Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (14th September 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate – Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: When a demon saves an angel’s life, he wins the chance to stay out of Hell and walk the earthly plane until the End of Days.
Cael wasn’t aware of the loophole when he spared the angel Malak, but he plans to exploit it. All he needs to do to earn his freedom is convince Malak to give up his virginity. Three thousand years should be plenty of time. But Malak isn’t interested—not in having sex with Cael and not in being exiled from Heaven as a result.
Time is running out, and if Cael fails, his punishment will be unspeakable. With only days left, Malak realizes he can’t let that happen—not to the demon he’s come to love.
But the End of Days is coming sooner than either anticipated. Lucifer has found a way to unleash the Four Horseman and end all existence. If Cael and Malak want to stay together, they need to seek out all four Horsemen and stop them from bringing about the Apocalypse.
Review: When Cael saved Malak from the destruction of Sodom he bought himself free time from Hell, as when a demon saves an angel he has a chance at freedom. For nearly 3000 years Cael has tried to tempt Malak into giving in to Cael’s wants and he has only one more year to get Malak to succumb or Cael’s got a hell of a welcome party waiting for him when he returns to Hell. Malak has no intention of giving into Cael but when he learns the truth of Cael’s return to Hell Malak can’t bear the horror that Cael will suffer, he’s grown to love the stupid demon.
Just as Cael and Malak begin to look to their future they get the news that Lucifer has released the Four Horsemen and devastation and destruction are heading Earth’s way, together they are determined to stop the Horsemen and Lucifer’s plans of the End of Days.
This is a great novella of an angel and demon finding love and saving the world. Cael is actually a very likable demon, he might be obsessed with sex but he’s very gentle and teasing towards Malak. Malak is a determined Angel, even with being on Earth for so long he’s never lost sight of his goal of returning to Heaven, Cael makes it hard for him though with his teasing and sexual interest.
Both characters are interesting and we do get little flashbacks to times long gone which gives us some insight into Cael and Malak. Their relationship is rocky to say the least, but it’s passionate and hot. The story then turns around to Cael and Malak stopping the Horsemen from fulfilling their assignments and it’s dangerous, exciting and also very bloody.
The story is really well written and cut up into little books, the first part is all about Cael and Malak’s relationship and then there’s four more books for each of the Horsemen as Cael and Malak vanquish them, they are clearly marked so we don’t suddenly find ourselves wondering ‘what’s going on now?’. The story flows well and the storyline is great, it’s a bit of an easy read and not weighed down with too much detail or unnecessary dialogue.
I recommend this to those readers who love Angel and Demon’s finding love, readers who love a bit of action and danger, who adore great characters and a very happy ending.
Hiya guys, we have R.J. Scott stopping by with the first book in her Montana series, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Lisa’s & my review, so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Crooked Tree Ranch
(Montana 01)
by
R.J. Scott
When a cowboy meets the guy from the city, he can’t know how much things will change.
On the spur of the moment, with his life collapsing around him, Jay Sullivan answers an ad for a business manager with an expertise in marketing, on a dude ranch in Montana. With his sister, Ashley, niece, Kirsten and nephew, Josh, in tow, he moves lock stock and barrel from New York to Montana to start a new life on Crooked Tree Ranch.
Foreman and part owner of the ranch, ex rodeo star Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Todd has been running the dude ranch, for five years ever since his mentor Marcus Allen became ill. His brothers convince him that he needs to get an expert in to help the business grow. He knows things have to change and but when the new guy turns up, with a troubled family in tow – he just isn’t prepared for how much.
NB: This is a previously released title. It includes a new chapter and is re-edited with new cover art.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (12th September 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ – 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Justin Hawthorne worked hard to realize his silver-screen dreams, making his way from small-town Pennsylvania to Hollywood and success. But it hasn’t come without sacrifice. When Justin’s father kicked him out for being gay, George Miller’s family offered to take him in, but circumstances prevented it. Now Justin is back in town and has come face to face with George, the man he left without so much as a good-bye… and the man he’s never stopped loving.
Justin’s disappearance hit George hard, but he’s made a life for himself as a home nurse and finds fulfillment in helping others. When he sees Justin again, George realizes the hole in his heart never mended, and he isn’t the only one in need of healing. Justin needs time out of the public eye to find himself again, and George and his mother cannot turn him away. As they stay together in George’s home, old feelings are rekindled. Is a second chance possible when everything George cares about is in Pennsylvania and Justin must return to his career in California? First they’ll have to deal with the reason for Justin’s abrupt departure all those years ago.
Review: When Justin left his hometown he never looked back, he might have thought of his first love George often but he has no intention of ever returning there. When he gets a call to say his estranged father is dying Justin knows he has to go to at least lay some of his ghosts to rest. George was devastated when Justin up and left in the middle of the night, now Justin is back and while George wants answers he’s just happy to see him again, their feelings for each other have never changed but can they really have a relationship when George’s life is in Pennsylvania and Justin’s is in California.
This is a wonderfully written story that has both joy and sadness, it has forgiveness and letting go of the past and it has stunning revelations and rekindled love. Justin has never let go of his bitterness towards his father for kicking him out for being gay and even though he has a successful movie career and has created his own family with his best friend Ethan he still stings from that rejection. Returning home to his father’s deathbed is hard for him and it comes across jumping off the pages so you feel his confused twisted feelings and the bitterness that still plagues him.
George stuck around town and has been Justin’s fathers nurse for a while, he’s learnt to, in a way, to forgive what the man did to Justin and himself, he’s learnt to let it go and to move forward. George and Justin rekindle their relationship while Justin is in town, but Justin has never told anyone the truth about what happened to him that long ago night. So there’s a bit of a mystery going on that is shocking when revealed.
This really is a wonderful story and the characters are great, we get a good depth to them and we can connect with them, we understand why George has let go of his hard feelings and we feel and understand Justin’s bitterness towards his father… ohhh I could so totally relate to how Justin felt as everyone sang his father’s praises *grrrrr*. Seeing George and Justin come together and finding their love for each other is still there is a wonderful thing, these guys have both tried to move forward but their hearts only want each other.
I recommend this to those who adore rekindled love stories, brilliant characters, fantastic storylines and a wonderful ending.
Hi peeps, we have Keelan Ellis popping in today with the tour for her new release Good Boys, we also have a peek at a new excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and my review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link! <3 ~Pixie~
Good Boys
(The Soloman series 01)
by
Keelan Ellis
Paul Solomon is a homicide detective in Baltimore, a city with a high murder rate and a complicated relationship between the police and the citizens they are sworn to protect.
He’s also a gay man who has been out on the job since he first joined. Being out on a tough police force hasn’t always been easy, but living with integrity is important to him.
Paul’s love life becomes as tumultuous as his job with the demise of his relationship of eight years. While dealing with the emotional and physical upheaval in his personal life, a case comes across his desk that hits a little too close to home—the murder of two gay teenagers.
Paul and his partner, Tim Cullen, must solve the double homicide, and Paul has to find a way to move on from his failed relationship.
Blurb: The world ends not with a bang, but with a downpour. Tornadoes spin through the heart of London, New York cooks in a heat wave that melts tarmac, and Russia freezes under an ever-thickening layer of permafrost. People rally at first—organizing aid drops and evacuating populations—but the weather is only getting worse.
In Durham, mild-mannered academic Danny Fennick has battened down to sit out the storm. He grew up in the Scottish Highlands, so he’s seen harsh winters before. Besides, he has an advantage. He’s a werewolf. Or, to be precise, a weredog. Less impressive, but still useful.
Except the other werewolves don’t believe this is any ordinary winter, and they’re coming down over the Wall to mark their new territory. Including Danny’s ex, Jack—the Crown Prince Pup of the Numitor’s pack—and the prince’s brother, who wants to kill him.
This is the first book by this author that I have read and I hate to say it probably the last. The blurb made the book sound a bit more interesting but the story itself was just creepy as hell. The tone was dark and twisted with characters that I wouldn’t save if the world was going to hell except for Danny.
Danny had left his home so many years ago and now taught students for a living. He had a nice life even though he was a dog shifter. That was until the storms starting hitting the world and the cold took the lives of those not prepared. He had been born into a wolf pack and had only his mother left there, a mother not worth calling even on a good day. They say that the weather is a prediction of what is to come.
Jack was the crown prince of his pack, but had also been kicked out for being gay by his father. Times were changing and not for the good. He was going to make a new home for himself, but had not expected to find someone he had spent time with living over the wall. To top it off there is murder going around and they needed to find out who was behind it.
I couldn’t get into this book very well. I basically skimmed over parts and it felt like I had not missed a damn thing. This book was not what I had expected and left me more disappointed than anything. I can say that I did not care for Jack and could not connect with any of the characters, although I did like Danny. I am afraid that if this authors other stories are similar to this one then I will probably skip those also. I just could not get interested in this story.
Pixie’s Review: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ Hearts
I have to admit that I do disagree with Lisa on this one, I loved it. The dystopian setting as the Earth rebels against humanity is a stunning setting; it adds a more desperate feel to the situation as the town becomes isolated and something is stalking in the shadows.
Jack is a tough bastard, he has no intention of his banishment killing him and as he travels towards England he catches a whiff of a scent he knows well. Danny has a good life among the humans and when the storm hits he has no intention of leaving his new home, and then Jack finds him.
This isn’t a sweet fluffy shifter story, it’s a rough world the shifters live in and it’s a bit complex. As the wolf winter comes to fruition and the shifters plan to bathe in blood something else is lurking in the background, something so dark and twisted that neither humans nor shifters are safe.
I loved this story for the beautiful way that it was executed, it’s darkish and bloody and although Danny and Jack are what I’d loosely call a romantic pair there really isn’t any romance or really a relationship, it just is.
So I’d recommend this to those who love darker paranormal stories, who love the cold winter setting and lurking shadows, who adore gritty stories and happy for now endings.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (9th September 2016)
Heat Level: Low – Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Shiver me timbers! When Professor Wesley Coolidge accepts a summer job as a historical consultant to a pirate movie being filmed in North Carolina, the last person he expects to bump into is his soon-to-be ex, movie star Sander Carson. Just like the flamboyant pirate he’s playing, Sander, aka Sam Carr, is used to getting what he wants, and he makes it clear he wants Wesley back in his life.
Sam acknowledges it’s his fault they split up. He lost Wesley when he left their life in New York City behind for a career in Hollywood. But Wesley has finally managed to put the pieces of his heart back together, and he isn’t interested in Sam and Wesley: The Sequel. Sam soon realizes that convincing Wesley to give their relationship a second chance will take much more than apologies and reminders of good times past. If he wants Wesley back, Sam will have to show Wesley that they really can sail into the sunset together—a real-life happily-ever-after that won’t end once the final credits roll.
Review: When Wesley accepts a summer job on a pirate movie he has no idea that he has been neatly maneuvered by his soon to be ex-husband Sam. Wesley wants to move on with his life, he has a new promotion, a new boyfriend and he is being seriously considered for a huge grant. But being confronted by his ex, the movie star, has Wesley confused and more determined than ever to put Sam behind him.
Sander (aka Sam) sacrificed the one thing he never wanted to lose in his bid for Hollywood fame, determined to get a second chance he puts his plan to win his husband back in motion but Wesley is a harder nut to crack than he thought. Flowers, romantic home cooked dinners and sailing at sunset just doesn’t seem to be enough, Sam will have to pull the big guns out and open his heart if he hopes to have a chance with the man he’s never stopped loving.
This is a wonderful story that is nicely paced and keeps your attention with the ‘will he/won’t he’ storyline. Both Wesley and Sam are wonderful characters, their relationship slowly fell apart as Sam spent more time in LA and Wesley was in New York. Wesley is a history Professor and loves his job, he never really stopped loving Sam but the strain of never seeing him and being ignored for weeks and months at a time took its toll. Sam is the big movie star whose career just took over, he’s left devastated when he gets divorce papers. We can see both sides of the story and we soon begin to root for Sam and hoping Wesley will give him a chance.
Wesley and Sam are wonderful together, their easy camaraderie shows us right off the bat that their feelings for each other are still strong, we watch as Sam tries to woo Wesley and fail miserably. We watch as Sam stumbles around trying to win Wesley over and we watch as Wesley tries to convince himself that he’s over Sam. It’s a fantastic story that just pulls you in as you become invested in their relationship.
I can’t say it’s all easy for Wesley though, he gets disappointing news and then he walks in on his new boyfriend ‘entertaining’ a colleague, he has a rough few moments and his head is a bit of a mess at times. Poor guy just can’t seem to catch a break. Although the story is all about their relationship we do have some great moments with some of Sam’s colleagues, and there’s also a fantastic sea rescue.
The story is beautifully written, it has some interesting tidbits on pirates, Wesley and Sam’s relationship builds up throughout the story and is nicely paced, they have a couple of hot moments and boy are they hot! We fall in love with the characters and become invested in their lives, this really is a sweet, lovely romance of reconnecting and finding the love that was nearly lost.
I recommend this to those who love sweet romances, who love a man determined to get his lover back, who adore characters who pull out all the stops, who love dashing rescues and a wonderful ending.
Hiya peeps, K.C. Wells pops in now with her newest release The Senator’s Secret, we have a fantastic excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and my review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
The Senator’s Secret
(Dreamspun Desires 17)
by
K.C. Wells
When his Republican opponent outs him with a photo in a Facebook post, Senator Samuel Dalton doesn’t have many options open to him. It doesn’t matter that the photo was totally innocent. He has no choice but to come clean – until his staff suggest putting a spin on it that leaves Sam reeling.
Sure, he’d end up with a lot of sympathy, not to mention the possibility of more voters from the LGBT community, but it still seems a pretty drastic solution.
Now all they have to do is persuade Gary, the other man in the photo, to play along. It sounds so easy – convince the constituents of North Carolina that he and Sam are engaged.
No big deal, except for the fact that they’ve only just met…
Hi guys, we have Storm Grant stopping by today with her newest release Re-Inventing Love, we have a great excerpt and my review, so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Re-Inventing Love
by
Storm Grant
Engineer and assistant inventor Maximilian Grün is in love with his employer, but he daren’t reveal the truth. It’s 1910 and if Canadian authorities learned of his homosexuality, they’d deport him back to Germany where the country of his birth would become the country of his death.
When promising young inventor and mathematician Dr. Jasper Hamilton expresses his own feelings for Max, the young German regretfully declines. He cannot risk their partnership, their reputations—their very lives!
Then a rival inventor sabotages their inventions. Jasper is caught between the physical and the metaphysical, reduced to atoms, and transported to the spirit plane! Max is devastated, deeply regretting his lost chances.
But Jasper manages to communicate across the aether, telling Max he must reverse the machine’s polarity. But without Jasper’s talent for mathematics, the calculations defeat him.
Can the would-be lovers bridge the gap between life and death to finally be together?
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (5th September 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ – 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Betrayed and left for dead by his lover, North has retreated to a secluded island to nurture his coven of witches and their demon partners. His group uses the magic of starlight to bring as much peace to the world as they can. It’s enough. North has no desire to look for love again.
When an accident on a carpentry job reveals that he is a demon, Alan Holsen is sent to North for training. Alan possesses a rare healing ability—one he might be able to use to close the old wounds in North’s heart. While North teaches Alan magic, Alan teaches North to love again, and they both struggle with the leftover resonance of their haunted pasts.
Just when they dare to relax, North’s old enemy returns—and sets his sights on Alan. To save him, North must enlist the aid of neighboring covens, and he learns he isn’t as alone as he thought. But in the end, only North’s love for Alan and the power of the stars have any chance of saving them.
Review: This story is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone.
For the last two years North has lived on his small Island regrouping, building up his strength and nurturing his coven of witches and their demon partners, when he’s sent a new demon to begin his training he expects a ten year old child and an easy time… what he gets is a twenty one year old man who hits all his switches. Alan got the shock of his life when he fell from a roof and flew, the owner of the roof explains what Alan really is and Alan finds himself with a reluctant tutor.
This is a fantastic paranormal story that has witches and demons working together and falling in love. North fell in love once before, believing the demon, Gagnon, to be his but Gagnon used and abused him and left him for dead, now North doesn’t let anyone close. Taking Alan on has North confused something about the man calls to him but strange things start to happen starting with a necklace North lost two years before.
Now before we go any further let me say that I didn’t read the first book Another Healing so I don’t know if a full explanation of witches and demons was explained and although there is a brief explanation all I really got from it was the only difference between a witch and a demon, who are both human, is that witches have more talent and demons more power… so yeah no demons from hell or anything like that. Other than being a bit confused as to the whole demon thing I think book rocked!
North and Alan are great characters, they have a few confused moments between them before they find their feet with each other but then the really exciting stuff in the story begins. North’s past comes back and throws North for a loop, can he trust Alan’s appearance, the necklaces return and his bastard ex’s sudden pleas or is something more sinister going on.
This really is a fantastic story that keeps you reading from the first page, firstly because North comes across as a gruff, grumpy git (I was surprised he was only 26), you then get hooked with the magical appearance of a sea monster and a dragon, we become really invested in North and Alan as we learn both their stories and see them opening up to each other, and then we devour the pages as danger heads their way. This really was exceptionally well written.
I recommend this story to those readers who adore paranormal romances, who love characters who have seen the worst and come out stronger, who love magic, danger and finding love and a fantastic storyline that you don’t want to put down.
Hi peeps, we have R.J. Scott stopping by with her new release Kyle, we have a short guest post from R.J., a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and my review, so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Kyle
(Legacy 01)
by
R.J. Scott
Two men destroyed by the past learn to live—and love—again.
Kyle Braden has nowhere else to go. With no money, no prospects, and no drive to be something else, he turns to the only man who promises him help. Jack Campbell-Hayes wants to show Kyle that he can be more than he ever thought.
Kyle gets to realize just how far he’s come from being the scarred man who shut everyone out, when the first person through the doors of Legacy Ranch carries a gun and threatens to kill anyone who comes near him. Kyle wants to be the man that someone turns to for help and it scares him.
Thrown out of his house and with three years on the streets marking every inch of his body, Jason Smith is scared. His life is an evil mess of hate and despair, and even the offer of a fresh start and a clean bed isn’t enough for him to hand over his gun. He’s cheated death twice, and he’s not letting there be a third time—he might not be so lucky.
For these broken men, Legacy Ranch offers more than a place to live and work.
It offers hope.
A new story set in the world of Jack and Riley Campbell-Hayes and the Double D Ranch, Texas.
Hi guys, we have Avylinn Winter visiting today with her new release Volatile, we have a great excerpt and my review, so check out the post and enjoy <3 ~Pixie~
Volatile
by
Avylinn Winter
Like a depressed moth drawn to a wild flame, Chris hoped that flame would brighten his life, not burn him alive.
Chris Sinclair fades into a grey world after losing his mother to cancer. When forced to attend a concert as a last attempt to coax him out of his shell, he discovers that life might not be as bleak as he first thought.
Dante Heron holds the audience between the tips of his fingers and the delicate bow, playing the violin as if every heart is his to command. However, something darker brews behind the façade, and Chris is determined to solve the enigma.
When Chris is offered the job of traveling around Europe with the famous violinist, he surprises himself by accepting. With no idea what awaits him, he’s thrown into a world where emotions rule and rules are bent.
They’re a perfectly dysfunctional match, but then there’s always calm at the heart of the storm.
The Violinist (Now called Volatile), won a Watty award in 2015 in the LGBT+ category. The Wattys is the world’s largest online writing contest hosted once a year by Wattpad.
Hi guys, we have Avylinn Winter visiting today with her new release Volatile, we have a great excerpt and my review, so check out the post and enjoy <3 ~Pixie~
Volatile
by
Avylinn Winter
Like a depressed moth drawn to a wild flame, Chris hoped that flame would brighten his life, not burn him alive.
Chris Sinclair fades into a grey world after losing his mother to cancer. When forced to attend a concert as a last attempt to coax him out of his shell, he discovers that life might not be as bleak as he first thought.
Dante Heron holds the audience between the tips of his fingers and the delicate bow, playing the violin as if every heart is his to command. However, something darker brews behind the façade, and Chris is determined to solve the enigma.
When Chris is offered the job of traveling around Europe with the famous violinist, he surprises himself by accepting. With no idea what awaits him, he’s thrown into a world where emotions rule and rules are bent.
They’re a perfectly dysfunctional match, but then there’s always calm at the heart of the storm.
The Violinist (Now called Volatile), won a Watty award in 2015 in the LGBT+ category. The Wattys is the world’s largest online writing contest hosted once a year by Wattpad.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (1st September 2016)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Politics, puppy dogs, and passion, oh my!
When his Republican opponent outs him with a photo in a Facebook post, Senator Samuel Dalton doesn’t have many options open to him. It doesn’t matter that the photo is totally innocent. He has no choice but to come clean… until his staff suggest putting a spin on it that leaves Sam reeling.
Sure, he’ll end up with a lot of sympathy, not to mention the possibility of more voters from the LGBT community, but it still seems a pretty drastic solution.
Now all they have to do is persuade Gary, the other man in the photo, to play along. It sounds so easy: convince the constituents of North Carolina that he and Sam are engaged.
No big deal, except for the fact that they’ve only just met….
Review: Senator Sam Dalton is running for re-election when his opponent takes a completely innocent photo and tries to use it for his own political gain. But Sam’s staffers are smarter than that and put a spin on it that has Sam wondering if they are insane. The young staffer in the photo with Sam, Gary, is asked to help out and turn the photo into an opportunity for Sam. All Gary has to do is pretend that Sam is his fiancé and maybe marry him…
This is a great story that was sweet, humorous and beautifully written. Sam has always hidden the fact that he’s gay, he has no intention of coming out or having a relationship with anybody because he loves his career in politics and spends all his time helping the people he represents. Gary is a volunteer staffer on Sam’s campaign when he gets confirmation of his acceptance at NC State Collage for Veterinary Medicine an impulsive hug with the Senator leads to an offer that will change his life.
Sam and Gary are fantastic characters and mesh perfectly together, they are both animal lovers, they both have a great sense of humor and they both have a love of life. Their relationship starts out as a convenience but it rapidly turns into more as they both like what they discover about the other man. Although they are thrown together they make it work, spending time together they both learn to admire each other and when they do take it to the next level it seems steeped in love rather than just lust.
I loved this story and it’s laced with humor throughout, Sam and Gary handle the situation they find themselves in with panache, deftly turning bad situations into good ones and having a natural feel as a couple. I have to admit that Dinky snatched a bit of my heart, he was a little star for the short amount of time he had in the book and I was so happy that Sam and Gary adopted the dog.
I recommend this to those who adore love stories that come out of awkward situations, who love characters that just jump off the page, who love feel good stories laced with humor and love happy endings.
Blurb: Devon fled Wyoming as soon as he turned eighteen, leaving behind his high school love, Levi. After six years in the big city, Devon returns to his hometown. Not much has changed, except that Levi is no longer in the closet. He’s also single and living his dream—managing the local wild horse population. Both of them are very interested in picking up where they left off, but Devon is no more ready to reveal his orientation than he was as a teenager.
No one is going to shove Levi back in the closet—not even Devon. For a relationship to work, they’ll have to put the past behind them and find the courage to face the future as who they really are—a couple in love. But Devon doesn’t know if he’s strong enough. Maybe Levi would be better off without him—and his hang-ups.
States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States. (Written by various authors)
Review: When Devon left Wyoming for the big city when he was eighteen he was determined never to return even if he had left the man he loved behind, six years later Devon returns after realizing that he’s a small town boy at heart. Levi returned to Wyoming when he finished collage and although he had regrets about Devon leaving he understood why he did, but when Devon returns and they pick up their relationship Levi can’t help wonder if Devon is trying to push him back in the closet. Devon has to face his fear of coming out or he might just lose Levi for good.
This story is pretty good and the characters are interesting, we get to see these men reconnect and rediscover each other. Their love never really faded so it rekindles quite quickly, they are hot together and they are a great couple.
Levi is relaxed and comfortable with his sexuality, he came out while he was at collage and has refused to hide from the bigots. Devon was out in the city but now he’s home he has no intention of letting anyone know he’s gay, he’s scared of how they will act towards him so avoids all mention of his sex life. It causes tension between Levi and Devon when Levi realizes that Devon won’t go out in public with him even as friends, because Devon doesn’t want to be tarred with the gay brush.
Like I said earlier this story is pretty good but it does lack something, it meandered along at a decent pace but never quite struck the cord with me. I was expecting something more really, maybe more soul-searching and some more tension, but it kinda just fizzled out and left me feeling like there should have been more to the story.
I recommend this to those who love gentle rekindling love, finding the courage to be yourself and a kinda sweet happy ending.
Blurb: When Reggie’s garage became part of a popular reality show, business went through the roof. And he supposes having his shop in the black is a fair trade for jumping through the network’s hoops.
As the show’s lowest-ranking producer, Wes is tasked with proposing a new spin-off show to Reggie. The sexy mechanic makes him sweat on a normal day, but this time, Wes is holding cards he can’t show. With execs breathing down his neck, he’s expected to pitch a show Reggie will never agree to do, even if his rejection puts his existing show on the line.
The network is counting on Reggie refusing to sign. But they’re not counting on their messenger falling for the man they’re trying to fire.
First Edition published by Amber Quill Press, 2015.
Reggie has his own garage that appears on the popular reality show Wrench Wars, he’s happy with the way things are but whenever one of the TV producers turn up there’s usually gonna be a big headache in his future. Wes is the low ranking TV producer who has been tasked with giving Reggie the news that he has to take part in a spin-off show or his garage will get booted off the show, and he knows that his bosses are trying to stich Reggie up.
I liked this story and really enjoyed it, Reggie’s the macho man who just wants to be left alone to work on cars and Wes is the low key producer who wishes he wasn’t being used by his bosses to stich up the hunky garage owner. When these two meet the sparks fly and boy are they hot together! But Wes still has a job to do and Reggie has a contract he has to fulfil.
This is a cute story that brings to men together and begins something special between them, whether they’ll be able to make it work *shrugs* maybe we’ll find out how they’re doing in later books in the series. The actual storyline is pretty simple, Reggie is backed into a corner and he has to find a way out, Wes offers what advice he can (though he’s not supposed to) and Reggie comes up with an audacious plan that has the Networks plans backfiring.
I recommend this to those who love hot short stories, great characters, and a happy for now ending.
Lisa’s Review:♥♥♥ 3 Hearts
This really is a cute little story but one that I didn’t fall in love with. It is cute though. Reggie had been doing a popular reality show for a while however the ratings were going down. Due to the way his contract was written they could offer him a way to keep his show on line or breach of contract would make his show discontinued. He was totally lost with what to do, however the man who had brought him the spinoff show was someone that he had wanted to get to know, he just didn’t know Wes wanted the same thing.
Wes was told to offer Reggie the new spinoff show or tell him that his show that he was doing was going to be cancelled. The problem was Wes didn’t want to do it, although he did because it was his job. The major problem was he wants Reggie for himself. He knew Reggie wouldn’t do the show he was pitching to him; however he didn’t know it would be for the reason Reggie told the producers. Talk about shock of all shocks. Although I do have to tell you when these two hook up it is full of passion and fire. There is just a hint of true feelings in them.
This story was like I said cute, however it left me hanging in a way I don’t like. I want the two to fall in love and live happily ever after and this story doesn’t do that exactly. I sure hope there is a book two to this, showing them going forward in their future.
Aerin’s Review: ♥♥♥3 Hearts
Although it is part of a series, Wrenches, Regrets, & Reality Checks can be read as a standalone, much like the prior two books. Despite how much I loved the first book (and how much hope I had for this one as well), this was everything I know short stories to be: weak premise, underdeveloped characters, unconvincing romance between the main characters and worst of all… a barely there HFN.
Reggie and Wes’s story and interest in each other comes out of nowhere and ends pretty much in the same direction. The chemistry between them was unconvincing and underwhelming and although the sex was pretty hot, it didn’t blow me away because there were NO feelings involved.
I guess I needed more of everything; more character development, more interactions between Wes and Reggie, an epilogue or anything to show me these two have a future together and things worked out. To say I’m disappointed by that ending is putting it mildly.
I’m not sure if this book puts an end to this series, but if there’s more in the future, they need to be more similar to the first book, because that I adored!
Hi peeps, we have Blaine D. Arden popping in with her new release Full Circle, Blaine is holding a giveaway to celebrate the release and we have my review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Full Circle
(Forester Triad Act 03)
by
Blaine D. Arden
“I have great responsibilities, but my path ahead is as foggy and blurred as the path behind me.”
With forester Taruif freed, Kelnaht has claimed him openly at Solstice before tribe and Ma’terra as his partner, but with their third, Ianys, bound by an old promise, their triad is still incomplete. Sneaking around puts the most strain on Ianys. He and Kelnaht must keep their relationship a secret or he will lose his daughter, Atèn.
When several children fall ill with more than a summer bug, truth seeker Kelnaht is assigned once more to investigate. What he finds is deadly and threatens the life of every underage child in the tribe, including Atèn. Then a wounded traveller is found in the forest, left to die after a vicious attack.
With Taruif and his apprentice on the hunt for a cure, Kelnaht focusses on the attacks, but the clues are few and more children are infected. Nothing seems to connect until both the traveller and Atèn dream of the same grey-haired elf. Driven by fear for his daughter, Ianys pulls away from his lovers. Kelnaht can only pray Ma’terra will guide him to a solution that brings them all together and keeps Atèn safe from harm.
Blurb: It’s Christmas, and all antique dealer Sebastian Snow wants is for his business to make money and to save his floundering relationship with closeted CSU detective Neil Millett. When Snow’s Antique Emporium is broken into and a heart is found under the floorboards, Sebastian can’t let the mystery rest.
He soon finds himself caught up in murder investigations that echo the macabre stories of Edgar Allan Poe. To make matters worse, Sebastian’s sleuthing is causing his relationship with Neil to crumble, while at the same time he’s falling hard for the lead detective on the case, Calvin Winter. Sebastian and Calvin must work together to unravel the mystery behind the killings, despite the mounting danger and sexual tension, before Sebastian becomes the next victim.
In the end, Sebastian only wants to get out of this mess alive and live happily ever after with Calvin.
Review: Sebastian finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation when his antique shop is broken into and a heart is left under the floorboards, his closeted cop boyfriend Neil is furious when Sebastian reveals their relationship to the detective investigating the case. As Sebastian investigates the murders himself after connecting them to Edgar Allan Poe stories his relationship with Neil crumbles and Sebastian finds himself attracted to the detective, Calvin Winter.
This is a great story that has mystery and suspense that is beautifully interwoven, and it has a dash of new romance that is low key but outstanding. Sebastian Snow has a low key life; he loves his antiques store, is frustrated with his relationship and has a bit of a sassy mouth on him. When he stumbles on a murder investigation he can’t help himself but become involved and it proves to be the straw that breaks his relationship into tiny pieces.
Calvin Winter is also a closeted cop; he keeps to himself a lot and just wants to do his job. With Sebastian turning up a lot in his murder investigation he doesn’t know if he should lock him up or kiss him.
The Mystery of Nevermore is a great mystery & suspense story that leaves us guessing the why and the who until Sebastian slowly puts the pieces together and revealing the story to us. We do get ideas about who the culprit might be but the why is something that we learn later, it’s really well written and we put everything together as Sebastian does so we become invested in the story.
Sebastian is a lovely character who we can take to heart, he’s in a crappy relationship with Neil and with the way that Neil treats Sebastian we quickly hope that Sebastian will kick him to the kerb, the thing is though when it did happen I kind of felt sorry for Neil. Calvin is kind of standoffish so getting to know him is near impossible, it isn’t till near the end that you actually feel like he’d be a good fit for Sebastian.
I was really happy with the way this story was written, the mystery, suspense and Sebastian were front and centre with Sebastian’s relationship woes being in the background but both balanced really well, with the murders and investigation showcased but occasionally stepping back and allowing the relationship demise/ budding new romance to step forward and take the spotlight. It was fantastically crafted.
I recommend this to those who love mysteries and suspense’s, who love great characters, who adore strong storylines with a dash of new romance and a touch of danger.
Hi guys, we have L.J. Harris stopping by to with the mini tour for her new release The Haunting of Angus MacGregor, we have a fantastic guest post, a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and my review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
The Haunting of Angus MacGregor
by
L.J. Harris
Angus Macgregor has endured a lot in life. Mother passing when he was a small child, he also nursed an ill father to his last breath. But when he loses his one remaining relative, an uncle he’s never met, his existence is turned on its head forever. Bequeathed Clan Gregor Castle in the Scottish Highlands, Angus leaves Australia behind to take on the family business. It’s there he finds more waiting for him than he ever dreamed possible.
Daniel Ramsey is a man with secrets, none more dangerous than the fact that he can see what others can’t. When he meets one particularly handsome Australian, the attraction is immediate. Hesitant to let down his guard, his hand is forced when a former guest of the castle comes calling and attempts to stake a claim on the very man Daniel wants.
Blurb: Gabriel, Michael, and the Brotherhood of Archangels must try to deal with relationships while fulfilling duties of fighting demons and protecting humans in the Archangel Chronicles. Gabriel and Michael have been pining after each other for centuries, but an egomaniacal human trying to raise a hell army pushes their relationship to the backburner in No Quarter. Gabriel and Michael are finally reunited in No Surrender, No Retreat, but their happiness is threatened when someone begins kidnapping angels and selling them on the black market. In No Shadows Fall, newly bonded Gabriel and Michael and torn from their idyllic island retreat when Gabriel’s ancient enemy Semjaza escapes from his prison.
This is the second time I read this book and other than typos and errors lacking, there isn’t much done story-wise. Thus, while much, much easier a read this time around, it was still lacking profoundly in intensity for such an “epic” book/series.
Let’s take a look at the lore here. This series is about the Archangels and their duty bestowed to them by God to protect human kind and the plane of Earth. Specifically here, we have a megalomaniac human who believes to be himself the reincarnation of a Saint and thus he has bargained with a Fallen One, has surrounded himself with demons, and plans to open up the Gates of Hell and unleash the poor condemned souls. The Archangels must intervene and eliminate him, but the impending doom is not overthrown.
This is the main action plot and frankly, I found it lacking. The epic-ness that characterizes such reads was nowhere to be found, the characters making the backbone were quite flat and uninteresting, and the story itself was a bit ludicrous. I mean there were demons that really looked like lackeys, Archdemons that made no impression whatsoever, except for that mwahahaha-type of villain you get on all cheesy reads (seriously Ondrass was overkill), the human megalomaniac named Bob was, oh my God I have no words for him, and they all, all of them fell flat making me wonder what is the point of writing a bad guy if you don’t intend to do something with him.
Romantic wise it was just the same. Michael is supposed to be pinning for Gabriel for years, Gabriel always wanted Michael, but this meeting after a thousand years drove home the fact that he loves him. The beginning – before either of them talked – made you think we’d get the tragic/epic hotter than Hell kind of burning relationship that would make even the stars shine less in front of its brightness etc.etc. But, but I’m afraid it was the most disappointing thing. The longing one would come to expect, the you’re-finally-mine feeling one would rightly expect, the Earth-Heaven-Hell-are-nothing-before-us kind of feeling that should be there, were not. The sex was good, nice and all, but it was no match for Archangels, if not a bit cheesy and laughable at times. I was really put off with this relationship, one ought to have made it burn and explode, but this was beyond lukewarm.
As for Michael and Gabriel as personalities, oh my, especially with Michael, Archangel Michael, the Prince of Heaven, I wanted to blind myself and stop reading altogether. That was one hell of a way to ruin all my fantasies for the big badass Archangel and that I do not forgive. He was ruined and a total fail in my opinion, and while I’d go for any ludicrous story and lukewarm sex/love, ruining such a powerful figure such as Michael is a crime. Gabriel was just, I don’t know, just so weird… I’ll not go there at all.
Overall, this new edition did not bring any changes in the story. The only good thing was the fact that the typographic errors were lacking and it was easier a read than before. Still base core of this story, the backbone of it, held a slight interest, that’s why I’ll be reading the next installment and see if the series is a worth reading one or drop it and move on sort. As for this one, I don’t know. If you like, angels and demons so much and you don’t mind the above, then give it a try.
Pixie’s Review: No Surrender, No Retreat ♥♥♥3 Hearts
The war is over between the Angels and Demons and humanity has to pick up the pieces of a world that was torn to pieces. Michael and Gabriel are reunited but it isn’t all perfect, they can’t help humanity without making the situation worse and Raphael is kidnapped which leads to the discovery that other angels have gone missing. As they launch an investigation into the disappearances, Agrat is kidnapped and her bonded begins to lose himself to grief.
This is a well-written story that combines many relationships and hardships with Michael and Gabriel leading the way. Now that the war has ended and the demon Hell portals are closed humanity can begin to pick up the pieces, the angels and archangels help as much as they can but they have limitations. But problems become worse when Raphael is taken and his power is smothered, which leads to healing throughout the world beginning to fail. The other archangels must work together to discover who is kidnapping the angels and to what end, and Michael is made to face the fact that sometimes love strikes everyone, even those that he finds unacceptable.
There is quite a bit going on in this book with Michael thinking that Raphael’s lover is unsuitable, Gabriel dealing with the loss of his children, Raphael disappearing, Israfel unsure if he is good enough for Raphael, all the angels and archangels wondering how they can help mankind and then the investigation into the kidnapped angels. It is quite a good storyline but you don’t get to feel connected to any one character as it jumps from characters to characters so you don’t get to know them that well, even though you do get interested in the storyline you miss out on the characters.
There are some very romantic moments between various characters and some couples are very sweet together in the brief times that we see them together. The storyline is good and the twist was surprising, our angels are being betrayed by someone who was an ally.
I will recommend this to those who love angels and demons, true love, disgruntled archangels, and interesting storyline and a happy ending.
Shorty’s Review: No Shadow Falls ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Semjaza escapes from his eternal prison in the star Aquila. He has several main objectives get his family back, make Gabriel pay for imprisoning him as well as several other archangels for their roles in different things and take back what he believes is rightfully his. Semjaza seemed delusional to me in his thinking. Plus he was cruel to those he commanded. He was not fit to be a leader in my opinion.
Gabriel and Michael seem like the perfect couple. Michael, I didn’t understand why he acts as if he’s embarrassed when someone mentions sex. He’s been around humans for thousands of years surely he’s heard it all by now.
I loved all the details of the different places the archangels travelled. Very beautiful scenery. The archdemons helping the archangels was an interesting surprise. The battle scene between Semjaza and Gabriel was intense. Hot sex scenes throughout.
This is a wonderfully written story full of drama, mystery, suspense, adventure, and action. I was surprised that instead of being with humans or other beings that some Archangels were coupled with each other. Great read.
Blurb: Alex Myers is keeping deeper secrets than just his pet ferret, Karma, who is illegal in California. Both Alex and his twin sister, Tabitha, can “hear” the thoughts of animals. It’s an ability he puts to good use working at an emergency animal clinic while studying to become a veterinarian.
One night, local animal-control officer Dylan Travers comes into the clinic with an injured fawn, and it doesn’t take the two men long to act on their mutual attraction. But the closer they become, the harder it is for Alex to keep Karma and the rest of his menagerie from Dylan. And then there’s the matter of his ability…. Will Dylan even believe him if he tries to explain?
Add to that debilitating migraines from especially “loud” animals and a scheming coworker threatening the clinic, and Alex needs Dylan’s support more than ever. Alex just wants to keep his job, his pets, his lover, and his sanity. But he can’t do it alone.
Review: Alex can hear animal thoughts, it helps him with his job at the emergency animal clinic but it does nothing for his love life when boyfriends can’t get away from him fast enough when he admits the truth. Meeting Dylan has Alex hoping that he can eventually confess the truth, but when a bad case of animal abuse has Alex passing out Dylan is sceptical of Alex’s confession. Dylan loves his job as an animal-control officer, meeting Alex is an opportunity that Dylan doesn’t want to miss. But Dylan has some doubts when Alex confesses he can hear animals’ thoughts, can Dylan accept Alex’s claim or will it drive the two men apart?
This is a cute story that has some super cute animals and a hot romance. Alex is a great character who is a little different, he can hear animals’ thoughts, which is great when they are injured but is distressing when they have been abused. Dylan is a great character who is just an everyday kind of guy, he loves animals and tries to help as many as he can. When these two meet they have a subtle attraction which quickly heats up, but Alex’s confession begin to drive them apart.
I liked this story and enjoyed the background friction between Alex and his co-worker Gordon; it adds a good dose of tension and adversity to the story. The relationship between Alex and Dylan is cute, Alex is a bit of a bumbler especially when he’s trying to talk his way around his ownership of Karma (his pet ferret) and both men can be mega cute with each other. Their relationship is hot, there are plenty of smexy times between them, and the animals’ antics are funny and sweet.
The story is easy going and enjoyable, there isn’t much friction except for Gordon and it has some really cute animal adventures. Other than that it really is just a story about two men finding love and accepting their differences, it’s enjoyable but nothing to really get your teeth into.
I recommend this to those who love cute animals, sexy men, a touch of tension, accepting the truth no matter how strange and a very sexy relationship that overcomes cute annoying animals, and human differences.
Title: Dancing on the Head of A Pin
Title: Can’t Live Without You
Title: Dog Days
Title: Take Two
Title: Depth of Return
Title: The Senator’s Secret
Title: Wide Open Spaces
Title: Wrenches, Regrets & Reality Checks
Title: The Mystery of Nevermore
Title: Archangel Chronicles Vol. 1
Title: Keeping Karma (2nd Edition)