Hi guys, we now have Patricia Logan visiting with her newest release The Superstar, there’s a great excerpt a fantastic giveaway and Cat’s review. Enjoy the post and then click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
The Superstar
(Bodyguards 01)
by
Patricia Logan
Storm Ellison is the sexiest man on two legs. The gorgeous young star of “Trapped on an Island”, the hottest reality show on television, is instantly recognizable the moment he leaves his palatial mansion. Paparazzi follow him everywhere, leaving him no peace or privacy, selling his pictures to the tabloids, and cementing his reputation in the press as a slutty gay playboy. As Storm prepares to sign his first major movie deal, his manager decides he needs protection. What he doesn’t expect, is to be attracted to the cold bastard who’s now running his life.
Balthazar Grant, freelance bodyguard, is a huge, handsome, rough and ready former Marine, trained by the best, and willing to step between Storm and anyone stupid enough to come at him. Always stoic and serious, Taz lends a deadly presence to Storm’s entourage whenever he ventures out in public. Storm doesn’t want a bodyguard, much less one who won’t let him live his fast and loose lifestyle with impunity and he’s certainly not one to be dictated to by an overconfident Marine who has opinions about everything including who he should hook-up with.
When a deadly threat hits Storm’s world, he’s suddenly living his own reality show, only this one has an outcome which doesn’t involve being voted off an island. Will Storm wake up before it’s too late and will Taz be able to fight his attraction to the handsome young superstar while trying to convince him he’s in very real danger? The pair will soon learn that reality is stranger than fiction.
Title: Royal Street Heist Series: N/A Author: Scotty Cade Genre: Romantic Suspense Length: Novel (206 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (November 9th, 2014) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: When valuable Civil War era art is stolen from a popular New Orleans gallery, NOPD Lead Detective Montgomery “Beau” Bissonet and his partner set out to solve the crime. When the gallery’s insurance company sends Tollison Cruz to the Big Easy to conduct their own independent investigation, personalities clash and battle lines are definitely drawn.
The heist quickly becomes a politically driven high profile case, and Detective Bissonet is furious when he’s ordered to work alongside Investigator Cruz to assure a timely arrest. The heat index soars to new levels when the two investigators discover they have a lot more in common than originally thought.
With the tension between them temporarily sated, Bissonet and Cruz finally start to work together, on more than just a professional level. But everything comes to a screeching halt when Beau discovers his cohort in crime has been withholding information regarding the investigation and has been concealing a very questionable past.
What happens next rivals the scorching summer heat.
Review: Have you ever had a favorite author, that you swear got into the Christmas spirits a wee bit early and decided to write a book outside of their normal genre. I’ve had this happen with mixed results. I always give the new series a try, but most of the time, it just doesn’t work for me.
Except with Scotty Cade.
Scotty Cade won my heart with his Unconventional series. I loved how he portrayed grown men lovin’. Employed, mentally healthy grown ass men. A refreshing change in a genre where half the characters are twinks and the other half are broken. Of course, I love his Love and Sunrise over Savannah series. Pure romance. And I was a bit nervous when he dipped into Historical Romance with TheMystery of Ruby Lode. But, that has proven to be one of my favorite titles. So I shouldn’t have been nervous when Scotty decided he wanted to try his hand at Romantic Suspense. Which is truly my favorite genre, regardless of MC pairing.
Well, I need not have worried. Scotty may be a Southern gentleman, but he has a deliciously twisted mind. The Royal Street Heist was an absolute joy to read.
I’ve read it twice, and I still don’t know who I like better, Bissonet or Cruz. Separately, they are both fine detectives with smart mouths, but together they are magic. Their mutual attraction is instant and hot. It was almost comical to watch them. Outwardly, they can’t stand one another, but they also can’t keep their hands of each other. This made for some pretty raunchy scenes.
And the suspense was well plotted. Like I said, I’m a real suspense junkie and I can usually pick out the killer early on, but Scotty kept me guessing, right up until the end. Speaking of the end, the end of Royal Street Heist left room for a series, and if I have a literary fairy godfather anywhere, he will hear and grant my wish for this to be just the first of an ongoing series.
Step aside Sherlock and Watson, Bissonet and Cruz are in the house…and they rock!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Ma Cheri Series: Romance on the Go Author: Remmy Duchene Genre: Contemporary/Interracial Length: Short (33 pages) Publisher: Evernight Publishing (August 5th 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts Blurb: Gaël Leveraeu put his foot in his mouth after a one-night stand with the sexy Shawn Rhodes. The moment he walks away, however, Gaël knows he made a mistake. He wants more from Shawn, but did he screw everything up before it even started?
Shawn Rhodes never partakes in one-night stands, but there was something about Gaël. After Gaël leaves, Shawn tries to get on with his life but a flower delivery brings Shawn back to face the possible feelings simmering just beneath the surface.
Review: Two months ago, Gael and Shawn had a one-night stand. Now neither can stop thinking about the other. But they are an ocean apart. Gael finally gives in and starts sending flowers with little notes. Gael wants Shawn again for more than one night. He starts by slowly seducing him with delivers and notes apologizing. Then one of Gael’s friends has a surprise delivery of his own, Shawn.
This was cute. Two men who usually go for the quick and easy find someone they can’t stop thinking about. It’s a short so there is not much story, but I did enjoy it. I think this could have been better as a longer book. It was enough to whet my appetite but not leave me full. I kind of want more with these two men.
Good for a little fast pick me up.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Yakuza Courage Series: The Way of the Yakuza #2 Author: H.J. Brues Genre: Contemporary/ Military/Interracial Length: Novel (336 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (August 1st, 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts Blurb: Sequel to Yakuza Pride
Ex-Navy SEAL Brendan O’Farrihy enrolls in kendo classes to investigate a Honolulu dojo acting as a front for a Yakuza syndicate. Or at least that’s what Brendan’s client, Senator Harris, believes.
Through his kendo instructor, the cocky, short-fused, gorgeous Kinosuke Yonekawa, Brendan learns the criminals who are supposedly using the senator’s son, Kenneth, to expand their activities into the US, seem to have severed any Yakuza connections. The jaded, soul-scarred former soldier is captivated by the loyalty these gangsters show each other and the way they protect Ken like a tight military unit. Brendan wonders why the senator lied to him, and what the Yakuza are shielding Ken from.
When Ken disappears, Brendan suspects foul play and decides to help the man he is falling for, Kinosuke, and his friends, find Ken. But when Kinosuke discovers Brendan has been on the senator’s payroll, all bets are off.
Review:Kuso, this book was awesome! What’s even more awesome is that I learned to swear in yet another language and I know it’s going to stick with me forever. Silliness aside, YakuzaCourage is a mix of everything I love in a book.
Funny, smart-assed characters? Check!
Proud and honest Yakuza? Hot and troubled navy SEALS? A good plot? Check, check and check!
This was the second book in The Way of the Yakuza series and it picks up no long after the end of the first book. I strongly recommend to start with book one if you want to completely understand the plot in Yakuza Courage. The guys are all in the US now and working hard to become legal residents. I loved all of them in the first book and I really enjoyed learning more about them. This is told from three points of view throughout the book and it alternates between Kinosuke, Brendan, and Kotaro; let me tell you their unique ways of thinking and of perceiving the mix of cultures in Hawaii is extremely funny and interesting.
Kinosuke Yonekawa and the rest of his friends and ex members of the Yakuza family have recently moved to the US of A and are working at the dojo owned by Kenshin-san. This book is not as dark as the first one but it doesn’t lack in action. In fact, this book was so action packed it constantly kept me on my toes. The author does an incredible job at showing the differences between the American and Japanese cultures.
It’s very difficult for the guys to integrate into the American society and their struggles are real and, for people like me who had to go through it all, sometimes very hard to read. Kinosuke, as an ex-Yakuza, has a very hard time figuring out who he is now. All he’s known since he was young was how to be a Yakuza, and now that he gave that up, he feels that without the Yakuza name he is nothing. He lacks self-confidence and at times, it was very hard for me to read the way he perceives himself; I just wanted to give him a hug…
“Fuck if he knew why he was so stupid, but he’d never been bright to begin with, and nobody said that moving from Japan to Hawaii was supposed to make you smarter. He wasn’t intelligent like the boss—or even Kitahara—he wasn’t as tough as Shinya, or as good a marksman as Tachibana. He was just a wild card, more or less like Kotaro, very good to be used as a gofer if he got step-by-step instructions and, in his case, very convenient for a holiday fling, easy to leave behind before moving on to more serious engagements in the mainland. “
Kotaro is the youngster, the little “brother,” whom Shigure has been raising since he was a child. All Kotaro has ever wanted was to be old enough to become one of the much respected Yakuza, so now that this is no longer an option, he feels lost. He tried hard to integrate and belong with the rest of the teenagers at the school in Hawaii he now attends, but he is treated badly. He joins the bullies, becomes part of their group, and does anything he needs to in order to feel like he belongs.
Kinosuke is frustrated with him because Kotaro ignores his responsibilities at the dojo and often leaves to do one thing he truly enjoys: surfing. But hanging out with the bad boys means he needs to prove he’s one of them and Kotaro soon learns that every action has consequences and that he can involuntarily hurt those, he loves the most.
Brendan is an ex-navy SEAL who is hired by Senator Harris to gather as much information as possible on the Yakuza family. He enrolls in kendo classes in order to investigate the dojo and his sensei is none other than the beautiful Kinosuke. The chemistry between those two is off the charts and I really enjoyed the progress of their relationship.
The cultural differences between the two make things complicated and it’s a real delight to watch them learn more about each other. The elegance and finesse of the Japanese culture made Brendan seem like an elephant crashing his way through the new territory. The relationship that forms between these two is short-lived because the truth always finds a way to come out. When Brendan’s real motivations for getting close to Kinosuke in the beginning are found out, Brendan finds that he has a lot of groveling to do if he wants to win Kinosuke back.
When Kenshin-san is kidnapped, the Yakuza and the SEALS must learn to work together and most of all, respect and trust each other, if they want to be successful. The constant banter between the characters is hilarious and their sarcasm is spot on. I especially liked how hard Kinosuke fought his attraction towards Brendan, it made me laugh the way he was trying to convince himself and others that there’s nothing about Brendan he likes.
His eyes felt about to pop out of their sockets. “But, Boss, he’s not even handsome. He’s just this pasty-faced, freckled redhead!” “You don’t like his blue eyes?” “Green. They’re green.” Kinosuke understood his mistake as soon as he closed his big mouth—he didn’t need Matsunaga’s knowing smile to confirm it. “So you’ve noticed the color of his eyes,” the bastard said. “And his freckles.” “I teach him every Wednesday and Friday, I can’t help seeing his fucking face.”
The only complaints I have is that maybe the book was a bit too long. If it were 50 pages less, it would have been truly perfect. Also, the way the transition was made between scenes wasn’t ideal. One moment they’re trying to escape and fight for their lives, the next it’s all over and they’re in the hospital. Ummm, no, that’s not good enough. I want to read the whole thing; I don’t want to imagine how it happened.
I recommend this to every reader that enjoys an action packed book, cultural clashes between amazing characters, banter, and sarcasm throughout the book that will entertain and amuse you until the end.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Series: Romance on the Go AUTHOR: Elizabeth Monvey GENRE: Interracial/May*December LENGTH: Short (36 pages) PUBLISHER: Evernight Publishing (August 12th, 2014) HEAT LEVEL: Moderate HEART RATING: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts BLURB: Jin-Pyoo is an Olympic Alpine skier who has been reared all his life to focus on winning a medal. His father is harsh and demanding, but when he orders Jin to stop being friends with ski resort owner, Tolliver St. James, Jin has to decide if he should continue with his Olympic dream or follow his heart.
Tolliver St. James knows that Jin is the man for him. They’ve been in a secret relationship for two years and he wants them to be publicly out, but Jin wants them to keep hiding in the shadows. When Jin’s father forces Jin into an engagement with a woman, Tolliver is afraid of losing his lover forever.
But when Tolliver is caught in grips of an avalanche, Jin knows he can’t live his life without him and it’s a race against time to find the man he loves more than anything.
REVIEW: If you like, your love story with some sports, this is great. Jin-Pyoo is a Korean alpine skier who has just bombed at the Sochi games and now is under pressure from his father and Korean sponsors so he will be in medal contention at the upcoming Korean Olympic Games. He’s 29, which means that the next Olympics would be his last chance to win gold. His boyfriend of two years is Tolliver, who owns the ski resort in the US where Jin trains.
Tolliver has been extremely patient with Jin. Because of his father’s old-fashioned beliefs, their relationship has been completely hidden. Worse yet, Jin’s father has arranged a marriage and Tolliver has told Jin he isn’t taking any more of their closeted relationship.
From the beginning, I found myself feeling sorry for Jin with the situation he was face with. However, I also feel sorry for Tolliver, having to be the hidden lover despite the fact that Jin feels that Tolliver is his happily ever after. I also immediately completely adored Tolliver from the outset.
This is packed with emotion, especially when Jin faces the possibility that Tolliver could die after they have an argument. A great, quick read with a very sweet and adorable couple.
Title: In From the Cold Series: A Courtland Novella Author: Cat Grant Genre: Contemporary /Interracial Length: Novella (91 pages) Publisher: Cat Grant Books (September 15th 2014) Heat Level: Mild Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts Reviewer: Tams Blurb: For all the Courtland fans clamoring for the next generation…
Cold and sick, Seth Thompson must fight through a snowstorm to get home. Seth’s unconventional upbringing taught him to always reach out to strangers in need, and Iranian engineering student Bilal al-Mansoori is no exception. Being trapped together leads to an unexpected mutual attraction—and a feverishly hot night under the covers.
But Bilal needs more than simply a rescue from the weather—he’s trapped under lifetime of cultural pressures. His strict Muslim father and fellow Iranian students have no clue about his inner torment. His attraction to Seth isn’t a welcome discovery—instead he’s trapped between the existence he’s always known and the prospect of living and loving openly for the first time in his life.
Note: This story stands alone—no need to have read the prior Courtland books
Review: Seth Thompson lives an open and accepted lifestyle, completely opposite from the life Bilal is forced to lead. Seth was raised by a very unconventional family that is comprised by two dads and one mom, as a threesome. So to say Seth and his family are open-minded would likely be an understatement.
In contrast, Bilal was born and raised as a practicing Muslim. His family would disown him and his country would see him dead if they knew his secret. None the less, Seth reaches out and offers assistance to Bilal when he sees him first at the clinic, then at the pharmacy and finally stuck in the early falling snow at the bus stop.
Seth offers Bilal a warm place to stay and wait out the storm outside, not knowing about the storm raging inside the young man.
Soon enough the mutual attraction and being trapped inside due to the storm, in a small confined space, brings the feelings Bilal fights so hard to suppress to the surface. But once the storm clears and Bilal goes home, will he maintain the newfound friendship? Or go back to living a shadow of a life, being everything that is expected of him, and nothing that he wants to be.
Opposites attract is the heir apparent in this short story that is all about finding your way and being who you are. There was a decent amount of back-story for so few pages, and though brief, you do get a glimpse into the lives of each young man. I haven’t read the series this story stemmed from, but I still easily followed along and didn’t feel like I was missing anything. Not necessarily a HEA ending, more of a HFN, and the ending was a little abrupt.
Overall, a really good story that kept my attention throughout, I hope there is more to come for these two from Ms. Grant.
Hi peeps, we have Dev Bentham popping in with her newest release Driving into the Sun, there’s a sweet teaser and a great giveaway. Enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Driving into the Sun
by
Dev Bentham
Bad choices. We all make them, some more than others. Dusty’s choices have left him unemployed, broke and practically homeless. Despite the major issues he has with his family, his only rational choice is to sell everything and move into his parents’ basement. At thirty. Looking for a ride west, he answers a phone ad. The voice at the other end of the line flows like dark, rich honey. Finally something to look forward to—listening to Joe’s voice all the way from Illinois to Idaho.
Rather than the hip crooner of Dusty’s fantasies, Joe turns out to look more like a panhandler. Is that because Joe dresses down, or are Dusty’s preconceptions about Native Americans clouding his vision? Joe is silent more often than not. He has a complicated past and still has amends to make. But he is ready to move on. Dusty feels trapped. Two damaged men, one small car driving two thousand miles into the sun—sometimes things need to break down before they can get fixed.
Title: Head over Heels Author: Remmy Duchene Genre: Contemporary/Interracial/Suspense Length: Novella (141 pages) Publisher: Evernight Publishing (June 6th 2014) Heat Level: Mild Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 2.5Hearts Reviewer: Tams Blurb: Firefighter Christian Shane, badly scarred from a fire that ravished a city block, runs away from New York to Beacon Cove, hoping to hide away in his family’s beach house. All he wants is to be left alone.
Case Jenkins never met a sexy, muscled stud he liked. They were always jocks and always dicks—plain and simple. He was too much of a nerd and not built like a brick house. But when he sees Christian Shane, he can’t control himself. Nothing worth having ever comes easy, and Case isn’t quite sure he has enough patience. But there’s a madman trying to burn down the world, and in the end, both men must come to terms with their feelings.
Be warned: m/m sex
Purchase Link: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/head-over-heels-by-remmy-duchene/ Review: Firefighter Christian Shane is left broken after he was injured and almost killed in a fire. Feeling completely out of sorts, he decides to spend his time off and the rest of his recovery at his family home in Beacon Cove. Case Jenkins as well is seeking solace at the house he bought in the Cove when he won the lottery. He’s secluded himself in an attempt to write a novel, but he is lacking inspiration as of late. That is, until he meets the tall, scarred and lonely man on the beach that is staying in the house next to his.
The attraction is immediate, the chemistry undeniable, but both men are scarred both inside and out and getting close almost proves impossible. They continually come together only to wind up apart after pride, confusion, miscommunication and distrust get in the way. When Christian learns one of his best friends and fellow firefighter has been killed in a fire, a fire that is eerily similar to the strange fire that almost killed Christian, he rushes back to New York, leaving Case behind, hurt and confused once again. But this time, Case decides to stake his claim once and for all and follows.
While the premise for this story had potential and the characters were flawed and believable, the typos and breaks in the story made it difficult to read at times. Everything felt rushed and hectic, not enough time spent in some areas that could have been explored more fully. And the threat was slightly anticlimactic for me. That being said, there were facets of this story that I really enjoyed. The friendships that each man shared, Christian and Mas, Case and Bethany, were endearing and relatable and there was an obvious passion between the two male leads.
Blurb: Professional bull rider Garrett Anderson lives for the next town, the next trophy and his next ride. When he rolls into Sheridan, Wyoming, the last thing he expected was to meet a cowboy like Cole—a man who corrals his heart and leaves him aching for the kind of love he’s been missing.
A bull tender on the PBR circuit Cole Richards secretly longs for a lover but wasn’t prepared for Garrett’s passion or the longing their one brief tryst kindles. After he is shot and recovering in his hospital bed, Cole can only watch Garrett’s disastrous ride afraid it could be his last. Heartbroken when the battered and bruised bull rider leaves town, Cole knows better than to hope to see him again.
Attacked again and knee-deep in trouble, Cole wants only Garrett at his side. But can his bull rider trade fame and fortune for a lifetime with his one perfect ride?
Review: Garret is nearing retirement age for a bull rider and trying to win as many circuits as he can so he can retire, but the draw of the adrenaline and cheer from the crowds is hard to want to let go. He longs to find a man to love and settle down but doesn’t see finding one in the rodeo circuit. He meets Cole and has to have him, but will one night be enough? Then all hell breaks loose. What hell?
I love a good story of cowboys, and I really like different characters such as multicultural or different races. I loved that Garret was a black cowboy and that he faced a lot being a rodeo rider being both black and gay.
The story has a lot of mystery and it starts out quickly. I found the mystery interesting but when all is said and done, I was left with so many unanswered questions, even though the story had a fairly good ending. I will look for the next book to see what happens.
If you like rodeos, cowboys, mystery, and some hot ManSex this is for you.
Blurb: New Orleans is supposed to be the big easy. One night changes everything for Frankie Choteau.
New Orleans. A city rich in tradition, diversity, and on the comeback trail from hurricane Katrina. Francois “Frankie” Choteau, a resident of this town, a cop with a hot temper and low tolerance for BS. Kajika Fortier, a transplant from Oklahoma came here looking for a dream and unfortunately, it’s turned into a nightmare. On a hot summer night, they meet and cross paths during a very difficult situation. Despite this, the attraction between them is evident and loneliness for both men is a fate worse than death. They’d both like a chance at happiness but will the circumstances and Frankie’s uneasiness prevent their happy ever after?
Review: I have always loved men with accents and you can just imagine the way Frankie and Kajika talk. The little French words that they share sometimes just make it even hotter. Frankie is a detective and heads to a crime scene where he meets Kajika. Kajika’s lover had wanted to kill him and ended up killing himself, but it left Kajika being looked at as a suspect. It doesn’t help Frankie that his pretend girlfriend and coworker is bringing up every little dirty thing Kajika has done. Talk about one cold heart bitch to me though. Frankie is a bit older than Kajika and his major fear is that Kaj will find someone younger than him and leave him alone for the rest of his life.
Kajika knew the moment Frankie showed up at the crime scene that he wanted this man forever. The only problem is that his dead lover was at his feet. He screwed up by flirting with the detective at the scene, but he just couldn’t help it. He had loved Bob, thought of him as his father, brother and lover. Although he had not been attracted to Bob as a lover, he had become it anyway. Now here was his dead lover at his feet, and his future staring at him.
Frankie wanted to take it slow, but Kaj wanted it faster and that seemed to cause a lot of problems between them. Although when they finally have sex, it is amazingly hot and full of passion and fire. The fact that they switch when it comes to sex makes it even hotter. At first I thought Kaj might just be a bottom but it comes out that he definitely can do both.
I loved this story, the way they speak, two sexy men who want each other and the hot sex. I also love the fact that you have danger at all angles and crazy detectives that just can’t seem to be anything but hot. I don’t much care for Kenina. She comes off as a crazy woman, with too much jealousy and anger. I don’t like the way they at first act like they are a couple and can see how one might get the wrong idea, but the fact that he had to tell her more than a handful that he was gay just makes her seem off. I also didn’t much care for Kaj’s attitude in some parts of the story. He came off as a bit mental. I hope that they get better at being a couple but I will have to read the next book to find out for sure.
I would recommend this story to anyone who loves hot men, detectives, danger, mixed signals, and crazy people. Not to mention the hot sex scenes that the characters have. I can’t wait to start book two.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (10th December 2012)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½ – 4Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: When a bad day at work culminates in losing out on a promotion, Jim Sanders shifts into his animal form to let off steam. Then his bad day turns into a bad night—while prowling his Atlantic City neighborhood as a large gray house cat, he’s caught in a torrential downpour. What little luck he has washes down the gutter when his new boss, Andrew Wright, catches him taking shelter on his porch, brings him inside, and starts calling him Mr. Frosty.
As a feline, Jim becomes the inadvertent confessor for his boss’s lonely son, Tony, a victim of schoolyard bullying. As a human, he feels drawn to Andrew, a man he wanted to resent. Finding love was never part of Jim’s plan for the future—not with his bizarre secret—yet suddenly he finds himself navigating that minefield anyway. But not everything is easy, especially for an interracial gay couple dealing with prejudice in the workplace, at Tony’s school, and even within their own families.
Review: Jim isn’t happy when he is passed over for promotion, gets caught in a downpour while in his cat form and then gets picked up by his new boss’s son. Taken into his Andrew’s warm home and becoming confidant to both Andrew and his son Tony wasn’t Jim’s idea of a night out, but Jim begins to realize that his resentment is unfounded, and as a human begins to fall for Andrew. But they have problems to overcome; Tony is being bullied at school, prejudice at work and some slight bigotry in their own families and Jim’s little secret, can Andrew and Jim make things work?
This is a great family story with an incredible cute kid and a slight twist of a shifter cat. Jim has had a bad day at work and decides to run it off in his cat form, he ends up taking refuge from a downpour on his new boss’s porch and gets taken in as a stray. Andrew moved to Atlantic City for a better life with his son Tony, but with new work pressure, discovering that his son is being bullied and a mysterious stray cat he is struggling to cope. Striking up a relationship isn’t something that Jim is sure he wants but the more he learns about Andrew and Tony the more he wants to know, but Jim has some hard choices to make… like is he ready to be an instant daddy.
I really enjoyed this story and thought that it was well written, the storyline was good, and it didn’t downplay the effects kids can have on a relationship. Jim and Andrew are great characters and we get a good feel for both of them, Tony is a delightful child that seemed very real in his behavior and added greatly to the story, the secondary characters were good with two of them being woven into the storyline very well. The underlying bigotry was a surprise to all but the prejudice against gays was one the characters were expecting to an extent, the bullying of Tony was well handled but breaks your heart for the suffering he goes through.
The relationship between Jim and Andrew is good but I felt like it was moving too quickly especially with a child involved, I felt it should have been more developed and they had known each other longer before Jim was considered as parent material. The shifter aspect was good but we didn’t learn much about it and I would have liked more of an explanation, like an in-depth discussion with Andrew about it other than just a little shock and easy acceptance. The sex between Jim and Andrew is hot and has a slight kinky twist, which I thoroughly enjoyed!
I will recommend this to those who love easy shifter stories, interracial relationships, supporting partners, facing bigotry and prejudice, accepting love and a very happy ending.
Blurb: Stumbling into Xavier’s cabin in the middle of a snowstorm is the perfect mistake Russell’s life needs.
Russell Heter takes his best friend Keith up on his offer to take a much-needed vacation up in the mountains of Wyoming. Having just obtained his degree in Child Psychology, Russell is due some rest and a big graduation present. After buying an SUV much too big for his small frame, Russell heads off to the mountains, only to have his new vehicle break down in the blinding snow. Trekking through the snow to the cabin, Russell collapses inside and finds himself staring down the barrel of a shotgun, held by Xavier Edmond.
Xavier is the former mayor of Atlanta, released amid controversy when pictures were released of him having an affair…with another man. Xavier escaped to Wyoming in shame. He’s become bitter and closed off, spending his days missing his children and his nights wishing for someone to love. So when the snow prevents Russell from leaving his cabin, Xavier finds himself wondering if Russell might just be the man, he’s been waiting for.
Review: There are a chock load of mistakes in this book. Russell makes a mistake by buying too much car. Xavier makes a series of mistakes in denying his sexuality, getting involved with the wrong man and then cheating on his wife. Those are all basic mistakes. But the perfect mistake is actually how Russell ends up in the wrong cabin with Xavier and these two men who have no way to logically make a future together realize that what they share trapped in the snow might be a route to happiness.
Xavier is a man tortured by his past and the mistakes he’s made so he’s retreated to the wilderness to lick his wounds and hide from the world. He is ashamed of who he is and what he’s done. Russell is a man just starting out in life and while he can see Xavier’s mistakes, he doesn’t judge the man for it. Instead, whenever he can help he does and that makes him a valuable part of what might begin Xavier’s healing process.
The reader cannot quite see the path that Xavier and Russell will travel, but that does not seem to be the author’s aim. The story ends with a plethora of possibilities that the men could explore which would mimic real life; and, as such, the ending makes the story even that more intriguing as the reader wonders… “Well, what now?” Even with its cliffhanger ending, the story does not disappoint. Good read.
Blurb: Home for the holidays, Don meets Trevor, all he’d ever hoped for in a man. With no intention of starting a relationship, would Don let Trevor be everything he wanted this holiday season?
Donald Bradley is home for the holidays when he meets Trevor Oxford. He is everything he could ask for in a man, but Don has no intention of having any type of relationship with him. Two hundred miles was too far away to even consider it. Trevor is confident and aggressive each time Don encounters him, not hiding his interest at all. Will Don accept what Trevor has to offer, giving him what he really wanted this holiday season and forever?
CONTENT ADVISORY: This title is a significantly expanded and re-edited re-release title.
Review: Bradley came home for the month of December while his apartment is being fixed. He works long hours then sleeps so he has no time for a relationship even though he runs an online dating service. This is his busy season with the holidays so he is throwing himself in his work. His Mom and sister want him to slow down and enjoy life and has a very special Christmas gift lined up for him.
This is one of those cute stories that make you feel good. We all need a family that gives such hot, sexy Christmas gifts.
I loved both Donald and Travis. Donald is an overachiever that uses his job as an excuse to avoid real life. I really related to him. Travis is outgoing and goes for what he wants with no holds barred. They complement each other well. I liked that the characters are unique, Donald being colour-blind and I liked that the story is also bi-racial. I would have liked more of Donald’s disability worked into the story. I loved Donald’s mom. She added a cute touch of humour and Donald’s sister added a touch of realism.
I did find it a bit odd that Travis ends up in Donald’s bedroom while Donald is sleeping, without them really having been out, but sometimes we just need a good book full of hot sex and this is one of them. The dream scenes; especially the one at the beginning are smoking hot. WOW!!!
If you like a short holiday story that is hot and fun to read this is for you!
Blurb: Daryl Maven and Adam Rossi are comfortable in their relationship, but they can’t agree on whether to marry. Daryl, a law student who teaches college English part-time, wants to wait until gay marriage is recognized in their home state. Adam, also a student, doesn’t want to wait for any reason before making that ultimate commitment.
Everything changes when Daryl is brutally assaulted. Withdrawn and paranoid, he becomes so fixated on finding his attacker that his obsession threatens his bond with Adam. Adam’s commitment will truly be tested as he endeavors to support Daryl, but unless Daryl heals his emotional wounds, their relationship—marriage or not—can’t survive.
Review: Daryl Maven is a full-time law student and part-time teacher. He’s in a committed relationship with his long time boyfriend, Adam. They’ve talked about marriage, but Daryl has always found a reason not to take that step. After a heartfelt conversation with his mom, Daryl decides to propose to Adam. Of course he says yes, but he has to know why the change of heart. Before they can have a much-needed conversation, someone breaks into their home while Adam is at work and Daryl is asleep, completely violating Daryl in every way possible.
This was a hard one to read, I’ll warn you now. All be it was brief, the attack was still described in slightly vivid detail. And when Adam finds Daryl, oh my god, my heart was breaking for them. For Daryl for what he’d been through and for Adam as his heart was breaking for the man he loved. It doesn’t dominate the story, what does is the after affects the attack has not only both men as individuals, but as a couple as well. Daryl was already struggling with some things and the attack only compounds his struggle and morphs it into guilt, and he has nothing to feel guilty about!
Blurb:Excelling at the game he loved was everything to King, until Lukas showed him at first touch how much better his life could be… Ewansiha ‘King’ Kroenig is at the pinnacle of his professional football career, even with a problem knee. He keeps his cool and keeps his head down, and that control has served him well. King is bisexual and has been known to date beautiful women, while he also occasionally satisfies his craving for men with the team’s trainer. It’s a good life, but starting with one bizarre and personal request from his ex, Silvia, his orderly life goes spinning out of control.
Lukas has no problem admitting he’s gay, but with a loudly homophobic team captain, he knows better than to go there around the team. He has his whole career ahead of him and is being groomed to take over for their star player, King Kroenig. If he admires King for more than his athletic prowess, what can it hurt?
No harm, no foul…until a certain trainer who knows them both well decides to play matchmaker, then all bets are off. And once they’ve experienced that first taste, they want more. But it’s not as simple as hooking up or dating when you’re team-mates, with high profiles and little privacy. And when they each suddenly gain responsibilities they never expected, they must figure out a way to reconcile their personal lives with the expectations of others.
Review: Let’s start by saying that as an American when I hear football, I think of our version of it. Not the football most of the rest of the world plays. And this book is about the version the rest of the world plays. The references to the football are generic enough for non-sports people to understand most of.
I love how the authors have addressed homophobia that still exists within the world of sports, professional sports especially. King Kroenig is actually bi-sexual, always having one of the world’s most beautiful women on his arm. He keeps the need for the occasional man well hidden. He knows that most of his team just wouldn’t understand and he’s afraid of what it would do to his career if that knowledge came out. While the team’s trainer Sergio is gay, nothing is ever confirmed so the team doesn’t seem to have a real problem with it. King and Sergio have scratched each other’s itches on occasions unknown to the team. However, King has his eye on a teammate; too bad, he can’t do anything about it.
Teammate Lukas is gay; he and Sergio have also scratched a few itches between them. Therefore, Sergio reads Lukas’ lusting from afar after King. But Lukas believes the man is straight, so from afar is all it’s ever going to be. Also, he doesn’t want to deal with the ugliness that would happen if his homophobe Captain found out he was gay. So, nothing is ever going to happen unless Lukas gets a little help from his friendly know everyone’s secrets team trainer. Which Sergio is more than happy to set up for them.
Added complications arise when one of King’s ex-girlfriends want him to make a donation to expand the numbers of her family with her steady girlfriend. Also added to the mix also it the teen kid Lukas rescue from the gay club the guys go to and takes him home. Lukas is going to let the kid stay as long as he needs to or forever he hopes.
Things become a mixed up mess between the set up of King and Lukas, a needy teenage boy, sperm donations, an ex-girlfriend and her ladylove, a gay trainer, homophobic teammates, camera phone pictures and injuries. It’s a fun mix to read and sort though. I loved the characters or most of them anyway. This was a great read, very enjoyable for me a sports fan.
Blurb: Anderson “Andy” Hartley Jr. lives the life of a playboy with Daddy’s money, but without love. If his father finds out Andy’s gay, the game’s over. So he restricts his sex life to the pool house and seems content until he meets the gorgeous new groundskeeper, who just might turn his life upside-down. Merrick “Maverick” Washington is African-American, an ex-SEAL, and recently released from prison after his false conviction was overturned. Working for a rich white dude who looks down his nose at him is one more blow to his spirit. But any job is a step toward self-sufficiency, and Maverick’s not willing to risk that for a spoiled brat. Then Andy tugs at more than Maverick’s body, and he’s starting to wonder how things would shake out if they both overcame their fears and let their worlds collide.
Review: Andy Hartley leads a life of decadence and privilege. After his moms death his already strained relationship with his father only got worse. He avoids his father whenever possible and keeps the truth about his sexuality from him for fear of being cut off and kicked out. He keeps his secret well confining his trysts to the pool house, well out of his father’s range, until Merrick comes along.
Merrick is a gay, African-American, ex navy seal and alleged ex con. He’s out of prison with his conviction overturned but still, no one will hire him. When a friend gets him a job, as the grounds keeper for influential Anderson Hartley, he jumps at the chance. Andy doesn’t hide his attraction to Merrick, but he’s scared to risk the first paying job he has found for the spoiled rich kid. Soon enough though, the mutual attraction takes over. When Andy’s father notices and confronts them, Andy doesn’t deny anything and his worst fears are realized.
As the story progresses Andy and Merrick grow closer and fight through their inner demons and personal doubt to maintain their relationship. A couple of twists and turns along the way give them both unexpected financial stability as well. Andy has fallen completely in love with Merrick. But when he says those three little words will his heart be broken if Merrick doesn’t feel the same?
Duchene and Cassatta have managed to write a love story where there is struggle, loss, and uncertainty from the ML without adding any angst! None! Zip, zilch, nada. This story is about two grown ass gay men that each has a little doubt for one reason or another if their relationship will work. The story is conveyed well and kept completely on the adult playing field, I loved it! When these two get going in the bedroom it is passionate and sensual. Andy has always been the one in control and he quickly learns that Merrick has a controlling side, and it turns him on even more.
This is a must read for us hopeless romantics! Two gorgeous alpha males falling in love and figuring out how to keep it together and keep it real. Oh, right, there is a HEA as well… Bonus!!
Blurb: Tyrel Uvieras, a bodyguard serving the Union of planetary governments, has been assigned his most interesting charge yet: Verithe Jerrith, Union’s ambassador to what might be the most cursed planet in the galaxy. Something distinctly unsavory surrounds Corrina, whose first contact with Union space came through the stolen equipment of a stranded spaceship. Yet, Union policy requires an answer to the Corrinans’ request for negotiations. The best they can do is sending a well-prepared diplomatic party—if it’s possible to prepare for what they find on the planet’s surface.
Tyrel and Verithe discover a mutual attraction, though Tyrel also thinks Verithe perhaps too lighthearted given their dire mission and certainly too gentle—like a thornless rose—to survive long in a dangerous world without protection. Tyrel tries to provide that protection, but the two men are captured in what is just the beginning of their descent into barbarity and treachery. They will be called upon to make unbelievable sacrifices and confront the “curse” of Corrina that brings out people’s darkest desires, endangering sanity and soul. Even their feelings for each other might not give them the strength to endure.
Review: Tyrel is a bodyguard and has been assigned his newest charge, an ambassador who is assigned the task of negotiating with a primitive planet. Verithe is an ambassador for the Union of planetary governments; he is heading for negotiations with Corrina, a planet, which is called, cursed. Verithe and Tyrel find themselves stranded on the planet’s surface and fighting for their lives, but the one thing they don’t fight is their attraction to each other. Tyrel wonders how Verithe will manage such a hostile territory with his lighthearted and gentle nature and Verithe wonders if Tyrel will be able to ignore the seductive pull of the violence and danger.
This is a great science fiction story that takes us on a journey to a primitive world where only the strongest survive. Verithe is heading to the cursed planet Corrina after they demanded negotiations, not knowing what they face but knowing already what the Union has decided. Tyrel has one job and that is to keep Verithe safe, unfortunately keeping him safe proves harder than he thought when the Corrinan’s aren’t happy with the way negotiations are going. The two men survive by sheer will and a survivor from a previous expedition, after they are betrayed by one of their own, now they just have to wait for rescue and pray that it comes in time.
This story is wonderfully written; it gives us enough back-story so we aren’t left in the dark over what they are facing on the planet and lets us know that their time on the planet isn’t going to be easy. Verithe seems like a gentle soul and although he doesn’t like violence accepts that sometimes it is the only way. Tyrel is a character that is harsher; he will do what must be done but sometimes loses himself to the violence. Both characters coming together balance each other out and Tyrel sees the steel running through Verithe and Verithe helps to keep Tyrel tempered. Their sexual relationship is very hot, but at first came out of nowhere when they were still in a very precarious position, it was also a shock because although there was vague murmurs about attraction there wasn’t any indication that it was that strong.
I loved the way Corrina was portrayed as a primitive violent place where you could easily let your inner dark side take over, letting yourself be seduced by the darker undertones of survival of the strongest. I liked how Verithe somehow managed to keep Tyrel leashed and how Tyrel loved the more easygoing Verithe. This is a really good storyline that is original and has plenty of action; it has a love developing in horrid conditions and has friendships emerging with the less violent Corrinan’s.
I recommend this if you love science fiction, primitive planets and inhabitants, strong characters, hot sex, action and danger and a very satisfying ending.
Blurb: Growing up in a foster home in a small Midwest town, Sean Whitcomb planned from the day he turned sixteen to somehow escape. And he does to the big city of Des Moines at a lawyer’s firm. Now up for a shot at a partnership, he needs to deliver the goods, and it’s not what he thinks. No, it’s a family style meal for the founding partners and their spouses. Which causes Sean a major issue, because not only is he a single gay man, but he can’t cook to save his life, and his boss is expecting a home cooked meal — complete with a family or there will be no partnership offer.
In desperation, Sean turns to the man he left behind in his pursuit of the golden ring, Isaiah Waterston. Not only is Isaiah hot enough to still turn Sean’s crank but he’s also a world-class chef at one of the hottest eateries in town. Now all he has to do is convince the man he’d left behind to give him a single night of his time, prepare a mouth-watering meal, and pretend to be his lover for a few hours. Sounds easy right? Well it is until Isaiah attaches his own stipulation –an entire weekend with Sean at his mercy.
Review: Short, Sexy and Steamy……………. MY THREE FAVORITE COLORS!
Sean Whitcomb is up for a promotion at his law firm, the test is a dinner for the bosses with his partner to prove his family values. Sean could burn water, but his ex lover Isaiah is a world-class chef, so he calls in a favor. Isaiah Waterston has never gotten over the betrayal he felt when Sean left him to pursue his career ten years ago. So when Sean asks him to pretend to be his lover for the weekend and cook a meal for the bosses, Isaiah is hesitant. He makes an asinine comment about topping Sean in exchange for his help, and immediately regrets it when Sean agrees.
Dinner is a huge success as is dessert that consists of Sean laid out naked on the dining room table for Isaiah’s tasty treat. The two spend a whirlwind, sex filled weekend together and Sean is more than eager to make his pasts mistakes right. But Isaiah is not buying it and leaves while Sean sleeps and to add salt to the wound, he doesn’t return his texts or calls. Can Sean convince Isaiah that he still loves him, he’s changed, and he’d give up everything he’s worked ten years to build for another chance with him? Or was one last hoorah all Isaiah was in this for?
I have a newfound fascination with interracial M/M novels and novellas, and Dessert did not disappoint! A fast, fun read with some jaw dropping sticky sex on the table that involves bananas and ice cream. The story centers around the present situation with Sean trying to get his lover back, attempting to make up for past mistakes. But there’s enough of the past and their individual current lives sprinkled in to add a little depth to the story. If you’re looking for a quick read that ends with a cold shower, this is the book for you! J
Blurb: The Top End of Australia—a tropical paradise filled with beauty. Wonder. Danger.
For two young boys growing up in the Northern Territory—half-Aboriginal Jarrah “Jad” Yindi and his best friend Luke Lawson—the remote beaches and aqua waters of the Top End are a playground of adventure. And as two best friends become young men, true love washes over them like the sea upon the sand.
But life is full of challenges and change, and if Jad is to discover who he really is, he must piece together his ancestral past, his dream-filled present and his uncertain future to become the man he was always destined to be.
Through water and fire; through love and loss; through the days of youth to the stories of the world’s oldest living culture, journey across the heart of Australia—
—to discover what’s in the heart of one young man.
Review: This story was simple but beautiful. Erotic but tasteful and well worth the read!
Jad and Luke have been best friends since they were children in their exquisite community by the ocean in Australia. They swim with dolphins, dive for pearls and live life to the fullest. As they grow up to together they form a bond and a love for one another that is unmistakable and unbreakable. But they graduate and go off to college soon and Jad is leaving for Sydney to go to medical school. Absence makes the heart grow fonder though, right?
While at school Jad meets Brandon, a fellow med student who is also gay. Struggling with being away from his home, family and Luke; Jad is confused with his feelings for Brandon. He loves Luke and he’s only ever wanted to be with him. But there is an undeniable attraction to Brandon. When a call comes that Luke has gone missing, Jad is on the first plane back home to find his friend, and lover? Still confused with his feelings, Jad has to decide between his dream of being a doctor and travelling the world helping people, going back to Brandon. Or staying where he knows in his heart he belongs, with Luke.
The Pearl is a beautiful and emotional coming of age story with one hell of a background. The land and the culture are just as much a part of the story as Jad’s journey through life. He’s always surrounded by love. Be it from his family, Luke or Brandon. There was never a transition from Jad and Luke as friends to Jad and Luke as lovers, it was seamless. And when they finally come together one night on the beach they’ve grown up on, it’s absolutely perfect. Luke gives Jad his pearl he got that day during their dive. Jad carries that pearl with him through everything from that day forward. They come full circle years later on that beach, with each other and the pearl.
This is a must read for my fellow lovers of romance. There are some emotionally charged, sexy guy on guy scenes as well, bonus!
Blurb: A corrupt and abusive cop, a wrongful arrest, and a determined detective, will corruption win out, or will justice prevail.
Thomas Andrews had a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and this time he ended up where he never wanted to be. Behind bars and the victim of a corrupt cop. Detective Gabriel Morgan had been investigating an officer who had a history of wrongful arrests and abusive questioning techniques. Seeing a bloody Thomas in the holding cell, Gabriel decided to do everything he could to save him. Will Thomas be able to risk his life and place his trust in another officer of the law or will he decide that enough is enough?
Review: Thomas hasn’t had much luck and a night out with workmates proves that his luck is getting worse, as if being ignored by his workmates and having a tray of drinks spilt on him isn’t enough, being pulled over by a corrupt cop and locked up is a nightmare. Gabriel has been investigating an officer who has shady arrests and lots of injured prisoners. Passing a bloody Thomas in a holding cell has Gabriel trying to help him. Thomas and Gabriel also discover an attraction between them but will either get the courage to admit the truth to the other.
This is a great little story of finding love and weeding out police corruption. Thomas was minding his own business doing nothing wrong when he is targeted by a police officer, but when Gabriel helps Thomas out Thomas ends up the victim of vengeance and Gabriel must protect him. Thomas is a very meek character; he expects to be treated like crap and just accepts the bad treatment. Gabriel wants to protect those that have been treated badly and takes Thomas under his wing. Both men find it hard to ask for what they want and Thomas pushes a confrontation to get to the truth.
Both these characters are well suited and fit together perfectly, after the investigation into the corrupt police officer is over and Thomas is no longer in danger they fall into an easy friendship with both of the wanting more. I loved how they got to know each other before they have the blowout over their attraction; you could see how well they fit together before hot sex is brought into the picture. The corrupt police officer storyline is a little bit out there but it is done well and gives the story an edge of danger, it snowballs very quickly but is the catalyst of getting Thomas and Gabriel together quickly.
I recommend this is you like dangerous police, an innocent hurt, developing love, hot sex and a great start to an interesting perfect relationship.
