Hi guys, we have J.M. Dabney & Davidson King stopping by today with the tour for their new release The Hunt, we have a great new excerpt, a fantastic $10 Amazon GC giveaway and Lisa’s review so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
The Hunt
by
J.M. Dabney & Davidson King
Disgraced detective turned private investigator, Ray Clancy, left the force with a case unsolved. Finding the killer was no longer his problem, but it still haunted him. How long would he survive the frustration of not knowing before he gave into the compulsion of his nature to solve the crime?
Server, Andrew Shay, existed where he didn’t feel he belonged, living behind the guise of a costume. Yet it paid the bills, and he refused to complain about the little things in life. One night he returned home from work to find his roommate dead and the killer still there. Afraid and alone, his life spiraled and he didn’t know what to do. Could a detective at his core and a scared young man join forces to bring down the killer in their midst?
Hi guys, we have D.J. Jamison stopping by today with the her new release Buyers Remorse. We have a great excerpt and a brilliant $10 Amazon GC giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway!❤ ~Pixie~
Buyers Remorse
(Real Estate Relations 02)
by
D.J. Jamison
Will love persevere when the truth comes out?
Lee
I changed my name, but I can’t change what I did. My brothers died, and I spent three years in witness protection. Returning to Fields, where I once hid out, feels right. Seeing Miguel again feels even better. But when a dead body interrupts my tour of a building for sale, my start isn’t as fresh as I’d like.
Miguel
I’ve been trying to curb my habit of leaping into bad relationships, but when Lee comes back to town, he’s hard to resist. Kids are dying, and life’s too short to shy away from a good thing. But will Lee’s mysterious past come back to bite me?
Between police questioning and trials of trust, it’s far from smooth sailing. If we don’t figure out who’s selling synthetic drugs and convince the police Lee is not their man, we may all have a severe case of buyer’s remorse.
Buyer’s Remorse includes hurt/comfort, second-chance romance, and mystery themes.
Blurb: .China. A land of ancient wonders. A history of tradition, triumph and tyranny. As it casts a shadow across the entire globe, this once forbidden country awakens as the dominant force in a new world economy.
Business empires will rise, deals will be made, lives will be lost as money changes hands, but one treasure will remain the most precious in all of China: a diamond known as the Eye of Fucanglong, the Dragon God of lost jewels and buried treasures. The diamond is flawless. It is priceless. It is cursed. And it is about to be stolen in the heist of the century.
Can Professor Fathom’s team of gay adventure-seekers find the diamond before this perfectly executed crime leads to a cataclysmic event of mass destruction?
From the towers of Hong Kong to the diamond mines of Shandong; from the streets of San Francisco to the deserts of Dubai to the male strip clubs of Beijing; from China’s mystical past, to the boardrooms and backrooms of a modern industrial giant, take the high road to China and join in the sizzling action and page-turning adventure of The Curse of the Dragon God.
Review: The gang is on the case of a missing flawless diamond that is cursed. This adventure the gang through several different amazing cities while on the hunt. I found it to be a lively action packed adventurous tale that left me on the edge of my seat.
There are as always lots of sexy times to be had while in the midst of searching and danger. There is simply too much that happens to put it all in a review. But need less to say it was a very enjoyable read.
I loved how the story progressed and did not slow down until the end. These stories are a joy to read as the professor and his team make strides in each case they are given.
Series: Turquoise, New Mexico 01 / Dreamspun Desires 53
Author: BA Tortuga
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, Western
Length: Novel (232 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts
Blurb:Once upon a time, a prince lived in a magical kingdom called Turquoise, New Mexico.
Well, really, TJ is a small-town police chief. Every Friday he holds court in the diner with the local holy roller, the art colonists, and the horsey people. But the Benes, who own the rodeo company, keep to themselves. TJ knows, because he was once hot and heavy with the oldest Bene son. When Wacey Bene gets trampled by a remuda and comes home to heal, he’s none too happy to run into TJ, or his two little boys and their momma. The story might end there—if it wasn’t for some pesky bastard trying to kill Wacey.
The law steps in, and the townsfolk are cross about somebody messing with one of their own. But once the bad guy is put away, can TJ and Wacey make their place in this wild and eccentric town a permanent one?
Review: I’m fast becoming a fan of BA Tortuga, particularly her cowboy/western novels. Because seriously, if it’s not a firefighter, cop, military man, then a story about a hot but flawed cowboy is just wonderful. Tortuga also usually does justice to a story with at least one cute kid as well (I think my favorite is still Two Cowboys and A Baby). So basically, if you like any of these things, you’ll at least enjoy the book, because despite my opinions I did enjoy the story overall.
Cowboy in the Crosshairs is the first book a new series called Turquoise, New Mexico. The story is about cowboy Wacey Bene. He’s been away from his family’s ranch on the rodeo circuit for ten years after having his heart broken when he was barely out of high school. The boy that broke his heart was TJ. He is now the police chief, but ten years before he was a confused young man who was scared of coming out of the closet and somewhere along the way in the past ten years also decided that he needed to marry a woman so he could have a family. TJ now has two cute little boys and an ex-wife he is good friends with, despite divorcing because he finally was able to come out of the closet to her. These guys need to get over past hurts, as well as TJ needing to help Wacey avoid being injured or killed by some mystery person.
I’ve got some really mixed feelings about this book. I liked the main plot points and as already stated, I enjoy Tortuga’s writing. The characters are good and for the most the story is well-paced.
My issue with this book comes down to the fact that I feel that the story was too glossy – as in it didn’t feel like there was a lot of detail in the main plot points. Furthermore, I also had an issue with how these guys treated each other with disdain at first, and to some extent some miscommunication. It was like they were still a couple of children. They were foolish young men ten years before and had a lot of growing up to do before they could truly be together. Also, it felt like the mystery of who was out to get Wacey was kind shoved in for a bit more drama. I suppose in this sense at least we know the guys do grow up in the end and get their HEA.
Regardless of my feelings of the plot, I do look forward to more stories in the series.
Blurb: The clock is ticking! Blackmailed by Jake’s nemesis – the vengeful Pierre Perron – Professor Fathom’s team of five horny gay adventurers is sent on a seemingly impossible mission to uncover the legendary Riddle of the Sands in order to save one of their own from a rare and deadly poison.
But what is the Riddle of the Sands? Where are the long-lost clues and hidden maps that can lead to its whereabouts? Is it a myth, a mirage, or the greatest engineering feat in the history of ancient Egypt? From the icy plains of Siberia to the shadowy bathhouses of Cairo, from the scorching valley of the Nile to the heart of the Amazon jungle, readers join these hunks — treasure-hunter Jake, Brazilian biologist Eden, Texas cowboy Shane, art expert Luca, and quarterback Will — in a search that blends nonstop action and high-octane sex!.
Review: The professor and his team are back in this fast paced, action packed sequel. Lots of steamy action to be had as well. There is a lot going on as it was non stop from start to finish. I loved all the mystery and heart stopping moments that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
The mysteries were well written and engaging. The details of the scenes made me feel as though I was actually there witnessing the events as they unfolded. The characters all had roles to play and they did an amazing job at it.
Hi guys, we have J.M. Dabney & Davidson King stopping by today with their new release The Hunt, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
The Hunt
by
J.M. Dabney & Davidson King
Disgraced detective turned private investigator, Ray Clancy, left the force with a case unsolved. Finding the killer was no longer his problem, but it still haunted him. How long would he survive the frustration of not knowing before he gave into the compulsion of his nature to solve the crime?
Server, Andrew Shay, existed where he didn’t feel he belonged, living behind the guise of a costume. Yet it paid the bills, and he refused to complain about the little things in life. One night he returned home from work to find his roommate dead and the killer still there. Afraid and alone, his life spiraled and he didn’t know what to do. Could a detective at his core and a scared young man join forces to bring down the killer in their midst?
Hi guys, we have D.J. Jamison stopping by today with the cover for her upcoming release Buyers Remorse.Full Disclosure is on sale for a limited time (it’s FREE!), and we have a brilliant $5 Amazon GC giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Buyers Remorse
(Real Estate Relations 02)
by
D.J. Jamison
Will love persevere when the truth comes out?
Lee
I changed my name, but I can’t change what I did. My brothers died, and I spent three years in witness protection. Returning to Fields, where I once hid out, feels right. Seeing Miguel again feels even better. But when a dead body interrupts my tour of a building for sale, my start isn’t as fresh as I’d like.
Miguel
I’ve been trying to curb my habit of leaping into bad relationships, but when Lee comes back to town, he’s hard to resist. Kids are dying, and life’s too short to shy away from a good thing. But will Lee’s mysterious past come back to bite me?
Between police questioning and trials of trust, it’s far from smooth sailing. If we don’t figure out who’s selling synthetic drugs and convince the police Lee is not their man, we may all have a severe case of buyer’s remorse.
Buyer’s Remorse includes hurt/comfort, second-chance romance, and mystery themes.
Blurb: Somewhere in the world is a statue so sinful that a secret sect of the Church wants it destroyed at any cost. Somewhere in the Turkish desert, in the streets of London, and in the depths of Venice, are the clues to find it. And, somewhere in the hearts of five sexy, daring, thrill-seeking gay men, is the courage and die-hard determination to unravel one of the greatest mysteries of all time.
Meet Luca da Roma, an Italian model and expert in art, both ancient and modern; Dr. Eden Santiago, Brazilian biologist, physician and genetic engineer; Shane Houston, a Texas cowboy and an expert in cartography; Will Hunter, a San Diego college student and football star, majoring in ancient history; and Jake Stone, an adventurer-for-hire from New York and the newest member of Professor Fathom’s team of hot gay adventure seekers.
Together, they are Fathom’s Five, traveling the world, solving ancient mysteries, uncovering priceless treasures, and getting into hot, sticky and sexy situations, while thwarting danger at every turn! From Venice to Vienna, from Tuscany to Turkey, from the South Pacific to the seas off Sicily, join in the heroic adventures, hunky sex and hot, high-octane action of Fathom’s Five.
Review: Wow, this book was a fantastic read. It felt similar to the Indiana Jones movies. Action packed adventure and suspense with some very skilled sexy men. This book travels all over the world as the characters are treasure hunters. The different cities were breathtaking. The sex was hot and steamy though there wasn’t a lot of it.
The characters are Luca de Roma, an Italian model, Dr. Eden Santiago, Brazilian Biologist, Shane Houston, cowboy, Will Hunter, college student, Jake Stone, adventurer. These guys were amazing and had me wishing I was with them as the traveled.
I really liked that each of the five were introduced and that their skills and background were included. The characters seemed to come alive as the story progressed leaving the reader wanting more and more. You will be holding your breath, gasping, and sitting on the edge of your seat throughout.
Can’t wait to see what happens next. Simply an amazing book that definitely should be read. I loved it.
Blurb: They must work together to stop a psychopath—and save each other.
Two months ago Jackson Rivers got shot while trying to save Ellery Cramer’s life. Not only is Jackson still suffering from his wounds, the triggerman remains at large—and the body count is mounting.
Jackson and Ellery have been trying to track down Tim Owens since Jackson got out of the hospital, but Owens’s time as a member of the department makes the DA reluctant to turn over any stones. When Owens starts going after people Jackson knows, Ellery’s instincts hit red alert. Hurt in a scuffle with drug-dealing squatters and trying damned hard not to grieve for a childhood spent in hell, Jackson is weak and vulnerable when Owens strikes.
Jackson gets away, but the fallout from the encounter might kill him. It’s not doing Ellery any favors either. When a police detective is abducted—and Jackson and Ellery hold the key to finding her—Ellery finds out exactly what he’s made of. He’s not the corporate shark who believes in winning at all costs; he’s the frightened lover trying to keep the man he cares for from self-destructing in his own valor.
Review: Jackson survived being shot by a mad man, but it would seem that there is still one out to get him. He was living with Ellery but always seemed to have one foot out the door. They had been searching for the serial killer and it was going in so many directions. People were ending up dead and someone was using his house. He just couldn’t seem to get a break. Here is a guy looking for a way out, always saying that living with Ellery was temporary and acting like an ass most of the time. However he has met his match.
Ellery knows Jackson like the back of his hand. He loves the man and is willing to wait. He is also as stubborn as Jackson is. He just needed to find the man responsible for coming for them. The man who wants Jackson and will kill anyone near him to get him, that is the man Ellery wants to go down. These two are as different as night and day, but it seems to work in their way.
It leads us into what is going to happen next. The characters are definitely not cheerful and fun, but they are good together. Although Jackson definitely doesn’t see himself that way. He is about as cuddly as his demon cat, so to speak. It is a very long drawn out story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is definitely one of those stories that will have you guessing. It is an energy packed story. However there were also a lot of things that I saw or heard that doesn’t work right for the story. For one there was why a defense firm would waste so many resources and time on a case that would not get them ahead. Here they have a man who does the investigating for them only to turn around and defend them, just seems a bit off. It does have some great secondary characters that make the story rock even more.
I was and still am not a big fan of these stories. I am not saying that they are not absolutely wonderful stories, but one has to be in the mindset with them. It was such a long book and it lost my attention in some parts. I tend to read series that don’t focus on only one couple. They seem to loose something the longer they go on with the same main couple, but this author makes it turn out pretty good. Although this is just book two, so we will see how the next books work for them. The plot is complex and sometimes a bit hard to follow. There is also quite a bit of action, suspense, danger and some hot sexy times in them.
I can’t see myself reading this story more than once and I hate to say it the first book didn’t stick with me, so I went into this book blind. Most say to read them in order, but I didn’t have any problems with this book. Overall this book was very good and the characters were pretty amazing. I would definitely recommend it.
Series: Dreamspun Beyond 11 / The Men from GLEN 01
Author: Alix Bekins and Connie Bailey
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery, Suspense
Length: Novel (218 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (2nd January 2018)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts
Blurb: So-called monsters won’t hold these spies back!
For two secret agents on a mission to a secluded Romanian village, the toughest fight they face may not be against the folktale monsters lurking in the foggy mountains and old ruins, but against their unlikely attraction to each other.
Keller Key is the top operative at the covert Global Law Enforcement Network—and boy does he know it. Sexy half-Ukrainian, half-Korean Sevastyan Song is a close second. When the agents go undercover to investigate an old friend’s suspicious death, it soon becomes clear something sinister is afoot in the ancient forest and decrepit abbey. If an evil organization doesn’t spell the end of them, the angry locals might. But if they’re going to conquer their enemies, they need to keep their hands off each other and their minds on the case, in a rivals-to-lovers paranormal mash-up that gives new meaning to spy-on-spy action.
Review: Alix Bekins is a new author for me, while I am somewhat familiar with Connie Bailey’s work, although I can’t say I’ve read much of the author’s work either. Needless to say, I felt like I was going into this book blind, which I like to think is a good thing. The blurb had me excited, a good old fashioned spy agency and throw in some paranormal creatures. It had me excited.
Bailey cited that in this new series, The Men from GLEN she was paying homage to The Man from UNCLE. I watched some of that show with my mum after realizing Ducky from NCIS was in it and I have to say, that ramped up my excitement too. My next pop culture reference for this is Archer. The book’s title, Song and Key, had me thinking of British crime shows (e.g. Rosemary and Thyme, Shakespeare and Hathaway, or stealing from Doctor Who the joke name for a duo Sparrow and Nightingale). Obviously, all of my reference points are miles apart from each other and I think that kept with an open mind of what to expect with the mystery/suspense part of the plot.
Song and Key are Keller Key and Sevastyan Song (aka Seva) who are the top agents for the secret organization Global Law Enforcement Network. I found it intriguing to have a half-Ukranian and half-Korean character (Song), it had me intrigued from the start, it’s not a mix of cultures I’d heard of before in fiction and wondered how the two cultures would be blended for Seva.
Keller is a player and he lives life, both professionally and personally, on the edge. He is the exact opposite of his very professional partner. Seva likes to annoy Keller by faking bad English. From the start, it’s clear that, Keller sees Seva as a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. They’re kinda like enemies to lovers, but they’re enemies that work on the same team.
The story is set up quite efficiently, as we see our heroes sent to Romania on a mission to solve the mystery of how an ex colleague, a Welshman with little knowledge of the Romanian language who only lived there for love, ends up dead and had written a letter in an ancient Romanian language that hasn’t been used in over a thousand years. The mystery has a few clues set up from the beginning, so I found it easy to find what direct the authors were wanting to steer the reader. I don’t want to give too much away, but this is a slick mystery with action and hilarious banter between the MCs. The sexual chemistry is so obvious from the banter, it has to be my favorite part of the story.
The only criticism I have to offer is that this isn’t really a paranormal novel, or at least not one that I’m used to. Here the paranormal element is just background to all the spy games going on in the forefront. However, in saying that I do love how, despite the added romance, The Men from GLEN really do keep their Man From UNCLE inspiration. And for me that made all the fun.
Blurb:Serving with the elite anti-terrorism task force known as Shadow Unit, Sergeants Connor Finley and Shawn Weller have faced arms dealers, drug lords, terrorists, rogue CIA agents and biological weapons. But with the unconditional support of their team, and more importantly, their love for one another, they possess the strength to survive any challenge.
But how do you fight an enemy you can’t see? When a mission in Sierra Leone takes an unexpected turn, Connor and Shawn find themselves under quarantine and in isolation, their lives hanging in the balance between life and death. This time, their team is on the outside, looking in. Have Connor and Shawn finally found themselves in a battle they cannot win?
Review: Connor and Shawn have survived being shot and stabbed, but it looks like a disease just might kill them both. Saving a tribe from a mad man, leads to a kiss on the cheek by a sweet older woman who just happes to have a major disease that doesn’t have a good chance at survival. Now they will have to fight an unseen battle to survive.
This book showed quite a bit of change from the previous books and I must say that it was better then I had expected. I had gone in to it not really wanting to even start it, but I have always finished a complete series without giving up, well mostly. The characters have grown quite a bit and their passion shows in it. The dialog worked better with this book and I was quite surprised by it.
I can’t say that I would read it more than once though. I am not really a fan of series that follow the same characters and there are probably only a few that have written it the way it keeps a readers attention. They still don’t come off the way their past shows them to be. They don’t really come off a military or any other black op members. That doesn’t really do a story if they don’t grow more in their stages of life. The love they have for each other however has grown quite a bit and is more believable then ever.
I am still not a fan of these books and can’t say that I would recommend them. However after this story the author might change my mind. We will just have to wait and see.
Blurb: The hunters become the hunted when the past returns to haunt Sergeants Connor Finley and Shawn Weller with deadly vengeance. In the wake of the harrowing missions in India and Pakistan, Connor struggles to come to terms with causing the accidental death of a child, while Shawn tries to put Julian’s betrayal behind him. Adding to the emotional fallout, new trials arise – the appearance of a young man from Connor’s past turned stalker may have fatal consequences for him, while Shawn must confront his former heroin addiction and break free of the hold it still has on him. The challenges continue when a Shadow Unit undercover op in Bangladesh to shut down the pipeline of terrorists being smuggled into the UK draws Shawn and Connor into a web of lies and deceit from a man hell bent on exacting revenge on the two soldiers – demanding a life for a life. Will Connor and Shawn survive? Or will the jungle become their final resting place?
Review: Connor’s past comes back to haunt him even though it was not his doing. The child of the man who had killed his family wanted revenge. And the brother of his target was also coming for them. Connor and Shawn barely have time to recoup from their last mission to only end up in trouble again.
There is quite a pattern with these stories. There is no shock and no surprise to them. There is no heat to this story nor the guys. There is no passion in the sex scenes which is boring as hell. The guys are not developing the way they should. In fact the story should have excelled from the last two books but there is no change in the way the story is told. It is monotone to the point that one would fall a sleep. I have trouble getting through the story. Now I will admit that this one was a tad bit better then the others but not by much.
I was quite disappointed in this book and have trouble with even wanting to read them. The story feels rushed and dull. There is so much potential but it hurts the heart to see them fail. I am sorry but I doubt that I would bother mentioning to anyone else to read.
Blurb: Shadow Unit may have overturned the illegal arms cartel in Kuala Lumpur, but the harrowing undercover op left emotional scars on Sergeants Shawn Weller and Connor Finley. Slowly, patiently, they piece their partnership back together, closer now than ever before.
Until a new mission threatens to tear them apart.
When Connor accidentally kills a civilian, he questions his job, his abilities, his worth. A timely offer of promotion seems his only way out, even though it means transferring out of Shadow Unit and away from Shawn.
The arrival of Julian Montgomery, Shawn’s former CIA handler and lover, further strains their relationship. Julian knows all of Shawn’s secrets as well as the past Shawn has kept hidden from Connor. Now the self-serving Julian wants Shawn back–with the CIA and with him. No one will get in his way. Including Connor.
When the joint Shadow Unit/CIA mission to stop the supplier of a deadly biological weapon goes sideways, Connor is captured, tortured, and used as a human test subject. It’s a race against time to save his life. But who can Shawn trust?
Review: Recovering from a previous op and now about to set out on a new one. One that brings someone from the past back full force. Shawn’s old lover and boss from the CIA, but he doesn’t trust someone so cold. Then Connor accidentally kills a child when going after his father. It leaves Connor questioning his whole existence. Now they are going after another, and with Julian in the mix things are bound to get well you can guess.
Well at least they were changing who gets hurt in this book. It is about the same characters as in book one. No imagination needed to figure out who the bad guy is and there is no surprises. This book was better with the plot, but it felt like it was just as rushed as the first one. There was absolutely no spark of life coming from the book. The cover was dull and not a bit like the two soldiers who have the past that they do. Shawn believes that Julian is bad news but then he basically drops it in away. The whole story had potential but it failed to deliver.
The story felt very off and dull. I did not connect with the characters and didn’t see any true heat. Even the sex scenes were boring to me. The writing never really changes. I hate to admit that this book was poorly done and did not a thing for me. It will be put in the never to read again column. I truly can’t say if I would recommend this book to anyone. We will see if it gets any better in the next book.
Blurb: Sergeant Connor Finley and Sergeant Shawn Weller are dedicated soldiers working covert ops for Shadow Unit — a joint UK/US anti-terrorism task force.
Partners in the field and out, they had been through hell together for the last four years and made it through standing side by side. But when their latest undercover op to bring down an arms dealer plunges them into a world of drugs, sex and violence, Shawn must literally get in bed with the enemy in order to complete the mission. And Connor is forced to watch, helpless, as his partner is broken into pieces.
Will love be enough to put them both back together or will this be their final mission?
Review: Connor and Shawn were not only teammates but lovers. They were part of an anti-terrorism task force sent in to for the worst. It took them into dangerous situations and could cost them their lives. Although they have not done what is about to be done. Shawn was going to have to get real close and personal with the target.
Even though Shawn gave his conscent for the sex between him and Jae, to me it was still rape. I started reading this before I remembered I have read it once before and ditched the book. It has drug use, which we knew about from the warning on the blurb, so it might be trigger to some. The story did have potential but the way the author took it made the book bottom out for me. It was more drug and sex, then actual story. It felt like you were being dropped into the team without warning. It actually felt like the actual story was just a back drop to what was really going on.
The first thing I noticed was the cover, it doesn’t match the guys at all, so that was a bad sign. Now a drug, arms dealer who deals with death would not take some guy off the streets to back him up, so that was another sign. This book was definitely lacking in background and major information that would lead up into the actual story. Then there is the big boss who is just going to let his man go in there and get high as a kite to get the bad guy, that is a big NO. There was definitely no research done into black ops or at least something believeable. I couldn’t even get a good read on the actual case.
Overall this book is going into my never to read again folder. It was lacking so much to make it a good story. The characters needed a bit more edge to even make them real to me. It did show a true drug addict’s reaction though so I will give that part props. This story felt rushed and not well thought out. I hate to admit that this book was definitely not my kind of book.
Hi peeps! We have Jamie Lynn Miller stopping by today with her Shadow Unit series, we have Lisa’s reviews and a fantastic giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Shadow Unit
(Books 01 – 04)
by
Jamie Lynn Miller
Meet Sergeant Connor Finley and Sergeant Shawn Weller – elite covert ops soldiers with Shadow Unit – a joint UK/US anti-terrorism task force.
Connor and Shawn’s harrowing missions take them across the globe from London to Kuala Lumpur to India to Pakistan to Bangladesh and Sierra Leone. Fighting to stem the flow of ever-increasing terror attacks and to protect innocent civilian lives, they battle arms dealers, drug smugglers, biological weapon threats, and a madman hell-bent on revenge, facing death at every turn. Their private lives are fraught with struggles as well, both Connor and Shawn battling personal demons from their past that threaten their future.
Amidst a backdrop of guns, bloodshed and violence, Connor and Shawn’s love and dedication for one another never wavers, standing resolutely side by side, drawing strength from each other to continue their never-ending fight.
Hi guys! We have Don Travis popping in today with his upcoming release The Lovely Pines, we have a great guest post and a brilliant excerpt, so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~
The Lovely Pines
(BJ Vinson Mystery 04)
by
Don Travis
When Ariel Gonda’s winery, the Lovely Pines, suffers a break-in, the police write the incident off as a prank since nothing was taken. But Ariel knows something is wrong—small clues are beginning to add up—and he turns to private investigator BJ Vinson for help.
BJ soon discovers the incident is anything but harmless. When a vineyard worker—who is also more than he seems—is killed, there are plenty of suspects to go around. But are the two crimes even related? As BJ and his significant other, Paul Barton, follow the trail from the central New Mexico wine country south to Las Cruces and Carlsbad, they discover a tangled web involving members of the US military, a mistaken identity, a family fortune in dispute, and even a secret baby. The body count is rising, and a child may be in danger. BJ will need all his skills to survive because, between a deadly sniper and sabotage, someone is determined to make sure this case goes unsolved.
Blurb: .John Turner has been living a lie most of his life. Growing up in the rural Georgia town of Magnolia Ridge, he’s only ever let one person truly know him: his best friend, Chloe. To the rest of the world, they’re the perfect couple, but just between them, she’s helping John hide in plain sight.
Matt Kinsley, a cop from San Francisco, moves to town looking for a slower pace and to reconnect with his Southern roots. Starting over in Magnolia Ridge means taking a step into the closet, but Matt finds that with John for company, he doesn’t mind so much.
As the two start to explore a possible relationship, a horrific murder rips the town apart but brings John and Matt together in ways neither could’ve imagined. Matt must decide where his loyalties lie while John resists the urge to run again. Together, they have to discover who the real devil is before another life is destroyed.
Review: A murder brings John and Matt together as nothing else could. John has been hiding from almost everyone. But things turn once he meets Matt. John is not out yet Matt was. Matt finds himself going back in the closet in the sleepy judgemental town he finds himself in. The only bright spot for the two men is each other.
While I enjoyed the story I felt that if I were Matt I would have moved. There’s no way I’d be somewhere where I could not be myself. John for his part has never had that opportunity so he doesn’t realize how that feels. The majority of the story is about how John and Matt traverse through their relationship in the small minded town.
The mystery aspect seemed almost like an after thought thrown into the mix as it takes place closer towards the end of the book and was a bit rushed in my opinion.
Blurb: Hunter Beaumont doesn’t understand his grandmother’s deathbed wish: “Destroy Beaumont House.” He’s never even heard of the place. But after his grandmother passes and his first love betrays him, the family house in the Wisconsin woods looks like a tempting refuge. Going against his grandmother’s wishes, Hunter flees to Beaumont House.
But will the house be the sanctuary he had hoped for? Soon after moving in, Hunter realizes he may not be alone. And with whom—or what—he shares the house may plunge him into a nightmare from which he may never escape. Sparks fly when he meets his handsome neighbor, Michael Burt, a caretaker for the estate next door. The man might be his salvation… or he could be the source of Hunter’s terror.
Review: A Demon Inside by Rick R. Reed is a rather spooky novel and not for the faint of heart. For anyone who has read the first edition of this book, I have to admit that I never read the first edition, so I’m not entirely sure what has changed since.
The story itself has left me with some rather mixed feelings. Being a DSP Publication means that any romance is not front and centre of the plot, and what romance there was throughout the story was really nicely done. However, it is not that aspect that has bothered me. The horror was fantastically written and I really enjoyed it. In hindsight, though, I think that there was some sort of spark missing with the horror that connected all the dots for me in my head. But mostly, I found that after the build up in the horror and the terror felt by Hunter, the ending was a little too flat and a little too quick for my liking.
Nonetheless, this book does the creepy and poltergeist things perfectly, so on the surface this is a fantastic horror story which may well leave you with chills running down your spine.
The story follows Hunter Beaumont and finds his life at loose ends when in a tumultuous short period of time his beloved grandmother dies and his boyfriend dumps him. In a move that is something like a classical gothic horror, Hunter decides to live in Beaumont House after being told by his grandmother on her death bed to burn it down. Beaumont House has no end of secrets (which leads Hunter to uncover the memory of when his parents had died when he was a child) and some of them are quite deadly (this is one house with a bad history).
The subplot featuring the neighbour of Beaumont House, Michael, is where the romance comes in. Michael is a sweet guy and matches well with Hunter. However, Hunter seems to spend a lot of time doubting his new relationship and I’m not entirely sure whether or not this is actually to do with the “demon” of Beaumont House or just Hunter being insecure. This adds a nice, lighter plot to the otherwise dark/horror we otherwise get.
Despite my conflicted feelings, this is a good book and anyone into horror and anything that is generally just creepifying (in the words of Joss Whedon) stories will at least enjoy this read.
Blurb:Theo Reese is a high school student who’s also a secret agent. Usually those lives are kept separate, but now he must be both at once.
Theo lends his expertise to his school’s computer science club as they gear up for a competition, but his talents are also required by the covert agency he works for. Someone has stolen an encrypted key that can allow them to control the nation’s energy grids. The possibilities are catastrophic unless Theo and his team can reclaim the file.
Theo locates the file in an unexpected place—the computer science competition. As Winger, his secret identity, he must recover the file and keep his teammates safe from the unscrupulous thieves…. But can he do it without revealing his secrets? He can’t blow his cover, especially with so many of his classmates around.
Review: High school genius and hockey player Theo is back in this exciting sequel to uncover who is behind the theft to a file that can let the person control the nations energy grid. While in the process of tracking down the file he is enlisted to help the computer science class with their competition.
At the competition he realizes one key factor. The file has been submitted in the competition. It is up to Theo and his team to try and keep everyone safe when things go wrong.
Exciting and addictive this story has an interesting buzz feeling to it. I liked that Teo put himself in danger to help as much as he could. I felt bad that he had to go through certain things at his age.
Wonderfully and spy filled this story had me on the edge of my seat as the story drew to a conclusion. Some questions remained unanswered though and left me feeling like the story was not finished. Other than that I loved it.
Blurb: When alpha shifter Mikael Volokov is called to witness a challenge, he learns the evil and power-hungry Anton Gregor will stop at nothing to attain victory. Knowing he will need alliances to keep his pack together, Mikael requests a congress with the nearby Evergreen pack and meets Denton Arguson, Evergreen alpha, to ask for his help. Fate has a strange twist for both of them, though, and Mikael and Denton soon realize they’re destined mates.
Denton resists the pull between them—he has his own pack and his own responsibilities. But Mikael isn’t willing to give up. The Mother has promised Mikael his mate, told him he must fight for him, and that only together can they defeat the coming darkness. When Anton casts his sights on Denton’s pack, attacks and sabotage follow, pulling Denton and Mikael together to defeat a common enemy. But Anton’s threats sow seeds of destruction enough to break any bond, and the mates’ determination to challenge the darkness may be their only saving grace.
Review: I have enjoyed reading many stories both m/f and m/m over the years, but the moment I read a m/m romance I decided that I liked those best. However I found myself more aligned with books that were written by females more than males. Although I must admit that there are a few that surprise me. Dirk Greyson was one of those authors. This was the first book that I have read by him, and let me tell you that he has probably became one of my favorites just after reading this.
Now if you are anything like me you are more likely to read paranormals then contemporaries. There is just something about the worlds that are created with these types of stories. Dirk has managed to give us a unique story that I haven’t really heard in a long time. They are fully developed and the characters are just about perfect. I do have to admit that the cover of the book was just a bit creepy, but once I started reading the story I came to an understanding with it. There is so much energy in this story and you can feel the heat, emotions, and action and so forth with this book.
Mikael has known since he was a small boy that his mate was going to be a man. He had been visited by the mother and gifted from that time on. There was a story passed on about dark wolves that were evil then others. He just thought it was a story, until he was forced to watch a fight between alphas, a fight to the death. He watched that dark wolf tear a man apart. A man who had left behind a mate and two small children. The fear of what was to come led him to contact another pack to help each other in the upcoming times. To his surprise the alpha of the other pack just so happened to be his fated mate.
Denton was a strong alpha but he knew he was not supposed to be. He had gotten the title after he took out his old alpha who was leading the pack the wrong way. Now here in front of him stood his fated mate, a mate he wanted but wasn’t sure what to do. However if you really want to know what happens, you must read this story.
I loved the characters and the way the story just seemed to flow off the pages. It was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to get started on the next book. This is one author who now has a new follower.
Title: The Curse of the Dragon God
Title: Cowboy in the Crosshairs
Title: The Riddle of the Sands
Title: Cross of Sins
Title: Red Fish, Dead Fish
Title: Song and Key
Title: Dying Soldier
Title: Hunted Soldier
Title: Rogue Soldier
Title: Broken Soldier
Title: When the Devil Wants In
Title: A Demon Inside (2nd Edition)
Title: Schooled
Title: Challenge the Darkness