Hi guys, Mickie B. Ashing pops in for a visit today with her new release The Sixth Chukker, Mickie shares a few words with us, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Prime’s reviews of Fire Horse, Ride-off and The Sixth Chukker. So enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
The Sixth Chukker
(Polo 03)
by
Mickie B. Ashling
Retired polo players Preston Fawkes and Konrad Schnell have finally found the happiness that eluded them for years. Their stud farm is a big success, and their marriage couldn’t be healthier. Unfortunately, this idyllic life is disrupted by several unexpected sources.
Paloma, Preston’s twenty-one-year-old daughter, is determined to be a 10 goal player before she turns thirty. Bandi, Konrad’s son, dreams of starting a family with his partner, Ned Temple. Paloma offers to surrogate if her father and stepfather come out of retirement and team up with her for one season.
Preston and Konrad would do anything to make their children happy, but they’re confronted with a stumbling block. Trauma specialist Dr. Rayne Carlisle refuses to sign off on the necessary paperwork unless Preston agrees to be his submissive for one week.
Caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, Preston and Konrad deal with disgruntled lovers, demanding children, and old enemies in this sequel to Ride-Off.
Hi guys, we have Mickie B. Ashling stopping by with her new re-release Mayon, we have a brief introduction from Mickie, a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway, so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Mayon
by
Mickie B. Ashling
The Philippines, 1946
After being discharged from the Marines, John Buchanan is offered a position as overseer for plantation owner Ignacio Saenz. The offer is unexpected, considering he knows nothing about coconut farming, but the presence of Mount Mayon, an active volcano within sight of the property, tips the scales in Ignacio’s favor. Finally John has a chance to put his lifelong passion for vulcanology into practice.
Gregorio Delgado, the current overseer, takes exception to this turn of events. He views John as an interloper and Ignacio’s offer as a thinly disguised excuse to marry off one of his six daughters. What neither of them expects is the powerful physical attraction that simmers between them. Could John be a kindred spirit, or is he just using Gregorio for his knowledge of farming to ingratiate himself with his potential father-in-law?
As John and Gregorio begin a tour of the haciendas, John discovers he has far more in common with his new acquaintance than he thought possible. Torn between honor and desire, John struggles to define who he is and what Gregorio could mean to him. Like the unpredictable volcano, equal parts beauty and danger, Gregorio becomes an obsession that could erupt at any minute and destroy them both.
I’d like to thank MM Good Book Reviews for hosting my blog tour visit. Yesterday is a period piece, a stand-alone novel, set during the final months of the Pahlavi dynasty. The time and place aren’t conducive to romance, especially between two men, but love and logic aren’t always compatible as Kamran and Grady soon find out. Can a chance meeting alter one’s destiny? The answers are revealed within the pages of Yesterday.
The striking cover was designed by multitalented author and cover artist Catt Ford. Aside from the giveaways, which are listed on the Rafflecopter widget, I bring an exclusive excerpt. I hope you enjoy the sneak peek.
~Mickie~
Yesterday
by
Mickie B. Ashling
In June of 1978 Grady Ormond, eighteen-year-old son of diplomat Peter Ormond, accompanies his father to his new posting as US Ambassador to Pakistan. Neighboring Iran is on the brink of a civil war, with the monarchy in danger of being overthrown.
Grady will be leaving for New York City in late August to study cinematography and has been warned to keep his homosexual orientation tightly under wraps while on vacation. Repercussions in the predominantly Islamic region could be severe.
On their first night in Karachi, his father hosts a cocktail party to meet the local dignitaries. Grady is introduced to His Highness Prince Kamran Izadi, nephew of the Shah of Iran. Twenty-three-year-old Kamran has recently returned from the UK, where he spent eleven years, first as a student, and then as a financial analyst.
The attraction is immediate—unforeseen and dangerously powerful—but neither one dares to make a move. Odds are so stacked against them it’s futile to even entertain a friendship, but they do, and their world tilts precariously.
With his country in turmoil and Grady about to leave for college, Kamran makes a decision that will change their lives forever.
Title: Yesterday Series: N/A Author: Mickie B. Ashling Genre: Historical Romance/ New Adult Length: 200 Pages Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 22, 2016) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts Blurb: In June of 1978 Grady Ormond, eighteen-year-old son of diplomat Peter Ormond, accompanies his father to his new posting as US Ambassador to Pakistan. Neighboring Iran is on the brink of a civil war, with the monarchy in danger of being overthrown.
Grady will be leaving for New York City in late August to study cinematography and has been warned to keep his homosexual orientation tightly under wraps while on vacation. Repercussions in the predominantly Islamic region could be severe.
On their first night in Karachi, his father hosts a cocktail party to meet the local dignitaries. Grady is introduced to His Highness Prince Kamran Izadi, nephew of the shah of Iran. Twenty-three-year-old Kamran has recently returned from the UK, where he spent eleven years, first as a student, and then as a financial analyst.
The attraction is immediate—unforeseen and dangerously powerful—but neither one dares to make a move. Odds are so stacked against them it’s futile to even entertain a friendship, but they do, and their world tilts precariously.
With his country in turmoil and Grady about to leave for college, Kamran makes a decision that will change their lives forever.
Review: This is the first time I have read a story by this author so I was not sure what to expect. Usually I avoid them but I have heard good things about her so I knew I had to at least see. Then the second problem came when I realized it was a historical romance. I have never been a fan of them only because they come off so dry and boring. However I actually found myself enjoying this story.
I have read a few things on the Middle East, so I knew what would happen if they were found out. So I pretty much was on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what was going to happen next. This story actually did a pretty good job of keeping it straight, so to speak.
Grady is the son of a diplomat and is about to go to Pakistan with his family. He was warned to never let anyone know that he is gay over there. He is told to keep it quiet because the punishment would be harsh if anyone ever knew. Then Grady meets the Prince at a party held by his father and he is in deep trouble. It would seem Kamran feels the same way and also knows what will happen if it is ever found out.
Kamran is from Iran and knows full well of the dangers if anyone found out that he was gay. He is trying to spend what freedom he has left having a bit of fun. Then he is being forced in to an arranged marriage. To be gay is a death sentence so the two must hide what they feel or they will both die.
Now my main problem was the fact that Grady flirted with Kamran, and I felt like slapping him silly. He definitely comes off as a teenager.
He was warned over and over not to flirt, and he said he understood it. However he kept on doing it, which would have gotten them killed if this had not been a romance story. He was well written as was Kamran. They were fully developed and had a lot of depth to them both. It felt like I was right there with them. Still wanted to smack the shit out of Grady though.
The story was very well written and definitely sparked my interest. It felt like I was right there with them, going to the markets and seeing all those people. Although I think I would rather stay in America that is for sure. Over all I must say that Grady was an idiot throughout the whole story and it definitely was fun to read about him. I still say that historicals will never be a story that I would want to read.
My attention was not as captivated as it should have been but only because it was not my favorite type of story. I like my guys a bit older, a bit wiser and a bit more sex. Also I am one for more modern type of stuff that this story did not have. I have to say that I never really thought 1970s would be historical but it was fun to hear it. I did enjoy this story to a point, but it was not for me.
However it is definitely worth reading and I would recommend it.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Many thanks to MM Good Book Reviews for hosting my blog tour visit today. Forged inTrust is the fourth novel in the Bay Area Professionals series, which features doctors and dentists who participate in the BDSM scene. Many of the characters from the first three books (Impacted, Bonds of Love, and Fractured) make an appearance in this novel, but it can be read as a standalone. Don’t forget to click on the Rafflecopter widget for a chance to win a giveaway. The beautiful cover was designed by Catt Ford. Below is an exclusive excerpt of Forged in Trust.
Forged In Trust
(Bay Area Professionals 04)
by
Mickie B. Ashling
Dr. Ethan Marshall is the young medical student on call the night Tessa Duran murders her husband for abusing her twelve-year-old-son, Rino. Ethan stays in the cubicle while the rape kit is performed and is surprised when the boy resorts to prayers instead of tears.
Despite compelling evidence, Tessa is sent to jail for life. To avoid placing Rino in foster care, their parish priest agrees to raise him. Ethan is touched by Rino’s plight and visits whenever possible, but the connection is broken when the priest and young boy leave the area months later.
Raised by the Dominicans in California, Rino considers joining the order until a romance blossoms with a fellow student. After much soul-searching, he turns his back on everything familiar, and chooses his orientation over his perceived vocation. Upon graduating dental hygiene school, Rino takes a job at the office of Scott Gregory and Robin Kennedy.
Seventeen years have passed since that horrible night in the emergency room. Forty-three-year-old Ethan is now a Dominant in search of a full-time submissive. Twenty-nine-year-old Rino is adrift, longing for someone or something to help him find the serenity he’s lost along the way. As they rekindle their friendship, they realize they might be perfect for each other.
Hi guys, we now have Mickie B. Ashling visiting with the blog tour for her newest release Enforcing Emory, we have a brilliant excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and we have Zane’s awesome review, so check out the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Enforcing Emory
by
Mickie B. Ashling
Olympic figure skater Emory Lowe falls in lust the moment he lays eyes on his new neighbor, hockey player Nikolai (Nik) Vetrov. On the surface, Nik is a typical badass enforcer, intimidating and dangerous, on and off the ice. The only son of Ukrainian immigrants, Nik has been groomed from childhood to fulfill his father’s dreams of seeing him in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Igor guides his son toward that goal with a controlling—and abusive—hand, steering him clear of anyone who might ruin his chances.
Although Emory is the US National Figure Skating champion, he’s in-your-face gay, and his audacious persona rubs Nik and his family the wrong way. Raised by supportive and loving parents, Emory is Nik’s polar opposite in every way but one—his desire to succeed. Underneath the fluff and glitter beats the heart of a fierce competitor, and this side of Emory’s personality begins to close the distance between the two athletes.
While the attraction was one-sided in the beginning, Nik finds himself responding to Emory’s flirting. Before the incongruous pair have a chance at any sort of relationship, they must survive the pressures of career, separation, and most importantly, Igor’s ruthless homophobia.
Title: Taste Series: Horizons, #2 Author: Mickie B. Ashling Genre: Contemporary Romance with a flair for leather and lace Narrator: Paul Morey Length: 6 hours and 57 minutes Publisher: Dreamspinnner Press through Audible (06-12-12) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts Reviewer: Tams Blurb: What should have been a brief interlude turns into something deeper when Lil Lampert meets Grier Dilorio at the Taste of Chicago. Lil is in town visiting good friends Jody Williams and Clark Stevens, and he didn’t plan to hook up with a younger man and discover a mutual love for architecture, interior design, and a unique sexual kink that keeps Lil coming back for more.
By all appearances, Grier is the quintessential bad boy who loves speed, tattoos, and leather, but Lil slowly uncovers another side: selfless, responsible, and tender, especially for Luca, the son he’s had to deny. With Lil’s love and support, Grier will make a decision key to opening the door to a possible future together, one that includes fatherhood, something Lil has dreamed of but has never dared to explore.
Author’s Note: Spin-off from Horizons.
Purchase Link:http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Taste-Audiobook/B008AW0S1G Review: Lil Lampert is vacationing in Chicago with his best friend Jody and Jody’s husband Clark (book 1 in the series) when he meets the younger, sexy, tatted up Grier Dilorio. The Taste of Chicago is an annual fair with flare and food abounding, and Lil is enjoying every delicious mouthful. He ends his first day at the fare with a mouth-watering kiss from the handsome stranger, and the promise of a date that evening.
While both men are in the mood for some fun, and the attraction won’t be denied, they also realize that some fun with a few fringe benefits is all they could possibly share. Lil is heading back home to California in a week, and Grier would never leave his family or his son behind. They are determined to enjoy what little time they have though, but Grier’s family and friends are determined to make that difficult.
Grier is not in the closet, but his family chooses to ignore his sexuality. When he was still a teenager, he had an ill-fated night with his best friend, Jillian, that resulted in a child. Jill convinced Grier that they should keep the fact that he is the father of Luca from their families, so the last eight years he’s been there for Luca in every way aside from acknowledging his parentage. And with Grier having found a man he can see spending the rest of his life with, his brother and Jill, who are now dating by the way, launch a full on assault with snide comments and homophobic attitudes that they’ve kept to themselves until now.
With Lil’s help, Grier will face the demons of his past so that he can move forward. The question is, will they move forward together? Or when Lil goes home will that be the last these two instant and intense lovers see of each other?
A story of insta-love that is wrought with emotion and betrayal. Grier has always believed that he was doing what was best for his son, and always trusted Jill to hold true to their mutual understanding. And everything is fine and hunky dory until Grier finds someone to love. Jill goes out of her way to belittle the man who is supposed to be her best friend, becomes a bigot overnight. I truly hated this woman! But then the balance was Lil. Grier and Lil barely know each other and yet, Lil is standing by his side ready to fight for him, with him, for what is right. I truly loved this man!
Narrated by the best in the biz, Paul Morey, Taste kept me entertained and engrossed from start to finish. Morey can tell a story like no other, so when he has such an intriguing story to work with and convey to listeners, so that you can still have a solid grasp of the characters and storyline, it’s fantastic. To say that Grier and Lil have an instant and intense connection is almost an understatement. Their chemistry was off the charts sexy. And Grier’s little kink, while I found it odd at first, it was written in such a way that it became just another part of him, almost like an appendage.
If you are a fan of the insta-love stories, struggling and overcoming, a little bit of a lingerie kink and Paul Morey’s sultry voice that just drips off your ear buds like honey off the comb, then you don’t want to pass this one up!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Fractured Series: Bay Area Professionals Author: Mickie B. Ashling Genre: Contemporary Romance / BDSM Length: Novel (216 pages) ISBN: 978-1-62798-782-0 Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (March 24th, 2014) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts Reviewer: Thommie Blurb: Roque “Ro” Celdran dreams of a better life, far away from the hand-to-mouth existence of his migrant worker family. He moves to San Francisco to study Landscape Design but finds himself short of cash. Tony, Ro’s identical twin, comes up with a plan to help Ro make ends meet. The BDSM club Tony frequents is looking for gay men to act as submissives to the Dommes-in-training. Ro reluctantly takes the job and falls headfirst into a world he neither understands nor desires.
Lance Roberts is the new doctor at the dental practice started by Scott Gregory and Robin Kennedy. On the surface, he seems to have it all: the Mensa IQ, blond and blue-eyed good looks, and the determination to make it in his competitive field. Underneath lies a frustrated Dom in search of the perfect sub who can handle his obsessive behavior and debilitating need for control.
When Ro ends up in Lance’s dental chair, the last thing either one expects is a physical and mental connection. Ro’s attraction to “White Bread” never pans out, and Lance’s weakness for Latinos always leads to a dead-end. Could this time be different? What happens between the two alphas leads to a lot of soul-searching and some surprising conclusions. Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4775 Review: Well this was a very interesting book in so many ways. First of all, we have a dentist for a main character and I have to praise the research behind this part of the story. Everything regarding anything dental was described wonderfully, and the way, venues, materials a dentist uses were so real it made me cringe. Fact is I have a sort of phobia toward this profession and damn it if I didn’t feel at times as if I was there, in that clinic facing that Doc. *shudders* But it gave this entire read a very realistic side, made me feel as if I’m right in there, in the heart of this story, inside this very setting. It was a great feeling to be able to immerse myself in such a way in this story.
The other equally interesting things here are the twins. Being a person who has been and still am surrounded by twins, identical and not, my entire life I can’t help but notice how close to the psyche and behavior of twins the author got. At times I felt as if I was reading about my ex-partner and his brother, it was so close to them. Yes, there are twins who get along extremely well even as they are nothing like the other in personality, and then there are those twins who not only are miles in character away from each other, but there is this user/abuser thing going in on between them.
This story has the second part of twins; Ro always the good guy, the one who tries to make a life by working hard toward his goals and his twin is the taking-the-easy-road kind of guy, always irresponsible, always wanting to get somewhere easily and fast. When he crashes and burns though it is Ro cleaning up the mess. This time things got too far and Ro might not only be unable to help his twin, but he is in danger of losing the one thing he thought he’d never get in his life.
The romantic part of the book on the other hand is actually not only sweet, it is intriguing and really worth reading. Lance, the Doc, is a challenging character. He is supposed to be a Dom, but damn if he didn’t give submissive vibes from the beginning of this story. It had me wondering about him the entire time I was reading and when it got to the point where some elements were revealed, well everything made sense then and the way the story turned satisfied me to no end. I loved the dynamic between Lance and Ro. I loved how they handled their relationship. I loved how the book ended with the guys finally having found their place and their own unique style, without suffocating with all those labels and expectations. Not your typical BDSM read, not your typical D/s relationship, and that was perhaps what makes this even more worth reading.
I enjoyed it very much, even as Ro made me want to slap him at times with his holding up the deception, and if you like, a nice romantic story with a kinky bit in it, then this is one I definitely recommend.
Blurb: Finally reunited, Preston Fawkes and Konrad Schnell put family and obligations aside, preferring to remain in seclusion on Ned’s estate to get reacquainted. Unfortunately, reality can only be held off for so long, and they return to Texas to reclaim the life they put on pause. Trying to strike the right balance between business, family, and romance requires ongoing effort, and the challenges begin shortly after they arrive.
At the top of the list is Bandi, Konrad’s son, and his desire to play polo. A close second is Conrad “Sasha” Fawkes, Preston’s actor son who’s struggling to succeed on Broadway. And last, but certainly not least, is Paloma, the fiery Argentinean beauty Preston sired after a passionate tango.
Blending the interests and needs of three grown children is difficult at best and almost impossible when agendas collide and old secrets are unearthed. The situation comes to a head when the family gathers in San Antonio for Thanksgiving, throwing Preston and Konrad into a maelstrom they must weather as best they can, or they’ll face a major ride-off that could throw the game before it even starts.
Review: I loved Fire Horse. It was a book that engaged you from the very start, and a hell of a ride to take. I loved the end on that book as well, finally Flea and Kon found their happily ever after. But their happily ever after is not an easy thing to keep and maintain. It’s a characteristic of Ashling’s writing I’m beginning to think, to approach, and deliver her books with a great dose of realism. Yes, Preston and Konrad are finally together, but they both have too much baggage to carry on. Konrad has his demons to battle, memories of the past that don’t simply let him be, and his son is now too much grown up to constantly need a “chaperone” something that Konrad can’t seem to stop doing. And Preston, oh boy, if he doesn’t have a mess of a life. All the years he spend sexing around in a constant fight to elude the pain of losing Konrad, Preston had a son who finds himself from an only child to taking an appointment for his father’s attention, the little one he had so far becoming smaller. Paloma, the Argentinean daughter, makes a claim in his life too, and not to forget his long-lost and now found lover. Preston needs to balance his family and his love, but he was never good at that in first place.
That’s what Ride-Off is all about. There is no one protagonist here, there is not one couple. This book attacks fiercely at Preston and Konrad, Ned and Bandi, Sasha (Conrad) and Jeremy, and finally Paloma, the wild card.
I loved this book a lot. It lacked the heaviness the first one had, dealing mostly with the aftermath of a great love story. We see how a dysfunctional (and that is an understatement) family slowly grows into a more solid one, how people who love each other for years are practically strangers be it lovers or father and son, we deal with jealousy, pettiness, and a vast range of any emotion you can think of, and there surely isn’t any lack of drama around either. I think an epithet for this novel would be wholesome and it would do fine to describe it.
Ashling’s writing style is to be commended as well, as it is gorgeous really. I love reading her; she can turn the heaviest read into a joyful journey and gave me not one reason to say it wasn’t worth it. As it is, this novel ranged from funny, to emotional, to erotic and kinky, and I kept looking around waiting what surprise would come next.
I was shocked with Paloma, shocked even more with Pres and Kon, but the best surprise ever, one I never saw coming even though there were plenty of hints, was Jeremy. God I loved this character. I don’t know if it was because he was a new addition to the old cast or because he was simply astonishing. He was definitely the highlight and earthquake of this book for me.
Bottom end, this book was a time-well-spend and the best surprise after Fire Horse. Definitely a recommended one, although I’d suggest you pick up the first book in order to have a full understanding of the back-story and a better appreciation.
Title: Yesterday
