Hi guys, we have Asta Idonea popping in with her brand new release Beastly Businessmen and Guitar Gods, we also have a audio excerpt! So check out that the post and listen to the excerpt! <3 ~Pixie~
Beastly Businessmen and Guitar Gods
by
Asta Idonea
Fairytales and Myths for the Modern Gay
The modern age is devoid of magic.
Or is it?
How else could a stolen guitar or a lost shoe lead to love?
What but magic could spark romance at a workplace assessment?
Or turn a mean-spirited monster into a man?
Six fairytales and myths are given a contemporary MM twist in this collection of stories, proving that sometimes the mundane can be magical too.
DRAGGED INTO LOVE (Þrymskviða)
When Theo’s landlord steals a prized guitar in lieu of rent owed, he informs Theo he will return the instrument on one condition: he wants a date with Theo’s twin sister.
LOVE’S CODE (Ariadne and Theseus)
Andre must pass the examination if he wants to keep his job.
However, he is distracted by his unspoken love for fellow programmer, Eren.
GUESSING GAMES (Rumplestiltskin)
Sasha told a little white lie in his job interview and it won him the role.
Only now he is faced with a pile of work he doesn’t know how to complete.
ASSIGNATIONS AND ULTIMATUMS (The Strange Elopement of Tinirau)
Hunter and Ross are in love, but Ross’ father keeps trying to set him up with undesirable, yet powerful, older men, the latest of whom happens to be Ross’ boss.
LOST AND FOUND (Cinderella)
Cillian is dreading the work masquerade ball, but once there he finds himself romanced by a dashing stranger, only to flee when he discovers the man’s identity.
A DEBT IS A DEBT (Beauty and the Beast)
Dunstan Griffin is not a man to let a debt slide, so when debtor Alfred Siskin offers the EA services of his son, Wynn, in lieu of payment, Dunstan accepts.
Hi guys, we have Torquered Press’s newest anthology Mythologically Torqued stopping by today, I’ve pinched an excerpt and there’s a great giveaway… we also have Lisa’s review (sorry about the girly bits Lisa 😀 *cough*). So guys enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Mythologically Torqued
(Anthology)
by
Leigh Ellwood, L.J. Hamlin, Eva Lefoy, V.L. Locey, Jacey Mills, Alisha Monroe, Shiloh Sadler, Alyx Shaw, Delilah Storm, T. Strange, Carol Tierney, Angelique Voison, Max Wilde, Salome Wilde, Logan Zachary
Mythology, whether classic or modern, has always taken readers on a magical ride. Mythologically Torqued, volume I, takes those tales from days of old, or more recent history, and places a unique spin on the beloved lore.
The gods of Olympus make appearances, as do deities from Japanese, Norse, and other belief systems. With rampant sexual desires, these gods manage to slake their thirst for passions of the flesh in a rather untraditional manner…if the oral traditions passed down from generation-to-generation were at all accurate.
These fifteen short stories are penned by both seasoned scribes and new authors; the anthology provides readers with the perfect opportunity to explore offerings from their favorite storytellers as well as find a new favorite or two. And, a unique perspective on the stories we enjoyed—or were forced down our throats at the hands of a sadistic English teacher or two—in our youth.
Containing both M/M and F/F stories from authors Alisha Monroe, Alyx Shaw, Angelique Voisen, Carol Tierney, Delilah Storm, Eva Lefoy, Jacey Mills, L.J. Hamlin, Leah Ellwood, Logan Zachary, Max Wilde, Salome Wilde, Shiloh Saddler, T. Strange, and V.L. Locey, Mythologically Torqued volume I is sure to have something for every penchant.
Eros finds his soul mate in the arms of a demigod friend in L.J. Hamlin’s In Love with Zeus’ Son. In Shiloh Sadler’s Clipped Wings, two men on a plantation find love under the most unusual circumstances in 1842 Missouri. V.L. Locey’s Back to the Garden, Pan hits up Woodstock with the sun god Apollo—sex, drugs, and rock and roll take on a whole new meaning. In Brísingamen, Carol Tierney offers us the story of a magical necklace, and the payment goddess Freyja delivered to four dwarven sisters for it’s creation. Delphinos, by T. Strange, is a modern-age retelling of Dionysus’ creation of dolphins. In Angelique Voison’s version of the Japanese Moon Princess myth, Reiko is tasked with bringing the Emperor’s future bride, the fabled Moon Princess to court, and complications arise when Reiko falls head over heels for Kaguya. Charged with ensuring Sisyphus fails, Hercules is conflicted by his feelings for the former ruler in Angelique Voison’s How HerculesGot His Bruise. In Leah Ellwood’s Styx and Stone, Ferrying souls across the Styx is a lonely business, but Charon doesn’t mind—newly arrived Stone is more than willing to keep him company. No one believes in the Greek gods anymore, and Apollo is in a rut, Ganymede—cupbearer to the gods— tries to get Apollo to see what’s in front of him in Jacey Mills’ Another Night at the End of the World. Salome Wilde’s Eternal Grind offers a corporate take on Christian Hell, populated with horned and hoofed demons inspired by medieval monks’ fertile imaginations, which follows a pair of lesbian demon baristas, determined to find their own happily-ever-after. In the distant past, Ero was the god of desire, but in present day, he looks for love with Psy—a peerlessly gorgeous mortal man—and needs to keep a secret, in Alisha Monroe’s The Myth of Ero and Psy. Bound by chains and defenseless, Thor is being held captive by Garrick, a young man also forced to service until demands are met in Logan Zachary’s Bound by Desire. Together, attraction ignites between Thor and Garrick—can love grow if it is bound by desire? In Delilah Storm’s The Golden Balls, true love’s kiss is powerful, and Jasper’s sexuality awakens—will Anur be able to keep Jasper in this sleepy little kingdom? A spurned lover, mythical horse, and a public official walk into a pub—murder, mayhem, and everlasting love result in Alyx Shaw’s The Kelpie.
Hey guys, we have Kayla Jameth stopping by with a book blast for her newest release A Spartan Love, so check out the book, read Gig’s review and then click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
A Spartan Love
by
Kayla Jameth
Alone, Andreas toils on a remote farmstead for a Spartan overlord. When a kryptes enters his world, Andreas fears for his life. The dread warriors stalk and kill helots—like Andreas’ father—as part of their training.
Andreas sees only one way to save himself: he must tame the fearsome warrior.
But what began as self-preservation develops into attraction. Yearning for the company of someone other than his ferret Ictis, Andreas decides to trust the Spartan warrior and risk the fate that claimed his father.
Born to rule by the sword, Theron sees the world as his and acts accordingly, taking everything Andreas offers and reaching for more. However, love between men in Sparta is considered shameful and requires either exile or suicide to redeem Sparta’s honor. Now, only the gods can save them from the terrible price Sparta extracts from men who desire other men.
Hi guys, today we have Anya Richards showing off her tasty little Satyr’s Lure, there’s a great excerpt so you can get a feel for the book and there’s a great giveaway where you can win another tasty treat from Anya. So minions I will leave you to enjoy this treat and don’t forget to check out my review and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Satyr’s Lure
by
Anya Richards
Summer in the high mountain pastures, in the shadow of ancient Greece’s Mount Parnassus, is usually Iason’s favorite time of year. A time when he feels happiest, surrounded by nature and free to take a lover from among the other shepherds. But this year he’s chosen his companion poorly and the resulting scars, of both body and soul, have left him questioning his worth.
It is only in the arms of the enigmatic and enthralling stranger Telesphoros, who rescues him from a storm, that Iason begins to heal. Yet the secrets both men hide overshadow the magic of their encounter, and foreshadow the heartache to come.
Finn de Morisco knows he is walking into a trap when he enters the Vampire Cathedral to rescue his sister Cynthia. Aided by Schwint and his other sister, Caitlin, he intends to free Cynthia and avoid enslavement. But when he confronts the master of the Voice that has tortured him, Finn faces a grim choice: compromise his soul or lose his family.
For centuries, members of the Chromis tribe have disappeared, and Brett Wright is on a quest to discover the fate of the captive mers and to stop the abductions. Despite the risk of tribal warfare, he embarks on a dangerous ocean journey to find other mer tribes experiencing the same plight. When destiny brings him back to land, Brett encounters new allies and old dangers while coming to grips with the past.
Review: I’ve been waiting for this all year and WOW! It was worth the wait. This is book three of the Men of Myth series and I do suggest you read them all in order to get the full impact. The covers are also brilliant!
This series is like getting three stories in one. It has three characters and we get viewpoint from all three. I loved this. When a view changes it tells us at the beginning of that chapter so it isn’t confusing at all, though Both Brett and Finn are in two separate places now and that makes it easy to tell whose view also.
Speaking of separate places let’s start with Finn. Finn and his sister Caitlin and his new boyfriend Schwint embark on a mission to go to the Vampire Cathedral to rescue Cynthia, Finn’s sister. We get on last look at the Square. This world is very supernatural and dark. You have all sorts of creepies there. I loved how this was a supernatural world blended in the human world. Now let’s move on to Costa Rica and the Vampire Cathedral. This is the main setting where Finn is throughout this story. We meet Gwala the Vampire king, if you want to know more about him read the prologue. I love how he looks like a child but it’s clear he isn’t a child or sweet as his appearance lets us believe. This is a vampire that would give Dracula a run for his money. He summoned Finn because Finn possesses powers he doesn’t even realize he has and Gwala needs the strongest witches and warlocks he can find.
Now on the world Brett is in. Brett has been living under the sea with his father and the Chromis tribe for the past six months. I think this is one of my mot favourite supernatural worlds I have read to date. It’s mystical and magical and I felt I was right there swimming along with the mers. The descriptions are beautiful and paint a picture and fits in with the action and dialogue so it never gets boring. Just when you think, it can’t get any better, the tribe moves along to another place even more beautiful and mystical.
Now for the story. I love this story it’s poignant and heartfelt, mystical, and magical, dark and heart wrenching at times. This is definitely not a Cinderella love story or a sparkling vamp romance. It’s extremely emotional and full of angst. There were several surprising twists that left me in shock. I will say near the end it brought tears to my eyes. Though there are only a couple of sex scenes, they are quite the scorchers. I cannot wait to see more from this series.
If you like strange, mystical supernatural worlds, Demons, vampires, mermaids and mermen, Witches , Warlocks and Fairies, drama, mystery, angst and lots of twists and turns this one is definitely for you
Author: Anthology – Andrew Gray, Mary Calmes & Amy Lane
Genre: Shifter, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Novel (320pgs)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (27th July 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: For time immemorial, the goddesses of fate have decided which human threads will shine and which will be cut short. But even the fates have off days.
Fate Delivers a Prince by Andrew Grey
Finding love shouldn’t be that difficult for a diplomat’s son, except Cheyenne is part of a grand tradition of werewolves, and a werewolf with a skin condition needs more help than most mortals. When Chey meets the prince of his dreams, it takes Clotho’s intervention to keep him from letting go.
Jump by Mary Calmes
When two lovers die, their threads of life are collected instead of scattered, as one of them was the brother of a god. Can the fates reunite two lovers whose threads should have twined together for eternity? Or will Cassidy allow Raza’s interest to pass his pale, mortal self by?
Believed You Were Lucky by Amy Lane
The gods’ meddling isn’t always welcome. It’s given Lief good luck but poor fortune, and Hacon a family curse he’s lived in fear of all his life. But when Lief’s good luck saves Hake’s life, Hake has to reevaluate everything he’s ever believed about luck, life, and love.
Review: Well readers you are in for a treat with three wonderful stories from three wonderful authors, with three slightly different sets of Fate that include Greek, Egyptian and Norse mythology.
Fate Delivers a Prince by Andrew Grey
Cheyenne is a werewolf who has a skin condition, he’s picked on by his brothers and his father has a hard time with him being gay. When he meets his mate Arthur, he is happy but there is a problem. Arthur is a human Prince and is expected to have an Heir. Arthur has a secret of his own, he knows more about werewolves than Chey thinks and knows that it will work out with Chey, but he wants to get to know Chey better before being claimed. But, Chey overhears a conversation he shouldn’t have and reacts badly and Clotho’s has to step in.
This is a sweet story that has misunderstandings, sweet loving, forgiveness, and interference from the Fates, a father who has difficulty accepting his son has a male mate, a mother who puts her husband in his place and two young men who love each other. A story to shake your head at, as Chey has to decide if he is going to fight for what he wants. It’s a story to smile at, as finally he comes to his senses and pursues Arthur, and a story to grin at as Arthur turns the tables and gets the wolf he deserves.
Jump by Mary Calmes
When a pair of lovers is ripped apart, Anubis makes a deal with the Fates to ensure his brother Horus and Cassius are entwined in future lives. Cassidy has the sight, he can see a short way into people’s lives, and one night when he is out drinking with friends he ends up saving Raza’s life. Raza is fascinated by Cassidy and doesn’t want to let him go. But, his time in Chicago is coming to an end and he has to convince the man he wants to come with him after his secrets are revealed.
This is another wonderful story from the Queen of feel good love stories. A beautifully written story that draws Raza and Cassidy together, two souls torn apart but now reunited. But, Cassidy has decisions to make as Raza has no choice but to leave Chicago. He has too many enemies and is too well-known to have a normal life. So Cassidy has to make choices he isn’t sure he is ready to make yet, but he also has to keep Raza alive, when his sight shows him that he is in grave danger… yet again. So we have two wonderful characters, a wonderful love story, really hot sex and a very happy ending.
Believed You Were Lucky by Amy Lane.
The god, Loki, messed about with Fates threads and now the Fates have to fix what he has broken. But, it isn’t without its consequences. Lief and Hake are two opposites, Lief has luck, while Hake has a curse, but when they collide Lief’s luck just might have rubbed off on Hake.
This is a slightly stranger story, as we have interludes of the Fates and gods as they watch over the two men, Lief and Hake. Lief and Hake are complete opposites in every way. But, when they collide and Lief ends up accidentally saving Hake’s life, they become involved and their threads become entwined. Both characters are great in their own right, but together they are perfect. The storyline is really good and I loved the secondary characters. They brightened up the story and added a bit more depth. This is an enjoyable mystery with interfering Fates and gods.
I recommend this anthology to everyone who loves the Fates, gods, love stories, hot sex, three wonderful stories, three great couples and three very happy endings.
Blurb: New York City homicide detectives Artemis Gregory and Rachel Wayland are first on the murder scene of a beautiful young gay man, the third victim of a serial killer dubbed the Moon Killer by the department. Their investigation leads them to Talis Kehk, charismatic lead singer of the rock group Phoenix Rising. As the next full moon approaches, Artemis and his partner uncover clues that lead straight to Talis—even as Talis, exhibiting behavior Artemis finds strange indeed considering the circumstances, uses every means possible to keep Artemis close.
Artemis could never fall in love with a murderer, could he? Innocent or not, Talis has a secret… and it’s about to change Artemis’s world forever.
Review: Artemis is on the trail of a serial killer when he follows a thin trail to Talis, the lead singer of a rock group. with the evidence against Talis piling up Artemis is getting ready to move in for the kill, but Talis has other ideas. Talis has spent many years hunting for his soul-mate, now he has found him and all he wants to do is get Artemis to fall in love with him. but, Artemis suspects him of murder, so Talis has to take drastic action to secure Artemis’ affection.
This is an interesting novella that combines mythology with crime and soul-mates and gives us some interesting character building. Artemis lives for his job. he loves the thrill of the chase, but the newest case of young hot gay men being mysteriously murdered have left him baffled. The evidence is plenty, the cause of death undetectable and the suspects nil… until Artemis makes a tenuous connection to the leader of the rock band, Phoenix Rising. Talis is running out of time, he doesn’t have much longer left to find his soul-mate and he finally finds him in the shape of police detective Artemis Gregory. But, Artemis is resistant to his wiles, so Talis has to resort to drastic measures to convince him he did not murder those young men.
There are many things that this book has going for it. the storyline is good and strong, the plot interesting and the writing is good. But, there are a few things that pulled me from the book, as I had to suspend my disbelief to continue and I was disappointed in the way that Artemis seemed to change half way through the book (I like my characters consistent). Artemis came across as a strong character. he can compartmentalize with ease, but his focus is always on the job. he isn’t about to be swayed by any pretty face and he will catch the criminal… but then he changed and he was all wishy washy, pulled about by his attraction to Talis and completely losing focus of all the young men who were murdered.
Talis was a much more consistent character. he has one focus and that is to survive. I really can’t say if Talis and Artemis would make a good couple because I only saw Talis trying to seduce Artemis over to his side and Artemis going from a strong man to a man in the throes of infatuation.
That isn’t to say that the book isn’t good. Part 1 was brilliant and had me hooked, but then Part 2 started to lose me as Artemis changed. But, then Part 3 threw me for a loop. The storyline of a Phoenix searching for its soul-mate was really good and the string of unsolved gay murders was a brilliant touch. the way the characters were at the start of the book was great and I had very high expectations.
So, I will recommend this to those who love mythical creatures, two hot men, and great, hot sex (lol), impressive written imagery, a great storyline and a happy ending.
Blurb: Eros Omnia — Ross to his friends and Cupid to the rest of the known world – is having a bad day. With just one more set of arrows to shoot before he can move up to Mercury’s vacant position, Ross loses one of the arrows and worse yet, uncovers a plot implicating two of the oldest gods on Olympus. At the same time, one of those arrows shot true in the finest ass Ross has seen in an eternity. With a little cunning, some bravado and the most beautiful mortal he’s ever laid eyes on, Cupid’s aiming to make his worst day turn out to be the best yet…
Review: Ross has been the God of Love for close to a century and has discovered that the work isn’t particularly rewarding. There is a position opening up for Mercury (the God of Trade) and Ross is determined to get the job. He only has to act as Cupid on one last assignment and he is pretty sure the position of Mercury is his….as long as he doesn’t screw up! Getting Tony and Kristin together proves a little bit difficult, however. Tony Aster, a medical student that makes Ross’s heart beat a little faster, finally gets hit with his arrow after a rather humorous incident involving a pigeon, but Kristin proves a little bit more difficult. Ross ends up losing the arrow meant for her and now Tony is walking around primed for falling in love with whoever sticks themself with the lost arrow. Two things happen as Ross tries to fix his slightly messed up case….he discovers that there is a plot amongst some of the other Gods to ruin his chances at a promotion and he falls head over heels in love with Tony.
Since I have always been fascinated with Mythology, this story really drew me in right from the beginning. It is a quick read so there isn’t a lot of time to develop the secondary characters very well, but I think the author did a really good job of letting us get to know Ross and Tony. As a medical student, Tony has a natural tendency to be nurturing and Ross would love more than anything to just fall into his arms, but always has his mission to unite Tony and Kristin in love in the back of his mind. They give into the very real attraction between them and become physically involved, which makes Ross wonder why Kristin and Tony were ever meant to fall in love in the first place.
I thought the author gave a unique little plot twist at the end in terms of why Ross was being sabotaged. Sometimes I had a hard time following who was who in terms of all the gods involved, but probably because the story moved along so fast. Overall, though, I enjoyed the author’s writing style and thought Ross and Tony were both really great characters. She also gave a lot of description when discussing people and places involved which really made it an enjoyable story
Blurb:Gregory cheated death. And now, seven years later, the grim reaper has returned. Can Gregory convince Angel of Death, Thanatos, to grant one final request: a single lover before he moves on to his great reward–and he chooses Thanatos.
At fourteen, Gregory Harris suffers a massive heart attack during a baseball game. As his coach tries desperately to keep him alive, a tall, handsome man in a hooded black cloak stands beside him–the Angel of Death. Gregory begs this grim reaper for more time on Earth so his parents can prepare for his death. The reaper grants him his wish, and even though Gregory saw him for just a few short moments, he often fantasizes about the mysterious creature.
Seven years later, the Angel of Death is back for Gregory. Gregory is ready to move on to the afterlife, but he regrets that he never had a lover and partner to call his own. Gregory has no intention of escaping this grim reaper. In fact, he intends to do whatever it takes to convince Thanatos that they belong together forever.
Review: Wow. this is a really good story involving Greek mythology. Gregory suffers a heart attack and when Death comes for him he isn’t scared but asks for the time to say goodbye to his family and prepare them for his death. Years later, he is visited again and strikes a bargain with Death. Death is Thanatos, who has developed a soft spot for Gregory over the years. When he comes to collect Gregory, for the final time, Gregory strikes a bargain.
A really sweet story about a young man who defies death himself to get the man he loves. Gregory has suffered greatly because of his weak heart over the years, but it was a price he was willing to take to give his family time to adjust and prepare for his death. Thanatos has visited Gregory over the years and has admired the young man for his love and compassion. When Gregory cons him, Thanatos grants him one last wish.
Thanatos and Gregory make a great couple in this story and it was wonderful that Gregory got to experience the one thing he wanted most with the person that he wanted the most. But fighting for it, as his time came to an end and Thanatos was determined to send him on to his rewards, when all he wanted was Thanatos, was a great twist. Gregory has help, in the form of Nemesis, who advises him to remember what they promised one another. They also have to contend with Thanatos’s twin brother trying to cause trouble.
This is a well written story that I really enjoyed, it has incredible hot sex, interfering siblings, a strong willed young man, a stubborn Death and a happy ending, so really all I can recommend is that you read it and enjoy.
Blurb: For over 250 years, the use of the tarot for divination has been a mainstay of mystical and occult practices. The themes and forces represented by the cards are said to govern our lives and our destinies. Whether you believe that or not, the story of the cards is nevertheless the story of our lives — the accomplishments and the pitfalls, the path from soaring joy to crushing defeat and back again.
Caleb is fleeing from the realities of his life, hiding in a dream of the Moon. The God of Dreams finds him there and draws Caleb deeper into the night with promises of passion and closeness otherwise denied to him. But in the waking world, a chance for something real forces Caleb to choose between love and immortality.
(This short story was originally published in the “Cast the Cards” anthology.)
Review: Caleb has had a lot to deal with in his life. When he is visited in his dreams one night by Morpheus he has the opportunity for a dream lover, he grabs at it with both hands; as he believes that he will never have a real one again.
This is quite a poignant little piece even though I am not sure if it was meant to be. How many times have we wished we could sleep away our troubles? To have a dream lover take all our worries away so we only have pleasure? To ignore the world around us, so we know only happiness? In this story that is exactly what Caleb does, he is seduced by Morpheus into only wanting to sleep so he can spend time loving Morpheus and knowing only pleasure, as he sleeps more and more he neglects his real life and the new friend he made in Scott.
Scott offered a relationship to Caleb and was rebuffed but he is determined to be his friend and be there when he needs him. As Caleb’s life spins out of control Scott is there to pick up the pieces but Morpheus is becoming unhappy. I really liked this story as it portrayed a dream-like mystical quality as Caleb’s mind became foggier as he lost touch with his real life. His escaping his fears, loneliness and unhappiness is completely understandable and Scott’s persistence and patience is laudable as he struggles to get through to Caleb.
This is a wonderful short with hot sex, longing and the realization that maybe just maybe dreams can happen in the real world too. I highly recommend this to everyone.
