Tag: Riptide Publishing

Riptide 'Bump in the Night' Blog Tour and Author Giveaway!

Hey guys, Pixie here! Yes I know, I know, has Portia finally gone insane? But hey, I finally wrest control from Portia to announce a fantastic blog tour from Riptide publishing !!! Just read below for the details and you can be in for a chance to win a Riptide Publishing gift certificate (imagine the books *drool*) or a Brien Michaels ebook! (whoop!). I’ve also added Thommie’s review for Bump in the Night and let me tell you I had hours of fun teasing Thommie about tentacles!! LOL

So I leave you in the hands of Riptide Publishing and Brien Michaels and their awesome competition, have fun guys. Pixie 😉

BumpNight_TourBanner1Hello there, I’m Brien Michaels and welcome to the Bump in the Night blog tour. Bump in the Night is an erotic horror anthology edited by Rachel Haimowitz and featuring my story “Out From Under.”

Anybody who knows me knows how big a role music plays in my writing. Can’t write without it, can barely think without it sometimes. And if they really know me, they know that each of my books share titles with some of my favorite songs. It’s funny (to me, at least) that the original title for my offering to the Bump in the Night anthology was Monster, which is a song from Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster EP. It seemed fitting, considering how horrific this story is (we’re talking demons, tentacles, being held against your will and some serious dubcon bordering on noncon) and that the main antagonist is a sperm-eating plant demon. But my editor told me that the title seemed a little flat and she thought it was a good idea to change it. So I went back to the drawing board.

I came up with a whole list of titles and spent nearly a week going through them, but none seemed to fit. Every time I looked at them I was BumpNight_150x300just overcome with a sense of blah. Then I was doing a read-through before I sent back the first round of edits and I realized the answer was literally staring me right in the face.

I have a borderline unnatural obsession with Britney Spears (fun fact of the day), and there’s a song on her fifth album Blackout that’s always resonated with me. It’s basically about what to do when you can’t go any further in a relationship. When you’ve tried literally everything you could have tried and it’s just not working, but the other person still wants to keep trying. The song is called Out From Under, and it’s heartbreaking in its vulnerability. Anyway, near the end of the chorus, she sings, “I don’t want to feel the pain. What good would it do me now? I’ll get it figured out when I’m Out from under. From under… From under…” When I first heard the song and her chanting “From under” I thought to myself “Wow…that would make a really cool name for a demon.” This was four to five years ago, mind you. But I finally got to use it. My demon/plant monster in this story is called Fromunder and it fits so perfectly I jumped up and down when I figured it out

So the story itself is called Out From Under and I think that title ties in so well to the struggles not only my protagonist but also my antagonist are facing it’s scary. I won’t give anything away here, but just know…it’s pretty fucking terrifying. Want a blurb?

When Brant’s lover is killed, he’s left with no choice but to complete one last task for his demon master Fromunder. The prize? His lover alive again. The alternative? Eternal servitude. But the stakes of this mission are higher than Brant realizes, and now he might now survive the night.

And because I love you all…I’m going to be doing a drawing from all the comments on this post. The prize, an e-copy of my first erotic horror publication, Last Friday Night.

BumpInTheNight_400x600“Tyler Mack is straight almost to the point of being homophobic. He’s with a different woman night after night, secretly longing for the one who will make him feel something besides the soul-crushing emptiness following orgasm number X.

Jessie Nalick used to be married. His wife left him for a man with a bigger check, a bigger car and (from what she says) a bigger dick. He’s relocated to another state and is planning on starting his life over. The house he’s having built is almost finished and things seem to finally be looking up, until he receives a panicked call from Tyler, one of the construction men working on the house, claiming there’s trouble.

Someone has lured both of them from the safety of their normal lives and is about to force them into a situation where it’s not their lives at stake, but the lives of the people they love. There’s only one thing they have to do to ensure no one dies, but it’s the one thing Tyler would rather die than do.”

Thanks so much to everyone for coming out! Hope to see more of you in the future. And thanks to my wonderful host for having me over today. Happy reading!

You can read an excerpt of “Out From Under” and purchase Bump in the Night here.

 

Contest:

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a $25 Riptide Publishing gift certificate! Entries close at midnight, EST, on November 2nd, and one grand prize winner will be announced or contacted on November 3rd. Contest is valid worldwide.

 

Blurb:

Turn off the lights . . . and turn on your darkest fantasies.

Demon pacts. Ghostly possessions. Monsters lurking in the depths. The things that go bump in the night frighten us, but they also intrigue us. Fascinate us. Even turn us on.

Join us as fan favorites Ally Blue and Kari Gregg bring over-amorous aquatic beasts to life with their mythic twists on the Siren and the monster in the lake.  Erotic horror pros Heidi Belleau, Sam Schooler, and Brien Michaels show us just how sexy scary can be with a pair of demon deals destined to curl your toes and set your heart thrashing. And literary masters Laylah Hunter and Peter Hansen weave haunting worlds where ghosts and dead lovers can touch our hearts (and other, naughtier places too . . .) and teach us lessons from beyond the grave.

By turns exciting, evocative, and exquisitely explicit, the stories in Bump in the Night are sure to scratch your sexy paranormal itch. Explore your wildest fantasies with us in this collection of dark erotic tales.

 

Find me online at:

http://www.Brienmichaels.com

http://www.Brienmichaels.blogspot.com

http://www.Twitter.com/brienmichaels

http://www.Goodreads.com/brienmichaels

http://www.Facebook.com/brienmichaels

BumpInTheNight_400x600Title: Bump in the Night Anthology

by Rachel Haimowitz (editor), Heidi Belleau, Ally Blue, Kari Gregg, Peter Hansen, Laylah Hunter, Brien Michaels, Sam Schooler

Genre: Paranormal / Dark Erotica / Horror

Length: 198 pages

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Turn off the lights . . . and turn on your darkest fantasies.

Demon pacts. Ghostly possessions. Monsters lurking in the depths. The things that go bump in the night frighten us, but they also intrigue us. Fascinate us. Even turn us on.

Join us as fan favorites Ally Blue and Kari Gregg bring over-amorous aquatic beasts to life with their mythic twists on the Siren and the monster in the lake.  Erotic horror pros Heidi Belleau, Sam Schooler, and Brien Michaels show us just how sexy scary can be with a pair of demon deals destined to curl your toes and set your heart thrashing. And literary masters Laylah Hunter and Peter Hansen weave haunting worlds where ghosts and dead lovers can touch our hearts (and other, naughtier places too . . .) and teach us lessons from beyond the grave.

By turns exciting, evocative, and exquisitely explicit, the stories in Bump in the Night are sure to scratch your sexy paranormal itch. Explore your wildest fantasies with us in this collection of dark erotic tales.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/bump-night

Review: So, I’ve been reading anthologies lately and almost all of them have this thing in common. No, not the theme (that is a given) rather the fact that after a while all the stories in the anthology seem the same, no unique ones to make a stand, a very few grab your attention. They are nice, but you forget them after a day or two.

But this one, oh my God, this anthology has made it straight to my favorites shelf, and I’ll be damned if I don’t take it down every so often to re-read it again and again and again. You might notice down below on each review how some of these stories have made quite an impact in me, one perhaps has scarred me for life. I swear I’m still going to re-read that incredibly horrifying story for as long as I live. Hell I’m going to have a great time telling them tales when with friends to scare the heck out of them too. Because that’s what this anthology is about. An incredible mix of dark fiction and explicit erotica meant to scare the living daylight out of you while simultaneously stoking that forbidden dark fire deep down in your shadiest part of your soul. Bump in the Night is definitely my favorite anthology among them all. Many thanks to the very talented authors who created these stories, they were simply wonderful.

Resurrection Man By Laylah Hunter

Oh my, what a marvelous story, how very creepy and brilliant.

What would you do if you were to lose the love of your life? What if you could bring him back from the cold darkness of Death? What price would you pay?

There is nothing Josef wouldn’t do for Adel. All his artistry, all their money, everything he can he’s ready to give. But when he pulls Adel’s spirit back into the living world he realizes the price he ultimately has to pay is much, much bigger than mere money or knowledge. The hunger for life is so much bigger when you’ve been dead after all…

A brilliant paranormal story and so very unique to what I’ve read so far. Honestly I don’t think I’ve read anything similar and the balance between the creepy and sexy and horny is just plain perfect. It’s like a mix of Frankenstein and Vampires with a slight dose of magic thrown in for good measure. I liked it, no I loved it. Everything about it was way cool, the writing, the idea and the way the story went, the play of emotions. Excellent indeed!

This is definitely a story I’d love to tell when around the fire on dark, stormy nights, or around Halloween. And if you love the style I think this is one of those you should not miss.

Mating Season By Kari Gregg

Horrifying, oh I have no words… This is terror, pure, unadulterated terror. Oh my God!!! Oh my guts are screaming in sympathy with the poor character of this story. Oh I have no words as my skin crawls and goosebumps travel my whole body. Oh my freaking God, this is definitely a story I’ll never, ever, EVER forget.

Ok, here it is. Danny has been humiliated. His girlfriend left him right before their marriage for his boss, and said boss fired him right after. Feeling useless and in a dead end in his life Danny hides in his apartment until his friend Keith drags him out for a game of basketball all the time trying to make him feel better and suggesting him to go hiking the lake and get his shit together.

Danny never goes to the lake once autumn rounds the corner. There are tales of a monster living there and Danny deep down believes them. But his friends insistence make him careless and he eventually makes his mind to go hiking. What follows is a crazy scientist, a slimy monster with enormous tentacles, and a poor guy forced into being a lab-rat, all dancing around a horrifying story that includes forced… things and death and addiction and… I have no words!

This is a horror story people! Horror with capital “H”. There is no other way around it. The things that happen to Danny from the very first night he sets foot on that lake are made from the worst of nightmares. I was literally screaming for half this read. My skin still hasn’t stopped crawling and I’m awed at this author’s creativity and slimy tale. OH MY GOD!!!

So I don’t know; did I like it? I don’t know. Was I fascinated by it? Hell yeah. Did it grip me and held me captive despite the gut wrenching horror I felt the entire time? It sure did. Is this what you want? Only if you don’t faint easily and have a strong, strong stomach. Oh God, I’ll never step foot on a lake, ever, ever again.

Flesh and Song By Ally Blue

La Terre de la Belle Mort, The Land of Beautiful Death. The island found in no map, whispered only in frightening tales, a sinful promise of all your heart’s desires that come with a severe price.

That is what Noah has been looking for, for nearly eight months. The tale wants the island unfound when you so much search for it. Only by sheer luck or mistake one can land there, only when lost one can be found, but then you might never leave it again…

Just as he’s about to give up the search though a mighty storm leads him to this gorgeous island. But Noah doesn’t know what he wants. Now that he’s here what exactly is he looking for? The gorgeous naked man on the beach calls to him, running through the jungle the call becomes near painful. He must go to him, he needs to before he dies. And there, on a beautiful pool under a waterfall his God awaits, his fathomless black eyes beaconing him forward, his wonderful musical voice urging him to this astonishing creature.

Days, weeks, months pass in the haze of dream that takes everything from him besides the longing for his God. No memories, no ambitions, no will for anything else beside the arms wrapped around him and the sex God giving him all he wants, nothing else exists. Finally Noah understands what he’s been searching for. But he forgot that once he got his heart’s desire, it would come with a price…

This is a gorgeous story, heartbreaking and a bit sad in the end, but gorgeous nonetheless. I believe when I think of a Siren, the emotions this story evoked are exactly right. The promises, the longing, the will to do anything, to give anything for the call of the Siren. Homer would have been ecstatic to have read this version of his Sirens’. What a wonderful story this one.

Out from Under By Brien Michaels

How did it come to this? To get trapped between two demons and their century long vendetta? Each more horrible than the other, every path leading to death… or worse.

Three years under the demon’s spell. Three years of nightmares and being a slave to the demon’s twisted wishes, luring men into their deaths. But when Fromunder killed his lover right in front of his eyes Brant felt his world shift and true Hell consume him. The demon had no hold on him now that his lover was dead, or had he? The promise to bring Jason back was too alluring to deny, the price for that burning his soul, yet nothing would deter him from doing whatever in his power to achieve it.

And that’s how it came to this… lying in the middle of a bed between two sworn enemies, waiting for one to die and the other to consume him… After all he suffered, he would never see his lover again. Right?

This was a very nice story, the evil and viciousness of the paranormal world was so strong, the read so raw not shying away from explicit violence, torture, or sexual abuse, but rather basking in it. A story made from the stuff nightmares come from, a story fit for the spirit of Halloween, a story strong enough to make you lose yourself in its dark depths.

Can you tell I loved this one too?

Sleeping With Ghosts By Peter Hansen

Oh, wow! This was quite a cold story. I don’t know what to make of it really.

In this story Yordan is a Bookman, a priest who is sent to turn the last page of men’s life in order to give a chance for a soulless newborn. A weird world with many Churches, Priests, Brotherhoods. Religion and politics that make an appearance and give you a notion of what this world is about without delving much into it. The story is mostly about Yordan taking a life that was uncalled for, simply by blindly following orders. The soul who lost his body now wanders without a new one to take residence. A haunted night, a cold encounter, rippling feeling of dread… Yes, cold is how this story leaves you, cold from inside out. It gave shivers and frankly it made me want more. I was not satisfied with this short, I wan’t more Bookmen, more Ironmen, more of this world.

However this story was quite worth it and so very in the ghostly atmosphere. Lovely indeed. I still want more though. *sigh*

Blasphemer, Sinner, Saint By Heidi Belleau and Sam Schooler

Oh this story was quite brilliant as well. See this is another “deal with a Devil” themed one, but it was so very well executed.

The man who makes the deal doesn’t make it for himself, rather for someone else. He makes a deal for a person he once loved as a boy in dark corners, but shunned in broad daylight. He made the deal for a man he held in contempt, humiliated, and crushed his hopes when he most needed him. Tobias makes a deal for David’s life.

What I loved more in this story was the fact that the Devil here is a creature that as horrific and repulsive as he was described to be, I ended up admiring and actually being my favorite character here. Tobias was this self-righteous Christian charitable man who lacked humbleness and was blind by his bigotry. He perverted and twisted his love for David by convincing himself that David “tempted” him and he still stayed strong and moral, while David “chose” to be the immoral person he became. The brilliancy of the writing here was how the Devil made Tobias become David in the end. How he made him feel and understand and comprehend that sometimes in life there is no choice, sometimes you simply have to do everything in your power for the person you love, own it and never once back out from it.

I loved this story, it was deep with meanings while in the same time was full of those dark sinful erotic scenes that come when you strike a deal with a devil…

Few Are Chosen by Storm Grant

13238452Title: Few Are Chosen    

Author: Storm Grant     

Genre: Young Adult, Humor, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal     

Length: Short (45pgs)     

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (20th February 2012)    

Heat Level: Low     

Heart Rating: 4½ Hearts 

Reviewer: Pixie     

Blurb: Sparks fly between virgin teenage demon hunters when the Chosen One turns out to be the Chosen . . . Two?

Apprentice warrior Blake St. Blake is the Chosen One, raised by an ancient order to defend the world against evil. Well, maybe not the whole world, but at least his neighborhood in downtown Detroit. When a dreaded reflux demon is sighted in a local cemetery, Blake is sent off to his very first battle, armed with his sword, his super-senses, his black leather duster, and a few well-rehearsed one-liners.

But another Chosen One gets in Blake’s way—an apprentice wizard named Shadow. While the boys argue about who’s the more chosen of the two, the demon escapes.

Blake wants to be angry, but it turns out he and Shadow have a lot in common. Besides, Shadow’s pretty cute, and Blake can’t help but think that the wizard’s skills (and hands and lips and other bits) might make the perfect complement to his. Blake and Shadow are brave enough to challenge the reflux demon in a second battle, but will they have the courage to tell each other how they feel?  

Purchase Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/few-are-chosen    

Review: Blake is the Chosen One, blessed with extra strengths to fight the evil that invades his city. On his first ever mission to the cemetery on a recon he meets a reflux demon and another young man who claims he is the Chosen One and during their battle of words, the reflux demon slips away. Rather than be angry as the loss of his kill Blake discovers an attraction for the apprentice wizard, Shadow, and can’t help thinking that maybe having a partner wouldn’t be such a bad thing. But facing a reflux demon turns out to be not as scary as admitting their feelings for each other.

Oh, this was such a fun story, an absolute giggle-fest with every turn of the page. Blake is a fantastic character who tries so hard to be the warrior hero from fantasy stories but is slightly bumbling and accident prone, Shadow is a wonderful character who takes the more loose ‘boy from the hood’ attitude and is slightly more worldly. Put the two boys together and we get a fun filled story of slightly angsty teenagers who feel the first flares of attraction. Their quest to send the reflux demon back to hell is hilarious and you can’t help but squirm at times in sympathetic embarrassment that is tinged with glee. 

While reading this story I couldn’t help but be delighted with the characters, I even felt a kinship to the reflux demon as he came across as a jolly fellow dealing with pesky children, being indulgent as they fumble through their attempts to vanquish him. The story flows well as we see two young men awkwardly approach their attraction to each other while awkwardly fighting evil. While we get to see everything from Blake’s perspective Shadow’s feelings still come through pretty well, leaving you in no doubt that they are both full of bravado, a touch of angst and a mutual attraction.  

I have to recommend this to those who love young adult urban fantasy/paranormal, lots of humor and laughs, sweet blossoming first love and a very fulfilling story. 

 

An Inch at a Time by Heidi Belleau and Amelia C. Gormley

18274414Title: An Inch at a Time

Series: The Professor’s Rule, #2

Author: Heidi Belleau & Amelia C. Gormley

Genre:  Contemporary Erotica / BDSM

Length: Novelette (60 pages)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (September 16th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: James Sheridan is failing history. Luckily, his professor is a rumored pervert, and James isn’t too proud to pay for a better grade with his body. Professor Carson lives up to his reputation, but he’s not unethical enough to take sexual bribes. What he can offer is some highly unconventional tutoring . . . creative use of a ruler included.

The deal? Studying, followed by a “quiz.” Wrong answer? Spanking. Right answer? Reward. Ace the final, earn some mind-blowing sex. Its harder work than sexual bribery, but it beats the volunteer tutors at the student center.

After a few study sessions, James realizes he wants way more than a grade from Professor Carson, even if he’s not sure what that is. Carson’s a silver fox, all right, but James isn’t “bent” the way Carson is, and for him, the spankings are only supposed to be a means to an end. But the better he gets at history, the more he realizes he likes getting answers wrong just as much as getting them right.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/inch-time

Review: I am addicted! Period!

I knew it with absolute certainty when I read Giving an Inch, the first book in the series, that it was the beginning of a great ride. I knew that the second book would be just as good, if not better. But I hadn’t anticipated exactly just how much.

This second book does not follow the first; it rather takes us back at the beginning, at how Carson and James met. So there, I have my wishes to get to know Carson being fulfilled.

The rumors had it that Professor Carson is a deviant who takes advantage of gay college boys, so James who is failing his term thinks it a good idea to hit on his professor in exchange for a grade. He had no idea though how this would go about. Carson is definitely a character that his sole existence is to keep people on their toes, let alone a green guy like James. Carson’s leanings come a bit of a shock to James and while everything in his head tells him to go elsewhere for help, his stubborn personality and love for challenge make an appearance and the result is, well, quite mind-blowing if I may say so.

I absolutely adored this book. I can’t state enough that this was so much more than I expected. I loved the fact that the authors took us back in time and let us see the young James. I loved the fact that James has a background and more depth as a character. It makes it so easy to get attached to him now, something that was lacking in the first book. I could now see that determination his older version had, see where it came from, how it becomes stronger. Literally, this book gave me a huge connection with our MC’s for I’m not forgetting Carson.

If you’ve read the first book, you well know that Carson was just voice through the phone there. Yet he was so strong and made such an impact (to me at least) that getting to know this character now was like a sip of cold water after a very hot day. He is so wonderfully charming I just can’t get enough of him.

And what a great writing did these authors exhibit with this pair’s dynamic and chemistry. How effortlessly did the relationship fly from a game of sorts to something… more (can’t call this a relationship), and how freaking hot everything was. Keeping in mind that there was only one sex scene, I’m afraid the “moderate” level of heat I gave it was not quite so fair, because this book is so full of sexual charge that every single page seemed to be overflowing with heat and sex, even as there was none of it. I quite astounded by that, and can’t quite find the words to describe how intense, beautiful, and hot this read was. You know when authors use that phrase “electric charge.” Well, for me this entire book was just that. Pretty brilliant.

In the end the only thing I can add is that if you like the teacher/student gig and if you’d like to read a book that caters to this part of kink and BDSM, An Inch at a Time is masterfully written to give you a perfect and most enjoyable read. As for me, I can’t wait for the next book in The Professor’s Rule Series.

 

Catch a Ghost by S.E. Jakes

16150811Title: Catch a Ghost

Series: Hell or High Water 01

Author: S.E. Jakes

Genre: Action, Thriller, Suspense

Length: Novel Plus (250pgs)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (9th September 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Blurb: When past and present collide, predicting the future is impossible.

Everyone knows that Prophet—former Navy SEAL, former CIA spook, full-time pain in the ass—works alone.

But his boss at Extreme Escapes, LTD. has just assigned Proph a new partner and a case haunted by ghosts from Proph’s past. Suddenly, he has to confront both head on.

Tom Boudreaux—failed FBI agent, failed sheriff, full-time believer in bad luck—is wondering why the head of a private contracting firm has hunted him down to offer him a job. Still, he’s determined to succeed this time, despite being partnered with Prophet, EE’s most successful, lethal, and annoying operative, on a case that resurrects his own painful past.

Together, Prophet and Tom must find a way to take down killers in the dangerous world of underground cage matches while fighting their own dangerous attraction. When they find themselves caught in the crossfire, these two loners must trust each other and work together to escape their ghosts . . . or pay the price.

Purchase Link: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/catch-ghost

Pixie’s Review: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Prophet works alone; he prefers it that way, but his boss at Extreme Escapes, LTD. has just given him a new partner and a case that is haunted by ghosts of his past. Tom has just come on board EEL and is still wondering why he was offered the job, but he takes the new case and reluctant partner anyway.

With a history of his partners, dying Tom is determined that it won’t happen this time, but with the way that Prophet dices with death, it is down to luck. Prophet and Tom have to find a way to take down killers in the world of underground cage fighting and discover just why the victim was murdered. Their attraction is instant and giving into their attraction is easy, but trusting each other is much harder and what little trust they have will be tested to the limits.

Both MC’s in this book are haunted by their pasts, Prophet because of a promise he made and Tom because all his partners have been killed. Both characters are complex in their own way, Prophet is the most complex with his attitude and broken self-worth, Tom has his own complexities with his seemly ‘bad luck’ and premonition feelings. Their instant attraction leads into a difficult relationship while they are investigating a murder that has murky leads and those leads are mysteriously tied to Prophet, and, a video that Tom mysteriously received even before ever meeting Prophet.

I have to say this is one frustrating book, it gives you hope, hints and clues but leaves you grasping for solid answers. While we learn a lot about both men’s backgrounds it still leaves us in the dark though, it’s like peeling back the first layer only to discover another layer underneath covered in steel. The storyline is really good and you are dragged into the danger and mystery, you get frustrated at Prophet’s attitude and you can’t help hope that Tom will smack the crap out of him to knock some sense into him. Their relationship is one of tension, frustration, and incredible hot sex with Tom doing most of the work to crack Prophet’s steel shell.

This really isn’t the book to read if you are just looking for an easy read or perfect relationship, it’s the book to read if you want something to chew on and frustrate you. It isn’t a pretty book with hearts and flowers; in fact, there are times you could cheerfully string up both Tom and Prophet because they annoy you so much. There are no dewy eyes from these dangerous men, black eyes yes, and there are no sweet words but plenty of cursing and there is certainly no happily ever after unless the author is very happy with our screaming and cursing as we get to the end and discover frustration.

I recommend this is you love mysterious men making the world a better place, if you love broken men who aren’t sure if they want to be fixed, scorching hot sex, a great storyline that leaves you frustrated and if are a glutton for punishment.  

Gigi’s Review:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Let me start off saying that I became quickly invested in Prophet and Tom. The characters are richly written, detailed, and unique and grabbed my right away. Prophet is a male character I love to love and love to hate. I want to just slap some sense into him but that would never work. This guy is facing huge problems in his future, not only from a genetic illness but also from himself. He doesn’t allow himself to be loved, he distances himself from people who care, he puts himself in harm’s way intentionally, and I still can’t help but be drawn and sympathetic.

Tom is a character I underestimated. I first saw him as weak, but it turns out his intelligence is what sneaks up on a reader. He’s more experienced than he lets on, and he’s physically strong in addition to being the emotional strength. He’s also got a “gift” and a curse that he lives with that distances him from others. So two very hard men with stubborn streaks turning their professional relationship into a sexual one can only spell problems.

This is a book for those who love Special Forces, military, mercenary, and spy adventures. Catch a Ghost has plenty of action, violence, and aggressive sexual heat. All of these things kept me entertained, but the plot left me stranded.
I know this is a series, and I understand the use of a cliffhanger, but it seems to me the whole purpose of Catch a Ghost may have been to introduce Tom and Prophet, set up the drama, build a plot, but then it ended with no resolution. I like to see at least one problem solved in a series installment, but this one left me wanting. Wanting to read more is the result of the quality however!

 

Glitterland by Alexis Hall

17727137Title: Glitterland

Series: N/A

Author: Alexis Hall

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: Novel (248 pages)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (August 26th, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: The universe is a glitterball I hold in the palm of my hand.

Once the golden boy of the English literary scene, now a clinically depressed writer of pulp crime fiction, Ash Winters has given up on love, hope, happiness, and—most of all—himself. He lives his life between the cycles of his illness, haunted by the ghosts of other people’s expectations.

Then a chance encounter at a stag party throws him into the arms of Essex boy Darian Taylor, an aspiring model who lives in a world of hair gel, fake tans, and fashion shows. By his own admission, Darian isn’t the crispest lettuce in the fridge, but he cooks a mean cottage pie and makes Ash laugh, reminding him of what it’s like to step beyond the boundaries of anxiety.

But Ash has been living in his own shadow for so long that he can’t see past the glitter to the light. Can a man who doesn’t trust himself ever trust in happiness? And how can a man who doesn’t believe in happiness ever fight for his own?

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/glitterland

Review: The moment I started reading this book the first thought that hit my brain was “oh no”. I had a moment of panic there talking myself into abandoning the book because depression? Meh, been there done that, and frankly couldn’t be arsed to dive into that haze again. But even as the book starts with a sad, sad scene, it was nearly impossible to stop.

With an exquisite approach, the author introduces us Ash. This character is not a merely depressed one – which in itself is a very serious illness – he is also bipolar and well, insane. His world rests now between insanity and waiting for it to happen. He has no hopes, no dreams, and no expectations whatsoever. He is a writer and the only reason he is one is due to his stubbornness to not fade away into nothingness. Everything he once was before it hit him is gone, and he understands that golden child, that young man with the bright future is never coming back. If only his friends saw that too.

Ash is such a solid character. He drags you in his live want it or not and you can’t fail to relate in some way, however small, with him. In addition, he’s also the stereotypical Englishman for you. That snark, irony, and self-sarcasm, the peculiar sense of humor, all are there to entice you and make you laugh even through some really dark events. I won’t deny everything about Ash is appealing, even when he becomes a real jerk – and that had nothing to do with his illness, rather a habit born out of self-preservation – you feel for him, care for him, makes you want to yell at him and shake him up. Yeah, Ash evokes strong emotions all right.

As for Darian, oh my, what a charming one he was. Hilarious and funny, Darian takes Ash from the grey haze effortlessly and takes him flying to the clouds of normalcy and joy and happiness. While he’s not the brightest star out there, his optimistic attitude in life doesn’t fail to make Ash smile. But Ash has been in a self-destructive path for so long that it has now become a habit, a hard one to shake.

Lovely, lovely journey indeed. Everything was portrayed beautifully, the good, the bad, and the ugly. It made for an enthralling read and I couldn’t be happier to read it. I felt sad, I felt happy and I felt joy along the way with the characters. The plot was brilliant. It ended in the classic HEA, but there was nothing stereotypical about how it approached it. The characters were gorgeous and lovely, even Niall whom I wanted to strangle at some point. And it takes place in England, with absolutely charming Englishmen. Now what else do you need? Strongly recommended.

The Crimson Outlaw by Alex Beecroft

Title: The Crimson Outlaw     

Author: Alex Beecroft     

Genre: Historical (1720), Romania, Kink     

Length: Novella (131pgs)     

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (13th August 2013)    

Heat Level: Moderate     

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥3½ Hearts 

Reviewer: Pixie     

Blurb: Love is the greatest outlaw of all.

Vali Florescu, heir to a powerful local boyar, flees his father’s cruelty to seek his fortune in the untamed Carpathian forests. There he expects to fight ferocious bandits and woo fair maidens to prove himself worthy of returning to depose his tyrannical father. But when he is ambushed by Mihai Roscat, the fearsome Crimson Outlaw, he discovers that he’s surprisingly happy to be captured and debauched instead.

Mihai, once an honored knight, has long sought revenge against Vali’s father, Wadim, who killed his lord and forced him into a life of banditry. Expecting his hostage to be a resentful, spoiled brat, Mihai is unprepared for the boy to switch loyalties, saving the lives of villagers and of Mihai himself during one of Wadim’s raids. Mihai is equally unprepared for the attraction between them to deepen into love.

Vali soon learns that life outside the castle is not the fairy tale he thought, and happy endings must be earned. To free themselves and their people from Wadim’s oppression, Vali and Mihai must forge their love into the spear-point of a revolution and fight for a better world for all.  

Purchase Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/crimson-outlaw     

Review: Vali might be heir to the local powerful boyar but it doesn’t make him exempt from punishment, when he tries to save his sister from an unwanted marriage Vali begins to learn that his father isn’t a good lord like he thought. Escaping from prison Vali is determined to return when he has proved himself, but he gets caught up in the plight of a local village and succumbs to a bandits seduction. Mihai is a bandit who wants revenge, his lord and many of his friends were killed when Vali’s father, Wadim, wanted their land, now he does what he can to make life easier on all the villages under Wadim’s rule. When he comes across Vali, he expects to take him hostage to force Wadim’s hand but he discovers the son is far different from the father and begins to fall for him. Both men have to fight for what they want but will they be able to get the results they both want without bloodshed?

This is a cute little story of wanted adventure and hard reality, of men from different walks of life meeting and loving and of a tyrant whose son finds it hard to hate him. Vali is a young man who doesn’t realize his actions affect others, he doesn’t think that his father is a bad lord even though he is a harsh father and he still has rose-tinted glasses of what is happening in the world outside his castle. Mihai knows the truth about the tyranny of Wadim, he has lived through it and wants nothing more than to make the man pay, and he does so in a small way when he helps local villagers. When these two men come together they find common ground and an instant attraction that neither one fights. 

This is a pretty good story that takes us back to a time when lords were god and everyone else was fodder. Vali is nineteen and sometimes comes across as whimsical in his feelings, he also seems to war with himself about his feelings for his father. He finally sees what his father is really like but still can’t believe it, wanting to give his father the chance to do the right thing. Mihai has plans for Vali when he first discovers him but rapidly changes his mind, and the two together make a great couple as they recover and make plans. Vali doesn’t make, as much progress in the maturity stakes as you would expect with everything that he sees and goes through, it was more superficial stuff he thought of. 

I recommend this if you love historicals with great details, bandits ravishing innocents, taking control of your life and finding happiness against the odds. 

Mark of the Gladiator by Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane

16166511Title: Mark of the Gladiator

Series: Warriors of Rome, Book #4

Author: Heidi Belleau & Violetta Vane

Genre: Historical

Length: Novel

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (December 3rd, 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: After an inconvenient display of mercy in the arena, the gladiator Anazâr is pulled from the sands and contracted to nobleman Lucius Marianus to train his new stable of female gladiators. His charges are demoralized and untested, and they bear the marks of abuse. Anazâr has a scant two months to prepare them for the arena, and his new master demands perfection.

Anazâr is surprised by how eager he is to achieve it—far more eager than a man motivated only by self-preservation. Perhaps it’s because Marianus is truly remarkable: handsome, dignified, honorable, and seemingly as attracted to Anazâr as Anazâr is to him.

But a rivalry between Marianus and his brother sparks a murder conspiracy, with Anazâr and his gladiatrices caught in the middle. One brother might offer salvation . . . but which? And in a world where life is worth less than the pleasures of the crowd or the whims of a master, can there be any room for love? As a gladiator, Anazâr’s defenses are near impenetrable. But as a man, he learns to his cost that no armor or shield can truly protect his heart.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/mark-gladiator

Review: What a lovely book this one was, so utterly captivating and enthralling in its theme. Gladiators are generally a beloved topic of mine, but this book was not merely a fantasy, it was a full on literary work, with quite some research covering its background and a truly fascinating story.

Anazar, a once upon a time Numidian warrior, now a fierce gladiator finds his life’s thread to be quickly shortening as he no longer finds a reason to live. Yes, of course, in the middle of the battle when his instincts take over, he fights with all he has, but he is quickly running short on that. His owner is deeply dissatisfied and lends him over to a man who has recently come to own his own gladiator team. Female gladiators. He is in need of a trainer and one that will not have a mind to take advantage of the women. Anazar is the perfect man for that on many accounts; he’s seasoned, knows his way around the arena and training of gladiators and he has no interest on women whatsoever. Men on the other hand…

I loved how smoothly Anazar’s profile was written here. I loved how the authors slowly led us into his head and mindset. A fierce man who had resigned on his slavery. A man who has accepted and submitted to his duties. I actually had a hard time making my mind about him and his nature. Was he a submissive, or not? I still can’t make up my mind and that’s a beauty I rarely come across when getting to know characters. Most are so stereotypically described they hold no interest, but Anazar is a character you want to get to know. He has many layers of personality, each one slowly revealing itself throughout the book. He is strong in his beliefs of what his duty is without being blind to his master’s faults. Well… almost. His slave status and conditioning is revealed in the many ways and turns his brain takes. There is that resigned state of mind and sub servitude that comes from having no choices left, without diminishing his passion and fire, without turning him weak. Ah, I loved, loved this character, he is exquisite.

Moving on, Fate has him caring for life once again when he’s forced to make gladiators out of women. Such a cruel notion, one that tugs at Anazar’s heart. But when added to the mix of new turns and twists his Master’s brother, Anazar finds he’s unable to maintain control on the following events. Can a man borne to master men see a slave for a human being? And at that, can a slave see a master of men in the light of love? And can that all happen in the midst of a City where treachery and backstabbing politics were born and thrive?

Quite the interesting plot this one, with the Roman’s characteristically treacherous politics barreling full force and making this book a wondrous emotional ride. Hidden agendas and untrustworthy characters made the effect even brighter. I lost count of the times a new plot was made, I lost count of the many layers of corruption and back-stabbing, and I lost count of the times my heart plummeted to the floor along with Anazar’s, and how my guts turned and complained at the emotional assault. Even the end was an event in its self, every time I thought it was over a new twist would make my breath catch and turn me into a nerve wreck.

Ah dear me, I could go on forever it seems. As it is, I loved the book. I loved the plot, I loved the time period it was settled, I loved the characters, all of them being brilliant, and I loved the intimacy between the lovers and their encounters. I also loved the fact that this book does not shy from the cruelty inflicted at that time, although there is a lack of unbearable gruesome details. They were described rather masterfully in my opinion.

So bottom end, if you love your gladiators, honorable men, and some backstabbing Roman politics this is the book for you. I do believe you’ll be fascinated and captivated same way I did. Totally recommended.

 

Giving an Inch by Heidi Belleau and Amelia C. Gormley

17616739Title: Giving an Inch

Series: The Professor’s Rule, #1

Author: Heidi Belleau & Amelia C. Gormley

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Short Story (11.400 words)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (April 15, 2013)

Reviewer: Thommie

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Blurb: School is back in session.

History grad James Sheridan thinks his biggest problem in life is trying to find a suitable outfit for his upcoming Ph.D. candidacy exam. That is, until he accidentally texts a changing-room selfie meant for his fashionable sister to his ex, the domineering Professor Carson.

James and Carson haven’t seen each since James fled their power games two years ago. Back in his undergrad days, Carson was his Professor, and not just in the academic sense: a man of unusual tastes and extreme sexual demands, James had been happy to sate Carson’s savage appetites. Too happy, in fact. He never could trust himself not to let Carson push too far.

Now James is older and wiser, and sharing some seriously flirtatious vibes with a cute menswear rep. When Carson replies to James’s errant text, ready to pick up where they left off, James can’t help being drawn back into Carson’s control. It’s only when Carson suggests involving the salesman that James has to ask himself how far is too far, and whether he’s willing to go there with Carson again.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/giving-inch

Review: What an enticing story to start a series. Giving an Inch slowly lures you into its depths and gives you no chance to escape the addiction.

James is a character that I really don’t know what to make of him. He has long broke up with his “Professor,” his pushy, demanding professor Carson, but not because Carson’s demands and want-more, but because James himself couldn’t stop from giving whatever Carson put on the table and then some. Yet an accident put Carson back in his life when he accidentally sends him a picture of his attire and Carson grabs the opportunity to get his lovely sub back.

Still demanding, still ordering him around into things that James feels humiliating, but this time James is different. The game might be Carson’s but James is putting down rules of his own. This time James wants more.

And this character right here is addictive. We get to see a slight side of Carson and I can’t wait to properly meet him in future installments. We get to meet Satish, the salesman that gets involved into Carson’s little game, and I really do hope to see more of him in the future. But the main character that made me want to grab the authors and shake the next story out of them is James. Lovely James; needy James; defiant James. He might have come as weak at some points but oh my, he did grow some spine there and took what he wanted from this wonderful, brilliant play.

Enticing? That is quite an understatement.

A lovely short story, one of those that you don’t want to say much about the plot out of fear of spoiling the fun, Giving an Inch will most certainly win you with a great writing, wonderful protagonist, a promising plot and one very erotic and sexy scene. Strongly recommended.

Flawless by Cat Grant

17565642Title: Flawless

Series: Irresistible Attraction, #4

Author: Cat Grant

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (April 22nd, 2013)

Reviewer: Thommie

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Blurb: Steve Campbell used to be a player, until a mid-life crisis opened his eyes to his long-repressed love for Connor, his soon-to-be-married best friend and business partner. Coming out at thirty-eight means learning how to date all over again, and this time, Steve’s not willing to settle for empty one-night stands. He wants the real thing.

Gil Alvarez has never had it easy, struggling through childhood and rejected by his family for a body that didn’t match who he was inside. A skilled driver and mechanic, he’s working hard to make his auto shop a success. The last thing he needs is a rich white guy in a candy-apple-red Ferrari tempting him, but Steve’s ready smile and easygoing manner prove irresistible.

One brief, intimate encounter leaves them both hungry for more. Gil’s not ashamed of who he is, but he’s terrified that Steve will reject him—or worse—when he discovers what Gil can’t find the courage to tell him.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/flawless

Review: This title is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.

Oh. I loved this book. It was almost as if I was looking at the couple next door. It faces the complication in relationships when communication is poor and bitterness along with a cruel life blinds you to what is.

In this book, we see Steve who at nearly forty years old is trying to embrace his life and his sexuality. As the book starts Steve thinks things are quite hard for him, but he will quickly realize how sheltered his life has been, especially compared to Gil, whose life has been one rejection after another and to top it all violence has had a good part of it too.

The two men are worlds apart, Steve wealthy and pampered, and Gil poor and always trying a bit harder for that longed for break. However, both of them have one thing in common and that is the way they view themselves. Steve doesn’t think he is the catch he is, not if you don’t count his money, and Gil, well he always has hated his body, a trap for his true self that he can’t overcome.

In the chase for love, both men fall in the same old problem, communication. As smart as Steve is, he is clueless to the hardships gay and Trans alike suffers and Gil has long ago lost faith that people will look at him like anything other than a freak.

As I said, I loved this book. Both characters were so, so lovable and by the time I hit “The End” I felt I didn’t get my fill. I want more of this lovely couple. We don’t get to see them in a relationship here; this book is all about the beginning of one and overcoming the difficulties that would make an impossible situation real. I get to meet Steve, who is an extremely attractive man, intelligent, sweet, and quite sexy. We get to see him move on from his crush with Connor and really make an effort to find happiness and fulfillment in his life. And we get to meet Gil who I fell in love immediately. Beside the hot description we get of him, Gil is the type of character you just want to crush in a bear hug and never let go.

As for the rest of the plot, it was a lovely, lovely story. Fast cars, races, and adrenaline rush along with the romance of the new relationship. It’ was dreamy and I enjoyed it immensely. This author’s writing style is so easy flowing that it lures you in the core of the story so effortlessly you don’t even realize it when you’ve hit the end pages.

As I mention in the beginning this is book #4 of the Irresistible Attraction series and while you can easily read it as a standalone you will feel the urge to get them all and devour them in one go. I certainly do. As it is if you’re in the mood for a great story this title will not disappoint you.

Strongly recommended.

 

Scorpion by Aleksandr Voinov

10671271Title: Scorpion

Series: Memory of Scorpions #1

Author: Aleksandr Voinov

Genre: MM / Dark Military Fantasy

Length: Novel

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (May 27, 1013; re-release)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Never stop fighting.

Kendras is a casualty of war: injured, penniless, and quite possibly the last surviving member of the only family he’s ever had—the elite fighting force known as the Scorpions. When a steel-eyed mercenary offers him medicine and shelter in exchange for submission and a secret task, Kendras has no choice but to accept. He is a Scorpion; he’ll do whatever it takes to survive.

But his true goal is to rebuild the Scorpions. Neither Steel’s possessive nature nor Kendras’ shattered foot can keep him from finding the last of his brothers, or the mysterious leader of the Scorpions, the man who held Kendras’ heart long before Steel tried to take it for himself.

The goal is simple, the situation anything but. To rescue his leader and escape from Steel for good, Kendras must fight through a morass of politics and intrigue where enemies may be allies and even allies have hidden agendas. But Kendras isn’t only fighting for his lost lover and tribe—he soon realizes that nothing less than the birth of an Empire is at stake.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/scorpion-memory-scorpions-1

Review: Reader discretion advised. This title contains the following sensitive themes:

  • dubious consent
  • explicit violence

Being the first writer to introduce me to the m/m genre, it is safe to say that Voinov is one of my favorite authors. It is also safe to say that I’ve grown to expect anything and everything from this author, from romance to explicit erotica and from sci-fi to extreme dark fantasy.

So I expected to dive in this book and not be released from its spell unless it was over, I expected it to rock my world, I expected it to make me feel and intensely so. Still I didn’t saw it coming full force and hit me like a punch in the gut. And I lost count of how many times I was left there jaw hanging slack and shivers running through my body re-reading the same paragraph over and over again just because it was so very amazingly gritty and violent that I simply could not take my eyes of and move on.

Yes, I’m and addict when it comes to Voinov’s special brand of violence, I’m and addict when it comes to his horrific erotic scenes, and I’m an addict to the way he makes a perfectly terrifying character, one that should make me want to scream and run for my life, to the most delicious and lovable character ever.

If you don’t know this author’s work then frankly you don’t know what you’re missing; if you do than you’ll understand me when I say that more often than not I’m left speechless simply because there doesn’t seem to exist good enough words to talk about it.

In this book, we meet Kendras, a member of an elite military unit, The Scorpions. The unit is the family nobody can shatter. There is nothing above it and all and everything revolves around the members. They fight together, live together, die together and above all, they never stop fighting.

Unfortunately, in the last battle, too many members died and the fear that all is lost is almost consuming Kendras. He’s been shipped away from the field and lost contact with everybody, he’s wounded, to the brink of death but he must keep living and fighting and try to get his way back to find out what happened to his unit, to his Officer.

He must do whatever it takes to get well and on the road again, even if that means to give himself, however temporarily, to Steel, a mysterious man with a hidden agenda and seemingly soulless, who for whatever reason wants Kentras to be and work with him.

And this is how things are set in motion, a wide web of intrigues and political games for power, assassins coming from every corner and people dying from least expected hands. Corruption and hunger of every form are seen and a mind-blowing plot is slowly unraveled, steadily taking every ounce of your sanity away in its path.

The characters are many, their personalities each unique and the dialogues often have a gritty sense of humor you can’t resist. The erotic relations between the characters are limitless and often the lines blur, and the eroticism is heady driving you in a mindless swirl of emotions. Hot, sexy, debauched or even forced everything is written with a seducing pen that makes even the crudest scene seem strangely alluring. Expect that; expect anything and you’ll be able to ride it in its full glory instead of staring shocked.

The plot was quite powerful too with so many unexpected twists and turns that keep you always on your toes never allowing you to relax for a single bit. And the world created oh my, such an enticing one, I can’t wait for the next book of the series to come just for the brief chance to get in there once again.

If there is one thing about this book that somehow let me down is the fact that we never really saw Kendras in the heart of a battle. Yes, he was wounded for the better part and yes, he did kill somebody, but I was waiting for that bloodthirsty Scorpion to wreak havoc and I didn’t get that. A bit disappointed there but hopefully he’ll come back in book #2 and do just that.

Conclusion after all the above… Well, freaking awesome and definitely on my favorite shelf where books that I take out and read to fix me up are put. The Scorpion is just too good to miss.

The Laird's Forbidden Lover by Amelia C. Gormley

17704471Title: The Laird’s Forbidden Lover

Series: N/A

Author: Amelia C. Gormley

Genre: MM / Historical (Scottish)

Length: Novella

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (May 6th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Farm lad Iain Munro knows his love affair with Tavish MacIntyre, future Laird of Creachann-Dubh, is dangerous—discovery could mean disgrace and death. But they’ve been in love since they were boys, and they’ve never been able to resist each other, dishonorable though it is to deceive their families.

Young men now, their sexual explorations have deepened and their love for each other has strengthened. But Iain’s father fears for his eldest son’s future, and Tavish faces dangers and duties of his own: his demanding mother would see him respectably wed, and his interfering sister knows too much—and has schemes of her own.

Facing a lifetime apart, Iain and Tavish must leave their childhoods behind for good as they choose between honor and love, innocence and happiness, and their vows before God and to each other.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/lairds-forbidden-lover

Review: Have I mentioned how much I love historical romance? Or better yet, have I mentioned how much I love Scotts? This novella has it both and I’m glad to say I enjoyed it immensely. I’ll also have to say straight on that the speech was disturbing there at the beginning. That is until I got used to it, because damn it was Scottish all the way through. I had this horrifying fear there for a moment that I won’t be able to get into it, but that was easily overcome and I managed to have quite a blast.

This is the tale of Tavish, future Laird of a place that in all honesty I can’t pronounce, and Iain, a simple farm lad with whom he has a distant relationship.

Iain has always harbored some kind of hero-worship for Tavish, but it isn’t until Tavish is nineteen years old and Iain fifteen that they come to realize they harbor more than that. What starts as mere lust and teenage hormones going wild slowly transform into deep love. The two young men don’t have time to explore those feeling though as their way of life only allows them to see each other once a year, and with some schemes on Tavish behalf perhaps twice, but they get to become stronger with each passing year. The fear of getting caught and dishonoring their families does not stop the two young lovers from making young, naïve dreams that come clashing when reality hits home and they are found. Not in the act but the rumors are strong enough to drive the two apart. But neither man can imagine a future where there is no place for the other in their life, neither one can bear a permanent separation, and while there seems to be no way to win this battle, help comes from the most unexpected source.

I loved it. I loved them both so much. Tavish, so hot-blooded and reckless and wild and sexy and a devil-may-care kind of guy had me around his little finger in a blink and Iain, the shy and gorgeous, steady and thoughtful Iain who got so wrapped up in the web of love that had to go and do the ultimate sin in his head for his bonny Tavish, he had me wanting to hug him tight and never let him go. Weird that sensation.

And speaking of sensations, dear Lord was this read a hot, sensual ride. The intimate scenes between the two young men, from their first fumbling and their exploration, to their first time and later on their exquisite lovemaking, everything was extremely arousing. I don’t know, was it the fact of a time long ago that the fear was a constant companion that made it so, or the men-in-kilt fantasy, or simply a very well written context, but the result was fascinating and hot to the core.

The ending though, might have come a bit weird for me. I will not call it unrealistic, because frankly I have no clue what would constitute realistic in the era this story is located. And you never know what to expect from people, but yeah, that’s it, it was surprising and a perfect solution for the dilemma. Unfortunately, it also left me with wondering what the future would bring for them… three… I swear my imagination is burdensome at times.

Bottom end if you like historical romances, highlands, and men in kilts and the sort of inevitable love, then this is the book for you. I truly had fun reading it.

 

Finding Master Right by L.A. Witt

17735586Title:  Finding Master Right

Series:  N/A

Author: L.A. Witt 

Genre: BDSM

Length:  Novel (170 pages)

Publisher:  Riptide Publishing (June 17th, 2013)

Heat Level:  Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb:   It’s all fun and games until somebody falls in love.

Chase has just arrived at a much anticipated leather convention, and he’s about to lose his mind. Not only is his ex attending, but Chase is also rooming with Derek, a submissive he’s been dying to top. Although Derek is in search of a Dom, he made it painfully clear when the two of them hooked up for a very hot—but very vanilla—night just before the convention that he wasn’t interested in submitting to Chase.

Derek isn’t stupid. No matter how desperate he is to submit to Chase, he wants no part of a rebound relationship. As long as Chase is still pining after the sub who broke his heart a few months ago, Derek’s keeping him at arm’s length. Besides, there’s another Dom at this convention, the gorgeous Master Raul, who Derek is determined to attract.

But when Chase and Derek are confronted with all their kinks, from ropes to leather, bondage to flogging—not to mention each other—they can only ignore their mutual attraction for so long.

Product Link:  http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/finding-master-right

Reviewer:   Tams

Review:  Chase and Derek are friends that secretly want to be lovers. A drunken night on the road travelling to a leather convention, Chase hopes to make that dream a reality. But when Derek requests to keep their tryst strictly vanilla, Chase is left confused and wanting more.

A huge aspect of the Dominate and Submissive relationship is trust, can these two friends take that next step, can Derek completely submit to Chase? These two spend the better part of the book pushing each other away. They are so obviously in love, but to damn stubborn to admit it. Both are still wounded from their last relationship and neither wants to be a rebound.

They actively watch each other playing and acting out the Dom/sub roles throughout the convention, just not with each other. Everything comes to a head when Chase takes out his frustration on a submissive while Derek finally gets a shot with Master Raul, the Dom he’s wanted to control him for years, only to realize he already has a Dom, and it’s not Master Raul.

I’m not normally a fan of BDSM, but Witt managed to explore this world of leather, whips, chains, and floggers without turning it into bad porn or the memoirs of an abused submissive. Aside from the angst, I loved the story between these two best friends as they secretly pine for one another while still exploring who they are.

The play scenes are definitely descriptive; if you aren’t a fan of BDSM then this is not the book for you. There is a love story wrapped up in all that leather though, so romance fans that don’t normally read the genre just might like, I sure did. Pretty steamy, graphic and intense… I recommend giving Master a try.

 

Touch & Geaux by Abigail Roux

???????????????????????????????????????Title: Touch & Geaux

Series: Cut & Run 07

Author: Abigail Roux

Genre: Action, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Contemporary

Length: Super Novel (349pgs)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (8th April 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: After having their faces plastered across the news during a high-profile case, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have become more useful to the Bureau posing for photo ops than working undercover. Just as Zane is beginning to consider retirement a viable option, Ty receives a distress call from a friend, leading them to a city rife with echoes from the past.

New Orleans wears its history on its streets, and it’s the one place Ty’s face could get him killed. Surrounded by trouble as soon as they land, Ty and Zane are swiftly confronted with a past from which Ty can’t hide—one with a surprising connection to Zane’s.

As threats close in from all directions, both men must come to terms with the lives they’ve led and the lies they’ve told. They soon discover that not all their secrets are out yet, and nothing lasts forever.

Purchase Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/touch-geaux

Review: This story is part of a series and must be read in order. Grady and Zane both know that undercover work might not be an option anymore after their pictures are plastered on the news. With over twenty years in the Bureau, Zane just might consider retirement. But, when Ty receives a call from a friend in need, they drop everything to get to New Orleans. But, New Orleans holds secrets from Ty’s past.  One that briefly crosses paths with Zane’s past. As Ty and Zane face threats from the past, Ty’s secrets shake loose and Zane is left reeling. Can Zane and Ty escape from the past and New Orleans alive… and more importantly together?

Ho-ly crap!! This is an action packed, emotional rollercoaster, secret filled, jaw dropping, grin inducing story that you won’t want to put down. This story digs deep into the past and into the secrets that Ty holds close. It’s a story that will make you gasp in shock, moan in despair and grit your teeth in frustration. Forget all the books before, because this is the book that defines Ty and Zane.  This is the book that could make or break them and this is the book that leaves you reeling in shock, heartbreak, betrayal and hope. All the while you root for our guys and pray that it all works out.

Abigail Roux has crafted an incredible story, while keeping the storyline fresh and interesting. she pulls us into Ty and Zane’s world again giving them insurmountable obstacles to overcome. Not only do we get the incredible Zane and Ty, but we also get Digger, Owen, Kelly and Nick… oh. And I can’t forget blast from Ty’s past, Liam. All the characters play brilliantly off each other giving the story an edge. So that’s about all I will say about this book. Because I refuse to ruin it for anyone. And this is one book that has to be read to discover the incredible secrets it has hidden. Oh and Abigail Roux… the ending, how could you!

The only recommendation that I can give is to read this book. It isn’t to be missed and if you have read the other books then *scream* you will never believe what’s awaiting you!! And if you haven’t read any of the other books… welcome to Earth, alien visitors.

 

Covet Thy Neighbor by L.A. Witt

covetTitle:  Covet Thy Neighbor

Series: Tucker Springs 04

Author:  LA Witt

Genre:   Contemporary

Length:  Novel (170 pages)

Publisher:  Riptide Publishing (March 25th, 2013)

Heat Level:  Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb:   Tattoo artist Seth Wheeler thinks he’s struck gold when Darren Romero rents the apartment across the hall. The new guy is gorgeous, witty, and single, plus he’s just the right blend of bold and flirtatious. Perfect.

Except then Darren reveals that he moved to Tucker Springs to take a job as the youth pastor at the New Light Church. Seth is not only an atheist, but was thrown out by his ultra-religious family when he came out. He tends to avoid believers, not out of judgment but out of self-preservation.

But Darren doesn’t give up easily, and he steadily chips away at Seth’s defenses. Darren is everything Seth wants in a man . . . except for that one massive detail he just can’t overlook. Is Darren’s religion the real problem, or is it just a convenient smokescreen to keep him from facing deeper fears? It’s either see the light, or risk pushing Darren away forever

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/covet-thy-neighbor-tucker-springs-novel

Reviewer:   Tams

Review:  LA Witt is an author whose work I will grab regardless.  I have yet to read a book by this author that I did not like. Witt has a keen eye for details and possess the ability to transform the reader directly into her world. Likeable characters, realistic situations and some of the steamiest sex scenes I’ve ever read!

For those of you that read book 1 in this series, Where Nerves End, you will immediately recognize Seth. The openly gay, laid back tattoo artist hasn’t always had an easy life. Shunned by his fanatical family when he came out to them in college, he had to learn to make his own way in life quickly, when all communication and funding for college were abruptly cut off. He has a good life now with a good job, an apartment and a fantastic close-knit group of friends.

When sex on a stick Darren moves into the apartment across the hall, the animalistic attraction between the two is instantaneous. Darren wastes no time getting Seth into his bed. When Seth learns that Darren is minister, he immediately withdraws from him. The pain of his past hasn’t faded and he subconsciously groups Darren in the same class with his family. But, he can’t stop thinking about the minister with his dark hair and eyes and a dry, witty sense of humor that makes Seth laugh.

Seth tries very hard not to want Darren, but the fact that the two of them can’t be around each other for very long without ending up in bed doesn’t help his flimsy resistance. Unlike Seth, Darren knows exactly what he wants and what he wants is Seth. When Darren approaches the subject of taking their relationship beyond just the bedroom, Seth’s self preservation mode kicks in. Will the harsh words he says create a rift between the pair that can’t be undone? Or will Darren forgive the man he’s fallen in love with, the man that’s also fallen in love with him, but won’t admit it, not even to himself.

The story flows effortlessly and before I knew it I was at the end. The characters are both flawed and carry some pretty serious baggage, but this only makes them more believable and likeable in the end. The sex is sensual, steamy and well conveyed by the author. This is a must read for any M/M fans.

 

Something New Under the Sun by L.A. Witt

n424997Title:  Something New Under the Sun

Series:  Falling Sky (Book 02)

Author:  L.A. Witt

Genre:  M/M Cyberpunk

Length:  Novel (212 pages)

Publisher:  Riptide Publishing (January 21, 2013)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥4.5Hearts

Blurb:  Liam Lansing is heir to a prominent family of bio-modified vampires. That is, until he chooses the wrong lover and is cast down to the Gutter to scrape for his life.

Daniel Harding is heir to Cybernetix and a prince of the corporate Sky. That is, until his ideology drives his father to put a price on his head, forcing him into the Gutter.

But Daniel and Liam won’t vanish meekly into the smog. Together, they plan to rip open the hidden corruption that runs the Sky—for vengeance, for justice, and for hope. They strike against the corporations in a daring raid. When everything goes wrong, Daniel must betray his core beliefs to save the man he loves and protect his dangerous secret. Only through courage in the face of death—or worse—might he and Liam change the world they live in and create something new under the sun

Product Link:  http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/something-new-under-sun

Reviewer:  Showme

Review:  If you haven’t read A Chip In His Shoulder by Witt, the first book in this series, then I’d highly recommend you’d do so before starting this. The Falling Sky series takes place in a world where the rich and powerful live in the sky, and the poor lower class lives in the gutters. They aren’t just separated by neighborhoods, but one lives above and one lives below.

People in the Sky buy mods, alterations to themselves, for almost anything you can think of, while the people below make these mods, while living in poverty and smog fanned down from the Sky.

In the first book, Liam, once an elite of his race, has become a cyborg vampire assassin after falling from his father’s graces. Five years in the gutter changes Liam. He’s hired to kill Daniel, the man he used to love, and the man who betrayed him. Daniel, has learned a lot since he made the biggest mistake of his life, so he’s not all that surprised to learn that his father has hired his lover to take him out.

Book two of the Falling Sky series picks up where the last one left off, with Daniel and Liam in trouble. They’ve escaped the Sky, but the danger continues. Neither man is under the illusion getting to the smog and crime ridden Gutter means they’re safe from Daniel’s father. There’s also the discovery that the UV mod does in fact exist. Since both men are wanted by the authorities, and Daniel, is a known member of the anti-mod movement, they need to get their hands on that mod for proof, and that means breaking into Cybernetix. To do this, they need the help of some friends like Gizmo, a mod and tech genius working out of a secret lab in the gutter with a mechanical arm and a great sense of humor. Daniel’s friends lend knowledge and through them, Liam and Daniel learn that Cybernetix is planning something far more diabolical than withholding the UV mod. They’ve developed a mutated biomod that threatens lives. This makes their mission about more than taking Daniel’s father down.

This world is wonderfully vivid. The picture is clear without long wordy descriptions. The storytelling keeps you comfortably on edge throughout most of the book. It is action packed and the love story feels real. The on-page sex in this book is sensual and intense. You can tell the guys don’t know if they’ll make it, and savor every moment they spend together.  There’s no angst. Liam and Daniel know they love each other.

Liam’s feedings seemed inconsistent, and the vampire lineage was kind of skimmed over. I would have liked to know more about them. Why were they created?  I wasn’t lost at any time but they were an interesting element that wasn’t explored much in the books. Gizmo was a fascinating character that I’d love to read more about.

I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anybody who enjoys reading about alternate realities and nonstop action where good battles evil with a love story.

Fragile Bond by Rhi Etzweiler

1510135Title: Fragile Bond

Series: N/A

Author: Rhi Etzweiler

Genre: MM / Military / Sci-Fi

Length: Novel (48.4K words)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (February 18th, 2013)

Reviewer: Thommie

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb: Sniper Sergeant Marc Staille and his trusty rifle, Mat, are on bodyguard duty at a mining operation on a backwater planet. The resource-rich valley is crawling with tawnies, the native dirt-colored predators. Huge things that hunt in packs and kill as well with tooth and claw as Marc ever has with Mat.

The rules change when a tawny uses an unexpected weapon: pheromones.

Commander Hamm Orsonna, leader of the fefa clan, is determined to chase off the invading aliens. The one he sets out to capture for intel is scrawny and hairless, not very intimidating—until it takes out his entire squad. Seasoned warriors, felled from halfway down the valley by its metal death stick.

Their sacrifice may be worth it, though. The alien male smells like he’s interested in making things right. He smells of other things too, but nobody else seems to notice. Before long, Hamm finds himself fighting off his own kind to defend the alien, who might be his people’s only hope for peace, and Hamm’s only chance for happiness.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/fragile-bond

Review: Brilliant isn’t nearly strong enough a word to describe this book.

Human race travels space in search of inhabited planets that will provide resources for their survival. Caught up in a difficult position, with their resources dropping low fast, they reach planet Horace Deuce-Niner. A superficial glance of the terrain shows no sign of any intelligent species on the planet and the scouts are dropped, in order to provide safe path for the battalion and the scientists that would take the much-needed resources. Things however are not always like they seem.

Sniper Sergeant Marc Staille is good in one thing and one thing only. Along with his trusted rifle he’s an excellent hunter. The scary predators that live on this planet never had a chance against him and his trusted “Mat”. One by one they fell under his scope. Until one of them managed to locate and approach him in total silence. The only indication that something was wrong was the rich scent of soil that had Marc in complete surrender. Under the influence of the scent Marc manages to understand that is in fact pheromones, huge amounts that are deliberately thrown his way. As if the sharp claws and fangs the beasts had were not enough, he was reduced to mush by a vicious wave of arousal. As much as it didn’t made sense that their pheromones would be compatible, truth was they were, but what had Marc paling and going completely limp was the fact that the tawny predators were sapient indigenes. The horrible truth hitting him like a sledgehammer that he was “murdering” intelligent beings.

Commander Hamm Orsonna is beyond rage when he finally manages to capture the scrawny alien. Who would have thought that this little vulnerable being would succeed in taking out his entire squad? He should be killing him in sight if there wasn’t valuable intel he needed to extract from the alien. As it was, it took him by surprise when the need to dominate him emerged and the air around reeked of pheromones. What was even more shocking was the fact that the little alien responded and exuded his own very potent scent, a scent that hit him like a drug making it almost impossible to resist.

In the process of gaining intel and reaching a way toward peace Hamm and Marc find themselves in the middle of the strangest things of all. The forming of a bond where there should be none. A bond that could forever forge peace or doom them all.

There is no easy way to express myself as to how this story will truly affect you. It had a strong impact on me. I loved every aspect of it. The way the author wrote this book is simply brilliant. The focus on the natural instinct of each species, the aggressiveness, the attraction and the forging of the Human/Furr bond was simply perfect. You don’t simply read this book; you experience it as if you were in this strange planet, side by side with these strange creatures.

This story is not a romance in the stereotypical sense of it. It’s a beautiful combination of war, survival, grief, evolution and well… love. Never mind the word “love” is not mentioned. It didn’t need to and that’s the sheer beauty of it. Emotions are so palpable that words are not needed. It’s one of those books you wish made it to Hollywood and on the big screens just so you could see it in 3-D, hoping what you’ve “seen” in your head while reading it will match the screen.

Bottom end, if you have even the slight inclination toward the sci-fi genre you will absolutely LOVE this book. Highly recommended.

 

Blessed Isle by Alex Beecroft

BlessedIsle_600x900Title: Blessed Isle

Series: N/A

Author: Alex Beecroft

Genre: M/M, Historical, Romance

Length: Novella (103 pages)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (December 31st, 2012)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts-liked it

Blurb: For Captain Harry Thompson, the command of the prison transport ship HMS Banshee is his opportunity to prove his worth, working-class origins be damned. But his criminal attraction to his upper-crust First Lieutenant Garnet Littleton, threatens to overturn all he’s ever worked for.

Lust quickly proves to be the least of his problems, however. The deadly combination of typhus, rioting convicts, and a monstrous storm destroys his prospects…and shipwrecks him and Garnet on their own private island. After months of solitary paradise, the journey back to civilization – surviving mutineers, exposure, and desertion – is the ultimate test of their feelings for each other.

These two very different men each record their story for an unfathomable future in which the tale of their love – a love punishable by death in their own time – can finally be told. Today, dear reader, it is at last safe for you to hear it all.

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/blessed-isle

Reviewer: Patrick

Review: I was expecting a bit more romance than historical content to this book. I learned a few interesting things, but I also noticed a couple of small inconsistencies. For instance, while it was punishable by death to be found having a sexual relationship with a person of the same-sex, it was done all the time among military personnel and the royal families. History glosses over it quite a bit, but if you dig deep enough, it is there to be found. Now, if you are caught, yes there is a death sentence, but on the ships for the various military Naval personnel, it was very common and most people always looked the other way and pretended it wasn’t happening, especially considering the short life spans, the time away at sea, the constant threat of war and more. If you were flagrant about it though and flaunted it, it would get you killed.

Captain Harry showed the time-honored tradition of denial and thinking something must be wrong with him, as is still the case today for a lot of people, no matter their age when they are on the cusp of coming out of the closet or admitting to themselves who they are. Through the storms, the mutiny, the prisoners, desertion, shipwrecks, disease, rescue and more, two people managed to find one another, but because of the determination to not be something sinful and criminal, things may never have happened without catastrophic interventions, which happened here in this story, more than once.

I still do not understand the reasoning behind the dramatic act outs of the brother arguments at the end of the book though. Then the sudden, oh this happened, but I will sum it up in one sentence thing? Really? That is when the story could really have taken off! That promised for something great, thrilling and exciting, but instead the book ended on just and dead-end kind of note. However, altogether, the story was a nice read, especially with all of the historical information. But next time, the romance should be fleshed out and put more action into this type of story, rather than just the great details of travel and storm. The rebellion of the prisoners could have been a really exciting extra chapter or two.

too Stupid to Live by Anne Tenino

16149703Title: Too Stupid To Live

Series: #3 of Whitetail series/ #1 of Romancelandia series

http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/series/romancelandia

Author: Anne Tenino

Genre: MM Romance / Contemporary

Length: Novel+

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Reviewer: Thommie

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5Hearts

Blurb: It isn’t true love until someone gets hurt.

Sam’s a new man. Yes, he’s still too tall, too skinny, too dorky, too gay, and has that unfortunate addiction to romance novels, but he’s wised up. His One True Love is certainly still out there, but he knows now that real life is nothing like fiction. He’s cultivated the necessary fortitude to say “no” to the next Mr. Wrong, no matter how hot, exciting, and/or erotic-novel-worthy he may be.

Until he meets Ian.

Ian’s a new man. He’s pain-free, has escaped the job he hated and the family who stifled him, and is now—possibly—ready to dip his toe into the sea of relationships. He’s going to be cautious, though, maybe start with someone who knows the score and isn’t looking for anything too complicated. Someone with experience and simple needs that largely revolve around the bedroom.

Until he meets Sam.

Sam’s convinced that Ian is no one’s Mr. Right. Ian’s sure that Sam isn’t his type. They can’t both be wrong . . . can they?

Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/too-stupid-live

Review: In between battling off the heat and nursing my poor abs that got hurt from excessive laughter this book was a perfect hit in the romance genre for me.

I met Anne Tenino’s writing style with the first book in this series Whitetail Rock and I loved her. It was a short story but it was good. Then came The Fix and even though it was even shorter than the previous one (more like a filler) it was still good. And we meet Sam and Ian there, shortly, but if someone told me that this author would make such a good story out of them I’d laugh and wave it off. As it is, I’m the fool for this story was perfect.

Sam, as I met him, was a weird guy, too much into romance novels, too much expecting life to be like one. He was so encompassed in them I never thought he could see reality, if it hit him in the face. And that was that is somewhat true. Sam is this very tall, very skinny, very awkward guy with a load of issues trailing him. His romantic past, not so romantic, you could even say he’s been awfully used. But then again, the way he sees himself no wonder he doesn’t expect good things to ever happen to him. Yeah, sure, he dreams of mister perfect, and while I roll my eyes at that, mister perfects hits him right in the head… with a rugby ball… and his semi naked…

The moment Sam lays eyes on Ian he’s mesmerized. How could he not when Ian runs toward him half-naked, with only his shorts looking like he came down from the Highlands. Only thing missing is the damn kilt and a sword on his hand. Before Sam could think twice he asks Ian for a cup of coffee… Big, big mistake. A Demi-God like Ian would never, ever, ever go out with him… Right?

Right! Ian is anything but relationship guy. Sam is not even close to being his type and he bluntly tells him so. Better be cruel now and save the kid a heartbreak, cause Ian is far from perfect. Issues with his family have left Ian trying to find his emotional balance and in order to do that he has vowed to stop the pure sex hook-ups and try to find a guy he’d want to be in a relationship with. Not yet, but someday. But Sam? Nah, he’s so not his type.

It’s a stereotype in romance I know, and the plot is pretty much what you think in the beginning. Hot guy meets not so hot guy and falls in love despite him wanting to. That’s the general idea, but, and it’s a big but, Ms. Tenino has an Ace under her sleeve. Her ability to transform a stereotypical romance plot into a perfect, romantic, hot to the boiling point, dipped into humor that is so exquisite you almost never stop laughing your heart out the entire duration of the book, is absolutely, freaking amazing.

Her men are gorgeous and brilliant. Ian is this hard-assed, totally handsome, almost a model guy, ex-fireman with some scars on his back that make him even more sexy, who turns from a guy with emotional/commitment issues to the perfect boyfriend in an almost surreal way. And Sam? Oh God, Sam was a damn crown jewel. Never would have thought it that weird kid could be so funny in his awkwardness and that low self-esteem could be turned is such a cute waiting-to-happen disaster. I laughed with him, I felt sad with him, I felt anxious with him and hell, I felt it all with him along the best ride toward love I’ve recently read. And I’m not even approaching the steaming hot sexual experiences those two had. It’s too hot to touch or even get close. Even the role-playing scene with Ian actually wearing a kilt was perfect (I thought it’d be such a cliché, but then again I already admitted being a big fool judging before reading).

There are probably too many things I want to add in this review that are currently tangled in my brain and won’t come out, but bottom end is I truly enjoyed this book. It was interesting, entertaining and so very romantic that it made it easily in my “to read again” list. Highly recommended for the fans of the genre.

Once a Marine by Cat Grant

Once-A-MarineTitle:  Once a Marine

Series:  None

Author:  Cat Grant

Genre:   Contemporary

Length:  Novel (197 Pages)

Publisher:  Riptide Publishing (October 30, 2011)

Heat Level:  High

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb:   “Love is a battlefield.”

Discharged under Don’t Ask Don t Tell, former Marine major Cole Hammond is struggling to find a new identity. But PTSD casts a pall on everything, and his hard-nosed, homophobic father can t even bear to look him in the eye. To top it all off, he’s pretty sure he’s flunking out of law school.

Marc Sullivan is a kind, sensitive romance author-slash-waiter with a thing for men in uniform. Cole’s not wearing his anymore, but there’s no mistaking the warrior Marc meets in the diner one rainy afternoon. Cole’s sexy smile and Carolina drawl prove irresistible, but Marc’s played this game before, and he always loses. Once a Marine, always a Marine, and if there’s one thing Marc knows about such men, it’s that they all leave him in the end. It doesn’t t help that Cole’s practically closeted in public, or that he refuses to seek treatment for his PTSD.

But like any good Marine, Cole’s willing to fight for what matters. And like the characters in Marc’s stories, he’s certain that if they try just hard enough, together they can find their own happily ever after.

Product Link: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/once-marine

Reviewer:   John

Review:  Marc Sullivan is a struggling author who waits tables in order to make ends meet after being a college professor. His passion is writing, not teaching little frat boys. Marc also has a weird fetish and that is men in uniform. Cole Hammond is handsome and the drop-dead gorgeous type of guy. He has recently been discharged from the Marines under the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell scenario. He returns to college to study law, after spending his entire professional life with the persons who turned their backs on him for being gay. He has a homophobic father, financial problems and is on the verge of failing law school. What do these to need? Each other.

I loved Marc. He was the nerdy type of guy who left everything just to do what he loves, writing gay romance novels. He has had it tough, but he keeps fighting and moving on in life. I absolutely loved Cole! He was that amazing and perfect to me. My heart broke after learning about his troublesome past. At first, he seemed dazed, lost and confused with Marc, since everyone had turned his back on him for being gay. But, he proved himself to be a charmer and a sweetheart. I don’t blame him for running away from the fact that he was gay at first and being jumpy about it. When these two let their guards down and let love fill their hearts, I completely fell in love with this story. They grew in each other arms and became one in the process.

I recommend Once a Marine to anyone who is looking for a historical and classical love story between two very diverse characters. I must warn you; this novel will take you through the biggest emotional ride of your life.

All My Crimes by Tal Valante

Title: All My Crimes

Author: Tal Valante

Genre: High Fantasy

Length: Short (39pgs)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (25th June 2012)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Betrayal cuts deep. Love cuts even deeper.

The war with the elves is over. But for Teregryn Eve, the human king’s former right-hand man, another nightmare is about to begin.

It’s taken Teregryn two years to recover his health and magic in the aftermath of the war. He’d rather retire from the world of men, but an assassination threat and a malevolent ghost force him on a quest to save the king who no longer wants him. The elves are dead to the last, so who’s the mysterious assassin? And why has his king—who was once so much more to him—forsaken him?

The answers may lie in Teregryn’s mind, but those memories are locked beyond his reach. As a web of lies and love unfolds around him, Teregryn must fight the past and present in a desperate bid for the future. Can he save everything he loves, or will the sum of his crimes drag him under first?

Purchase Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/all-my-crimes

Review: Teregryn is compelled to save his king when a threat emerges that they had all thought was long gone. Even though his king seems to have forsaken him and even though he is being haunted, he sets out to protect, but finds answers that he didn’t want.

This is an excellent short story that packs a punch and fits an amazing amount of emotion in just 39 pages. Teregryn has no idea why the king forsakes him after the war. But, he is still loyal to his king. So, when clues are left for him by an Elven assassin and he starts to be haunted by an elf, he knows he must protect his king at all costs. But, when the truth emerges can he forgive the king and can he forgive himself?

Wow, a definite page turner that makes you wonder about the depths that guilt will drop you into and that self forgiveness is hard to find. Teregryn has suffered greatly because of his conscious; the great burden of guilt that weighs him down is staggering and not easy to fight through. When all his memories return, Gidden (the king) will do anything to ease his burden.

Okay, so, fair warning, this isn’t a traditional M/M romance, there’s no sex, no undying love, it’s a tortured story about guilt and love. Make no mistake; this is a wonderful story that gives us much to chew on and a wealth of emotions to experience. This is one of those short stories that you would love to see made into an extended novel, because there is just a wealth of potential. Almost as though this has been snatched from the middle of a story as a nibble to whet our appetites and have us begging for more.

So if you want a story that is wonderfully written, that will drag at your emotions, that is filled with rich detail and makes you want more, then this is the book for you, I highly recommend this one to all the fantasy lovers out there who love angsty fantasy.