general feel of the book. I’m not sure if it is writing style or if it comes down to the details that were given to the reader throughout the book. However, I really struggled to feel the emotion between the two men, as well as struggling to get a firm hold of the attraction between them. Don’t get me wrong, the attraction was there but I felt there was something missing. I don’t think the fact that this is very much an insta-love type of situation helped, because I felt as though a lot of emotions, besides anger and heart break, were being muted by the fact that things seemed to be glossed over and told. In the end I feel I didn’t know the MC’s all that well.
The other thing is, I think it’s an interesting angle and I liked the struggle between the characters. However, I felt that it was a missed opportunity that the author did not go into further detail. The disorder wasn’t explained properly and the mental issues that RJ has gone through were not really brought out well. I know that sounds like an odd criticism, BUT I recently listened to an audio book of an MC who suffered sex addiction and used his work as an escort to help his treatment, that was pretty awesome.
TL;DR: I easily felt all the negative emotions and struggled to feel more out of the positive emotions.
This is probably the type of book for someone that likes insta-love, angst, heart break all rolled up into a military romance.
Title: Jon’s Crazy Head-Boppin’ Mystery
