Length (Print & Ebook): ca. 50,000 words / 200 pages
Subgenre: Marc Jillson & The Gazebo is a sweet, sexy M/M romance with humor and a definite HEA. This New Adult, college, redemption story can be read as a standalone.
Warnings: mentions of past violence against one of the MCs (not on page)
Want true, heart-throbbing romance? Put down the Cheetos, and stop being a jackass. The question is, can I do it? I’ve been an epic dick to my friends, my uncle. Him. Travis Hunter. Photographer, econ-student, paraplegic. Can I redeem myself? Apologize? Make a fresh start? Hunter seems to think so. Even roped me into saving his favorite gazebo from the bulldozers. The confidence of this man amazes me. He’s no bullshit where I’m all bullshit. I throw up walls where he knocks them down. He’s beautiful, too. Strong arms inked with hummingbirds, a wide teasing mouth, and blue eyes that read me like an open book. He looks at me, and I look away. These shivery feelings I have for Hunter? They can’t happen. I don’t deserve him. Where did I put those Cheetos? ~ ~ ~ Marc Jillson & The Gazebo is a sweet, sexy M/M romance with humor and a definite HEA. This New Adult, college, redemption story is book two in the “Love Inscribed” series. The books in the Love Inscribed series are standalone romances, and can be read in any order. LIAM DAVIS & THE RAVEN: Liam & Quinn’s story MARC JILLSON & THE GAZEBO: Marc & Hunter’s story
What author Anyta Sunday says about this release:
I want readers to enjoy a good, steamy romance with a sex-positive, strong MC (Hunter) who helps the other MC (Marc) come to terms with his past, and accept himself as worthy of love.
Release Blitz Teaser:
Marc. Hunter’s soft utterance of my name followed me the rest of the evening. It felt promising. Like maybe I could start with a clean slate. I stared at my computer. Did I dare go back on Demon-Slayage? I groaned as I clicked into the game. I wanted to be on here badly. Nervous butterflies hit my stomach seeing Hunter already online.
DaMage: You’re back! Me: I’m not sure this is a good idea. DaMage: In light of us knowing each other? Me: It was more fun when you didn’t know the real me. DaMage: Are you worried I’m judging you? Me: Aren’t you?
About the Author:
A bit about me: I’m a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love. Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries. I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy. My books have been translated into German, Italian, French, and Thai.
To celebrate the release of Marc Jillson and the Gazebo, Anyta Sunday will be giving away 3 e-bundles of the “Love Inscribed” books, “Liam Davis” & “Marc Jillson”! Must be 18 to enter and win; open internationally.
Blurb: Pax Polo is the swashbuckling guitarist for Serenity Free.
Correction: Was the swashbuckling guitarist for Serenity Free.
Now he sports a black eye and his bros have kicked him out of their band—three weeks before Christmas. It’s an unfamiliar kick to his over-inflated ego, but . . . whatever.
No problem.
Thanks to some stellar eavesdropping, an unexpected angel ornament, and a bribe to open for his favorite band ever, Pax will weasel his way back into his mates’ good graces.
All he has to do is friend Clifford, the neighborhood man-shrew, for the summer. Distract him a bit so Clifford’s younger sister can sneak around.
It sounds like a piece of beginners Beethoven. Jolly good fun.
Easy.
Because, Pax totally knows how to friend people. He has heaps of friends. This shrew’s no match for his shrewd ways. Or is he?
Review: Pax pretty much looses everything just right before Christmas, including the one job he loved. Playing the guitar is not really a job but an enjoyment I would say. He has to figure out how to get back in with his buddies. He is the ultimate medlor for one and he has a plan. He just hadn’t planned on Clifford.
Clifford has his own problems. Two that have their eyes on his sister, not going to happen. Where as Pax is trouble and kind of a mess, Cliff it the exact opposite. He is a bit grumpy and well you will see. Now Pax has his eye on Luca getting Cliff’s sister, however Henry would get Pax what he wants.
What is Christmas without a bit of magic, a boring Christmas is what I would say. However not so with this story. Although the first half of the story, I wasn’t really seeing to much of a romance between our two guys. The pace to this story was a too slow in my eyes and didn’t really keep my attention like it should have. However the romance was just a bit slower than that. It made the book feel much longer than it was. I am afraid that my attention wavered quite a bit and didn’t entertain me like I had hoped. Now after the first half, the heat between the two did get intense. The angst that Cliff had when he found out the reason for Pax’s attention was a bit more expected but then again what does one expect. If I had to pick my favorite character in this story, I would probably pick Cliff. He is a grumpy young man who has had a sad past. He just pulls you in a bit more than Pax. Pax just could piss a saint off. He is very quirky. Although I didn’t much care for tricking one so that the guys could get to know an underage girl was a good sign. Also the bribe was a bit much. So there were parts I liked and parts that I could have done without.
Overall I would say it is an enjoyable read but I find that I didn’t really care for it. The author does have an amazing gift at telling a story. However it felt like things were added in that could have been done without. It didn’t really have that much of a Christmas element to it, except for the magical ornament or what ever it was suppose to be. I also didn’t care for the Shakespeare theme that I felt was going on.
Hi guys, we have Anyta Sunday stopping by today with the tour for her new release in the Christmas Angels series Shrewd Angel, we have a fantastic giveaway and Lisa’s review so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Shrewd Angel
(Christmas Angel 06)
by
Anyta Sunday
Pax Polo is the swashbuckling guitarist for Serenity Free.
Correction: Was the swashbuckling guitarist for Serenity Free.
Now he sports a black eye and his bros have kicked him out of their band—three weeks before Christmas. It’s an unfamiliar kick to his over-inflated ego, but . . . whatever.
No problem.
Thanks to some stellar eavesdropping, an unexpected angel ornament, and a bribe to open for his favorite band ever, Pax will weasel his way back into his mates’ good graces.
All he has to do is friend Clifford, the neighborhood man-shrew, for the summer. Distract him a bit so Clifford’s younger sister can sneak around.
It sounds like a piece of beginners Beethoven. Jolly good fun.
Easy.
Because, Pax totally knows how to friend people. He has heaps of friends. This shrew’s no match for his shrewd ways. Or is he?
Hi guys, we have Anyta Sunday stopping by today with her new release in the Christmas Angels series Shrewd Angel, we have a fantastic giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Shrewd Angel
(Christmas Angel 06)
by
Anyta Sunday
Pax Polo is the swashbuckling guitarist for Serenity Free.
Correction: Was the swashbuckling guitarist for Serenity Free.
Now he sports a black eye and his bros have kicked him out of their band—three weeks before Christmas. It’s an unfamiliar kick to his over-inflated ego, but . . . whatever.
No problem.
Thanks to some stellar eavesdropping, an unexpected angel ornament, and a bribe to open for his favorite band ever, Pax will weasel his way back into his mates’ good graces.
All he has to do is friend Clifford, the neighborhood man-shrew, for the summer. Distract him a bit so Clifford’s younger sister can sneak around.
It sounds like a piece of beginners Beethoven. Jolly good fun.
Easy.
Because, Pax totally knows how to friend people. He has heaps of friends. This shrew’s no match for his shrewd ways. Or is he?
Hi guys, we have Anyta Sunday stopping by today to show off the cover to her upcoming release in the Christmas Angels series Shrewd Angel, we have a fantastic giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~ p.s. check out the other cover reveals for the Christmas Angels series!
Shrewd Angel
(Christmas Angel series)
by
Anyta Sunday
Pax Polo is the swashbuckling guitarist for Serenity Free.
Correction: Was the swashbuckling guitarist for Serenity Free.
Now he sports a black eye and his bros have kicked him out of their band—three weeks before Christmas. It’s an unfamiliar kick to his over-inflated ego, but . . . whatever.
No problem.
Thanks to some stellar eavesdropping, an unexpected angel ornament, and a bribe to open for his favorite band ever, Pax will weasel his way back into his mates’ good graces.
All he has to do is friend Clifford, the neighborhood man-shrew, for the summer. Distract him a bit so Clifford’s younger sister can sneak around.
It sounds like a piece of beginners Beethoven. Jolly good fun.
Easy.
Because, Pax totally knows how to friend people. He has heaps of friends. This shrew’s no match for his shrewd ways. Or is he?
.•.•.**❣️Release date: 2nd December 2018 ❣️**.•.•.
Blurb:This year is all about healing the heart, Scorpio. It’s time to leave negative attitudes and stoic facades at the door and let others see the real, more vulnerable you.
Percy Freedman is not grieving. Absolutely not, take that back at once. No, he’s entirely sure that selling his dead aunt’s home and leaving the neighbors he’s known for years is the sane thing to do. Who in their right mind would keep the house that smells like all the hugs he’ll never have again?
Nobody, that’s who.
Well, except his cul-de-sac neighbors. They all seem to think some paint and new furniture will clean the emotional slate. They all want him to stay.
Even his nemesis, Callaghan Glover.
Especially his nemesis, Callaghan Glover.
Lured into a game of Sherlock Gnomes, Percy finds himself hanging out with his neighbors more than might be considered healthy. Along with juggling new and surprising verbal grenades from Cal, and his burgeoning friendship with Gnomber9, Percy is starting to wonder if selling might have been the grief talking after all . . .
That’s right, Scorpio. With a little patience, heartbreak might be a thing of the past . . .
* ~* ~* ~*
“Scorpio Hates Virgo” contains sarcasm, sexual content, a slightly sappy HEA, and an unhealthy obsession with dinosaurs.
It can be read as a standalone.
Review: I loved EVERYTHING about this story, the heartache, the humor, the sarcasm, the ‘frenemies’ motive…I even loved the way each chapter started with a definition! Such a charming book! My only complaint is that it ended, because I could’ve kept reading about this wonderful cul-de-sac forever and ever!
Percy Freedman is hurting after losing his dear aunt, the one who gave him a home when his parents threw him out. Coming back to her home to clear the rest of her things and put it on the market is breaking his heart, but Percy is not letting himself grieve properly. Grieving his aunt means he has to accept that she’s truly gone, and he’s not ready for that. Playing ‘frenemies’ with his neighbor and the person Percy lusts after is exactly what he needs to get his mind off things.
Callaghan Glover is Percy’s long time nemesis, but Callaghan wants more than anything to be Percy’s friend. Both Percy and Cal enjoy their verbal sparring too much to quit any time soon, but their frenemies status turns into a beautiful friendship. Percy has been lusting after Cal for a very long time, but it takes Cal quite a while to figure out his feelings for Percy, and even longer to feel sexually attracted to him. Cal’s demi-sexuality is subtly introduced to the story and integrated in a way that it made Cal’s behavior and feelings towards Percy make sense. Everything tied together in a seamless way, and I loved that more than I can say.
The secondary characters were amazing, especially Cal’s family and Theo’s mother. But to be totally honest I loved them all, and I adored the gnome games and everything else that made the neighborly/community spirit come shining through.
This book made me swoony and there’s nothing better than that!
Hi guys! We have Anyta Sunday and Andy Gallo stopping by today to celebrate the re-release of (Un)Masked, we have a fantastic exclusive excerpt, a short excerpt and a brilliant giveaway, so check out the post and enter that giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
(Un)Masked
by
Anyta Sunday & Andy Gallo
Walker has two wishes: to perform the play of his dreams alongside his best friend at Wellington’s Tory Street Theatre, and to meet that special someone. Someone he’d go to the ends of the earth for. Someone who might only exist in fairy tales.
When Jay meets accordion busker Lethe Cross, it’s like living a dream come true. Lethe’s music captivates Jay, and he resolves to meet the man who plays so beautifully. But then he discovers Lethe’s life is more like a nightmare. The phrase “down on his luck” can’t begin to cover it. Determined to help, Jay does some snooping for answers—and winds up on the wrong end of a centuries-old curse. The good news is there’s a way to break it. The bad news is it might cost Jay his life.
This book was previously published by Dreamspinner Press. This updated 2nd edition has some rewritten parts and has been line edited again.
Hi guys, we have Anyta Sunday stopping by with her brand new release Locked, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway, so check out this new fantasy book and then click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Locked
(Telluric Realm 01)
by
Anyta Sunday
A curse threatens the Winter Kingdom.
A brother is turned to ice.
A rebel uprising is on the horizon.
Marble-maker Rye Cunnings is at the center of it all—and doesn’t know it.
He doesn’t know he’s the lost summer prince. Doesn’t know his blood can unlock Winter’s curse. Doesn’t know why the marbles he makes flutter with magic. All he thinks is that he’s crazy. That he sees things others don’t, like dragons and strange markings on his skin.
But when a dark dragon snatches away Rye’s only friend Milo, he is forced to face the crazy in his life and figure out a way to bring Milo back.
Help comes in the form of Cerdic Leit, a warrior who finds Rye to take him “home” to the Telluric Realm and their kind. All Rye has to do is follow him into Gatreau, the gateway to the four Telluric kingdoms, and all his questions will be answered.
In the hopes of saving Milo, Rye steps into this new and dangerous world. A world where he learns of the Tellurics and their Hansian foes. A world that is swept up in a bitter battle of justice and hate.
Hi guys, we have Anyta Sunday stopping by with her brand new release Locked, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so check out this new fantasy book and then click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Locked
(Telluric Realm 01)
by
Anyta Sunday
A curse threatens the Winter Kingdom.
A brother is turned to ice.
A rebel uprising is on the horizon.
Marble-maker Rye Cunnings is at the center of it all—and doesn’t know it.
He doesn’t know he’s the lost summer prince. Doesn’t know his blood can unlock Winter’s curse. Doesn’t know why the marbles he makes flutter with magic. All he thinks is that he’s crazy. That he sees things others don’t, like dragons and strange markings on his skin.
But when a dark dragon snatches away Rye’s only friend Milo, he is forced to face the crazy in his life and figure out a way to bring Milo back.
Help comes in the form of Cerdic Leit, a warrior who finds Rye to take him “home” to the Telluric Realm and their kind. All Rye has to do is follow him into Gatreau, the gateway to the four Telluric kingdoms, and all his questions will be answered.
In the hopes of saving Milo, Rye steps into this new and dangerous world. A world where he learns of the Tellurics and their Hansian foes. A world that is swept up in a bitter battle of justice and hate.
Title: Hearts Series: N/A Author: Anyta Sunday Genre: Contemporary Length: Short (29 Pages) Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing (December 5th 2014) Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts Blurb: What if your fate is to lose the one you love and be doomed to live in a city of lost hearts?
Is it possible two dead hearts can see life again?
Review: This was a sad short story with a lot of heat in it. It is part of the Love, Loss, Laughter and Lust Anthology. I was not expecting the type of story that I started reading. It was well written, if not too damn short for me. The city has a curse. You will lose your love and your heart.
Daniel and Sam had been in love. Then a fortune-teller told him that he was going to lose that. The fortune-teller knew. So when a new couple moves in next door he warned them. Toby was left without his man and his heart. Now for them to see if they could find it once more, this time with each other.
I cannot really get into the story too much without giving it away. It is a great little story to read however it was not for me. Although the ending was a relief, the story itself was just too much sadness and despair.
It was well written, but altogether not for me.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: It Could Be You Series: Included in the Bollocks Anthology Author: Anyta Sunday Genre: Contemporary Length: Short Story (19 Pages) Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing (November 4, 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Ted has just won 15 million quid.
Or at least, he would have won 15 million quid if he could find his bloody lotto ticket…
Review: This was a cute short story with a lot of heat in it. It is part of the Bollocks Anthology. I think out of all of Anyta’s stories this is the one I liked the most. It has the heat that you would want but true love. I got a kick out of it.
Jenson and Ted have been friends for some time. They had even shared a kiss, although Jenson didn’t remember. Ted used the dates when they met, when they saw each other again, the kiss and so on for the numbers on the ticket. He has been in love with Jenson for some time. A lost ticket shows him how he can win the lottery in a different way.
I got a big kick out of this. I love how friendship can lead into something deeper. I couldn’t really go into the story too much, without giving it away. It is a fast, light-hearted read with quite a bit of meat to it, which is surprising since it wasn’t even twenty pages. I would definitely recommend this.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Heat Level: varies from Low to Explicit with each story
Heart Rating: Overall ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Blurb: Bollocks as a word is a little naughty. It’s a little cheeky. It’s a little rude. And it’s the tongue-in-cheek theme for this collection of short stories celebrating all things English.
You’ll discover a bonk is not a typo for somewhere to keep your money.
A shag isn’t something thick and plush under your feet to keep them warm, though it is guaranteed to heat you up!
And as for a snog, the boys of Bollocks! I can assure you, it’s worth finding out what that Brit term means. The stories will make you laugh. They’ll make you snort. They’ll make you blush. Sigh—they’ll probably make you shake your head.
They may even make you want to catch the next flight to England to find something a little British of your own! It’s not just cricket, or jolly hockey sticks, it’s more… it’s the very British, Bollocks!
Reviewer: Pammie
Review: This anthology has a good mix of stories covering a variety of subjects, and genres. The stories range from warm and snuggly to hot and sexy. All feature bollocks in some way, shape, or form. As with any anthology, some stories are stronger than others are, but overall a good read.
Healing by Tabitha McGowan – ♥♥♥3 Hearts Werewolf meets human healer, and snuggling ensues… but not till the danger that’s threatening them both has been dealt with…
This is a shifter tale with a very relevant message about society targeting those who are different and don’t fit in with rigid ideas of ‘normal’. I really liked Immanuil and Tolly, and would read more of this pairing. Sheep’s Clothing Elin Gregory – ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts Meet Darren Murchison: self-employed plumber and reluctant werewolf…
Another shifter tale and I loved it. Darren and Gethin made a great pair, and I loved the way their relationship developed. The authors have their own twist around shifting which I like. Plus the boys are very hot. No Worries Mate E S Skipper – ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts “Who needs a partner when I have this?” Rangi said, opening his arms out as if to encompass the entire island and surrounding ocean. Who indeed…
A contemporary love story, beautiful and sweet, with two great characters who make a really hot couple. This story has the added bonus of being set in my own home country of New Zealand. Loved it. It Could Be You Anyta Sunday – ♥♥♥3 Hearts Ted has just won 15 million quid. Or at least, he would have won 15 million quid if he could find his bloody lotto ticket…
Another contemporary tale. Ted is hunting for his lost lottery ticket, while simultaneously trying to avoid hearing what his straight friend, roommate, and unrequited love Jenson wants to tell him. As they retrace their steps, Ted explains the reasons for the numbers, most of which have a direct connection to Jenson. A short, sweet story. Just Like Pulling Teeth L J Harris – ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts A trip to the dentist has never been so… interesting…
I could so sympathize with Aiden in regards the dentist, but unlike him, I don’t have a deliciously sexy guy looking after my teeth. I loved the ‘meddling’ sister who sets Aiden up with the dentist with a view to looking after both his wisdom teeth and his love life. A great little story and very sexy guys. DIY Delights Taylin Clavelli – ♥♥♥3 Hearts While renovating his first house with his partner, Mike, Duncan discovers a plethora of reasons to use his favorite word… Bollocks!
This one really didn’t hit my buttons. But if you have a fetish for the word bollocks in all its many uses, and the anatomy itself, you may like this quirky little story. In The Blue Moonlight H Lewis-Foster – ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts A bottom bared to a local bobby means a night out Simon will never forget.
The couple in this contemporary tale have a rather unique first meeting. A sweet, romantic story where an unusual act of spontaneity has a wonderful outcome for our couple. Written in the Stars Lily Veldin – ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts Who needs a holiday when your destiny is Written in the Stars?
I loved this story. A great mix of toe-curling embarrassment, humor, and a great honesty is the best policy ending for the guys.
Hey peeps, today we have Anyta Sunday with her latest release Liam Davis & the Raven. Anyta is also letting us take a peek at an excerpt and she has brought us a giveaway as well! So check out the excerpt and review and then click your little hearts out with the Rafflecopter giveaway to win some very tasty treats 😉 ~Pixie~
Blurb:
Liam Davis is a serious journalist, and he’s good at it.
Or at least, he was. Until the chief of Scribe, the campus magazine, makes him give up his politics column to write for the party page —the party page that is problematic for two reasons: One, it threatens Liam’s chance of getting the traineeship with his apathetic father at his prestigious newspaper company, and two, he has no idea what it means to party, let alone how to capture this new audience’s attention!
But Liam Davis is no quitter. He’s determined to prove to his father, the chief, and above all himself that he can do it—and do it well.
Life doesn’t make it easy. Not when Freddy Krueger comes stalking out of the shadows to attack him. Luckily the Raven, the campus vigilante—the vigilante getting hate mail sent to Scribe’s opinions page—comes to his rescue.
Now, between finding the perfect angle for his party page columns and making friends (and perhaps something more?), Liam needs to find this mysterious Raven — not only to thank him, but to warn him to watch his back.
Excerpt:
Two voices swam around me. Male and female. There was a gentle rumbling. I groaned, clutching my head as I peeled my eyes open. I was in the back of a car.
I jerked upright.
Bad move. My head pounded.
Dark hair streaked with blue blurred in front of me, and the female spoke, “We’re taking you to UPMC, just hang in there.”
I rubbed my eyes under my—still intact glasses, thank God!—and let my vision clear.
The voice belonged to the girl from the party, the one who’d come in with My Angle behind her. “I’m . . . fine. Just a bit disoriented.” And confused. What happened? That Freddy guy attacked out of nowhere; if it hadn’t been for that hooded guy showing up . . .
I shivered and shifted my focus. Sitting in the driver’s seat was My Angle—I couldn’t see him well, but I recognized his scent. Axe.
“You’re My Angle!” I said, the words distorted and easy to mistake.
Blue Streaks laughed. “Wow, Quinn, he must have had quite a fall to think you’re an angel.” She turned to me with a cheerful grin. “That’d be Quinn, and I suspect he’s more spawn of the devil than anything.”
That earned her a whack across the arm. “I just found out my boyfriend’s cheating on me,” he said in a deep voice that vibrated in the air and stirred the hairs on my arms. “Just like that I’m apartment-less, and instead of holing myself up in your room with Super Mario and Pringles, I’m dropping this guy off at the emergency room. You can be nice to me, Shannon.”
She laughed as she shook her head, hair falling in waves over her shoulder. “No. Not happening again. Even after cleaning my sheets, I still had crumbs in my bed for weeks!”
“What’s a few crumbs to my grief?” Quinn asked, turning the car onto College St. and passing my apartment; it was the only floor with all the lights out. “Why not think of it as an opportunity?”
“Opportunity?”
“Think of it as a chance to exfoliate or something.”
“Eww, boys are so gross.”
“One person’s gross is another’s creative.” Quinn angled the rearview mirror. He winked at me. Or was it a trick of the light? Maybe I’d hit my head harder than I thought. “Help me out here, man,” he said. “Together we can prove just how damn awesome us guys are.”
Shannon snorted, and Quinn growled, low and playful.
“I think it depends on the guy,” I said, tenderly touching the back of my bruised head. Luckily I didn’t feel any blood.
Shannon agreed and settled a hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “This one straddles the line between grossest and most awesome guy in the world.” She gave him a fond smile and swung her gaze my way. “You hanging in there all right?”
I nodded and rested my head back on the seat.
“We’ll be there in a minute.”
I shut my eyes as she continued bantering with Quinn. The sound of their voices comforted me, and I suddenly began to laugh. Quietly at first, but then the bouts got louder and my breathing became more labored. Tears tickled the edges of my eyes.
“What’s so funny?” Shannon asked, and Quinn frowned in the rearview mirror.
Funny? No idea. Nothing. Everything.
I shrugged and burst into another uncontrolled bout that squeezed my stomach so hard it hurt.
“Jesus,” Quinn said with a half-laugh, sending me into another episode. “I think I better drive faster.”
A born and raised New Zealander, Anyta Sunday has been exploring the literary world since she start reading Roald Dahl as a kid. Inspired, stories have been piling up in her head ever since. Fast forward to her mid-twenties and jump a few countries (Germany, America, and back again), and she started putting pen to paper. When she’s not writing or chasing her kid around, she’s reading, hiking, watching Joss Whedon series, attempting Pilates or curling up with her two cats. Updates on her projects can be found at anytasunday.com.
Publisher: An Anyta Sunday Publication (10th March 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb:Liam Davis is a serious journalist, and he’s good at it.
Or at least, he was. Until the chief of Scribe, the campus magazine, makes him give up his politics column to write for the party page —the party page that is problematic for two reasons: One, it threatens Liam’s chance of getting the traineeship with his apathetic father at his prestigious newspaper company, and two, he has no idea what it means to party, let alone how to capture this new audience’s attention!
But Liam Davis is no quitter. He’s determined to prove to his father, the chief, and above all himself that he can do it—and do it well.
Life doesn’t make it easy. Not when Freddy Krueger comes stalking out of the shadows to attack him. Luckily the Raven, the campus vigilante—the vigilante getting hate mail sent to Scribe’s opinions page—comes to his rescue.
Now, between finding the perfect angle for his party page columns and making friends (and perhaps something more?), Liam needs to find this mysterious Raven — not only to thank him, but to warn him to watch his back.
Review: Liam is a very serious journalist, but his chief at the campus paper has put him on the party page- now Liam has to come up with a way to make it work for him if he wants to pull off the deal with his apathetic father… but Liam’s idea of a good time is writing a great article not attending college party’s. Determined to prove to the chief, his father and also to himself that he can do it Liam attends his first party where he meets someone who could be his first real friend. Attacked on his way home Liam is rescued by the Raven and Liam starts a campaign to discover the Raven’s identity especially when the Scribe begins to receive hate mail to the Raven.
I have to say that I really enjoyed this story and the way that a group of college kids who are so different forged a friendship and accepted each other’s differences. Liam is socially inept, his straight forward manner and analytical mind hasn’t made him any friends but he only has one thing on his mind and that is to complete the challenge set down by his father so he can get a traineeship at his father’s paper. Now that a spanner has been thrown in the works in the shape of the party page Liam sets out to prove that he can master it, but he gets much more than he bargained for. The Raven is a vigilante, who rescues those who are being attacked on campus, but the Raven has made an enemy and Liam is determined to warn the Raven. Liam also makes some surprising friends and one in particular who wants to be more.
Liam is a brilliant character who misses a lot of the social graces his peers have, when he takes on the party page he meets some fantastic people and a mysterious vigilante. Quinn is Liam’s first party angle and over a short time span he begins to become a friend, Hunter is a wonderful character who pushes his friendship onto Liam, Shannon is Hunter’s sister and Quinn’s best friend; she is overly protective of Hunter and a great friend to Quinn. We watch as these people become good friends, as Liam broadens his horizons and figure’s out just who the Raven is… and then saves his new friends even if it means putting his work second.
I really enjoyed watching Liam emerge from his lonely shell and discover new things about himself, I liked watching as he came to realise that what he had found with Quinn, Hunter and Shannon was something precious and to be cultivated. His relationship with Quinn did make me laugh at times just because Liam was so clueless, his experiments and tests to make sure of what he feels showed just how analytical he could be. Quinn has the patience of a saint as he deals with Liam, but he also figured out that Liam isn’t a hearts and flowers type of guy but a straight forward and to the point man. Hunter is a pure gem in this story, stealing the show at times and drawing Liam into their circle of friends. Shannon is the type of girl you never want to cross; she is fiercely protective and fiercely loyal.
I recommend this story if you want a romance with a difference, if you like a story with a little mystery, if you love characters who grow and connect and if you love watching friendships being forged and seeing a social inept man find love.
Check out the Scribe today!
http://liamdavis.anytasunday.com/
Don’t forget to visit the other blogs on the tour:
Teresa Crawford for developing the story and discussing how best to shape the direction of the novel.
Lynda Lamb for keeping me sane while I took so long to get this one ready, and then for going through and catching all my nasty spelling and formatting errors.
Blurb: Lenny’s life in the small village of Waldau hasn’t changed in years.
Now it’s time to make a change: a new life, a new city, and a chance to forget his cousin Julien–the boy he . . . well, the boy who left him behind.
But just as Lenny’s future looks like it’s becoming reality, Julien returns, bringing with him all the sweet, wonderful, and painful memories of their past.
Review: It took me a long time to get into this story. It kept going back and forth between the past and the present. I have read other books that go back and forth but not as much as this one did. I loved all the characters in the story but I think I would have liked it much more had it started in the past and worked its way to the present. It was a good story, don’t get me wrong, but I would have enjoyed it more had it been done a little differently. I was rooting for Lenny and Julien the entire time and knew about Ben’s crush before it was revealed 🙂
Blurb:Sam’s freaking out.He’s 30 in three weeks. And what has he done in his twenties? It’s pretty simple math: nothing exciting at all. But hey, he has three weeks right? Maybe that’s just enough time to tick his way through a20s Must Do List . . .
Luke’s freaking screwed.He’s come out to his family, and his friends. Except there’s a certain someone who doesn’t know yet: his neighbor of 7 years. Who also happens to be his best friend. Who Luke needs to tell the truth, but he just . . . can’t . . . seem to . . .
Jeremy’s freaking over-the-moon.It’s the countdown to his 15th birthday, and his goal is simple. No matter what, he’s going to spend heaps of time with saucy Suzy. But first, he needs to get his over-protective, no-girlfriend-’cause-you’ll-get-her-pregnant parents off his back. And what better way than pretending he’s gay?
Sam, Luke, and Jeremy. Three guys who have a lot of history together, and a lot of future too—
—well, if they can sort out their issues, that is.
Review: Sam is going through a crisis. His life changed at 15, when he had a son and now that he is almost thirty he freaks out and decides to fill his list of things to do in his twenties.
Luke is Sam’s neighbour and best friend, though he has a secret he just realized and wants to share with Sam, especially since he found Sam’s to do in the twenties list and he would happily fill most of those things with Luke.
Jeremy is Sam’s son and was born on Sam’s 15th birthday so he will soon be 15. Jeremy spends every other week with his dad and usually the neighbour Luke. Jeremy is going through changes of his own growing up, sexual feelings, and now his mom has a secret.
Oh boy, is this one fun rollercoaster ride. It starts out fast and goes faster. I adored the sense of humour and how it starts out with a math lesson (trust me it’s fun!) and numbers play such a prominent role throughout the story. I got to where every time I saw big numbers on a page I was already laughing.
I love good character driven stories and this one didn’t disappoint. Every character in this story (and here are several) is interesting, charming, and has a story to tell. The book is in first person and in three character views and I love this, to get inside so many character minds. There is at least three good storylines, Sam’s midlife crisis, Luke’s wanting to come out, Jeremy dealing with growing up, sexuality, friendship, and his Mother’s wanting a life too, and even though Jeremy’s mom isn’t a main character she plays several roles also and is just as good as the main ones.
I will say that a few times I really wanted to smack both Luke and Sam in the head and shake the crap out of them. I mean really Sam; swimming with sharks requires a lot of feelings, more than friendship, especially if it’s their worse fear.
If you like a good, sexy, sweet romance with no bad guys, lots of emotions, a good laugh, numbers, friends to lovers and some really sensual love this is definitely one for you.
Blurb: William needs to learn to think before he speaks. He accidentally outed his last boyfriend to his bigoted family. Looking to make a new start, he escapes to the most distant place he can think of: New Zealand. There he boards with a substitute mom and her too-hot-to-be-real son, Heath, but Heath and his homophobic friend Rory want William to leave before things “crash and burn,” whatever that means.
Unfortunately, traveling to the end of the world isn’t far enough for William to lose his runaway mouth.
But is it far enough to lose his loneliness?
Review: This story delves into the heartache and heartbreak of losing a younger family member, and lies people tell themselves in order to keep going. It illustrates the tangled webs we weave, and how the reactions of one person can bring our card houses tumbling down. I was sucked in from the beginning, and stayed up all night to read it. William became my hero. An enjoyable read with a believable cast, it is full of hilarious one-liners that had me rolling my eyes. Definitely worth your time.
Blurb: Rory A. Phillips is sick of being haunted. Sick of hurting. Sick of being so fucking lost. Whenever he ‘sees’ his best friend William, he’s packing up his motorbike and on the move. But is there a place he can run to that will ever be free of William? A place where he could ever learn to love? A place he can call home?
After losing his last living relative, Eric Graham moves to Wellington to start a new job and a new life. Alone—save for his grandpa’s ashes he can’t bring himself to scatter in the sea. The only guy in the city he knows is a homophobic prick that he’d rather have nothing to do with—but he just can’t stop running into him.
Rory and Eric, both grieving and alone, are searching for a way to move on.
Review: Another poignant story from Anyta Sunday, this delves more into the grief and loss of losing people who are close to you. We met Rory and Eric in William’s story, and Rory is plagued by that same loss. Hiding in the closet, from everyone, especially himself, Rory has a difficult path to follow. He can choose to deny himself and his memories, and live in constant misery, or he can choose to face himself and his fears, and embrace life. An ally from an unexpected quarter got me teary-eyed. Uninhibited acceptance is something we all seek, no matter the orientation. Now if only Rory can trust his instincts.
Eric is William’s best friend, and an out gay man. Having just lost his last relative, his grandfather, he is having trouble letting go, and carries his grandfather’s ashes around in an urn, contrary to what was requested. He has so much guilt for one so young, but that allows him to see what is going on with Rory. Despite Rory having been a right homophobic jerk to him in the past, something makes him want to help him. Now, if only he can let go of the past and trust Rory.
Blurb: Jay Walker has two wishes: to perform the play of his dreams alongside his best friend at Wellington’s Tory Street Theatre, and to meet that special someone. Someone he’d go to the ends of the earth for. Someone who might only exist in fairy tales.
When Jay meets accordion busker Lethe Cross, it’s like living a dream come true. Lethe’s music captivates Jay, and he resolves to meet the man who plays so beautifully. But then he discovers Lethe’s life is more like a nightmare. The phrase “down on his luck” can’t begin to cover it. Determined to help, Jay does some snooping for answers—and winds up on the wrong end of a centuries-old curse. The good news is there’s a way to break it. The bad news is it might cost Jay his life.
Review: Jay and his best friend, Gristle, have one dream together, to perform at Wellington’s Tory Street Theatre. and Jay has another dream, to meet his soul-mate. Lethe, an accordion busker turns out to be that person, but there is more to Lethe than meets the eye and Jay does his best to support Lethe when he learns the truth. But, something in the shadows wants them to fail and will do anything to ensure it.
This is a story that will leave you with more questions than answers, but still oddly satisfied with the end result. Jay and Gristle have been best friends and brothers for twelve years, when Jay meets Lethe, he discovers that there are things out there that he never imagined, but it doesn’t stop his feelings for Lethe. Lethe has never had anyone want him just for being him before and the two begin to fall in love, but something tragic happens that could drive a wedge between them and Jay tries to break Lethe’s curse, but it could cost him his life.
I just want to say before we go any further that Gristle was my favorite character. He was full of life and made Jay live his life with a touch of excitement and anticipation. Even though he was the best friend and straight, he gave this book a lot of character throughout the first part of the book and I will never, ever forgive the authors for the shock they gave me in part two… never, because I carried that shock throughout the second half and I felt everything that Jay did. I could fully understand Jay’s need to do the play the way he did and his need longing and guilt was so well written.
We get to know the characters as best we can, but we aren’t given much background about them, which left me feeling a bit frustrated. How did Jay and Gristle become such good friends? What’s their back story? Why was Lethe’s bloodline cursed? These are things that the more I read, the more I wanted to know the answers to. The characters are brilliantly written with the emotions laid out bare for us to see. Jay’s sacrifice towards the end was breath-taking, the ultimate gift of love with just a touch of selfishness thrown in. Although there is romance and love between Jay and Lethe we don’t see any sex scenes, it’s all off page and surprisingly you don’t feel like you missed out.
I am going to recommend this to those who want something a bit different in their paranormal, as it is just hints and lingering feelings. Who want a soul touching story of two young men fighting to make a go of it when the curse goes against them, of a love between friends that brings tears to your eyes and a happy ending with a challenge still lingering in the future.
Title: Shrewd Angel
Title: Scorpio Hates Virgo
Title: Hearts
Title: It Could Be You
