For A Good Time Call by Anne Teino & E.J. Russell Blog Tour, Deleted Scene & Giveaway!

Anne Tenino & E.J. Russell - For A Good Time Call Tour Banner

Hi guys! We have Anne Tenino & E.J. Russell popping in today with their new release For A Good Time Call, we have a fantastic deleted scene and a brilliant giveaway, so check out the post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~

Anne Tenino & E.J. Russell - For A Good Time Call Cover

For A Good Time Call

(Bluewater Bay)
by

Anne Tenino & E.J. Russell

Thirty-seven-year-old Nate Albano’s second relationship ever ended three years ago, and since he’s grace—gray asexual—he doesn’t anticipate beating the odds to find a third. Still, he’s got his dog, his hobbies, and his job as a special effects technician on Wolf’s Landing, so he can’t complain—much.

Seth Larson, umpteenth generation Bluewater Bay, is the quintessential good-time guy, content with tending bar and being his grandmother’s handyman. The night they meet, Seth’s looking for some recreational sex to escape family drama. But for Nate, romantic attraction comes before sexual attraction, so while Seth thinks they’re hooking up, Nate just wants to talk . . . genealogy?

Dude. Seriously?

So they declare a “just friends” truce. Then Seth asks for Nate’s help investigating a sinister Larson family secret, and their feelings start edging way beyond platonic. But Nate may want more than Seth can give him, and Seth may not be able to leave his good-time image behind. Unless they can find a way to merge carefree with commitment, they could miss out on true love—the best time of all.

Continue reading “For A Good Time Call by Anne Teino & E.J. Russell Blog Tour, Deleted Scene & Giveaway!”

Frat Boy and Toppy by Anne Tenino ~ Audiobook

61ahKjZUP+L._AA300_Title: Frat Boy and Toppy

Series: Theta Alpha Gamma, #1

Author: Anne Tenino

Narrator: Nick J. Russo

Length: 5 hours and 3 minutes

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (March 7th, 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: Brad is great at meeting other people’s expectations. But his own? Not so much. Take the gay thing. Okay, so yeah. It took a morning meeting with a frat brother’s hairy, naked ass for him to admit it, but he knows the truth about himself now. Let the gay life commence.

Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. He hasn’t quite determined how to come out to anyone, even Sebastian, the geeky-hot TA in his history class. Sebastian is everything Brad is not. Intellectual, suave, hairy. Out. And he doesn’t seem interested in Brad, even when Brad makes a fool of himself trying to catch his notice.

Score one for foolery: Sebastian does more than notice Brad; he takes him to bed. Brad’s been with plenty of girls, but with Sebastian, the sex is something else entirely – hot, mind-blowing, affirming, and a little domineering in a way that drives him wild. But when great sex turns into something more – dare he admit the “L” word? – Brad must face the crushing realization that Sebastian doesn’t feel the same. Unless, of course, he does.

After all, even grad students can be idiots about matters of the heart.

©2012 Anne Tenino (P) 2016 Riptide Publishing

Product Link: http://amzn.to/1NyCar2

Reviewer: Gigi

Review: This cute and sexy coming out story put a smile on my face!

Assertive and sexy Sebastian, confident in his role as seductive lay-‘em-and-leave-‘em TA, is sideswiped by a cute yet vulnerable jock, Brad, who is just starting to find himself and test the gay waters. Oddly enough it seems the important people in Brad’s life noticed the gay long before he came to terms with it himself.

There are many comedic parts of this story, and plenty of inner dialogue that made me grin. The sex scenes are intimate yet erotic with some fun dominance/submissive scenes. There are first kisses, first frottage, first well…and I can’t’ forget the repentance with toys! Damn, Sebastian can be hot Dom, and enjoying Brad play the submissive, cute and cuddly jock role…made for some topsy-turvy fun! A lot of cute and a little kink!

The narrator was pretty good at creating unique voices for each character which I always appreciate. The intoxicated Brad voice was a bit odd, but the rest was a great fit. I loved it every time I heard Sebastian’s character call Brad “Honey”, made me puddle every time.

Generally, Frat Boy and Toppy was a light, yet endearing coming out story that pulled my heartstrings and struck my funny bone.

Definitely worth a listen! I was either laughing or panting for most of the book!

Lights, Camera, Cupid! Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway!

Anthology - Lights, Camera, Cupid Banner

Hi guys, we have Lights, Camera, Cupid! and it’s incredible authors stopping by today on the Valentine blog tour. There’s a fabulous Valentine’s giveaway and my review of Lights, Camera, Cupid! for you to check out but no excerpt this time (I couldn’t find one to nick *pout*) but trust me these are great stories 😉 anyway check out the post and leave a comment to enter this great giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~

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 Lights, Camera, Cupid!

 (A Bluewater Bay Valentine’s Day Anthology)
by

L.A. Witt, Z.A. Maxfield, Anne Tenino, S.E. Jakes, Amy Lane

Cupid is visiting Bluewater Bay, and he’s leaving chaos in his wake.

Nothing’s been the same in this sleepy little logging town since Hollywood came to shoot the hit TV show Wolf’s Landing—especially Valentine’s Day.

In L.A. Witt’s Just Another Day, beloved actors Levi Pritchard and Carter Samuels have an announcement for their fans, while in Z.A. Maxfield’s I’ll Be There, actor Spencer Kepler and his boyfriend Nash Holly brave a blizzard and a fan convention to spend their first February the 14th together.

Of course, it’s not just TV stars celebrating the day. In Anne Tenino’s Helping Hand, an aspiring artist eager to escape Bluewater Bay decides he just might have a reason to stay: lust-inspiring logger Gabriel Savage. In S.E. Jakes’s No Easy Way, a local teacher reconnects with an old lover working security on the film set. And in Amy Lane’s Nascha, a Bluewater Bay elder recalls how his own unconventional family used to celebrate the holiday.

Real life may be nothing like TV, but when Cupid comes to town, there’s plenty of romance and drama to go around.

Continue reading “Lights, Camera, Cupid! Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway!”

Turning Tricks by Anne Tenino

TurningTricksLGTitle: Turning Tricks
Series: Sequel to 18% Gray
Task Force Iota, #2
Author: Anne Tenino
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: Novel (164 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (May 29th 2012)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts
Blurb: James Ayala thought life would be smooth sailing once he escaped from a Red Idaho reeducation camp and returned to Blue Oregon. He was supposed to get answers about the biocybernetic chip that made him empathic, face the man who implanted it, and then ride off into the sunset with his new boyfriend, Matt Tennimore.

Life, however, has other plans: the bad guy dies without giving them any answers, they left their horse in Idaho, and Gramma Anais finds a parasite on James’s implant-one that forces James into isolation. Matt just got James back to Oregon where he wanted him, and extraneous brain hardware or not, he has no intention of letting him go. But James hesitates to move in with him. Despite his hurt, Matt has to man up and do his job, leaving James behind, while the rest of the team struggles to find the real mastermind behind the implant and the parasitic “Trick”-before it takes over James’s brain. But will it be too little, too late to save him?

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2959&cPath=55_438

Reviewer: Tams
Review: This book is the second in a series that must be read in order or you won’t fully understand the concept behind the characters, world, and storyline.

Matt Tennimore and James Ayala managed to make it out of Red Idaho and have now returned to Blue Oregon, and Matt’s insane family. You know that old saying ‘no rest for the wicked’? The tenuous relationship between these two must endure a few more hurdles before they can have their happily ever after.

The parasite in James’s brain that enhances his psychic abilities has become dangerous, and Anais isolates him in an attempt to isolate the problem. While James is dealing with the ramifications of the implant, Matt is sent back into the Red zone for another extraction. If James survives the ever-evolving implant and Matt survives the extraction, will their still fragile relationship survive the anxiety that is a result of separation?

A lot of the things I loved about the first book were sadly missing in this book. Matt’s fierceness was absent, and that was one of his best qualities. He was overly emotional which bordered on annoying. There was a dry, witty humor surrounding 18 % as well that was rarely seen in this installment. I’ll give the author a pass on that aspect though as the story went a little darker this time around. Matt’s crazy and eccentric family is just as kooky as ever though, and the overwhelming attraction that Matt and James share was ever-present.

While the first half of the book is melodramatic, confusing and a bit slow. The story does pick up and remind the reader why you picked up the book in the first place. Because Tenino is an inventive writer and this world she has created is still highly engaging. So while I didn’t love this book, I did like it.

I still recommend this series, especially if you are a fan of the sci-fi/dystopian genre. Matt and James are still as sexy as ever and I look forward to seeing where Tenino goes with the relationship between Logan and Lazlo!

Poster Boy by Anne Tenino Blog Tour, Guest Post, Giveaway & Review!

 

Anne Tenino - Poster Boy _TourBanner(2)

Hiya peeps look who we have with us today… Riptide Publishing’s Anne Tenino with her newest release Poster Boy from her Theta Alpha Gamma series, she has a fantastic giveaway and a guest post about Beer Terrorists!!!! So I leave you Anne’s hands while you join in the fun and then check out Thommie’s review <3 ~Pixie~  

Welcome to the Poster Boy Blog Tour! *confetti*

As you may or may not know, Poster Boy is the fifth in the Theta Alpha Gamma series, and (at least as far as I’m able to be sure about such things) the last TAG book. No, no, don’t be sad, be happy—we’re gonna go out in style!

Let’s discuss the nitty-gritty: the Blog Tour Giveaway. The prize package this time includes: one lovely “Theta Alpha Gamma Beer Terrorist Response Team” sweatshirt (I believe I have sizes M-XXL available, choice of two styles); one paperback copy of Frat Boy and Toppy with the new cover art, signed and inscribed to the winner; a bar of soap I bought in Les Baux (was going to send olives from Sainte-Remy, but we ate them . . . sorry about that) and; of course, one penis crocheted by moi.

How does one win, you ask? By following the tour, collecting all the official “prize” words (posts will have them clearly marked), and using them as directed at the end of this post (it’s complicated).

Happy word hunting, and enjoy the tour (psssssst, this one is heavy on the cut scenes).

* * *

Anne Tenino - Poster Boy - image

Poster Boy buy link.

It’s all fun and games until someone puts his heart out.

When Jock meets sexy grad student Toby at a frat party, things finally start looking up. After having been outed to his hockey team and then changing schools, he figures he’s due something good—like the sex he missed out on in the closet. Toby seems like a great place to start, and their night together is an awesome introduction to the fine art of hooking up.

Toby’s heart takes a bruising after the near-perfect experience with Jock leads to . . . nothing. He’s been left on the outside as his friends pair up into blissful coupledom, and he’s in danger of never completing (or starting) his thesis. Can’t something go right?

Then Toby’s coerced into chaperoning a Theta Alpha Gamma trip to France. Not that he’s complaining. What better place to finish his thesis and get over that frat boy? Except Jock’s outing is leaked to the press, making him an unwilling gay rights martyr, and he decides France is a great escape, too. It’s a break from reality for both guys, but they soon find their connection is as real as it gets.

* * *

Anne Tenino - Poster Boy _150x300(1)

 

Nominally, the Theta Alpha Gamma books are contemporary romantic comedy. There’re no shifter, no aliens, no vampires, no magical realms, no Byronic men in breeches, none of that stuff. Just fratbros, grad students and the necessary supporting characters to make things go.

Yep, nothing paranormal here. But fantasy? Now, I can make an argument for that . . .

Beer terrorists. There are, among the TAG bros, those who believe ardently in the existence of a shadowy, nefarious, tea-totaling militia that is a clear and present threat to the world’s beer supply. Do you see where the fantasy element comes in, now?

Occasionally, someone will tell me that “real” frat boys wouldn’t buy into this sort of fantasy. Probably not, but I’m not in the business of pedaling reality. I’m in the business of telling a story, and in my storyland, guys who still remember playing “siege” and “dragon slayer” as kids can go ahead and let loose. Go ahead and believe that forming a Beer Terrorist Response Team and implementing a training program in Provence is perfectly reasonable and sane. Have some fun. Play beer terrorist.

Readers of the series may know the concept of a beer terrorist was born in a previous book, Sweet Young Thang, when the TAG Alumni Association (kinda, sorta) try to cut off the brothers’ beer money unless they voted to rescind a membership policy welcoming gay and bi members. I could have left it at that, and come up with some new bizarre thing for the TAG guys to do in Poster Boy, but the idea of refined, complacent Provence overrun by crazy, fantasy-addled college boys? Yeah, it would take a stronger author than me to resist.

I remember the very day that I decided to have a select few of the (weirder) fratbros go to Provence and start some kind of Beer Terrorist Response Team training camp. The idea came to me in the car (as they like to do—ideas are sneaky little things, and prefer to reveal themselves when there’s no writing utensil around and they can’t be captured), and when that happens, I make a voice memo on my phone. I always put the date and time on these memos, and when I transcribe them later I make a note of that date and time.

On September 12th, 2013 (at 8:27 a.m.), I made a note to myself to have the fratbros “see this trip as a training camp for anti-beer terrorist response team. Gets ridiculous. Keep it secret from Toby.”

I offer you this voice memo snippet out of guilt, because I know there was an inciting incident. Something that made me think of sending them, too. I just can’t remember what it was, in spite of trying to etch it into my memory. Yes, it’s true; as I age, my memories are mostly made up of remembering I thought of something I wanted to remember, and even that something in particular made me think of it. But can I remember the actual thing or the thing that made me think of the thing? No.

Which brings us full circle (I’m serious, bear with me) to why I write these sort of fantasy/pretend threads into my work—because I’m no longer young. I’ve seen too much of the world to believe that (should beer terrorists even be a real thing) I have any hope of slaying that dragon. I’ve heard “that’s ridiculous,” or “that’s impossible” too many times in this life. But there’s one thing I can still do, and that’s create a world where those kinds of “pretend” things can survive, and even flourish.

For anyone who’s confused, let me make it clear—yes, Poster Boy is foremost a love story. It’s just a love story with an interesting (and possibly deluded) set of secondary characters.

It’s a contemporary romantic comedy fantasy.

* * *

Giveaway!

Anne Tenino - Poster Boy - Prize-Cache3

For those of you playing to win the blog tour prize cache, here’s the word: shenanigans.

The word game—the rules are that I provide a bunch of words, and you have to create an ode to testicles. Hey, it’s fair—I gave you an ode to testicles in the book (well, part of one), you should give me one in return, using all the words from the tour. You may add any other words you need to, but it must include every word I gave out on the tour.

Of course, creative cheating might receive a pass from me . . .

At the end of the tour, send your ode to me at anne @ annetenino.com and I will choose one lucky winner from all the entries I receive by paying one of my children some exorbitant amount to draw an ode out of a hat (or other handy receptacle). All masterpieces must be to me by May 4th, 2014 at midnight Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -7:00). For a schedule of all tour stops, you can go here.

Oh, and:

*If the winner will be at GRL, GayRomance Northwest or the RT Booklover’s Convention, I’m also offering a lunch with me. And yes, I’ll pay. 😉

(Link to enter Rafflecopter giveaway)

Anne Tenino Rafflecopter giveaway!

(Ends 29th April 2014)

* * *

About Anne

Raised on a steady diet of Monty Python, classical music and the visual arts, Anne Tenino was—famously—the first patient diagnosed with Compulsive Romantic Disorder. Since that day, Anne has taken on conquering the M/M world through therapeutic writing. Finding out who those guys having sex in her head are and what to do with them has been extremely liberating.

Anne’s husband finds it liberating as well, although in a somewhat different way. Her two daughters are mildly confused by Anne’s need to twist Ken dolls into odd positions. However, other than occasionally stealing Ken1’s strap-on, they let Mom do her thing without interference.

Wondering what Anne does in her spare time? Mostly she lies on the couch, eats bonbons and shirks housework.

Check out what Anne’s up to now by visiting her site. http://annetenino.com

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Review:

Anne Tenino - PosterBoy_500x750(1)Title: Poster Boy

Series: Theta Alpha Gamma #5

Author: Anne Tenino

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Humor / Frat-Boys

Length: Novel

ISNB: 978-1-62649-130-4

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (April 21st 2014)

Heat: Explicit

Heart: Black heart (cards)Black heart (cards)Black heart (cards)Black heart (cards) 3.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: It’s all fun and games until someone puts his heart out.

After being outed to his hockey team and then changing schools, Jock figures he’s due for something good—like the sex he missed out on in the closet. Toby, the hot grad student he meets at a frat party, seems like a great place to start, and their night together is an awesome introduction to the fine art of hooking up.

Toby’s heart takes a bruising after the near-perfect experience with Jock leads to . . . nothing. He’s been left on the outside as his friends pair up into blissful coupledom, and he’s in danger of never completing (or starting) his thesis. Can’t something go right?

Then Toby’s coerced into chaperoning a Theta Alpha Gamma trip to France. Not that he’s complaining. What better place to finish his thesis and get over that frat boy? Except Jock’s outing is leaked to the press, turning him into an unwilling gay rights martyr, and he decides France would be a great escape, too. It’s a break from reality for both guys, but they soon find their connection is as real as it gets.

Purchase Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/poster-boy

Review: And the TAG boys are back this time around with Jock and Toby’s story. Honestly it was about time for Toby to find his mate and I was so glad to see who Jock really was, as in the previous book all I got of him was Tank’s little brother, and boy did Tank smothered Jock down.
But here we are, our guys in full display and I must admit I was surprised by both main characters and their personalities. Truth be told I was surprised by the whole book as it was a bit different from the rest of the series while still retaining the humor and fun we are used to.

Jock is a character made of many layers and they slowly get out. There were times I loved him and God, there were times I thought what a complete jerk. But even as I was totally wanting to rip him to shreds at times he managed with one line to melt my heart, not in a sappy way though. I must commend the author’s ability to make sappy lines not feel sappy at all. She created a personality for Jock that was a blend of smart, sexy, naïve, and endearingly “slow” all at once. And she gave him the ability to work his “flaws” on his own, with an honesty that made you swoon and actually love the kid.

As for Toby, oh dear, where did that cynical, guy with that overconfident smirk go? Who was this new Toby we got to witness reshaping in this book? I loved every single part of his transformation. I loved every moment of his sentimentality. Most of all I loved Toby, the frat-boy secret General. He was a glorious character and the link that connected everything and everyone in this book. He was also an incredible lover. I think he surpasses many characters when it comes to being a considerate lover/partner. Both our guys together though were pretty brilliant. The scenes between them were not only sensual and erotic, they were interesting, intriguing, and downright gripping in the way they made you want to know what was coming next, and how the relationship would eventually evolve. I loved this couple not just because they were hot, but for all this relationship represented.

As for the “Boys” and their adventures in France, I don’t think there are words. Oh my God, one must read this book if only for Danny’s sake, I can’t say how much he made me laugh. Noah *groans* was also a star in his own way here and dear author, give the poor guy a break already. We already saw how “disturbed” Turbo was by his bisexuality. Enlighten the guy and make poor Noah smile aye?

Action-wise though I think the series has a penchant for overreaction and surrealism. Yet again the “fratbro’s” antics managed to cause a scene, this in international territory.

Overall this was yet another sweet and charming story in the TAG universe, one that can’t stand alone albeit with caution as there are many elements mentioned on the prequels that could cause a bit of confusion here. However in my opinion you could read this book and enjoy it even without the missing intel. Best though you pick out the books in the series, they are guaranteed to give you fits of laughter, steaming relationships and a great deal of fun with character written with a lovely humoristic pen. Enjoy!

Sweet Young Thang by Anne Tenino

17830655Title: Sweet Young Thang

Series: Theta Alpha Gamma, #3

Author: Anne Tenino

Genre: Romance / Humor

Length: Novel (419 pages)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (July 22nd, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: When Plan A fails, turn to Man A.

Thanks to Collin Montes, Theta Alpha Gamma now welcomes gay and bisexual students. Persuading his Uncle Monty, president of the TAG Alumni Association, that the open approach won’t adversely affect TAG’s reputation is Collin’s own first step toward coming out. As long as there are no repercussions, he’ll escape the closet by graduation.

Enter repercussions, stage left: someone rigs the TAG House water heater to launch through the ceiling, and then plants a bomb—thankfully unsuccessful—in the fraternity’s basement. Now Collin has his hands full not only trying to convince his uncle that this might not be the work of homophobes, but also dealing with a fratful of brothers worried about their kegger fridge.

Paramedic Eric Dixon can’t stop thinking about the kid he met during a call at his former college fraternity house. The age gap between them is trumped by sexy eyes, so when Eric sees Collin again at the bomb scene, he pursues him. Soon, Eric is dreaming of being a househusband, fighting to keep Collin safe from whoever’s trying to destroy the fraternity, and helping his sweet young thang realize that repercussions sometimes have silver linings.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/sweet-young-thang-theta-alpha-gamma-3

Review: Well, it’s official; the moment I hear Anne Tenino I immediately think humor, laughs, and hot males.

This book is no different from what I have come to expect from this author. It was fast paced, with an easy plot that didn’t bore you, sweet and hot, and it had great amounts of humor in it making me gasp at time for air.

The characters are charming.

Collin is a young man who’s been under his uncle’s influence for far too long, and the expectations are finally becoming too much to bear. His uncle’s obsession with Collin being an influence during his college years, accumulating contacts for his future in their family business, and being alumni liaison for Theta Alpha Gamma is starting to make Collin fragile around the edges and barely holding it together. Everything starts falling apart though when the pressure to change the membership policy of their fraternity comes with the added bonus of a bomb in their frat house. Trying to convince his uncle that one is not associated with the other is not easy, but when added to that is the fact that Collin gets into a relationship with a much older man who incidentally was at the same frat the time his uncle was… well, let’s just say the anxiety levels skyrocket and Collin has to make his hardest decisions during the turmoil. Let it not be said he doesn’t function well under pressure.

This character was indeed amazing. No common frat boy here. He’s composed and mature beyond his years and that has a different kind of appeal, one I didn’t expect really. I fell in trance reading about all the pressuring things happening to him one after the other, waiting to see when this character would break and how the story would go from then on. However, he never broke, or if he had his lashing, it was quite mild and yet again composed. It was his interaction with Eric that actually gave him the proper setting to shine and made me fond with him.

Eric on the other hand I believe was the reason or the main factor for me liking this story so much. As good as this pair looked together, and as hot as they were, I think for me Eric has his own light above that makes him stand out. I loved the age gap, I loved the silver fox profile, I loved his character, I loved his body, and how he often used it. I loved most of all his chicken. The entire picture Eric presented was beyond alluring, even if it came as soft and sweet. Now if I had an issue with the instant love and insecurities that came with being older and his fears of Collin dumping him, they didn’t overwhelm me at all during this read and I managed not only to bear that sappy/sweet I love you and corny pet names, but also to actually laugh with it and enjoy them immensely. It helped a lot that when those two came together it was incredibly erotic for me. They were plain old hot and every single time a scene came around it was different and unique, making you want to read it all the more for it. On top of it Eric was such a romantic character that everything he did with Collin had that quality, even the frantic first time was brilliant and made you want to say awww.

As for the plot itself, I found it interesting that the author didn’t take the suspense way here. We knew who did it from the beginning. We might have not known motives, but as the Marshall said, they didn’t really matter till the very end. So the suspense was taken from our hands and let us focus on the aftermath of the bombing. The romance that was born in the very ashes of the frat house, the hilarious events that followed the frat boys to their new dwellings, and the growth that necessarily came after the drama and the effect it had for Collin’s whole life from then on.

Was it realistic? I don’t know, never been in dorms or sorority myself so that concept is alien to me. Did I enjoy it though? Yes, very much so and found the entire book an effortless, easy and fun ride. This is the kind of novel one reads to really get entertained and put a smile on your face. Strongly recommended!

Good Boy by Anne Tenino

18308701Title: Good Boy

Series: Theta Alpha Gamma, #4

Author: Anne Tenino

Genre: Erotic Romance / D/s

Length: Novella (67 pages)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (October 7th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Brad “Frat Boy” Feller and Sebastian “Toppy” DeWitt have been together for nine months, and their relationship is as hot as ever. The only cloud Brad sees on their horizon is Sebastian’s stress over his thesis. And their uncertain future together after graduation. And how Sebastian sometimes takes Brad for granted. And Sebastian’s unwillingness to introduce Brad to his father.

Other than that, everything’s awesome.

All of Sebastian’s energy is currently devoted to his thesis, and getting into a top-notch PhD program. Fortunately, his boyfriend takes care of all the domestic stuff and Sebastian’s needs. Any minor strain between them will disappear and they’ll return to the status quo after Sebastian graduates. As long as nothing upsets their delicate balance in the meantime.

Then a friend Brad once had a small fling with is forced to take refuge with them, and Frat Boy and Toppy’s delicate balance topples like an elephant on a water ski. Now Sebastian has to face some truths about how he’s been treating Brad, what he wants for their future, and what he has to do to get it.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/good-boy

Review: Remember the fire at the TAG house? Remember how Collin needed a place to stay and Brad offered to house him for the night? Yeah, that’s the point in time of the Theta Alpha Gamma Universe where this story picks up.

Sebastian has been a non-entity lately, obsessed with his thesis he managed to royally screw up things between him and Brad. Neglecting his lover yes, but even worse not even realizing he was doing it, until Collin showed up and his irritation joined by a healthy dose of jealousy caused a scene. Still he didn’t realize he was on the down road, but things started falling back in place, the little puzzle pieces making more sense when Brad went to his depression routine of baking cookies…

Yeah, Brad was in a place where his entire relationship with Sebastian seemed to be going nowhere. He felt not only neglected, but in limbo, not knowing what the future might bring. Thinking hard of what to do and how to phrase it so he’d make himself understood the last thing Brad expected was to be confronted when in this process. But Sebastian’s wary look of uncertainty made him jump to action and lay everything out and bare, risking this limbo state they were in for a chance to make things work… or not.

This novella was pretty fast and it cured me from wondering what the heck happened after Collin left Brad’s place. Honest confession, I really dislike Sebastian, or at least I did for most of the read. I think the feeling that he’s a total jerk still hasn’t left me and the fact that Brad didn’t make him squirm from that unacceptable attitude has me uncomfortable. I just felt pissed beyond my norm with Sebastian’s feeling of entitlement when it came to Brad. Yes, as the story progressed Sebastian had lots of inner talking and enlightenment, understanding where he lacked and even finding the reasons behind his behavior – which I must say made perfect sense – but really, that dinner scene went without revenge damn it. (Rant over.) As for Brad himself as a character, I just love him. It is amazing reading about him outside of his relationship, interacting with his friends, and then seeing him with Sebastian. The change is so dramatic, makes me simply adore this character.

Other than that, the book is fairly erotic. The D/s relationship and how it changed, the solidifying if you will, were nicely described. Tenino’s talent at writing some seriously hot and sensual love scenes is undeniable, I loved every single one of them and the way they affected each previous and following event. It was so easy to get lost in this couple’s passion and lifestyle, nothing felt out-of-place (except at the beginning) and it made for a very, very enjoyable read.

If I have some hang up, they are mostly due to the plot and ending. It was so short for me and I kept expecting the meeting with Daddy to take place. Perhaps that’s something for the future but I felt cheated somehow that that wasn’t totally solved in this book.

Overall, if you’re a fan of this series, I suppose you already have a copy of this book, for me it was a lovely addition. If you haven’t read any of the books though, this is a lovely D/s based story that in my opinion could easily be read as a standalone, and is highly enjoyable. Recommended!

 

18% Grey by Anne Tenino (Audiobook)

51pCu3vStVL._SL300_Title:  18% Gray

Series:  Task Force Iota book #1

Author:  Anne Tenino

Genre:   Dystopian Romance

Length:  9 hours and 1 minute

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press (07/20/2012)

Heat Level:  Moderate to Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb:   In a future where the United States has split along party lines, Agent Matt Tennimore’s job is to get people out of the Confederated Red States, whether they’re captured special ops agents from his own country or gay CRS citizens who’ve petitioned for asylum. He never expected to have to retrieve his high school crush, aka the guy who ostracized him for being gay.

Rescuing James Ayala isn’t going to be easy: he’s crawling with tracking nanos and has a cybernetic brain implant that’s granted him psychic power he isn’t sure how to control. That’s the good news. The bad? The implant is compromising James’s mental stability.

So they’re on the run, avoiding surveillance by AI aircraft and hiding from enemy militia. Then James confesses he tormented Matt in high school because James wanted him. Matt can’t resist the temptation James offers, but he wants so much more than sex, assuming they ever make it home alive. Is James really a good bet when he’s got a ticking time bomb in his brain and there’s the question of how much he’s actually changed?

Product Link Dreamspinner:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3118

Product Link Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/18-Gray-Audiobook/B008N0F3LU/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1383422624&sr=1-1

Reviewer:   Tams

Review:  I loved this book!! My three favorite genres are dystopian, m/m and zombie… so when I can get any combination of the three I am usually in heaven. Add to that the expert narration of Paul Morey and this book was pure bliss. Seriously, the guy could read the phone book and make my toes curl!

A century from now the continent is divided into two parties. The Confederated Red States which is run by a strict protocol, a military state if you will, where being gay or lesbian will get you killed, if the vigorous reconditioning camp they assign you to doesn’t make you straight. And the Blue States where you are still allowed the freedom to be yourself, to be who you are. Matt Tennimore and his family are blue’s and their job is to rescue gays and lesbians from CRS and give them asylum. Matt’s latest mission is a CRS agent gone rogue, James Ayala, who also happens to be his high school crush.

The story follows Matt and James and their cross-country escapades trying to reach the safety of the Blue States. It takes a little time before James becomes comfortable enough with Matt to tell him about the implant. As they dodge CRS soldiers in a fight for their lives, they quickly learn that old feelings long ago buried are resurfacing with a vengeance. James psychic abilities are morphing along the way as well, he goes from being able to sense Matt’s feelings to hearing his thoughts and eventually, feeling what he feels as well.

When Matt is seriously injured, they find sanctuary in a convent that is run by two lesbian nuns, and then the secret of their sexuality is discovered by a horny straight nun. Her interests are more in watching than exposing though. Once Matt is healed they continue their journey for safety within the blues with said horny nun and a talking horse in tow. Did I forget to mention that during their journey they happened upon a horse that James can communicate with telepathically?

This book was the perfect balance of seriousness and comedy. They are, in fact, on the run with the threat of death if found because they are gay. But Tenino mixed in enough comic relief to balance the story out perfectly. Whether it was Miz Horse who would huff and puff if she didn’t like what James or Matt told her to do. Or the horny nun that was bound and determined to turn the gay boys straight, at the expense of her virginity gladly. Or James himself with the faces he would make and his extremely overprotective nature when it came to Matt’s safety.

Narrated by the god of narration, Paul Morey, this book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The nine hours listening blew by, I was so sad when I came to the end. I didn’t want it to end! Morey can read the lusty, passionate scenes like a top-notch high dollar porn star. And I assure you, there were plenty of said scenes between James and Matt.

This is a must read for fans of dystopian, m/m, strong overbearing alpha males and sci-fi nuts!

too Stupid to Live by Anne Tenino

16149703Title: Too Stupid To Live

Series: #3 of Whitetail series/ #1 of Romancelandia series

http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/series/romancelandia

Author: Anne Tenino

Genre: MM Romance / Contemporary

Length: Novel+

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Reviewer: Thommie

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5Hearts

Blurb: It isn’t true love until someone gets hurt.

Sam’s a new man. Yes, he’s still too tall, too skinny, too dorky, too gay, and has that unfortunate addiction to romance novels, but he’s wised up. His One True Love is certainly still out there, but he knows now that real life is nothing like fiction. He’s cultivated the necessary fortitude to say “no” to the next Mr. Wrong, no matter how hot, exciting, and/or erotic-novel-worthy he may be.

Until he meets Ian.

Ian’s a new man. He’s pain-free, has escaped the job he hated and the family who stifled him, and is now—possibly—ready to dip his toe into the sea of relationships. He’s going to be cautious, though, maybe start with someone who knows the score and isn’t looking for anything too complicated. Someone with experience and simple needs that largely revolve around the bedroom.

Until he meets Sam.

Sam’s convinced that Ian is no one’s Mr. Right. Ian’s sure that Sam isn’t his type. They can’t both be wrong . . . can they?

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/too-stupid-live

Review: In between battling off the heat and nursing my poor abs that got hurt from excessive laughter this book was a perfect hit in the romance genre for me.

I met Anne Tenino’s writing style with the first book in this series Whitetail Rock and I loved her. It was a short story but it was good. Then came The Fix and even though it was even shorter than the previous one (more like a filler) it was still good. And we meet Sam and Ian there, shortly, but if someone told me that this author would make such a good story out of them I’d laugh and wave it off. As it is, I’m the fool for this story was perfect.

Sam, as I met him, was a weird guy, too much into romance novels, too much expecting life to be like one. He was so encompassed in them I never thought he could see reality, if it hit him in the face. And that was that is somewhat true. Sam is this very tall, very skinny, very awkward guy with a load of issues trailing him. His romantic past, not so romantic, you could even say he’s been awfully used. But then again, the way he sees himself no wonder he doesn’t expect good things to ever happen to him. Yeah, sure, he dreams of mister perfect, and while I roll my eyes at that, mister perfects hits him right in the head… with a rugby ball… and his semi naked…

The moment Sam lays eyes on Ian he’s mesmerized. How could he not when Ian runs toward him half-naked, with only his shorts looking like he came down from the Highlands. Only thing missing is the damn kilt and a sword on his hand. Before Sam could think twice he asks Ian for a cup of coffee… Big, big mistake. A Demi-God like Ian would never, ever, ever go out with him… Right?

Right! Ian is anything but relationship guy. Sam is not even close to being his type and he bluntly tells him so. Better be cruel now and save the kid a heartbreak, cause Ian is far from perfect. Issues with his family have left Ian trying to find his emotional balance and in order to do that he has vowed to stop the pure sex hook-ups and try to find a guy he’d want to be in a relationship with. Not yet, but someday. But Sam? Nah, he’s so not his type.

It’s a stereotype in romance I know, and the plot is pretty much what you think in the beginning. Hot guy meets not so hot guy and falls in love despite him wanting to. That’s the general idea, but, and it’s a big but, Ms. Tenino has an Ace under her sleeve. Her ability to transform a stereotypical romance plot into a perfect, romantic, hot to the boiling point, dipped into humor that is so exquisite you almost never stop laughing your heart out the entire duration of the book, is absolutely, freaking amazing.

Her men are gorgeous and brilliant. Ian is this hard-assed, totally handsome, almost a model guy, ex-fireman with some scars on his back that make him even more sexy, who turns from a guy with emotional/commitment issues to the perfect boyfriend in an almost surreal way. And Sam? Oh God, Sam was a damn crown jewel. Never would have thought it that weird kid could be so funny in his awkwardness and that low self-esteem could be turned is such a cute waiting-to-happen disaster. I laughed with him, I felt sad with him, I felt anxious with him and hell, I felt it all with him along the best ride toward love I’ve recently read. And I’m not even approaching the steaming hot sexual experiences those two had. It’s too hot to touch or even get close. Even the role-playing scene with Ian actually wearing a kilt was perfect (I thought it’d be such a cliché, but then again I already admitted being a big fool judging before reading).

There are probably too many things I want to add in this review that are currently tangled in my brain and won’t come out, but bottom end is I truly enjoyed this book. It was interesting, entertaining and so very romantic that it made it easily in my “to read again” list. Highly recommended for the fans of the genre.