Hi peeps, we have C.J. Baty popping in today with her newest release Crashing Waves, we have a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and Lisa’s review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Crashing Waves
(The Warfield Hotel Mysteries 02)
by
C.J. Baty
Justin Warfield ran away to Italy to put the events of last summer and a certain dark-haired private eye behind him, to no avail. If anything, he can’t help but rehash what happened over and over. When he finally returns to South Carolina, the hotel he runs with his brother has suffered a series of incidents that are starting to look less accidental after a death threat is received.
Not satisfied that Moses Lee and his local police will find the culprit, Peter Warfield calls in the services of his good friend Marcus Drummond to help. Marcus is torn. He wants to help his friend, but he also knows that if Justin has moved on after their failed flirtation last summer, he will be devastated.
Tensions mount as danger seems to follow them at every turn, stalking them as they get closer to solving the mystery of who is behind the sabotage of the hotel.
Hiya guys, today we have C.J. Baty stopping by with her newest release Drifting Sands, we have a very tantalizing excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so check out this new mystery story and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Drifting Sands
(The Warfield Hotel Mysteries 01)
by
C.J. Baty
As he approaches his fortieth birthday, Justin Warfield feels alone, drifting like the sand that blows along the beach near his family’s hotel. He has done exactly as his father wanted. Married the right girl and carried on the family tradition of running the Warfield Hotel. On paper things seem perfect, but happiness hasn’t been a part of his life for a very long time.
Marcus Drummond once spent a summer with his best friend Peter at the Warfield Hotel and fell hard for Peter’s much older brother. Five years later he’s back, and this time hopes that Justin will see him as more than his kid brother’s friend.
Sparks fly when the two meet again, but there are a few things standing in their way. The closet that Justin has himself buried in and someone on a killing spree, dumping bodies on the Warfield beach . . . victims that indicate Justin may be involved in some way.
Title: Mythica Series: N/A Author: L.J. LaBarthe Genre: Paranormal / Sci-Fi Length: Novel (205 pages) Publisher: Bottom Drawer Publications (September 18th 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4.5 Hearts Blurb: Caiden Jones is part-Selkie and lives an idyllic life by the sea in South Australia. He’s had his fair share of disappointments, like being kept out of the Navy due to his Mythica status, but overall he’s got a pretty good life. Until he’s in the wrong place at the right time.
Cai steps in to subdue an out-of-control Minotaur and in the process suffers a serious injury to his ribs. As Cai struggles to breathe, a gorgeous suit-clad sy’lph with mesmerizing blue eyes races to his rescue. When it’s learned that the Minotaur was poisoned, the sy’lph, Gray, makes it his personal mission to keep Cai and his family safe.
Cai has always harbored some resentment towards the sy’lph because of their easy acceptance into the community, so the attraction he feels for Gray takes him by surprise. But how can they find out what this might mean when the lives of Cai and his family are endangered by someone closer than they realize?
Review: Mythica is the term used for people descended from the creature of mythology and fantasy. They are not readily accepted by the humans. The Sy’lph were aliens that come to Earth after their world was destroyed. They wear suits that hide their real forms so they appear somewhat human. The Sy’lph are treated by the humans with the utmost reverence. On the other hand, the Mythica are treated as second-class citizens with many restrictions placed on them and kept from getting many things that humans can.
Caiden and many Mythica resent the Sy’lph for the way they are treated by the humans. They are aliens who landed on Earth. Yet the Mythica who have always been there beside the humans and they are hated by so many. It takes Caiden meeting a Sy’lph named Gray to make him take a look at his own resentment issues and realize he is acting no better than the humans.
The opening of the book made me wish I could feel about the water as Caiden does. The writing just draws you in. The descriptions the author gives make you almost feel it, taste it, and touch it, whatever it may be. As Caiden learns about the Sy’lph from Gray, so does the reader. The romance itself was a slow burn. The reader learns about both MCs before the romance really starts. During all of this is the intrigue of the poisoning of Mythica and the hunt for the perpetrators.
Not to say the book is perfect it wasn’t. There were a few things that bugged me. Like what happens when the two MCs are separated for a time while Gray is locating the group doing the poisoning. Some of the behaviors they had just did not make sense to me. Also, the ending was a bit rushed in my opinion. Things were just wrapped up too fast and cleanly. But overall that the writing style and the lush descriptions do make up for a lot.
This was well worth the read. I have never read this author before, but I think I will have to look up her and try some other works she has done.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Stealing Serenity Series: N/A Author: Tami Veldura Genre: Contemporary Length: Novella (98 pages) Publisher: Bottom Drawer Publications (July 3rd, 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts Blurb: Serenity, a photograph worth four million dollars, was sold at auction to an anonymous bidder, and stealing it will represent the largest payday Daniel will have ever had. To make that happen, he poses as a photography curator to attract the attention of Kearin, the auction house owner.
Kearin takes Daniel under his wing to work in the non-profit branch of his business, but it’s a cover for his desire to see Daniel naked, bound, and needy for the camera. Kearin has a client interested in a very specific portfolio—filling the request would put him at the top of his field.
Daniel thinks he can use the modeling to get closer to Serenity. What he doesn’t expect is to fall for Kearin’s brand of intensity instead. So does he go for the photograph or Kearin’s heart? He wouldn’t call himself a master thief if he couldn’t steal both.
Review: Daniel is a master thief. He has taken a job at Kearin’s auction house in the non-profit department. When Kearin ask Daniel to model for his new project Daniel takes the chance to get closer to the locating the photo and to Kearin.
These two have a chemistry that is off the wall. They are attracted to each other but Kearin does not sleep with his models. Kearin is doing a portfolio of naked man in different forms of rope bondage. During the two scenes they have together, the sexual suspense is intense. There is no actual sex between the two but it really was not needed in this story. Just what was given was hot as is.
I really liked this book. It was fast paced and very descriptive. I liked Daniel and his thought process and his sneakiness as he spies on Kearin to learn who the multimillion-dollar photo could have been sold to. This is told from Daniel’s POV until the end, so the reader only gets a feel for Kearin through Daniel’s thoughts. But I loved the ending and the twist.
This was a really awesome book and I wouldn’t mind reading about these MCs in the future and more from this author.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Dirty Martini Series: A Second Chance Novella Author: Bette Browne Genre: Contemporary Length: Novella (48 pages) Publisher: Bottom Drawer Publications (August 22nd, 2013) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4Hearts Blurb: This story was originally included in the SECOND CHANCES Anthology released in August 2012 and has been individually released to celebrate BDP’s anniversary.
Daniel Fletcher knocks back his third vodka of the night after running into his ex out with the same lover he had found him with, in their bed two months before. He’d ended their relationship that night but coming face to face with them still together makes the pain of the breakup still very real.
Nathan Smith has seen more men than he can count drowning their sorrows in a bottle at his bar. He understands – he’s been there himself. One night a handsome brunette with sad blue eyes, makes Nate want to assure him that everything will be okay. The connection he feels from a fleeting touch, as he walks the man out of the bar, shakes and stirs him in ways that he never expected.
What starts out as a means to forget might just be what they both need.
Review: This is a nice, short, simple story; Dirty Martini is all about finding new love and getting over past infidelity. Daniel deals with the painful reminder of his ex cheating on him in the same way many of us would – go straight to the near and get smashed on vodka (or whatever alcohol promises oblivion). Nathan is the bar tender who is used to listening to people and is left intrigued even after he piles Daniel into a cab at the end of the night.
The one thing I liked on this road to a happily ever after is how Daniel is forced to face the past. How it happened had me thinking that this could go either way: would Daniel be with Nathan or would he go back to his ex after what could surely be explained away as a big misunderstanding. There are some of the usual clichés, starting from the fact that Daniel was getting drunk and attracted to the bar tender serving him.
However, this was refreshing and somewhat unique despite these themes. This is a well-written story and if you’re into clichés of a new relationship after infidelity it is a very enjoyable read.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Cutting Out Series: N/A Author: Meredith Shayne Genre: May/December Length: Novel (247 Pages) Publisher: Bottom Drawer Publication (October 11, 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5Hearts Blurb: A twenty-year veteran of the shearing shed, Aussie Shane Cooper loves his job, and the home he’s made for himself in New Zealand. If he’s a little lonely, he’s got good mates to keep his spirits up. When a hot, cocky young shearer named Lachlan Moore catches his eye at a competition, he’s content to look but not touch, knowing the young man is out of his league.
Lachie wouldn’t mind a piece of Shane, but the gorgeous gun shearer from Australia is soon forgotten when the Christchurch earthquake hits, and tragedy strikes Lachie’s family. Lachie deals with it the best he can, cutting himself off from all he knows. A year later and he’s back in the shearing shed, out of practice and lacking confidence. That Shane’s there to watch him flounder doesn’t help his nerves.
As Lachlan struggles to re-acclimatize, Shane can’t resist giving him a hand to get back on his feet. As they move from friends to something more, Shane finds himself wanting to know everything he can about Lachie. But Lachie’s got secrets he desperately wants to keep, and when things come to a head, those secrets might just mean the end of them before they’ve truly begun
ISBN: 978-0-9941572-3-2 Product Link: http://www.bottomdrawerpublications.net/#!cutting-out/ckts Reviewer: Lisa Review: This was a very good book, if not way too long for me. I thought my eyes were going to stay crisscrossed while reading. I however found myself captivated by it. I never would have thought that I would be into a story that did not have the paranormal or law enforcement angle.
However, I was quite surprised by this book. It has such a sad tone to most of it, and I can actually see it. I was drawn to it. It was a beautiful story that just grabs you and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Lachie is a beautiful young man with a heart of gold. Whereas Shane is a forty-year-old man, who has his heart set on Lachie.
Shane has been in the shearing shed for most of his life and even though he is alone through it all, he loves what he does. When he meets Lachie, he thinks he has found the man for him. Lachie is quite a bit younger than he is but he wants a future with him. However, there is something going on with Lachie. Something he is hiding and he doesn’t know if he wants to push it or let it go.
Lachie has been in the shearing shed for a few years, but he is pretty damn good at it. He had met Shane and was actually almost as good at it as Shane is. Then the earthquake hits and his father is killed leaving him taking care of his father. His mother is taking it very badly and he is just not sure how to handle it all. He knows that he is keeping secrets from Shane but he doesn’t want Shane to feel sorry for his family. He is actually not sure what to think about it all. He is running scared and now he needs to learn how to trust another with all that is going on.
Shane wants to help, he wants to be there for the man he has fallen in love with. I loved this book, but it was very hard to get into all the details. I actually put that on the fact that the story is placed in another country and I had difficulties with the slang I would say. It was a beautiful story and you can tell that there was a lot of passion and heart put into it. There is nothing better than a story that you can tell the author put their entire heart into it. I was blessed to have had a chance to read this amazing story.
I would recommend reading this especially if you love sexy men, tender sex, lots of passion and fire, angst, pain, fears and happily ever after. It will give you all that you could possibly want in a story.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Blurb: Riley Aylworth’s life has been completely devoid of intimate contact since a fire three years ago left him with horrific facial scarring, so when he finds an ad for a phone sex service, he decides to give it a call. Except that the number is not a phone sex service—it’s the revenge Cameron Kirkwood’s ex-boyfriend took on the uptight advertising executive after Cam forgot their anniversary and accidentally put him in the hospital. Needless to say, after thirty-nine disturbing calls seeking phone sex, Cameron is at the end of his tether and yells at his fortieth caller. What he doesn’t expect is for Riley to hit redial and yell right back.
The argument helps both Cameron and Riley vent about their issues, and when they’ve calmed down, they decide to exchange numbers and talk again. From this decision springs a friendship that, over time, grows into a gentle romance—all over the phone, because Riley is too scared to meet Cam in person. Showing a potential boyfriend his disfigured face is the fastest way to be rejected, right? Even a month of scorching hot phone sex can’t change his mind, no matter how hard Cam tries to persuade him that with their phone chemistry, the sex would be so much better in person.
Meanwhile, Cam is haunted by the scarred blond he seems to be seeing everywhere, and Riley can’t get the handsome brunet who always seems happy to see him out of his mind. It’s a shock to both men to realize that the guy they’re falling for over the phone is also the man who brightens their day with just a smile; but it’s one thing to let a stranger smile at you and quite another to let him close enough to see into your soul. If Riley can’t break down the walls in his mind and believe that Cameron loves him in spite of his scars, their relationship may be doomed before they’ve even had a chance to kiss.
Review: Three years ago his life changed from a fire accident. What used to be a player, a handsome young man, full of life and confidence turned into a hideous monster, scarred for life and doomed to be lonely. That’s how Riley sees himself, and that’s how he believes everybody else sees him. His loneliness is out of proportions and in a weak moment, he picks up his phone and calls a phone-sex service line.
Cameron had the shock of his life when his, for 4 years, partner dumps him on their fourth anniversary. Yes, of course Cameron screwed up what with being a workaholic, and then he had different dreams from his ex, and to top it all he unwillingly poisoned his ex on their anniversary by giving him some sweet thing that had nuts in it causing his ex a huge allergic shock and a trip at the hospital. But really did he have to simply dump him like that and throw away for years of their life? And if you think that was all, a series of calls came asking for phone sex… How vindictive could one be to do such a thing to him? Not only is Cam lonely but he now has to fend of pervs that upon being told they got the wrong number they insisted on him providing some phone sex anyway because he had the voice. It was number forty that had to deal with the blast though, because by that time Cam simply couldn’t control himself anymore and simply wanted to yell.
Want to guess who lucky number forty was?
I loved this book. It was sensitive in so many ways, it showed how loneliness doesn’t affect only those that are outwardly scarred, but that there are also inward ones that make for a huge amount of hurt. It was lovely how the author got around this topic, a mastery in itself, and made you think really hard about who we are deep inside and how we view things as well.
On top of that, this book was also hilarious and fun. Cam and Riley are two very well written characters, their personality solid and multidimensional, and they work quite well together. The chemistry between them is charming and gripping even if 99% of the book has them on the phone and not having met in person. And THAT was the real surprise for me. I don’t quite know how I feel about it to be honest. Sometimes I think it got stretched a bit too much, others I think it worked well and in all honesty I was kept on my toes the entire read, waiting for that big moments when they’d met to come. When it came was simply “awww” and *sniff* and yeah, left me simply feeling and not thinking much. It was good, it was sexy, hot, and sensual, and damn it I wanted more. Down side was, it was the end of the book. Literally!
Fear not though, there is a second book coming and following Cam’s and Riley’s relationship now together body and soul. I can’t wait for that one, because as sexy as the phone sex was, as masterfully as it was written, I really, really wanted more face-to-face time with this couple. They are so good for each other that I can’t wait to see them in a more intimate scene.
Bottom end, book one in Riley and Cam’s adventures was great. I loved it and enjoyed every second of it. Give it a shot and let it grip you as it did me.
