Hi guys! We have K.L. Noone Popping in today with the tour for her new release Steadfast, we have a brilliant sneak peek of Cinnamon and Strawberries K.L.’s holiday novella (releasing in December), we have a great excerpt and a fantastic $10 Amazon GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Steadfast
(Character Bleed 03)
by
K.L. Noone
A love story for the ages! An intimate confession! An epic quest! And happily ever after on the horizon…
Jason Mirelli loves Colby Kent. And Colby loves him. They’ve told the world. And Colby’s recovered from injury, so they’re back at work and back on set. Jason just might have everything he’s ever dreamed of, with a serious leading role, an epic love story, and Colby safe and happy in his arms—but they only have two weeks of filming to go. He’s afraid of the dream falling apart, and he knows Colby has a secret to confess—one that could transform both the ending of their movie and their future together.
Colby never got around to telling Jason his final secret before the accident on set. Now that he’s recovered, he wants to share his writing and his silent script doctor work with the man he loves. Besides, he’s rewritten this script to give their characters a proper happy ending. But he’s nervous about making changes to a classic novel, and he wants the author’s approval.
Colby’s hoping to seek out the famously reclusive author in question, but first he’ll need to trust Jason with this last piece of himself. If he can, he and Jason might finally find their happily-ever-after both on screen and off—for their characters and for themselves.
Blurb: ICraig Rosen thinks he’s pretty happy with his quiet geeky life working in a lab in London and playing Warhammer. But one of his colleagues has other ideas and drags Craig along to an audition at the amateur dramatic society, the Sarky Players, for their Christmas pantomime, Aladdin. Meeting Jason Carter makes Craig think that maybe he’s not as content as he thought.
Jason accepted he’s gay a little later in life than most, but now with an ex-wife and in his late thirties, he’s ready to embrace who he really is. He can’t believe his luck when he meets Craig, and the cute younger man’s patience and gentleness make him the perfect guy to help Jason navigate his new life.
While there’s no denying the attraction between them, it’s not just Jason’s insecurities that might upset their best performance. Craig is convinced that someone as confident as Jason, a corporate lawyer who looks sexy in a suit, could never settle for a man like him. Together they will need to re-write the script to give themselves the happy ending they deserve.
Review: Rebecca Cohen’s series, Treading the Boards, is as fun as the pantomime and plays that amateur theatre group the Sarky Players thrive on so much. While these books may be read as standalones, I do like that we do get to catch up with the previous characters so it would be good to read the previous installments.
In He’s Behind You we get the story of Craig Rosen and Jason Carter. Craig is a post-doctoral research at medical research labs somewhere in London. He’s a quirky guy, who has known who he is for a long time; including the fact that he loves the role playing game, Warhammer. Jason is a corporate lawyer who got married at the age of seventeen after getting his girlfriend pregnant. Now at the ripe old age of thirty-eight he is finally divorced and has made the step to come out of the closet. One aspect of Jason that I love is that he is still great friends with his ex-wife and his two kids are fantastic. These three make really good minor characters. But I am sidetracked, after a chance meeting Jason and Craig meet while auditioning for the Sarky Players.
For me it was way too easy to relate to Craig. Partly because I know people that are similar to him in personality and this also includes me, but mostly because this portrays academia and scientific research and generally life working in a lab with great accuracy. I should know: I’ve done the whole PhD thing and work in a lab. Craig and Jason work really well together, I loved and believed their chemistry.
Blurb: Ryan Penniford needs a break from the daily grind of London life. A trip down to Porthcurno, Cornwall, to perform at the stunning Minack Theatre with his amateur dramatics society, the Sarky Players, is the perfect answer. Playing Puck in A Midsummer’s Night Dream will certainly lighten his spirits.
After meeting Stuart Box, a local who has returned to Cornwall after earning his PhD in London, Ryan thinks he might have finally found someone who can see behind his mask of flirty Ryan to see the real man. They quickly realise they have great off-stage chemistry, and want as many repeat performances as possible.
Pity Ryan is only visiting Cornwall for two weeks, but Stuart is keen to return to London and he may have found another incentive to get a new job, and fast. Both men want to see where this more-than-just a holiday romance might take them.
Review: This is the second instalment to Rebecca Cohen’s Treading the Boards series (and I am well aware that there is at least one other series in MM called Treading the Boards). You don’t need to have read book 1 to get into this one. The couple of the previous book, Overly Dramatic, Andy and Phil, are mentioned a couple of times but nothing that requires a back story.
We are back in the world of the Sarky Players amateur theatre group and they are now on the road from London for a summer performance in Cornwall. This time round we get to meet member of the Sarky Players, Ryan as he readies himself to play the part of Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s at the local outdoor amphitheatre that he meets local guy Stuart. The road to romance is rocky for them, and probably a bit predictable, but it is entirely pleasing. However, once again I enjoyed the chemistry between the MCs and the romance was hot.
On a more personal note, I have to say that it took me a few days to realise that I did indeed enjoy this story more than I originally thought. Stuart’s story of finishing his PhD and having problems finding a post-doctoral research position just hit too close to home for me, the problem being that I am approaching the end of my PhD and finding myself in the same position (and in a similar field of biology) to Stuart. Maybe I can find my very own Ryan!
In saying all that, people towards the end of their PhDs will find some of the descriptions so close to home that it’s almost depressing. For everyone else, rest assured this is a pretty damn realistic look at the life of research scientists.
Nevertheless, cannot wait for book 3!!! Even if that will also be alarmingly close to my own life.
Blurb:Andy Marshall has moved back to London with plans for a fresh start. A little heart sore from a nasty break up, he joins a local amateur dramatics society called the Sarky Players based in Greenwich. Despite his best efforts at the audition, Andy lands a leading role in play called Whoops, Vicar, There Goes My Trousers, a ridiculous farce written by a local first-time playwright.
The play might be bad, but the Sarky Players are a friendly bunch. Andy quickly makes new friends and finds himself drawn to Phil Cormack, a local artist helping with the set and props. But despite their growing attraction, Phil’s not in the right place to date, and Andy won’t wait forever.
Life doesn’t run to a script, and if Andy and Phil want to get their happy ending, they need to move past rehearsals and put each other centre stage.
Review: This is a bit of a fun novella which was thoroughly enjoyable and good when you just want to read and relax. ‘
It’s a bit of a usual story – main character moves town/city to get away from a bad relationship and a fresh start. Andy has done exactly that after a long-term relationship breaks down and takes up a job in London where he works as an accountant. After talking to one of his co-workers he winds up joining a small amateur theatre group called the Sarky Players.
This is a funny story, helped particularly by the fact that Andy finds himself cast in the horrendously named Whoops, Vicar, There Goes My Trousers. It’s especially funny when Andy encounters the play right and her reaction that the play she wrote as a bet was being put on by the local am-dram company. It’s through the Sarky Players that he meets one of the props managers, Phil, and instantly there are sparks between the guys. Sometimes it felt like the romance was a bit slow in coming along but I love the chemistry between Andy and Phil, nonetheless.
I liked the very human and relatable feel of the other characters in the Sarky Players, including the woman and her husband that had introduced Andy back into the world of theatre. It’s a lot of fun and nothing to take more seriously than the words on the page.
Blurb: Isaac Dalton is the guitarist for Spiral, arguably the biggest rock band in the world. The band’s meteoric rise to super-stardom has its perks, but fame and fortune aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Nonstop touring and performing exhaust Isaac, and when an overzealous fan makes it imperative that he travel with a clingy bodyguard, he is ready for a break from the madness. More so when his newly single first crush shows up on his doorstep. Adam is strictly off-limits. He’s a memory from a place Isaac would rather leave behind. And he’s straight.
Fun-loving former athlete slash construction worker Adam McBride desperately needs a new beginning. And New York City is the perfect place to start over and think about how to rebuild his life. A short stint as roommates with his brother’s best friend from high school seems like a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, when friendship gives way to fierce attraction, both men find themselves in uncharted and possibly dangerous territory. Isaac has to decide if he’s willing to take the ultimate risk for a kind of love and a kind of home he never dreamed possible.
Review:A Kind of Home is book 4 in Lane Hayes’ totally awesome series, A Kind of Stories. The books follow the lives and loves of what has now become one of the biggest rock bands in the world (perhaps a little emo, ala My Chemical Romance).
If you haven’t read or heard the previous books in the series I strongly recommend you do so, if only to get a handle and get to know the other members of the band and their partners who feature in the background. I have devoured and adored all the previous books in the series and this one was just as awesome to hear the audio.
It’s been a while since I’ve heard or read the previous books, I remember the audio being pleasing but I don’t remember if Seth Clayton has been the narrator for the whole series. Regardless, Clayton has done a marvelous job articulating the tone of the two MCs and absolutely nailing the emotions of both guys. The MCs are vastly different men and I think that their personalities and their chemistry was well reflected in the narration.
The story itself follows the guitarist of Spiral, Isaac Dalton. He is exhausted after relentless touring and recording. The bandmates are friends and so even though they live in each other’s pockets they care for each other. Which is why, when Isaac gets some messages that leads him and the record label to believe that he has a stalker, he doesn’t want to worry the guys unnecessarily. However, when he gets home from tour and finds a house guest when all he wants is to be alone, one that was meant to have only stayed a week months ago.
That houseguest is Adam McBride. Something of a ghost from Isaac’s past. Adam is the older brother of Isaac’s best friend. The McBride family were the bright spot in Isaac’s formative years. He was the adopted child in a small town where his parents got divorced and his mother ran off with his biological father. It’s a complicated back story, which is why the story is there in the first place. As I said, the youngest McBride, Ned, was Isaac’s best friend. The middle McBride taught Isaac how to play guitar and the oldest McBride, Adam was Isaac’s first crush. The problem was, Adam was straight, wasn’t he?
Now that Adam is in New York with Isaac the two get to really know the real men that they have become. Adam is recently divorced and needs to get his head together. He’s pretty much got himself sorted by the time he meets up with Isaac again, but the ex-builder/tradie is now an aspiring baker and has plans to open a bakery in his and Isaac’s small hometown. The two men have a lot to tackle as they get to know each other more as adults and as men who are sexually attracted to each other with a hint of more romantic things to come. The main thing they have to deal with is the craziness of Isaac’s career, including crazy fans, potential crazy stalker fans and zero privacy. They also need to somehow compromise Adam’s dreams too. I love the fact that Adam’s wishes for a career wasn’t totally ignored in favor of Isaac’s insane life as a rock star.
Okay, and this is where I go pop culture. First off, with the name Spiral, all I can think of is Mystic Spiral, the band that was in the MTV cartoon Daria. I think I’ve been waiting for the whole series for someone to go “Hi, we’re Spiral, but we’re going to change the name”, The other thing is that I’ve listened to this audio on the back of watching Bohemian Rhapsody (which is all kinds of fantastically awesome). So, I think my enjoyment of this book was definitely influenced by my love for the movie, mostly because I found my mind wandering back to the movie because there were definitely some shared themes besides the obvious.
Blurb: A trip down to Cornwall is just what Ryan Penniford needs to recover from the daily grind of London life. Ryan and his amateur dramatics society, the Sarky Players, are traveling to Porthcurno to perform at the stunning Minack Theatre.
Stuart Box has returned to Cornwall after earning his PhD, and is killing time as he looks for a job back in London. Spending time with Ryan from the Sarky Players is a great way to take his mind off things.
During their first meeting, sparks fly, but not in a good way, and they must work to get past their initial hostilities to discover they have great off-stage chemistry. Stuart soon learns Ryan is not the superficial man people assume he is, and Stuart likes what he sees. The feeling is entirely mutual.
Pity Ryan is only visiting for two weeks, but both men want to see where this holiday romance might take them.
Review: This is the second instalment to Rebecca Cohen’s Treading the Boards series (and I am well aware that there is at least one other series in MM called Treading the Boards). You don’t need to have read book 1 to get into this one. The couple of the previous book, Overly Dramatic, Andy and Phil, are mentioned a couple of times but nothing that requires a back story.
We are back in the world of the Sarky Players amateur theatre group and they are now on the road from London for a summer performance in Cornwall. This time round we get to meet member of the Sarky Players, Ryan as he readies himself to play the part of Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s at the local outdoor amphitheatre that he meets local guy Stuart. The road to romance is rocky for them, and probably a bit predictable, but it is entirely pleasing. However, once again I enjoyed the chemistry between the MCs and the romance was hot.
On a more personal note, I have to say that it took me a few days to realise that I did indeed enjoy this story more than I originally thought. Stuart’s story of finishing his PhD and having problems finding a post-doctoral research position just hit too close to home for me, the problem being that I am approaching the end of my PhD and finding myself in the same position (and in a similar field of biology) to Stuart. Maybe I can find my very own Ryan!
In saying all that, people towards the end of their PhDs will find some of the descriptions so close to home that it’s almost depressing. For everyone else, rest assured this is a pretty damn realistic look at the life of research scientists.
Nevertheless, cannot wait for book 3!!! Even if that will also be alarmingly close to my own life.
Hi guys! We have debut author Brianna Kienitz stopping by today with the tour for her debut lesbian release Off Pitch, we have a brilliant guest post from Brianna, a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
Off Beat
(Pitch Prodigies 01)
by
Brianna Kienitz
Soccer star Adeline Fahey has never taken an interest in the world outside of the pitch. The daughter of wealthy Irish immigrants, and a straight-A student, she sees nothing but the goal—finish her last two years of school and join a professional soccer team—no ifs, ands, or buts.
Then Gabriella Soto, a cello prodigy in her own right and the teaching assistant in Adeline’s dreaded Beginning Spanish class, walks onto her playing field.
After a drunken night in a T-rex costume boots their hearts onto a collision course, Adeline and Gabriella must tackle a field of school scandal, homophobic parents, and their own passionate career goals to have a shot at something more. In the face of so many obstacles, Adeline and Gabriella fear that their love may not be strong enough to score them the championship relationship they never knew they wanted.
Blurb: Violinist Logan has spent most of his life training for a career in music. But as the pressure mounts during his junior year, he questions whether playing in an orchestra is the future he wants, or one chosen by his parents. His new roommate—that annoying jerk Peter from last year’s production of Guys and Dolls—complicates matters. Crammed into a dorm room with the overconfident but undeniably hot accounting major, Logan can’t stop snarling.
Then Peter sprains his ankle building sets, and Logan grudgingly agrees to play chauffeur. But instead of putting further strain on their relationship, spending time together reveals some common ground—and mutual frustration. Logan discovers he isn’t the only one who doesn’t know what he wants from life, and the animosity between him and Peter changes keys. But just as the possibility of a happier future appears, Logan gets a dream offer that will take him away from Western Massachusetts University—and Peter. Now he has to decide: will he live the solitary life laid out for him, or hold on to Peter and forge his own path?
Review: I really hate to say, but reading the second in Kate McMurray’s WMU series has left me with much the same feeling as the first book. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the story. Like her other stories I’ve read, the characters are well developed, same with the plot, with a number of likable characters and generally well written. However, the story just didn’t connect with at the same level as some of her other books have.
What’s the Use of Wondering? is a wonderfully sweet new adult book set in Kate McMurray’s world of Western Massachusetts University (we even get a few glimpses of book 1’s Dave and Noel).
The story is about Logan and Peter. Logan is a violinist whose family has already mapped out his life and career as an orchestral violinist and Logan knows that to please them he has no room for error. However, as the stress of university builds he begins to question what he really wants for his future and if he really has to be dictated by his parents for the rest of his life. To make things more complicated, a new roommate enters his life, Peter. Peter, as the blurb said, is a jerk. Logan just does not like the guy and that’s probably more to do with Logan’s desires and questions whether or not he can be true to himself while being the good son. Peter is majoring in accounting, but he’s also involved in WMU drama production of Guys and Dolls. But when Peter sprains his ankle, Logan becomes his chauffeur and Logan is not only faced with the questions that have been plaguing him, he is now also finding out that love could give his life a more satisfaction than he realized!
Honestly, this is a sweet and enjoyable coming of age. Logan can be a bit angsty but he has a lot going on. Logan and Peter are well suited and I really did enjoy that they took their time to come together and discover each other.
Blurb: Isaac Dalton is the guitarist for Spiral, arguably the biggest rock band in the world. The band’s meteoric rise to superstardom has its perks, but fame and fortune aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Nonstop touring and performing exhaust Isaac, and when an overzealous fan makes it imperative that he travel with a clingy bodyguard, he is ready for a break from the madness. More so when his newly single first crush shows up on his doorstep. Adam is strictly off-limits. He’s a memory from a place Isaac would rather leave behind. And he’s straight.
Fun-loving former athlete slash construction worker Adam McBride desperately needs a new beginning. And New York City is the perfect place to start over and think about how to rebuild his life. A short stint as roommates with his brother’s best friend from high school seems like a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, when friendship gives way to fierce attraction, both men find themselves in uncharted and possibly dangerous territory. Isaac has to decide if he’s willing to take the ultimate risk for a kind of love and a kind of home he never dreamed possible.
Review: I love reading Lane Hayes’ series, A Kind of Stories, about the lives of up and coming band Spiral (I always think of Mystic Spiral like in the cartoon Daria, but whatever). I love Hayes’ tone and style and I love the world created in this series. A Kind of Home is the fourth book. I suppose each book could be read as a standalone novel, but honestly, I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice not going back to the beginning and seeing not only how Spiral starts, but how the characters start and grow into their own stories.
This story follows Spiral guitarist Isaac. He’s been in the background since the end of the book 1. He was the replacement of Spiral’s replacement guitar player (Will) just before they were about to get their first big record deal. That being said, as a reader we are only just finding out how tricky fame has been for Isaac. So Isaac is looking forward to the well earned break after the band’s first big tour of Europe. But back home in New York he finds himself sharing space with his very straight first crush (and his best friend’s brother), Adam. But there is more to Adam than meets the eye, and he’s in New York for the hope of being about to reinvent himself and get his life back on track.
I am a sucker for the whole friends to lovers’ storyline and things are anything but easy for the guys. I really loved their story. Because of Isaac’s upbringing there are some legitimate hurdles that the couple has to face before making it to their HEA. And, by the way, who can resist a sweet HEA? Certainly not me! They have fantastic chemistry and are really, deep and developed characters with a solid foundation for their relationship by the end of the book.
There was only one thing that annoyed me and that was the very quick stalker plotline that felt like it was thrown into the book, just because. I felt like it took away from Isaac’s and Adam’s true story and added unnecessary drama. I think if that plot line had developed longer (say from the beginning) then I would have liked it more, but how it is leaves me feeling a bit meh about that aspect of the story.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (15th June 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: Alexander James Noble is a gender-fluid gay man who gave up on finding Mister Right a long time ago. He’s not asking for much, though. He just wants a guy who loves all of him and appreciates his feminine form too.
At the local LGBTQ center where Alex regularly volunteers, he meets Dal Sayer, an officer of the Milwaukee PD. Because he’s been rejected one too many times, Alex doesn’t trust the huge cop and the interest he shows in him, but once Dal sets his mind on something, he goes all out. Pushing aside his preconceived notions, Alex opens up just a little and soon caves.
From their first date – while dealing with his father’s failing health and his parents’ demands for him to settle down and have children – Dal never takes his eyes off his goal of making Alex his. But proving to Alex he isn’t like all the men who couldn’t see him for who he truly was and only wanted to hide him away is harder than he thought.
Review: Desires Entwined is absolutely fantastic series to get into. The audio is just made so much better with the wonderful narration by Jeff Gelder (although I was not a fan of his impression on what I assume to be a Welsh accent). How he tells the story of the different characters makes it feel just so real. It’s an absolute pleasure.
Now, I know that I said that Book 2 can be read as a standalone, but I really do recommend if you don’t start with Book 1 you have to read Book 2 before getting to Temptations of Desire. This story follows Dal Sayer and Alex Noble. Dal is a detective for the Milwaukee police department. He also happens to be the brother of Rhys, one of the main characters in book 2. It is as part of the voluntary work that he undertakes for a local LGBTQ centre with his brother that he meets Alex. Alex is a personal chef to a rather wealthy gentleman who has more than one business encounter with Dal’s circle of friends. Alex also volunteers at the centre, making sure that the kids – and even the adults – get a decent meal at least once a week. Alex also has the added depth in his character that he is genderfluid, which I found to be an interesting spin on his character and is added dimension to Dal’s bisexual nature.
I would say that Alex’s story had more depth than Dal’s story. But as we found out in Book 2 when Rhys and his boyfriend went for a family meal with Dal and their parents, the parents want Dal married off and they want grandchildren. That seemed to work in Rhys’s story because we did not see their parents on page a lot owing to them being overseas. However, though we do not see their parents on page often in this book, we get to hear more about the family. The background info suggests that they are they are a very close and loving family. The well meaning meddling from the parents – it seems weird but I assure you that it is explained enough, at least to satisfy me.
Alex’s side of the story is somewhat understated, but it is clear that with him Dal has to work to show that Alex can trust him. Alex has had trouble in the past because he is genderfluid and finds himself comfortable wearing female or male gendered clothing, depending on his mood.
The flow of the story is really good and overall is well paced. Just like other books in the series this one is really sweet and I found myself quickly invested in the relationship between Dal and Alex. The ending is just nice as well. However, it left me eagerly waiting for the next installment. The short stories are not available in audio, unfortunately and I have to admit that I have not read them, but with book 4 we have another couple to follow.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (4th December 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Blurb: Artist James Bryant has forearm crutches in every color from rainbow for fun to sleek black for business. He even has a pair with more paint splatters than metal. After his family’s rejection and abuse from a man he thought loved him, James only just gets through the day by painting. He lives in constant fear that he’s not worthy of anything, let alone love.
As CEO of his company, Carrington Enterprises, Seth Burns is a take-charge kind of guy, and he is instantly smitten by the artist helping with his newest project. When he witnesses James suffer a panic attack, a protective instinct he never knew he had kicks in. He truly believes nothing is unobtainable-including James-if he’s willing to put in the time and effort.
James is shy and confused by Seth’s interest in him as a person. With Seth’s support, can he work through his fears to finally find the true love he deserves, or will someone finally land the crushing blow he won’t survive?
Review: Designs of Desire is the first book in Tempeste O’Riley’s fantastic Desires Entwined series, which has at least 2 more books coming out in the future. However, I must admit that I did listen to the audios a bit arsed about – I actually heard this one after hearing books 2, 3 and 4 in order. Luckily, these books work as standalones although I recognized the names of characters as we met them of people that had their own stories in the following installments.
Designs of Desire follows artist James. He is kind of the heart of the group that slowly forms around him during the course of the series. He is an artist who works for a design firm, and had been for 5 years. He’s been used and abused by people who were meant to love him in the past, primarily a couple exes and his own brother. On top of all that, he also has a genetic condition which means that his soft tissues can never heal properly and are easily injured. This is where Seth, CEO of Carrington Enterprises comes in.
This is a very sweet romance, on the whole. The sexual tension and attraction between the characters works well and is well paced. At no point did I mentally think “oh, for fuck sake, hurry up”. James in no way need a knight in shining armor – he is a strong man because of what has happened to him. However, Seth does want to ride in on his proverbial horse to save James. But that isn’t a bad thing. Even James can recognize that sometimes a little bit of help is never a bad thing, especially where love is involved.
Hey guys, we have Jeff Adams stopping by today with his upcoming release Love’s Opening Night, we have a brilliant guest post where Jeff chats about his love of the theatre, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway! So guys, check out the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Love’s Opening Night
by
Jeff Adams
Can an onstage love story lead to a real-life romance?
Jeremy Steele is a veteran Broadway performer. For his latest role, he’s dancing alongside a man he’s fantasized about for years, TV star Ty Beaumont. Jeremy knows better than to get involved with a castmate, but when Ty has trouble learning the complicated choreography, Jeremy offers to lend a hand. When a rehearsal kiss turns into something more, Jeremy can’t help but wonder what a celebrity like Ty could ever see in a Broadway chorus boy like him. Will a relationship with his crush make it past previews, or can it become a long-running hit?
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (17th December 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Blurb: Kobbi Aackers was excited to have a traditional family Christmas with his younger sister Franzi, a famous rock star. But instead of the peaceful holiday he had planned, she’s turning it into a televised musical extravaganza, in a desperate bid for publicity.
Kobbi can adapt, especially since the show’s host Wytt Kanard is easy on the eyes and easy to work with, even if he doesn’t believe in Christmas at all. Wytt is alternatively amused and horrified at the simplicity that is Kobbi’s life and the enthusiasm he has for the holiday, all while taking care of his houseful of unexpected guests.
Maybe Kobbi can convince the cynical Wytt that Christmas isn’t an event to be managed, but something special to be shared. Maybe he can muster the courage to confess his attraction and offer Wytt a surprise present.
Review:And To All A Good Night is a wonderfully fun Christmas story – especially for those that like reality TV and celebrities – by Felicitas Ivey. This is the second book I’ve read by Felicitas Ivey, and that had been a Christmas story from 2 years ago. Looking back, I loved that story probably as much as I loved and enjoyed this book. This is a very tidy written and edited short story. It was just so easy to get into the characters and feel the sparks of attraction and emotion between them.
The story follows Kobbi, whose younger half-sister, Franzi, is a massive rock star, just as their father had been. When Franzi turns up to his home in the middle of nowhere (not literally, but it is isolated) with a film crew and a signed contract for a Christmas special. Kobbi has no choice but to open up his house to visitors. The bonus for Kobbi is that special’s director, Wytt, sparks his interest in more ways than one. I particularly liked that Kobbi and his sister Franzi also get an ending, as well as Kobbi and Wytt.
Hi peeps, we have Rebecca Cohen stopping by today with the recap tour for her second Treading the Boards release Summer Season, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Prime’s review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link! <3 ~Pixie~
Summer Season
(Treading the Boards 02)
by
Rebecca Cohen
A trip down to Cornwall is just what Ryan Penniford needs to recover from the daily grind of London life. Ryan and his amateur dramatics society, the Sarky Players, are traveling to Porthcurno to perform at the stunning Minack Theatre.
Stuart Box has returned to Cornwall after earning his PhD, and is killing time as he looks for a job back in London. Spending time with Ryan from the Sarky Players is a great way to take his mind off things.
During their first meeting, sparks fly, but not in a good way, and they must work to get past their initial hostilities to discover they have great off-stage chemistry. Stuart soon learns Ryan is not the superficial man people assume he is, and Stuart likes what he sees. The feeling is entirely mutual.
Pity Ryan is only visiting for two weeks, but both men want to see where this holiday romance might take them.
Hiya guys, we have Rebecca Cohen stopping by today with a recap of the first book in her Treading the Boards series, Overly Dramatic, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Prime’s review, so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Overly Dramatic
(Treading the Boards 01)
by
Rebecca Cohen
Andy Marshall moves to London looking for a fresh start after breaking up with his long-term boyfriend. To stave off boredom from his day job as an accountant and to meet new people, Andy joins a local amateur dramatics society called the Sarky Players based in Greenwich, South London.
Despite his best efforts to avoid it, Andy is cast as one of the leads in a truly dreadful play called Whoops, Vicar, There Goes My Trousers, written by a local playwright.
The play might be bad, but the Sarky Players are a friendly bunch. Andy quickly makes new friends and finds himself attracted to Phil Cormack, a local artist helping with the props. But life doesn’t run to a script, so Andy and Phil will have to work hard to improvise their own happy ending.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (11th August 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Blurb: Artist Arik Bosler is terrified he might have lost his creative gift in the accident that left his hand badly burned. When he’s offered the chance to work with renowned artist Ken Brighton, Arik fears his injury will be too much to overcome.
He travels to Pleasanton to meet Ken, where he runs into the intimidating Reg Thompson. Reg, a biker who customizes motorcycles, is a big man with a heart of gold who was rejected by most of his family. Arik is initially afraid of Reg because of his size. However, it’s Reg’s heart that warms Arik’s interest and gets him to look past the exterior to let down his guard.
But Arik soon realizes that certain members of Reg’s motorcycle club are into things he can’t have any part of. Reg can’t understand why Arik disappears, until he learns Arik’s injury was the result of his father’s drug activity. Though neither Reg nor Arik wants anything to do with drugs, the new leadership of Reg’s club might have other ideas.
Review: I absolutely adore Andrew Grey’s Senses series. This series can be read as standalone or in order. It’s just that some of the couples we encounter throughout have already had their own fantastic story. This series is about men who have lost/ or had a major injury that weakens one of their senses. Some of the characters being artists are a bit of a recurring theme, but all in all, these are intense stories that are really nice and sweet. Love Comes to Light is no exception to any of this praise and is a fantastic addition to the series.
Here, we meet artist Arik, who has a major injury to his hand which means that he has lost his ability to paint and produce the beautiful pieces of art he had started to build a reputation for. Before the injury he had entered a piece into a contest for famous artist Ken Brighton whose story is actually book 1 of the series. Now Ken wants to collaborate with him and despite knowing he would be sent one soon after making the drive from Michigan to Pleasanton and Ken saw that he could no longer paint.
Lucky for us, Ken is ready to pick up the mantel of mentor to give Arik a chance to rediscover himself. (If you want to have a good cry and have a HEA you should really go back to Love Comes Silently if you haven’t already.) Arik has his reasons for being jumpy, especially around big men like Reg, but from the start these guys are just wonderful. Reg is a gentle giant and more than ready to show Arik that he doesn’t need to be scared and that Ken is right, Arik can still be an artist. In the end, it’s all up to Arik, can he take a risk to start over a new life in a new town, with a new man?
Everything about the story and the narration is wonderful. The narration by Greg Tremblay really lends to the heartfelt plotline of the story. If you love the Senses series – or if you like your men brimming with inner strength, this story is all heart. In fact, I’d love to go back through this series in audio, although I have read through the series 3 times so far.
Title: A Kind of Home
Title: Summer Season
Title: A Kind of Home
Title: Temptations of Desire
Title: Designs of Desire
Title: Love Comes to Light