You Can See Me by A.E. Via Blog Tour, Excerpt, Giveaway & Review

I’m back! Yes I know I was only here yesterday but I was impatient to bring you another great book and fantastic giveaway! A.E. Via and her newest release You Can See Me seems to be hitting all the spots and Tams & Cat sweat blood and tears to get this review to you 🙂 Now for the Giveaway all you have to do is leave a comment with your email address and on the 28th February E.A. Via will randomly choose the winners… what’s that Oh the prizes, well we have a fantastic range of prizes… 5 lucky winners will each receive an E-copy of You Can See Me, 3 lucky winners will win signed print versions, another 3 winners will get $5 Amazon G eC, one special winner will receive a $10 Amazon G eC and one last lucky winner will receive a *fanfare* $5 Starbucks G eC. So read the review, check out what A.E. has to offer and pant over the excerpt all before leaving a comment to win those fabulous prizes! ~Pixie~ P.S. I might have nicked a couple of pics off the authors site so you might want to go have a gander at her store as well 🙂

Author A.E. Via
Title: You Can See Me
M/M/M GAY EROTIC CONTEMPORARY
WORD COUNT – 78,200
Release Date: February 07, 2014

Synopsis:
World renowned chef Prescott Vaughan was at the height of his career. Right before he’s to leave for Paris to work alongside his idol, a horrific car accident leaves him completely blind.

His female fiancé leaves him in a state of desperation and depression. He pines for love, companionship, and so happens to find it in the form of his very sexy neighbor. Sexy male neighbor, Dr. Rickson ‘Ric’ Edwards.

Prescott’s not gay – at least he never considered himself gay – until Ric saves him from a date, gone terribly wrong. The two neighbors hit it off quickly and waste no time exploring and learning each other. Things are great until Ric begins to have his doubts about meeting Prescott’s many wants.

When Ric insist he and Prescott take a breather, Pres finds himself lonely and lacking again. Enter, male escort and aspiring chef, Blair McKenzie to fill the void.

In the meantime, Ric works on his issues that prohibits him from displaying the love he knows he has for Prescott. When Ric is finally ready and returns to claim Prescott he’s not sure that Pres can let go of the sexy, southern, hotness that is Blair McKenzie. After Ric has his own personal encounter with the sinfully sexy man, he can’t help but become entranced and crave more as well.

Pres soon realizes that there’s no need to choose between his two men, because when all three of them finally come together – grab a cold drink – the heat is going to go all the way up!

This is not your typical gay ménage romance. Everyone is not happy, skipping along, and loving life. These men are at each other’s throats. They live completely separate lives; fuss, cuss, and fight until they all realize exactly what the problem is…too damn much sexual tension.

AUTHOR BIO:

A.E. Via is the new best-selling author in the beautiful gay erotic genre. Her writing embodies everything from spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.

When she’s not clicking away at her laptop, A.E. runs a very successful paralegal-for-hire business and in her spare time, she devotes herself to her family – a husband and four children – her two pets, a Maltese dog and her white Siamese cat, ELynn, named after the late great gay romance author ELynn Harris.

While this is only her second novel, she has plenty more to come…so sit back and grab a cool drink, because the male on male action is just heating up!

Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on up-coming work, free reads, and where she’ll appear next.

Links:
Publisher: http://www.amirapress.com
Author’s Official Website: http://authoraevia.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/A.-E.-Via/e/B00GMNMS4U/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1390865523&sr=8-1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aeviaauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAEVia
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20416316-you-can-see-me

Excerpt:

Ric leaned his head back against the elevator paneling and watched the numbers light up all the way to floor ten before his eyes drifted shut for the rest of the way. When the doors opened, he came face-to-face with Prescott’s Texan.

Fuck me.

Instead of the gorgeous prick getting on the elevator and leaving, the cocky bastard took a couple steps back and leaned against the wall on the opposite side of the hallway and stared openly at him as if he hadn’t a care in the world. His hazel eyes scanned Ric up and down, taking in his disheveled, stressed-out appearance.

“Do you have a fucking problem?” Ric growled, refusing to pretend to be cordial to the man even though he was a complete stranger and had done absolutely nothing to him.

The man had the nerve to smirk at him and shake his head as if pitying Ric, or perhaps throwing it in Ric’s face that he’d definitely had a better night than he had. Ric did try to hide his anger at knowing the man had slept with his Pres. Why the hell else would he be leaving at five in the damn morning? Unless he delivered newspapers or milk, he had absolutely no reason to be on this floor this time of morning. Bastard.

“No, I don’t have a problem,” he drawled slowly, making sure to put extra enunciation on the “I” part of his sentence. “But, obviously, you do. Or else you wouldn’t be scowling at me for no reason.”

“Fuck you,” Ric snarled, stepping just a little closer. He wanted to tear the man’s lips off for talking with that accent. Then he wanted to rip his hands off for daring to touch his Prescott. The man’s probably a male gold digger.

“Did you enjoy taking advantage of Prescott? Did you get what you came for?” Ric growled like a rabid animal three inches away from the man’s face, but he’d be damned if the asshole didn’t even flinch at his showcase of fury. No reaction whatsoever.

The Texan had one hand casually tucked in his jeans pocket, kicking back one side of his stylish blazer, while he lazily rubbed his other hand over his taut chest and washboard abs that showed through the thin material of his untucked dress shirt. Ric hated to admit it, but the man looked well fucked, and he wore it well.

“How could you do that to someone like him?” Ric fumed, and it took everything in him to control his rage.

If I hit him, no one would know. There’s no one around, no witnesses. It’d be his word against mine.

“I knew I’d peg you in less than five minutes.” The man spoke with one dark brown eyebrow cocked up. He ran his fingers through his bed-tousled dark brown hair and let out an exasperated breath.

“Excuse me?” Ric blinked.

“Now I know why you were too stupid to hold on to Prescott Vaughan. You were too busy feeling sorry for him. Instead of you seeing a brilliant man, a world-renowned, accomplished chef who happens to be one of the most talented men to ever set foot in a kitchen, you see a needy, helpless man. Ahhh. Now it makes perfect sense.”

“Don’t try to act like you know me because you don’t,” Ric growled, still trying to be mindful they were in the hallway of the floor that he lived on.

The Texan pushed off the wall and closed the few inches between them. His six feet, two inches of height had him eye to eye with Ric, and the man showed no fear. His handsome face was now a mask of furious anger.

“I saw you treat him like shit on the bottom of your shoes last night. I watched him beg you for five fuckin’ minutes of your time, and you spat in his face. Now, you have the audacity to say I’m mistreating him? Fuck you,” he snarled right back at Ric.

Just as fast as the man’s anger came, it disappeared, and he composed himself to reveal that smirk that Ric selfishly rejoiced Pres couldn’t see, because it was sexy as fuck…and the man knew it.

Ric watched his competition push the elevator button as he rubbed his hand over his morning stubble before speaking again. “You know what they say, don’t you, Doc? One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and Prescott Vaughan is definitely a rare, precious treasure.”

The Texan inched in even closer, which surprised the hell out of Ric since they were practically nose to nose. Ric was smacked in the face with a faint soap-and-water fragrance that made his eyelids flutter and his own dick jerk to life. Ric’s half-lidded eyes were riveted to the Texan’s plush lips as he leaned in and whispered directly into Ric’s open mouth.

“If you don’t pull your head out of your ass and claim Prescott Vaughan like he wants, I won’t stop until I’ve fucked the sexy strawberry ten ways to Sunday and there’s not a single trace of your existence left in his mind, because with or without you, he needs love, and I was the one there last night to lick his sweet tears when you walked away.”

The elevator doors opened at his final words, and the smooth Texan took a few graceful steps backward into the elevator and gave Ric a sexy wink right before the doors closed.

Fucking asshole, Ric thought.

Title: You Can See Me

Author: AE Via

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: Novel, 254 pages

Publisher: Amira Press (February 7th 2014)

ISBN: 9781627620420

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 1/2

Reviewer: Tams & Cat

Blurb: World renowned chef, Prescott Vaughan was at the height of his career. Right before he’s to leave for Paris to work alongside his idol, a horrific car accident leaves him completely blind.

When Ric insist he and Prescott take a breather, Pres finds himself lonely and miserable again. Enter, male escort and aspiring chef, Blair McKenzie to fill the void.

In the meantime, Ric works on his issues that prohibit him from displaying the love he knows he has for Prescott. When Ric is finally ready and returns to claim Prescott he’s not sure that Pres can let go of the sexy, southern, hotness that is Blair McKenzie. After Ric has his own personal encounter with the sinfully sexy man, he can’t help but become entranced and crave more as well.

Pres soon realizes that there’s no need to choose between his two men, because when all three of them finally come together – grab a cold drink – because the heat is going to go all the way up!

Purchase Link: http://www.amirapress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=444

Tams Review: 5 ♥♥♥♥♥ Hearts

Menage’a Trois anyone??

Prescott Vaughan had the perfect life. A world class chef with the notoriety to back him up, a condo to die for and a beautiful fiancé to come home to. Until his world literally crashes down around him. A car accident leaves him blind, depressed and empty. And then his fiancé leaves him as well, “I didn’t sign up for this.” Bitch. But his mother will not let him wallow in his self imposed misery, so she uses the one thing he loves and still possess’ to get him up and moving again. Cooking.

Dr. Rickson Edwards is smitten with Press from the moment he lays eyes on him. He quietly watches him for months until a face to face meeting in their building brings them closer together. That the attraction is mutual becomes evident once they spend more time together. But Press has a girlfriend, and Ric doesn’t share. But there is something about Press that makes Ric want to protect him and make him his. The problem with that is, Press doesn’t need a protector, he needs a lover.

Blair McKenzie has graduated from Le Cordon Blue and is putting himself through the final stages of school working as an escort. In a desperate attempt for any kind of adult companionship, Press calls the agency for a date. Blair is overwhelmed to be face to face with the chef he has been in awe of for years, Presscot Vaughan. When Ric once again brushes off Press’s request to talk to him, Blair is there to pick up the pieces. And the two of them hatch a plan to make Ric theirs.

There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears in this book. Mine and the characters! All three men are slightly broken and just a little bent, but together the three of them just might have a chance at happiness. Press is bitter because he’s blind and resents anyone that shows him an ounce of pitty. He is also strong, beautiful and talented. Ric loves his career as a doctor but lives under the shadow of an accident from his past. His domineering tendencies and his larger than life presence are just what the doctor ordered for Press and Blaine. And then we have Blaine the tall, sexy Texan with that accent that just drips honey. His weakness is his insecurity, and it almost costs him everything he worked so hard to achieve.

The way these three complement each other is equal parts insanity and security. Even though Ric presents as the Dominant, Press actually gives the orders in the bedroom. And Blaine’s pliant and submissive nature blends perfectly with his two dominant lovers. None of them want to share, but they find a way to compromise and make a life and a home as a threesome. I laughed and a cried while reading this story. Every emotion across the spectrum was there. Anger, love, hatred, longing, passion and an intensity between these three men that clearly evident in the writing.

This was my first read with this author, but it will not be my last. Definitely one to add to your TBR list. Be sure that you have Kleenex at the ready though, for the tears and the.. well, you know.

Cat’s Review: 4 ♥♥♥♥ Hearts:

The book begins with Prescott coming home to his plush condominium and sexy female fiancé to celebrate his getting to go to Paris to cook alongside his idol. A terrible accident ensues leaving him blind. In this section Pres isn’t dealing well with the changes in his life. He is fortunate enough to be able to afford a staff consisting of a housecleaning service, a driver, and a stylist. The most important is his mother that finally grabs him by the ear, forces him out of bed and shows him he can still live life by using his other senses. Just when he thinks things are going well he is blindsided ( no pun intended) by his fiancé leaving him.

Wait! Isn’t this a MM book? Yes! Twist one! With his keen sense of smell he finds himself intrigued with his neighbour and they become good friends. Twist two…the horrible 2nd girlfriend…I was ready to cause her bodily harm and slap Pres for letting her use him so, though I felt sorry for him and could see his doing so out of loneliness and feeling he couldn’t do better.. these are just a couple of the twists as there are several. Which brings me to what I liked about the book.

Number one I loved the characters. I found Prescott intriguing. He was sexy, well known had it all going for him and was dealt some lots of lemons in life.( Good thing he is a chef !) I loved that things didn’t go smoothly for him though he had lots of money, and I loved how the story dealt with emotions in all the characters. I loved Ric and could relate to how he dealt with Pres. He isn’t the easiest man in the world to love.( which I also liked). I also liked Blair but not as much as Ric and Pres. I’m not sure why but something about him fell flat with me and I think the story would have been just as good if we didn’t go there, but on the other hand If I rate it as a ménage…It was a good one. I dislike ménages where everything goes so smooth and the relationships focus on one lover, this did focus on all three men and did show that this lifestyle is far from easy to live.

When you see it has forty some-odd chapters don’t freak out. They are short and concise (which I absolutely love) I like shorter chapters myself.

The only thing I didn’t really like is about 80 percent through, the story slowed down and it really focused a lot on the sex. It was good sex, and very hot, but just a bit much for my personal taste. I will say though it did not change my opinion of the story since I rate on storyline and characters (these are things that I look for in books I read. Everything else is just icing on the cake).

To sum it all up. This is a great story. With several twists and turns, hot, sexy, interesting characters, short, intriguing chapters, and a very satisfying ending.

If you like Chefs (I do,) hot doctors ( who doesn’t), escorts, stories dealing with disabilities, great characters, and very hot mansex this is for you!

Seeing DOUBLE by A. Lusch Blog Tour, Excerpt, Giveaway & Review

Hey guys, today we have joined the Seeing DOUBLE blog tour with A. Lusch, we have a fabulous story that Tams & Cat really loved and a brilliant Giveaway… and a little sneak peek that’s a little steamy. So what would you win? Well I had a little look and there’s three copies of Seeing DOUBLE for three lucky winners and for on lucky winner you will get boxset of 52 First Dates (Books 1, 2 & 3). So have a look at the excerpt, check out the review and click on the Rafflecopter link…. go on you know you want to 😉 ~Pixie~

Seeing DOUBLE – Excerpt
Warning! Steam level – high

I’ve always been a bit of a hermit. I have close friends that I see every few weeks. I had an actual proper boyfriend, rather than just a hook-up, but that was over a decade ago. I’m quite the happy singleton. However, as I lay here with the weight of a man on top of me, a safe and protected feeling flowing through me, I briefly worry that I’ve missed out on years of this sensation. My blood’s pumping, carrying adrenaline and excitement around my veins as the heady mix of pheromones arouses my senses. Rav shifts his position, and I feel his lips on my neck. He’s as hard as I’ve felt him, and he’s sliding back and forth over my arse cheeks, grinding slowly as if to purposefully tease me. Every thrust forward pushes my hips into the soft mattress below, squeezing my own hardness against the bed sheets so I feel, once again, the wet and sticky patch that’s a sign of my sexual desire. He thrusts forward again, but this time his extremely hard cock catches against my hole, and I gasp out loud as pleasure rushes through my body. Rav seems to realise my intense enjoyment, for he pulls back and uses his hand to align his throbbing dick into the right position so that it’s pushing against me, tantalising me, with each forward gyration. I moan again as he reaches out and puts his arm around my throat gently; nothing aggressive, but just enough to give me an extra ripple of excitement. I can feel my cock dripping with anticipation as he continues to grind against me, my hole feeling wetter by the minute.

“You have to fuck me,” I groan quietly as I can’t bear the touch of his cock against me any longer. It’s not enough to have his throbbing head gliding slickly over my hole. I need it in me. I reach out to the bedside table where I’ve already got a couple of condoms out of their wrappers and ready to go. There’s nothing worse than being in ‘the moment’ and then having to spend a few desperate seconds fumbling with rubbers in a drawer. He doesn’t stop grinding as I’m pulling the protection towards him, and I momentarily dream of the day when I have a husband to thrust his bare dick deep inside me without any cause for alarm. Uhh, God. Just the thought of such a scenario sends a quiver through me and I moan again.

“You sure?” Rav whispers in my ear, though the speed at which he snatches up the condom makes me realise that his question is more etiquette than actual concern. If it was our first time, I probably wouldn’t fuck. Good fucking, for me anyway, requires a degree of comfort; something not normally found when sleeping with someone for the first time. But I’ve been with Rav twice before now and I’m more than ready to feel his beautiful brown cock pushing deep inside me.

Book blurb:
The man-hunt is under way, and David’s keen to a snag a husband without having to complete every date of his 52 First Dates challenge. With several successful meets behind him, there’s a growing feeling of confidence that his search could actually work. But now that the novelty’s worn off, finding the motivation to keep going is about to become harder.

David finds himself trying to juggle meeting new men and providing a shoulder to cry on his to battered and pregnant friends. And, with a plethora of hotties vying for his attention, things are about to get more complicated.

Seeing DOUBLE is a 13,000K SHORT STORY, or about 37 pages.
Release date:
February 10th, 2014
Book 1: The Man PLAN
Book 2: Friends and FRENCHMEN
Book 3: Seeing Double

Buy Links:
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA4ULNE/
B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seeing-double-a-lusch/1118399730?ean=2940045605786
ARe – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-seeingdouble52firstdates3-1414844-149.html
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/402565
Google – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/A_Lusch_Seeing_Double?id=gCPNAgAAQBAJ
52 First Dates – Boxed Set

The boxed set contains all three books already released in the series, The Man PLAN, Friends and FRENCHMEN, and Seeing DOUBLE.

Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA4LOBM/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-52firstdatesboxedsetbooks13-1414849-149.html
Smashwords: – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/405816
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/A_Lusch_52_First_Dates_BOXED_SET_Books_1_3?id=pSPNAgAAQBAJ

About the author
A. Lusch lives in London and has been though much of the same path as David – in fact – this series is based around true events.
Of course, there is MUCH more to come in the tale, but, don’t worry, now the scene is set, there’ll be many more dates per book. Is there a happy ending in sight? You’ll have to keep reading to find out.
A. Lusch fully believes in never settling, always striving for the perfect match, and never giving up on your man once you’ve found him – oh, and eating A LOT of donuts!

Find A. Lusch here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlgenonLusch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlgenonLusch
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7191612.A_Lusch
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A.-Lusch/e/B00EB6OWSU/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ALusch

Title: Seeing DOUBLE

Series: 52 First Dates, episode #3

Author: A. Lusch

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: Short (39 pages)

Publisher: A. Lusch (February 5^th, 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 1/2 Hearts

Reviewer: Tams & Cat

Blurb: The man-hunt is under way, and David’s keen to a snag a husband without having to complete every date of his 52 First Dates challenge. With several successful meets behind him, there’s a growing feeling of confidence that his search could actually work. But now that the novelty’s worn off, finding the motivation to keep going is about to become harder.

Seeing DOUBLE is a 13,000K SHORT STORY, or about 37 pages.

M/M Steam-Level: HOT!

Book 1: The Man PLAN
Book 2: Friends and FRENCHMEN
Book 3: Seeing DOUBLE

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Double-First-Dates-Book-ebook/dp/B00IA4ULNE

Tams Review: 5 Hearts ♥♥♥♥♥

Short, Sexy and Steamy…. Wait for it… my three favourite colors!!

David is trying to juggle work, dating and being a rock for his two best friends in this third instalment of 52 First Dates. The opening scene for this episode will leave you breathless and sweating, it definitely starts out with a bang. Although David has already ruled Rav out as potential husband material, their chemistry is electric and I so look forward to their random romps throughout these episodes.

Trying to stay on task, David sets up his next date with an online hook-up, Matt. But meeting Matt is proving to be more of a challenge than David initially thought. Add to that a date that left him feeling hope that his little plan might actually bring him one step closer to his goal of finding a husband, only to have his dream snatched out from under him with an unexpected move. And then there are those pesky, sexy, twins that keep popping up on every street corner… Theo and Alex.

I absolutely love this series. With each new episode, Lusch builds a stronger connection between David and the reader. And David’s two best friends with their real life issues brings a reality to the storyline and ensures the plot won’t be all about the sex. So while there are some oh so sexy, spine tingling, toe curling scenes; there is content woven in as well.

Blind dates gone badly, bathroom hook-ups and two equally delicious and sexy men are leaving David, Seeing Double!

Cat’s Review: 4 Hearts ♥♥♥♥

In Seeing Double David has previously been on a few dates and is wearing down fast. It’s not as easy lining up actual dates as it is hookups and he is really having a blast with one of his hookups. He is also dealing with work, a friend that was recently mugged and one that is pregnant, and two very sexy Greek twins

I find these stories fast, easy to read, very hot and yet interesting also. We are taken on a trip through a man’s life while he juggles work, friends, dating and trying to find the one to settle down with, written in an interesting, humorous, hot and sexy way. I found this very easy to relate to and yet entertaining.

If you like stories that continue such as serials that are short, sweet, funny, interesting and very hot, searching for a life partner, Mediterranean men, teachers, Graphic designers, and Greek twins this is for you!

Rafflecopter click to win: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Holding on to Hope by Sid Love, Promo Spotlight, Giveaway & Review

Hey guys, today we bring you new author Sid Love and his first release Holding on to Hope. Sid is even doing a great giveaway where five lucky winners throughout the blog tour will have a chance to win an ebook of Holding on to Hope and there is even the chance for one really lucky reader to win $25 (about £15 in UK cash) Amazon Gift Card, so stick around and have a gander at the book and review… oh and don’t forget to click on the Rafflecopter link for a chance to win! 🙂 ~Pixie~

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sid Love grew up in one of busiest cities in the world, Mumbai, listening to the excerpts of Indian epics from his father every night. While it served as an inspiration back in time, he has always had an ambitious mind. In 2007, when he had just turned sixteen, he decided that he would make his lifelong dream come true—to become a well-known, respected author some day.
Ask him and he would refuse to accept that he is obsessed with books. Or movies. Or TV shows. Addicted may even be the right word. He is a die-hard fan of Jane Austen’s romance novels and loves to reread them time and again.

You can find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sid.love.16?ref=tn_tnmn or tweet him anytime: https://twitter.com/FatefulMercy, or simply e-mail him at sidlovethewriter@live.in.

BLURB: Bradley Parker has waited twenty years for Mr. Right, and on Valentine’s Day, he finally finds him. It’s love at first sight, and Brad even loses his virginity to the man of his dreams. But when he wakes up the next morning unable to remember anything—even what the man looked like—his best friend, Leslie, is convinced he imagined the whole thing. Brad knows he didn’t make up the best night of his life, but he has no idea of the danger he’s putting himself in as he struggles to recall the details of his perfect man. His search may lead him to parts of New York City he never dreamed existed and a war being waged in the shadows.

EXCERPT:

“Okay, remember how I said it is huge?” Brad finally spoke, and Leslie nodded her head to let him know she was all ears. “Well, it is. Last night, something happened, something unimaginable… beyond any of my wildest dreams. I never thought….”

“Brad.” Leslie yawned. “To the point, please. I don’t have all day.”

“Okay, all right! What happened is….” He paused, plastering a big grin on his face. She tried very hard not to roll her eyes, letting him tell her at his own pace. “Last night, my dear, I finally got laid!”

When he broke the news to her, Leslie’s subsequent yawn was cut short by the initial shock she went through. Her body jerked forward, now fully awakened. There wasn’t any amount of caffeine that would have made her feel as lively as she felt at that moment.

This was definitely huge, and not just for Brad. Over the years, Leslie had constantly tried and consequently failed in hooking him up with several guys. Bradley Joseph Parker had the arrogance of a drag queen, she thought. He was too picky when it came to dating and relationships; never wishing to settle for anything less. He dreamt of a guy whose mere presence would take his breath away, who would be so handsome that every girl and every gay guy in the world would yearn to have him in their lives. “Such a guy would only belong to me, holding my hand in a roomful of envious people,” he would say with a smirk. “I would look around and say to them ‘Suck it up, bitches! He is mine!’”

Brad had wasted years with these stupid fantasies, and he had remained a virgin. So Leslie never thought the day would come when Brad’s whining would ever end.

But it had. And Leslie thought she would faint, even with the adrenaline rushing through her veins.

“Wha—?” She became aware of the fact that she had left her mouth hanging open for too long and shut it immediately. A smile crept across her lips, getting bigger by the second, and it turned into a cheek-hurting grin. “Oh my God! Shut up. Seriously?” She quickly sat up, hopping on the bed to cross her legs.

“Very seriously, Les.” Brad’s cute face beamed with wonder and excitement. Leslie couldn’t blame him. She remembered the day she had had sex for the first time, and even though it was a while back, she couldn’t forget the bliss she’d felt after finally losing her virginity or the hunger she felt for getting some more. Leslie was ready to bet that Brad was experiencing similar whirls of emotions in him.

“Last night, on Valentine’s Day…?” she asked.

Brad gave a nod. “On Valentine’s Day.”

“That’s so funny.” Leslie laughed out loud. Even though Valentine’s Day never meant anything to her, something this huge happening to her best friend did force her to consider it a special day. “Okay, you have to tell me everything, dude! Don’t leave out a single detail. I don’t care if it’s too much information. I just have to know. How long has this been going on between you two?”

Brad laughed. “Not too long. I just met him yesterday.”

“And you slept with him already?” Leslie’s mind was drawing up the picture of the perfect guy in her imagination, a guy who had managed to entice someone like Brad in such a short time. She was sure he would be down-to-earth, with an impeccably charming personality. “Way to go! I won’t deny it; I like the spontaneous Brad. Who is this guy, by the way? Do I know him?”

“No, you don’t.” His smile wavered a bit.

“Well, what’s his name?”

Leslie watched him hesitate for a moment. “I… don’t know.”

It took her by surprise.

“I think my devilish side just had a mind-blowing orgasm. You not only have sex with a guy for the first time, but you are also telling me it was simply a one-night stand?” She put her hand over her heart and mockingly said, “Mama Les is so proud of her boy!”

“But Les,” he knitted his eyebrows together as he stood up and came over to sit by her side. He took hold of Leslie’s hand, and she felt his grip tightening when he said, “It wasn’t a one-night stand. Definitely not, uh-uh.” He shook his head, and she immediately wondered if he was trying to convince her or himself. “It was special to me, and I could tell it was special for him too. Why else would he go to extremes to make that night an unforgettable memory? He lit up hundreds of scented candles in the room for me, and there were rose petals all over the bed where we did it.” Leslie didn’t miss the blush forming on his face again as he spoke. “There was champagne, sweet music, and he was a perfect gentleman. He kept asking me if I was sure about this.”

“WOW! Sounds utterly cheesy to me….” Leslie said, although she was quite impressed by all of it and maybe a bit jealous too.

Brad let go of her hand and sighed. “It was damn romantic.”

Leslie moved her gaze around the dorm room, scrutinizing it. “I am guessing it wasn’t here you did it then?” She inquired, turning to face him and watched him slowly crossing his legs like she had.

“No, he took me to his place.” Brad had his mouth open to probably add something more, but he stopped abruptly, scrunched his nose up, and glanced at her with some doubt. “I think it was his place… I don’t know. Where else would he take me?”

Leslie noticed uncertainty, even when he shrugged. What Brad was saying didn’t make any sense to her. “The champagne! Did you have too much of it?”

He frowned. “God, no! Why would I want to give him the impression I’m an idiotic drunkard on our first meeting?”

Of course she didn’t believe him. “Right, says the one who’d put Britney Spears to shame with his underage drinking. Seriously, dude, I’ve had to pick you up in a drunken state from God knows how many parties by now. So don’t shit me by saying you didn’t have any amount of alcohol in you last night.”

Brad reddened and carefully said, “I may have had a little bit of alcohol.”

Typical. Leslie rolled her eyes. “Weren’t you at Ian’s party last night?” She tried to keep her face straight as she asked. The party he had gone to was for all the single men and ladies from their college. Leslie knew exactly how that turned out every year by the end of the night.

He gave a nod in reply.

“Well, maybe you did it at his place?”

“No, it can’t be because we were partying at a nightclub last night.”

“Since when do nightclubs allow in a bunch of twenty year-olds?” she asked, certain they must have been stopped at the door for IDs. She couldn’t say about the others, but Brad’s cute baby face did give away his age.

“They don’t, but Ian somehow knew a few guys working at this nightclub that we went to, so we were able to sneak in.” He grinned.

Leslie suddenly wished she could have joined them. “Lucky you!” Now she couldn’t wait for May to arrive; that was when she turned twenty-one. She had been planning it in her mind forever. “So you met this mysterious guy in that club?”

“Yes, I think so.” Brad chewed on his lower lip.

“Well, what did he say to you? What did he look like?”

Brad turned sorrowful. “If I only knew….” He hung his head down and began to pull on his hair. “Fuck, Les!” He yelled, then looked up, scowling at her. “I can’t seem to remember any of it. The only thing that has managed to stay stuck in my memory is the mind-blowing sex that I had with him. I even remember all the positions we did it in, and God, that guy has the stamina of a wild lion, I tell you.”

BUY LINKS: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4633

Title: Holding on to Hope

Author: Sid Love

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Short (68pgs)

ISNB: 978-1-62798-612-0

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (14^th February 2014)

Heat Level: Nil

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3 – 3 ½ Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Bradley Parker has waited twenty years for Mr. Right, and on Valentine’s Day, he finally finds him. It’s love at first sight, and Brad even loses his virginity to the man of his dreams. But when he wakes up the next morning unable to remember anything—even what the man looked like—his best friend, Leslie, is convinced he imagined the whole thing. Brad knows he didn’t make up the best night of his life, but he has no idea of the danger he’s putting himself in as he struggles to recall the details of his perfect man. His search may lead him to parts of New York City he never dreamed existed and a war being waged in the shadows.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4724

Review: Leslie’s best friend, Bradley, has saved himself for the man of his dreams and he finally finds him on Valentine’s Day. Bradley falls head over heels for the man but all Bradley can remember is the fantastic sex, and with the little clues he can remember he convinces Leslie to help him track the mysterious man down. Leslie isn’t thrilled but helps her friend and when Bradley heads into danger as he searches for his perfect man, Leslie isn’t sure if Bradley’s perfect man really is perfect.

This is a great little short story that takes Vampires back to being the scourge of the Earth; it gives us a fresh twist for the dhampir’s and it has a love story with a forgotten man and a desperate search for true love. Brad seems to be a character full of life and when it comes to the love of his life he strives for perfection, when he half remembers the night before he knows that his perfect man is within reach. Ronan wants what Brad could give him but the danger is too great so he does what he has to do to keep Brad safe, even if it means being forgotten.

This story has great potential which was missed out on because of character perspective; the paranormal storyline could have been much more exciting and effective if the perspective had shifted to the characters directly involved. The love story aspect was really good (but again slightly missed its mark with character perspective) with two men longing for the other but circumstances preventing their love from being fulfilled, with Ronan always having to watch as Brad walks away forgetting him and Brad always longing for his perfect man, never knowing he had already met him.

So I should let you all know that this story is all from Leslie’s perspective which I found dampened the story, we never once really get any emotions or feelings off either Brad or Ronan; what we get is Leslie’s interpretation of their feelings and I also felt like I was missing out on the paranormal aspects of the story because it was from Leslie’s view point. Never once did I feel the rush of emotions that Brad must have felt about finally finding his perfect man, I didn’t feel his despair over not remembering his face and I never felt the fear he must have felt over the situation he found himself in… and all that was also mirrored by Ronan… I felt cheated by only having it from Leslie.

I recommend this to those who love the paranormal, an interesting paranormal storyline, a new relationship with a twist, brilliant friends, and looking at a new relationship from the outside.

GIVEAWAY

Tourwide – 5 E-copies of the book

$25 Amazon GC!

Click for a chance to win a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE TOUR SCHEDULE
10th – The Blog of Sid Love – Spotlight
     – Andrew Q. Gordon – Author Interview
11th – MM Good Book Reviews (Pixie) – Promo Spotlight + Review
     – Sue Brown – Guest Post
12th – Joyfully Jay – Guest Post
     – Rhys Ford – Promo Spotlight
13th – Live Your Life, Buy the Books – Promo Spotlight + Review
     – Rick R. Reed – Guest Post
14th – The Novel Approach (Lisa Horan) – Review
     – RJ Scott – Promo Spotlight
17th – Mrs. Condit & Friends – Promo Spotlight + Review
     – Madison Parker – Guest Post “Valentine’s Day”
18th – Prism Book Alliance – Author Interview
     – Alicia Nordwell – Promo Spotlight
19th – Pants off Reviews – Review
     – JP Barnaby – Guest Post
20th – Elisa Rolle – Guest Post
     – Cate Ashwood – Author Q&A
21st – Kimi-chan – Review
     – Cody Kennedy – Promo Spotlight
24th – My Fiction Nook – Promo Spotlight + Review
     – Charlie Cochet – Guest Post
25th – Book Reviews & More by Kathy – Interview
     – Elin Gregory – Promo Spotlight & Interview
26th – Sinfully Sexy – Monique – Guest Post
     – Michael Rupured – Guest Post
27th – The Blogger Girls – Promo Spotlight
     – Z A Maxfield – Promo Spotlight
28th – Fallen Angel Reviews – Spotlight + Review

Polyster Prince by Hayley B. James blog stop, Giveaway and Review

Hey peeps, Hayley James has stopped by to give you a quick peek into her newest release Polyster Prince and to give you a chance to win some cool prizes. Now you all know the drill take a gander at Polyster Prince, take a look at the review and then click on the Rafflecopter link to be in for a chance to win. *squeezes* ~Pixie~

BLURB: Kyle Edington built his life around clubs, alcohol, nameless sex, and turning a blind eye to his future, but having front row access to his best friend’s perfect relationship leaves him wanting something he doesn’t understand—the white picket fence. After an ankle injury hinders his plans for PrideFest and puts his day job selling furniture at risk, Kyle attends Pride anyway to cheer himself up. Leaving his crutches at home was a mistake, though, and he’s shoved off balance and hits his head.

A bike officer keeps him safe until the paramedics arrive. Kyle’s memory of the event is foggy. He doesn’t recall the name or face of his guardian angel, but he definitely remembers the finest polyester-covered ass in all of Albuquerque.

But when he goes in search of his polyester prince, Kyle realizes relationships take hard work. After he learns the name of that perfect ass, a lifetime of avoiding serious boyfriends leaves Kyle second-guessing himself and making difficult decisions about what he wants for his future

BUY LINKS: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4633

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hayley B. James is a lifelong resident of New Mexico with no plans to pack up and leave just yet. Writing is her part-time job and full-time hobby. She works in a small office during the day and lives in her written worlds at night.

When she isn’t writing, Hayley is reading m/m romance, mystery, real-life crime, fantasy, and yaoi novels, and can be found cruising Tumblr and webcomics. She may or may not have an unhealthy obsession with police officers. It’s still up for debate.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://www.hayleybjames.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HayleyBJames.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hayleyb_james

GIVEAWAY

Winner’s prize – A set of paperback copies of Paid Leave and Polyster Prince

A “Paid Leave” coffee mug

Runner Up will win – An ecopy of the book

Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Polyester Prince

Series: ABQ Heat: Book Two

Author: Hayley B. James

Genre: Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 978-1-62798-512-3

Length: Novel (214 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5~4 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Kyle Edington built his life around clubs, alcohol, nameless sex, and turning a blind eye to his future, but having front row access to his best friend’s perfect relationship leaves him wanting something he doesn’t understand—the white picket fence. After an ankle injury hinders his plans for PrideFest and puts his day job selling furniture at risk, Kyle attends Pride anyway to cheer himself up. Leaving his crutches at home was a mistake, though, and he’s shoved off balance and hits his head.

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4633

Review: Oh, it is impossible to say how close at home this book hit. I loved it, I loved so much perhaps because I related a lot with the main character Kyle. Plus it was the same lovely, easy writing style I expected to find from the sequel of Paid Leave and Hayley B. James.

In this book we follow Kyle. Remember Kyle, the funny, always-teasing friend of Neal. You know, the one who hit on Benji’s nerves all the time? Yeah! I loved Kyle at Paid Leave and I couldn’t wait to read his story. What I didn’t expect was to find myself thinking “I am Kyle” when I was halfway through the book.

You see Kyle is this guy who is terrified of relationships for the sole reason that he doesn’t want to give up his independence. So he keeps on jumping from one hook up to the other, often not even remembering his one-night stand’s name, or even caring enough to.

“You went home with a guy who has a stripper pole?”
“That doesn’t happen outside of movies.”

“Kyle’s life is one long screenplay of the unreal.”

Yes, that is exactly what Kyle’s life is all about. Dancing and drinking all night long until exhaustion claims him. Settling down? Not on his future plans. Abandoning the club scene? A nightmare of the worse kind. Until he meets Isaac.

Isaac is a character that makes falling in love the easiest feat ever. You actually fall a bit for him, not merely like him as a character. He’s charming, easy going, and has a way of accepting people that makes you want to crush him in a bear hug. His smile is a special allure itself, and it is no wonder even Kyle falls for him.

There’s not a real challenge in sight for the first half of the book besides Kyle’s frustration and inner thinking. The fact that he hasn’t wanted a steady boyfriend for years make the text interesting, his newly found “butterflies” in his stomach are hilarious at best. It’s highly amusing reading about Kyle’s trepidation over being or getting a “picket fence” as he so fondly refers to lifetime partners. His fear of losing his “freedom” is so easy to relate to, and makes for a most funny read. His slow change is a bit sneaky and takes him completely by surprise when he comes to realize it.
After meeting Isaac… “Would you like something to drink?”

“No, thank you.” …and that’s what Kyle the party goer is reduced to. But the transition from party-boy to loving partner was so easy, so incredibly smooth, one just can’t help float that happy boat along with this pair. And when the time for the intimate parts came I ensure you it was breathtaking in a sweet yet very hot way.

ISAAC’S LIPS were poison, his touch fire, and his whispered words a catalyst sending every synapse in Kyle’s brain into overdrive. He couldn’t deny his desire for Isaac much longer if he wanted to keep his sanity.

Yeah, I found the intimate language highly sensual and sexy. It was no wonder I got lost in its web even as the story itself held no real intensity. Everything in this book was written in an easy-to-read language that was oddly erotic and alluring in its simplicity. When Kyle and Isaac came together it was all I could do not to hold my breath over the scenes. I loved it, I simply loved this read.

However easy the relationship was though, it was a relationship that required Kyle to make space for Isaac in his life, and while that was not a hardship, the very idea scared Kyle away.

He had ruined something based on a baseless fear.

Nearing the end of the book the intensity picks up a bit and emotions get stronger, they make you hold your breath and wait in agony while the story unfolds. You know there is a happy ending there, but still it was a punch to see how easily heartbreak occurred and over the stupid reasons it did. Fear though is a very real relationship breaker in life, and this book was real in many ways.

So, bottom end, this was yet another lovely addition to the ABQ Heat series. I loved the first and I loved this one as well. Now I just have to wait for the third to come out and swipe me like the other two. If this is a first book for you, know that it can be read as a standalone, yet I would suggest you pick up the first one too, only for your enjoyment. Strongly recommended!

THE TOUR SCHEDULE:

1/24 – Elisa Rolle – http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwidth.org/

1/25 – Andrew Q Gordon – http://andrewqgordon.com/posts

1/26 – MM Good Book Reviews – http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/

1/27 – Prism Book Alliance – http://www.prismbookalliance.com/

1/28 – CupOPorn – http://cupoporn.blogspot.in/

1/29 – Fallen Angel Reviews – http://fallenangelreviews.com/

1/30 – Sid Love – http://sidlove.com/

1/31 – Live Life, Buy Books – http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/

2/1 – Book Reviews and More by Kathy – http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/

2/2 – The Novel Approach – http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/

Big Bone Lick Pack Blog Tour with Giveaway!

Hey everyone, we have three great authors visiting us today… er two, Kendall McKenna’s been laid low by an evil flu bug but she sends her love. So lets see how Big Bone Lick Pack came to be and how Jambrea, Cherie and Kendall brainstormed this versatile pack…. oh and click on the Rafflecopter link to win a Big Bone Lick Pack T-shirt. 😉 Oh and a huge shout out to Madison Parker who snuck some pic’s of the crew from MLR Press at GLR ~Pixie~

We’re touring in support of the Big Bone Lick Pack, an anthology which came out January 24 from MLR Press. http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=ANTHBBLS

It features stories written by Kendall McKenna (www.kendallmckenna.com ), Jambrea Jo Jones (www.jambrea.com ) and Cherie Noel (http://talesfromthewritingcave.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html ).

BIG BONE LICK PACK (ANTHOLOGY)

Bad Wolf & Devil Dog by Kendall McKenna

Big, Bad Bear by Jambrea Jo Jones

Shifty Fox Shenanigans by Cherie Noel

Blurb:

Welcome to the Big Bone Lick Pack: A more friendly and hospitable group of werewolves you’ll never meet! Visit with; ‘Devil Dog & Bad Wolf’, a ‘Big Bad Bear’ and enjoy some ‘Shifty Fox Shenanigans’. Watch yourself, ’round the state park, ’cause we had a grizzly on the loose, just a bit ago. Our brave men and woman of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department have everything under control. (Except maybe their own love lives!) But if you find yourself needing a doctor, head on down to Rabbit Hash clinic, or St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is just up the road a piece. We hope you enjoy your stay.

Brainstorming:

Jambrea: We’ve talked about the fun multi colored google doc. I think we’ve even talked about the back and forth on Facebook, but—there was more! What could it possibly be you might ask? Well… Picture this. It’s Oct. and GRL (Gayromlit) time. Guess who is going to be there? ALL THREE of us.

Those of you who have not been might not understand how hard it is to carve out time to just sit and talk. You’re on the go all the time and this year I had a couple author things scheduled that freaked me out because I’ve never done anything like it before. I mean… I did a reading. Of my story. In front of PEOPLE! Lol

We texted back and forth a couple times and finally got together on the last day. I was standing in the lobby looking for Cherie and Kendall. I couldn’t find them for the longest time until I spotted Kendall sitting down at a table. At this point I had maybe a paragraph done of my story. Um—it was due Nov. 15^th. Yes, I was cutting it close, but everyone by now should know that none of us turned the story in on time. Lol I was a couple days late.

So finally, GRL is winding down. People are leaving and I’ve got Kendall sitting with me. Cherie—I think she was outside. Or upstairs. I don’t know. She didn’t answer my text. Lol Kendall and I started to talk a bit about our characters. I mean—one of mine was going to attack hers. The talk was too short, but Cherie did join us after a bit. I had my notebook where I’d written a page at the airport going to GRL and I wrote a few notes. I need to know about Park Rangers and how they would be added. A bit about the sheriff’s office because Kane was going to work for Asa.

It wasn’t until after we got home, maybe a week or so later when Kendall sent us the first bit of her story. And I needed that because my story was going to jump off from her story and we share a scene. We did some more back and forth, but it was fun to sit down with the two people you are writing with and hash a few things out. It was one of the highlights of the project. Well—that and Kris’ reminder that we only had 3 weeks left to write the thing. I’m pretty sure that came up a bunch at GRL.

Cherie: GRL is definitely madness, mayhem, and delightful foolishness. So yes indeed it is extremely difficult to carve out time to see everyone. I had only seen Kendall a little bit over the four days we’d been there, and Jambrea a touch more. Mama Kris was absolutely breathing down our necks to get ourselves all in one spot and hash out details. Kendall and Jambrea were calmly sitting in the lobby, sipping their coffees and discussing the starting points of their respective stories. And me? I was AWOL.

Here’s a secret most don’t know about me. As much as I LOVE going to GRL, as much as I LOVE seeing everyone face to face, the big events with tons of folk around scare the pants off me. I know it doesn’t look like that on the surface, because my go-to defense mechanism is to morph into a social butterfly. Which works okay to keep me from having panic attacks, but plays merry hell on trying to get actual work done.

While Jambrea and Kendall were getting down to brass tacks and moving fictional mountains out of the way, I was outside on the smoking patio, trying to hold onto my cool. Thank goodness those two were so rock steady. In the two or three fly by sneak planning attacks I managed in the time they were sitting together in the lobby, Jambie and Kendall gave me all the information I needed to get my story rolling. I say again, I could not have done it without them. And next time we’re all in one place (GRL2014?) I’m hoping to schedule a dinner or lunch out with just the two of them and Mama Kris. Because the only way I’ll manage to get there and sit there and actually stay in one place for more than two minutes is if they take me away from all the whoopla and nail my flitterty-gibbet wings to the chair I’m sitting in.

Even so, with me doing the fly-by method of contact, just being able to see their facial expressions, hear the tone of their voices as we discussed details… well, it made all the difference for me. I left Atlanta with a firm grounding in the essence of the world we were building—not to say I didn’t stray from the clearly marked paths and have to be reined in by Kris, Jambie, and Kendall at differing times—but I recognized the paths when the three of them had to spin me around and point me ever so gently back in the right direction. I agree with Jambrea that you really can’t beat having some face time to get that extra level of comfort and trust built. It makes the project easier to accomplish.

The prize is going to be a Big Bone Lick Tee! Just click to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Diversity Over Time – Azalea Moone Guest Post + Giveaway (Storm Moon Press 4th Anniversary)

Hi guys, today we are joining Storm Moon Press for their 4th Anniversary, they have sent Azalea Moone to do a guest post and they have also sent two fantastic Giveaways!! The first is Azalea’s with a chance is win Angel’s Redemption and the second is Storm Moon Press’s where the grand prize is receiving an ebook a Month for 12 months…. that’s 12 ebooks! What a fantastic prize!

So guy’s check out the post and click the Rafflecopter links to enter these brilliant Giveaways, I know I will be 😉 ~Pixie~

All month long, we’re celebrating diversity with Storm Moon Press for their 4th anniversary. But what exactly is diversity? Well Merriam-Webster dictionary describes diversity as: “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements.” That would mean there are several kinds of… well, everything in the world. Like chocolate! White chocolate, milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, etc. Excuse me while I devour all the chocolate!

Now that I have acquired a sugar high, we’ll continue. Okay, I won’t lie, I used to hate romance fiction when I was younger. Sure, I tried reading one of those popular romance stories, ya’ll know, from one of the biggest publishers of romance. Those sweet, and not so sweet, “I’m a perfect woman who’s going to fall in love with this big, bad Fabio looking dude over here” titles made me puke. So it surprised the hell out of me when I picked up, and loved, writing erotic romance two years ago.

But I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s noticed that romance has changed dramatically from those older titles back in the 70s and 80s. Apologies to those who grew up with and loved those stories.

One major change is there are so many different character personalities, now. A variety of endings, a variety of genres, a diverse crop to keep readers entertained and gushing over a book for hours. I’ve found myself in the same pool, screaming “OMG, this book is so hot! I need moar.”

As a new author of M/M fiction, I knew I had a lot to consider before taking the plunge. One decision was which genre to write in. Should stick to one or the other? Yes, there are a wide variety of genres, aren’t there? I started with paranormal since that was the most familiar for me, but the more I read, the more I found that I developed a love for contemporary romances and fantasies and wanted to try writing them, too. Why should I stick with just one? As a diverse author, I try to write in a variety of different genres to broaden my experience and see what I truly love out of all of them. And I’ve had a lot of fun, and have found that I enjoy a wide variety of fiction genres.

I also must weave different character personalities into my fiction, different scenarios, different lifestyles, and more. Since everyone in real life is unique, why can’t fictional characters represent that? No one in real life is a Mary Sue. Not everyone is totally accepting of themselves, not just in the manner of sexual preference, but other aspects of their lives. Not everyone has the ideal job, or the perfect relationship, or the greatest family. Plus, weaving realistic scenarios into my stories allows me to explore all the possible endings to find the one that is just right for my characters, whether it’s a HEA, HFN, or bittersweet.

Another thing I’ve found myself gushing over is the heat level of books today. Back when “Fabio” type romances were popular, a writer couldn’t dare use a sort of language that would defile the book’s pages. A more suitable description used purple prose, or a fade to black. Today, it’s a necessity, and books are getting steamier. I never thought I’d be writing full fledged sex scenes, but here I am, finding it absolutely imperative that my characters have at least one (if not more) muscle-tensing, sweat-building, heart-racing good time. I can’t close the doors because I want to see it, too! And I try to change each scene up, meaning some scenes might be vanilla, while others might require something more taboo.

That’s the one thing that turned me on to Storm Moon Press, and put their press at the top of my list: their variety of fiction tales, especially those of the taboo flavor. Many of these topics other presses won’t touch with a ten foot pole, but Storm Moon Press recognizes the need for quality fiction in these topics such as bro-cest and dub-con fiction. Just as everyone is different, so are their reading tastes. While some may want sweet romance, which SMP also serves, some readers may want something more extreme that isn’t too easily found at a publisher website.

I don’t know… have things changed? Is there a bigger, broader variety of books on the market now? What do you think?

***

This post is part of Storm Moon Press’ 4th Anniversary Blog Tour! Thank you for joining us, and please take a moment to enter Azalea Moone’s giveaway for Angel’s Redemption as well as our blog-tour-wide giveaway! The prize is receiving an ebook each month from SMP for 12 months! We hope to see you around the Internet and at RainbowCon in 2014! Happy New Year!

SMP’s 4th Anniversary Rafflecopter Giveaway
Azalea Moone’s “Angel’s Redemption” Rafflecopter Giveaway

Boys In the Band Blog Tour & Contest with Review

Hey everyone, I’m bringing you yet another cool Blog tour from four great authors! Yep that’s right four and they’ve all written about sexy Rock Stars! You will even get a chance to win a copy of their featured books! And just to make your knees weak again Rock Stars! So stick around, check out the books and enjoy the review of Rowan Speedwell’s Illumination and then click rafflecopter link and be in a chance to win!

Now I have to shoot before Portia wakes up and she sees what I have been up to 😉 *snuggles* Pixie

MM Good Book Reviews is the latest stop on the Boys in the Band blog tour, with authors Paula Coots, Cecilia Tan, L.A. Witt, and Rowan Speedwell. Each of these writers has brought a rock star to life in a recent romance release, so they got together to talk about music, musicians, love, and good old “sex, drugs, and rock and roll.” Today they answer the question: “What got you started writing about rock musicians? Why do they make good heroes/love interests?” Scroll down for the answer and a chance to win a prize pack of all four books!

You could win: WITH THE BAND by L.A. Witt Hard rock band Schadenfreude is finally on the verge of the success that’s eluded them for the last several years. With Aaron McClure as their new lead singer, nothing’s going to stop them…except maybe a steamy, secret relationship between Aaron and bassist Bastian Koehler. Aaron knows all too well what can happen when band members get involved with each other. After all, his last band was a casualty of his last relationship, and Schadenfreude forbids band members from dating for that very reason. But Bastian is too hot to resist, and besides, it’s just sex, so what’s the harm? Their passion in the bedroom is rivaled only by their ambition as musicians, though, and pretty soon, it’s going to tear them, and Schadenfreude apart, if they can’t get back to playing with the band.

ANOTHER ROCK STAR by Paula Coots Music is the driving force in Reed Lang’s life and he’s hit the jackpot when it comes to signing a major label deal and scoring a hit single or two. It’s never an easy task and certainly not for an out and proud gay man, even in this day and age. Now, it’s time to hire the backing band, shoot the videos, do all the promotion work and get out on the road. But what happens onstage is only half the show. When the wild energy onstage can’t be contained some become more than just hired hands. Friends. Mentors. Tormenters. Lovers. Surviving the circus of the music business, the rigors of the road, staying true to your art and discovering your heart show Reed that maybe there is more to life than being just another rock star.

DARON’S GUITAR CHRONICLES by Cecilia Tan It’s the 1980s, the era of MTV, AIDS, and Just Say No. Daron Marks is trying to make it as a guitar player in an industry where the whole world is the closet. Keeping his sexuality a secret would be a lot easier if he hadn’t developed a huge crush on his band’s lead singer, Ziggy Ferias. In fact, everything would be a lot easier without his crush on Ziggy… except for fame itself. In the latest volume of Daron’s Guitar Chronicles (volume 5), Moondog 3 are on the road. Is the tour bus the pressure cooker that will meld them together or will the pressure blow them apart?

ILLUMINATION by Rowan Speedwell Adam Craig is burned out. Lead singer of the hard rock band Black Varen, he’s tired of the empty life of groupies, paparazzi, and hotel rooms. Worse, a life in the closet. Miles Caldwell is a brilliant artist, tied by agoraphobia and social anxiety to his family’s lodge. Alone but for his parrot, he spends his days illuminating manuscripts and hiding from the complexities of life. Somehow, the man who’s never home and the man who never leaves it must find the strength to fight for a future together.

“What got you started writing about rock musicians? Why do they make good heroes/love interests?”

Paula Coots: Oddly enough, one of my characters informed my taste in music. I never much cared for The Cure. I always thought Robert Smith couldn’t sing. But Shane, the lead guitarist in Another Rock Star, loved The Cure, so I dug out my old CD of Disintegration and loved it. That set me off on a Cure binge. I bought everything they ever released that I could get my hands on in the second hand stores. And it was like I was searching for this one song, called Underneath the Stars. As I was driving home from Dallas, about two hours away from where I live, that song just broke my heart. I drove with tears streaming down my face and had to play it again. And again. And then I had to pull over to the side of the road to read the lyrics. This song is described in the first love scene between the two lead characters, and sounds exactly like what they feel as they explore each other for the first time.

Cecilia Tan: I have very wide-ranging tastes. I’m like one of those people who likes any food as long as it’s good, no matter what style: Italian, Japanese, barbecue, you name it. I grew up on a mix of classic rock and 80’s New Wave, with equal parts punk and Beatles. I knew Daron was going to have at least as wide-ranging taste, and as it has turned out, he has even more eclectic taste than I do! He’s even more interested in the quality of the song and the talent of the performer than I am, plus he learned to play more styles than what he writes himself. So he’ll throw in some bluegrass, R&B, you name it. We agree on Paul Simon, Prince, and The Cure. He liked Metallica long before I did, though he eventually convinced me.

L.A. Witt: I listen to a little of everything, from country to pop to industrial rock. I tend to joke that I have the worst musical tastes in the known universe because I own an embarrassing amount of pop drivel like Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, and even a couple of Bieber songs. But the sheer volume of 30 Seconds to Mars and Adam Lambert on my iPod negates all of that, so whatever. Don’t judge me.

Rowan Speedwell: I looooove show tunes and soundtracks, and so do both my boys. I have to confess something (whispers): I’m old. I remember the Beatles. I actually had Paul Revere and the Raiders albums. My musical tastes were formed in the crucible of British Invasion, hammered out on the anvil of folk rock, doused in the basin of disco, and polished with glam rock. (Sheesh, enough with the blacksmithing metaphors…) Lately, I listen to whatever people make me listen to, anything from Katy Perry to Imagine Dragons to the Decembrists. I never know what it actually IS I’m listening to, but I listen! Suffice to say, my taste in music is eclectic. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a prize pack including all four ebooks below!

About the Authors:

Paula Coots: After seeing David Bowie and his lead guitarist, Mick Ronson, when she was eleven, Paula knew what she wanted to do with her life. Her plan was to play lead guitar in a band and hopefully make it big, and then after that focus on writing. Well, she didn’t “make it big” as a rock star, but she has had her share of traveling band adventures as a lead guitarist over the past twenty five years. And now she writes! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulaCootsBooks | Twitter: @PaulaRCoots

Rowan Speedwell lives in a tarpaper shack in the North Woods, without so much as cable TV to keep her warm. She is allergic to publicity and loathes marketing, so her books only sell one or two copies. If you have one, she thanks you, as your purchase enables her to buy cat food for her diabetic feline companion, Kimball O’Hara. Webite: www.rowanspeedwell.com | Twitter: @RowanSpeedwell

Cecilia Tan mostly writes erotica and science fiction/fantasy, but she started writing Daron’s Guitar Chronicles back in the eighties and is still writing it today. She is the author of Slow Surrender, The Prince’s Boy, the Magic University books, and many other novels and stories. She was inducted into the Saints & Sinners GLBT Writers Hall of Fame in 2010 and is currently a nominee for the RT Magazine Career Achievement Award in erotic fiction. She lives in the fantasy utopia of Cambridge, Massachusetts with her three cats and her partner of 23 years. Daron serial website: http://daron.ceciliatan.com | Blog: http://blog.ceciliatan.com | Twitter: @ceciliatan | Facebook: thececiliatan

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer currently living in the glamorous and ultra-futuristic metropolis of Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband, two cats, and a disembodied penguin brain that communicates with her telepathically. In addition to writing smut and disturbing the locals, L.A. is said to be working with the US government to perfect a genetic modification that will allow humans to survive indefinitely on Corn Pops and beef jerky. This is all a cover, though, as her primary leisure activity is hunting down her arch nemesis, erotica author Lauren Gallagher, who is also said to be lurking somewhere in Omaha. Website: http://www.loriawitt.com | Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com | Twitter: @GallagherWitt

Just click for a chance to win these fabulous books: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Illumination

Author: Rowan Speedwell

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel Plus (307pgs)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (30^th September 2013)

Heat: Moderate – Explicit

Heart:

4 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Adam Craig is burned out. Lead singer of the hard rock band Black Varen, he’s tired of the empty life of groupies, paparazzi, and hotel rooms. Worse, a life in the closet. After the final concert of their latest tour, he flees the afterparty, pursuing memories of lost summers and carefree days, until he passes out on the patio of a shuttered lake resort.

Miles Caldwell is a brilliant artist, tied by agoraphobia and social anxiety to his family’s lodge. Alone but for his parrot, he spends his days illuminating manuscripts and hiding from the complexities of life. When he discovers Adam asleep in a deck chair, he’s furious but intrigued. Adam soon charms his way into Miles’s bed, and they lose themselves in a summer idyll, safe from the compromises and claims of reality.

But Adam’s life, with all it demands, is waiting for him. And Miles, uncertain of Adam’s true feelings, is battling demons of his own. Somehow, the man who’s never home and the man who never leaves it must find the strength to fight for a future together.

Purchase Link: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/illumination

Review: Adam reaches breaking point during the after party of the final concert of the tour for his rock band Black Varen, he jumps in the back of a cab and ends up at a childhood vacation spot. He awakens the next morning on the patio of the closed lake resort to a grumpy artist who wants him gone. Miles is a recluse, he has his art and occasional visits from his sister and two best friends and that is all he wants, but coming across a hungover man on his patio is the beginning of a shake up in his well ordered life. Two men, one private and one in the public eye must both find the courage to grab hold of love and never let go.

Adam and Miles are two different people, ones a famous rock star the other is a reclusive artist but they come together during a near idyllic time, learning each others quirks and discovering the wants and needs of each other… but what happens when the outside world encroaches and Adam has to go back in the limelight? Adam has to go back to playing the game and Miles’ insecurities come out to play.

Miles is a complex character, his circumstances unfold throughout the story and we discover the enormous changes to his character from when he was a carefree, confident young man to the grumpy recluse he has become. Adam is more than just a rock star, he first started out in musicals and that’s where he wants to return to. While Miles is content with his safe space, Adam has him hoping for more and Miles begins to slowly work on coming out of his safe haven. Adam is locked into his own cycle which includes drinking, drugs and partying and it takes a near brush with death for him to finally get stock of his life.

This is a great story, with interesting characters who entertain and confuse. Miles and Adam make a brilliant easy couple when they are at the lake resort but become frayed quickly when they are apart. Some of Adam’s choices was pretty pathetic, falling back into his old routine with no real concern about how it would look to Miles and he was easily convinced to party and do drugs when he at first refused. Miles had good reason for his doubts with the way Adam was acting and I think he made the right choice to distance himself from Adam, forcing Adam to think about what he really wanted. Both men face their own challenges together and alone making them stronger as a couple and on their own.

I recommend this to those who love great stories of opposites attracting, overcoming your own fears, corralling impulses and taking control of addictions, developing love and hot sex and a wonderful ending.

Abigail Roux's Shock & Awe Spotlight Blog Hop Contest & Review

*glances around and tiptoes across cyberspace* Hey boys and girls, Portia’s been lax again and didn’t fasten the chains properly so here I am bringing you another Blog Tour 😉 Now I know you must have all wet your panties when you saw ‘Shock & Awe’ in the title and I have to tell you you have every right to get a bit damp with excitement, it’s Nick and Kelly with just a glimpse of Zane and Ty, but damn is there anything better. Now it’s very simple, just leave a comment and Riptide Publishing along with Abigail Roux will chose a winner from all the comments left throughout the Shock & Awe Blog Tour, so you will be in for a chance to win some super cool prizes (I am so trying for a t-shirt *winks*) So without further ado here’s my review and Abigail’s contest *blows kisses* Huggles Pixie

Title: Shock & Awe

Series: Sidewinder 01

Author: Abigail Roux

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (83pgs)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (11^th November 2013)

Heat: Explicit

Heart: 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: After barely surviving a shootout in New Orleans, Sidewinder medic Kelly Abbott has to suffer through a month of recovery before he can return home to Colorado. He’s not surprised when fellow Sidewinder Nick O’Flaherty stays with him in New Orleans. Nor is he surprised when Nick travels home with him to help him get back on his feet—after all, years on the same Marine Force Recon team bonded the men in ways that only bleeding for a brother can. He’s very surprised, though, when Nick humors his moment of curiosity and kisses him.

Nick knows all of Kelly’s quirks and caprices, so the kiss was a low-risk move on his part . . . or so he thought. But what should’ve been a simple moment unleashes a flood of confusing emotions and urges that neither man is prepared to address.

Now, Kelly and Nick must figure out what they mean to each other—friends and brothers in arms, or something even deeper?—before the past can come back to ruin their tenuous future.

With bonus story Bait & Switch.

Purchase Link: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/shock-awe

Review: This story & series is a spin-off from the Cut & Run series and the timeline starts just after the events in Touch & Geaux. Ah oh yippee!! It’s time for Nick to find the beginning of his ever after and it comes from a very surprising direction! With Kelly still recovering from his injuries Nick accompanies him home to take care of him, but Nick gets a surprise when Kelly asks for a kiss. Kelly knows Nick better than he has ever known any of his ex’s and after Nick’s confession to the Sidewinder team Kelly finds himself examining what he feels for his teammate, hoping to satisfy his curiosity he asks for a kiss and gets much more than he bargained for. Just as they begin to figure things out the past comes knocking at their door.

So we get a brief look into the Sidewinder team from the perspective of Nick and Kelly and we see a change in their relationship that can only be for the better. We see both men examining what they really feel for the other man and accepting that their feelings might be more than just the feelings of a comrade in arms or even brothers, they embrace the change between them with loads of sweaty sex but they hold back slightly from fully admitting the full extent of their feelings.

This story is a great look into the men that Ty calls friends, we see the loyalty they have for each other and the easy friendship they have even before they take it further. The story also connects to the ending in Touch & Geaux with a visit from the marines with us seeing what happens with Kelly and Nick, we also get to catch up with Ty and Zane briefly at the airport where Nick has to fast talking to do. In the bonus story Bait & Switch we meet up with Zane, Nick and Kelly when Nick is in the States for a flying visit, it is some time after Shock & Awe and we learn some details into what is happening to everyone and we see Nick and Kelly come to an agreement about their relationship.

Now I have got all that out of the way just let me express myself…. *squeal, happy dance, joyful jig, whoop* oh god it was soooooo good to see Nick get his happy going with Kelly and damn but they were hot! I loved this story for giving us a look at the Sidewinder guys and for giving us a peek into what was going on with Ty and Zane without giving much away. I loved how easily Kelly and Nick fell together but still held back a little and then when they finally have their heart to heart and admit what they really want from each other *sigh* it was so sweet edged with a touch of angst.

I recommend this to those who love men going after what they want, friends becoming lovers, admiting what you really want and grabbing hold of love with both hands.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Abigail Roux was born and raised in North Carolina. A past volleyball star who specializes in sarcasm and painful historical accuracy, she currently spends her time coaching high school volleyball and investigating the mysteries of single motherhood. Any spare time is spent living and dying with every Atlanta Braves and Carolina Panthers game of the year. Abigail has a daughter, Little Roux, who is the light of her life, a boxer, four rescued cats who play an ongoing live-action variation of ‘Call of Duty’ throughout the house, a certifiable extended family down the road, and a cast of thousands in her head.

If you care to follow me more closely, you can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.

Contest:

In celebration of Nick and Kelly’s coming out, so to speak, I’ve got three of their Heart and Clover T-shirts for three lucky commenters. And I’ve got five sets of trading cards with original artwork and character work-ups, something I intend to add new cards to every year, which makes this first year’s cards pretty important if you’re an obsessive collector like I am.

In Liam's Wake by Ashlyn Forge, Review, Blog Tour & Giveaway

Hey everyone! It’s me Pixie *whoop* I’ve gate crashed again to bring you another Blog Tour this time from a brand new author, Ashlyn Forge!!! I’ve read the book and it’s pretty cool and something to really get your teeth into, there’s also some pretty great prizes to be won so don’t forget to enter the raffle down at the bottom of the page. Oh yeah, don’t forget to show us some love by leaving a comment to tell me how wonderful I am er… I mean how great all us reviewers are and how perfect Portia is (she made me write that LOL). So enjoy the review, join in with the raffle (just follow the link) and help me in my bid for Universe domination! Much snuggles Pixie 😉

Title: In Liam’s Wake

Series: Toy’s and Soldiers 01

Author: Ashlyn Forge

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy

Length: Novel Plus (439pgs)

Publisher: Ashlyn Forge (7^th October 2013)

Heat Level: Low – Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: For eight years, Liam Baldwin has been trapped underground in ‘The Colony’. His best friend and fellow detainee, Riley Scott, is comatose. Only Riley knows how to get out, but as the fifth year of his slumber comes to a close, Liam’s hope of ever seeing home again has faded.

Now he’s faced with two options: Continue in his quest to revive Riley despite amassing staggering debt as well as the wrath of bounty hunters and vengeful mutants, or leave the past behind–leave Riley behind–and give his life, his body, his mind, his loyalty over to the establishment by becoming a soldier for The Colony.

Two roads, one path, and no return.

Purchase Link: US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FPYT5V6

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FPYT5V6

Review: Liam was unwillingly brought to ‘The Colony’ with his now best friend Riley eight years ago. Now stuck underground his only hope of a way out is if Riley wakes up from his five-year coma, but although he clings to his hopes of returning to the ‘Outside’ he has the opportunity to improve his lot by joining the Elete soldiers. Can he give up his dreams of returning home or should he throw the security away on the small hope that there really is a way out?

This story has a very dystopian feel to it, leaving you feeling like we are reading about an all-new world or about survival after an apocalypse, but it isn’t, it is a secret land that is whispered about in legends… Atlantis, Shangri la or Avalon but it is far from the paradise that we dream about. Liam and Riley were dragged to ‘The Colony’ against their will, they were forgotten about then left to fend for themselves, now several years later Liam looks after Riley as best he can, but Liam’s habit of gambling against the odds always backfires. When Riley wakes up from his five years coma unable to remember much of anything, Liam’s hopes of a way out begins to fade and he becomes desperate.

This is a great story that is very involved and has many mystery connections, there are many interesting aspects that we discover the longer we read, and the characters are interesting and varied. Liam is a dreamer, he dreams of returning to New York and his life and refuses to accept the life he now has, he has the opportunity of a lifetime but his dreams are too much to let go of. Riley is messed up he can’t remember much and Liam is nothing like the Liam he remembers, as time progresses he himself begins to change and there is a huge mystery surrounding him.

Although this is a great story, I did wish there was some explanation to explain ‘The Colony’ rather than the clues that were dropped throughout the book. I found myself struggling with the setting until I figured out they were on Earth but in a secret underground world, with very rare people. This is a brilliant storyline that you will leave you both frustrated and desperate for more, you will love and hate the characters as we follow them through the difficulties they face and the difficulties they bring on themselves. We see many story threads that are just at the beginning but we do get a sweet though awkward relationship between Liam and Riley.

I recommend this story if you love science fiction and legends merging, fighting for your freedom against the odds, and finally accepting your place in the world, an honest sweet love, and a twisty ending that raises the eyebrows in surprise.

Ashlyn Forge Bio

Ashlyn Forge spends most of her days self-editing, writing, and editing. Her love of
storytelling, and the imagination in general, has put her in an on-and-off
relationship with Writing for a number of years. She is particularly drawn to
anything resulting in blurred lines between magic and science, as is evident in the
surreal world of her Toys and Soldiers series. Her literary ambition in life is to see
one, if not all, volumes of the Toys and Soldiers Series tucked neatly under
everyone’s pillow. If it were not for the discordant jumble of ideas clamoring for
attention in her head, she would also take up crocheting.
Social Links:
Blog: http://www.ashlynforge.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ashlynforge
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashlynforge
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/author/show/7079034.Ashlyn_Forge
Google+: http://plus.google.com/104492834731918361056

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Tag: Author Giveaway

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In Liam's Wake by Ashlyn Forge, Review, Blog Tour & Giveaway

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