Hi peeps! We have Riley Parks stopping by today with her new release Watch Me Fall, we have a great exclusive excerpt and a fantastic 2x $15 Boroughs Bucks giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Watch Me Fall
(Start Something 01)
by
Riley Parks
Having it all is hard work, and Elijah Tucker has no problem 24/7-ing to keep himself on top. But life has a sense of humor and a big-ass mirror that reminds Eli where he came from, and shows him what he’s really made of when he meets Gideon Valsecchi.
Gideon Valsecchi has one life goal – get out of the shithole where he lives on the South Side of Chicago. To say life has been unkind is a joke he can’t even laugh at; to say he’s going to have to claw his way out is a reality that nearly crushes him every day. But…he has a secret weapon, and he’s learning how to hone his skills. Yet, hope is a feeling he won’t indulge in until he gets to know Elijah Tucker, who shows Gideon there is an out, and it can include love.
Hi guys, we have a debut author Riley Parks popping in today with the tour for her debut novel Bleeding Like Me, we have a great exclusive excerpt and a brilliant giveaway, so check out the post and enter that giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
Bleeding Like Me
by
Riley Parks
Being gay in their neighborhood is perilous. Being gay in a street gang is unheard of. Being gay and in love with a man in a rival gang is a death wish. Through drug addiction, brutality, and seemingly endless peril, they remain; finding stability within each other that shouldn’t exist in their volatile world.
BEAUTIFUL CONTRADICTION
He didn’t paint people; the curves of their bodies and angles of their faces never interested him as much as cityscapes. The circumstances of his life had compelled him to create new worlds that he could get lost in rather than reflect the features of the people he ran from. He constructed buildings from their foundations, making them taller and stronger than he was. He adorned the edifices with countless windows, always left open or cracked so hope could pour in and fears could seep out. Tree lined streets reminded him how to breathe, pumping oxygen through the atmosphere, off the canvas, and into his lungs.
He didn’t paint people until the day he no longer desired the anonymity of his cities. The streets didn’t feel like his escape anymore, not like him. Cerulean skies gave way to pale blue eyes and bus routes to pink pouts. Evan didn’t paint people until he painted Jackson.
Hi guys, Susan Mac Nicol is celebrating the 2nd anniversary of Double Alchemy, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Cat’s & Tams’ reviews, so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Double Alchemy
(Double Alchemy Book 01)
by
Susan Mac Nicol
Powerful yet tormented modern warlock Quinn Fairmont must initiate the silver-eyed Cade Mairston into the world of witchfinders, Withinners, and what can happen when two men fall truly, madly, deeply in love.
THE WORLD IN SHADOW
In modern London there lurks a warlock, Quinn Fairmont. Dangerous, powerful, tortured, sharing his body with the soul of an ancient Welsh sorcerer, Quinn is never alone—and never wholly himself. He fights against all those who would exploit his kind. He takes pleasure where he can find it.
In the forest of Hampstead Heath, Quinn’s hometown, Cade Mairston appears to him like a waking dream. Lithe, lean and silver-eyed, he evokes feelings in Quinn unlike any other: lust with true affection, immediate and shocking. Cade is clearly more than he seems. And yet, if a man of the world, Cade is innocent. He knows nothing of warlocks, witchfinders or Withinners. He knows nothing of what he is, what he might be, or what he might feel. For him, the story is just beginning. Magyck, peril and passion await.
Powerful modern warlock Quinn Fairmont found ecstasy with the silver-eyed and not-quite-human Cade Mairston, but to know true happiness the pair must best both the shadow of a long-ago lover and an ancient enemy who seeks to destroy love, light and all they hold dear.
A BLINDING LIGHT
It begins with a Book of Shadows discovered by a London coven. The grimoire is as dangerous as it is rare, which is why it evokes modern-day warlock Quinn Fairmont’s desire. He collects objects of great power and beauty—like his lover, Cade Mairston.
Against all odds he and Cade found each other, but their perils have just begun. First is the ex-lover who once held Quinn in thrall. And, someone has been killing warlocks. Could it be one of his own kind? There are those too who would challenge Quinn’s power in their quest to overthrow him as Grand Master. Or is the danger something darker, something invoked inadvertently, rising from the shadows, building from the very inside of a man until it brings an end with a quick flash of light? Of the truth, the surface has only been scratched. Now Quinn and Cade must go deeper and find both answers and an end. They must learn what lurks in the hearts of men…and whether it seeks to love or destroy.
Hi guys, Susan Mac Nicol visits with us today with her newest release Cross to Bare, we have some tasty teasers, a great excerpt and Tams review, so enjoy the post and click that rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Cross to Bare
(Men of London 05)
by
Susan Mac Nicol
Tough in business but romantic at heart, fashion designer Lenny James isn’t hiding his masculinity behind his super successful female alter ego, but a vulnerability that only handsome financier Brook Hunter will be man enough to reveal…and worship.
TWO OF A KIND
It’s amazing what a little mascara and lipstick, a blonde wig, false boobs, and top-notch female fashion can hide. Not that Lenny James is hiding his masculinity. He uses his normal voice when he’s Laverne, and he’s not particularly camp as a man. His reasons for creating his alter ego are locked deep in his past. He is who he is: tough in business, and a romantic at heart. What he’s hiding is vulnerability. He wants a man to accept both sides of him.
Gorgeous, commanding, and dark as sin, Brook Hunter meets Lenny and knows nothing about Laverne until fate pushes her into his path. Cross-dressing is as far from Brook’s reality as fashion is from his world of diplomacy and high finance. Understanding and truth take time, and trust doesn’t come easy. But Brook is about to show Lenny that there are no sides to true love, just the place where they meet in the middle.
Title: Feat of Clay Series: Men of London, #4 Author: Susan Mac Nicol Genre: Romantic Suspense Length: Novel (163 pages) Publisher: Boroughs Publishing (August 25th 2015) Heat Level: Moderate to Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Imprisoned and tortured, undercover cop Tate Williams will find redemption in the arms of his boyhood friend, now lover, former SAS soldier Clay Mortimer.
TWO MEN.
TORN. TORTURED. LOVED.
Though they went their separate ways, Tate Williams and Clay Mortimer have been crazy about each other since their school days. Clay went into the SAS. Tate became a cop. Neither mentioned their attraction to the other. Both sought out danger. Both found it.
Imprisoned and shot in an undercover assignment gone wrong, Tate somehow survived…and found his way back into Clay’s arms. His old friend is now the owner of an elite investigation agency and everything any man could want: patient, handsome, commanding. And Clay knows what it takes to survive. But Tate can’t bring himself to share all his secrets, nightmares that force him to rebel against everything. He finds solace from his past as a graffiti artist, a childhood passion, but his demons drive away all who might care for him.
Only when he faces that past—and learns that everyone has tasted despair—can the two men truly be brothers-in-arms…and more.
Review: Tate Williams and Clay Mortimer have been friends since they were boys. Both have always longed to be more, but feared rejection so they never admitted those feelings to one another.
When Clay gets a call that his best friend has been found shot, stabbed, seemingly tortured and left for dead, Clay decides it’s finally time to come clean about his feelings for Tate. Low and behold, the feelings are mutual. They can ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after now, cue the romantic music.
Wait; hold that thought, not so fast.
Tate is suffering from PTSD stemming from his four days in captivity. He has debilitating nightmares and flashbacks cause horrid mood swings. He loves Clay. That has never been the problem. The problem is Tate holding all the gory details of what happened during those four days inside, for fear Clay won’t understand or be able to deal with it, and it’s festering like an open wound.
Clay goes out of his way to protect his lover, to the point of suffocation. The one thing he isn’t doing is truly listening. After a series of ups and downs and Clay continuing to withdraw rather than talk about what it really is that’s bothering him, Clay finally gets to the root of the problem. But will he be able to get past the truth of what happened to Tate? And even if Clay can move forward once he knows everything, can Tate find his way out of the darkness? One thing is for sure, they can only survive it together.
I have been waiting for a very long time for Clay’s story. He’s always so secretive about his private life, and you learn why in this book. He’s accomplished, domineering and loyal to a fault, and he is exactly what Tate needs to bring him back from the edge of the cliff he’s teetering off of. I loved the chemistry these two shared, the way Clay would command Tate’s ‘full’ attention, and Tate would gladly give it.
They were sexy, passionate, damaged and committed to each other.
You also get a little page time with all the other characters we’ve come to love from the Men of London series through dinners and various, brief conversations. But there are a few new faces introduced as well.
I am especially excited to see if there will be a story in the future for Jax, I quite liked him. And with the addition of an outlet of sorts, a place for Tate to expend some energy and truly make a difference, it opens the door for some of the guys to perhaps expand their families.
One of my favorite contemporary series set in the heart of London with a variety of characters and storylines that all intersect.
Recommended to those that enjoy contemporary, passionate romances, slightly domineering alpha males and a whole lot of skin.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hi guys, we have Susan Mac Nicol stopping by with the blog tour her new release Suit Yourself, Susan lets us have a peek at a tantalizing excerpt, there’s the book trailer, a brilliant and we have Cat’s review, so check out the post, enjoy and click that Rafflecopter link! <3 ~Pixie~
Suit Yourself
(Men of London 03)
by
Susan Mac Nicol
Scarred both physically and emotionally after a motorcycle accident, twenty-five year old ex fashion model and porn star Oliver Brown is about to be stripped bare by flamboyant twink Leslie Scott—and they’ll rebuild love from the bottom up.
BARING THE BEAST
Twenty-five year old Oliver Brown is addicted. Two years ago, he was at the height of his career as “Nikki Star,” fashion model, porn actor, partier without peer. Then came the accident. Hiding his scars, both emotional and physical, he’s gone into hiding. But fine clothing is some solace. A new suit by Debussy? Better even than a ride on his motorcycle Hulk or all the things he used to give and take on camera.
Enter Leslie Scott, the flamboyant, dark-haired, heel-and-tiny-short-wearing twink sent to deliver Oliver’s newest fix. A firecracker, Leslie is dapper, generous, in touch with his feminine side but all man, and as gorgeous as any garment ever made. He makes Oliver dream of ending his reclusion, of recapturing a future forever denied him. But for that to happen, Leslie would have to strip him to the bone. Only then will they rebuild life from the bottom up.
Hi guys, we have Susan Mac Nicol stopping by with her brand new release Suit Yourself, Susan lets us have a peek at a tantalizing excerpt, there’s the book trailer and we have Cat’s review, so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Suit Yourself
(Men of London 03)
by
Susan Mac Nicol
Scarred both physically and emotionally after a motorcycle accident, twenty-five year old ex fashion model and porn star Oliver Brown is about to be stripped bare by flamboyant twink Leslie Scott—and they’ll rebuild love from the bottom up.
BARING THE BEAST
Twenty-five year old Oliver Brown is addicted. Two years ago, he was at the height of his career as “Nikki Star,” fashion model, porn actor, partier without peer. Then came the accident. Hiding his scars, both emotional and physical, he’s gone into hiding. But fine clothing is some solace. A new suit by Debussy? Better even than a ride on his motorcycle Hulk or all the things he used to give and take on camera.
Enter Leslie Scott, the flamboyant, dark-haired, heel-and-tiny-short-wearing twink sent to deliver Oliver’s newest fix. A firecracker, Leslie is dapper, generous, in touch with his feminine side but all man, and as gorgeous as any garment ever made. He makes Oliver dream of ending his reclusion, of recapturing a future forever denied him. But for that to happen, Leslie would have to strip him to the bone. Only then will they rebuild life from the bottom up.
Hi peeps, we have Susan Mac Nicol stopping by to show off the cover to her upcoming release Suit Yourself. Not only do we have this fantastic cover but there’s some hot pics and a fantastic excerpt, so enjoy the post <3 ~Pixie~
Suit Yourself
(Men of London 03)
by
Susan Mac Nicol
Scarred both physically and emotionally after a motorcycle accident, twenty-five year old ex fashion model and porn star Oliver Brown is about to be stripped bare by flamboyant twink Leslie Scott—and they’ll rebuild love from the bottom up.
BARING THE BEAST
Twenty-five year old Oliver Brown is addicted. Two years ago, he was at the height of his career as “Nikki Star,” fashion model, porn actor, partier without peer. Then came the accident. Hiding his scars, both emotional and physical, he’s gone into hiding. But fine clothing is some solace. A new suit by Debussy? Better even than a ride on his motorcycle Hulk or all the things he used to give and take on camera.
Enter Leslie Scott, the flamboyant, dark-haired, heel-and-tiny-short-wearing twink sent to deliver Oliver’s newest fix. A firecracker, Leslie is dapper, generous, in touch with his feminine side but all man, and as gorgeous as any garment ever made. He makes Oliver dream of ending his reclusion, of recapturing a future forever denied him. But for that to happen, Leslie would have to strip him to the bone. Only then will they rebuild life from the bottom up.
Title: Out for the Holiday Author: Susan Mac Nichol Genre: Contemporary Gay Romance with a dash of Paranormal Length: Novella (42 pages) Publisher: Boroughs Publishing (December 4th 2014) Heat Level: Mild Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts Blurb: Being in love is tough enough at eighteen, but being in love and outed to your dad is a disaster that will take more than a little holiday magic to fix.
Review: All Samuel wants for his birthday slash Christmas this year is for his boyfriend Lucas to openly love him. Having recently lost his mother, Lucas doesn’t want his first Christmas after her death with his father to be marred with telling him the truth about his sexuality.
But Sam is tired of being Lucas’s secret and he wants to tell everyone the truth about what Lucas means to him, how much he loves him. After a pretty nasty fight Sam out’s Lucas not only to his father, but to his friends as well in a jealous, worded rampage. Now he faces his birthday and Christmas alone, without his lover, who is fit to be tied for being Outed for the Holiday.
A short little Christmas time story about thinking before you speak. Sam doesn’t intend to hurt the man he loves, he just wants Lucas to be open and honest about their relationship. He doesn’t think about the consequences of his actions, and almost looses Lucas in the aftermath of his verbal diarrhea. I really liked that Mac Nichol was able to give a pretty decent history and current story for both these young men in so few pages.
My only issue with the story was the attempt to include a bit of a paranormal aspect and how that played out. It didn’t quite mesh for me, but overall it was a fun story, perfect for the season!
Hiya guys, we have Susan Mac Nicol visiting now with her latest release Love You Senseless, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway and we have Cat’s review for you to enjoy. So enjoy the post and then click that Rafflecopter Link <3 ~Pixie~
Love You Senseless
(Men of London 01)
by
Susan Mac Nicol
One of London’s up-and-coming chefs, Eddie Tripp has just the right recipe to drive tragedy from the mind of Gideon Kent—and leave him senseless with desire.
THE MEN OF LONDON From Soho to Norwich, there’s no escaping love.
A TASTE OF FOREVER An award-winning chef with his own restaurant and an inexhaustible passion, Gideon Kent once had everything. Then came tragedy. It stole more than Gideon’s home. He hasn’t cooked since.
Until Eddie Tripp. Fun-loving and vivacious, the Norfolk redhead’s a real up-and-comer in Gideon’s kitchen—and other places. Slim where Gideon’s broad, easy-going where Gideon is growly, he and Gideon seem polar opposites, and yet Eddie conjures flavors that would tempt anyone with a taste for perfection. The sauce of love is already simmering, and this pair is about to dine on the most delicious dish they’ve ever prepared. Because Eddie’s been Gideon’s missing ingredient all along.
Hi guys, we have Susan Mac Nicol stopping by with her Love You Senseless blog tour, we have a great excerpt, a great giveaway and Cat’s review for you to enjoy. So enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link. <3 ~Pixie~
Love You Senseless
(Men of London 01)
by
Susan Mac Nicol
London’s saucy up-and-coming chef, Eddie Tripp has just the right recipe to drive tragedy from the mind of Gideon Kent—and leave him senseless with desire.
From Soho to Norwich, there’s no escaping love.
A TASTE OF FOREVER
An award-winning chef with his own restaurant and an inexhaustible passion, Gideon Kent once had everything. Then came tragedy. It stole more than Gideon’s home. He hasn’t cooked since.
Until Eddie Tripp. Fun-loving and vivacious, the Norfolk redhead’s a real up-and-comer in Gideon’s kitchen—and other places. Slim where Gideon’s broad, easy-going where Gideon is growly, he and Gideon seem polar opposites, and yet Eddie conjures flavors that would tempt anyone with a taste for perfection. The sauce of love is already simmering, and this pair is about to dine on the most delicious dish they’ve ever prepared. Because Eddie’s been Gideon’s missing ingredient all along.
Hiya guys, today we bring you Susan Mac Nicol with her latest release Double Alchemy: Climax, Susan talks about her music, lets us have a little look at an excerpt and she brings along a fantastic Giveaway. So I will leave you to it and don’t forget to check out both Cat’s & Tam’s reviews and to click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Double Alchemy: Climax
(Double Alchemy Book #2)
by
Susan Mac Nicol
Powerful modern warlock Quinn Fairmont found ecstasy with the silver-eyed and not-quite-human Cade Mairston, but to know true happiness the pair must best both the shadow of a long-ago lover and an ancient enemy who seeks to destroy love, light and all they hold dear.
A BLINDING LIGHT
It begins with a Book of Shadows discovered by a London coven. The grimoire is as dangerous as it is rare, which is why it evokes modern-day warlock Quinn Fairmont’s desire. He collects objects of great power and beauty—like his lover, Cade Mairston.
Against all odds he and Cade found each other, but their perils have just begun. First is the ex-lover who once held Quinn in thrall. And, someone has been killing warlocks. Could it be one of his own kind? There are those too who would challenge Quinn’s power in their quest to overthrow him as Grand Master. Or is the danger something darker, something invoked inadvertently, rising from the shadows, building from the very inside of a man until it brings an end with a quick flash of light? Of the truth, the surface has only been scratched. Now Quinn and Cade must go deeper and find both answers and an end. They must learn what lurks in the hearts of men…and whether it seeks to love or destroy.
Hey peeps, today we have Susan Mac Nicol bringing us her newest release Double Alchemy! Susan gives us some insight into promoting yourself and our little Kitty Cat gets pulled into this paranormal world and gives us her review… oh and there’s a fabulous Giveaway where there’s two of Susan’s previous releases up for grabs!! So peeps, enjoy our post click that Rafflecopter link, have a look at Cat’s review and Enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Promoting Yourself by Susan Mac Nicol
I can hear a lot of you groan as you read this. Yes, it probably is the hardest bit of the job. But I thought I’d share with you a few tips, seeing as how as well as doing this for my own books I’m also trying to do this for a living and help authors in their promotional activity. If you like the idea of someone perhaps helping you, check out my website – www.ravencrestagency.com. It’s a work in progress.
Basically you need to give up breathing, eating, going to the toilet and simply sit in front of a laptop screen until you die. Heh Heh. Because it’s addictive, it’s necessary and bears fruit if you do it right. Waits for the sigh of despair…….Honestly, I am kind of joking above, but rest assured, it takes a huge amount of effort to build these author platforms, street teams, and an author’s visibility. I’m not going to go into much detail here, just mention some areas I use to keep in touch with fellow writers and readers and bloggers.
Facebook – of course, whether it’s personal profile or an author page, we probably all have something.
Twitter – a great way to get a quick, intense spurt of something out to your followers.
Google + – it’s growing but still underutilised
Linked In – I find this more useful for networking as opposed to promoting books
Paper Li – an online newspaper which is very suitable for Twitter and earns you retweets
Goodreads- not my favourite medium but I check it now and then. Other authors will know why I say I don’t really like this forum much.
Pinterest – I just love this because it’s such a visual tool
Blogging – a really useful tool, so you can participate in blog hops, host fellow authors and gain exposure.
Your own website – always useful to have so you can cater to your audience
BookShout – an alternative to other social book sites and growing (http://bookshout.com/users/46573#_=_)
About.me – I notice more and people using this as a medium to keep in touch (http://about.me/home/)
VK – this is Europe’s answer to Facebook, and includes a lot of people from the Baltic countries, Russia etc. (https://vk.com/susanmacnicol)
These are just a few ideas to build a web presence and try and corner every corner of the globe a little like Pinky and the Brain trying to take over the world. Not everything will work for you but at least give it a look and see what you think.
About Double Alchemy
Title: Double Alchemy Author: Susan Mac Nicol Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group Release Date: 25th March, 2014 Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance
Powerful yet tormented modern warlock Quinn Fairmont must initiate the silver-eyed Cade Mairston into the world of witchfinders, Withinners, and what can happen when two men fall truly, madly, deeply in love.
THE WORLD IN SHADOW
In modern London there lurks a warlock, Quinn Fairmont. Dangerous, powerful, tortured, sharing his body with the soul of an ancient Welsh sorcerer, Quinn is never alone—and never wholly himself. He fights against all those who would exploit his kind. He takes pleasure where he can find it.
In the forest of Hampstead Heath, Quinn’s hometown, Cade Mairston appears to him like a waking dream. Lithe, lean and silver-eyed, he evokes feelings in Quinn unlike any other: lust with true affection, immediate and shocking. Cade is clearly more than he seems. And yet, if a man of the world, Cade is innocent. He knows nothing of warlocks, witchfinders or Withinners. He knows nothing of what he is, what he might be, or what he might feel. For him, the story is just beginning. Magyck, peril and passion await.
“I love Paranormal stories & I’m a huge fan of Susan Mac Nicol’s M/M books. In this book, she brings both genres together & gives us this amazing story. With her master storytelling, she takes us into the mystical & magical world of Witches, Warlocks, Withinners & Feys. A world where danger lurks in the shadows.” – Maria Recchia
“I stayed up all night reading this story. Susan has a way of writing that is different than anyone else. She’s uniquely brilliant at weaving a tale that brings out my emotions. I have laughed in every one of her stories. That’s incredible for me. Not just a smile, but a laugh. I love that. This book needs to be read. You won’t be disappointed.” – Author Kindle Alexander
Praise for Susan Mac Nicol
“We have to re-iterate that this Author will always be an automatic one-click for us. Her writing is flawless and her flawed characters are completely lovable. There’s always something quirky and fun in her stories as well as drama, angst and heaps of passion! We can highly recommend!!” – Gitte & Jenny – Totally Booked Blog
“Susan has been hailed as a genius writer of male/male literature. Her Saving Alexander has been nominated for several awards and has been reviewed widely. Congrats on all your success, Susan. You have earned it.” – Gay Lit Authors
About Susan Mac Nicol
Susan Mac Nicol was born in Leeds, UK, and left for South Africa when she was eight. She returned to the UK thirty years later and now lives in Essex. Her debut novel Cassandra by Starlight, the first in a trilogy, was published last year by Boroughs Publishing Group in the US. Sue’s latest story, Double Alchemy is her fifth m/m romance.
Sue has written since she was very young, and never thought she would see herself becoming a Romance writer, being a horror/psychological thriller reader all her life. But the Romance genre is now something very close to her heart and she intends continuing the trend.
Sue is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Romantic Novelists Association here in the UK.
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group (25th March 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: Powerful yet tormented modern warlock Quinn Fairmont must initiate the silver-eyed Cade Mairston into the world of witchfinders, Withinners, and what can happen when two men fall truly, madly, deeply in love.
THE WORLD IN SHADOW
In modern London there lurks a warlock, Quinn Fairmont. Dangerous, powerful, tortured, sharing his body with the soul of an ancient Welsh sorcerer, Quinn is never alone—and never wholly himself. He fights against all those who would exploit his kind. He takes pleasure where he can find it.
In the forest of Hampstead Heath, Quinn’s hometown, Cade Mairston appears to him like a waking dream. Lithe, lean and silver-eyed, he evokes feelings in Quinn unlike any other: lust with true affection, immediate and shocking. Cade is clearly more than he seems. And yet, if a man of the world, Cade is innocent. He knows nothing of warlocks, witchfinders or Withinners. He knows nothing of what he is, what he might be, or what he might feel. For him, the story is just beginning. Magyck, peril and passion await.
Good Reads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21480819-double-alchemy
Review: I’ve read all but I think one of Susan Mac Nichol’s books and loved them all. Double Alchemy was very different being a paranormal. I wasn’t disappointed. This story still deals with broken men, as lots of angst and is very emotional with a touch of humour.
Quinn is a Warlock and owner of a prestigious business. He also has many secrets. At a charity function, he meets Cade an anthropologist. The pull between them is irresistible. They have wild sex and seem to bond further.
Cade finds out from Quinn that the pull between them was more than just physical sex and that Quinn is a warlock and Cade has Fey in him.
They seem to fall in love instantly, BUT, not being a big fan of instalove, it really works here. I found this a very interesting refreshing take on Instalove or the soulmate bond thing. This ran much deeper and I can easily accept the connection.
This story is full of intriguing characters, both male and female, witches, warlocks, and more. There were also fine lines between good and evil, which I really liked a lot. Almost every character had a good side ad a bit of bad also. I loved this because it made all the characters so realistic, since none of us are perfect. Don’t get me wrong there were some pure evil characters as well. The balance of good and evil was fantastic and kept you on the edge of your seat. The Warlocks had a Withinner, which is another type of warlock or Magical being. I would have liked a bit more information on this but, I loved this take on a familiar. I will admit at first it got a bit confusing since Quinn spoke to his Withinner, or he spoke to Quinn was in italics. Also Quinn and Cade’s thoughts were in Italics and at times especially early in the story I was a bit confused as to who was speaking. As the story progresses I got used to the switches though.
The plot is very complicated and intricate. I loved how the story was far from ordinary. I also loved that it is set in today with paranormal world mixed in. There is an ongoing major plot with lots of subplots spinning off like little webs. I liked how the plots of this story were resolved, but there were just enough of those threads left hanging making you want more. I absolutely love Tal (Quinn’s Withinner) and would love much more of him!
The story does resolve the major issues and has a happy for now ending with just enough hints that there is more to come. I for one cannot wait.
I recommend this: if you like paranormal stories that are different, world within a world, witches Warlocks, sprites, secrets, twists and turns, a touch of humour and some hot sexy ManLove.
Hey peeps, today we bring you Susan Mac Nicol and her new release Worth Keeping. Susan discusses with us her research *cough*, we have both Cat and Tams reviews and a fantastic giveaway from Susan and Boroughs Publishing where you can win copies tour wide of Stripped Bare and Saving Alexander. So without further ado I give you Susan Mac Nicol, good luck chaps and remember to click that Rafflecopter link 🙂 ~Pixie~
Oh how the world turns – Or, research CAN be very interesting…
I think I’ve said this before but I’m going to bore you and say it again. I love my new role as a writer/published author/scribe/wordsmith/woman of letters.
Whichever way you look at it, it has changed my life to the point where I meet the most interesting, supportive, funny and downright irreverent characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. And now that I have ‘branched out’ into writing stories about the world of the gay male romance relationships, it’s just gotten better. I do talk about things in this post that may offend sensitive viewers, so feel free to look away now.
This group of writers is incredible. In the words of the ladies in that wonderful British sitcom, they are ‘Absolutely Fabulous.’ Eddy and Patsy would be so enamoured with this lot.
You can read more about Ab Fab here http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105929/ if you’re interested. It’s a classic if you like neurotic, sarcastic, chain smoking, drug popping and hard drinking women with attitude. And let’s face it, who doesn’t?
Anyway I digress. Back to this group of writers who have given me such pleasure over the past few months. Not the pleasure your dirty mind is thinking of, although… hmm, I guess there is an element of that when you’re reading hot, loving, gay man sex scenes.
Despite me being a relative newbie to the sub-genre, they have taken me into the proverbial fold, offered me support and encouragement, some jaw dropping moments, an education beyond compare in the ‘ins and outs’ of writing this type of story and a lot of entertainment.
Like my beta reader for ‘Stripped Bare’ (a well-known author and gay man who was sense-checking some of my scenes) coming up to me and saying ‘Sue, page 14 – honestly, cum doesn’t travel that far.” Ahhh. That’s telling me isn’t it? Right, I had to revisit that bit. The realistic distance of travelling cum needed to be addressed. (I have to say I think he said this for maximum impact when there were other people around who may not have known what we were talking about. He can be such a tease that way. I shudder to think what they thought, but they were too polite to say anything if so.)
There was the debate on whether a tongue stud will affect a blow-job and if so, in what way? Good, bad? Anyone tried it, have an opinion? Of course they do. I am now enlightened up and beyond the call of duty on the effect of a tongue piercing on a man’s penis.
There was the whole online discussion about solo shower masturbation and whether men used this as their happy time to relieve themselves. That garnered quite a few responses.
Then there’s my personal favourite, another fellow author, also a gay man, who offered to ‘test drive‘ my sex scenes with his boyfriend so that my research could be validated. Whether it actually happened or not I have no idea but this man and his partner deserve a commendation for their commitment to duty. If there’s an Oscar out there for this, someone let me know. Maybe we should think of a name for it. Feel free to give me your suggestions. Not too rude please. It might have to be mentioned on national TV.
The wonderfully named Gayology101 forum on Goodreads is a complete eye opener and I thank the stars we have actual gay men and women answering questions that we straight women pose on their sexual activity. It gets a little raw in there I can tell you, but nothing we writers can’t handle in the name of ‘research.’
I mean, honestly, where else could one talk about these sorts of things without feeling like a pervert? And believe me, getting it right is extremely important. There’s nothing worse that the research not being done properly and ticking someone off when they’re reading a book because it’s so blatantly wrong or unrealistic. You may not get it all right, and others may disagree with your take on some things but at least you tried like hell to do it right in the beginning.
Of course, all of the above applies to heterosexual sex as well, but I have a far better idea how that works, being an active participant myself. But when you’re writing about something you’ve never physically experienced or done (note, I don’t say visually experienced and I shall leave you all to ponder on the relevance of that statement) you need help to make it work.
So befriending these authors, most of whom are more experienced in writing in this genre than I am, who have already run the gauntlet and had their men have mind blowing sex with each other, was a privilege and an honour. Discussing things in forums, which may seem a little ‘out there’ was an education. Reading their books and finding out how they tackled the subject matter was enlightening and rewarding and most pleasurable. I doff my hat to them all.
All in all, I am enjoying this phase I’m going through and have every intention of continuing it. After all, David Sarnoff, businessman and pioneer of American radio and television said, “Whatever course you have chosen for yourself, it will not be a chore but an adventure if you bring to it a sense of the glory of striving.”
Well, I am definitely striving, so the path ahead can only be a LOT of fun.
Nick Mathers pulls Owen Butler from the freezing waters off the Norfolk coast, but Owen’s love can carry Nick back from the edge of oblivion.
Abused horrifically as a boy, Nick Mathers has come to terms with his existence as a man. Mostly. Other days life seems a little much. Especially when Nick knows he’ll always be alone.
On those days his thoughts turn black. He walks the Norfolk coast and considers the frigid embrace of the waves. And then, one stormy night, he finds someone who’s tasted just that. The beautiful stranger on the beach is near death, and Nick rushes him home to slowly nurse back to health. As he does, he finds a love unlike any other. Owen Butler’s body is as warm as the sea was cold, his heart as big as an ocean. And Owen is a man who swears to repay the favor. Nick can yet be saved from himself, and he will see that he is indeed a man…
WORTH KEEPING
”We have to re-iterate that this Author will always be an automatic one-click for us. Her writing is flawless and her flawed characters are completely lovable. There’s always something quirky and fun in her stories as well as drama, angst and heaps of passion! We can highly recommend!!” – Gitte & Jenny – Totally Booked Blog
“The cast of supporting characters adds depth and color, and the subplot of impending danger is artfully woven into the fabric of two men learning to overcome their own limitations, to open to the possibility of love and to redefine who they are. … this is a novel… Worth Keeping.” – Beach Bum Books
“Susan has written what I found to be a truly wonderful story about two damaged men that fit together in a way that gives them a relationship that can be everything they never dared to dream of.” – T. Kurtz, Book Addict
“…it is a beautiful story of survival. It is a story of two men who fought for their lives and there are times they can trip and fall, but somehow they do manage to pick themselves up and face life. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Love it.“ –Johanna Alba Bilbao
“Susan has been hailed as a genius writer of male/male literature. Her Saving Alexander has been nominated for several awards and has been reviewed widely. Congrats on all your success, Susan. You have earned it.” – Gay Lit Authors
Susan Mac Nicol was born in Leeds, UK, and left for South Africa when she was eight. She returned to the UK thirty years later and now lives in Essex. Her debut novel Cassandra by Starlight, the first in a trilogy, was published last year by Boroughs Publishing Group in the US. Sue’s latest story, Worth Keeping is her third m/m romance.
Sue has written since she was very young, and never thought she would see herself being a Romance writer, being a horror/psychological thriller reader all her life. But the Romance genre is now something very close to her heart and she intends continuing the trend.
Sue is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Romantic Novelists Association here in the UK.
Blurb: Abused horrifically as a boy, Nick Mathers has come to terms with his existence as a man. Mostly. Other days life seems a little much. Especially when Nick knows he’ll always be alone.
On those days his thoughts turn black. He walks the Norfolk coast and considers the frigid embrace of the waves. And then, one stormy night, he finds someone who’s tasted just that. The beautiful stranger on the beach is near death, and Nick rushes him home to slowly nurse back to health. As he does, he finds a love unlike any other. Owen Butler’s body is as warm as the sea was cold, his heart as big as an ocean. And Owen is a man who swears to repay the favor. Nick can yet be saved from himself, and he will see that he is indeed a man…
WORTH KEEPING
Nick Mathers.. dark and brooding, artist and light house keeper in his small corner of the world. To say his past is the stuff of nightmares is an understatement. Violated and abused as a teen, his own mother was the enabler. And then in his confusion he mistook a controling and domineering man for love. His body, both inside and out, carry the weight of the hard life he’s lead, and he remains isolated in his light house, pondering ending it all. Until he meets Owen.
Owen Butler is no stranger to heartache himself. His lover was killed in random act of violence and he’s never quite recovered. He does a little more than ponder an ending, and winds up washing ashore on Nick’s light house beach. The energy between these two is electric, and they act on it immediately. Nick decided long ago that he was better off alone. His scars run way too deep to even consider a lover. His emotions are so out of sync that his mind sometimes blurs the lines between reality and the past. And he refuses to hurt anyone, or let them in.
Both men are stubborn, strong willed and determined. Owen has fallen in love and will do whatever it takes to gain Nick’s love in return. The push and pull at times is extreme. The question is, can they find a balance between the push and pull. When your entire life has been a series of nightmares, self loathing and pain; can you find a way to love again? Owen is more than willing to draw him a map!
I’m reminded of a movie quote with these two, “Don’t say we may not be right for each other. Because the way I see it, we may not be right for anybody else!”
This is a dark love story with a lot of mystery and suspense. I loved the six degrees of separation aspect to the story line as well, in the end, all things were connected. People, places and things that were seemingly random throughout, actually converged for a tumultuous ending. There was passion, steam and just the right amount of angst for these two lovers as well. The shower scene alone makes this book a must read! The fact that the story itself is well written and the characters have depth and a certain reality to them is just a bonus.
Cat’s Review:Heart: ♥♥♥♥ 4
I really liked this story. It is full of depth and emotion and touches on some very disturbing topics. I will say however that there is a lot going on and at times I was a little overwhelmed with all the emotion, angst and different things happening. Still it is a beautiful and poignant story.
There are a lot of characters in this story also, but I really like that. Nathan is a dark brooding man, who wouldn’t like him but I have to say that at times I wanted to just slap him and say get over it. Owen I loved!! He is the perfect character and the dream man everyone would want no matter what sex you are! Both men are broken and so different that they complement each other well. Socks… I think he stole the show. I absolutely adored him and now I want a pet monkey.
If you like stories with angst, broken men, which deal with abuse, loss and suicide, devoted adoptive fathers, fate, a love worth keeping, and MONKEYS! You will love this story
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group (December 23rd, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb:Abused horrifically as a boy, Nick Mathers has come to terms with his existence as a man. Mostly. Other days life seems a little much. Especially when Nick knows, he’ll always be alone.
On those days, his thoughts turn black. He walks the Norfolk coast and considers the frigid embrace of the waves. And then, one stormy night, he finds someone who’s tasted just that. The beautiful stranger on the beach is near death, and Nick rushes him home to slowly nurse back to health. As he does, he finds a love unlike any other. Owen Butler’s body is as warm as the sea was cold, his heart as big as an ocean. And Owen is a man who swears to repay the favor. Nick can yet be saved from himself, and he will see that he is indeed a man… WORTH KEEPING
Review: I really liked this story. It is full of depth and emotion and touches on some very disturbing topics. I will say however that there is a lot going on and at times, I was a little overwhelmed with all the emotion, angst and different things happening. Still it is a beautiful and poignant story.
There are a lot of characters in this story also, but I really like that. Nathan is a dark brooding man, who wouldn’t like him but I have to say that at times I wanted to just slap him and say get over it. Owen I loved!! He is the perfect character and the dream man everyone would want no matter what sex you are! Both men are broken and so different that they complement each other well. Socks… I think he stole the show. I absolutely adored him and now I want a pet monkey.
If you like, stories with angst, broken men, which deal with abuse, loss and suicide, devoted adoptive fathers, fate, a love worth keeping, and MONKEYS! You will love this story.
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group (October 28th, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb:Punishing himself for a horrific past that is not his fault, bestselling author Alexander Montgomery seeks redemption and love—and perhaps he will find it.
Famous author though he may be, Alexander Montgomery is not someone you take home to meet Mother. Seriously flawed, damaged by a horrific past, he’s trying hard to claw his way back to normality. But how can anyone respect what he truly is? His therapy involves regular sessions at Study in Scarlet, an exclusive S&M club.
Then comes Sage. Tall, with black hair and blue eyes, an up-and-coming actor with impossible charm and boy-next-door good looks, he’s the perfect choice to play the leading man in a TV adaptation of Alex’s last best-seller. Even more, he is a man you introduce to your family. Which Alex would do—if he weren’t taken by another man who offers the punishments Alex prays will wipe away the past and make him the person he wants to be. Yet, perhaps there is another path to redemption. If only the solution would reach out and touch him
Review:Warning: this book contains explicit scenes of S&M used as therapy
Alexander is an up and coming author with a haunting past. He sees Eric at Study of Scarlet an S&M club to punish himself for his past as part of his therapy. He wrote his books with an actor in mind as his inspiration for his main Character so he jumped at the chance to meet Sage in person and have him play the lead in the series being developed from his books.
All in all this is a beautifully written book full of the struggles of love and life.
I have to say I totally loved this book. Before I go into why I will say that there was lots going on, lots hinted at and some of the stuff thrown out there left me with a couple unanswered questions or was solved a bit lightly. I can’t say any more on this without giving away the plot.
Having said this I will also say I still think this is one of my favourite books. I loved Alexander through all his flaws he was amazing. He isn’t a bad man he is a broken man. He tortures himself mentally and physically for his past.
Sage on the other hand is the perfect hot hero. Some people reading this may think he is too good and he would never accept Alex’s situation (seeing the S&M man).I disagree. Perhaps in reality it would have been even harder than in this fiction book but I think it was handled well here. The conflict was shown, the jealousy and pain was shown. This is one of those stories of love being difficult. But life is difficult. There are things in each of ours past that our lover must abide.
The struggles of this romance were great and I thought the mystery was good and very twisty. There also is a lot going on in this story besides the turmoil of the relationship. I would have liked a bit more of Sage.
I highly recommend this book if you like lots of angst, broken men, actors, authors, mystery S&M, and lots of very hot mansex.
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Company (July 22nd, 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts
Blurb: Now that Shane Templar has stripped the armour from Matt Langer’s heart, will either of them ever be safe again? Though two years past, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He’s steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to fall for him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realizes just how far he’s already fallen. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who has broken through his armor, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.
Review: A mysterious hacker and elite escort, Shane lives a bit on the wild and unstructured side, until he meet’s Mat Langer, who is just this side of OCD, but for very serious reasons. These two live in very different worlds that collide over a mutual friend and client. An interesting combination of corporate espionage, murder/mystery, love, loss and a touch of D/s make this book a fast-paced nail-biting read. At times, I got so very frustrated with both MC’s that I wanted to throw the book across the room, but that’s a great thing! I love it when a work of fiction can stir me so! Loss of a partner and the guilt over the attraction so someone new, someone out of their comfort zone, is the major driving force of this book. Each character’s side stories, David’s, and especially Timmy’s intrigue me. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing more from this writer!
Title: Feat of Clay
