Hi guys! We have Isabelle Adler stopping by today with her new release Irises in the Snow, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic $10 NineStar GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Irises in the Snow
by
Isabelle Adler
It’s Christmas, and Justin’s life is fraying at the edges. The family business he took over instead of going to art school is bleeding money, and his boyfriend of seven months cheated on him. Under these circumstances, family gatherings can be rough, but Justin believes he has everything under control. That is, until Elliot, his former best friend (and the first guy to ever break his heart) unexpectedly shows up at the holiday dinner party.
With both of them still nursing the wounds of the past, it might take a real Christmas miracle for Justin and Elliot to learn to appreciate the art of second chances.
Hi guys! We have V.L. Locey stopping by today with her new audio release Two Man Advantage, we have a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Two Man Advantage
(Point Shot 01)
by
Narrator: Sean Crisden
V.L. Locey
Victor Kalinski, all-star forward for the Boston Barracudas, is one of the biggest jerks in professional hockey. Before long his aggressive attitude gets him shipped off to play in the minor leagues.Furious, he takes to the ice with equal amounts of skill and scathing sarcasm, which doesn’t win him any friends—except for good-natured alternate captain Daniel Arou. He won’t take any of Vic’s crap, and he won’t take no for an answer. But Vic’s trouble-making is pulling his career one way while Dan’s talent is pushing his in the other. However much they scorch the sheets, they might soon be separated by more than Vic’s fear of being hurt.
Hi peeps, we have A.M. Leibowitz stopping by with the tour for their newest release Minuet, we have a guest post from A.M., they has also brought along a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Minuet
(Notes from Boston 04)
by
A.M. Leibowitz
When it comes to love, Mack Whitman prefers to limit it to writing songs and poetry. Aromantic, he’s content to have quality friendships and people who sometimes also share his bed. He’s never considered himself the jealous type. But when he sees everyone in his life, from his best friends to his occasional partners, moving toward more settled lives, it leaves him frustrated, disappointed, and worried he’ll be left behind.
Amelia Roberts doesn’t care about the genders of her partners as long as she follows her one rule: Don’t ever fall in love. It’s worked out well for her, since that’s a line she knows she’ll never cross with Mack. He’s as happy as she is to keep things as they are. The only trouble with her philosophy is that she didn’t count on meeting the one person who might change her mind.
Jomari O’Brien’s supportive family made it smooth for him to transition several years ago. Since then, he’s been in and out of love, and other people’s beds, plenty of times, and he has no regrets. Each one is a small part of a larger symphony. Becoming involved with two people at once is a more complicated harmony, but it’s one he’s willing to learn as long as they are.
Their individual melodies become discordant as they struggle to make them fit together. But if all three can learn to play with each other instead of against, they may yet hit all the right notes.
Warnings: There is no graphic description of anything, but there are themes of addiction/recovery/relapse, gender dysphoria, family violence, adultery, and body image.
Hi guys! We have Sally Malcolm popping in today with her new release Twice Shy, we have a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Twice Shy
(New Milton 03)
by
Sally Malcolm
The last thing Joel Morgan wants is to fall in love again. Scarred by his failed marriage, Joel’s determined to keep his life emotionally stable—which means taking a job teaching fourth grade, fixing up his house on weekends, and avoiding absolutely all romantic entanglements. And he’s doing great.
Until he meets sweet but struggling single dad, Ollie Snow.
Following the tragic death of his sister and her husband two years earlier, Ollie became the legal guardian of their two young sons—much to the horror of the boys’ conservative grandparents. They think Ollie’s too young and too unreliable to raise their grandsons. So to prove them wrong, Ollie’s determined to parent the boys without anyone’s help.
Until he meets reserved but caring teacher, Joel Morgan.
As the only two men in the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, Joel and Ollie are thrown together over a series of fundraising events, and somewhere between the Beach Fun Run and the Fall Festival they fall in love. But Ollie has another reason for moving to New Milton—a reason he’s keeping close to his chest—and Joel’s wounded heart won’t trust a man with secrets.
Dare they hope for a future together, or will their past pain keep them apart forever?
Blurb: Like a well-aged whiskey, master distiller and old-money entrepreneur Malone Kensington is elegant and refined. Unfortunately he’s also a perfectionist who is more dedicated to the suc-cess of his generations-old company than his own love life.
That company needs a public spokesman.
What Colton Hale lacks in sophistication, he more than makes up for with the charisma that’s al-lowed him to survive on the street from a young age and charm his way into the lucrative – if overwhelming – public position at the Kensington Distillery. When Mal takes Colt under his wing, hoping to polish off his rough edges, opposites attract and a passionate romance blossoms de-spite the differences in age and background. But can it survive a Kensington Board of Directors who believe Colt is nothing but a gold digger and a kidnapper determined to profit from the love of Mal’s life – dead or alive?
Review: Whiskey and Moonshine is standalone romance set in Tennessee, obviously amongst whiskey and moonshine stills by Elizabeth Noble. This was published as part of Dreamspun Desires, which is always a plus for me. The fact that John Solo is the narrator is another plus for me.
I really haven’t heard too many books narrated by John Solo lately. However, it is always awesome to hear the man perform. He is one of those narrators that has a voice that suits so many different genres of romances and different types of characters. I love how Solo manages to convey the emotions of both Mal and Colt, the two MCs. I always enjoy his performances and this is no different. It enhanced my experience and my enjoyment of the book. Overall, an excellent narration that I cannot fault.
This is a completely charming and sweet romance. The story focuses on the Kensington Distillery which produces whiskey and moonshine, and the very sexy man who is dedicated to his family’s company and making it more accessible for the younger generations that is the focus of this story. To do this it is decided that they need to employ a young, passionate person to be the PR face of the company.
The story opens with Colton Hale, he’s twenty-four and has been living on the streets of Toledo since he was fifteen. The most recent run in with violent thugs has Colton ready to make a new start, so he gets the first bus that will get him out and his new adventure starts. The bus ride brings him to the Kensington family’s whiskey distillery. They’re a rich and hugely successful distillery in Tennessee. Colt manages to get himself a job and just six weeks later shows his ingenuity and passion for his work that leads him to another job for the company.
Mal, the head of the Kensington family company which had been previously run by his mother, sees a lot of potential in Colton. There’s the potential Colton has to help sell the whiskey brand on social media and help the company branch out, but he has to hold back his attraction for the man, even though he knows Colt’s shady past. The two men work well together and Mal decides to use the age gap between them as the excuse he needs to mentally force himself from pining for his social media face of the company.
I’ve read this story before and while I remember liking it, I forgot about the awesomeness that was multiple references to the Joss Whedon TV showed Firefly. Because I’m a nerd and a browncoat and the fact that it features so prominently in a book I enjoyed was shiny. I’m a total sucker for Firefly. Because of that I see the name Mal and I think Captain Malcolm Reynolds – though I can never say I was disappointed to realise that this Mal is short for Malone. But it is sweet and smart Colt, who hasn’t had the best 9 or so years of his life getting into Firefly into the book that got to me. I really enjoyed the imagery conjured when Colt mentions the last line in the theme song, relating it to the backdrop of the rambling Kensington distillery/estate. But the best part, when everything seems to be falling apart Colt uses a Firefly reference to get Mal to help him.
This was a really enjoyable story. The characters were relatable and felt accessible to the reader, or at least to me. Again, the Firefly fan in me was totally appeased. While this isn’t actually set in a boardroom this is still at heart a story about a powerful CEO finding love in an unexpected place. So, I suppose if you like any romance set around vineyards and in boardrooms then this is one to enjoy. There is also an interesting celebrity element, where Colt navigates the world of social media and gains fame as the face of the Kensington brand. Others may also enjoy Colt’s storyline which is very much a rags to riches tale.
Blurb: Ash wants a family, and is determined to continue with a surrogacy he’d begun with his ex. Bringing baby Mia home, he vows that he will be the best father he can be. Nothing in this world matters more to him than caring for his daughter, not even accidentally falling in lust with the doctor next door. Challenged by his growing attraction to Sean, and confronted by painful mem-ories of his family, Ash has to learn that love is all that matters.
When ER doctor Sean moves in with his friends next door to sexy single father Ash, he falls so quickly it takes his breath away. The sex they have is hot, but Ash is adamant his heart is too full with love for his daughter to let anyone else in. Why is Sean the only one who sees how scared Ash is, and how can he prove to his new lover that he desperately wants the three of them to become a family?
Review: Single is the first book in RJ Scott’s Single Dads series, which its pretty easy by the end of this book to see that this is following smoking hot first responders in their quest for love.
I’ve only recently got back into reading RJ Scott, and most of that has been her hockey romances. Before that I read some of her Ellery Mount series. Regardless, I knew that this is an author whose writing style I enjoy, I find the plots engaging and the characters totally relatable and irresistible.
This is perfect for anyone that loves men and babies/children, single parents finding love and of course if you love a sexy doctor! I feel it ticks all the character traits that are irresistible for many romance readers.
The story follows Ash and Sean.
Ash is the single dad of the story. He’s wanted children for so long and had started investigating surrogacy with his ex. When his ex (a marine biologist that gives the rest of us a bad name, lol) leaves just as the surrogate got pregnant, Ash knew he was on his own. Life as a solo is parent is hard, obviously, no one would ever say that it is a walk in the park, and this was what really had me drawn into the book. It was not a rosy picture. Ash had so much support from his twin sister, who has two children of her own, but he now he had to get back into his own home and start a routine for his little princess, Mia. He’s stressed and so when one night he has his new, albeit drunken, neighbour banging on his front door one night when he finally got Mia to sleep, Ash is pissed off.
That drunken neighbour was one of the three very single men who moved next door, who Ash hasn’t met at all yet. After a bad call, that particular neighbour went out on a bender to drown his sorrows. His friends wrangle him after it was clear that the he stumbled to Ash’s place because the homes look so alike. This is how he meets the other two neighbours, but it’s Sean in particular that just makes Ash feel more discombobulated.
Sean is an ER doctor, not the most glamorous of first responders, but he is a doctor, and in romances where all us fickle people swoon over certain types, a doctor is certainly up there. Sean is instantly attracted to Ash, but is going to have a difficult time to make it through the man’s defences. First because of the awkward introduction to each other, and then later because Ash is completely stressed out trying to be the best dad in the world.
And while love isn’t instantaneous, these guys slowly get to know each other, which Mia in the mix. That is what I liked the most, this wasn’t an instant happy family. They had a simmering chemistry that complimented the overall tone of the book and the characters that I really liked. It is sweet and gentle, but there is depth to the characters and some depth to their emotions (although not as much as I would want of the latter).
This was a wonderful story and the ending hints to us about book 2, which I’m totally excited for.
Blurb: What do you do when when your lover is out to kill you?
After university, Johnny dated a mysterious and influential man who never disclosed his profession. Now, following a quarrel, Johnny suffers a series of attacks—attempts on his life that his lover has the power and influence to perpetrate.
With nowhere else to turn, he must rely on his childhood best friend. But can Johnny trust him? With time running out and the world against him, Johnny must solve the mystery himself if he wants to survive.
Review: This story was told by Johnny and seemed a recounting of his life. We get to to know about his best friend Jacob, Johnny falling in love with a secretive man named Lex and attacks on Johnny. I liked the story but it felt a little monotone to me.
The mystery of who was out to kill Johnny was interesting but I wanted more.
Blurb: It’s not stealing if you’re stealing it back….
Ari had a game plan for life. Shoot people. Get money. Hang out with fellow criminal friends. He saw absolutely no reason to change that plan until one dark night in Memphis, when a little girl reached out to him with pocket change and a desperate plea for him to help her.
Adopting an abused little girl off the streets was, needless to say, not part of the plan. Ari had no idea what he was doing with an eight year old. He especially didn’t know how to juggle taking contracts and raising a little girl.
Things get more complicated when the mercenary, Carter Harrison, approaches him with a job. He needs Ari’s expertise to get into the very high-security museum, Knowles, and steal back Monet’s Water Lily Pond. The job isn’t an easy one. He’d need more than the two of them to make it happen. It’s further complicated because Ari’s not sure what to do with his new daughter while working this job.
And for that matter, how’s he supposed to handle the sexy mercenary?
Review: Ari and his twin, Luca, were orphaned and sent into the foster care system. One came out a lawyer and well Ari is the assassin. He was damn good at his job and with the help of his two friends, he was even better. There was one basic rule that he followed and it was no harm came to kids. So when a little girl came to him for help, lets just say he now has a daughter. One that might just beat them all.
Carter is in some need. He is hired to steal back a painting from one of the high security museums. He is hired by an unknown to get a stolen painting from a private museum and return it to another. He could go in and get a kid back but this one was a little harder to work. He liked working with a team and it looked like he might have found a good one.
No one would take a job by an unknown even for a big payday. That would say that he is not as sure of his job or his life if he did. Also who goes to check up on an assassin where their kid is without getting the heads blown off.
Remi is unlike any kid I know and comes off not so positive in this story. While the idea of an assassin adopting some random kid just because he felt bad for her is a bit strange, it was still a good add into the story. However the fact that she doesn’t act like she really should is the problem. Just because someone helps you doesn’t mean you automatically trust them. Also the characters don’t act like assassins, mercs, thieves and hackers. Once in an assignment you don’t change it, yet they rushed a job that was supposedly not able to do. It just came off wrong. You get the mention of Luca, the meeting between them all set up but then it stops. You don’t get to see it through.
Then there is the security they are going through, and lets face it, it just doesn’t pan out. Now on the flip side of the coin, the story is still pretty entertaining. I might have griped about the characters but lets face it they still were a big hit with me. I like the way they interacted with each other. It is a slow burning romance and for once it worked out all right with this story. I am not a fan of the dual voices in the story, but I think the part that drove me nuts is the author put their name ahead to know who was talking, but lets face it it was easy to figure it out right off the bat.
Over all I really liked the story and can’t wait to see what the next book has going on.
Blurb: When the pickiest eater in America is tapped to judge a cooking competition along with his chef ex-boyfriend, will it be a recipe for a second chance… or disaster?
Luke Walker’s humor about foods he can’t stand made him an internet celebrity and his blog, The Pickiest Eater in America, a huge hit. He plans to bring that same lighthearted comedy to the show—but he won’t be the only host.
Meyer Thibodeaux might be a famous chef, but he’s solemn, uptight, and closeted. He’s also Luke’s ex. As different as they are, the sparks between Luke and Meyer never really went out, and as they work together, each begins to see the other in a new light, and the passion between them reignites, hot as ever. But secrets, gossip, and rumors on the set could sour their reunion.
Review: Twice Baked is a standalone novel by Andrew Grey. I love Andrew Grey, I’ve never encountered a book of his I didn’t dislike or couldn’t finish. For me, the winning appeal is always the writing style and the three-dimensional characters who almost always develop along the way and learn a thing or two. This is actually the second book of Grey’s I’ve read recently where he has done something different to what I’ve become used to, but it still has all the hallmarks of a sweet Andrew Grey romance in my mind.
The main characters are Luke Walker and Meyer Thibodeaux.
Luke’s opinions on food is almost like everyone’s inner child – there is always some texture that is just so gross it makes you dry reach, or there is something that is said to be so amazing but taste like week-old dirty socks. Luke has a great sense of humour and because of that he has been able to make a name for himself with his blog, declaring him the Pickiest Eater in America. He is unashamedly himself and he has made it work for him. So much so, when a cooking competition, not that dissimilar to Masterchef, needs a new judge he is approached. He and the producers of the show are of the same mind – they want to inject humour along with his natural personality which makes the show more accessible to those intimidated by high cuisine. The only problem is that his ex, Meyer, is also a judge and while he has never had closure over the ending of that relationship, Luke is ready to go in and be an adult when it comes to be in the same room, let alone the same TV show, as his ex-boyfriend.
Meyer doesn’t take Luke’s reappearance in his life quite so easily. Again, Luke is his ex and that comes with a natural uneasiness, no matter how things ended between them. But he has major concerns that Luke will make a mockery of show that he had helped create by being a judge. Meyer is a celebrity chef and the back story is that he essentially left Luke behind to pursue his career.
However, the sparks are still there between them. The passion between them is felt through the words. Luke and Meyer, at first, don’t appear to have changed much from when they had last known each other, but being together in the same world again brings them together. And they do indeed realise that things have changed for them, they eventually realise that they have grown as people, and they continue to grow through the course of this book.
Luke and Meyer’s biggest problems stem from a lack of communication when they had first been together. Their current obstacle is to now balance their personal lives and professional life as famous TV judges. Now that they are nursing the spark of romance, which is now fragile, they learn to trust each other when things on set start to go wrong. There is intrigue on set and it’s easiest for them to be honest – to each other, and as much as possible, the world.
This a great second chance romance novel, I think anyone who likes that would not be disappointed. Added to that those that love cooking reality TV shows and like a bit of heat in the kitchen will probably also enjoy this one. There is loads of charm and romance.
Hi guys! We have Anna Martin popping in today with the tour for her new release Something Wild, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~ p.s. keep an eye out for Prime’s review coming soon!
Something Wild
by
Anna Martin
The South Pacific Archipelago is home to a tiny island community of around three hundred scientists… and twenty thousand dinosaurs. As a paleogeneticist, Kit Sterling leads a team studying the dinosaurs to unlock the unanswered questions of evolution.
But there is something more dangerous than dinosaurs on the islands.
Head ranger Logan Beck discovers evidence of poachers, while rumors of a black market for dinosaur leather swirl around the community. Kit and Logan haven’t always gotten along professionally, though that has nothing to do with their attraction to each other. So when they’re thrown together to save an injured infant dinosaur, their professional disdain turns into a clandestine romance.
With not just the injured dinosaur at risk, but all of the precious dinosaurs on the islands too, Kit and Logan have to figure out how to balance their budding romance without letting their careers go extinct.
Hi guys! We have Rain Carrington popping in today with the tour for her new release 33 Degrees of Separation, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic $35 Amazon GC so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
33 Degrees of Separation
(Legacy 03)
by
Rain Carrington
I’m Ian, and this is my story. Like the others, I have a legacy. I was raised with the best of everything, one of the riches kids I knew. That isn’t the legacy, however. That is to be a part of something I didn’t want, and never asked for it’s tearing me apart, but I can fight it. With some help, I can fight it.
Meeting Pat Castaldo, the hot, muscled FBI agent was the beginning of a life I thought was ending. I am terrified I’ll get him killed, and others, if I can’t stand up to my father and the other men that make up the terrible secret society. My family has been members for hundreds of years, and it was supposed to be passed to me. I don’t want it, but I took it, and I took it to end them once and for all.
In the middle of all this, I am falling in love. That was a surprise, and one that possibly terrifies me more than the Gilded Grail. This could hurt, and I could get this beautiful man killed, along with a lot of others if I fail. My money may be able to solve some of my troubles, but there is much more that it can’t.
I’ve never had to be brave or fight for anything. This is my fight, though, and I will win. I’ll win it for my friends, for humanity and, maybe most of all, I’ll win it for Pat.
***
Raised in wealth most could only dream of, Ian Andrews III didn’t know another way of life existed until he went to college and learned about the world. There he met friends and came down from his palace to try to be like everyone else, but he had too much money to achieve that.
When he was set to finish graduate school, his father took him on a trip to learn the destiny that had been chosen for him. He would become a member of the Gilded Grail, a secret society that had members whose families had been a part of it for hundreds of years.
He was a legacy, and there was no choice for him. He would become a member, or he’d die.
Learning about this secret society, hearing their ways and goals, then going through the initiation, he was terrified and ran off to hide away from them and everyone.
His best friend worried when he’d been gone for days, his phone left in his room, not a word from him. Calling in help, it came in the form of an FBI agent in town on business. He was doing a favor, checking up on the missing college student, and right away smelled trouble. When he saw Ian’s computer history and the name Gilded Grail, he knew he had to find Ian.
Once he did, he learned the secrets that no one outside the order knew. Together, they decided to try to stop them from a horrible goal they’d set, one that threatened every man, woman and child in the world.
Falling in love with one another was easy but keeping that attraction at bay to try to save everyone a horrible fate, Ian and Pat struggled. Pat called for more help, and Javier Duran came, an old lover of Pat’s, and one of the world best mercenaries.
Sparks fly and jealousies ignite. Saving the world and falling in love at the same time wasn’t easy on any man. It could tear them apart or make them more determined to have the other in their lives forever. That was considering if they could stop the Grail and there was a forever…
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (27th June 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Prime
Blurb: An accident crushed Duncan’s Olympic dreams and landed him in a chair, but he knows it’s time to get his life back on track – and he has a plan in mind. Working with his friend Todd, an Olym-pic skeleton racer, on a promotional campaign will not only help Duncan regain some direction, but it’ll give Todd the financial boost he desperately needs. The sport Todd loves is draining his resources – so much so that he’s thinking of giving up racing just to make ends meet.
As the two men work together, their friendship blossoms into much more, and suddenly the future is looking brighter than it has in a long time. But just when love, happiness, and success seem within their grasp, the USOC steps in with plans to stop their campaign. That’ll mean an end not just to Duncan’s business, but to Todd’s dreams…and Duncan isn’t about to let that happen to the man who means everything to him.
Review: Heart Untouched is the third book in Andrew Grey’s Hearts Entwined series. You don’t necessarily have to read the series in order. However, since the couples of the previous books feature heavily I think it would make more sense to read the series in order, but that is only my opinion.
Andrew Grey is a go to author for. I could gush for a long time about how much I love his writing. I love the knack he has to make deeply emotional characters, with equally emotional and relatable storylines. I also love the knack he has with characters which are either differently abled or single fathers – I’m truly a sucker for those types of books in general.
The audio narration was performed by Greg Tremblay. Tremblay is a brilliant narrator and I have enjoyed many of his performances of Grey’s work. I love how Tremblay enhances a book by just changing his tone, giving characters their own voices and sometimes making audio experience more relatable and easier to connect to characters than just reading the book.
Part of me was a little disappointed that I didn’t love the book as much as I normally would an Andrew Grey book, and I got no idea if there has to do with either the story itself or the narration. Nonetheless, this was still an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable read. I just hold Grey to higher standards, haha.
The story starts with Olympic skeleton racer, Duncan. Unfortunately, a major accident during competition has not only shattered his dreams of competing in the Winter Olympics, but he is also now confined to a wheelchair. Duncan is lost now, but his friend and one of his fellow skeleton racer teammates, Todd.
Being an Olympian is not an easy thing. Obviously, one has to be absolutely awesome at their chosen sport. But there is also the endless need for funding so that they can take months at a time to train and meet whatever other requires are set by the US Olympic Committee. Back home, Todd is making money but is feeling the noose of tight finances threatening his Olympic dream. Add to that his friend Duncan has had his life shattered, receiving very little help from the sport governing body that had dictated their lives for so long, leaving Todd with rather mixed feelings. But with Duncan struggling, Todd also needs to help his friend. Lucky for Todd he works as a mechanic for a man who employs both a blind man and a deaf man, so he has the support of his wider group of friends to help Duncan find his way through his new normal.
The romance between Duncan and Todd is sweet and slow-burning. The fact that these guys are friends and have great chemistry is a plus. While there were times where the story felt a little flat, it was OK because these guys felt like your normal, down to earth sort of blokes. This is a real sweet, heart-warming and generally just filled with hope.
Blurb: The course of true love runs through every neighborhood….
Only one thing stands between Gregory MacPherson II and his dream revitalization project for the gritty neighborhood of Ball’s End: a rinky-dink, run-down used bookstore called Hailey’s Comic. But when master negotiator Mac shows up to make a deal with the owner, he comes face-to-face with quirky, colorful Hailey—unexpectedly good-humored about Mac’s attempted eviction and, also unexpectedly, a hot guy.
Hailey won’t give up his lease, no matter how much money Mac offers. When it comes to consummating their mutual attraction, though, he’s a lot more flexible. Soon Mac has as hard a time prying himself out of Hailey’s bed as he does prying Hailey out of the building. But Hailey doubts Mac’s plans serve Ball’s End’s best interests, and he insists Mac give him a chance to prove his case. If they’re going to build a happy ever after, one of them will have to be remade….
Review: Him Improvement is a standalone contemporary romance by Tanya Chris. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, as Chris is a completely new author to me. However, since this is published as part of Dreamspun Desires, I was keen to give it a go. The blurb, to me, reads like a typical trashy romance (not trashy-bad, I mean trashy-good) where one plucky hero goes up against another rich and mysterious hero, then boom… they fall in love. I was totally up for this.
The story follows one businessman, with the overly pretentious name Gregory MacPherson II, who aims to make life better by revitalising a rather run-down area. But there is one problem and that man is Hailey and runs a bookstore named Hailey’s Comic and has a big heart when it comes to the locals of Ball’s End. (A rather unfortunate name in my opinion, but makes me think of the train station in Sydney that goes past Ball’s Head). Hailey doesn’t really go into his aquaintace with Mac with any particular plans, but he does begin to open Mac’s eyes to what could truly help to revitalise an area besides simply acquiring land and knocking down existing building, displacing residents and business owners.
This book covers the stereotypes but the chemistry between the characters is satisfying and making for an overall enjoyable read. I’m still not entirely sure of how I feel about the romance between Mac and Hailey, but ultimately it felt natural that they did indeed come together. I really enjoyed the journey of discovery that Mac goes on because of Hailey and makes their connection feel “right”.
I’m not really sure who to recommend this one to. I suppose the whole rich businessman and small business owner is a little stereotypical and if that’s your thing, then this is the book for you. If you like sweet and sexy contemporary romances you should give this one a crack.
Blurb: Soulmates across time. Two hearts that were meant to be together.
In present day, Zach takes a road trip to Trinidad to find information on a missing friend.
In 1892, Layton Blue, outlaw, longs for hearth and home even as he treasures his life of freedom.
A freak rainstorm washes Zach’s car into a ditch, sending him back to the year 1892. Searching for help, alone and on foot in the middle of the nowhere, he crosses paths with the famous Ketchum Gang. Now the gang’s prisoner, Zach’s fate is to be sold at a seedy auction for whores.
Layton is put in charge of making sure Zach does not escape, but as the chemistry between them grows, Layton finds himself wanting to help Zach.
Can Layton overcome years of being on the run? Can Zach accept help from an outlaw?
A male/male time travel romance complete with fast rides across the desert, campfires beneath the stars, cool water in the desert, wild rescues, and true love across time.
Review: Zach is looking for his friend Laurie and ends up in a storm that sends him skidding off the road and into eighteen-ninety two. This is where he interrupts a card game with an outlaw by the name of Tom, who is mean and cruel. Tom takes him and plans to sell Zach to replace what he lost in the game.
Layton is part of Tom’s gang and longs for something better. When he meets Zack the attraction is genuine. The get closer when Layton keeps an eye on him to keep him out of the crosshairs of the rest of the gang.
It’s a dangerous journey these two take looking for a way out without being killed for their trouble. I liked the story. Layton and Zach were good for each other and I loved that Zach eventually found his missing friend.
Hi guys, we have S.E. Jakes popping in today with the tour for her newest release Nuts, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Nuts
(Ace’s High 02)
by
S.E. Jakes
Jagger’s the son of a bookmaker and fixer. Now, he’s the owner of an exclusive, underground club…and he’s also been put in charge of the family business.
Preston’s the son of a wealthy, powerful, blue-blood Boston family…or he was, until he was disowned for choosing his friendship with Jagger over his family. Ten years later, he’s a Special Forces Operator—and he’s still best friends with Jagger.
But things are about to change, for both men. Because after a long year of no contact, Preston’s coming home to Jagger for the first time since they shared a surprising kiss.
One night, one poker game, and one hand finds Jagger lucky—and skilled enough—to win a chance to fix things with Preston. But what’s at stake is far more than their friendship—it’s everything…and both men are all in to fight for what’s theirs.
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For the first 90 days of this title’s publication, all sales and page reads will be donated to The LOFT: LGBT Center
Ace’s Wild is a multi-author series of books that take place in the same fictional town. Each story can be read in any order. The connecting element in the Ace’s Wild series is an adult store owned by Ace and Wilder. The main characters from each book will make at least one visit to Ace’s Wild, where they’ll buy a toy to use in their story! The only characters who cross over to each book are Ace and Wilder. And with various heat and kink levels, there’s sure to be something for everyone!
Hi guys, we have A.E. Via visiting today with the tour for her new audio release Nothing Special V, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway where you can win your own audiobook of Nothing Special V, so check out the post and then enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Nothing Special V
(Nothing Special 05)
by
Narrator: Aiden Snow
A.E. Via
Atlanta’s notorious narcotics task force is at it again. They are stronger, bigger, and better than ever. Especially when a city councilman sends RECON Marine Edwin Steele – who’s been blacklisted from his Oakland department – to join the team.
Steele was ready to hang up his shield. He was done fighting with bigoted bastards that couldn’t respect the job. He was good at fighting; he just needed the right team to fight with. When his uncle – City Councilman Rasmus Steele – shows him a video of God’s team in action, he knows right away it’s where his nephew belongs in order to restore his faith.
Steele was skeptical about his new placement, but when he meets God’s technology specialist/computer genius, “Tech”, he’s willing to give it his all, and he definitely shows and proves.
Tech is stunning. His sweater vest and khakis, a stark contrast to the blue-jeaned roughnecks he works with. A beautiful sheep amongst the wolves. Steel thinks there’s no way the brilliant man would be interested in a hardhead like him, but Tech has a few badass hidden talents of his own and manages to surprise him…surprise all of them.
This story is a part of a series but can stand alone. It does not end on a cliffhanger and has a HEA. There are no multiple pairings in this novel.
Hi guys! We have Sloan Johnson stopping by today with her new re-release Kindred Spirit, we have a great excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Kindred Spirit
by
Sloan Johnson
Family secrets, a surprise inheritance, and a sweet employee he can’t help falling for. Sunset Beach was only supposed to be a quick trip…
Dane learned early to not rely on anyone. He has a good job and a decent life in the city. Granting his father’s request to visit the family he didn’t know existed, the last thing he expected was to find out he’d inherited a share in his grandfather’s inn.
Brook has only known romance through notes left in a mailbox at the end of the beach. When he’s tasked with showing his boss’s gorgeous nephew what makes Sunset Beach and Bird Island special, he’s compelled to take Dane to his favorite place.
Dane never wanted the inn, but when it’s threatened, he steps up to defend it… and keep the man he’s coming to love by his side and in his life.
Kindred Spirit was previously released through a publisher. The second edition has minor changes but Brook and Dane’s story remains the same.
Hi guys we have D.H. Starr spotting by today with the tour for his new release Wrestling With Hope, we have a great new excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Wrestling With Hope
(Wrestling 04)
by
D.H. Starr
Forced to move from place to place, never setting down roots, robbed Scott Thayer of any thread of stability during his childhood. No matter how hard he tried, he could never please his distant and judgmental father. If his own father couldn’t love him, who could?
Two years after last setting eyes on the man whose approval he’d never win, he’s found a good life, attending college, become a star on the wrestling team, built a home with his lover Derek, and surrounded himself with people who love him.
An unexpected note from his father, saying, “I want to see you,” turns Scott’s world upside down. Why, after all this time, does the man want back into his life, just when Scott’s wounds have begun to heal? Should he risk his happiness and peace of mind to accept the invitation from someone who’d left him so damaged?
Or will he finally find closure and slam the door on his pain and never look back?
Blurb: A high-stakes case of industrial espionage ties them together, but before they can pursue their attraction, they must find out who’s pulling the strings.
Devon Donaldson doesn’t know how a folio of stolen corporate secrets found its way into his bag, and certainly can’t think of anyone who’d want to frame him. The trouble is, he has to convince Powers McPherson.
Devon’s firm hired Powers to investigate the theft of a new banking system, and so far Devon is his only lead. While Powers’s gut tells him Devon is innocent, he has no intention of letting Devon out of his sight… for more than one reason. Working together to get Devon’s life back leads to feelings far beyond cooperation. But before they can act on them, they need to find the group of thieves intent on ruining Devon’s reputation.
Review: Pulling Strings is a standalone novel by Andrew Grey. While this is something a bit different from what I normally expect from Grey’s writing, I can’t say that I’m surprised or disappointed that he mixed things up a bit for this story. The most important parts of his writing that I love the most are there: engaging writing style and use of words, relatable main characters, palpable chemistry between the romantic leads of course a good dose of drama.
What you read in the blurb is what you get, so I’m going to keep this review quite short so that I can avoid too much spoiler details. The premise of the book is quite simple: new employee gets to know the man who is investigating corporate sabotage at his work, while proving his innocence and finding the real culprit, feelings emerge. However, what makes this book enjoyable is the complexity of the characters as we get to know them. It’s a lot of fun and the chemistry that is shared between the two characters is believable and makes me think of a Hollywood movie, a sort of unbeatable duo (even if it’s corporate type of story rather than crime or spies).
The two main characters are Devon Donaldson and Powers McPherson. Devon is a relatively new employee for the company he works for who gets caught in a web of corporate sabotage when the man hired to find out who is stealing company secrets, Powers, follows him under the suspicion that Devon is the culprit that he is after.
Devon is hard working and quiet, everything that you would expect from this type of character. He is the conscientious employee who unwittingly looks suspicious. He’s looking to make a positive impression at work. Powers is your typical type of security/private investigator. He can blend into the office environment, as though he is a spy, he has a quick mind and is dedicated to finishing his job assignments.
I enjoyed the passion between these guys, because while the corporate intrigue was an important part to the story, it was the passion followed by the romance that really was properly fleshed out. An enjoyable read, if you like a bit of intrigue and mystery, particularly when it’s wrapped into a neat package set in a multimillion dollar company.
When Mayfair jewelers Starsmith Stones wins the commission for a gay royal wedding, CEO Joel Sterling is recommended to the brilliant young designer Matt Barth—only to discover Matt’s the man with whom he shared an anonymous and passionate kiss on the celebration night.
Disenchanted with the commercial jewelry industry, Matt nowadays prefers muddy archaeological digs to designing. Openly resentful of Starsmith’s hostile takeover of his family’s firm, he is horrified at the realization he’ll be working with the man who engineered that deal—but the opportunity to create something fabulous and unique for the royal couple is too tempting to refuse.
Working as a team reignites the spark between Joel and Matt. But when betrayal from within Starsmith threatens both the project and Joel’s confidence, will they have built enough trust to keep their newfound love as precious as the royal jewels?
Review: Romancing the Rough Diamond is the fourth book in Claire London’s Romancing The… series. It is not necessary to have read the two previous books; this is a standalone book and the couple are totally unrelated to the other. The only real link between them is being set in England/United Kingdom and these are people that are in the upper crust of society – businessmen, celebrities, social darlings, old money, that kind of thing. This series has been released as part of the Dreamspun Desires, and this book is everything that I love getting my hands books released in this house line. It’s sweet, sexy, full of big drama (sometimes bordering melodrama) and equally big personalities.
There’s a royal wedding about to take place and this one is a bit different because it will be the first same sex royal wedding. The hype is big and the competition to win the rights to be the jeweller for said royal wedding is a big deal. So much so, when CEO of Starsmith Jewellers, Joel Sterling, found out that his firm had won the commission, he locked lips with a stranger. Not thinking about that little episode further, Joel is intent on making this the most perfect pieces that his people have created. And with the importance of such a commission, everything is to be kept under lock and key to keep the project top secret. Now he needs to recruit a designer for the project, and is strongly recommended to approach designer Matt Barth. It just so happens that Matt is the man Joel kissed and the man who is the son of a company that Starsmith took over.
Matt is a complicated and stubborn man. His is brilliant, proud and passionate about his work, which is mostly doing archaeological digs on some of his family’s land. He’s a man who hasn’t done a lot of commercial designs but is a designer that is raved about in many jewellery design circles in England and Europe. Yet, with his family’s successful jewellery firm sold off, Matt doesn’t want to be involved with the man he perceives as his enemy.
Matt and Joel are so different and yet at the same time they are both so similar. It is their similarities that draw them together and their differences that make them perfect for each other. They have excellent chemistry. They are also very passionate men, which makes some of the drama about the designs and their relationship so much fun.
As a side note, because it tickled me so much. For someone who had watched so much Time Team and in a Time Team fan group on Facebook, the talk of archaeology on the family farm had me thinking of Tony and Phil et al., I had to laugh though when London also made reference to the TV show.
If you’ve liked anything from Dreamspun Desires or if you’ve enjoyed Romancing the Wrong Twin, Romancing the Ugly Duckling and Romancing the Undercover Millionaire you’ll definitely like this book. I recommend this this to those that love the opulence of upper society (i.e. me and my love of aristocratic-type romances) mixed with business and artistry. I would quite label it an enemies to lovers type of book, but for those that do like that in a book, I think this could be the book for you too.
