Hi guys, we have T.A. Moore stopping by today with her new release Swipe, we have guest post from T.A., a great excerpt and a fantastic $10 Dreamspinner GC giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Swipe
(Stories from Plenty, California 01)
by
T.A. Moore
As one of the top trauma surgeons in Plenty’s ER, Dr. Taggart Hayes knows how to fix broken things—fractured legs, ruptured spleens, allergies, and traumatic brain injuries. He can put them back together good as new.
A broken heart, though? That’s a bit trickier. Especially when it’s his own.
When Tag swipes on the photo of the hot man in the dating app, he just wants a distraction from the wreck that used to be his life. A one-night stand with a safely inappropriate stranger, no names, no feelings, and no complications.
But the headless photo on the app belongs to a man who isn’t so easy to forget the next day… or the next week. And it becomes increasingly clear that Bass is neither safe nor uncomplicated. Drawn into the dark, criminal underworld his lover inhabits, Tag has to decide if the cure for his broken heart is worse than the disease.
Blurb: Personal chef Beau St. Clair, recently divorced from his cheating husband, returns to the small Ohio River town where he grew up to lick his wounds.
Jack Rogers lives with his mother, Maisie, in that same small town, angry at and frightened by the world. Jack has a gap in his memory that hides something he dares not face, and he’s probably suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Maisie, seeking relief from her housebound and often surly son, hires Beau to cook for Jack, hoping the change might help bring Jack, once a handsome and vibrant attorney, back to his former self. But can a new face and comfort food compensate for the terror lurking in Jack’s past?
Slowly the two men begin a dance of revelation and healing. Food and compassion build a bridge between Beau and Jack, a bridge that might lead to love. But will Jack’s demons allow it? His history could just as easily tear them apart as bring them together.
Review:This story is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone.
When Beau gets divorced from his cheating husband there’s only one place he thinks of going to lick his wounds, to the small town he grew up. Not sure what to do now Beau spots an ad for a personal chef and decides to check it out, it leads him to a man he never thought he’d see again.
Maisie is desperate when she posts an ad for a chef, her son has retreated into himself and is often snarly and surly, and she hopes that good food will tempt her son but the first visit doesn’t go too well.
Jack can’t remember anything of the night that changed his life, he’s terrified to leave his room and he hates the man he’s turned into. When his mom hires a chef in a desperate attempt to get Jack to engage in life, Jack is resentful but Beau begins to chip away at Jack’s blocked memories.
This is a great story that fits in perfectly with the other Romance with Recipes books (Dinner at Home, Dinner at Fiorello’s), it’s a touching story of budding love and healing. Beau is a fantastic character who is feeling slightly wounded after his divorce, when he gets a challenge in Jack he’s determined to bring Jack back to the land of the living and to being the man he knew one magical evening many years before.
Jack is suffering, he’s scared to live, there’s something lurking in his memories that has him terrified and has taken him from being a man who embraces life to one who shuns it. Jack isn’t a very nice character when we first meet him, in fact he’s downright nasty but as we learn what he has been through we understand that it’s a coping mechanism so he doesn’t have to re-join the world. When he meets Beau his behaviour doesn’t chase the man away and Jack soon learns that maybe that’s a good thing.
The story is really well written and the storyline is great, it’s a story that surprised me as I figured that the story would be straight forward and the blurb covered everything, and yes that’s true but there’s a little bit more that had my breath catching and a twinge of sadness struck me for what was lost by an act of hatred and bigotry. Rick R. Reed writes in such a way that even the expected comes as a surprise and he can tease feelings from you that you don’t expect.
While there is a touch of romance developing between Jack and Beau there is a lot of healing and facing the past before we get to that point, so don’t expect a lovefest because there’s a lot of ground to cover especially for Jack. On a side note Jack’s mother Maisie and Beau’s father Niles are great characters and it was so sweet to see their little romance play out as well.
I recommend this to those who love stories that have a little meat to them, characters who know sorrow and pain, men who have suffered but who begin to heal and bloom, and a romance that is just beginning.
Blurb: A ticking clock. A deadly enemy. Can they keep their heads in the game when their hearts are already on the line?
Valentine Rivetti made a horrible mistake when he became a Marine Sniper at the age of twenty. Returning home with PTSD and a guilty conscience, he’s blackmailed into working for the mafia to save his family.
Maksim Kovalenko has everything he ever dreamed of growing up in a Ukrainian slum. As a notorious corporate attorney, he has the world at his feet. But wealth and power can’t protect him from the emptiness he feels every time he shuts his eyes.
When Val is arrested for a murder he didn’t commit, his redemption is a silver fox in a three-piece suit. But Val’s lucky day becomes Maksim’s nightmare when the mafia begins to cut loose ends… starting with them.
The passion between them is overwhelming, but can two solitary men learn to trust each other before it’s too late?
Review: Val’s past life left a little to be desired. His mother was a scared rabbit and his father was an idiot who worked for the mob. He joined the military after high school and was turned into a sniper. He however didn’t have the heart for it. Now because of his father he was working for the same mob boss. He still didn’t have the heart for killing. Now here he was sitting in jail for a murder he had no committed and looking at one sexy ass lawyer.
Maksim grew up poor and hated his life. He swore that he would never go back to the life he had growing up. That didn’t mean he didn’t have a heart. When he took a case he did everything in his power to win. Now here he was trying to figure out how to keep his client out of prison and alive. Because some one out there now wanted them both dead.
Mak sure did have a thing for strays. He has a bigger heart then even he thinks. However the good guy with a thing for the bad boy is over used. It was dry and a bit dull to me. The story did not flow as easy as it should have for me. It also felt like the author rushed through the story in time to get it finished. Other than my issues with the story I did like the characters and what they were doing for Emma. It is a story that does have potential but for me it has not moved far ahead to get there. There were a few issues with the story that the beta readers should have caught them but they don’t truly take away from the story.
I will admit that when I got this book I was thinking a new murder mystery with romance, but it was romance that was more what this story was about. I like romance but I want more story then sex. I didn’t really connect with this story and will probably not read any more from this author if they keep following the direction they are going in. I hate to admit but this story was not the story I wanted.
Hi guys! We have Nell Iris popping in today with her new release Four Christmases, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Four Christmases
by
Nell Iris
Will a decade-old family feud and long held secrets stand in the way of love?
Auden Whipple is searching for a bit of peace and quiet from his loud family when he stumbles across the neighbor, Porter Eldin. Porter is scorching hot on a freezing Christmas Day, and nothing like Auden expected. A moment shared by the creek begins a relationship that surprises them both.
As the Christmases pass, Auden and Porter’s relationship deepens. But the obstacle of the unresolved conflict between the Whipples and the Eldins makes Auden worried. Worried to tell his family of his new-found love, worried that the conflict will come between them.
Can two men truly in love help mend fences that have been broken for too long? Can the holiday spirit help Auden and Porter find their happily ever after?
Blurb: Many consider Naomi Teedle the village witch. Most people avoid her except when they have need of her herbs and potions. She lives alone on the outskirts of Merrychurch, and that’s fine by everyone—old Mrs. Teedle is not the most pleasant of people. But when she is found murdered, her mouth bulging with her own herbs and roots, suddenly no one has a bad word to say about her.
Jonathon de Mountford is adjusting to life up at the manor house, but it’s not a solitary life: pub landlord Mike Tattersall sees to that. Jonathon is both horrified to learn of the recent murder and confused by the sudden reversal of public opinion. Surely someone in the village had reason to want her dead? He and Mike decide it’s time for them to step in and “help” the local police with their investigation. Only problem is, their sleuthing uncovers more than one suspect—and the list is getting longer….
Review: Roots of Evil is the second book in the Merrychurch Mysteries series by KC Wells. Since I’ve already read and loved the first book in the series, I was looking forward to this. I’ve enjoyed many books by KC Wells, but Merrychurch novels satisfies the part of me that loves to indulge in the typical British Mystery shows.
If you don’t get exactly what I mean, here are some examples. Think the line in the movie Hot Fuzz “it’s just a tragic accident”. Or the fact that villages of Midsommer has a murder every week? Or series that have nosey bakers, gardeners and priests that all insist on investigating crimes instead of just leaving it to the police. Well, that’s pretty much what you’re getting here.
This book is not a standalone book. This is the continuation of the relationship of ex-policeman turned pub owner (there was a British TV show with one of those!), Mike, and the new lord of the manor, Jonathan De Mountford.
Their romance and their overall wonderful relationship isn’t the main focus of this book. The romance and relationship aspects are really quite well written and realistic, because you can see that they are still adapting to their new relationship and Jonathan is getting used to the change in his life after taking his uncle’s position as earl. Although it’s not all roses in their personal life. Jonathan has his very traditional father on his back to get married and produce a De Mountford heir, despite knowing his son is gay and with Mike. Of course, this upsets Mike, but this leads to a very important point about trust in their relationship.
Instead, in the time since the murder of Jonathan’s uncle had been solved, where Mike and Jonathan had done a lot of their own investigation, life had settled down and the men could focus on their relationship. But when the woman who is said to be the local witch and famous for her jams and preserves is found dead, Jonathan can’t leave the newest mystery alone. And since Mike is an ex-cop who loves the new lord, the two men begin their own investigation on the side. Of course, they do help the local constabulary, passing on their information, but neither man can leave the mystery alone. Jonathan and Mike dig through more of the village’s secrets, looking at black mail, questionable identities, missing people, affairs and even a couple more members of the very traditional Merrychurch community who may not be as straight as they appear.
Blurb:Boomer is ecstatic to find his mate, Goran, a former circus tiger shifter. Opening a new bistro with his brother, Brodie, Boomer is determined to stop anyone ruining his happiness.
An old feud brings an old enemy to their door, and a new battle commences. Ge finds himself in the middle of a deadly battle to protect the life he’s found in Sage, and end the feud once and for all. Easier said than done with the aggressive propaganda campaign initiated by Flashpoint. Now it’s Sage’s turn to fight back by showing people they’re not just savage beasts, but are loving, caring shifters who just want to live in peace. Flashpoint up the stakes and target a nearby town, Forest Glade, sending a mob to frighten the residents, unknowingly strengthening support for the shifters of Sage.
Boomer’s hopes and dreams of happiness with his mate are in the balance…they have to succeed and reverse the tide of hatred. Failure is not an option.
Review: Boomer meets Goran and the sparks fly. But there is trouble ahead as Flashpoint try to sway public opinion to their side by attacking the town next to sage. Mean while a hitman is after Dino and Brodie. So much happens with a support group, plans are made to help those in need and a spy of sorts is caught.
Secrets are revealed and Brodie meets his mate but pushes him away due to his past. I loved the installment. Just the right amount of action, drama, romance and mystery. This series gets better and better with each book. This series must be read in order with other series connected to it to enjoy the full story line.
Blurb: Henry Appleby has an appetite for life. As a recent high school graduate and the son of a wealthy family in one of Chicago’s affluent North Shore suburbs, his life is laid out for him. Unfortunately, though, he’s being forced to follow in the footsteps of his successful attorney father instead of living his dream of being a chef. When an opportunity comes his way to work in a real kitchen the summer after graduation, at a little Italian joint called Fiorello’s, Henry jumps at the chance, putting his future in jeopardy.
Years ago, life was a plentiful buffet for Vito Carelli. But a tragic turn of events now keeps the young chef at Fiorello’s quiet and secretive, preferring to let his amazing Italian peasant cuisine do his talking.
When the two cooks meet over an open flame, sparks fly. Both need a taste of something more — something real, something true — to separate the good from the bad and find the love — and the hope — that just might be their salvation.
Review:This story is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone. Henry knows what he wants to do with his life now that he’s graduated from school and it isn’t what his wealthy father has planned for him, but he doesn’t know if he will be brave enough to go after what he wants until he spots a help wanted ad for a little Italian restaurant called Fiorella’s. Vito was blessed with a good life until a tragic turn of events took what he loved most, now he lives quietly, keeping to himself and working as the chef at Fiorella’s. For over a year nothing has breached the shell he lives in until a blond ‘bubble dancer’ begins to crack his shell, but Vito doesn’t want his safe shell shattered and Henry’s life is falling apart around him. Will either man take a chance on something more or will they retreat to the safety or the world that they know.
Fiorella’s is another wonderful story from Rick R. Reed that touches our hearts. Henry is the typical rich kid who has had everything offered to him on a platter except the love of his parents, his mother is cold and distant and his father is a powerful attorney who has Henry’s life mapped out for him. Henry wants to take a chance of grabbing his dream though, a dream that would have him cooking for other people, a dream that his father would look down on but with only the summer free before he starts collage he decides to grab the chance he is offered. Vito is perfectly with his lonely life working as the chef at Fiorella’s, at least that’s what he wants everyone to believe, the loss of those he loved the most still weighs him down and he never wants to open is heart to that kind of hurt again. Having Henry come into his life has Vito tempted to live again. As Henry’s life begins to fall apart and he turns to Vito, but cracking Vito’s secretive shell isn’t easy.
Henry is a young man who doesn’t want to be caged into a life he won’t enjoy, but going against his father’s wishes isn’t easy especially when he gets no support from his mother. As Henry moves into the world of adulthood he learns that life isn’t easy or going to fit into what he wants, it’s a hard world with realities he might not like and he has to grow up. Vito knows that life is far from easy; he now keeps himself to himself with no interest in love. We don’t get an easy romance, in fact Vito seems to barely tolerate Henry, what we get is a young man on the verge of making his own adult decisions and a jaded man who has turned his back on life.
This is a beautifully written story, we are made to feel both men’s pain in this story, Henry’s pain as his life changes and his solid family base is shaken and Vito’s bleeding pain as he tries to let go of the past. There are some poignant moments as Vito loses himself in his dreams and memories and as he begins to open up to Henry but we also have his anger as he feels that he’s being forced to let go of the past. With Henry we get his excitement of beginning his life, the fear of going against his father, the devastation of his family not being what he thought and the twisting feelings he has for Vito. These two men need each other and it takes a large part of the book to get to that stage, but it fits as we get to know both Vito and Henry, it’s the pace that suits both of them.
I recommend this to those who love stories of embarking on your own path in life, of being poked back to life and the living, of a tentative new love blooming, of grabbing life with both hands and facing the fall out, and of two men who embark on a new stage in their lives.
Elliot Smith was once a hotshot attorney, but those days are long gone. A midlife crisis of conscience has left him with shattered confidence, abandoned by his former friends and scraping by at a legal aid clinic. When a smoking hot bad boy rescues him from the side of the road, Elliot is sure he doesn’t stand a chance.
After a misspent youth boosting cars, Lucas Kelly runs his own garage and is finally getting his life back on track. He isn’t about to risk everything by daring to hope for something more, especially not with a man so far above his pay-grade.
The heat between them is enough to have them questioning everything they thought they knew about themselves. But is explosive chemistry enough to keep them together when Elliot’s career threatens to drive them apart?
Review: Elliot at one time had been a damn good attorney who made loads of money, drove a nice car but he had thrown it all away. He had a soul which most lawyers do not. He gave it all up to live in a small town and help those who needed it. When his car breaks down a sexy man comes to help him.
Lucas had been an angry young man who ended up in prison. Now he was trying to make it all good. He owned his own shop and things were starting to look good. That all ended when he met a sexy man and that man turned out to be a lawyer. His past seems to be in his way of finding love.
This story started out pretty good, but it all ended in one sentence. Here was a guy asking another for a favor and the man turns it into a get on your knees deal. It made Lucas turn into a douche and that was the downside to the whole deal. The rest of the story went a bit better but not by much. It just lacked something to make it stand out for me.
It had potential but it went into the opposite direction. You get a story but you also end up with more sexual times which made it seem more like a smut book then a true romance story for me.
Overall it is a good story but just didn’t really do anything for me. I am sorry to say but this book was not for me.
Blurb: A gentle bartender might have what it takes to mend a relationship-phobic detective’s broken heart… but first they have to admit they’re dating.
Keenan Day could kick himself for letting the hot, dark-haired stranger he met outside a strip club get away. Instead of a phone number, he gets a punch in the face—from the boyfriend of his prospective employer at the Cowboys and Angels bar. When two cops come to check up on him, one is the sexy stranger, Detective Nate Gordon.
The initial attraction hasn’t cooled, and though Nate is leery of commitment, one hookup turns into another until they’re seeing each other in everything but name. After a recent nasty breakup, Nate balks at being part of a couple, and Keenan agrees, even though that’s all he’s ever wanted.
Just as they reach a standstill, a crisis shows them what their friends have known all along—they’ve already moved way past hookups. Now they just have to decide how to move forward.
Review: Slow Dating the Detective is the third book in Sue Brown’s series, Cowboys and Angels. I’ve become quite a fan of Brown’s writing, particularly after her Island Medics series and her contributions to Dreamspun Desires. I find the characters so relatable and easy to sympathise with, I also love the romance, which isn’t insta-love and is sometimes a slow burn.
The world of the Cowboys and Angels series is based around the world of a city bar called Cowboys and Angels, which is owned by Gideon, whose story kicked off the first book in the series. Even though both MCs of this book are completely new to the series, I still recommend that this series be read in order. The four men who were the MCs of the previous books, plus a couple we sort of met in the second book but never saw their romance properly, are very strong secondary characters. Also, how both the present MCs, Keenan and Nate, are brought into the Cowboys and Angels family has strong ties to these characters. I’m sure it would make sense as a standalone, but I feel that reading this without reading the first two books will do all the characters an injustice.
Keenan is dragged to a strip club by his sister. He’s having a tough time. An attack and resulting brain injury means that Keenan doesn’t have many career options open, but enjoys his job with a family run construction company. Now, the company was folding and has been brought out by a much larger corporation and has resulted in Keenan, as well as other employees, losing their jobs. This is why Keenan’s sister has taken to a club to enjoy some talented male exotic dancers. The club itself had been brought out by the owner of the Cowboys and Angels bar by the end of book 2 in the series, and the club manager is a stripper who goes by the stage name Lionman, aka Cris. That night happens to be Lionman’s last hurrah on the stage as he takes over the day to operations of the club. But Keenan doesn’t know any of this yet, instead he sees a man he likes but is too shy to get the man’s number.
However, at the club he gets a lead on a possible job, even if it is bar tending at a local red neck bar, Cowboys and Angels, which has ties to the same guy who now owns the strip club. Keenan doesn’t have much choice and takes the dive. When he goes for his job interview he is greeted by a fist to his face from the bar’s ex-owner (Gideon, because he gifted the bar to his partner), and an offer for a trial period by the bar owner (Dan). And if the situation doesn’t just keep getting worse, two cops step in. One of them being Detective Nate Gordon.
Nate is a commitment-phobe. He comes by it honestly after having his heartbroken and struggling with the idea of putting his heart on the line again. Nate is a nice change from many cop storylines in MM romance where homophobia in the workplace is the least of his issues. After all, one of the other detectives is dating a guy (Mikey, who features in both books 1 and 2). He’s not ready for a relationship and after being honest with Keenan about not dating, Keenan is willing. These guys have a lot of complex emotions to come to terms with before they can think beyond to labelling whatever it is they are having. But there is no doubt that of the two men it is Nate whose baggage is the heaviest.
This was an excellent addition to the world of Cowboys and Angels. I love how closely connected all the characters are (I suppose Gideon’s millions of dollars and given so many business interests help this fact along). I love how there is a friendly, family feel to this series. The characters are relatable, and I love the spark between Nate and Keenan. They are both pretty lost when we first meet them, but they have so much potential together and the possibility of many new friends to add to their circle.
Hi guys! We have Mellanie Rourke stopping by today with her new release Nicki’s Fight, we have a great excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Nicki’s Fight
(Twin Peeks Bookstore Romance 02)
by
Mellanie Rourke
KAINE
A lifetime of abandonment leaves its mark on a person. So much so that when Nicki left, it made a twisted sort of sense. After all, everyone else I had loved in this world had left me, why should he be any different?
Six years later and he’s back in my life. He’s still the same Nicki. Still the same sensitive, intelligent, loving and compassionate man he was years ago. Except…there are shadows in his eyes that were never there before. How do I love him again, trust him again? If he disappears now, there’s no way I’d survive.
NICKI
I love Kaine Devereaux. I always have. But sometimes love just isn’t enough. When my family moved thousands of miles away to chase the dream of a cure for my mysterious illness, Kaine and I had no idea that more than distance would end up separating us.
How do I ask Kaine to trust me again when I almost destroyed him? How do I ask him to love me again, when I’m still haunted by the specter of my past?
Nicki’s Fight is a M/M Romance with danger, heat, and a snarky cat who saves a life. This story does include explicit sex scenes and descriptive domestic abuse. Please pay heed to the Trigger Warning: Scenes of domestic violence and abuse
Hi guys! We have J.R. Lawrie stopping by today with the tour for her debut release Let Your Heart Be Light, we have a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Let Your Heart Be Light
by
J.R. Lawrie
This holiday season, celebrate with a trio of festive gay romances by debut author J. R. Lawrie. This anthology features three stories sure to warm the heart and captivate the senses. Full of romance, humor, sweetness, and the perfect amount of heat, this collection is perfect for an evening by the fire.
FOR SERVICES RENDERED
Dr. David Christmas has heard every joke in the book when it comes to his name. Weary of the festive season and from his long shifts in the emergency room, David is also tired of his lonely single life. His only hope for Christmas is a glimpse of the shy but gorgeous neighbour who lives above him.
Christmas-loving Julian has nurtured a crush on the grumpy man downstairs for years now. Still hurting from his ex-boyfriend’s cruelty, he hasn’t yet dared to say hello. When an injury on Christmas Eve puts Julian directly into David’s careful hands, a little healing might be on the way.
KIND OF A BIG DEAL and THE FARRINGDON CLUB
Up-and-coming comedian Zack Wynn splits his time between the stage and the London pizza restaurant where he works, until life hands him one hell of a Christmas present. Richard Garston is the handsome and clever older man of Zack’s dreams, but what exactly is it that Richard does?
Soon, Zack learns the truth: Richard’s classified role in the British government makes him a much bigger deal than he claimed.
Is Zack ready for the politics and power of Richard’s world? And is Richard’s world ready for him?
Hi guys, we have A.E. Via visiting today with her new audio release Promises: Part 1, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway where you can win your own audiobook of Promises: Part 1, so check out the post and then enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Promises: Part 01
(The Bounty Hunters 01)
by
Narrator: Aiden Snow
A.E. Via
Duke Morgan owns and operates one of the largest bail bond companies in Atlanta. Not only does he bond criminals out of jail, he and his notorious group of bounty hunters will also track them down and ensure they show up for court.
Roman “Quick” Webb is Duke’s business partner and best friend. Both men are in their forties and have given up on the happily ever after with the ranch-style home, and white picket fence. They’d both tried it and failed miserably. But they have their friendship and they have the business.
When Quick’s son, Vaughan Webb returns – after seven years-from studying abroad with his law degree in hand, he’s back to claim what he’s always wanted…his fathers’ best friend…Duke Morgan. Vaughan has always claimed to be a classic gentleman with an old soul. He was focused and dedicated to becoming the man worthy of Duke’s love.
It’s a complex and messy situation as Duke and Quick figure out how to still be best friends when one of them is sleeping with his friend’s one and only son. But when Duke is hurt on the job, all the unimportant trivialities fall to the wayside and Vaughan and Quick put their heads together to save Duke.
In the competitive world of dance, Teddy was a flawless performer and hardass choreographer who students feared and admired in equal measure. But hip surgery ended the glamour and drama, and now Teddy is recovering at his beach house, lost and listless.
Until he meets Finn, his neighbor, who is too perfect, gorgeous, and kind to exist—but very ill timed. In a seaside town as small as theirs, they can’t avoid each other, especially since Finn is also Teddy’s new physical therapist. But Teddy isn’t the man he used to be, and though Finn flirts shamelessly with him, Teddy can’t believe a has-been dancer is worthy of someone so young and full of life. Finn’s sunny smile is also hiding heartache. Pursuing Teddy challenges both his professionalism and his self-preservation, but if he can convince Teddy to trust him, maybe they both can heal.
Review: Interpretive Hearts is a standalone romance by Amanda Meuwissen for the house line Dreamspun Desires. I didn’t really know what to expect, to be perfectly honest. I’ve read only one other book by the author in the past and I really couldn’t remember it from the top of my head. However, the blurb grabbed and add in that Dreamspun Desires is something of a guilty pleasure for me, then I was ready to give it a go.
The first character we are introduced to is Teddy. He’s a professional dancer – a skilled performer and as he got older he stepped with ease into the role of an equally skilled choreographer. He has the admiration of various members of the dancing community, as well as his very own enemy that seems to delight in rubbing in the fact that he now had Teddy’s job after surgery has changed Teddy’s whole life. Teddy, as with every other dancer, knew that that the performing part of his career was limited, and unfortunately the same is true for choreography. Vital hip surgery has left Teddy confused and is happy to keep to himself in his beachside condo. The physical part of recovery is difficult, but he had never realised that the mental side of recovery was just as difficult.
Things begin to change when Teddy bumps into one of his neighbours, Finn. Teddy feels an instant spark of attraction but because of the surgery he holds himself back. Especially when he feels humiliated when Finn needs to help him inside to his home after a minor setback. The complications continue when it turns out that Finn is also Teddy’s physical therapist, helping him with his rehab. Because now Finn, who also felt the attraction, is torn because Teddy is now his patient and therefore off limits for any personal relationships.
There is angst as Teddy works through his recovery and Finn comes to terms with his attraction to a patient. Overall, it is really enjoyable and the characters took on a really nice depth that made their romance feel realistic. Fans of romances that involve professional in the arts will like this one. This is the a sweet story of one character on his journey to recovery and the man that becomes important to him for multiple reasons.
Blurb: After running from a past destined to kill him, Snow has been hiding on the streets.
Tell nobody your name. Tell nobody your secrets. Trust nobody! These are the rules of the streets.
His entire life changes when he saves an eight-year-old boy from a violent end. Christopher Manos is one of the most powerful crime bosses in the country.
Don’t ask anyone to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself. Secrets can get you killed. Trust nobody! These are the rules he lives by.
When his eight-year-old nephew disappears, he never expects the boy’s savior to end up being his own. A man with a dangerous past and a man with a dangerous future find love amidst murder and mayhem. But with Snow’s life being threatened at every turn, will Christopher’s best be enough to prevent Snow Falling?
Review: What an epic beginning to a series. I can already tell this series will be in my all time favorite top five list. Snow has spent a long time on the streets surviving and keeping to himself. Saving an eight year old boy from the clutches of a guy with evil intentions was a no brainer. Eight, the boy, was a delight. I loved him.
When Snow delivers Eight home he gets the shock of his life when learns eight’s Uncle is Christopher Manos, a feared crime boss. But Chris is not as terrifying as Snow thought and the two grow closer. Snows past rears it’s ugly head and with Eight’s urging Chris protects Snow the only way he knows how.
I loved this story. Chris and Snow were perfect for one another. I am looking forward to reading more about the other characters introduced in this action packed, intense, drama filled book.
Blurb: Can a man burdened with family drama find his way into the arms of a happy-go-lucky stripper called Lionman?
Cris likes a drink at Cowboys and Angels bar after his shift at the strip club—until one night when a trashed young guy named Mikey tries to kiss him. He’s not Cris’s type, but Cris is good enough to see the kid home safely. There he meets Mikey’s handsome older brother, Bennett, and there’s an immediate spark between them.
But Bennett might not be in a position to start a relationship, let alone with the carefree Cris. He’s trying desperately to hold his family together, with a younger brother who’s running off the rails and hostile parents who will never accept not just one, but two gay sons.
When Cris is unexpectedly fired and Bennett’s family drama escalates, they turn to each other for support. But can a shoulder to lean on develop into something much closer, something they both deserve?
Review: Secretly Dating the Lionman is the second book in Sue Brown’s series, Cowboys and Angels. I’ve become quite a fan of Brown’s writing, particularly after her Island Medics series and her contributions to Dreamspun Desires. I find the characters so relatable and easy to sympathise with, I also love the romance, which isn’t insta-love and is sometimes a slow burn.
The world of the Cowboys and Angels series is based around the world of a city bar called Cowboys and Angels, which is owned by Gideon, whose story kicked off the first book in the series. While the second book starts the story of a new couple, there is some subtle background information which we are given back in book 1 which would make it easier to understand both MCs.
The Lionman in the title of the story is the stage name of a popular male stripper, whose real name is Cris. He first went to the red neck bar Cowboys and Angels for a gay speed dating event, which had seen bar manager Dan and the bar owner Gideon get together. Though Cris didn’t end up with a boyfriend he got a good friend in Dan after the speed dating event. In the months since that meeting, Cris now frequents the bar to relax after he performs on stage at a local strip. He is wildly popular with the audience, but his shifts are being less and less frequent. One night at Cowboys, another man who is 1) deeply closeted and 2) another attendee of the speeding dating night, Mikey, kisses Cris. But Cris is a good guy and not interested in Mikey. So instead helps the drunk guy home. This is how Cris meets Bennett.
Bennett’s brother, Mikey, is a dominant second character throughout the book, as it is his antics/influence that seem to be bringing Bennett and Cris together. Mikey is troubled and this book is just as much his story of his struggles as much as it is Cris and Bennett’s romance. I like that we get to see Mikey’s story resolve but I have to say I am interested in Mikey’s own dive into the world of dating and love.
Bennett means well, he only wants what is best for his little brother and is very protective of him. His intentions are good, but he is aggressive and rather rude when dealing with Cris. Bennett is under pressure to keep his family and their business going – his parents are very traditional and so Bennett has accepted that he cannot be himself as an out gay man, free to date whom he pleases. At the same time he knows his brother is gay too, and wants to protect him at all costs. However, Mikey’s behaviour is spiralling out of control – making him seem more childlike than adult, or perhaps that is how Bennett sees his brother. Despite his attraction to Cris, who is the complete opposite to Bennett, he believes that Cris is one of the people that he needs to shield Mikey from.
This was a totally enjoyable book, one that I enjoyed more than I did the first book in this series. Though Cris is a stripper, this is no Pretty Woman or some such thing. Cris is realistic, smart as hell and is true to himself. And while Bennett is smart as hell in his own right, he has a lot of learning to do while being the over protective older brother that he is. Both MCs are strong, but they have a lot to learn and they just might find out that they are even stronger together.
Though I just need to end, OMG, I think I had Mumford and Sons playing on repeat in my head at every reference of Cris’s stage name, Lionman.
Hi guys! We have Roe Horvat stopping by today with his new re-release The Layover, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
The Layover
by
Roe Horvat
Eight years ago, Ondro Smrek fled Slovakia and the bigotry that drove his first lover to take his own life, but the demons proved impossible to outrun. Desperate for somewhere to belong, Ondro is returning to start over.
During a layover in Basel, Switzerland, he meets Jamie, an American living in Scotland who is as brilliant as he is beautiful. Jaded Ondro never would have guessed he could fall in love during a brief layover—until now.
When he is put in a position to offer Jamie comfort without hope of recompense, Ondro doesn’t hesitate and soon catches a glimpse of the home he longs for. But with their separation looming, confessing his feelings can only lead to pain and humiliation. Life has taught Ondro not to hope, but then, he never believed in love at first sight either…
Hi guys! We have Elna Holst stopping by today with her new release Wild Bells, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant $10 NineStar GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Wild Bells
(Tinsel and Spruce Needles 03)
by
Elna Holst
Lund, Sweden, 1998
Mia Andersson is not a nice person. She is a sharp, sensational-looking, aloof lawyer-to-be, and the busiest sapphic player in town. Mia Andersson takes no prisoners, tells no tales, and if you gave her your number, chances are she won’t call. But this holiday season, at age twenty-seven, wheels that are out of her control have been set in motion, and it looks like she might just get caught in the spin.
Hi guys! We have Courtney Maguire popping in today with her debut release Wounded Martyr, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant $10 NineStar GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Wounded Martyr
by
Courtney Maguire
Ice is an asshole, but he’s working on it. He’s two years sober, no small feat when you front a heavy metal band facing waning popularity and dismal ticket sales. But the pieces of a life torn apart by alcoholism are finally coming back together. His band, Wounded Martyr, has written a great album with the potential to launch them back into relevancy. And Ricky, probably the biggest, most important piece, has finally forgiven him for the wreck he made of their relationship. There’s only one problem.
Ashton.
It was to be expected. As his best friend and bandmate for almost twenty years, it’s only natural they should find each other in the loneliness of the road. Ricky knows about their one night together, but he doesn’t know that Ice can’t stop thinking about it, about his long body and whiskey-flavored lips, and the guilt of it has him on the brink of backslide. Now that Wounded Martyr is poised for a long tour, Ice must find a way to resist temptation or risk blowing their last chance and destroying his relationship with the two most important men in his life.
Hi guys, we have Lane Hayes stopping by today with her new release Stick to the Script, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic $25 Amazon GC giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Stick to the Script
(Ace’s Wild 13)
by
Lane Hayes
Jamie is a wedding photographer in need of a break, and a sexy freelance assignment on the East Coast sounds like an intriguing getaway. He makes his flight to Vintage Ridge just before an epic storm wreaks havoc on holiday travel. But when his friend is delayed, Jamie finds himself alone at the bed-and-breakfast for the night with the owners’ son…a hunky contractor with a wicked smile and a commanding presence. Not a problem. Jamie can handle light conversation with a ruggedly handsome man for a few hours. Maybe. If all else fails, he can read the script.
Wyatt loves remodeling old homes like his parents’ B and B. Spending an evening entertaining their guest while he finishes up his project doesn’t seem like a big deal, but Wyatt can tell there’s something special about the nervous younger man. He suggests reading the racy script that accompanies Jamie’s assignment to get his mind off the weather, but neither is prepared for what happens next. Their explosive attraction encourages them to bend the rules and stick to their own script…together.
PLEASE NOTE: For the first 90 days of this title’s publication, all sales and page reads will be donated to PFLAG.
Hi guys! We have Aimee Nicole Walker stopping by today with her new release Devil’s Hour, we have a great excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Devil’s Hour
(Zero Hour 02)
by
Aimee Nicole Walker
Devil’s hour, noun: the hour when the demon or devil who leads hell is at its strongest.
Born on the wrong side of the tracks, Royce Locke is no stranger to scrapping and fighting for the things he wants. What he desires most is Sawyer Key—his partner on the force and the man he’s falling in love with. After asking Sawyer to take a chance on him, Royce will need to back up his pretty words with fearless action instead of being his own worst enemy.
Someone is harassing the mayor of Savannah, and Locke and Key are tasked with finding out who. The investigation quickly takes a twisted turn, leading them to an enemy who thinks purification by fire is the only way to save the city. Scarier than The Purists’ elusiveness is their ability to turn public opinion in their favor, creating unrest and threatening anarchy by fanning flames and fear. When you play with fire, someone is bound to get burned.
When menace becomes murder, the two detectives will race the clock against the devil to save their beloved city from becoming a raging inferno. Royce will need to draw on his grit now more than ever if he hopes to realize the dreams that are finally within reach. The rag is lit, the Molotov cocktail is tossed, and the zero hour is upon them. Challenge received and accepted.
Devil’s Hour is the second book in the Zero Hour series, which follows Locke and Key’s investigations and evolving relationship. This is a series that must be read in order. Devil’s Hour has a happy-for-now ending with no cliffhanger. It contains mature language and sexual content intended for adults 18 and older.
