Hi peeps, we have Kimber Vale stopping by with her brand new release Balancing Act, the fourth book in the Shooting Stars series, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Balancing Act
(Shooting Stars 04)
by
K. Vale
Greg Dwyer and Kyrie Li are living the glorious couple life in New York City. Or are they? When struggling actor Kyrie lands a modeling job, he’s ecstatic to have extra cash to spend on his best-friend-turned-boyfriend.
Of course, Greg is suspicious Anders Berglund, the gorgeous and androgynous Swedish cover model the designers love to pair with Kyrie, is after his man. And maybe Kyrie encourages a growing closeness with the guy?
Greg is probably to blame if Kyrie is drawn to the openly gay and seriously beautiful Andy. With Andy, Kyrie can be himself, as loud and proud as he’s always been. But Greg’s sexuality stays firmly locked in the closest except when he’s with Kyrie’s supportive family or alone with the man he loves.
To make matters worse, Greg’s out-of-touch mom meets with financial ruin and moves in with the couple, forcing him into the closet in his own home.
Can Greg find a way to stand up to Mommy Dearest and win back a love he fought so hard to reach? He discovers the road to pride begins at home and with accepting oneself first. Otherwise, it’s just a dead-end street.
Title: Crossed Hearts Series: Hearts and Scars, #1 Author: K. Vale Genre: Contemporary Length: Novel (265 pages) Publisher: K. Vale (April 27th 2015) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts Blurb: One heart’s been broken. The other is secondhand.
Kory Vansant doesn’t deserve to be alive.
As time sucks him dry of energy, sapping the final ounces of strength from his congenitally enlarged heart, he’s forced to end his career as Kory Kent, porn star. Staring down death, he questions his life choices and prays for a miracle. For another chance at life, he vows to change who he is at his core.
His prayers are answered. A perfect heart now beats in his chest, but it comes at a heavy price. The donor is an innocent young man cut down far too prematurely.
Kory’s blemished history and his donor’s spotless past are far from ideal matches.
As his debts skyrocket, Kory can’t help but think his resolve to walk the high road is being tested. After he meets the adorable Will Squire at the gravesite they both visit, he’s doubly damned because there’s no way he can keep up his end of the bargain. What happens when a man breaks a deal with a higher power?
Will often prefers the company of the dead to that of the living.
Following a bad breakup, he pours himself into his two jobs—funeral director at his uncle’s mortuary and part-time paramedic. He’s drawn ever closer to Kory, as if fate sticks her fickle hand in and pushes them together like two unlikely puzzle pieces. But sometimes history can’t be buried, and maybe divine intervention isn’t always right. Will discovers everyone is imperfect, no matter how pretty the outer package.
And opening one’s heart is never easy, but can be oh, so worth the pain.
Review: I’m just going to put it out there: this is an amazing book, something I would never have guessed from reading the blurb. Frankly, the blurb for this book had me in two minds as to whether or not I should read it or if I would find it boring. But I am so relieved I did read this one because… wow… it’s sweet and emotive, hot and sexy.
The story follows Kory and Will. They meet in unusual circumstances, as outlined in the blurb. Kory is an ex-porn star, artist/painter and has just had a brush with death only to be saved by a heart transplant. Will seems a bit quirky at first but he’s just an ordinary guy, in fact, they both are ordinary guys who happily followed life where it took them. He just happens to work for his uncle mortuary as a mortician; he’s also a part-time EMT.
Okay, this may seem odd but to me this book is summed up by song lyrics that just popped into my head (Keep The Light On by The Whitlams (2006)). To me it just sums up the book perfectly, at least in my, possibly warped, mind:
We stumble into each other’s lives/ And we knock some things over/ Try not to make a sound.Each time you reach out/ A new shout or shine-on/ We run in and fall out/ Fumble around for the key.
I’ll always keep the light on for you/ You try so hard to be alive/ What else can you do?/ But close your eyes/ You can’t see the beautiful way/ When you’re burning so bright
Musical inspiration aside, as I said I found this emotionally engaging. Both Kory and Will have their own very different issues to get through. I really liked how neither man’s issues were placed as more important above the other by K Vale. Additionally, we get a lot of time with each MC to actually know what is going through their minds during each point of the story.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hi peeps, we have K. Vale stopping by today with the blog tour for her latest release Crossed Hearts, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Crossed Hearts
by
K. Vale
One heart’s been broken. The other is secondhand.
Kory Vansant doesn’t deserve to be alive.
As time sucks him dry of energy, sapping the final ounces of strength from his congenitally enlarged heart, he’s forced to end his career as Kory Kent, porn star. Staring down death, he questions his life choices and prays for a miracle. For another chance at life, he vows to change who he is at his core.
His prayers are answered. A perfect heart now beats in his chest, but it comes at a heavy price. The donor is an innocent young man cut down far too prematurely.
Kory’s blemished history and his donor’s spotless past are far from ideal matches.
As his debts skyrocket, Kory can’t help but think his resolve to walk the high road is being tested. After he meets the adorable Will Squire at the gravesite they both visit, he’s doubly damned because there’s no way he can keep up his end of the bargain. What happens when a man breaks a deal with a higher power?
Will often prefers the company of the dead to that of the living. Following a bad breakup, he pours himself into his two jobs—funeral director at his uncle’s mortuary and part-time paramedic. He’s drawn ever closer to Kory, as if fate sticks her fickle hand in and pushes them together like two unlikely puzzle pieces. But sometimes history can’t be buried, and maybe divine intervention isn’t always right. Will discovers everyone is imperfect, no matter how pretty the outer package, and opening one’s heart is never easy, but can be oh, so worth the pain.
Hi, everyone! Kimber Vale here. First of all, a huge thank you to the lovelies at MM Good Book Reviews for hosting me on this, the release day of my new book Hard Act to Follow. I’m so excited to be here chatting about the ABC’s of romance, because, hey–why not? The alphabet never gets old, and romance is the greatest thing since flushing toilets.
Yeah, I needed a shtick.
So, without further ado, allow me to start at the beginning.
Hard Act to Follow
(Shooting Stars 03)
by
K. Vale
Kyrie is an actor with a physical aversion to telling lies, a one-eyed cat, and horrible taste in men. His ex-brother-in-law and best friend, Greg, harbors a secret crush he can’t shake. After denying his feelings for Kyrie for too long, Greg finally gives in to desire one drunken night. Come the morning, the facts get twisted. Kyrie pretends he doesn’t remember a thing—a lie that eats him alive—and Greg can’t stop thinking about how he screwed up the best thing in his life.
Before they can clear the air, Kyrie follows his dreams to New York City, but could he also be running away?
A mistake from Kyrie’s past detonates their silence, and Greg is forced to confront the man he loves. Is their new truth strong enough to support a relationship, or are they doomed to crumble under old fears? Their friendship could evolve into something a million times stronger, but maybe Kyrie’s act is just too hard for Greg to follow.
Hey guys, we have K. Vale blessing our site with her sexy rocker Gio from her latest release Double Takes, Kimber chats a little about Kids in MM Romance, we get a bit of a steamy excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and I bless you with my review *cheeky smile*, so see what we have to offer and click that Rafflecopter link… Good Luck <3 ~Pixie~
Blurb:
Ah, the life of a rock star. Everyone thinks it’s nothing but sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Not for Giovanni Savale.
For the lead singer of Three Deaf Mice, a band that reached its pinnacle in the late nineties, it’s nothing but an ugly divorce with a custody battle, money trouble, and now the nightmare exposure of starring in a reality television show. When his producer decides to cash in on an infamous interview Gio did years ago, and give the self-confessed bisexual rocker an onscreen boyfriend, things really hit the fan. Gio is certain his sexual experimentation back in his drug-abusing days meant nothing — after all he’s been married for nine years, clean and sober for nearly as long, and he has a son. And Gio is not remotely attracted to Kyrie, the funny, flamboyant actor they choose for his love interest. Of course, Lance Garrett, the mysterious and sexy owner of the local antique shop, Double Takes, is a whole different story. The guy has Gio planning out a future he never imagined. With the threat of losing all custody of his ten-year-old son, ghosts from the past returning for revenge, and the cameras rolling, can Gio keep his head above water and his heart from getting broken?
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books (9th September 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate – Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: If you love someone, set him free. If he steals something of yours, hunt him down and make him sorry.
Alex Bremen is over Chance Ralan. Ever since his high school boyfriend ditched him nine years ago, Alex has barely thought of Chance at all. Sure, Alex attended a concert or two when his ex’s band, Armageddon Showdown, was in the area, but that was more curiosity than anything else. Who wouldn’t want to see firsthand how his once clean-cut boyfriend transformed into a pierced and tattooed heavy metal god?
But when Chance has the nerve to record a love song Alex wrote for him years ago, Alex crosses the country to confront him. Revenge becomes a dish best served sizzling hot. The two men lock horns, but find the chemistry between them has only intensified with time, and occasionally love needs to do some growing up before it can be done right.
Review: Alex was madly in love with his high school boyfriend until Chance chose music over love and deserted him when he needed him most, now he barely thinks about Chance, but when he hears the song, he wrote for Chance all those years ago on the radio he decides it is time to get his revenge. Alex crosses the country to film a documentary about Chance’s band ‘Armageddon Showdown’ and to make Chance squirm, after all no one knows the heavy metal gods secret gay past or that he never wrote the song. The two men lock horns and the chemistry between them still burns strong and although the love is there, is it strong enough this time around to compete with the music career?
This is a great story where revenge turns to love and choices are scary. Alex carried on with his life when Chance turned his back on him, he is doing great in his career and he can have any man he wants and he put Chance far behind him… until he heard his song on the radio and all credit being given to Chance. Alex acts fast to get his revenge on the closeted singer, but his feelings aren’t as far in the past as he hoped. Chance didn’t want to record the song but his manager forced him to, now he is facing his ex, Alex, the only man he has ever loved, the one he threw away for a music career and he has no clue how to handle the man. Chance can’t resist the sexy man but how can he love another man and still have a heavy metal music career? Will Chance take a chance on love with Alex or can he live without love as long as he has his music?
Both Alex and Chance are great characters who make this story slightly edgy. Chance denies his sexuality but is miserable and drinks too much, his music is all he really has, and now because of his manager he has his ex on his tail determined to make him even more miserable. Alex soon realizes that he doesn’t want revenge, but getting what he does want might be even harder when Chance still hides behind the music. Both men want something strong but Chance’s fear drives him, but as they get closer again and Alex is determined to give Chance the time he needs they fall foul of a jealous man. This really is a great story, you can see what hiding his sexuality has done to Chance and although he tries to deny it Alex never stopped loving Chance.
I recommend this to those who love getting back at an ex, an explosive ‘outing’, hot sex, passionate secrets, lingering love, a bitter rival and an amazing ending.
Publisher: M/M Romance Group @ Goodreads (June 4th, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Dear Author,
I know I’m not supposed to be on the equipment after hours, but when my frat brothers dared me to strip down to my skivvies and start scissoring, who was I to say no? We snuck in and now, here I am. We all do dumb shit when it’s just the guys, after all, right? And I mean, clearly they’ve seen me before when I was competing on the college team, but I guess it’s an understatement to say that they’ve never seen me perform in such― ahem― brief attire.
Most of the guys looked uncomfortable, but I noticed one of them looking at me like he had something else in mind. He’s new and kinda one of the more quiet ones among us, so I don’t know much about him. I’ve only just started to realize that I might… well, kinda sorta totally… like guys and not girls. Is it possible he could maybe be… like me?
Photo Description:
A young, heavily muscled man, with his dark hair in a pompadour, is performing a gymnastics routine on a pommel horse wearing only his underwear.
This story was written, as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love Has No Boundaries” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
Review: I loved this novel. Sticking It by Kimber Vale stars Adam and Dane. Now, Dane is a very talented gymnastic student who meets Adam after a friend tricks him and makes him do a small routine in his underwear. This little incident brings them together as one.
I liked Dane. He was hot and very sexy. He genuinely seemed to be a great guy. Adam was awesome too. He was the nerdy and hot guy that everyone loves. I felt a little sorry for Adam since he went through hell in his previous school because his sexual orientation. Now, he feels guarded and won’t let Dane in. I’m glad they managed to work something out and live happily ever after.
The one thing that I didn’t like about this novel was the fact that it was just too short. Other than that, the plot was solid and the characters were amazing. I recommend this novel to anyone looking for a short YA little read with lots of sex, love and more sex.
Author: C.C. Williams, Kayla Jameth, Tilly Hunter, Julian Siminski, Stevie Woods, Jeff Mann, Kenzi Mathews, James Thorpby, K. Vale, Michael Roberts, Salome Wilde, Steve Rudd, Barry Brennessel, Richard May, Landon Dixon, Rob Rosen
Genre: Historical, Erotica, Anthology
Length: 77, 000 words
Publisher: MLR Press (February 22nd, 2013)
Heart: ♥♥♥♥4.5Hearts
Heat: explicit- overall though a few have little or no sex.
Blurb:History and fiction meet at the crossroads in these erotic tales of love and lust. From ancient Israel and Greece and Rome, to the time of the Vikings, the Wild West, Woodstock, and all points in between, witness the steamy encounters, lurid battles, raucous clashes, and tender moments of couples who span the centuries. Get swept up in the lives of the biblical David, Emperor Hadrian, barbarians from Britannia, a 19th Century physician, Jewish immigrants, cowboys World War I soldiers, hippies, and so many more, all in search of adventure, passion, and, yes, even fame.
Recommendation: I highly recommend this to anyone that likes Anthologies, stories that date back in time, Vikings, Warriors, Civil war, Cowboys, Indians, time travel, friends to lovers, Sad stories, true love, and much, much, more.
Review: Overall. This is a fabulous mix of stories ranging in heat levels and genres. Plenty to choose from, but I suggest you read them all. Here are my individual reviews for each story.
1000 B.C. by C.C. WILLIAMS
David is a Shepard and loves playing his Lyre. He is summoned to go play for King Saul. When he goes, he meets Jonathan King Saul’s son and a great warrior. He will do anything for Jonathan even risk his life to fight a giant named Goliath.
I found this a very sweet and sexy take on the biblical story of David and Goliath. It was interesting, sweet, and loving. ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
496 B.C. by Kayla Jameth
Galen was Alexio’s slave and lover. Alexio freed Galen so other kings couldn’t order him to pleasure them. Alexio loved Galen and wanted him for himself. Alexio was put under tutorship to King Lyko’s and King Lykos had designs on Alexio. Galen was jealous though Alexio said his heart was only for him. Galen’s jealousy gets him into a lot of trouble since the other men do not respect him though he is no longer a slave.
I liked this story a lot. It showed hints of a love triangle, but nothing really happened threesome wise. More of one of the men was just a voyeur. This was a sweet and sexy story. ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
27 A.D by Tilly Hunter
Lucius was defeated and captured by Barbarian Finian. Lucias likes the rough treatment and finds himself wanting Finian’s humiliation and more. Finian is very rough on Lucias.
I found this story very intriguing if a bit hard to read. The rough treatment was tough but it was sexy in its own way. If you like rough and not loving BDSM this one is for you ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
130 A.D. By Julian Siminski
Antinous is Hadrian’s servant and lover. He is turning twenty and no longer a boy. Antinous fears he will be cast aside since men are not allowed to serve. Sabina Hadrian’s wife is jealous of Antinous and cuts his hair showing he is now a man. Hadrian and Antinous are both very upset. They visit the Oracles and each of the three gets their futures. Antinous sacrifices himself for Hadrian.
I loved this. It was absolutely beautiful. I loved the way it showed Antinous ’love and passion for Hadrian and how they came to be together. I loved the way Hadrian fights for Antinous and the end is so sweet and sad. You definitely need a box of tissues for this! ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
794 A.D by Stevie Woods
Aland and Garrick had been friends since boys. They also have been lovers but must keep this secret. It is highly looked down upon for two men to be lovers. They go on a battle together and were very worried for each other. After the battle, they return to Garrick’s and make love. Garrick knows that Aland must take a wife and Aland Knows Garrick needs one to help him on his land. Though the two men know, they shall always love one another.
I loved this story it was sexy and sweet. It shows that sometimes though love is hard it does overcome all obstacles. My heart went out to the two that they could never show their love publicly yet would always find a way. ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
1066 A.D by Jeff Mann
Thorir is a Viking. He and Eirik are lovers in a time and among men, this is just not heard of so they must keep their secret. Thorir goes to visit Eirik to spend time before their next trip to plunder and raid a village. Their families think they are hunting.
This story was very good. I loved it. There are many twists and surprises. It’s extremely hot but I warn you the sex is very brutal. This is a good rough and tumble BDSM story and be sure to have your box of tissues. ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
1576 A.D by Kenzie Mathews
Cesare is a very spoiled rich boy. His father has a close relationship with Jewish family the Montefiore as there accountants. Cesare has seen a mistake in the books and knows the Montefiore’s have been stealing form them. He also has designs on his personal advisor Tuviya. He spots Tuviya with a servant girl laughing and it makes him jealous so he grabs Tuviya and tells him he knows his father has been stealing form his father. He gets rough with Tuviya.
I liked this story. It is a bit rough the way Cesare handles Tuviya and could almost be considered rape. Though Tuviya is confused by the rough treatment he also finds he doesn’t really want the debt settled and be discharged from Cesare’s services. This story is rough and nothing sweet at all about it but it shows that sometimes love isn’t always sunshine and sugar. It’s much deeper. ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
1822 A.D by James Thorpby
Charles is a doctor to the King and is very glad the king is leaving the next day so he can get some rest. He has a thing for Mosby one of the servants and that is the one thing he doesn’t want to see leave.
This one is very hot and sexy. I loved the story how both men have such feelings and was glad for a sweet story to break up some of the macabre ones, though the sex here is pretty rough and tumble yet loving also. ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
1865 A.D by K. Vale
Ben and Ammon have to keep their love for each other a secret from the Calvary men. They steal some time away before a battle.
I loved this. I loved how Ammon n had surprised Ben by setting them up a sort of romantic place to have sex and share their love. It was sad when they were separated. Another you will need tissues for but it is bittersweet. ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
1881 A.D. by Michael Roberts
Eric is a time traveler and he has just brought back Billy the Kid with him.
This one was so funny. I laughed until I about cried at the banter between Billy and Eric the sex was pretty hot. I loved it. ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
1889 A.D by Salome Wilde
This is an account from a Yiddish Journal. It is a rather sweet tale of a man on a trip to start a new life he meets a stranger on the trip and they fall in love though the man decides he can’t defile his religion and faith and he decides to not pursue the relationship after the trip. It’s sweet romantic and very bittersweet. Beautiful. ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
1890 A.D by Steve Rudd
One night Shem drunkenly wanders into Wayne Smiths tent. They both work for the buffalo bill traveling show. Wayne is busy tending to himself when Sham walks in and they end up in some frisky sex. Wayne asks if he’d be interested in doing it again and adding another bull. Shem hasn’t done a threesome, but accepts the offer. It turns out to be an Indian.
I loved this it’s another funny and hot story. I loved the banter between the two and how the Indian was so silent and submissive to them. It’s super-hot and sexy with a bit of charming wit.♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
1909 A.D. by Barry Brennessel
Jesse is taking his parents to the train station in their new car. A blizzard is coming and he is worried that he will ruin the car and get in trouble. He finally makes it home, but gets the car stuck. A group of boys comes by and one helps. It turns out to be his old friend and first lover Fig.
This is a sweet sexy story of friends to lovers and love lost and reunited. I loved it! ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
1916 A.D. by Richard May
Henson is under jacks command. Henson reminds him a lot of his lost love Alex. Alex had been killed in battle a few years back. On leave, Jack runs into Henson. They are form two stations in life. They find a bond between each other.
This was a lovely yet heart-wrenching story. I am a sucker for a good tearjerker and this one does that. Very sexy, very sweet and very sad. ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
1957 A.D by Landon Dixon
A young private Dick was sent in to investigate if Bert was fixing the game show. The young man knew how to use all his skills to manipulate both his boss and the game show master.
This was a cute sexy story. I loved the twists, though the language and sex is very pornish, it is still funny and an enjoyable read. ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
1969 A D by Rob Rosen
This is a very sexy escapade of two men in the 60’s at Woodstock. It is hot and sexy with a bit of a twist. If you haven’t ever read any Rob Rosen, you should. His style and wit are so much fun to read!
If you like a short story to break the monotony of waiting in lines or appointments or just want a bunch of quick to read stories and like stories with angst rough sex and not all happy endings. This is a great collection.
Title: Crossed Hearts
