Hi guys! We have Hank Edwards popping in today with his new release The Cupid Crawl, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
The Cupid Crawl
(A Williamsville Inn Story 04)
by
Hank Edwards
What happens when a confirmed hook up app user falls for a man who is his polar opposite?
Carter Walsh will be alone on Valentine’s Day, and his plans include a candy sampler of hook ups.
But after learning about the Cupid Crawl—a bar crawl covering a half dozen bars, gay and straight—he changes his plans.
During the crawl, he runs into:
An ex-co-worker nemesis who resurrects—loudly—an unfortunate nickname she bestowed upon him years before.
Several hot men eager for a quick hook up.
And one man absolutely not Carter’s type, but who manages to pique his interest and, possibly, steal his heart.
The Cupid Crawl is a funny, sweet, and steamy opposites attract, slight age gap story that takes place in the Williamsville Inn series world, and features characters from the Christmas stories “Snowflakes and Song Lyrics” by Hank Edwards and “Snowstorms and Second Chances” by Brigham Vaughn.
Title: Wicked Reflection Author: Hank Edwards Genre: Romantic Suspense Length: Novella (110 pages) Publisher: Wilde City Press (September 17th 2014) Heat Level: Mild Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts Reviewer: Tams Blurb: When Kirk Stanford moves into his new home, strange things begin to happen. Messages appear in the steam on his mirror, warning him of a nameless threat. Then someone keeps breaking into his house, looking for something Kirk can’t identify.
With the help of his boyfriend, Damon, Kirk digs into the house’s history, and discovers not just the previous owner’s brutal murder, but threatening letters written to him from someone named Sam.
As the intruder strikes again, Kirk and Damon find themselves fighting not only to solve the mystery, but also to keep from being murdered themselves.
Review: Kirk Stanford is a very happy new homeowner. The only downside is that his long-term boyfriend, Damon, can’t move in with him due to the distance between his job and Kirk’s new house. Straight away Kirk starts noticing strange occurrences in the house though. Words appear in the steam left on the mirror when he showers, but then they are gone at second glance, making Kirk think it’s just his overactive imagination. Then he meets one of his neighbours, and to say the man makes Kirk nervous is an understatement.
Days pass and the mystery of Kirk’s new home slowly unravels itself to him. There are the words on the mirror, and letters that Kirk finds written to the previous owner written by someone named Sam. Stranger still, the words on the mirror and in the letters, they are identical. When Kirk does some digging into the history of the house, he learns the previous owner was murdered and starts to feel like the killer is now coming after him.
I literally got goose bumps while I was reading this story. Very mysterious and intriguing, the way the threat was slowly revealed. The anticipation built from the start with those first words on the mirror and Edwards kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Very much, like reading a good scary movie, with all the action and suspense. I wanted Kirk to trust his instincts just a little more, and I saw the ending coming a mile away, but there were just enough twists to keep me entertained.
Take a nice little cozy mystery, throw in some steam and a dash of spooky and you have Wicked Reflection.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Blurb: Barry waits tables at DuMochelle’s, where he meets mob boss Giovanni Lombardi’s bodyguard, Vinnie. Passion sparks between Barry and Vinnie. However, it isn’t long before Vinnie’s dangerous lifestyle threatens not only their chances for happiness, but also their very lives.
In October 1941, the violence of Baltimore’s warring mob families is escalating. The danger has decimated many of the businesses around DuMochelle’s restaurant where Barry waits tables. When a mob family begins to frequent the restaurant, a romantic relationship develops between Barry and Vinnie, a guard for the family. Vinnie resists, fearing for Barry’s safety and concerned that Barry will want nothing to do with him if he finds out the details of Vinnie’s role in the family. But their passion cannot be denied, and Vinnie is trapped between the love he wants and the only life he’s known. As the rival mob family moves in for the kill, Vinnie and Barry find themselves caught in the crossfire.
Purchase Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/456587 Review: Barry is a waiter at a posh restaurant. It is a time when the gang wars are prevalent. A gangster comes in with his entourage and Barry is smitten by Vinnie.
Vinnie can’t read and is very big so he feels all he can do in life is be a bodyguard for a notorious gangster. Besides once you’re in there is no way out. Or is there?
This is a great historical romance set in the 1940’s. I loved the old-time gangster feel. I love both Vinnie and Barry. Though Vinnie is a bodyguard and obviously kills or hurts people for a living, Hank did a very good job of making him likeable. I would have liked to have known more about Barry the main character and teller of the story.
If you like historical romances set in the 1940’s, gangsters, bodyguards, waiters and a fun, sexy, romance, this is for you.
Blurb: Floyd has trouble staying interested in men, but meeting Gavin changes everything. Until Floyd learns his boss is dating Gavin. Now Floyd wants him even more.
Floyd Burland tends bar at Dudebaker’s, one of the city’s hottest nightspots. He’s something of a serial dater, but nowhere near as bad as his boss, club owner Shawn Frost is. Floyd is trying to figure a way out of an entanglement with Trevor, a Dudebaker’s bus boy, when Gavin Hunt steps into his life. Handsome, outgoing, and just Floyd’s type, Gavin is there to talk with Shawn about a singing gig.
On a moonlit night, Floyd discovers Gavin in the club’s parking lot with a car that won’t start. He walks Gavin home and, during their conversation, Floyd realises he could very easily fall in love with the man. Later, however, Shawn begins to brag that he and Gavin are dating, and Floyd, in a rash moment of jealousy, kisses Trevor the bus boy right in front of Gavin. Soon everyone is pointing fingers and demanding answers, and before Floyd can even try to fix things between him and Gavin, the singer leaves town to pursue his dream of cutting an album.
Will Floyd follow his own dream and pursue Gavin in an effort to win him back? Will Gavin even give him the time of day if Floyd shows up at his door?
Reader Advisory: This story has been previously released as part of the 50s Mixed Tape anthology by Totally Bound Publishing.
Review: Floyd is a bartender at a popular hotspot and quite the man’s ma. He pretty much is a player and flirt and one of the bus boys has taken his flirting too seriously. Gavin comes in to talk to the owner Shawn who is a worse player than Floyd is. Floyd finds himself attracted to Gavin in a way he never has been before but doesn’t want to get involved in one of Shawn’s trysts.
I really liked this story. I found all the characters intriguing and interesting, especially Gavin. I do wish there had been more about Shawn and Gavin and Floyd’s jealousy. I did find the story very heartfelt and sweet. A player that finally meets his match and a man who knows what he wants but thinks he is dating someone else. Yes, it’s very complicated and twisted emotionally but with a warm feel good ending.
If you like 50’s songs, players, bartenders, club-owners and musicians this is for you!
Continuing with the mystery suspense theme is Hank Edwards. I loved his stories when the Story Orgy had a free weekly blog. Then I read a few of his other works such as the Up to Trouble Series https://www.goodreads.com/series/80028-up-to-trouble and fell in love. Here is one of Hank’s favorite things about the holiday and a recipe! ~Cat~
Hank Edwards
One of my favorite things to do at Christmas is make cookies. My partner learned a recipe for shortbread cookies from his mother, and we’ve made them every year since. We play Christmas music and sing along (badly) as we bake, and when the cookies have cooled, we mix powdered sugar and water and a few drops of whatever food coloring we wish for icing then brush it over them. We bake 4 or 5 dozen and give them out as small gifts when we go to parties… but make sure to keep some for ourselves. It’s one of my favorite things to do at the holidays, and I’d like to share the recipe with all of you! Merry Christmas and here’s to a very Happy 2014!
Ingredients: 1-cup butter 1 egg ½-cup sugar ½-teaspoon salt ½-teaspoon vanilla 3 ¼-cup flour 1. Mix butter, egg, sugar, salt and vanilla together. 2. Slowly add flour. 3. DO NOT REFRIGERATE DOUGH!! 4. Roll out dough and use cookie cutters. 5. Bake at 350 for 8 – 10 minutes.
Blurb: Dex Wells, former deputy of the prairie town of Belkin’s Pass, awakes to the sound of screaming. He is chained to the wall of a cave, prisoner of the powerful vampire Balthazar, who has turned many of the residents of Belkin’s Pass into vampires like him, and used most others as food. Balthazar keeps Dex as bait, hoping to lure Dex’s lover, Josh Stanton, into the caves and capture him. There is something different about Josh, Balthazar senses it, but what that difference is he can’t quite tell.
Josh Stanton can raise the dead. It’s a power he’s always had within him, and something he’s considered a curse. Now, however, he’s discovered that the risen dead can bite through vampire skin and bones. If he can just learn to control the power and, with it, the dead he’s resurrected, he might be able to save his lover, Dex, from Balthazar’s caves. But there’s still a bounty on Josh’s head for a murder he did not commit, and he ends up back in Belkin’s Pass with Glory, a half Indian, half-white former saloon girl watched over by a Native American spirit. Together, they gather the few residents left alive and make a stand against the rampaging vampires and the wolves under their control.
The arrival of two members of the US Army, however, throws their careful plans into uncertainty as Josh is taken into custody. Can he convince the Army men the truth of their outrageous claims? And can Dex be saved before Balthazar turns him into a vampire as well?
Review:This story is part of a series and must be read in order. Dex awakens to find himself the prisoner of Balthazar, the powerful vampire, but he isn’t alone. Somewhere in the depths of the cave he is chained in someone is screaming and Dex is determined to escape. Balthazar is using Dex as bait, he wants to know Josh’s secrets and lure Josh into a trap, Dex has the answers, but a stubborn will and Balthazar will use any means to wear down Dex’s defenses. Josh wants to rescue Dex desperately but with the wolves and vampires chasing them Josh and Glory find themselves in the hands of the sheriff of Belkin’s Pass unable to convince him of the danger that is coming. Trapped in a town where the residents are falling victim to the vampires and wolves and their hopes of rescuing Dex dwindling, Josh and Glory with the few remaining townspeople prepare to face the vampires.
Well, we left Cowboys and Vampires as Balthazar snatched Dex from the Indian’s camp, now we rejoin Dex, Josh, and Glory as they try to find a way to reunite while in the midst of vampires, wolves and a town that is being destroyed. Dex is left facing Balthazar as the vampire tries to break him, his hope of rescue dwindling as Balthazar tries to twist his mind against Josh and seduce him to Balthazar’s needs. Josh is desperate to rescue Dex but he has many obstacles to face when the sheriff catches up with him and Glory and they are returned to Belkin’s Pass, convincing people of the danger is hard to do until they are faced with the horror that has overtaken the town. Glory discovers from her spirit guide that she holds the means to help Josh with the dead, and she still longs for those moments when her spirit guide protects her.
This is a wonderful continuation of Venom Valley that leaves you guessing what will happen as you turn the pages, will Dex succumb to Balthazar? Will Balthazar take that last bite? Will Josh ever convince anyone of the truth? Will they survive through the night? What will happen with Josh’s newfound attraction to the army Sergeant? Will they be able to rescue Dex? And just how will they go up against so many vampires and wolves? This story is brilliantly woven, leaving you guessing and trying to figure out yourself how they will pull it off, has you murmuring ‘resist Dex, resist Balthazar’ and has you wondering what will happen next. The characters really make this story great, the difficulties they face bringing out the best and, in some cases, the worst in them and making you vested in their survival.
I have to recommend this to those who love western historicals, dark vampires, desperate men and women, pulling together in times of survival, desperate loving and hope, and an ending that prepares you for the adventure still to come.
Blurb: FBI Special Agent Aaron Pearce and his lover Mark Beecher are taking a well-deserved vacation relaxing on the beaches of Barbados Island. They spend lazy days in the sun, on scooters seeing the sites, or in their room making love.
When Mark sees a young girl in a bar who may be in danger, he begins an informal investigation into her situation, even as Pearce reminds him they are not citizens and have no legal power on the island. Mark is determined, however, and, while investigating on his own, is taken captive by a sex slavery ring.
Pearce panics when Mark goes missing. He has a good idea what happened to Mark and who has taken him, but he cannot prove it. While working with the Barbados Royal Police Force, Pearce realizes he has become the detective’s prime suspect, and understands he needs to conduct his own personal investigation if he has any chance of finding Mark before his lover either sold into sex slavery or murdered.
Review:This story is part of a series and is best read in order. Aaron/Pearce and Mark are on vacation in Barbados. It’s a time for them to relax and enjoy the sites, but visiting a village and a restaurant sets Mark to wondering about the plight of a young woman who he sees at the bar across the road. Aaron tells him straight that there is nothing they can do, but Mark can’t let it go and storms off after words with Aaron. Aaron is enjoying his time with Mark, although he still has moments of awareness of his surroundings. Aaron begins to worry when Mark disappears. He just knows it has something to do with that bar. Aaron soon learns he will have to find Mark by himself and sets out to locate him, and what he discovers sends dread through him.
This is a great action, suspense story that shows that even when they are on vacation Mark and Aaron can’t keep out of trouble. Aaron is on suspension, Mark is out of work and a week away from all their troubles sounds fantastic. But, Mark is dragged into a sex slave ring when he looks for a young woman he spotted at a bar. Aaron is panicked and has to investigate himself when he can’t seem to get the Barbados Royal Police Force to take Mark’s disappearance seriously. But finding Mark will be harder than he hoped when all he has to go on is the owner of the bar.
Well, how much trouble can one man get into by storming off in a huff? The answer… life and death trouble. I thought this story was brilliant. There was action, suspense, hot sex, arguments, doubts, guilt, recriminations, attempted escapes, rescues and love. Aaron and Mark are very happy together, but they keep having mini blowouts. Each man examines their relationship, but the dangers they face make them realize that the other man is it for him. The storyline is great and keeps you turning the pages. The sex is really hot (I love beach sex). the suspense is a bit of a killer as you chew nails and wonder if Aaron will find Mark in time.
I will admit to having to wonder at times exactly how old Mark really was, because at times he acted like a child refusing to think about the consequences of his actions when he is on a strange island, in a strange country and is sniffing around for answers that even the locals wouldn’t ask. Aaron tried to rein him in and ended up in danger himself, but bless the man; he loves Mark and sets off to find him carefully himself. The relationship between Mark and Aaron is just a touch strained at first. As both of them are still getting used to being together all the time. But, they seem to be coming along just fine.
I will recommend this to those who love action, suspense, with plenty of danger, some very hot loving, great characters, a great storyline and a very happy rescue and ending.
Blurb: In the frontier town of Belkin’s Pass, as a vampire quietly feeds on the local saloon girls and their customers, a tragedy teaches resident Josh Stanton he has the ability to raise the dead. Knowing he is now a wanted man, Josh flees into the arid plains of Venom Valley. Pursued by Dex, the town deputy and Josh’s best friend, the two realize their friendship is truly something deeper, and Dex has to decide if he’s a man of the law, or a man in love. The vampire, drawn by Josh’s power, circles ever closer, gathering his forces against them.
Review: Josh knows he has to run. Nobody would ever believe the real reason why he put bullets in two people… they came back from the dead. Dex investigates when a young girl says she saw a murder, what he finds disturbs him and he doesn’t want to believe that Josh would ever do such a thing. Meanwhile, strange things begin to happen in town at the saloon and Dex begins to wonder if there is a connection. Dex has to find Josh before anyone else in town does, leading Dex and Josh to admit their feelings are more than friendship. But, danger lurks as a town wants justice and a mysterious vampire wants Josh.
This is a great start to what looks to be an action filled series with a dark vampire and a mysterious power. Josh has a strange power, one that scares him to death. When he is near a dead body he begins to heat up and the body will begin to move. Shooting the dead is a problem when you can’t tell the truth and justice in a wild west town can be swift and brutal. The only thing now that Josh can regret is losing his best friend, Dex, the man he has secret longings for. Dex wants to protect his friend, Josh, but there is no way that the town will listen to reason. so Dex has a choice to make between duty and love. Dex and Josh face a greater threat though, when a mysterious man who calls himself a vampire decides that he wants Josh.
I really enjoyed this story with its paranormal aspects. It starts with a hint of danger that twists into a mysterious power, and next we have secret forbidden longings and a danger that lurks in the shadows. Josh and Dex have a heart to heart, where Josh shares the astounding truth and they share a magical night together, before reality comes calling and they are both hunted in the night. The story has shifting perspectives and Josh, Dex and Glory are the ones who give us clear insight into what is happening. Josh and Dex are to be expected, but it is Glory who first gave us a glimpse of the vampire and Glory has a secret of her own as well. One that I think we will see more of as the series continues.
This story is really well written. The scenes are described brilliantly, the images of dead people shambling towards you with wolves just waiting to pounce was vivid. Josh and Dex’s relationship beginning was really hot and quite sweet. The action and danger are great and the storyline is really intriguing, as we discover that there is a lot more to Venom Valley than just a few rattlers and wolves. I have to admit the ending left me wanting more.
I have to recommend this to those who love deputies, cowboys, mysterious goings on, discovering love with your best friend, hot sex, a vampire with dark deeds on his mind and an ending that makes you want the next book now.
Blurb: FBI SFBI Special Agent Aaron Pearce is recovering from his injuries suffered while on assignment in Detroit, stuck in the offices of the FBI running database searches for agents in the field. He is bored and edgy, and takes it out on those closest to him, including Mark Beecher, who lives with him.
While Mark cannot deny the heat between them, he struggles to find his place in Washington, DC, and in Pearce’s apartment. He notices a car following him back and forth to work and panics, certain it’s the terrorist mole Robert Morgan who escaped them in Detroit.
As Mark and Pearce try to identify the driver, Pearce is drawn into an investigation concerning the disappearance of data discs from government employees. During research, he discovers the catering company where Mark works may be at the root of the thefts, and, when the company is booked to cater a prestigious party, Pearce realizes it is the perfect setup for an undercover operation. He doesn’t think twice about disobeying orders to stay out of the field, and risks not only his career, but his life as well, to join Mark in an undercover operation that will change.
As Mark and Pearce try to identify the driver, Pearce is drawn into an investigation concerning the disappearance of data discs from government employees. During research, he discovers the catering company where Mark works may be at the root of the thefts, and, when the company is booked to cater a prestigious party, Pearce realizes it is the perfect setup for an undercover operation. He doesn’t think twice about disobeying orders to stay out of the field, and risks not only his career, but his life as well, to join Mark in an undercover operation that will change their lives forever.
Review: I have been waiting for this one ever since I finished Holed Up! I was not disappointed. Shacked Up is very well written, delving deeper into agent Pearce’s and Mark’s relationships. Pearce has never had a steady relationship or really been in love. Mark has moved from home and into Pearce’s apartment in DC, but he isn’t sure if it is because Pearce cares about him or is just still protecting him. Morgan, the man that tried to kill him and almost killed Pearce is still on the loose.
So, does Pearce really love Mark or is it just work? Does Mark stay with Pearce or go back home? Who is following Mark and why? Does Morgan come back to finish the job? I am not gonna tell ya you will have to read the book!!
If you love detective stories, relationship conflicts, deep heartfelt romance and really hot mansex…this book is for you!! I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Blurb:Barry waits tables at DuMochelle’s, where he meets mob boss Giovanni Lombardi’s bodyguard, Vinnie. Passion sparks between Barry and Vinnie. However, it isn’t long before Vinnie’s dangerous lifestyle threatens not only their chances for happiness, but also their very lives.
In October 1941, the violence of Baltimore’s warring mob families is escalating. The danger has decimated many of the businesses around DuMochelle’s restaurant where Barry waits tables.
When a mob family begins to frequent the restaurant, a romantic relationship develops between Barry and Vinnie, a guard for the family. Vinnie resists, fearing for Barry’s safety and concerned that Barry will want nothing to do with him if he finds out the details of Vinnie’s role in the family.
But their passion cannot be denied, and Vinnie is trapped between the love he wants and the only life he’s known. As the rival mob family moves in for the kill, Vinnie and Barry find themselves caught in the crossfire.
Review: Barry becomes infatuated by Don Lombardi’s bodyguard Vinnie. Over the course of a couple of months, he falls deeper under the spell. Then, he gets his chance with Vinnie and he finds out Vinnie’s true role. Vinnie would like nothing better than a chance with Barry, but his job is dangerous and he can’t lead that trouble to Barry. But, he can’t resist Barry’s charm.
This is a really sweet story that really did surprise me, because the characters were so much stronger than you’d expect and it wasn’t so much like the typical mob stories out there. Vinnie is a really cute, vulnerable and shy mobster bodyguard and Barry is a hardworking, compassionate and more outgoing waiter. It isn’t a typical lets jump in bed story. They have to be very careful not only because of the timeframe, but because of whom Vinnie’s boss is. They are a really sweet couple though, which was surprising as with Vinnie being who he is and enormous, you expect him to be a little more rough and ready. Whereas, Barry shocks you with his bravery, not only in following Vinnie where he shouldn’t, but for his actions later in the story as well.
I have to say that I fell in love with the characters personalities and truly enjoyed their romance. The progression of the story was well paced and the action and danger was good and well written. Oh, did I mention I loved the characters? Oh I did, right. Well I can’t help it they are just so sweet.
I am going to recommend this to those who love mob stories, hot loving, sweet men, action, danger, shootouts and a happy ever after.
Blurb: FBI Special Agent Aaron Pearce, tall, muscular, a lone wolf with an attitude, is assigned to protect Mark Beecher, a witness to the plans for a terrorist attack. The discovery of an unknown informant within the FBI’s ranks, however, forces the two men to hole up in a loft apartment with only one another for company.
After long conversations and their shared attempt to unravel the puzzle of the terrorist group’s next target, Pearce and Mark find they cannot deny their mutual attraction. Pearce gives in to his passion, sleeping with the man he’s sworn to protect and going against his training as he risks heartbreak once again.
When the informant reveals himself to Pearce and takes him hostage, Mark finds he cannot run and leave Pearce to die. Instead, their roles have been reversed and now he is the only person who can save Special Agent Pearce.
Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse; male/male sexual practices.
Review: Wow! This book is awesome! It was my first gay detective or suspense book, but now I am hooked. Move over Romance there is competition! Both romance and suspense in one book? Yes I’ll take two!
What a thrill ride! I sat on the edge of my seat, biting my nails through the entire book, which I wasn’t able to put down until I finished! Both the sex scenes and the suspense were equally intriguing and exciting!
Do you want to hear a bit about the book? Ok I’ll tell you. It’s about a detective sent to Detroit to protect a witness.
