Hi guys! We have the charity Anthology Heart2Heart Vol 03, we have some great excerpts so check out the post and enjoy! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Heart2Heart Vol 03
by
Aimee Nicole Walker, Annabeth Albert, Charlie Cochet, Damon Suede, Eden Finley, Hailey Turner, K.M. Neuhold, Layla Reyne, Lily Morton, Lucy Lennox, Mary Calmes, May Archer, Nora Phoenix, Piper Scott (writing as Emma Alcott), Sloane Kennedy, Susan Hawke
Once upon a time, a group of authors wondered… What if the Heart2Heart app — the dating app with a glitch that matched up the oddest, most perfect couples, and sponsored the charity date raffles that helped dozens of people find love — offered a classifieds section, too?
Need a handyman who knows how to wear a tool belt? Have a closet of drag costumes that needs a new home? How about finally tracking down that guy who made the perfect drink, or who’s just the right height to reach the top shelf?
Join some of your favorite authors of gay romance as they bring you sixteen brand-new stories inspired by reader suggestions!
Once again, all proceeds from this collection will go to the authors’ favorite LGBTQ charities, to ensure that love in all its forms will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!
Available October 1 – December 30, 2019 only. This collection will be available for only 90 days before it’s gone forever.
.•.•.**❣️ Amazon US | Amazon UK ❣️**.•.•.
Blurb: Sometimes the best day of your life is the one you never saw coming.
Joe Cohen has devoted the past two years of his life to one thing: the care and feeding of Kade Bosa. His partner in their PI business, roommate, and best friend, Kade is everything to Joe, even if their relationship falls short of what Joe desires most. But he won’t push. Kade has suffered a rough road, and Joe’s pretty sure he’s the only thing holding Kade together.
Estranged from his own family, Joe knows the value of desperately holding on to someone dear, but he never expected his present and past to collide just as Kade’s is doing the same. Now, they’ve stumbled across evidence that could change their lives: the impact of Kade’s tragic past, their job partnership, and any future Joe might allow himself to wish for….
Review: A familiar light hearted drama with some corrupted cop suspense in the mix. Kade and Joe area familiar characters to any fan of Mary Calmes, and if you enjoy the Marshalls or Matter of Time series you’ll enjoy this read too. Joe is your typical fix it man, and Kade is the big dominant bad boy and together their strengths and weaknesses complement each other and make them a great couple. This biggest question in the plot is will they make it past those weaknesses to see that what they really need is right in front of their eyes.
This friends to lovers romance starts off with a bang, lots of corruption, a bit of violence, protecting witnesses and multiple investigations and then takes a detour when Joe and Kade need to get out of town fast. This detour forces Joe to confront what he has been running from, his family and what he has been longing to run into, Kade’s arms. Lots of familiar scenarios if you’re a Mary fan, and I am. This is a fun, fast paced, feel good read. I always like insta-mommies anyhow!
Michael Tell does a wonderful job reading the story smoothly, adding unique characterizations, and timing pauses and dramatic scenes perfectly.
Blurb: Fireman Mason James thought finding out he is a Romanus—a rare class of gargoyle—would be the surprise of a lifetime, but he’s proven wrong when he discovers he is the son of a comte and goji nobility. But his newly discovered family doesn’t think his gargoyle lover, Luc, is good enough for a goji of Mason’s stature—how could a warrior ever be? But despite the Moreaus’ uncertainty and elitism, they are Mason’s only chance to unravel the mystery behind his mother’s death, find a solution for the class divide that might separate him from Luc, and discover what it truly means to be a Romanus.
Review: I have a confession to make: I am addicted to Mary Calmes. Her writing is like crack to me, I can’t stay away from it, I simply don’t have the will to say no. Mary’s books tend to be somewhat confusing sometimes, and almost every time, regardless of who the characters are, the guys hug anyone that’s in close enough distance. This seems to be the case here as well and while I find it cute, I’m simply incredulous at the lack of self-preservation the characters display.
It’s been a long time since I read Romanus, but for some reason it stayed with me, even though I remember thinking at the time that it was a wreck. I’m so glad we got the continuation of Luc and Mason’s story because we find out more about the history of Goji and the role Romanus has in this world. But this time around Mason decides he wants a future with Luc dammit, and nobody is going to get in his way and no one messed with his man. That was hot!
There was not even a second for me to get bored because this book is action packed from the beginning to the end. It had some kind of whiplash effect on me because one moment Luc and Mason get all sweet and sentimental with each other, and the next there’s daddy issues (holy fuck that was dramatic), jealous siblings, a murder attempt, a mating, fucking mid-flight (cuz’ bad-ass gargoyles can do that you know), the history of goji and gargoyles is revealed and many more things I simply couldn’t keep up with.
It was all very interesting and engaging, although I’m not sure if Mason’s father is a psychopath, an asshole, or a vile, evil human being. If you’re read Romanus you’re going to want to read this as well because it wraps up the story of Mason and Luc quite nicely. Now……
Can Gabriel get his own story as well??? Pretty Please Mary? And how about Mason’s best friend Finn and Raoul? They deserve their own stories as well.
Blurb: Deputy US Marshals Miro Jones and Ian Doyle are now partners on and off the job: Miro’s calm professionalism provides an ideal balance to Ian’s passion and quick temper. In a job where one misstep can be the difference between life and death, trust means everything. But every relationship has growing pains, and sometimes Miro stews about where he stands with his fiery lover. Could the heartstrings that so recently tied them together be in danger of unraveling?
Those new bonds are constantly challenged by family intrusions, well-intentioned friends, their personal insecurities, and their dangerous careers—including a trial by fire when an old case of Miro’s comes back to haunt them. It might just be enough to make Ian rethink his decision to let himself be tied down, and Miro can only hope the links they’ve forged will be strong enough to hold.
Review: Each book in the Marshals collection features our very sexy US Marshals. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order. In my opinion I would actually start with the A Matter of Times series because that is where you will get to meet our sexy men’s boss.
Miro and Ian have been work partners for over three years, but time has changed quite a lot. Now they are partners in life as is with work and things really are not changing in my mind. They are both stubborn, feisty and down right crazy. As with many starting a relationship, things are up and dwon till you get it right, or close to it as you can get. When one of Miro’s most dangerous arrest escapes from prison, Miro knows the man is going to come after him.
Ian is a very touch special forces member as well as a marshal, but it is Miro’s touch that he needs to keep him grounded. So when Miro goes missing, you can guess what is happening to Ian. These two are only starting out and you can feel the heat from them both. However Miro wants to get married but Ian is still not in that mindset. He just doesn’t understand why Miro wants it so bad, that is until he almost looses the man.
Now as much as I love this book, I don’t really care for all of the extra stuff added in and smaller plot lines that you can see coming out. To me when you add in a lot of extra dialog, descriptions or just fluff it takes away from the story just a bit. I get tired of reading it and skim over all that extra nonsense. It doesn’t mean that I don’t love the story quite a bit, but I get bored with all of it. To me it just feels like the author is adding stuff to make her word count. Now other than that, this story is very fast pace and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I can’t wait to see what the next book has going on. This is one book I would definitely recommend.
Blurb:Terrence Moss. Conrad Harris. Gold Team Leader. Darius Hawthorne. The Vault. Juggling all these names would bother some, but for Darius, it’s business as usual. When he closes a chapter in his life, he leaves a name—and the people associated with it—behind. He’s managed to keep a few colleagues, even fewer friends, and no companionship through his forty-plus years… but that’s now changing.
The newest chapter of his life is bringing serious change: a stable home, a recovered identity, an unlikely family, and now a chance encounter with the one man Darius ever loved: Efrem Lahm. The reasons they parted are still valid, and there’s no way they can trust each other. But Efrem has already decided he won’t let Darius go… and Darius will have to decide if he wants to take a chance with his heart this late in the day.
Review: This story is mostly about the fault and the many names he has been throughout his life. We are also given a preview of how he became the Vault in the first place. I loved that.
Conrad’s character was rather complex at times given the many name changes and the circumstances surrounding this. I loved the story as I got an in depth look at the man and all he has been through.
The actual romance does not take place right away and it is someone from Conrad’s past. My heart broke for these two men who were denied a life together due to the beliefs of the time. I so wanted to shout that it was not fair to these men.
All in all I liked this story much better than the first book.
Blurb: Mob enforcer Ceaton Mercer has killed a lot of people in a lot of different ways—he stashed the last two bodies in a toolshed belonging to a sweetheart marine researcher in an idyllic island community—but he’s really not such a bad guy. Over time he’s found a home of sorts, and he even learns he’s found a place in the hearts of the people he works with… at least enough so that they won’t put a bullet in his head because he’s outlived his usefulness to the boss.
But he never thought he’d find one day could change his life, and he’s about to discover how wrong he is.
Because in a single day, he meets the man who looks to be the one, the love of his life. It’s an improbable idea—a man who deals in death finding love—but it’s like it’s meant to be. That single day gets weirder and troubles pile up, forcing Ceaton to take a hard look at his dreary life and accept that one day can change everything, especially himself. His future might be brighter than he expects—if he can stay alive long enough to find out..
Review: I have mixed emotions about this story. On the one hand Mercer and what all has happened to him throughout his life to where he is now and what his mission is, is really interesting. On the other hand, I really do not want to say this, I thought Brinley, Mercer’s love interest, was over the top. I mean who actually acts like that. I kept rolling my eyes and wishing it would stop especially when tough guy Mercer joined in.
So needless to say I did not enjoy Mercer and Brinley at the beginning of their relationship. It was too corny and over the top for me. Now add in danger from Mercer’s boss, a mysterious man that Mercer knows from his past and battle scenes that I enjoyed and I was happy.
The Vault was fascinating. I was floored because it was not what I thought it was going to be. So I was pleasantly surprised. Well written story that I only enjoyed a portion of.
O.k. read. Sorry but Brinley and Mercer’s beginning ruined it for me.
Blurb: Hagen Wylie has it all figured out. He’s going to live in his hometown, be everybody’s friend, explore new relationships, and rebuild his life after the horrors of war. No muss, no fuss is the plan. He’s well on his way—until he finds out his first love has come home too. Hagen says it’s no big deal, but a chance encounter with Mitch Thayer’s two cute sons puts him directly in the path of the only guy he’s never gotten out of his head.
Mitch returned for three reasons: to raise his sons where he grew up, to move his furniture business and encourage it to thrive, and to win Hagen back. Years away made it perfectly clear the young man he loved in high school is the only one for him. The problem? He left town and they have not talked since.
If Hagen’s going to trust him again, Mitch needs to show him how he’s grown up and isn’t going to let go. They could have a new chance at love… but Hagen is insistent he’s not reviving a relationship with Mitch. Then again, you never know.
Review: I love this authors work, and she didn’t disappoint in this story. Hagen and Mitch were high school sweethearts and lovers. Majority of the people in Benson love that they were both out and proud as you can be as teenagers. Since Mitch was a year older, he left for college sooner, while they planned for Hagen to join him a year later. But things didn’t turn out that way. While away at college, Mitch ended things with Hagen and he went and joined the Army just to get away from the town and the devastation that Mitch leaving caused.
Hagen has returned home from the Army to start rebuilding his life, and live on his terms. He was a prisoner of war and he was badly injured during his capture. He runs his own Construction business and he loves making his customers happy. Now in a town as small as Benson, everywhere he goes, he hears that Mitch is back home. Years ago, just the mention of Mitch’s name would cause his heart rate to race, but that’s not the case this time. Hagen is involved with someone and he has no inclination to get back together with Mitch after he left him and broke his heart. A chance encounter happens and Hagen saves Mitch’ two boys from a bad situation. Mitch is grateful and then professes that he still loves Hagen and that he wants him back in his life.
Mitch regrets that he ended things with Hagen years ago, but not sorry that he has two amazing boys from his marriage. He keeps pursuing Hagen, but Hagen doesn’t think that he can ever trust Mitch again, and if he came back to get him, how is it that he hasn’t approach Hagen and the only reason that they saw each other is because Hagen saved his sons. This second chance love story is great, but I’m sorry that I didn’t get to hear the reason that Mitch broke up with Hagen when he went off to college.
I love this author’s work and I would recommend it to anyone.
Blurb: Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones has a reputation for being calm and collected under fire. These traits serve him well with his hotshot partner, Ian Doyle, the kind of guy who can start a fight in an empty room. In the past three years of their life-and-death job, they’ve gone from strangers to professional coworkers to devoted teammates and best friends. Miro’s cultivated blind faith in the man who has his back… faith and something more.
As a marshal and a soldier, Ian’s expected to lead. But the power and control that brings Ian success and fulfillment in the field isn’t working anywhere else. Ian’s always resisted all kinds of tied down, but having no home—and no one to come home to—is slowly eating him up inside. Over time, Ian has grudgingly accepted that going anywhere without his partner simply doesn’t work. Now Miro just has to convince him that getting tangled up in heartstrings isn’t being tied down at all.
Review: I first came across Mary Calmes when she wrote about Kage and Jory in A Matter of Time series. There is something about a man with a gun that just wets my appetite and gives me what I want right off the bat. The way she puts together a story just seems to captivate me throughout the whole story, so when I came across this series I knew it was going to be the same. To top it off Kage is our sexy men’s boss.
With this story you have two very sexy US Marshals who start out partners at work but it soon builds into something very steamy. Miro had wanted his partner for so long, but damn that man is straight. However when Ian comes home from a tour, it soon becomes apparent that the man was more into Miro then he thought. The first half is their partnership at work and the trouble these two seem to get into, and then it changes into something I really loved.
This story is told mainly from Miro’s perspective and you really do get to know a man when you are listening pretty good to what they are saying and wishing. Ian is a big hit for me, because not only is he a US Marshal but he is also special forces, but there is a side that many do not get to see but his partner. I have come across many stories where the characters are law enforcement, but you don’t really see that many with US Marshals so it was a big hit for me.
What made me laugh the most was at the beginning the others around were jealous that a newbie got to work with special forces, but then it turned to pity because Ian was the type to run headlong into danger and Miro just had to follow. Which meant Miro would usually get banged up pretty good.
This story is so filled with actions, suspense, danger and some hot sex that your mind will be blown away. I loved the two young witnesses and can’t wait to see if they get their own story in the future. I had a lot of fun reading this and look forward to reading the next book. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who loves sexy men who are armed to the teeth.
Blurb: Paradise can be hell. Most people would say being stranded in the villa of Spanish shipping magnate Miguel García Arquero on the beautiful isle of Ibiza wasn’t such a bad deal. But Hudson Barber isn’t one of them. To him, being stuck without a passport in a foreign country far from home is a nightmare, made worse by the fact that the person who did the stranding was his flighty twin brother.
Unwilling to turn Dalvon in for identity theft, Hudson is forced to wait, but meanwhile he discovers the chance to rehabilitate Miguel’s failing local businesses – enterprises left to Dalvon’s inexperienced care. The flagging ventures are a badly wrapped gift from heaven, and if Hudson can turn them around, he might be able to leverage the experience to finish his MBA.
Then Miguel returns to Ibiza, and instead of finding a boy toy, he discovers Hudson has turned his cold villa into a warm, welcoming home. Miguel’s path is clear: convince Hudson to lay down his defenses and let love in.
Review: If you want fun, fantastical business adventure, stranded on a hot vacation paradise island, here you go. Not a ton of depth, very familiar characters, and a whirlwind of activity. Even when Hudson is left to pick up the broken businesses his brother left behind, make a ton of friends, and turn his boss’s businesses into profitable ones, I can’t see the torture in that. Hudson gets to turn his misadventure into college credit after all; I’d fantasize about that any day!
The heat doesn’t come until much later in the story, and it’s a little wonky, this is the brother’s ex after all…and speaking of which, turnabout is fair play right?
The narrator is familiar to me as he reads one of my favorite series, so I’ve become accustomed to his lilting, questioning tone of voice at the end of every sentence. Once you get used to him, it all works well, it’s a developed taste. His timing is good, and there are no hiccups.
A fantasy island sort of story full of silly adventure and light on love.
Blurb: Glenn Holloway’s predictable life ended the day he confessed his homosexuality to his family. As if that wasn’t enough, he then poured salt in the wound by walking away from the ranch he’d grown up on, to open the restaurant he’d always dreamed of. Without support from his father and brother, and too proud to accept assistance from anyone else, he had to start from scratch. Over time things worked out: Glenn successfully built a strong business, created a new home, and forged a life he could be proud of.
Despite his success, his estrangement from the Holloways is still a sore spot he can’t quite heal, and a called-in favor becomes Glenn’s worst nightmare. Caught in a promise, Glenn returns to his roots to deal with Rand Holloway and comes face-to-face with Mac Gentry, a man far too appealing for Glenn’s own good. It could all lead to disaster—disaster for his tenuous reconnection with his family and for the desire he didn’t know he held in his heart.
Review: Now even though this is book three in the series, I do believe that you can read it by itself. However I would suggest reading the books in order, because there are just a few spots that can get confusing without knowing a bit more about the other stories. However once again it is not needed though.
It has a serious tone to it but the humor is even matched. The story is fully developed and the characters were a blast. For such a shorter story then I have seen from this author, I was quite pleased with just how full it seemed to be. It was not drawn out and very nicely paced for her readers. The guys made it seem even better to me. I was also glad to see Stefan and Rand again.
Stefan calls Glenn for just a bit of help. His eyes set on Mac and let’s just say you can feel the heat coming from these two. Glenn has his life the way he wants it, with success with his restaurant and life is going good. He was just missing that special someone in his life, and Mac is it for him. However if you want to see the chemistry, you must read the book. Let’s just say, smoking hot.
Now as much as I loved the first two, this one gave me a bit more even though it is a smaller story. I was very glad to have found that it was going to be about a new character and not the same ones from the first two books. I don’t really care for characters that are the main thing from one book to the next. So for me this new couple rocked it perfectly. However you must read the book if you want to find out just how hot these two were. I have to admit that I would have loved to have both guys POV’s, however Mary wrote it just right.
It was a lot of fun to read and can’t wait for another one.
Blurb: Two years after riding off into the sunset with ranch owner Rand Holloway, Stefan Joss has made a tentative peace with his new life, teaching at a community college. But the course of true love never does run smooth. Rand wants him home on the ranch; Stef wants an exit strategy in case Rand ever decides to throw him out. Finally, after recognizing how unfair he’s being, Stef makes a commitment, and Rand is over the moon.
When Stef gets the chance to prove his devotion, he doesn’t hesitate—despite the risk to his health—and Rand takes the opportunity to show everyone that sometimes life’s best surprises come after the sunset.
Review: Well our sexy men have been together for two years and I have to say that you need to read this series in order. You will find out about their fighting and how they just seemed to click. Trust me you need to read the first book.
Now Stefan has his head up his ass when it comes to Rand. Rand wants him to move in at the ranch, but Stefan just doesn’t trust their love to withstand such a move. The man needs a good swift kick in the ass. However you can see that it is what he wants to do. Now if you want the juicy details, well you are just going to have to read the story.
The more you look at these two men; you can feel the heat coming from them. Here you have a man that is smart as hell when it comes to business but the rest of his life, well he is just a man. Rand is so damn alpha that it will make you just hot from watching him rope in his man. The family dynamics that they are dealing with just make it seem more real.
I do love the humor that is mixed in with the serious tone. I can’t really stand a boring story with no humor, and this one was anything but boring. Now I for one do not really care for cowboys and what comes with them but damn if this author doesn’t change my mind. I definitely do love the rodeo and Stefan’s clever idea that will probably get his ass kicked. I also would just shoot Rand’s family, but then again that is me.
Trust me on this; you have got to read this book. Love trumps family all the way around.
Blurb: Stefan Joss just can’t win. Not only does he have to go to Texas in the middle of summer to be the man of honor in his best friend Charlotte’s wedding, but he’s expected to negotiate a million-dollar business deal at the same time. Worst of all, he’s thrown for a loop when he arrives to see the one man Charlotte promised wouldn’t be there: her brother, Rand Holloway.
Stefan and Rand have been mortal enemies since the day they met, so Stefan is shocked when a temporary cease-fire sees the usual hostility replaced by instant chemistry. Though leery of the unexpected feelings, Stefan is swayed by a sincere revelation from Rand, and he decides to give Rand a chance.
But their budding romance is threatened when Stefan’s business deal goes wrong: the owner of the last ranch he needs to secure for the company is murdered. Stefan’s in for the surprise of his life as he finds himself in danger as well.
Review: I have read a few of this authors work and have always been fascinated by the worlds she creates for her guys. Although I have to admit that I have my favorites out of them though. This one was a very catchy little story and will tell you right off the bat that the cover rocked. It was definitely a very quirky looking cover.
I love how there is humor mixed in with a serious tone to them, which for me is a plus. I can’t stand a story that is long, drawn out and no humor. Now for me the murder was very strange and easy to figure out. However it was still pretty damn good, not to mention the sexy men who started out at war and soon found love. Sounds a bit cheesy to me but for is always fun to watch.
Wow, you get a sexy cowboy and a very strange hipster type guy in this. They are at war with each other, and when asked to come to the wedding, well let’s just say there are a few shocks. Stefan’s best friend swears her brother isn’t coming, and well you guessed it. To top it off Stefan’s deal is not going the way it is supposed to. And then the murder happens, well you will just have to read the story.
I had a great time reading it, although I have to admit that it was just a bit drawn out, but the humor made it work. Now what made this work even more for me, is it wasn’t a sexual heat over the wedding but it took them some time to see what the other is to them. I am never one for cowboy type stories but the murder made it perfect for me. I enjoyed the book and will start reading the next book as soon as I finish this review.
I would recommend reading this and let you fall in love with these two.
Blurb: Miro Jones is living the life: he’s got his exciting, fulfilling job as a US deputy marshal, his gorgeous Greystone in suburban Chicago, his beloved adopted family, and most importantly, the man who captured his heart, Ian Doyle. Problem is, Ian isn’t just his partner at work—Ian’s a soldier through and through. That commitment takes him away from Miro, unexpectedly and often, and it’s casting a shadow over what could be everything Miro could ever dream of.
Work isn’t the same without Ian. Home isn’t the same, either, and Miro’s having to face his fears alone… how to keep it together at the office, how to survive looming threats from the past, and worst of all, how to keep living without Ian’s rock-solid presence at his side. His life is tied up in knots, but what if unknotting them requires something more permanent? What would that mean for him and Ian? Miro’s stuck between two bad choices, and sometimes the only way to get out of the knot is to hold tight to your lifeline and pull.
Review:Each book in the Marshals collection features our very sexy US Marshals. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order. In my opinion I would actually start with the A Matter of Times series because that is where you will get to meet our sexy men’s boss.
I fell in love with Mary Calme’s books when she wrote her other series. They are so damn entertaining and full of energy that I had to read them all in one setting. They caught my attention from the moment I started reading and kept it all the way to the end. I enjoyed all of the characters that take up to making this story; they were so full of detail that it was like I knew them. I also loved how full of depth and meat that this story had.
The first thing I am going to say is Carrington, damn. Miro and Ian are going pretty strong; however Miro is getting tired of Ian being shipped out with the rest of the special forces team. However Miro’s got danger coming at him from his past, and Ian has too. It is going on Thanksgiving time and family is the most important thing, to Ian’s shock. The problem is Miro is constantly wondering about Ian when he is gone.
Now I must admit that having a soldier is a pretty hard thing, but damn Miro knew what he was getting to begin with. I don’t see how Ian can put up with it, but damn that man does. Also the fact that Miro is constantly getting hurt, tells me he definitely needs a keeper and Ian is it. So much danger and threats coming at them I am surprised they are just not holed up into their house. I want to see more of our three little bagabonds that the guys seemed to have adopted, they crack me up. I love the characters that Mary Calmes gives us.
Now as much as I love this book, I don’t really care for all of the extra stuff added in and smaller plot lines that you can see coming out. To me when you add in a lot of extra dialog, descriptions or just fluff it takes away from the story just a bit. I get tired of reading it and skim over all that extra nonsense. It doesn’t mean that I don’t love the story as much, but I do get bored with all of it. To me it just feels like the author is adding stuff to make her word count. Now other than that, this story is very fast pace and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I can’t wait to see what the next book has going on.
Blurb: After saving his younger brother’s child, Daemon Shar is cursed by a witch and runs far from home, a stray who will seemingly never be anything more. But destiny is hard to outrun, even for a man who is now more cat than man beneath his robes and cowl.
A chance battlefield meeting between him and Ehron, a foreign lord, gives him purpose amid the darkness of his accursed life. Soon Daemon finds that his true nature cannot be corrupted no matter the form he inhabits. As Ehron’s consul, Daemon plots and plans to shape his new lord’s future so that he may leave it blessed when he runs away yet again. But he never counted on his soul hungering for Ehron’s brother, Gareth, or for his past to catch him by the tail at last.
Review: As I recall reading this book from 2011, it was part of a collection of stories where authors rewrote a classic fairytale and made the MC’s both men. A fun collection to read for sure! The Servant seemed loosely based upon The Master Cataa, or Puss in Boots.
Daemon hides his secret away after being cursed by a witch, sacrificing family and brotherhood to live out his life in the shadows, serving the best causes he can find. So he makes it his life goal to do whatever needs be done to promote the wellness and advancement of Ehron. Much like the prince who was shoved in the river with no clothes to gather the attention of passing nobility in Puss In Boots, Daemon does many fantastical things to ensure Ehron gets noticed by important people too.
There is plenty of adventure, fantasy, and action in this book and the plot diverges enough from the old fairytale to become an original. I enjoyed the romance, the humor and the nail-biting tension in this story. I also enjoyed the steamy connection between Gareth and Daemon, that would have changed this childhood favorite for sure!
The only downside, which did slow things down for me, was the extensive list of proper nouns. The plot could have been much smoother if some locations, country names, unnecessary character names, could have been generalized. There were too many to keep track of. I think a quarter of this book was spent introducing names, ranks, and country names of characters and places that really did not hold a significant role in the plot. But that is my only complaint, so if you can speed read/listen past those stagnant introductions and just pay attention to the main characters, you’re going to love this. True fantasy romance! Swash buckling, superhuman feats, and bonds of love that stand the test of time and turmoil! What more can I ask for?
Oh yes, I can ask for an amazing narrator! Did I mention Greg Tremblay is a rock star? He gives wonderful variations to each character and breathes much passion into the dialogue. I’ll listen to any project he works on!
Title: Lay It Down Series: N/A Author: Mary Calmes Genre: Contemporary/Romance Length: 126 pages Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (March 16th, 2016) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb:Paradise can be hell.
Most people would say being stranded in the villa of Spanish shipping magnate Miguel García Arquero on the beautiful isle of Ibiza wasn’t such a bad deal. But Hudson Barber isn’t one of them. To him, being stuck without a passport in a foreign country far from home is a nightmare, made worse by the fact that the person who did the stranding was his flighty twin brother.
Unwilling to turn Dalvon in for identity theft, Hudson is forced to wait, but meanwhile he discovers the chance to rehabilitate Miguel’s failing local businesses—enterprises left to Dalvon’s inexperienced care. The flagging ventures are a badly wrapped gift from heaven, and if Hudson can turn them around, he might be able to leverage the experience to finish his MBA.
Then Miguel returns to Ibiza, and instead of finding a boy toy, he discovers Hudson has turned his cold villa into a warm, welcoming home. Miguel’s path is clear: convince Hudson to lay down his defenses and let love in.
Review: Mary Calmes is probably my number one all-time favorite author in this genre. Whether it’s contemporary or paranormal makes no difference. She has the capability to take a story, give it two main characters, a well thought out plot, and bam… the reader is sucked in with her words.
Jory and Sam are my favorite book characters, but now I have to add Hudson and Miguel to the list of favorites, as well. They will embed themselves in your heart and you won’t be able to get enough of them.
Lay It Down is a wonderful short story that will have you laughing and cheering from start to finish. Hudson and Dalvon are fraternal twins who have completely different goals from each other. Raised in foster homes taught them to go after their dreams, if for no other reason than to have something no one could take away from them. Hudson was the academic achiever, whereas Dalvon used his looks for modeling and living his life in luxury in Spain.
When Hudson travels abroad to visit his brother he finds out a whole lot more about him than he ever imagined. After he realizes his brother duped him and stole his passport there isn’t much for him to do other than make the best of it. He’s hoping he can pass the time quickly before Miguel, his brother’s supposed fiancé and owner of the villa, returns from his trip.
Here is where Calmes shines and takes the lead with her stories. She throws in just the right amount of alpha male and sometimes submissive characters that fit so perfectly together that you will have a smile on your face and tingles in your belly until the end.
Hudson and Miguel hit it off beautifully and complement each other in the best of ways.
They see the worth and what’s inside their hearts of each other as well as everyone else in their presence. The secondary characters add that little spice that keeps the story going plus you have a bit of suspense/thrill/mystery that keeps you on your toes.
An amazing, heartfelt story that I highly recommend to any lover of this genre. The sex is spontaneous and electrical between Hudson and Miguel which only intensifies their relationship.
Everything you could want in a contemporary story is here. 5 Hearts from me. * I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Fit to Be Tied Series: Marshals, #2 Author: Mary Calmes Narrator: Tristan James Genre: Contemporary Romance / Law Enforcement Length: 7 hours and 43 minutes Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (12-06-2015) Heat Level: Moderate to Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Deputy US Marshals Miro Jones and Ian Doyle are now partners on and off the job: Miro’s calm professionalism provides an ideal balance to Ian’s passion and quick temper. In a job where one misstep can be the difference between life and death, trust means everything. But every relationship has growing pains, and sometimes Miro stews about where he stands with his fiery lover. Could the heartstrings that so recently tied them together be in danger of unraveling?
Those new bonds are constantly challenged by family intrusions, well-intentioned friends, their personal insecurities, and their dangerous careers—including a trial by fire when an old case of Miro’s comes back to haunt them.
It might just be enough to make Ian rethink his decision to let himself be tied down, and Miro can only hope the links they’ve forged will be strong enough to hold.
Review: US Marshalls Ian Doyle and Miro Jones have transitioned to partners, both on and off the job, fairly easily. The problem they face isn’t hiding their relationship, their boss Sam Kage is fully aware as are most of their other co-workers. The bump in the road is their divided views on marriage.
Miro wants to put a ring on it, he wants people to see that band on Ian’s finger and know that is spoken for, that he belongs to someone already. He wants the house, the 2 car garage, maybe even kids. Ian, however, does not. He feels that they are already committed and promised to each other, why do they need rings and a piece of paper.
Unfortunately for them, the bad guys don’t seem to want to take a day off. They are stuck on cases, stakeouts, teaming up with other law enforcement to catch a few of said bad guys and then Ian gets deployed. At this point in the story, there is some serious comic relief when Miro takes Chickie to the vet (for those unfamiliar Chickie is Ian’s BIG dog that people often mistake for a wolf) and gets held up at gun-point when leaving the clinic.
Hilarity ensues, and I now know that was just to give us a breather for what was coming. A case Miro worked when he was still a detective that left him with permanent scars, both inside and out, resurfaces. And the killer is coming back for the one that got away.
This book was emotional, hysterical, intense and passionate. Ian and Miro may not agree on the whole getting married thing, but the one thing that is never in question is their love and commitment to one another. They argue and debate the pros and cons of marriage like two grown men that would discuss an issue, but there is absolutely zero angst, thank god! The banter back and forth between them is hysterical, definitely some comic relief going on throughout.
Even when Miro is in the clutches of Mr. Crazy, he still comes up with dry, witty comebacks. There was so much growth in this story from both sides. Their relationship has always been a series of give and take, very supportive of each other regardless. Ian comes to realize that all the reasons he had for not getting married aren’t as important as he thought they were. While Miro has to learn that even if he can’t be Ian’s partner at work, Ian will still want to come home to him, to lean on him.
Narrated by Tristan James, lord I love this man’s voice. There were a lot of characters in this story and James made sure that every character had their own voice. Doyle’s New Yorker accent is amazing and cracks me up. Miro is the usually level-headed tone that occasionally loses that well maintained control.
What I find most intriguing is Sam Kage. I have to wonder if James didn’t listen to the Matter of Time series that was narrated by another great voice over artist, Paul Morey. Because the voice he uses for Sam Kage is almost identical to the way Morey’s voices the character. The marriage of Mary Calmes and Tristan James is perfectly flawless, in my opinion.
If you are a fan of cop stories, intense and emotional reads, men that fight hard and stop at nothing to get their GD happy ever after… you really should consider this series. If you haven’t either read or listened to the first book, you have to start there, this is a continuation. Definitely worth a listen.
Side note: I adore Chickie! I want one!!!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Sleeping ‘til Sunrise Series: Mangrove Stories, #5 Author: Mary Calmes Narrator: Greg Tremblay Genre: Interracial Romance Length: 2 hours and 12 minutes Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (01-26-2016) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Everyone in Mangrove, Florida, knows Fire Chief Essien Dodd is a saint. He took care of his ex-wife until she died, is raising his teenage daughter alone, and is the kind of man who pulls kittens from trees. All in all, the man’s a catch. But Roark Hammond has sworn off getting involved with a man who’s been hurt before because he can’t guarantee he won’t hurt his prospective love again. If only he could get Essien out of his mind long enough to focus on anyone, or anything, else.
Strong emotions are in play. Essien is lonely but determined to focus on Ivy; Ivy wants her father to have a new life so much that, to his horror, she’s trying to find him a man; and Roark is so scared of the present and past, he won’t allow himself to commit.
To have any chance of sleeping ’til sunrise and greeting each new day together, Essien and Roark will have to rethink how they’re living their lives and focus on what’s most important.
Review: Essien Dodd stood by his ex-wife when she fell ill with cancer, living up to his vows, even after the promise had been rendered null and void. He took the job as Fire Chief in Mangrove hoping to start a new life for himself and his daughter, away from the city and the reminders of the mother Ivy misses.
Essien and Ivy quickly made friends and were brought into the “family” circle that is the warm, welcome and loving atmosphere of the small town. Es vowed to remain single and devote all his attention to his daughter until she goes off to college. There is one person in particular that is making that vow very hard to keep, town doctor Roark Hammond.
Roark has sworn off relationships as well, be for a far deeper reason. He’s loved the towns gorgeous Fire Chief from afar for a while, but refuses to put any more pain on the man’s plate. Too bad that Ivy, Essien’s fourteen year old daughter turned match maker for her lonely daddy, didn’t get the memo.
Lord love a duck, the sexual tension between these two was palpable. The scene at the coffee shop, yow-za! I could feel the chemistry between these two through my ear buds. Tremblay truly brought these characters to life in my mind. I could completely understand why both men hesitated, they each had valid reasons.
It doesn’t take them long to realize that the heart wants, what the heart wants, and neither of them are strong enough to resist the pull. As usual, Tremblay does an amazing job at bringing the various characters to life while bringing all the voices he has given characters in the previous books over into this story.
While this story is a little heavier than the previous books in the series, there is still that light-hearted air and slightly comical approach to the situation.
I can’t recommend this series, Author or Narrator enough.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Easy Evenings Series: Mangrove Stories, #4 Author: Mary Calmes Narrator: Greg Tremblay Genre: Contemporary Romance Length: 2 hours and 24 minutes Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (12-18-15) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Lazlo Maguire doesn’t do relationships—he does transactions. Six months of the year, he’s an expensive rent boy in Manhattan, and he moves so fast that settling down could not, would not, ever enter his mind… except for once.
Britton Lassiter he meets man to man, not as hustler and mark, and it’s too good to be true when the lawyer wants to keep Lazlo even if he has to share him with the job.
But Lazlo has his reasons to walk away from the man he’s grown to love. The other six months of the year, he is laid-back Laz, a shopkeeper in the sleepy coastal town of Mangrove, Florida, where the artist he never allows himself to be in the Big Apple shines through. He lives for his time by the ocean, the place he hides his secrets and nurses his broken heart.
Then fate intervenes, and Laz gets the surprise of his life when he spies Britton in Mangrove—but it’s not meant to be… not until Britton sees the change in him and wants to be a part of Laz’s new life so that every evening can be easy… together.
Hopefully the secrets that tore them apart won’t come back to haunt them.
Review: Lazlo Maguire’s mother put her son out on the streets turning tricks when he was barely a teenager, making him the financial supporter of her and his sister. Several years later Laz is splitting his time between that life, and his life in Mangrove. He has no regrets, well, only one… walking away from Britton Lassiter. The two met in the city when Laz was doing his six months with clients, making the big bucks so mama could sit her worthless ass at home on the couch and drink herself into oblivion.
Anywho, so when Britton shows up in Mangrove, Laz thinks he is getting a second chance. Until he’s slapped with a restraining order. Britton is still smarting over what he assumed was Lazlo choosing that life over him, and Lazlo is trying to figure out how to get back in Britton’s good graces. Both of them have to rethink all their priorities when Lazlo gets the surprise of his life.
If you are in the mood for a fun, hysterical, series of short stories, that are all set in the same town around this close-knit group of friends. Stories that have a lot of content for so few pages. Moonlight, romance, side-splitting family dinners… then this series is a must. Anytime I want to smile and listen to a well written story with fantastic narration, it would be the Mangrove Stories.
Mary Calmes and Greg Tremblay make a dashing couple, him bringing her words to life. Fans of the series will recognize both characters from previous books. They’ll even remember the encounter that spawned the restraining order. Britton does tend to overreact a bit, ya know. I loved how he and Laz looked past their own personal issues and concentrated on what was important.
Definitely a must listen series. Seriously, listen! Trembaly is absolutely splendid voicing all these different characters. And from one book to the next the group of characters grows, but they all carry their voices so you always know who’s speaking. One of my very favorite go to series when I need to laugh, smile or just say “awwwwwww”!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Any Closer Series: Dreamspinner 2011 Daily Dose – First Time for Everything Author: Mary Calmes Narrator: Greg Tremblay Genre: Contemporary Romance Length: 1 hour and 51 minutes Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (01-18-2016) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5 Hearts Blurb: Part of the First Time for Everything Daily Dose 2011 collection.
Charlie Ryder has a colorful past, painful memories, and an embarrassing secret. After three years working for Leo Foster’s construction company, Charlie’s worst fears are realized, and Leo finds out what Charlie has worked so hard to hide.
When Leo meets the revelation with absolute love and acceptance, Leo has to trust that Charlie’s love isn’t just gratitude, and Charlie has to learn to trust again, period.
It’s going to take a lot of work for these two men to get any closer.
Review: Charlie Ryder has been working for Leo Foster for four years. In the early days, Charlie was skittish, scared of his own shadow. The poor guy would flinch if Leo blinked, withdrew if confronted. Leo did not treat him with kid gloves though, explaining to Charlie he had to get a grip and deal with whatever it was that haunted him.
It was that honesty and the push from Leo to come to terms with his demons that helped Charlie make a life for himself after what had happened to him.
When Leo hears about Charlie’s past as a Gay porn star, there is no judgement, more resentment to the people in Charlie’s life at that time for betraying him. When Leo’s ex shows up in town, Charlie decides it’s time to stop sitting quietly in the shadows. The dependable, shy, hard worker becomes a demanding little sex kitten. And Leo is at a loss, what to do with the man.
This is not a light-hearted read guys, but it’s not dark either, somewhere in the middle. Intense and emotional, especially when Charlie is re-living the past. As soon as Leo’s friend starts telling him the story, Leo feels sick to his stomach, as did I. But Leo’s no-nonsense attitude and faith in Charlie over the last three years has given Charlie strength he thought long gone. When Charlie decides to stake his claim, it gets a bit funny.
Narrated by Greg Tremblay, have I mentioned I love his voice? Well, I love his voice, all six hundred of them. Seriously, he manages to give every character their own distinct tone. Early on, I could still hear hesitation and regret in Charlie’s voice when he talked. But by the end he knew exactly what he wanted and went after it by god. Leo was described as really tall and perhaps menacing looking, but getting to know him you would see he was assured not mean. He was exasperated a time or two and Tremblay captured that in his voice, it was hilarious.
I really enjoyed listening to this story, my only issue would be, and the ending was a little anticlimactic for me. Again, I can understand why Leo would hesitate given Charlie’s past. But it’s been four years, come on now. I needed a steamier ending. Not necessarily porn on paper, but a skoch bit more than was given.
Otherwise, fantastic story, definitely recommend it.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Fit to be Tied Series: The Marshals, #2 Author: Mary Calmes Genre: Romantic Suspense Length: Novel (244 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 18th, 2015) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Deputy US Marshals Miro Jones and Ian Doyle are now partners on and off the job: Miro’s calm professionalism provides an ideal balance to Ian’s passion and quick temper. In a job where one misstep can be the difference between life and death, trust means everything. But every relationship has growing pains, and sometimes Miro stews about where he stands with his fiery lover. Could the heartstrings that so recently tied them together be in danger of unraveling?
Those new bonds are constantly challenged by family intrusions, well-intentioned friends, their personal insecurities, and their dangerous careers—including a trial by fire when an old case of Miro’s comes back to haunt them.
It might just be enough to make Ian rethink his decision to let himself be tied down, and Miro can only hope the links they’ve forged will be strong enough to hold.
Review: OMG, I love Fit to be Tied by Mary Calmes. It has everything you could possibly want in a story. Plus, the sex between these guys is off the charts, hot. Watching Ian find his pleasure with Miro is absolutely mind melting. He had no idea it could be like that especially since he never felt that way with women. Another plus, the humor is hilarious as they banter back and forth and you will be cracking up at some of their escapades.
Miro and Ian are the perfect combination of give and take. Ian has that rough, growly demeanor that makes you stand up and listen, and Miro has the voice of reason, gentler, laidback attitude, that makes you swoon. However, Miro can also be dominating and fiery when needed, and he knows when Ian needs him to take that control.
Together, these two can do anything but when they become separated, they sometimes allow that little devil in their head to take over – putting doubt and confusion in their minds.
Miro has never been happier than he is now since Ian has moved in and they are now partners off the job, as well as on. One of my favorite lines in the book is “Ian was still technically bi, but was exclusively now Mirosexual and wasn’t interested in trying the buffet.”
Even though he is thrilled with how their relationship is going he still can’t help but want more. If he could just get Ian to agree and stop being so pig-headed he knows the next step would put his mind to rest.
But, before anything can be worked out, action and drama take over and Miro finds himself in a heap of trouble. You may remember the evil, sadistic Hartley, from book 1 and his obsession for Miro. Well, he’s back and unfortunately, Miro seems to be his only agenda.
Mary Calmes takes us on a fast-paced, action-packed ride that will have you holding onto to the edge of your seat. You will be so wrapped up in the drama you will forget to breathe. The events taking place are intense and at times, horrifying. I kept saying, “She wouldn’t…would she?” Whether she did or not, you will have to read and find out but the fear is palpable and my heart was beating double time.
Away from those moments are many that are heartwarming and beautiful. Miro and Ian have found the love they deserve with each other. Ian, not used to having anyone stand up for him, gets emotional at the intensity of feelings Miro shows for him. It breaks my heart that Ian didn’t really know what love and being part of a family was until Miro showed him.
Of course, we also get to see a little of Sam Kage in action since he’s the boss and I always get tickled at Miro’s response to the big/brawny Marshal. If he could only see how he is with his own family he would be surprised at the passion that lies underneath those muscles.
I know I’m fangirling here, but this author has not written one thing I did not like. Most of what she has written, I have read numerous times and the Marshals series is no different. The descriptive narrative she has clicks with me and I’m pulled in every/single/time. I am constantly fighting myself to read faster vs. no…read slower so it will last longer.
Regardless, if you read fast or slow, you will be enthralled with the storyline. There is a lot of love going on and no matter if it is under the sheets or out in the day-to-day adventures these two have a strong connection with an abundance of hot chemistry.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes to read stories with a plot full of action and drama. This is not a standalone although I guess you could but you would miss so much back history that I would not advise it. There is a wonderful cast of characters including the strong and vibrant women that never hesitate to circle the wagons around Miro.
I love the parts with Chickie, the dog because he is family and shouldn’t be left out. The dialogue is fun and catchy and I know I had a smile on my face through most of the book. The sex is spontaneous and combustible so don’t be surprised if you catch yourself sweating a bit. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series and I will be eagerly anticipating its release.
Another great addition that I will re-read many times.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Kairos
Title: Chevalier
Title: Fit to be Tied
Title: Late in the Day
Title: A Day Makes
Title: You Never Know
Title: All Kinds of Tied Down
Title: Lay It Down
Title: When the Dust Settles
Title: After the Sunset (2nd Edition)
Title: Timing (2nd Edition)
Title: Tied Up in Knots
Title: The Servant
Title: Lay It Down
Title: Fit to Be Tied
Title: Sleeping ‘til Sunrise
Title: Easy Evenings
Title: Any Closer
Title: Fit to be Tied