Hi guys! We have Katey Hawthorne popping in today with her new release Poor Little Rich Boy, we have a brilliant short guest post from Katey, a great excerpt and a fantastic 2 x £10 Amazon GC giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Poor Little Rich Boy
by
Katey Hawthorne
Ted MacTaggart’s overbearing father is still trying to control his life, even from the grave. His will insists that, in order to inherit the family company, MAC Superior, Ted must be married by his twenty-fifth birthday — and the marriage has to be “real.” As in the board of MAC has to sign off on it.
Ted could fight the will, but then the handsome, artistic Ryan Costa, an old friend from school days walks back into his life, offering to be his groom-of-convenience. Ted draws up the contracts and Ryan, who has family medical bill problems, agrees gladly to the terms. Ted, emotionally walled off and afraid of his attraction to Ryan, also suggests they should keep their relationship strictly professional. Caring for people has always proven a weakness for him. Now isn’t the time to start.
It’s not long before Ryan’s charm breaks through Ted’s walls, but Ted isn’t his own worst enemy in this case. Other forces are vying for MAC Superior, and even when their relationship is becoming the real deal, its shaky foundations land Ryan and Ted in trouble.
When a beautiful blue horse asks Rin to go for a swim, Rin doesn’t realize how much his life is about to change. Blue is unlike anyone else Rin has ever met, and the magic of the fae, and of this particular kelpie, is wondrous, but deadly. Rin learns too late he might be in for a swim he won’t survive.
Mama was a cowboy. Okay, technically she was a cowgirl, but that’s beside the point. She grew up in the South, with a capital S. Her childhood was full of Bible-thumping, cattle, and hay. There wasn’t much room for school, especially since she was a girl. Her job was to help around the farmhouse, milk the cows, get married, and have a brood of kids who would grow up to work the farm too.
But, like I said, Mama was a cowboy. She wore pants and rode horses. She skipped church to nurse a sick calf. She could milk the damned cows, cook, and clean, but she didn’t have to like it. Her parents tried to set her straight, but Mama would sneak out to play with the colts in the paddock instead of sewing with her girlfriends. She would go out to the movies or even drive to a club in the neighboring city with friends who had never heard that girls only ever wore full skirts.
There were girls like Mama who cropped up in farm families from time to time, and the general consensus was she’d grow out of it soon. It was childhood rebellion, and it would fade.
Then I appeared. No, not like magic—poof, suddenly there was a baby in Mama’s arms. At first, her Sunday dresses were a bit too tight, and then her jeans wouldn’t button. Babies were fine in the South, so long as there was a husband to go along with them. Mama didn’t even have a man offering to court her, let alone a boyfriend or a fiancé. She had met a drifter, someone who came with the cows from Texas and was gone a few days later. There were men who thought Mama was beautiful despite her prickly personality and the baby growing inside, and they offered for her hand, thinking she couldn’t say no. Her parents were relieved—they could cover up the baby mistake with a quick wedding—but Mama always said no.
Her parents turned her out. Mama said she thought they were planning to set up a wedding anyway, so when she crawled back to them in desperation, they could tuck her firmly under their thumbs and end her rebellion forever. Instead, Mama hopped on the first train heading north and never looked back.
She worked as a waitress, saving every dime, until labor pains made her supervisor call an ambulance. Her tips were huge that day, enough that when she got out of the hospital, she could finally afford to buy an old farm left unoccupied for the last decade. The forest on part of the land was haunted, the locals told her, and people kept disappearing. No one would buy it; the bank practically gave it away to Mama for free.
I was a quiet baby, so her supervisor let her keep me behind the counter when she returned to work. Her money mostly went to diapers, but every once in a while she’d call in a contractor. The barn got fixed up first. The fences around the massive home paddock were next. She put a new roof on the farmhouse and replaced some rotting wood around the foundation. Eventually, she bought two retired racehorses.
The horses themselves weren’t anything special. They hadn’t won stakes races, and their thoroughbred pedigree wasn’t anything to laud, but they were good-looking horses all the same. Mama knew horses, and when she got some foals out of them, she taught the babies how to run.
Mama’s horses won stakes races. She cut her hours at the restaurant to spend more time training her colts and fillies. She bought more pedigree horses and built a second paddock so the stud stallions wouldn’t fight over their mares. She was eventually able to build a third paddock solely for training.
I was ten years old at that point, and Mama had an amazing reputation as a trainer and breeder. Owners would bring their thoroughbreds to her for training. She quit her job at the restaurant and built a second barn with an indoor training ring. The barn was so large she could run the horses inside in bad weather. I was glad because it meant I didn’t have to clear the snow from the paddocks in the winter.
I was almost fourteen when it all ended. We were driving home from the racetrack with two horses in the trailer behind our truck. Mama never saw the drunk driver who hit us. He came whipping around a curve in the road, well over the double yellow line. When I woke up, I was in the hospital. Mama was in the bed next to me.
The weight of the horses in the trailer had saved our lives. We hadn’t gone over the ridge, and our car hadn’t flipped because the trailer had prevented it. Mama had broken ribs and a broken hip. I had severe compound fractures in my legs. The drunk driver was dead.
I turned fourteen in the hospital. Mama traveled between the farm and the hospital for weeks after she was released. It was almost a year before she could properly sit a horse, but she never had the strength in her legs to control a bucking yearling like she used to. Me, I was lucky I could even stand.
I had braces for my legs and crutches for my arms. I couldn’t carry hay or oats to a horse, let alone ride them. Mama had been teaching me everything she knew, but now it was all she could do to take care of her own horses and me.
The trainers and their thoroughbreds went away as did the money from Mama’s colts and fillies winning stakes races every racing season. Mama got rehired at the restaurant, so we could keep the few horses she still owned. I was home with my schoolwork and nothing else to do with my time. I was way behind in school, so Mama was trying to homeschool me and catch me up with my grade. She hadn’t finished high school, but she insisted I would.
I was bored as anything and very depressed about my life. I was relearning to walk with the pins in my legs and with the crutches. My only escape during the day was struggling through a walk down one of the flat riding paths. Back when I could ride a horse down those paths, I wasn’t allowed to go into the woods or near the lake. Those were Mama’s rules, and I was supposed to follow them or she’d ground me. But the lake was so serene as I limped toward it, and I needed a break anyway.
That was when I met Blue, the crazy horse reading over my shoulder who doesn’t know how to respect a private diary. Of course, he tried to kill me then. I think now might be my turn to return the favor.
When Mell Eight was in high school, she discovered dragons. Beautiful, wondrous creatures that took her on epic adventures both to faraway lands and on journeys of the heart. Mell wanted to create dragons of her own, so she put pen to paper. Mell Eight is now known for her own soaring dragons, as well as for other wonderful characters dancing across the pages of her books. While she mostly writes paranormal or fantasy stories, she has been seen exploring the real world once or twice.
Inadvertently tumbling through the border after Fenn and then thrown into the middle of the internecine political disputes of their people, Sergeant Will Grant of the Metropolitan Police has spent three months in prison in the Underhalls of the Frem. When Fenn comes to free him and return him home through the border, he has very little time to work out what’s going on before the sudden appearance of Fenn’s missing younger sibling, Keren, throws Fenn for a loop.
Instead of returning them to London as planned, the trio step through the border to the Egyptian desert. Once they work out where they are, it’s a two week trip back to England with the possibility of pursuit both onboard ship and when they reach home.
Will the journey give Fenn and Will time to resolve the feelings they have been dancing around since the day they met? How will they keep Keren from recapture by the faction who tried to persuade Fenn they were dead? And has Will’s friend Alec forgiven Fenn for lying about their motives when they first traveled to London four months ago?
The Hunted and the Hind is the third and final book in the 1920s ‘Lost in Time’ trilogy. The books need to be read in order.
Excerpt
“Can I ride the one over there, please, Will Grant?” Keren called across the yard, pointing at creature with a white stripe down it’s face that they’d become enamored of earlier.
Will Grant nodded and came across the courtyard toward them. “You may. That was my intention, anyway.” They looked at Fenn. “Do you have animals you ride in the Outlands?” they asked.
Fenn stroked Olive’s nose. “Not like these,” they said. “These are beautiful creatures. We sometimes ride the antacas we use for pack animals. Some people breed them for meat, too. They have horns and a very sharp spine. And are extremely bad tempered. They’re smaller than these, though. Bumpy.”
Will Grant leaned against the stable door next to Fenn, as Keren took themselves across the yard to quiz the horse-keeper. He rubbed at Olive’s ears absently. “You’re not bumpy, are you girl? No-one would dream of accusing you of such a dreadful thing!”
The horse shook its head and buffeted Will Grant’s stomach. He staggered a little against Fenn’s side and blew out a laugh. It was very strange to see them like this, out of their city clothes, in what Fenn assumed were special clothes for riding. The humans seemed to have a variety of different clothes for each task, rather than sensible clothing that would serve for most things. Here in private, both Fenn and Keren had donned the extra clothes made for them in Port Said, patterned more or less on their usual loose trousers and robes.
It was even stranger to see Will laugh like this. After the conversation with their parent this morning, Will had seemed to let go of a little of the tension that had gathered round them since this trip had been mooted. It was a nice look on them, Fenn decided. Underneath it all was the tension and sadness that was Will’s permanent signature. But a little of that had eased. Fenn wondered what it would take to ease the rest of it.
“Come on, then,” Will Grant said, straightening. “Let’s get Keren up and we can go out for a wander through the woods and down to the lake. And once we’re there we can try our kias out near the water. We’re lucky Mama has kept the stable going, with no-one but her here to ride.” He glanced around. “The men coming home needed the work.”
Fenn nodded. “Your parent is a good person,” they said, cautiously. “They reminded me of Ana. Very…,” they searched for an accurate, polite word.
Will Grant laughed. “Very, yes,” they said. Their eyes had softened. “I haven’t done right by her,” they said. “I’ve been too wrapped up in my own head. I should have come home before.”
“It doesn’t sound like you were ready,” Fenn replied. “Home is a difficult place to be, sometimes.”
Will Grant shook their head. “But still. She’s my mother and she lost all of us. Father died a few years before the war and she missed him dreadfully. It was a love match, I think. They spent a lot of time together, anyway.”
Both of them were leaning against the stable door now, talking quietly whilst they watched the bustle as the horse-keepers got animals out for them all to ride.
“Is that not always the case, here?” Fenn asked, curiously.
Will looked at them over Olive’s nose. “For Mama’s generation, not always. Sometimes, marrying well is more important than whether you have strong feelings for your potential partner. Making the marriage and producing children is the thing, you see.”
Fenn looked at him.
“Not for me,” they hastened to add. “Mama has given up trying to marry me off. She made it clear this morning that she has no expectations in that direction at all.” They hesitated. “She said, you are welcome to visit here, too. She knows that I…have feelings…for you.”
Fenn was silent for a moment. “I would be honored to visit them,” they said. “Whether or not you have feelings for me, Will Grant.” They felt the shiver of embarrassment in Will’s kias. Humans did not talk about this sort of thing, apparently. Probably because most of them didn’t have kias and had to articulate everything verbally. It was very graceless and left a lot of room for misunderstanding. How did people without any kias at all between them manage?
They gently opened the edges of their kias to Will Grant and allowed their own feelings to be felt. Admiration, friendship, desire, love. All of it. Will glanced over and smiled, clearly picking some of it up without even trying to reach back.
The two of them stood against the door in amicable silence until the chief horse-keeper called across the yard, “Ready, Mr William? I’ve got Peter tacked up for you, here!”
Writer of queer, paranormal, historical, romantic suspense. Lives in the South West of England with Mr AL, two children, a badly behaved dachshund, a terrifying cat and some hens. Likes gardening but doesn’t really have time or energy. Not musical. Doesn’t much like telly. Non-binary. Chronically disabled. Has tedious fits.
Stuart Cochrane and Philip Sundstrom are very busy men. Stuart, freshly graduated from California Pacific, works as much as he can to save money for medical school. Philip, now in charge of the family home-construction company, works long hours to save the company from his father’s blunders and back-stabbing cronies. A chance encounter brings them together and the attraction is fierce and instant. While neither has time for a relationship, they can’t keep away from each other.
When the National Team recruits Stuart to cox, only Philip understands that Stuart’s sick of rowing and wants nothing more than to start medical school. When Philip’s board of directors plots to remove him from his own company, Stuart helps him scheme and strategize. Despite their emotional and sexual chemistry, Stuart’s hang-ups about money and rich people doom their fledgling relationship. But after a personal tragedy, Stuart must overcome his prejudices and accept Philip’s help. Can Philip set aside his broken heart to help Stuart in his hour of greatest need and, dare he hope, a family?
The waiter held Philip’s eye a moment too long. Philip knew what that meant and flushed from the starched collar of his shirt all the way up to the gelled magnificence of his golden bangs. Left to its own devices, his hair flopped down to cover his eyes, and right then, Philip kind of wished it could. Instead, he’d styled his hair like he always did, parting it on the left and then the bulk of the bangs were up up and away! in a truly stupendous flight of fancy that was probably on the wrong side of metrosexual for a corporate CEO. When he was by himself, he played the game, but c’mon, dude. He was here with his girlfriend. What kind of trash did he think Philip was? It meant he had to cut the waiter. The cut direct wasn’t his style, but Philip felt like he didn’t have a choice. Angie was his priority.
“The waiter’s certainly attentive this evening,” Angie commented.
Philip cocked one eyebrow. “Sweetheart, did you get a good look at yourself? You’re stunning.”
“You think so?” she said, smiling sweetly. “Thank you, Philip. It’s always nice to be noticed.”
“I always notice you,” he said, smiling back. He raised his wine glass in a salute. “Notice and appreciate.”
Angie touched her glass to his in an almost-silent toast. “Charmer. Half the time I feel upstaged by you. Is that a new suit? You look amazing.” Then she glanced at the waiter. “I get the feeling I’m not the only one who thinks your tailor is a god among men.”
“Boy, you buy one new sport suit—”
“A week,” Angie interrupted, her eyes merry. She was enjoying herself.
“—one new suit, and people accuse you of being a dandy.” Philip sighed theatrically. “Memo to self: return the ascot and waistcoat ASAP,” he said in a stage whisper.
They shared a quiet laugh. Philip reached across the table to caress her cheek, and Angie leaned into his touch. Her beauty struck him once again, and that evening, she’d gone all out, every bit his match in an ivory satin gown with the back down to here and her auburn hair done with seed pearls as it cascaded down her back. She even wore a simple cameo around her neck, an antique Wedgwood piece he’d given her for Valentine’s Day the year before. Then he noticed she’d mounted it on a mauve ribbon that clashed horribly with her auburn hair. What on earth had she been thinking? He’d given it to her on a cream ribbon for a reason—
Dinner arrived and Philip dropped his hand.
He tried to ignore the argument going in his mind about the colors, but it was hard. He’d always had an overdeveloped sense of aesthetics, and at times growing up with Brad and Randall had been nothing but torment. Builders’ houses were always one of two types: ramshackle and about to fall over, or palatial monuments to every architectural innovation and new concept to show up in the design rags. The Sundstrom home was one of the latter type, if poorly decorated, and no sooner had he shoved Randall off stage and into the hands of the police than he called in the cavalry to remove the worst of his father’s excesses and atrocities. Gone were the putti pissing into fountains and faux-antique tapestries and superfluous televisions, and there were no more—Philip jerked his thoughts back to the here and now. He sat across the table from a beautiful woman at a posh restaurant. His aesthetic hang-ups could wait.
Philip genuinely enjoyed Angie’s company. They might not live together—yet—but they certainly spent a lot of time in each other’s company, mostly at her condo. She found his house “creepy, like a funeral home,” even with Randall out of there and every room but his mother’s old sitting room and her library redone. Not that he blamed her—it was large and foreboding, and maybe it was time to sell it. When he’d called to invite her out to dinner earlier in the week, she’d been overjoyed, even more so than usual. It made him wonder if he weren’t missing something, but a thorough search of his day planner by both himself and Suresh revealed nothing.
After gnawing his guts out for a while, he’d finally given up, and when it came time to pick her up, he gave in and let himself enjoy the evening. “Are you ready to go home?”
“Yes, I think so,” Angie said. Was that a tightening around her eyes?
Philip signaled the waiter, who promptly brought him the check. When Philip put a black Amex card down, the man’s eyes widened. It would have been comical, but Philip found it hard to believe no one at this restaurant had ever seen American Express’s Centurion Card before.
“Here you are, Mr. Sundstrom,” the waiter said when he returned, placing the receipt before Philip and then departing. Philip signed it, including a generous tip.
Philip held Angie’s chair for her and then waited patiently while she wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. As they walked out of the restaurant, Philip smiled at their waiter. “Thank you. We had a lovely evening.”
But it was only as they waited for his car to be brought around that he noticed the waiter had written a number—presumably his—on the back of the credit card slip, but lightly and in pencil so it didn’t show from the front. Classy. Philip crumpled it up and threw it in the trash.
“They’re staring at you out here too,” Angie whispered.
Philip blushed. “I think you mean they’re looking at you.”
“Some of them, maybe.” She laughed. “A few, the straight ones.”
But they weren’t all straight, he could tell that right off the bat. Sorry, boys. He played, but never when he was in a committed relationship.
“Remind me not to come back here. This is very embarrassing.”
She hooked her arm on his. “I think it’s hilarious, and you blush very prettily.”
“Great.” He rolled his eyes.
It made him uncomfortable, that regard, even if he understood it. Thanks to the last year at SunHo, he knew how to project an air of authority, and a lot of people found that attractive. It wasn’t quite a matter of “do the opposite of Randall.” After all, his father had run SunHo with an air of power, but in Philip’s estimation, that power was based on fear. Employees in SunHo’s corporate offices had feared for their jobs, at least when Randall stomped and blustered. But authority? That was something different. Philip knew when he spoke, he would be listened to. He might be young for a CEO, but by and large, he was respected. He wasn’t sure Randall could’ve said that, or even appreciated the difference.
In his early thirties, Philip was young, fit, and, based on the evidence at dinner, handsome; he was very well situated financially, and the waiter and valets could tell that from the credit card and his car. He loved his Merc, a sleek sports car, the six-figure kind with the spoiler to prevent it from taking flight. At least he assumed that’s why they stared. Or maybe he had spinach stuck between his teeth, he thought ruefully, the perils of being a vegetarian there to keep him humble.
They drove back to Angie’s condo in silence, insulated from the sounds of the city by the Merc, but what, Philip wondered, isolated them from each other? He bore responsibility for that, the lion’s share, at least. He felt bad for neglecting Angie in favor of SunHo. It wasn’t that he preferred SunHo per se, but it seemed so much more immediate to him. More…real, he realized guiltily, but that’s not how he wanted his life to be. Angie always understood—or acted as if she did. She got that he’d taken over the family business, even if she didn’t know the particulars of how that had come about. As far as he was concerned, she didn’t need to either.
But simply because Philip had chosen this life, it didn’t stand to reason that Angie was happy with it. He knew she’d prefer to be living the high life, preferably in San Francisco. Angie cared for him, so no gold digger, she, but he didn’t fool himself on that score either. She enjoyed the life his money afforded them. Buying Brad out a few years ago might’ve set him back, but SunHo grew and expanded, despite the recession and building slowdown. Philip was loaded, and Angie knew it.
He glanced over at Angie as he drove, her face turned away from him, inscrutable in the passing lights. He knew what he wanted from the next step in life, but was it what Angie wanted?
Unable to decipher his uncharacteristically enigmatic girlfriend, Philip retreated into his thoughts, pretending he was in the cockpit of a spaceship instead of a luxury car, because damn, the onboard computer was almost that complicated. He liked Mercedes for the same reason he liked Macs. They both embodied high performance and elegant design and didn’t bother him with a lot of irritating details. Sure, BMW made amazing cars, but they always seemed to want his input on some matter or other, and he got enough of that at work. As for PCs, Philip was sure there was an elegant and highly functional one somewhere, he’d just never heard of it. But really, they’d gone from a charming dinner together full of conversation and laughter to him retreating into his imagination. Again. He’d been doing that more and more lately.
If he were to be honest with himself, it couldn’t be a good sign, but they looked good together, and she was someone to hold on cold, dark nights. Angie was someone to cling to when he’d spent too much time reading the Existentialists and felt too alone in an uncaring universe. But was that really a reason to stay in a relationship with someone? On the whole, Philip reasoned, there were worse ones, but it would only be fair if she felt the same way, and he knew for a fact she had no patience for what she called his “navel-gazing.” This raised the question of why on Earth he was with someone who so easily dismissed his interests and the things he valued. On the other hand, he didn’t remember his parents sharing that many interests. So many puzzles.
The keypad at the entrance to the parking lot under Angie’s condo tower saved Philip from further omphaloskepsis. After he parked in her designated guest space and opened the door for her, Angie again laughed and flirted in the elevator.
“Dinner was great, but tomorrow night I want to go clubbing in the city,” she said, moving in close, breathing in his ear, hand roaming south of his belt.
“What’re you doing?” Philip gasped at the sudden assault.
“What does it feel like I’m doing?”
He looked down at her, amazed at her audacity. “Groping me. What if someone comes in?”
Christopher Koehler always wanted to write, but it wasn’t until his grad school years that he realized writing was how he wanted to spend his life. Long something of a hothouse flower, he’s been lucky to be surrounded by people who encouraged that, especially his long-suffering husband of twenty-nine years and counting.
He loves many genres of fiction and nonfiction, but he’s especially fond of romances, because it’s in them that human emotions and relations, at least most of the ones fit to be discussed publicly, are laid bare.
While writing is his passion and his life, when he’s not doing that, he’s a househusband, at-home dad, and oarsman with a slightly disturbing interest in manners and the other ways people behave badly.
Christopher is approaching the tenth anniversary of publication and has been fortunate to be recognized for his writing, including by the American Library Association, which named Poz a 2016 Recommended Title, and an Honorable Mention for “Transformation,” in Innovation, Volume 6 of Queer Sci Fi’s Flash Fiction Anthology.
Over 180 Gay Romance authors have come together to give you a post-holiday gift!
Download brand new, exclusive stories from your favorite authors and new-to-you authors as well. Each story in this giveaway is a full, complete story that includes a gay romance (no samples, bonuses, or partial stories).
Be sure to click each entry to learn more about the stories and download our free PROMO CHECKLIST to keep track of which ones you’ve downloaded and tried.
We invite you to try new authors with this free promo. You never know if your new favorite author is just waiting to be discovered for free!
Blurb: “I knew the Board’s worry wasn’t that thousands had died, but that they’d done it unprofitably.”
The Fiduciary Dominion has a problem. Seersa Kudaibergen, beloved Admiral of the Defense Corps, is suddenly faltering in battle, while whispers of conspiracy drift in orbit. Now The Interviewer, fussy ex-military investigator, must partner with Madame Zhou, cantankerous Ruby District doyenne, to unravel this string of increasingly pyrrhic victories over an undying alien armada.
A florid, sharply characterized exploration of one shadowed world, ruled by extravagant military contractors…falling to pieces under siege.
In the Unified Fiduciary Dominion, truth and revenue are often mutually exclusive. But when Crowley Vanderbilt, greedy corporate scion, starts meddling with battle plans that have staved off Fleet Eternal for decades, the entire planet might pay the price for his lies.
Now, Fleet Eternal’s next assault threatens to be the deadliest one yet. In a desperate bid to blow the whistle before it’s too late, The Interviewer enlists the help of Bartimus Caldwell, whiz kid sensor Scry, to issue a declassified public report that could rewrite military history forever…
_____ Loved by fans of: Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries, Yoon Ha Lee’s Ninefox Gambit, Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch, and John Scalzi!.
Review: This is a story that is devastatingly sad yet filled with drama, humor and hope. The interviewer is tasked with getting to the bottom of things and the interviews at times are humorous to say the least. There is an underlying sense of desperation that leads to someone making plans of their own.
I loved the story with all it’s amazing well thought out characters that added depth and feelings to the story line. There is no shortage of mystery as the plot thickens. I was ready to help those in need and get to the bottom of things myself as the story progressed into a beautiful ending full of hope.
A lot happens throughout the book that had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens. This story is well written and riveting to say the least.
Blurb: Detective Jamal Tuma was used to life not going his way. As an omega in an alpha dominated world, he’d experienced more than his fair share of bigotry when he’d decided to enter the police force. His life had been put in danger more times than he could count for no other reason than alphas above him thought it wouldn’t matter if he’d died on the job. Yet, in the six years he’d been a cop, he’d never come quite so close to death as he did when an alpha doctor didn’t feel it necessary to treat his gunshot wound.
Brace Jacobs had never given much thought to the omegas in their world. As a doctor, he’d taken an oath to heal, no matter their color, creed, sex, or even their omega status. But not everyone felt the way he did. It didn’t sit well with Brace, but he didn’t go out of his way to fix the problem, either. That was until Detective Jamal Tuma came through those doors and nearly died with Brace’s hands deep in his body as he fought to save the omega.
Warning: Hijinx and mayhem will ensue as these two fight the world around them, as well as their own ridiculous preconceived notions, as they hope to build a future together. But that might be easier said than done when there are stalkers, assholes, idiots, and one very determined Patient Care Coordinator, who will kick everyone’s ass while planning a circus, if that’s what it takes for them to begin Breaking Barriers.
Review: From the moment Brace meets an omega with a gunshot to the abdomen he has been at the man’s side waiting for him to come out of his coma. The new patient coordinator, Shale is a blast as he doesn’t crap from anyone. This was a delightful story to read with colorful characters, a mysterious stalker and alphas who are bigots trying hard to stop the changes implemented at the hospital.
I loved how Jamal stood up for himself even against Brace. He’s as fierce as Shale when he is determined about something. Jamal and Brace were off the charts cute together. Even though we still don’t know who the stalker is I enjoyed the story. I really felt for omegas as some alphas see them as less than. It really angered me that some police and doctors who are sworn to protect and serve everyone shun them.
I am honestly intrigued with this series so far and am looking forward to getting to know the characters more as the series progresses.
Fantastic read and highly recommended.
Title: Hurdling Fences
Series: Hart Medical Center 02
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Omegaverse
Length: Novella (157pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (February 7, 2020)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: As an Omega and a single father, Tenzin Patel knew his chances of finding love were slim to none. It didn’t help that the last Alpha he was married to took off and left him without a word. In their world, that meant a life of being alone. Not that it mattered, Tenzin wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to trust another Alpha not to screw him over.
There wasn’t much Dr. Emmett Gates hadn’t accomplished. As one of the country’s leading pediatric orthopedic surgeons, he was the epitome of success. If only he could find that one Omega in order to have the family he desperately wanted. That was proving harder to do than he imagined, especially when he compared all Omegas to the one he couldn’t have, Tenzin Patel, who not only was married but had kids. No way would he ever try to break apart a family, which left him alone.
When tragedy strikes and the two are thrown together, Emmett was thrilled to find out Tenzin was divorced. The only problem was the obstacles Tenzin had put in place to block him. Good thing Emmett was good at Hurdling Fences to get what he wanted.
Review: Tenzen has a secret that if found out could spell disaster. Dr. Gates has been attracted to Tenzen since first laying eyes on the man. Secrets are revealed when after Tenzen’s daughter is hurt that she is not his and his husband left.
I loved this story. The stalker has turned his/her sights on Tenzen and along with that the threat of his daughter being taken away. I loved how Emmett steps in to help Tenzen and the two grow closer.
It was an awesome read but I admit to wanting to know more about the stalker’s identity as I have my suspicions about who they might be.
Fantastic read.
Title: Stumbling into Obstacles
Series: Hart Medical Center 03
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Omegaverse
Length: Novella (156pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (March 13, 2020)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Case Weber has been riddled with guilt for his whole adult existence. One act changed the course of his life, causing him to believe he didn’t deserve to find his happily ever after.
Alaric Sutton had always been a bit of an ass. He’d never considered it a problem until things at Hart Medical Center started to change. But it wasn’t until Case Weber yelled at him that Alaric realized it wasn’t okay for him to treat others with disrespect. His only problem? How did he change after all this time?
Deciding to ask for help, Alaric went to the one person who had stood up to him, Case Weber. Who would have thought that one request could transform his lonely existence into one with hope and a possible life with an Omega he respected?
But life has never been that simple. As the Hart Medical Center’s stalker goes after Case, can Alaric save him from the not so veiled threats? Will it even matter if he does if Case can’t forgive himself for his past?
Warning: Triggers of abuse and abortion are contained in this story. As well as a group of friends who will do whatever it takes to find this elusive stalker that has been plaguing the Omegas of Hart Medical Center.
Review: When Case is targeted by the stalker, Dr Alaric Sutton takes it upon himself to keep Case safe. Case has been through trying times both in his past and present so he is stunned when Alaric asks for his help in changing the way he speaks to people.
I loved this addition but I have a feeling I know who the stalker is. I just wish there was more clues. I loved Alaric and Case together. Alaric was always there whether Case needed him or not.
Fantastic addition to the series.
Title: Head on Collision
Series: Hart Medical Center 04
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Omegaverse
Length: Novella (157pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (April 25, 2020)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: In an Alpha dominated world, Oslo Hall had to fight for his right to make a living for himself. It wasn’t always easy, but since he’d grown up with parents who had to work multiple jobs to put food on the table, he was used to working hard. But that left little time for things like love. Oh, he’d tried. He’d even gotten married, but it wasn’t until the divorce that he realized, he’d never been in love with his husband. Too bad he hadn’t discovered that until after he’d gotten pregnant.
Bradford Radcliff had spent his entire career fighting for the rights of Omegas in family court. He was proud of the work he’s done. But it wasn’t until he met Oslo Hall, who might lose his unborn child if the Alpha father decided to demand custody, that Bradford realized just how important it was to win. The thought of Oslo having to give up his own child was more than Bradford could bear, especially since somewhere along the way he’d fallen in love with both Oslo and his unborn child.
If only that were all that was against them, they might stand a chance. But the Hart’s Medical Center stalker has targeted Oslo and the threats had them both terrified, especially when Shale decides he’s going to try and catch the stalker using Oslo as bait.
Warning: Graphic threats made by a stalker.
PLEASE NOTE: Although each book focuses on a different couple, and they all have HEAs, this series is better enjoyed when read in order! Join us in trying to figure out who the stalker is!.
Review: Bradford finally meets the one for him in Oslo Hall. I loved these two together. Oslo is now on the stalkers radar and Bradford wants to help keep the man safe. I loved how Bradford does not think twice about stepping in Oslo’s defense or protection.
Amazing addition to the series that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Danger, bigoted stalker/s, romance, suspense and romance are all in abundance in this story.
Fantastic read and highly recommended.
Title: Tiptoeing Through a Minefield
Series: Hart Medical Center 05
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Omegaverse
Length: Novella (155pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (May 26, 2020)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Ronan Hart had done everything he could think of to save his family’s hospital, but he knew he was failing. Desperate, he went out on a limb and hired an Omega who everyone claimed was unconventional to help him. Little did he know that ‘unconventional’ meant insane, or that he’d willingly fall down the man’s rabbit hole to be with him.
Shale Baker did things his own way. He believed that everyone should be treated equally, even Omegas like him. If it required kicking down doors, blowing things up, or something completely out of the box, like Tiptoeing Through a Minefield. He was prepared to take on the world to make it a just place, but he hadn’t ever imagined what would happen to all his careful planning when he fell in love.
These two obstinate men must find a way to compromise before it’s too late. It isn’t just a happily ever after they are fighting for, but their very lives.
Warning: Hijinx and mayhem abound as Shale comes up with one crazy plan after another to catch a stalker. There are no limits when it comes to Shale’s imagination, or the stalker’s determination to make him pay.
PLEASE NOTE: Although each couple gets their very own HEA, this series should be read in order for maximum enjoyment!.
Review: Ronan and Shale have been dancing around each other since Shale was first hired at Hart medical Center. Shale has done his best to improve the hospital’s atmosphere as well as those employed. But things are not easy. I loved this story. Shale was fierce in his determination to find out who the stalker is. but at the same time he should have been careful.
I really enjoy this series and waiting for the clues to the final reveal as to who the stalker is. I have my suspicions as to who it is but only time will tell if I’m right or not. Amazing story with romance, danger, suspense, mystery and love.
Fantastic read and highly recommended.
Title: Clashing With a Titan
Series: Hart Medical Center 06
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Omegaverse
Length: Novella (86pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (July 4, 2020)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Dr. Oliver Pierce always thought Omegas weren’t worth his time. He’d even fought hospital management to keep Omegas from working there. But what if he was wrong? It was something he’d never imagined possible. That was, until he met Anson.
Anson Shaw had barely managed to get free from his ex-husband alive. After months of therapy he’d decided it wasn’t worth being under the thumb of an Alpha. But then he met Oliver. Everyone told Anson to stay away from him, yet despite their warnings he found himself being drawn to the Alpha.
Can an Alpha really change? Is it possible for an Omega to stand up to an Alpha and demand respect? When the Hart’s Medical Center stalker comes after Anson, both men search their hearts to find if love is worth the risk.
Warning: Triggers possible for shooting as well as gruesome notes left for the stalker’s victims..
Review: I admit I could not stand Oliver throughout the series for the way he felt about omegas. But once he met Anson everything changed for him. The stalker is scary crazy as he or she attacked Anson. I loved how everyone rallied around Anson and helped. Oliver telling Kelby off in a way had me shouting for joy as I can not stand her.
Oliver comes a long way from his thinking omegas are beneath him. But the two highlight for me were when Anson marches into the chief of police’s office to inform him of what he thought about his lead of detectives ignoring a stalker, which helped the chief realize the bigotry going on under his nose. The second was the hilarious incident when Anson was on bedrest and farting scene.
Delightful addition to the series. Fantastic read.
Title: Shattering Foundations
Series: Hart Medical Center 07
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Omegaverse
Length: Novella (166pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (September 13, 2020)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Doss Callaway had never dreamed he’d have a family since he was basically infertile. After all, what Alpha would want an Omega who couldn’t father a child? It was why he’d become an obstetrician, to help other Omegas find a way to have the life he would never have.
Landon Odell had been forced to put his carefree life on hold when his parents had died and he’d become the guardian to his three-year-old baby brother. Now that his brother was grown, Landon hoped to never have that kind of responsibility again.
Fate had other plans for these two. The only problem – so does the Hart’s Medical Center stalker and accomplice. Will Doss and Landon be able to find a future together, or will one of them die when the stalker kills for the first time?
Warning: Rape is involved in this story, although the actual act is off screen. Although each couple in this series gets their own HEA, you should read the entire series for the ongoing story arc!
Review: Dr. Doss Calloways has a busy life. He loves his job of delivering babies and helping omegas. When he’s called to the emergency room to treat a raped omega he jumps to conclusions when the omega’s, Braccen, brother barges in demanding answers. Alpha Landon has been raising Braccen sine their parents deaths when Braccen was only three.
Braccen was promised to an alpha name Yurick who took matters into his own hands after being refused Braccen’s hand by Landon. This is where Doss and Landon meet and Landon learns of the stalkers. In an attempt to keep Braccen safe they move in with Doss.
The stalkers begin rearing their heads and finally we find out at least who one of the stalkers is.
Intense and scary good. I liked that the story was not as focused on the couple in this one. There were a lot of moving parts that brought this story to life.
Fantastic read.
Title: Barreling Through Road Blocks
Series: Hart Medical Center 08
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Omegaverse
Length: Novella (101pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (November 10, 2020)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: The moment Soren Larsen first saw Cillian he knew they were meant to be together. Convincing Cillian would be tough, but Soren was willing to put in the work to woo him. That was assuming the stalker didn’t kill Cillian first.
Cillian Driscoll had never thought too much about love. His career working in the emergency room as a physician’s assistant was too important to him to worry about the future. Then he got his first threat from the hospital’s stalker. He might have thought he was too independent to need an Alpha, but being in Soren’s arms was the only place he felt safe.
The stalker’s plan to kill the Omegas of Hart’s Medical Center is cunning. No one is safe. But the stalker’s victims and their husbands refuse to give up hope.
Can love really conquer all? Soren and Cillian will test that theory as they try to stop the stalker before it’s too late.
Author’s Note: This is the last book in the Hart Medical Center Series.
Review: The stalker steps up their plans in this suspense filled story with mutiple attacks and some deaths. Cillian is on the stalkers radar and the chief of police Soren takes it upon himself to keep the man safe. But with the stalker still out there and unknown is anyone safe?
Oh my god this story was amazing. I was wrong in my guesses about who the stalker was. But I’m glad they finally found out who it was. My mind was blown by how many people helped this person in their revenge plans. I was disgusted with all who were involved with them.
Cillian and Soren were a delight to read about. I was intrigued by Soren’s family background as well as his fierce determination to keep Cillian safe. I’m really sad to see the series end as it was so good following the investigation and the clues.
Blurb: In a world where everyone was against them, they needed a Miracle. What no one had expected was to find their salvation in an abandoned town that was ready to collapse. Yet, that is exactly what happened when they moved to the town of Miracle, Oregon.
Edrick Rapp, a mountain lion shifter, wanted to kick himself for not moving he and his friends far from their former pack years earlier. It wasn’t until he came upon one of his friends being beaten to death for their sins that he realized his mistake.
Mouse shifter, Nole Hayward, had been punished by his Alpha. Left for dead, he barely managed to crawl away with his life. He ends up hiding out in Miracle, Oregon until a group of mountain lion shifters show up. Before he could get away he ends up with a building collapsing down around him and his mate rescuing him.
Can Edrick and Nole find love or will they let the ghosts of their pasts tear them apart?
Review: Each book in the Miracle collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
Edrick and his friends had left the pride to stay alive. They should have left many years ago when they realized they were all gay. But they had just tried to hide it, that is until one of his friends was caught and his father was going to kill him. Buying a rundown town sounded good, but with the ones who wanted them all dead hunting them, it might not be enough. Then to top it off he has found his mate.
Nole had left his home because he was gay. He knew if he didn’t that they would kill him. They were out there hunting him for god sakes. Then the home he found to hide in was over taken by a bunch of cats, he figured his little mouse ass should get the hell out of there. However that meant he would not be with his mate. If you want to know what happens, read the book.
I can honestly tell you that this is going to be one of those types of series that you can’t put down and have to read more than once. It is the perfect story for me and gave me all that I needed. I love the way all the feelings they felt was involved in this story. I had a blast reading it and I can’t wait to read the next story.
Title: Forgiving the Enemy
Series: Miracle 02
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Novella (143 Pages)
Publisher: Shea Balik (March 6, 3017)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: In a world where everyone was against them, they needed a Miracle. What no one had expected was to find their salvation in an abandoned town that was ready to collapse. Yet, that is exactly what happened when they moved to the town of Miracle, Oregon.
Lucca had always felt trust was something only fools allowed themselves to experience. Since the age of five, he’d learned that not even family could be trusted to keep him safe from the cruel reality of life. That point was driven home when he and his friends were forced to flee their pack for fear of death for no other reason than who they loved.
Jari had lived in hell since he was nineteen years old and he’d been naïve enough to believe his Alpha’s claim they were mates. Now he existed in a world of lies and betrayal that had him trapped and miserable. Just when he thought his life couldn’t get worse, he was caught leading his best friend to his death. A part of him had been glad he hadn’t succeeded and was ready to die for his crime, but life was never that easy, for the man who’d captured him was none other than his real mate.
Can Lucca find a way to trust his mate or will the sins of their pasts keep them from finding their happily ever after?
Review: Each book in the Miracle collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
Every once in a while you find an author that can give you a world that would be perfect to live in. I came across Shea awhile back when she had written the first book. I knew from that moment that she was going to be one of my favorite authors of all time, if not the top one. There is something about the way that she writes that not only draw you in but keeps you there. She gives you hot sex, lots of love and tenderness, mixed in with excitement, adventure and lots of dangerous situations.
They are not only the perfect length for me, but they are so full of detail that it feels like you are right there with them. They not only entertain you but captivate you throughout the whole story. For me once I start reading I can’t move until I find out how they end. Her characters are also very fascinating and unique to me.
The characters are beautifully written with big hearts, however if you cross them, they have no problem putting you down. To me there is nothing better than a good old paranormal love story. There is just something about them, that even though they are not possible one would think different.
Jari had been friends with Nole at one time, that was until the alpha fooled him. He realized that he was being played when the alpha killed his cousin in front of him. He didn’t know away out. Then his alpha planned on using him to find Nole and he was screwed. He would either die or be captured. Then the unexpected happened, he found his mate.
Lucca wasn’t too sure if he could trust the little mouse, but he knew he wanted him. Too bad the ones after them all wanted them dead, and he knew he would protect this sexy little man. It does get real juicy but you’re going to have to read the book to find out.
I can honestly tell you that this is going to be one of those types of series that you can’t put down and have to read more than once. It is the perfect story for me and gave me all that I needed. I love the way all the feelings they felt was involved in this story. I had a blast reading it and I can’t wait to read the next story.
Title: Bearly Hanging On
Series: Miracle 03
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy
Publisher: Shea Balik (June 17, 2017)
Length: Novella (155pgs)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts
Blurb: In a world where everyone was against them, they needed a Miracle. What no one had expected was to find their salvation in an abandoned town that was ready to collapse. Yet, that is exactly what happened when they moved to the town of Miracle, Oregon.
Kirill had been moving from town to town most of his life, staying one step ahead of those bent on destroying his kind. Along the way, he’s somehow managed to become Alpha to a group of shifters also on the run. But he was tired of always having to pick up and move when all he wanted was a place to call home.
Harper had never known a moment of peace. Even as a child his father had pitted his own brother, Abdiel, against him for his own amusement. When his father died, Harper had hoped things would change. He should have known better than to believe that change would be for the better.
The two men embark on a journey of discovery about themselves and the love they potentially share for each other. Can they get beyond their pasts, or will they be doomed to be separated for all eternity?
Review:Each book in the Miracle’s collection features a new romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
Harper’s brother was one hell of an asshat. He was as nasty as they came and got his just rewards in the end. However the one that took over where his brother had left was just as cruel. He was given to the guards to be raped and beaten every single day. And every single day he wanted to die.
In this world, to be gay was a death sentence. That is why Kirill always kept on the move. That is until he got tired and decided to stop running. He came into Miracle with his little group and decided that was going to be home. It also meant he was to be alpha. Going to save someone should have been simple, but when that man is his mate all bets are off. For more read the story.
Now this is a pretty cool story but it also is a bit confusing. It switches from Harper yelling at Kirill or one of the others, to the next step in the book. Like I said a bit confusing but hey the story still rocked. I am not sure if it will become a favorite series of mine but it could be right up there soon. For now it is lacking something important to make it really stand out, but I have high hopes for this author and her stories.
Title: Overcoming Stereotypes
Series: Miracle 04
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy
Publisher: Shea Balik (April 3, 2017)
Length: Novella (136 Pages)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.5 Hearts
Blurb: In a world where everyone was against them, they needed a Miracle. What no one had expected was to find their salvation in an abandoned town that was ready to collapse. Yet, that is exactly what happened when they moved to the town of Miracle, Oregon.
Kellach Alder hadn’t been given a chance in life to be the man he knew he could be. It never occurred to him that if he wanted others to see him differently, he would have to stand up and be the person he wanted to be.
Trygg Snow was sent to kill Kellach and his friends. Already conflicted about his mission, Trygg knew he wouldn’t be able to complete his assignment when he came face to face with his mate. If only Kellach, a mountain lion shifter, would look past the fact that Trygg was a wolf shifter.
Against all odds, and an army headed their way to destroy them all, Trygg and Kellach must find a way past their differences if they are to survive. The only way to achieve that is by Overcoming Stereotypes.
Review:Each book in the Miracle’s collection features a new romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
In the world of paranormal’s, it is a crime to be gay and if found gay they are put to death. Many run and hide from this fate. Some go along with it and leave their fated mates behind. The council is behind it all and send out killers to hand over the death sentence. Trygg was sent to find the men on his list and execute them, that is until he realizes one of them is his mate.
Kellach is a strong feline but then again with his past one would definitely expect him to be. His father was a cruel man, a man who handed his own daughter to wolves who ended up killing her. Wolves that it would seem were run by the brother of his mate. However there are many secrets yet to be found and you will be surprised by it.
This was a fascinating read and I am glad to have had a chance in reading it. There were many twists to it and quite a bit of surprises to follow. It is a very action pact story that will keep a person entertained for sure. I enjoyed reading it and can’t wait to get started on the next book.
Blurb: Raise your wine glasses high to toast the men of Dahlonia while they discover the secret to happiness – LOVE.
There was no doubt about it, Macalister Whitmore was as straight-laced as they came. He worked all the time, never did anything that would be considered fun, and almost always wore a suit and tie, even in the laid back southern town of Dahlonia, where the dress code tended to be jeans and t-shirts. It was how his parents raised him and Macalister was sure even a tanning salon couldn’t change that.
David Wilson wanted to throttle his best friend for sending Mac to his tanning salon to try and loosen up the uptight lawyer. He had never met anyone that had actually worn a suit to a tanning salon before. What Mac needed was a doctor to remove that stick from his ass. Then again, if Mac continued to look down his nose at David, he would remove it himself.
Still, it seemed that opposites do attract, so they decide to give each other a chance.
Happily ever after may sound like a dream come true, but no one ever said it didn’t come with pain and heartache. Will they walk away from each other, or walk through hell for the chance to pop some Bubbly and celebrate finding their happy ending?
Review: Each book in the Uncorked collection features a new romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
A brand new series by one of my favorite authors, and I knew right off the bat I had to read it. She creates worlds that are funny as hell, with a serious tone to parts of it and some interesting times to find. The characters are fully developed just as the story itself is.
Mac is a focused on work and no fun. From the time he was born his parents told him what he was going to do and where he would work. He got his law degree and went to work where they wanted, but then he decided to think for himself. Now he was a lawyer for the people. So his friends decided to help him out. They sent him to get a tan.
David was a pretty good guy and loved owning his own business. He gave tans out, and it didn’t always turn out well. Guys thought it meant he was up for anything. Then he was told about Mac, and man is that guy just meant to be punched. However he looks underneath the facade, and well things heat up.
It is a pretty good story although the characters both needed to be swatted. I had a lot of fun reading this and definitely would recommend it.
Title: Full Bodied
Series: Uncorked 02
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Shea Balik (November 14, 2017)
Length: Novella (124pgs)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Raise your wine glasses high to toast the men of Dahlonia while they discover the secret to happiness – LOVE.
For Nolan Woods, life had been a miserable existence that had left him lonely and depressed. Nothing had ever seemed to go his way. It was his own fault for being such a loser, but it would still be nice if just once he had something end up in his favor. Unfortunately, for that to happen he’d have to put down the food he loved so much.
West Baxter led a charmed life. In college, he and his friends had decided to open a winery, allowing him to travel and meet new people. It had been a playboy lifestyle but when he met Nolan Woods, he found himself longing to settle down instead. Too bad their new winery needed him out on the road to sell their wines it they ever hoped of being the success they had dreamed about.
Nolan’s misery had him taking drastic action to change himself. He never thought in a million years anyone would like him as he was. But before he could go under the knife, West had finally had enough of life on the road and seduced Nolan.
Suddenly Nolan no longer knew what to do. He didn’t believe West would ever be able to love him as he was, but if he told West his plans West just might realize what a loser Nolan was and leave him even sooner. Either way, Nolan had to pray that West would understand that Nolan could no longer be Full Bodied.
Review: Each book in the Uncorked collection features a new romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
Nolan is a sweet young man who has just a slight little problem. He is overweight and needs to lose it. Not only for his health but for his happiness. All through growing up and into adulthood he had been teased and bullied. He left home hoping never to come back. That all ended when his mother called him about his fathers death, and begged him to come home. So getting a job at the winery sounded good. He just hadn’t expected to have a crush on one of the bosses.
West was that boss, the one Nolan had a crush on. Sexy as all get out, he has a big heart as well. He has wanted Nolan from the start, but had decided he needed to take his time. He traveled quite a bit for the business and wasn’t yet ready to give it up. That is until he found Nolan in tears.
This is a cute story that made my day. I had a blast reading it and the characters were just perfect for it. This story caught my attention from the moment I started reading and kept it all the way to the end. It has a fully developed plot that will keep you entertained, and some pretty hot sex. I can not wait to get my hands on the next story.
Title: Blush
Series: Uncorked 03
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (184 Pages)
Publisher: Shea Balik (November 29, 2017)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Raise your wine glasses high to toast the men of Dahlonia while they discover the secret to happiness – LOVE.
Fifteen years ago, Kadyn Bellamy and Valor Lee had blown any chance of building a future together. Valor had joined the CIA to hunt down terrorists and Kadyn abhorred violence. At the time, their differences had seemed insurmountable.
When Valor shows up in Dahlonia looking as hot as ever, Kadyn needs to decide if he can reconcile their divergent viewpoints. The choice wasn’t as easy as it might seem. If only the love he’d felt for Valor had diminished, he could easily walk away. It didn’t seem fair that he might have to give up the love of his life, twice.
All Valor wanted was the future he and Kadyn had dreamed. For fifteen years, his love for Kadyn had only grown. He’d known when he’d walked away from Kadyn all those years ago, it would be a challenge to convince Kadyn they could still make their dreams come true.
It was only when tragedy struck, that Kadyn was forced to come to grips with the past. With eyes wide open, he was ready to take a step into the future. He just needed to decide if Valor would be a part of it or not
Review: Each book in the Uncorked collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
I came across Shea when she came out with the first book in the Cedar Falls collection. From that moment on I knew that she was going to become a favorite of mine. They seem to always have a quirky character in them, one that will always have you laughing your ass off. It seems that she has went on with that with the rest of her books. It is one of the things that I love the most.
Then there is an alpha male that our men fall in love with, as well as one that has had a rough time. However sometimes both men have had a bad tumble in life. With this story it has a deeper story inside. When wanting peace, it does take a bit of violence to get there. This story will have you in tears and also laughing.
Valor and Kadyn were lovers many years before and had been in love. With violence, brought in Valor’s desires to protect his family, friends and country. His father had been killed by terrorist, and he wanted to make those pay. He joined the CIA to make that work, but in doing so he destroyed what he had had with the man he loved.
Kadyn had lost his father to a violent act, all because of a football game. He went in the opposite direction as Valor. He was always wanting peace and never could stand violence. He saw a darker side to Valor, but his heart had been torn in two, when the man he loved chose the CIA to him. They went their own way.
Now fifteen years later, and Valor was back. He wanted the man he loved back with him. It was not going so well though. When Chet and Leo are attacked, and Chet fighting for his life, it brings Kadyn into focus. He was seeing why Valor had made the choice.
I am mostly on Kadyn side of the coin so to speak, violence only seems to bring more violence. However I can also understand Valor as well. Human’s seem to need the violence in their lives sometimes. There will never be peace completely. Shine was a big kick in this story, and can’t wait to read his. I think I actually loved this book even more then the others, but what a struggle our sexy Leo and Chet will have to go through. I really can’t wait to get to their story.
I enjoyed reading this and can guarantee that it will be read many times over. I had a lot of fun reading this and can not wait to get my hands on the next book. I can guarantee that this book will have you crying in your crackers. I loved it and would recommend it to all.
Title: Shine
Series: Uncorked 04
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella (193pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (December 8, 2017)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Raise your wine glasses high to toast the men of Dahlonia while they discover the secret to happiness – LOVE.
Shine was over people thinking because he had a southern accent, and made moonshine, that he was a hillbilly redneck with no education. Sure, he occasionally liked to fuck with them and spout out his grandpappy’s sayings, like every dog should have a few fleas, but that didn’t make him dumber than a box of rocks. So, when he met a man who made his heart race and his mouth go dry with the thought of licking every inch of his body, then instantly put him down because he was making moonshine instead of wine, Shine dared him to try and drink with the big boys.
Montague knew better than to take the challenge to drink the moonshine Shine was offering, but he refused to be insulted by some hick from this small, backwater town. The fire that ignited in his stomach and burned a path up his throat, making him want to cry for his mommy, told him just how stupid he could be. Fucking pride. If Shine didn’t get that smirk off his face at Montague’s reaction to the battery acid he called alcohol, Montague was going to punch him in the mouth. Or kiss him. It was a tough call to make.
There is a fine line between love and hate, especially when alcohol is involved. Then again, it might take a little liquid courage to drop their defenses enough to discover their passion for each other.
Review: Each book in the Uncorked collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
To me there is nothing better than a good romance between two sexy men. If those me just so happen to throw sparks off and have some humor going on, then the better. I came across this author some time ago and knew she was going to be one that I would follow. Her stories always have just a bit of conflict in them, lots of humor, hot sex and some good old fashion loving.
When people find out that Shine talks with a southern accent and deals with moonshine, they tend to throw him to the curb and call him a redneck hillbilly with no brains. That is what happens when he comes across Montague. The truth is, Shine is probably one of the smartest men around.
Montague has never really had a job, just a few part-time ones here and there. He has a job now as tour guide, but the creep he works for is asking for a bit more then our sexy man is willing to give. Now the first time Montague and Shine meet, it doesn’t go down so well. But he might be the only one willing to give Montague a full time job and help.
Sparks fly and so do the clothes when these two finally get it together. You mix that in with some powerful alcohol and we will see what happens with these two. Great story with likable characters. I always did get a kick out of this series, and definitely can’t wait to get my hands on the next one. But I will leave the drinking to those who can handle the crazy alcohol that Shine makes.
Blurb: Ryley Duggan resented his family for forcing him home on his twenty-first birthday to perform another stupid fire ritual, instead of letting him go out and get shit-faced like normal people his age. He’d never believed in the stories his grandmother told him about the reason behind what they were doing. That was, until he walked outside to the bonfire to see bloodcurdling creatures that no Hollywood studio had ever come close to replicating, killing his family.
Since an early age, Eirik had one job, to protect the descendants of the one who’d cursed him and his friends. It hadn’t been what he’d ever imagined for his life, but after nearly a millennia Eirik had learned one thing, life never went as planned. Never had that been truer than when he’d rescued Ryley from certain death.
Now the two must learn to work together to save humanity. Will all be lost? Or will they discover a way to heal their hearts by opening themselves up to love?
WARNING: Unseelie monsters run amok in this story!
Review: After watching his family be massacred by fae minions Ryley and his sister Meghan travel with Eirik, the man who saved them, to his home. What he learns will change his life. Eirik is cursed to protect druid families for centuries. He is a warrior through and through. When he meets Ryley he has no idea what is in store for them. But soon learns they are meant to be together.
I loved the entire book. The battles were fierce. I also loved meeting all the brothers and hope that each get their own stories. Fen was an enigma to me as his part is glossed over. I also wanted to know whose mate cursed the brothers because at one point in the story it says a druid did yet in another part it says Fen’s mate did so I was confused, unless I read it wrong.
Aside from that it was a wonderful beginning to a series that I hope continues. Fantastic read.
Fantastic read.
Title: A Flicker of Hope
Series: Druid’s Curse 02
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Novella (139pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (May 29, 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Kegan Tulach already knew that monsters were real. He’d faced them. Watched in horror as they killed those he loved. Then run from them. It was his response for the past two years. But now, on his twenty-first birthday, running wasn’t an option. He had no where to go. It was time for him to face his worst nightmare.
There weren’t many people who could do what Bjorn did. Fight monsters and live to tell the tale. It was a job thrust upon him as a kid. If he had known the true hell that would be cursed upon him, he would have preferred to die even though he’d only been fourteen at the time. Now, years later, he had hope that the curse would come to an end. The question was, would he choose the death he’d so desperately craved for more than a millennia, or would he do the one thing he swore he’d never do? Choose love.
If Kegan and Bjorn can find a way past their fears, they may discover something worth living for – each other.
This is a stand alone with an HEA, but reading the first book is recommended for full enjoyment.
Review: Bjorn and Kegan’s story continues the series. Bjorn finds Kegan in a fight for his life. Injured Kegan does what he can to help but ends up passing out. Bjorn takes Kegan and flees. Recuperating in different areas the two finally make it Bjorn’s home.
I liked the entire story. Each of stories contain a different element at play and I was intrigued by Kegans gift. Bjorn was tough yet sweet. I am looking forward to reading about who else in Bjorn’s group finds their mate as well as what the druid’s power will be when they find them,
Fantastic read.
Title: A Menacing Tempest
Series: Druid’s Curse 03
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Novella (176pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (June 14, 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: When it came to defense, or offense when needed, Cullen McIntyre thought he was prepared. It wasn’t until he watched as monsters he’d never knew existed walked out of thin air to kill members of his family, twice, that Cullen realized how wrong he’d been. By the third time he’d come face to face with those determined to kill him and the rest of his family for doing their duty, Cullen knew he needed help, and lots of it.
The moment Ulf laid eyes on Cullen, he’d been enthralled by the man’s resolve to protect what was left of his family. Being shot and left for dead by Cullen should have cooled his desire for the fiery man, but it only made him want him more. By the time he caught up to Cullen, Ulf knew, without a doubt, the druid was destined to be his. Now he just needed to convince Cullen of that.
As Cullen and Ulf join their friends to fight the monsters from the realm of the Fae, they find there is a new threat waiting to get through the Veil. A threat they might not be able to defeat. Will Ulf & Cullen get their chance at happily ever after, or will the Fae finally succeed in their quest to destroy the veil?
Review: I loved this story. Cullen is fierce and knows how to fight. He booby traps the property for protection against the monsters sent to kill him and his family. Ulf arrives to help but ends up injured by one of the traps.
The two meet again when they arrive at Ulf’s home separately.
I loved these two together. Ulf and Cullen both are determined and protective of those they love. The series is intriguing and keeps your attention from start to finish.
I am looking forward to reading more about the cursed men and the situations that happen when each find their mates as well as the fae.
Fantastic read. Highly recommended.
Title: Fatal Frost
Series: Druid’s Curse 04
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy
Length: Novella (189pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (August 23, 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: No way was Arne going to allow fate to chain him to a guy who thought all creatures, even those determined to kill you, were worthy of saving. Arne was a Viking warrior, death was his thing and he was damned good at it.
Dermot Kincaid believed all of God’s creations deserved respect. He was a pacifist at heart, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t stand up for himself. Even when that meant getting retribution against the asshole who thought he was better than anyone else.
When Arne and Dermot are attacked, they must find common ground so they can work together to defeat the enemy. If they can’t, they may not just risk losing, but they also risk their hearts developing a Fatal Frost.
Review: I loved this story about Dermot and Arne. Arne was an ass to Dermot thinking Dermot was a coward. Dermot for his part always made Arne pay for his nasty comments by freezing him, which was hilarious. Gillie, Dermot’s three year old nephew was so adorable throughout the story.
Everything about this book appealed to me in every way. You learn a little more about the past from Dermot and the journals he has of Aed’s. Theories are talked about the rituals and the fae getting through. There are tense situations that had me on the edge of my seat awaiting the outcome.
Each book there is a new druid with a power to help combat the fae. I am so looking forward to the next book to see who comes next in the series and what their mates power will be.
Fantastic read and highly recommended.
Title: Beneath the Surface
Series: Druid’s Curse 05
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Novel (193pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (September 7, 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: His whole life Hrafn had been ridiculed for his inability to always understand things. He was slower than others when it came to comprehending the world around him, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want what everyone else did – love. Yet, he was sure that would never happen for him, for who could ever learn to love someone like him?
With a knock on the door, Teagan’s world had been changed. Unsure how life could be so cruel and take his family from him, Teagan struggled to find meaning in his life. Searching for his ancestry led him to the place where the origins of his family tree began. If he’d known his being there would bring hell upon earth to that small town, he never would have come. Then again, if he hadn’t, he never would have met his fate.
Hrafn and Teagan must find a way to break down the barriers of their past so they can see what is Beneath the Surface if they hope to find their eternal love.
PLEASE NOTE: Although each book is about a different couple, these books should be read in order for maximum enjoyment!
Review: I loved this story about Hrafn and Teagan. This is full of twists and turns as Teagan learns of the others and their powers. Along with secrets revealed as to who the group of druid friends are descended from.
A new threat is revealed that causes the group to double their efforts in training and protecting each other. I have loved Hrafn from the very first book. He is so sweet and caring. His past is sad and horrible and I really felt empathy for him. Teagan seemed to be the balm that helped him heal what he thought of himself.
I thought Teagan and Hrafn were fierce in the face of their enemies. They fought with a determined passion to vanquish all threats. Another thrilling addition to the series.
Fantastic read and I highly recommend the entire series. They must be read in order as each book picks up where the last leaves off.
Title: Mind Over Matter
Series: Druid’s Curse 06
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy
Length: Novel (191pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (September 27, 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Who would have thought there was something more horrifying than an indoor boy being forced to live in the Amazon? Yet, there was. In fact, the more descriptive word would be mind-numbingly terrifying. That it was brought into his life by a drop dead gorgeous man claiming he was there to protect Wylie, only made everything that much more surreal.
Since the first druid came into their lives, Fritjof prayed he would never meet the druid that was destined to be his fated love. He knew that emotion would always lead to devastation and heartache. He’d seen it, experienced it, when his mother disowned him for not being able to save his father.
But what happens when the Fae goes after someone they both love? Will they be able to find a way to trust in each other? Are some things impossible to overcome or is it Mind Over Matter?
PLEASE NOTE: Although each book in this series focuses on a different couple, to best enjoy the overall story arc, these books SHOULD be read in order.
Review: In the continuing saga of the viking warrior’s being sent out to protect a prophesied druid from the fae it is Fritjof’s turn to find Wylie. He travels to the Amazon and discovers more than he bargained for. Hell bent on keeping his distance from Wylie all while protecting him becomes impossible.
Wylie is a fierce young man who laughs but yet hides his pain behind said laughs. The two get off to a rocky start as they both try to hide how they really feel for one another. It takes being attacked by Wylie’s niece’ father, a fae and him kidnapping her, for them to realize that they need to own up to their feelings if they have any hope of rescuing Tess.
I loved everything about this story. This series must be read in order as each book picks up where the previous one ends with a new couple in each addition. I’m excited to see what else happens in this thrilling series.
Fantastic read.
Title: Tears of Life
Series: Druid’s Curse 07
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Novel (188pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (October 13, 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
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.
Fantastic read and highly recommended.
Title: Mending the Rift
Series: Druid’s Curse 08
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Novel (211pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (October 31, 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: The END is NEAR!
The Fae must be defeated if Brandr and Logan hope to find their happily ever after. Only by working together will have any chance of Mending the Rift and saving humanity.
The end would be upon Brandr and his friends soon. The only question, would Brandr be able to find his fated one in time? He feared he was too late when he arrived to find the field empty. Then the Veil opens again and hell rains down upon him as the Unseelie pets attack. But when Brandr was too injured to move, the Druid he was destined to claim as his own flees in terror. Talk about demoralizing.
That did not happen. Not even in some weird fantasy could Logan have imagined that a dead man could come back to life. And he had definitely been dead, since Logan had to put his head back on his body. But when he was faced with the truth, that the man was immortal, Logan has to admit to being…intrigued.
But as Samhain draws closer, the danger around them increases as the Fae converge. The Fae must be defeated if Brandr and Logan hope to find their happily ever after. Only by working together will have any chance of Mending the Rift and saving humanity.
Review: This story was so good with the addition of Logan and the new kids. I loved Brandt and Logan together. Logan’s power was off the charts and very much needed in this addition. As with the others in the series you get a well written beautiful story about druid’s needing to stop the fae from coming through a rift and taking over. There were heart stopping moments that had me on the edge of my seat.
A lot happens throughout. There are twists and turns that I thoroughly enjoyed. I am sad this is the last book. I wanted more about Fen considering Aed cursed him as well. Even though he helped the vikings he was more in the background. I wanted to know how he escaped the fae. Is there a love interest for him, as eternity is a long time to spend alone and Aed never said in the curse he could not find someone for him.
I loved the entire series. Each druid possess a unique ability that will help mend the rift. But Logan was the last one needed to accomplish this. A Fantastic end to an amazing series.
Blurb: At a very early age, Ben learned that, in life, there was no such thing as something to believe in. What was the point? Each time he did, someone would come along and prove to him how wrong he was. The fact that his sister died by a drunk driver, who’d walked away without a scratch, and forcing Tobias to move to Texas — one of the most homophobic states in the country — to take care of his now motherless nieces, drove home just how cruel life could be. How was he supposed to help two of the sweetest kids he’d ever known deal with the hell their life would be without the one person they’d depended on, when he was fairly certain, his moving to Texas would only show them how horrible people could be to one another?
Darius had seen things that would make most people cringe in revulsion and dread. His parents had traveled, with Darius in tow, all around the world to help those in need. So tragedy wasn’t something new to him. As terrible as some of it had been, Darius had also seen the kindness and sacrifice people made to help others. He was a true believer in the goodness of humanity.
Determined to help Ben discover that though he may have had hit a few bumps in the road growing up, he’d also met people who had been there for him, helping him when they didn’t have to get involved. For life might not always be perfect and at times even cruel, but it was also wonderful and kind if one knew where to look.
Ben had to admit that Darius was causing him to look at the world differently. That there might be a chance he’d been only looking for the negative. But, for him, there was one more test that the world would have to pass for him to truly change and it would take a Christmas Miracle to do it.
Review: A heartwarming story that will make you sad, happy and laugh. Ben gets called home to take care of his nieces after his sisters death. While at the funeral he meets the minister Darius when he comes to his rescue after Ben’s mother starts up with him.
I did not like Ben’s prejudice, homophobic mother. She really got on my nerves. Thankfully Darius was always there to help.
I loved the life changing aspects of the book and how each character dealt with certain situations.
Great read.
Title: Christmas Magic
Series: Believe 02
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Contemporary, Holidays
Length: Novel (192pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (December 14, 2018)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Do you believe in the magic of Christmas? Tim Richards didn’t, so why had he thought he could make a Christmas wish and have it come true?
Much to his surprise, he met the man of his dreams when Nick Snow walked into his world and turned it upside down. The life he had always hated was becoming something from a dream and more than anything he could have ever possibly imagined. For Tim, to believe childhood fantasies could come true, was impossible.
Nick Snow tended to only think about work. That was, until he met Tim. He’d never imagined anyone would ever come between him and his career. Now he knew that there was so much more to life than a job.
Can Nick show Tim that Christmas Magic is real?
Warning: This book contains frivolity, laughter, and a lot of sex. Nothing is off the table when these two figure out if their reality is nothing more than fantasy, or if their fantasies can become reality, with faith in a little Christmas Magic..
Review: Tim’s life consists of working several jobs to make ends meet. He wishes for something better in his life but thinks it won’t happen. When he meets Nick his life takes a turn he never dreamed would be possible.
Nick is sweet and attentive as he learns about Tim’s life or lack there of. He has all the confidence that Tim will succeed when he gets a new job at a toy store. Along with that Nick dazzles him with things Tim never experienced as a child.
I loved everything about this story. It was heart warming to see so much happiness brought Tim’s way after all he had endured. Fantastic read.
Title: Christmas Gift
Series: Believe 03
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Holiday, Contemporary
Length: Novella (150pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (December 15, 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: It’s Christmas and time for those who celebrate to spend hours finding the perfect gifts for those they love. Which also means long lines, angry and rude shoppers who are willing to fight so they can buy their own gifts at fifty percent off, and dealing with overworked and irritated store employees who are out of patience and good cheer. Right?
Except this year, Patrick and Cabot have discovered that the best gift of all doesn’t require any shopping, lines, or rude people. Just the willingness to open one’s heart. For they are not only giving the greatest gift of all, they’re receiving it, too. A family.
Join them on this journey as they discover what the true meaning of giving is. It will take believing in the magic of Christmas, but in return they just might receive the most amazing Christmas Gift ever – a happily ever after. .
Review: A sweet story about two men, Patrick and Cabot, who find each other are exactly what the other needs. Patrick is looking to adopt the two children, Maya and Liam, he is taking care of. Cabot is looking for someone to love.
The family find joy in everything they do together and it shows. I loved how in tune Cabot was to the kids and Patrick. Patrick for his part was adorable when flustered.
Fantastic read.
Title: Christmas List
Series: Believe 04
Author: Shea Balik
Genre: Holiday, Contemporary
Length: Novella (144pgs)
Publisher: Shea Balik (December 18, 2020)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Winter was Gabriel Wells’ favorite time of year. Having been born in Colorado, snow was in his veins. When his life turned upside down and he ended up in Florida for the winter, Gabriel didn’t handle it well. Who was he kidding? He fucked up royally.
Timmy Shaw had always believed people deserved a second chance to make a first impression. As an occupational therapist, he didn’t always meet people when they were at their best. But after a month, he was sure Gabriel had to have ice in his veins considering how he treated others, especially the man’s own mother.
What neither man realized? There’s a thin line between love and hate. Any other time, they may not have had a chance, but it’s Christmas and miracles are happening everywhere. It may take some work, but if they can find common ground, they may have a chance at happily ever after with the help of a special Christmas List.
Review: Gabriel is stuck in Florida caring for his mother after she has a stroke. He’s not happy and it shows. His mom’s physical therapist helps Dottie to try to be independent again and takes Gabriel to task for the things he says about his mother.
Things change when Timothy’s mom suggests that Gabriel is scared of losing his mother and acting out so they devise a plan to get him to relax by coming up with things to do that are similar to what he did in Colorado.
I loved this story so much. As someone who had something similar to a stroke years ago I could relate to what Dottie was going through. Gabriel for his part began to realize the way he treated his mother and Timothy. The things they did together were funny and sweet and with time Gabriel changed for the better.
Hi guys! We have Siryn Sueng stopping by today with the tour for her new release Young King Arthur and the Round Table Knights, we have a brilliant short interview with Siryn and a great excerpt, so check out the post and enjoy! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Young King Arthur and the Round Table Knights
(King Arthur 01)
by
Siryn Sueng
There was no reason for Arthur to think he would ever become king.
A peasant and son of a baker, Arthur grew up in the castle town of Camelot. When he attended the Choosing Ceremony, it was merely to see who would draw the Holy Sword, Excalibur—to see who would inherit the throne of the recently departed King Uther. He never expected the sword would choose him…
But it did.
Now, at the young age of fourteen, he has become King Arthur, and for all the power he has gained, he has made just as many enemies. Surrounded by the Knights of the Round Table, and led by the mysterious mage, Merlin, Arthur is grateful for his allies, though he would just as soon return to his old life. Surely, someone more worthy should be chosen as king.
Arthur is in the middle of chaos, a world where everyone wants more than they let on, where many hate the idea of a young boy with no noble background being crowned king; where cold stares and whispered words are just as sharp as an assassin’s blade.
As Arthur fends for his life, he must draw on the strength of his knights, especially fifteen-year-old Mordred, who becomes closer to him than the mere bounds of duty. He must become king, not just in name, but in his heart.
And he must do it quickly, because his enemies want more than just his crown…
Hi guys, we have T.A. Moore stopping by today with her up new release Cash In Hand, we have short guest post from T.A., a great excerpt and a fantastic $10 Amazon GC giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Cash In HandTitle
by
T.A. Moore
The last monster died a hundred years ago. At least, that’s what the monsters want you to think.
Half-monster Cash just wants to keep his head down and raise his daughter, Ellie, to be an upstanding member of monstrous society. Even if she’d rather spend the summer with her human friends than learn the art of man traps at Camp Dark Hollow.
So the last person Cash wants to see is her uncle Arkady Abascal, who’s also Cash’s ex-boyfriend.
Arkady has more than Ellie’s summer plans on his mind. He’s there to enlist Cash to find out who’s been selling monster secrets. Cash hasn’t gotten any better at telling Arkady no, but it’s not just his weakness for Arkady that makes him agree. The Prodigium thinks an Abascal exposed them to humans, and now the whole family is at risk—including Ellie.
Recruited to help Arkady identify the culprit—or frame a scapegoat—Cash finds the machinations of monstrous power easier to navigate than his feelings for Arkady. At least, at first. But when things get bloody, he wishes romantic disasters were all he had to worry about….
Everyone hopes his road to happily ever after will be carefree and smooth, but too often hair-pin turns and detours seem to get in the way.
Having thought he was on the road to forever before, former Silicon Valley programmer Dan Lassiter is leery about pedaling down it again. His elderly companion Charlie urges him to get to know Rick Reardon whose bakery is across the street from Dan’s bicycle shop.
Under the watchful eye of Charlie, Dan and Rick take tentative steps towards each other, all the while trying to avoid potholes such as exes, homophobes, and family problems.
As summer turns to fall and then winter, they hope that the road will be smooth going from their first date and first kiss to having what Rick’s sister euphemistically calls their “sleep overs”. At each step, though, they are tripped up and wonder why there seem to be so many bumps in their road.
Maybe Dan and Rick should heed some of Charlie’s sage advice or maybe they should listen to their hearts instead of the warnings from their pasts.
One of the delights of the holiday season is a cookie exchange with friends and coworkers. True, it’s going to be a little light this year, what with COVID restrictions and all. But that makes it all the better to devise a game plan for next year and the one after.
Why a game plan?
Because you don’t want to be the person whose cookies smash and break before they are exchanged. You want to be the one with the perfectly delicious looking stack of an array of different cookie types, each cookie looking enticing in its own right.
But how can you do that with a stack of cookies?
Glad you asked.
You need to come up with your cookie tiers. Or you can steal mine.
The bottom tier for my cookie exchange plate is a pan cookie—usually chocolate chip bars or pecan pie bars—anything with enough internal heft that they can withstand a stack of cookies on top of them and still not be squished.
Stay away from lemon bars or cheesecake bars, which while yummy will yield like sinkholes, making them and the cookies stacked on top into one mega-cookie.
True, that’s great for the person who picks up the top cookie and finds them all stuck together in the jackpot of the holiday season.
Still, if you get caught with the mega-cookie, you are stuck with it and can’t pry one off and leave the rest for another hapless eater.
So be kind and plan a sturdy, non-sinkable bottom tier.
The middle tier is the traditional colorful cookie tier—gingerbread people, cut-out and frosted cookies, and shaped dough goodies.
The key to this layer is color, lots and lots of color. For example, blue, white, and silver for Hanukkah or green and red for Christmas or black, red and green for Kwanzaa or red, green, brown, and white for Solstice. Whatever you celebrate, make sure the colors pop at the mid-level of your cookie tier.
Remember that frosting and piping are your friends at this tier.
Finally, add the touch de resistance to the top tier: light, airy meringue delights and chocolate chip clouds.
Make these small, bite-sized treats so that you can use them to place around the decorated cookies to highlight their colors and decorations. Or you can use them to stack into a pyramid to support the cling-wrap or other protective layer you’re using to transport your exchange plate.
Whether you call them biscuits (like the Great British Baking Show does) or cookies like Americans do, edible exchanges are the highlight of any season, but particularly of those holidays in the winter.
Do you participate in a cookie exchange either during the holidays or during the rest of the year? If so, what’s your favorite cookie type?
Give yourself a gift of cheer with four HEA romances to take the edge off 2020:
Blame It on the Fruitcake where a motorcycle shop owner and a location scout bond over a grandmother’s holiday recipe;
The Orpheum Miracle in which a squatter in a revival theater meets the man of his dreams;
Making the Holidays Happy Again that sees a blacksmith forge a future with a chemist; and
Heart of the Holidays where a bicycle repairman and a baker travel down the road to love.
And whatever you do, remember that Every day is a good day for romance.
Excerpt
The kids and their mom arrived after lunch, right about the time Charlie usually turned in for a nap. He gave them the once over as they got out of the car, nodded to me with raised eyebrows, and ambled back toward the house. I guess he figured he’d meet them sometime, probably sooner rather than later, so he didn’t have to knock himself out now. It was the siesta part of his day.
After the kids tumbled from the car and jumped on Rick, he pointed at my open garage and waved at me. I waved back, and they galloped across the street.
“Hi, I’m McKinsey! You can call me Mack.” The red-haired boy danced in front of me. His hair blazed in the sun and was as bright as his green eyes and freckles. He didn’t look anything like his uncle. “So these are all the bikes I can ride? Can I try them out first?”
“Yeah, but don’t go very far. I’ve got an app keeping an eye on them.”
“Cool. Bye.”
He didn’t wait for me to explain further, but ran toward the racks so fast that I thought he would barrel into them. A small hand on my arm stopped me from chasing after him.
“Don’t worry. He’s careful. He won’t hurt the bikes. We won’t go far because of mom.” Since I wasn’t worried about the bicycles, I looked down into brown eyes, a solemn face, and curly sable hair. “I’m Leslie. Everyone calls me Lee. My brother throws himself into his activities. I don’t. Can we choose any of the bicycles?”
I glanced up at their uncle who shrugged at me. The small hand let go of my arm, so I looked down at Lee again.
“Yes. You have three choices. One, you can select a bike and ride it the entire time you’re here. Two, you could come back to the garage and pick another one to ride for the day, the half-day, the hour, or however long you want it. That means if you wanted, you could ride every bike in this place in one day. Or your third choice, you could stay at the bakery and not go bike riding at all.” I winked at her. “I would choose the bakery except then I’d look like a human lead balloon if I did.”
She giggled and put her hand on my arm again.
“I like you, Mr. Dan. I think we’ll get along fine.” She nodded and gave me a long assessing once over. “Don’t worry. You don’t look like a balloon at all. Not at all.”
If she’d been in her teens, I would have thought she was flirting. But Lee seemed as if she was merely making an observation.
I liked both kids and their approaches to life. I’d be willing to bet Charlie would like them too when he got up from his nap and met them.
Unlike her brother, Lee sauntered over to the bikes, many of which were now askew thanks to Mack’s unsorting process. She carefully started to right those tossed aside. She stopped at a turquoise bicycle, hopped on, and waved to me and her uncle as she sped away. Her brother was long gone. The bike rack still needed straightening which would give me something to do while Charlie snoozed.
I started toward it. Rick had surged across the street and was striding up to me.
“Here. I’ll help.” He stood staring down at the mishmash of bikes. “If you show me how to untangle them without making things worse.”
I nodded.
“I don’t get it. Aren’t you afraid people will just take off with your bikes and you’ll never see them again?”
I watched him bend over to pick up one on the ground. My groin tightened at the sight. We were going out to dinner. Together. Soon. My heart and dick lifted as my mind piled up image after image of dinner and afterward. It was about time for me to get back in the saddle as it were.
Author Bio
Pat Henshaw, born and raised in Nebraska, has lived on the U S’s three coasts, in Texas, Virginia, and now California.
Before she retired, she held a number of jobs, including theatrical costumer, newspaper features reporter and movie reviewer, librarian, junior college English instructor, and publicist.
She also loves to travel and has visited Canada, Mexico, Europe, Egypt, Thailand, and Central America as well as almost all fifty US states.
Now retired, she enjoys reading and writing as well as visiting her older daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren on the East Coast and playing havoc with her younger daughter’s life in NorCal.
She thanks you for reading her books and wants you to remember that every day is a good day for romance.
Hiya guys! We have Rhys Ford visiting today with the tour for her new release Bound, we have a brilliant guest post from Rhys, and we have an amazing $20 GC giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Bound
(Chinatown Demons 01)
by
Rhys Ford
Chinatown, San Francisco.
A different place — another time— and where the city’s streets keep secrets, shadowy mysteries SFPD Inspector Spencer Ricci needs to dig through after he finds himself on a case involving a dismembered, mummified man in a restaurant’s locked storage room.
Spencer drags around a lot of baggage, including an ongoing battle with the bottle and a long career as an LAPD detective he’d set fire to in a blaze of booze-soaked mistakes. San Francisco is supposed to be a new start but his old ghosts haunt him, beckoning him back into his self-destructive bad habits. Bad habits that include contemplating doing dirty things with the wrong kind of guy and this time, it’s a sleek, cold-tempered medical examiner named Xian Carter with a complicated reputation.
For a century-old demon, Xian Carter is content with his secretive life. Hiding his nature from the mundane world, he blends in with the city’s inhabitants as best he can but even the best of predators make mistakes. Delving into the mysteries of the dead provide a welcome distraction from endless nights and hiding in plain sight amuses him, until something supernaturally wicked comes knocking on his door with an extremely hot, broody Inspector close behind.
Murder makes for strange bedfellows and this one is no exception. The twists and turns of the case leaves Xian and Spencer on a wild goose chase after clues but Xian can only hope there’s a human at the end of the trail—because the last thing San Francisco needs is another predator.
J. Scott Coatsworth has a new gay post-zombie apocalypse Christmas book out:
Wonderland.
And there’s a giveaway!
Zeke is a hermit in his late forties who lives a quiet life in a small cabin in the Western Montana mountains, a few miles outside of Thompson Falls. He’s gotten used to being alone since the end of the world, and has everything he needs. Everything but someone to talk to.
Nathan is a younger man on a cross-country trek, searching the country for someone… anyone still alive. Saddled with a ghost from his old life and a case of OCD, he stumbles upon Thompson Falls and a pack of rabid dogs.
Rescued by Zeke, he has to figure out how to be human again. And with Christmas just a week away, both men have to figure out if there’s something left to be hopeful for, and if they might have a future together.
Win a $15 Amazon gift card OR a signed paperback trilogy of the Ariadne Cycle 1st Edition (The Stark Divide, The Rising Tide, & The Shoreless Sea, USA Only)!
Zeke removed the board that kept the Grocery Surplus doors closed and pushed them open. He always barricaded it when he left to keep out animal intruders. One time early on, he’d startled a bear inside, licking up honey off the floor. It had given him quite a scare before it lumbered past him and out of the store.
Out back, four makeshift wooden crosses marked the plots where he’d buried Redd Johnson, the owner, and the three others he’d found dead inside.
The checkout counters were covered in a heavy layer of dust he’d never bothered to clean. The plastic grocery sacks had hardened and flaked into little piles of white that swirled like snowflakes whenever the wind blew in from outside.
He picked up one of the faded cardboard boxes that used to hold Hershey bars. They were long gone. He had eaten a lot of chocolate in the first twelve months.
The store was out of most of the good stuff now, taken in the initial panic or used by Zeke. It was down to cans of the aforementioned Brussels sprouts and spinach, as well as green beans, canned tomatoes, and Dole fruit salad. Just another indication it was time to move on.
One corner of the ceiling had caved in since the last time he’d been there. He approached the pile of debris in the produce section of the store cautiously. The fruits and vegetables had long since rotted away.
He looked up at the new damage. The hole didn’t go all the way through to the roof, just through the interior ceiling. A couple boxes lay crumpled on the ground.
With a leery glance at the broken edges—must have been some kind of storage up there—he opened one of the boxes to see what was inside. It was a disassembled Christmas tree, probably for holiday displays.
Christmas. It had been a long time since he’d celebrated that holiday—or any of them, for that matter—not since his mother had passed away when he was ten. She had owned a tree just like this and had put it up every year. She’d been an environmentalist, not wanting to kill a living thing just to celebrate a man-made holiday.
Zeke glared at the tree and grunted. It wasn’t like he needed any more crap in his little cabin.
He closed his eyes, and he could still see her face, lit by the glow of the Christmas lights. “It’s the one time of the year when we all have to be nice to each other,” she’d whispered to him once, shooting a glance at his father, asleep in his easy chair. Zeke could still smell her sweet perfume. His father had been a rough man. Rough but fair.
“What the hell.” He hauled the box out to the ATV and transferred the metal branches into his sack.
Author Bio
Scott lives with his husband Mark in a yellow bungalow in Sacramento. He was indoctrinated into fantasy and sci fi by his mother at the tender age of nine. He devoured her library, but as he grew up, he wondered where all the people like him were.
He decided that if there weren’t queer characters in his favorite genres, he would remake them to his own ends.
A Rainbow Award winning and runs Queer Sci Fi, QueeRomance Ink, Liminal Fiction, and Other Worlds Ink with Mark, sites that celebrate fiction reflecting queer reality, and is a full member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
Genre: Paranormal YA, NineStar Press, LGBTQIA+, young adult, new adult, dragon shifters, witch, magic-users, dragon family, young love, first kiss, kidnapping, escape, reunited
All Lumie wants to see is Goldie’s beautiful smile, but the only expression he ever shows Lumie is tears. When Goldie asks him for a favor, Lumie leaps at the chance to finally see Goldie happy.
Goldie wants to live a life free of the fear that has chained him for so long, but breaking free once and for all may come with a higher price than he and Lumie are prepared to pay.
The first time Lumie had seen Goldie in the flesh was one of the oddest moments of Lumie’s life. Lumie knew Goldie. He knew that shining golden hair, rosy in the sun like the gold was touched by fire. And those big golden eyes surrounded by dark-gold lashes were something Lumie had seen in his mind’s eye for years and years. He knew the moment when Goldie would come into his life, when Dane and Mercury would rescue him, but Lumie hadn’t understood what five years of captivity with the enemy would do to Goldie. Lumie had been lucky. He had barely been a day out of his egg when Mercury had come for him. Goldie had been held captive for far too long, and it had destroyed something inside of him.
Lumie had tagged along with Mercury, his daddy, when Mercury went to check on a mother dragon that had been rescued along with Goldie. When Mercury went into the house where the mother was staying with her new eggs, Goldie had snuck out the back door.
Looking back on that moment years later, Lumie realized Goldie was shaking in utter fear, but at the time, all Lumie had seen was the boy from his waking dreams.
“Hi!” Lumie had chirped happily. Goldie, on the other hand, had let out a shriek. He had stumbled back from Lumie, holding up his hands as if warding off a blow. Mercury and Martha, an air dragon in charge of the village, had come hurrying outside, and together they had coaxed Goldie back into the house. Goldie wouldn’t look at Lumie even once as he hurried up the stairs.
The encounter had left Lumie horribly confused for years. He knew what Goldie’s eyes looked like when he was smiling at Lumie: shining and bright. He had foreseen that happiness, but only in a dream rather than real life. Lumie didn’t understand the fear he saw inside Goldie. For the next thirteen years, Lumie had visited the village at least once a week and made a point of saying hello to Goldie. Eventually, Goldie stopped screaming and running from Lumie, but his fear never vanished.
Lumie had yet to see Goldie’s smile in person.
“Which wire?” Alloy hissed. From the slightly frantic tone of his voice, Lumie realized it wasn’t the first time Alloy had spoken. Lumie took his eyes from the gleaming gold-colored plate he had pulled off the security alarm, got his thoughts back to the present, and focused on the two different wires Alloy had pulled out of the guts of the alarm.
“It doesn’t matter which wire,” Lumie replied with a shrug. “Just heat them both really fast, then cool them off suddenly. Total wire failure won’t set off that sort of alarm.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Mercury snapped from behind them. The overhead light flickered on, bringing the foyer of the house Mercury owned with Dane into focus. Mercury had bronze-colored hair that fell just below his ears, and his bronze-colored eyes were sharp as he glared at Lumie and Alloy. He was angry. Lumie looked at the alarm box they had stripped and were about to destroy, and then back at Mercury’s glaring face.
Oh, he was mad about the alarm thing.
“I was just teaching.” Lumie grumbled. He held out the gold-colored plate, and Mercury yanked it from his hands.
“A, you’re both nineteen and should know better. B, you both promised me a thesis statement for the essay you have to write and one page from your algebra workbook before bedtime. You can teach Alloy about alarm systems when you’re not supposed to be doing other things.” Mercury growled. Magic flashed through the air, and the gold plate flew back into place on the alarm. The four screws Alloy had dropped to the floor flew into their slots and twisted until they were in place. “Plus,” Mercury continued in a softer tone, “you both left fingerprints all over the alarm system. Eventually someone would have noticed your tampering, and you both would have been caught.” He pulled one sleeve down over his palm and wiped at the gold plate before reaching out to snap the outer housing with all the buttons back onto the frame.
Alloy bounded off, and Lumie reluctantly followed. He had actually finished the math, but he hated essays. It would only take ten minutes to scrape together the one-sentence thesis statement, but he didn’t want to. At all. He had taken the damn test Mercury had wanted him to. His results weren’t back yet, but he had thought he was done with school with the damned GED out of the way. Mercury having the tutor continue to pile on more homework was ridiculous.
Instead of following Alloy upstairs, Lumie headed to the kitchen. He deserved a cinnamon bomb before having to go do his work.
Dane was already in the kitchen when Lumie walked in. He was on the phone, though, so he couldn’t speak up to stop Lumie from raiding the candy basket on top of the fridge. The happiest day of Lumie’s life was the day he realized he had finally grown tall enough to get to his candy on his own. Somehow Lumie thought that might have also been Dane’s unhappiest day, but he tried not to dwell on trivialities like that. Dane was super special in the magic world. Whatever. So was Lumie. That wasn’t even arrogance talking. Dane was the son of a god and a crazy lady from across the pond. Grandma came to visit every once in a while. Lately she had started bringing along her spell books. Those were interesting to read. Lumie had nicked a few since they were so much more interesting than the books Mercury had him reading.
Lumie’s powers, on the other hand, were… Well, he didn’t really have a way to define what he could do. As far as he knew, no one could explain why his magic was so odd. He was a fire dragon, so playing with fire was his favorite pastime—he liked it even better than tormenting Dane—but sometimes he saw things he shouldn’t, he could travel in ways a fire dragon shouldn’t be able, and he generally confounded Dane with the things he could do. That was part of the fun, really, and Lumie tried not to dwell on things that weren’t fun.
With his long blond hair pulled back into a tail at the base of his skull, Dane looked severe. His blue eyes glared pointedly at Lumie, so Lumie picked up the cinnamon bomb wrapper from where he had dropped it on the counter and put it in the trash. Taking care of the wrapper now was better than Dane’s magic yanking him back into the kitchen to do it later. Plus, if Lumie left too many wrappers lying around, the basket suddenly had a dearth of cinnamon bombs for a few days. It was punishment that Lumie did not enjoy.
Dane hung up the phone before Lumie could escape.
“That was the new secretary of defense,” Dane said. He was frowning down at the screen of his phone as he spoke, but he looked up at Lumie, and Lumie couldn’t help freezing in place.
He had seen this before. Daydreamed it, really. In the kitchen with Dane looking so serious. Dane was about to tell him something that would change his life forever.
Lumie didn’t want to hear it. He didn’t want to know. He liked his life right now. He was comfortable living in Dane’s home and eating the food Daisy, their caretaker, prepared for them. Nickel, Lumie’s adoptive brother, liked living away from home in the house he shared with his boyfriend, Platinum. All Lumie liked about that was since Nickel and Platinum had moved out, he had been allowed to take their bedroom for himself. Not having to share with Chrome any longer—not living in the constant mess Chrome was unable to ever properly clean—was amazing.
“He offered you a full scholarship to the college of your choice with the caveat that you come work for one of the defense agencies under his purview,” Dane continued before Lumie could stop him. “He apparently has an issue only someone of your skills can handle and is willing to do just about anything to get you to sign on.”
“He doesn’t know I’m available to hire through your consulting firm?” Lumie asked grumpily, used to speaking clearly around the cinnamon bomb stretching out one of his cheeks. It was too late; he had already heard what Dane had to say. His life was irrevocably changed. All he could do was try to keep the things he liked best safe when the turmoil hit.
“He wants to take out the middleman,” Dane explained with a shrug. “It will probably also cost them less overall to pay for your college and provide a steady work salary than to hire you through me.”
That didn’t surprise Lumie. Dane made the government pay through the nose. It allowed him to give people with fewer means the same service at a much more affordable price.
“Lumie, this is big for you. Your grades aren’t anything to laud, and you took an extra year to finish high school. Plus, a lot of colleges might discriminate against you because you’re a dragon. They’ll think you’ll wash out within a semester and not want to put any time or effort into accepting you.”
Everything Dane was saying was true. Dragons were one of the most uneducated creatures in the world—not because they were stupid or lacked the mental capacity for it, but because they didn’t have access to education in the wild where the majority of them lived. When they did venture into human civilization, their ignorance often caused someone to get hurt. Having someone from the secretary of defense’s office step in on Lumie’s behalf meant that none of those issues would be in his way, but Lumie had never been interested in college. He had taken his GED test only because Mercury and Dane had literally dragged him across the finish line. He didn’t even know if he had actually passed it yet.
“Alloy wants to go to college,” Lumie stated. He wasn’t sure if he was voicing a complaint that they hadn’t approached Alloy instead—even though Alloy lacked the specialized skills that made Lumie so distinctive—or whether he was grumpy that they thought they could buy him so easily.
“So we ask the secretary if he can get two college entrance letters,” Dane replied with an easy shrug. “Alloy might also have to agree to a few years working with the government too.”
“But he’s always liked what Daddy does and would apply to work for the SupFeds in a heartbeat if he could,” Lumie finished.
Mercury worked as a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Supernatural Investigations, which investigated issues that stemmed from the supernatural world. Dane worked with them often in his capacity as a private contractor with his Supernatural Consulting Firm, and Alloy had always wanted to join Mercury. Again, something Lumie wasn’t interested in. He liked his independence—and his laziness, to be perfectly honest. He picked the jobs he wanted to do whenever he felt like doing them. Getting tied down with an agency would end all that freedom.
“Let me think about it,” Lumie finally said after a few moments of silence.
Dane nodded. His smile was completely understanding. “You know Mercury and I only want you to be happy. If college isn’t for you, we can probably still work something out. Let me know what you think. Don’t take too long,” he added. “I don’t think this offer is indefinite, so we need to call the secretary back by Friday afternoon.”
Lumie nodded and rushed to escape the kitchen. He went upstairs to his private bedroom and flopped facedown on the bed.
It was too good an opportunity to pass up. College would suck, but it would make Mercury so happy. Afterward Lumie was guaranteed to have a good job where he could use his special skills to their fullest. It really was an amazing opportunity, but it meant the end of his simple and easy life.
And there was also Alloy to think about. Alloy, who was running down the very long driveway—over two miles long—every afternoon to check the mailbox to see whether his GED scores had arrived. As soon as he had his official letter, he was going to start applying to colleges. How would Lumie feel every time Alloy got a rejection letter from a school, and Lumie knew he could have saved Alloy from that pain?
Lumie snorted in disgust at himself. Was throwing away his freedom worth it for Alloy’s happiness? Probably, damn it, but it wasn’t fair.
He threw his body off his bed and twisted his magic around him in a way no other dragon could. His bedroom vanished from view, and he reappeared just outside a small town. The nearest house was just across the street. Lumie quickly rounded the building to get to the backyard.
The flash of golden hair in the sunlight caught Lumie’s attention first, and he eagerly hurried forward to Goldie’s side. Goldie wouldn’t have the answer Lumie wanted, but just being by his side for a few minutes helped soothe his roiling thoughts.
When Mell Eight was in high school, she discovered dragons. Beautiful, wondrous creatures that took her on epic adventures both to faraway lands and on journeys of the heart. Mell wanted to create dragons of her own, so she put pen to paper. Mell Eight is now known for her own soaring dragons, as well as for other wonderful characters dancing across the pages of her books. While she mostly writes paranormal or fantasy stories, she has been seen exploring the real world once or twice.
CEO Maine Braxton and his invaluable assistant, Colby, don’t realize they share a deep secret: they’re in love—with each other. That secret may have never come to light but for a terrifying plane crash in the Cascade Mountains that changes everything.
In a struggle for survival, they brave bears, storms, and a life-threatening flood to make it out of the wilderness alive. The proximity to death makes them realize the importance of love over propriety. Confessions emerge. Passions ignite. They escape the wilds renewed and openly in love.
When they return to civilization, though, forces are already plotting to snuff out their short-lived romance and ruin everything both have worked so hard to achieve.
Colby LaSalle never dreamed his life would end in a plane crash over the Cascade Mountains in Washington State. But here he was, whispering fevered petitions to the Lord as the plane screamed, plunging downward…faster, faster.
Out the windows, all he could see was white. And the only outcome he could imagine was that once that white cleared, the last thing he’d take in would be towering pine trees and the cold side of a mountain hurtling toward him. It was almost too horrific to comprehend.
In those few moments, as Colby braced himself in his seat, head down near his knees, he found himself thinking what a loss this was. The man across from him, his boss, Maine Braxton, would never know the most important thing about Colby. And that thing was not his proficiency as an administrative assistant, keeping Maine on track and on schedule in all his business affairs, but that Colby was passionately—and secretly—in love with him. With all his heart and soul.
That fact, and the unspoken words that hid it, seemed tragic to Colby, maybe even more tragic than the life he was about to lose. What kind of life, Colby wondered, did you really have if you’d never truly loved and been loved in return?
Colby, at twenty-eight, had never been in love before. And now it looked as though he would never have the chance to act on his desire, on that feeling that made his heart flutter whenever Maine walked by his desk. Was love like a tree falling in the forest? If the object of that love never knew of it, did it really exist?
Colby looked up for a moment, maybe to have a final look at Maine, but was distracted by the view through the cockpit window of the six-seater plane they were traveling in—a Beechcraft Bonanza. The opaque fog of white cleared for a moment, and Colby could see, to his horror, that his imagination was correct.
They were hurtling toward the side of a mountain. The view was surreal. Shock kept him from thinking it was anything other than a very vivid nightmare.
He then looked over at Maine and saw he had slid from his seat to the floor. The strong, powerful man cowered there, hands over his head. His lips moved in what Colby could only assume was silent prayer.
Colby longed to slide over, to cover Maine with his own body and shield him from the impact, but he was paralyzed, a butterfly pinned to a board, and could only add his own whispered prayers to those of his boss.
“Please, God, help us get out of this alive. Let Maine know how very much I love him. Give me that chance.”
The private pilot, a blustery, gruff man named Gus Pangborn but whom everyone just called Rooster, shouted, “We’re gonna try and go up! We’re gonna try and go up!”
Colby didn’t know if he was talking to him, Maine, or himself, but the desperation in the pilot’s gravelly voice was clear. The despair in Rooster’s words communicated one thing to Colby and one thing only—he had no hope.
Colby squeezed his eyes shut tight and placed his head back down toward his knees again, covering it with his hands, although he wondered how much good it would do once the plane crashed, once it was consumed by a giant fireball.
What Colby LaSalle didn’t realize, though, was that the plane crash would signal not the end of his life, but the beginning.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifty works of published fiction. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist. Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…” Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his husband, Bruce, and their fierce Chihuahua/Shiba Inu mix, Kodi.
Vivien Dean has had a lifetime love affair with stories. A multi-published author, her books have been EPPIE finalists, Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Nominees, and readers favorites. After spending her twenties and early thirties traveling, she has finally settled down and currently resides in northern California with her British husband and two children.
Alvy Lexington has bought himself the best Christmas present in the world. True, the draughty flat on a dingy stretch of the Thames has none of the welcoming holiday warmth of his family’s West London townhouse. That is the entire point! No one who knows him by his given name will ever set foot here. When his old friend Laura Jacobs needs somewhere to spend the holidays, Alvy knows he should keep his distance, but… But Laura makes him do incautious things. Like offering her a job—since when did he manage a printing press?—and inviting her to a certain Christmas Eve masquerade.
Laura knows the lush London of the Lexingtons is only a temporary escape from her grey days as a governess. But she is determined to enjoy this glittering winter wonderland while it lasts, especially her dance with an angel of a man at the masquerade. Why, his French chevalier costume practically glows! While she daydreams about her white knight, an unexpected business opportunity with Alvy makes her hopeful of a new independent life. But first, she is going to have to come to a real understanding with her old friend.
Laura glared up from where she stood doubled over, clutching the door frame with one gloved hand and pressing her side with the other.
“Gracious! Why…why must you take rooms level with…Big Ben?”
Alvy continued looking down at her with infuriating amusement.
“Ah, but the climb is one of the place’s chief charms. Come look at the view of the river. The embankment’s spoilt all its old charm of course, but we must have wide streets and electric lamps apparently.”
Laura’s heart continued to slam against her corseted ribs. She was not willing to praise the view. Or to move a step further.
“The stairs smell of…boiled cabbage and worse. While your place…what is the smell, Alvy? I would say it was tobacco, except I know your mother—”
“Would have an apoplectic fit if she so much as detected a particle of ash on my person? Very true. But then, that is the beauty of taking quarters in such a godforsaken corner of the town. Mother will never visit! I’m rather glad you were intrepid enough to brave Vauxhall. And the stairs.”
Laura had at last mastered her breathing and straightened to return fire on her tormentor.
“What, and miss a chance to see for myself your new, er, work premises? How spacious it is!”
She gestured around the large but scarcely furnished room. The tall sash windows admitted a great deal of midday winter light—and even more of the chill December air. There was no sign of a desk, or worktable, and the domestic furnishings only extended to a day-bed and a pair of battered armchairs before an open fire.
“You forget, Alvy, I am not such a fine lady that I need fear stares outside of fashionable London. The freedoms of being in the governess class are many and varied.”
Alvy flopped down into an armchair and stretched a slippered foot out from under the hem of a heavy silk dressing gown towards the cheerful blaze.
“Are they indeed? By Jove, I should love to know more about these rights and privileges.”
Laura wondered if she was being teased. But then she never could tell with her friend.
“Well, let’s see…There is the right to squash into an omnibus and end up directly next to a gentleman with a dripping hat.”
Alvy grinned at this start. Laura warmed to her task.
“The right to return your library books while enduring the scrutiny of some wire-spectacled gorgon.”
“Very right too! You look just the sort to eat buttered toast while reading borrowed books.”
“And, let us not forget, the preeminent privilege of politely bickering about the bill with other governesses at tea rooms.”
“Harpies the lot of them—yourself excepted. Lord, I’m so glad you’ve escaped those grubby children—”
“Child. And this one is an angel.” Too angelic, in fact. It made Laura worry about the girl’s inner life.
“Sanctimonious parents—”
“Mr and Mrs Shepherdson have been nothing but kind!” Or they had been. Until the discovery of certain books and letters.
“And the atrociously dull company of Dingley Dell—”
“For the tenth time, Alvy, it is Findleys Ford.”
“Ah ha! So you at least admit they are dull. But all these country backwaters are the same. London’s the only place to live.”
“A point you are forever making in your letters. It is not like I hied off to Dingley—to Findleys Ford on an idle whim.”
“Well, well, the point is you’ve escaped for the holidays. And, as you see, I’ve escaped too.”
“That fact had not eluded me. Your mother claims you are never to be seen at Norland Square.”
Laura could not imagine ever wanting to leave the ever-so-comfortable surrounds of Alvy’s childhood home. She had dreamt of the sumptuous dinners, the hot baths, and the soft sheets turned down by a maid for weeks now as she lay on her narrow tick mattress under the eaves at the Shepherdsons.
“Your mother is under the impression you are starting some great enterprise that will give work to female printers who are refused employment elsewhere.”
“Ah, not quite. I said I was setting up a printing press—and set it up I have.”
Alvy gestured with a long-fingered hand to a space behind the still-gaping door.
Laura swung the door shut. A great black iron contraption with decorative gold paintwork dominated the otherwise empty space.
“Oh, you have an Albion Press!”
“An Albion? I could have sworn the past owner called it an albatross.”
“Very funny. But the gold finial—that gold crown on top—is unmistakable. How on earth did you get it up here?”
“The men got it up here with a great deal of sweat and swearing. I got it up with bribery. They threatened to quit halfway up the stairs.”
“I am only surprised they did not bring down the whole staircase. But the press looks excellently preserved.”
“And it will remain in exactly the same condition.”
“Do you mean it is truly only for show? That is a rather rotten trick to play your mother.”
“Trick? I have done Mother a great service. She doesn’t know what to do with me. She has finally despaired of my marrying now that I am striding across the wasteland of my thirties.”
“I do not remember her ever being very pressing on the issue.”
“I have given myself some employment. Now she will have something to tell her society ladies at those dreadful committee meetings.”
“That you have dedicated yourself to good works—without the work part?”
Alvy blithely ignored Laura’s sarcasm.
“She will omit the part about Vauxhall, naturally.”
“While you will omit everything else?”
Something in Alvy’s dark eyes suddenly made Laura wish to change her tart tone.
With no doormat or boot-scraper in sight, she had no choice but to track the sludgy London streets into the room. Not that there was a scrap of carpet to dirty. Seating herself in a heap of mud-striped travelling skirts on the lone ottoman, Laura studied her friend.
Alvy’s appearance, especially after a long separation, always rekindled a flicker of Laura’s original awe. She knew that the gaze she held was properly described as brown. It was just the pale skin turning bluish under the eyes that made them look so intensely dark. Likewise, the greying walls and bare floorboards of these new quarters probably made Alvy’s costume of rich browns and blues so transparently costly. Alvy preserved a long-limbed grace even when reclining in a splendid heap in the battered chair.
Laura once assumed that the possessor of such a regal appearance would snub a nobody like her. She had since learnt the error of judging by appearances. She now took up one of those elegantly white hands, trying to ignore how dirty her sensible gloves looked in comparison.
“Tell me really what you mean to do. Come. We have known each other since we were practically children.”
The elegant hand was withdrawn. Alvy sat higher in the chair and broke into a fair imitation of a Scotsman.
“Speak for yourself, lassie. I was a full three and twenty when we met at that bonny brook in Switzerland. Or have ye forgot that day?”
Laura definitely remembered the questioning curve of Alvy’s left eyebrow as they passed each other on the trail; she was looking at it again now. Laura had been nineteen and on her first assignment with a family wintering at Luzern.
“How could I forget? You were wearing the most memorable alpine hat and matching coat. More feathers and frogging I had never seen. And yet, infuriatingly, you wore it all with such ease. Why, you still do!”
Alvy looked confused. “I promise that I don’t strut down the streets of London in alpine dress.”
“I mean that you are able to look well in anything. Take this turban contraption. No one else could wear it without looking foolish. Well, except perhaps a Shakespearean tragedian.”
Alvy gingerly felt the turban in question, silk without a doubt, but burst into laughter upon Laura’s final admission.
“The thing you never do seem to realise, Miss Jacobs, is that all clothes are costumes. All equally ridiculous.”
“Yours are not ridiculous! Eccentric perhaps. But becoming. You always do upholster yourself exquisitely. Which is more than I can say for your rooms.”
Meg moved from the US to England because she fell in love with the Victorians’ peculiar blend of glamour and grime. After a decade of exploring historical excesses in a prim scholarly fashion, she realized that fiction is the best way to delve into that period’s great female-focused and LGBT+ stories. Weaned on the high-seas romances of the 1990s, Meg’s lost none of her love for cross-dressing cabin boys but any tolerance for boorish heroes. She’s delighted to now have a whole raft of quirky and queer characters to cheer for on their quest for Happily Ever After. She frequently breaks off writing for an Earl Grey tea (milk not lemon). She’s trying to learn Polish and Portuguese at the same time. She plans to escape Brexit Britain.
A radical feminist turned cop and a former Lucia candidate are expecting—twins. A gender studies professor burns her candle at both ends. A lovelorn bus driver is feeling fragile, until an unexpected visit brings her some queer holiday cheer; and an obstetric nurse single mother delivers the expected, while her past catches her unprepared.
In the final A Tinsel and Spruce Needles Romance, the crew from Candlelight Kisses, Little x and Wild Bells make their way through Advent 2000, celebrating the first X(X)mas of a new millennium.
Rick’s hand slid over the striated orb of her stomach. She looked like a giant walnut. Yes, a walnut, that was how Padma Lindgren felt about herself as she entered the ninth month of her pregnancy: she was moving slow as a walrus and going nutty into the bargain. Her enormous middle was striped with indelible stretch marks, distended like a carapace, overwhelmingly ever-present, forcing her to sleep in positions she had never slept in before.
The wan white of Rickie’s freckled hand stood out against her belly, her touch making Padma’s skin break out in goosebumps. She hissed out air between her teeth. She knew her registered partner—or wife, as she called her for short—was just saying good morning to the babies. It didn’t matter. Her sex ached in readiness. Her huge, dark mother-to-be nipples puckered. Her pulse pounded in her ears.
“Morning, love,” Rick mumbled into her hair, and Padma whimpered. Erika’s hand stilled. “You okay?”
She turned in her arms, meeting Erika Stolt’s soft, grey-green gaze. Her thin, pink lips were pointing down in an expression of worry. Padma groaned. “Rick, please. Don’t stop. I’m—I’m incandescent.”
Erika smiled goofily. “You really are.”
Padma snorted, but Rickie’s eyes held a promise: one promptly delivered on as she moved her tantalising palms up the sides of Padma’s bump to cup her swollen breasts.
A sharp quiver cut through Padma, from chest to groin. These last few months her tits had been ridiculously hypersensitive. Erika had always been a fan of them, it was true—ever since their school days, Padma suspected—but now she was close to enlisting in the Holy Order of the Sacred Boobs. She grazed the undersides with her thumbs and Padma moaned.
Rick flushed with gratification. She flushed so easily it was just silly. And utterly fucking adorable.
Padma gripped her head, the semi-outgrown buzz cut tickling her fingers. She pulled her face up close. “Yeah, I’m going to need you to suck them. Hard.”
Rick didn’t need telling twice. She crushed their mouths together, swallowing Padma’s rough gasps as she continued to stroke her, but the kiss, for all its scintillating intensity, was nothing but a few seconds of foreplay before she progressed to Padma’s pebbled, painfully erect peaks.
She started with the left one, circling the areola with her tongue as she palmed the right. Padma sighed her encouragement. Her fingers brushed along Erika’s scalp, itching to pull, but endeavouring not to. She had to pace herself, or the moment would be over before it had properly begun; she knew this, although it was only the hard-earned self-discipline of the certified fitness instructor that managed to hold her in check.
Rick licked directly across her nipple and Padma’s hips bucked, her belly jutting into the warm, lean abdomen of her lover.
“Fuck, babe.” Rick’s whisper had a gulpy, watery quality. Her right hand skimmed along Padma’s obliterated waistline, sweeping the underside of her bump before finding the jungle-like swelter of her bush.
Sparks of hot, treacle-sweet arousal ran the length and width of her. Padma’s fingers clamped around Rickie’s skull. She was whimpering again. She couldn’t bloody help herself.
Rick chuckled, but after six years together, Padma knew exactly what that chuckle meant: Erika was skating the edge herself, the joy of sexual fulfilment gathering in her loins.
“Do it. I fucking swear to you, Rick, I— Oh! God!”
Rickie gorged on her breast. There was no other way to describe it. She had been rolling the nipple between her lips, teasingly, but now she was pulling, hard and relentless, and the rush of sensation made Padma cry out, her pussy starting to pound to the rhythm of Rick’s tongue swiping and lapping. Even before Rick pushed inside her, Padma started to flow.
Rickie didn’t let go. Padma’s juices were pooling in her cupped palm, colostrum, no doubt, seeping into her working mouth, but Rick didn’t let go, wouldn’t, as Padma’s hands came down to her shoulders, her nails digging half-moons into her flesh.
She had three fingers inside her now, filling her, pumping and pummelling, and as Rick found her clit and pressed down heavy; as her mouth moved to repeat the exercise with her right tit; as her left hand rested on her belly, protectively, lovingly; Padma’s consciousness of the world around her broke into a million trembling little pieces, her back arching, the howl of her climax loud enough to make the icicles hanging outside their bedroom window dance and glitter in the bright, white December morning.
Well, not really. But it sure felt like it, as far as Padma Lindgren was concerned.
Often quirky, always queer, Elna Holst is an unapologetic genre-bender who writes anything from stories of sapphic lust and love to the odd existentialist horror piece, reads Tolstoy, and plays contract bridge. Find her on Instagram or Goodreads.
Title: Bubbly
Title: Full Bodied
Title: Blush
Title: Christmas Miracle
