Blurb: Noah Hitchens loves the New York City life he worked hard to build. But when his father dies and leaves him a bankrupt bookstore in their sleepy Georgia hometown, Noah knows he has to save it. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know anything about business. He finds unlikely help in Henry, the man who owned Stardust Books before his 1966 murder, and Kyle St. James, a shy but kind-hearted out-of-towner with a past almost as mysterious as Henry’s.
Kyle came to Aster, Georgia, looking for redemption. On the run and out of hope, he’s just trying to get on with his life. Then he meets Noah, a ghost, and a big sloppy lab named Jake who redefine his idea of living. But his past is closing in, and when it finds him, they could lose everything.
Review: Noah’s world collapses when he gets a call about his father’ death. Grief stricken he goes back home and tries to settle his father’s affairs. He finds out his dad was in debt and now he finds himself trying to come up with the money to pay off the debts.
He meets shy, sweet Kyle. But Kyle has been brought up in seclusion and taught that being gay is a sin. As the two slowly get to know one another they seem to bring out the best in each other despite their differences. I liked this story. it had several different aspects that appealed to me.
A past bully in Noah’s life tries to make trouble for him now, Kyle’s past comes back to haunt him and there’s a ghost in the book store. I loved the way the story unfolded as the scenes played out. They were entertaining to say the least.
Hi guys, we have Rowan Speedwell popping in today with her newest re-release Angel Voices, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Aerin’s review, so check out the post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
Angel Voices
by
Rowan Speedwell
One frigid winter night a week before Christmas, college student Will stumbles into a church during choir practice, bruised by his own father’s hands. He’s out of the closet now—there’s no going back since his fundamentalist father learned the truth—but he’s also out of a home, a family, and a future. Will has nowhere to turn. No one to care.
Except . . . Will’s roommate, Quinn, cares. Maybe too much. He’s been attracted to Will since they moved in together, but never dreamed his crush was gay. With Will’s life in pieces, Quinn doesn’t want to push. He also knows he has more experience than Will, who’s never even been kissed.
Then Will’s father makes a reappearance, and Will has to learn to trust his heart more than the voices of his past. But it’s the season of miracles, faith, and hope, and Quinn is determined to teach Will how to love and be loved.
Blurb: Outrunning a winter storm in the north, Captain Faran of the King’s Guard leads his men and a young mage named Meric to shelter at Bitterwood Manor, the ancestral home of the Daenes. Faran and his troops have been searching for weeks for a mysterious, lion-like beast that reportedly haunts the uncharted northern woods. For Meric, finding that prophesied cat is a matter of life and death.
Though Faran is deeply focused on their mission, the enigmatic Joss Daene, Lord of Bitterwood, fascinates him. Strong and proud, Joss is everything Faran wants in a lover. More, if he were honest. But Joss belongs to Bitterwood, and Faran to his duty.
Together they will need to brave the oldest, darkest part of the Bitterwood in the coldest, deepest snows of winter to find the legendary cat. But time is running out—for Meric, for the kingdom, and for Faran and Joss’s fledgling love.
(Note: This is a revised second edition, previously published elsewhere.)
Review: Fantastic journey of Captain Faran of the King’s Guard and a young mage named Meric who is dire straits as he needs to find a mythical cat in the haunted woods. Getting by a storm they travel to Lord Joss Daene and his sons. It is eerie that the symbol that represents the family is similar to what the cat looks like.Â
Alas there are two different romances in this story. That of Joss and Faran who are hot and sexy together and then there is Meric and Eissa, Joss’ youngest son, these two hit it off right away and I thought it was sweet the way Eissa took care of Meric when he was too sick. It showed how caring and loving he was toward Meric when he needed him.
I loved all the little details throughout this story as it gave insights to certain things that helped the reader have a better understanding of the story.
The story as a whole was a magical quest I found intriguing if not a bit slow but still well worth the read.
Hi guys, we have Rowan Speedwell stopping by with her new re-release Bitterwood, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway, so check out the post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
Bitterwood
by
Rowan Speedwell
Outrunning a winter storm in the north, Captain Faran of the King’s Guard leads his men and a young mage named Meric to shelter at Bitterwood Manor, the ancestral home of the Daenes. Faran and his troops have been searching for weeks for a mysterious, lion-like beast that reportedly haunts the uncharted northern woods. For Meric, finding that prophesied cat is a matter of life and death.
Though Faran is deeply focused on their mission, the enigmatic Joss Daene, Lord of Bitterwood, fascinates him. Strong and proud, Joss is everything Faran wants in a lover. More, if he were honest. But Joss belongs to Bitterwood, and Faran to his duty.
Together they will need to brave the oldest, darkest part of the Bitterwood in the coldest, deepest snows of winter to find the legendary cat. But time is running out—for Meric, for the kingdom, and for Faran and Joss’s fledgling love.
Title: Night and Day, 2nd Edition Series: N/A Author: Rowan Speedwell Genre: Mythology/ Fairy Tales Length: 52 pages Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (March 9, 2016) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Nate Pederowski is about as far down as he can go when he’s tipped to a job as a singer in a speakeasy. Dishonorably discharged for being queer, broke and homeless during the Great Depression, Nate is embittered and lonely. The club’s handsome owner, Rick Bellevue, and his sister Corinna are wowed by Nate’s voice and offer him the job.
But the Starlight Lounge is much more than an ordinary supper club, and Rick and his sister much more than just the owners. It’s not ’til Nate gets caught up in a gangster’s plot that he discovers just what secrets they’re hiding.
Nate’s life is going to change in ways he can scarcely imagine, let alone believe.
First Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, 2010, in the Myths and Magic: Legends of Love anthology.
Review: This is the first time I have read anything by this author and I wasn’t exactly sure what to think. It is a story that was new for me and it has a bizarre story line about it. It was unique if not a bit off, however not enough to actually be bad.
The title was what caught my attention and I thought I needed to check it out, and then I saw the blurb. The blurb led me in a different direction then the story. I didn’t even think fantasy at the time until I found out that gods were involved.
Nate was a soldier in the British army till he signed on with the United States. It was going pretty well till he was kicked out for being gay. He tried getting jobs afterwards but it wasn’t going the way it should have been.
Then he was sent to a man who thought he had the perfect spot for him. He meets the owners of the club and is welcomed with open arms. Then he falls in love with Rick, while another has his eye on him. Nate’s life is about to change big time.
Now I have to admit that even though this is a weird story, it was pretty damn good. At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it because of the way it was told, but I kept going and damn it got better. It didn’t catch my attention like it should have but it had my attention afterwards.
I had fun with it and would definitely recommend it. * I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hiya guys we have Rowan Speedwell stopping by today with a guest post for her upcoming re-release Night and Day, so enjoy the post! <3 ~Pixie~
Night and Day
by
Rowan Speedwell
Nate Pederowski is about as far down as he can go when he’s tipped to a job as a singer in a speakeasy. Dishonorably discharged for being queer, broke and homeless during the Great Depression, Nate is embittered and lonely. The club’s handsome owner, Rick Bellevue, and his sister Corinna are wowed by Nate’s voice and offer him the job.
But the Starlight Lounge is much more than an ordinary supper club, and Rick and his sister much more than just the owners. It’s not ’til Nate gets caught up in a gangster’s plot that he discovers just what secrets they’re hiding. Nate’s life is going to change in ways he can scarcely imagine, let alone believe.
First Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, 2010, in the Myths and Magic: Legends of Love anthology.
Blurb:  For five years, Zach Tyler, son of one of the world’s richest software moguls, was held hostage, tortured, and abused. When he is rescued at last from the Venezuelan jungle, he is physically and psychologically shattered, but he slowly begins to rebuild the life he should have had before an innocent kiss sent him into hell. His childhood best friend David has lived those years with overwhelming guilt and grief. Every relationship David has tried has fallen apart because of his feelings for a boy he thought dead. When Zach is rescued, David is overjoyed and then crushed when Zach shuts him out. Two years later, David returns home, and he and Zach must come to terms with the rift between them, what they feel for each other, and what their future could hold. But Zach has secrets, and one of them might well destroy their fragile love.
Review: Zach Tyler spent five years in hell. Kidnapped by a sadist and kept caged like an animal, raped and abused on a daily basis, he’s pretty damn close to soulless. A rescue mission brings him home but the nightmare is far from over. The years of abuse and domination have left him bitter and broken. The one thing that kept him going, the memory he kept locked up inside his mind, the one thing his captor never tainted was David.
David has been Zach’s best friend pretty much since birth. Their parents were best friends and David’s mother still works for the Tyler’s. The five years that Zach was missing were terrible for him as well. One innocent kiss the eve of Zach’s kidnapping showed David that he was in love with him. He had pushed Zach away telling him he was too young to even know what love was, much less know he was in love with David. That night, that kiss, has haunted him for years.
The emotional, mental, and physical scars that Zach carries are ever present in his life. He can’t sleep, he has panic attacks and nightmares, and he drinks too much and screws random men. As long as they are tall, lean and blonde… like David. He has never forgotten the kiss or the man. But to give in to his feelings and become vulnerable is something he can never do. So even when David moves back to the compound and pushes Zach like no one else can, Zach still stands firm in his resolve not to love David. Nothing is sexier than a man who will do anything to get what he wants, and David wants Zach. Bad attitude, mood swings, nightmares, scars, and all.
This book is just a plethora of emotion, going from one end of the spectrum to the next, and hitting every possible emotion along the way. Anger, hatred and fear are balanced with love, lust and understanding. The banter between David and Zach make some of the more dark scenes bearable. It’s as if Speedwell knew full well the scene was going too dark and too heavy, so some humor needed to be added to the mix. And some steamy sex, but who cares about that. *raises hand, wiggling fingers, hello! Do you not see me here?!*
There is quite literally a tug of war going on throughout. With the constant push from Zach trying to distance himself from any emotion, therefore pushing David away by any means possible. And then the pull with David’s ferocious needs to protect Zach and just love him. Narrated by Paul Morey, need I say more? I think I’ve already established that this man has the sexiest voice on the planet. So when you couple the amazing and haunting story that Speedwell has written with the sexy, sultry voice of Morey it makes this one a must read. Or listen, to be precise.
*I received a copy of this audio book from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews*
Blurb:Â Â New Orleans bartender Paul isn’t looking for love, but it seems something in the bar has other ideas.
As a bartender at his family’s gay New Orleans bar, Paul Thibodeaux finds it easy to pick up guys. Too easy—he drifts from one encounter to the next. He’s drifting through life, too. He barely even notices the naked guys dancing on the bar in front of him. When his friends challenge him, he has to admit he never looks higher than their knees. But then one night, he does. He’s not sure what to make of Michael, the dancer who catches his eye, but something in Jean-Thom’s old building seems to have an opinion about him, and the evening he finds Michael someplace he shouldn’t be is going to change his life…
Review: Short, Sexy, and Steamy… what’s that you say? Why yes, yes that is my three favorite colors!!
Paul Thibodeaux and his brother Theo own and run a successful gay bar on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. They live in the apartments that are attached to the bar with a picturesque courtyard in the center. Paul moves quietly through life working in the bar and ending each day with a meaningless one-night stand. He never pays much attention to the dancers at the bar, until one night he notices a bruise on one of the dancer’s leg and he looks up.
Michael is in a dead-end relationship with an abusive alcoholic who keeps making promises to quit. Michael tells Dex every time that the next time is the last time, but it never is. Until Dex goes too far and the coffee table is in pieces on the floor, and Michael’s face isn’t looking to good either. Michael finally leaves him and makes it through the night at work to find solace in the courtyard behind the bar.
Circumstance, or something supernatural, brings these two together and they share a pretty sexy late night romp on the chaise in the courtyard. Afterwards they make their way to Paul’s apartment and more sex ensues, this time in the more comfortable bed. These two share a definite chemistry, but an unbelievable conversation may ruin their opportunity to find happiness with each other.
I LOVED the supernatural aspect to this story, and the author did a decent job of weaving it all together. And as short as this novel was, Speedwell still managed to give ample amounts of history not only for the story but for the ML as well. If you’re looking for a fast fun read with a paranormal twist that is still slightly sexy, that would be this novella.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews*
Hey everyone, I’m bringing you yet another cool Blog tour from four great authors! Yep that’s right four and they’ve all written about sexy Rock Stars! You will even get a chance to win a copy of their featured books! And just to make your knees weak again Rock Stars! So stick around, check out the books and enjoy the review of Rowan Speedwell’s Illumination and then click rafflecopter link and be in a chance to win!
Now I have to shoot before Portia wakes up and she sees what I have been up to 😉 *snuggles* Pixie
MM Good Book Reviews is the latest stop on the Boys in the Band blog tour, with authors Paula Coots, Cecilia Tan, L.A. Witt, and Rowan Speedwell. Each of these writers has brought a rock star to life in a recent romance release, so they got together to talk about music, musicians, love, and good old “sex, drugs, and rock and roll.” Today they answer the question: “What got you started writing about rock musicians? Why do they make good heroes/love interests?” Scroll down for the answer and a chance to win a prize pack of all four books!
You could win: WITH THE BAND by L.A. WittHard rock band Schadenfreude is finally on the verge of the success that’s eluded them for the last several years. With Aaron McClure as their new lead singer, nothing’s going to stop them…except maybe a steamy, secret relationship between Aaron and bassist Bastian Koehler. Aaron knows all too well what can happen when band members get involved with each other. After all, his last band was a casualty of his last relationship, and Schadenfreude forbids band members from dating for that very reason. But Bastian is too hot to resist, and besides, it’s just sex, so what’s the harm? Their passion in the bedroom is rivaled only by their ambition as musicians, though, and pretty soon, it’s going to tear them, and Schadenfreude apart, if they can’t get back to playing with the band.
ANOTHER ROCK STAR by Paula CootsMusic is the driving force in Reed Lang’s life and he’s hit the jackpot when it comes to signing a major label deal and scoring a hit single or two. It’s never an easy task and certainly not for an out and proud gay man, even in this day and age. Now, it’s time to hire the backing band, shoot the videos, do all the promotion work and get out on the road. But what happens onstage is only half the show. When the wild energy onstage can’t be contained some become more than just hired hands. Friends. Mentors. Tormenters. Lovers. Surviving the circus of the music business, the rigors of the road, staying true to your art and discovering your heart show Reed that maybe there is more to life than being just another rock star.
DARON’S GUITAR CHRONICLES by Cecilia TanIt’s the 1980s, the era of MTV, AIDS, and Just Say No. Daron Marks is trying to make it as a guitar player in an industry where the whole world is the closet. Keeping his sexuality a secret would be a lot easier if he hadn’t developed a huge crush on his band’s lead singer, Ziggy Ferias. In fact, everything would be a lot easier without his crush on Ziggy… except for fame itself. In the latest volume of Daron’s Guitar Chronicles (volume 5), Moondog 3 are on the road. Is the tour bus the pressure cooker that will meld them together or will the pressure blow them apart?
ILLUMINATION by Rowan SpeedwellAdam Craig is burned out. Lead singer of the hard rock band Black Varen, he’s tired of the empty life of groupies, paparazzi, and hotel rooms. Worse, a life in the closet. Miles Caldwell is a brilliant artist, tied by agoraphobia and social anxiety to his family’s lodge. Alone but for his parrot, he spends his days illuminating manuscripts and hiding from the complexities of life. Somehow, the man who’s never home and the man who never leaves it must find the strength to fight for a future together.
“What got you started writing about rock musicians? Why do they make good heroes/love interests?”
Paula Coots: Oddly enough, one of my characters informed my taste in music. I never much cared for The Cure. I always thought Robert Smith couldn’t sing. But Shane, the lead guitarist in Another Rock Star, loved The Cure, so I dug out my old CD of Disintegration and loved it. That set me off on a Cure binge. I bought everything they ever released that I could get my hands on in the second hand stores. And it was like I was searching for this one song, called Underneath the Stars. As I was driving home from Dallas, about two hours away from where I live, that song just broke my heart. I drove with tears streaming down my face and had to play it again. And again. And then I had to pull over to the side of the road to read the lyrics. This song is described in the first love scene between the two lead characters, and sounds exactly like what they feel as they explore each other for the first time.
Cecilia Tan: I have very wide-ranging tastes. I’m like one of those people who likes any food as long as it’s good, no matter what style: Italian, Japanese, barbecue, you name it. I grew up on a mix of classic rock and 80’s New Wave, with equal parts punk and Beatles. I knew Daron was going to have at least as wide-ranging taste, and as it has turned out, he has even more eclectic taste than I do! He’s even more interested in the quality of the song and the talent of the performer than I am, plus he learned to play more styles than what he writes himself. So he’ll throw in some bluegrass, R&B, you name it. We agree on Paul Simon, Prince, and The Cure. He liked Metallica long before I did, though he eventually convinced me.
L.A. Witt: I listen to a little of everything, from country to pop to industrial rock. I tend to joke that I have the worst musical tastes in the known universe because I own an embarrassing amount of pop drivel like Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, and even a couple of Bieber songs. But the sheer volume of 30 Seconds to Mars and Adam Lambert on my iPod negates all of that, so whatever. Don’t judge me.
Rowan Speedwell: I looooove show tunes and soundtracks, and so do both my boys. I have to confess something (whispers): I’m old. I remember the Beatles. I actually had Paul Revere and the Raiders albums. My musical tastes were formed in the crucible of British Invasion, hammered out on the anvil of folk rock, doused in the basin of disco, and polished with glam rock. (Sheesh, enough with the blacksmithing metaphors…) Lately, I listen to whatever people make me listen to, anything from Katy Perry to Imagine Dragons to the Decembrists. I never know what it actually IS I’m listening to, but I listen! Suffice to say, my taste in music is eclectic. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a prize pack including all four ebooks below!
About the Authors:
Paula Coots: After seeing David Bowie and his lead guitarist, Mick Ronson, when she was eleven, Paula knew what she wanted to do with her life. Her plan was to play lead guitar in a band and hopefully make it big, and then after that focus on writing. Well, she didn’t “make it big” as a rock star, but she has had her share of traveling band adventures as a lead guitarist over the past twenty five years. And now she writes! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulaCootsBooks | Twitter: @PaulaRCoots
Rowan Speedwell lives in a tarpaper shack in the North Woods, without so much as cable TV to keep her warm. She is allergic to publicity and loathes marketing, so her books only sell one or two copies. If you have one, she thanks you, as your purchase enables her to buy cat food for her diabetic feline companion, Kimball O’Hara. Webite: www.rowanspeedwell.com | Twitter: @RowanSpeedwell
Cecilia Tan mostly writes erotica and science fiction/fantasy, but she started writing Daron’s Guitar Chronicles back in the eighties and is still writing it today. She is the author of Slow Surrender, The Prince’s Boy, the Magic University books, and many other novels and stories. She was inducted into the Saints & Sinners GLBT Writers Hall of Fame in 2010 and is currently a nominee for the RT Magazine Career Achievement Award in erotic fiction. She lives in the fantasy utopia of Cambridge, Massachusetts with her three cats and her partner of 23 years. Daron serial website: http://daron.ceciliatan.com | Blog: http://blog.ceciliatan.com | Twitter: @ceciliatan | Facebook: thececiliatan
L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer currently living in the glamorous and ultra-futuristic metropolis of Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband, two cats, and a disembodied penguin brain that communicates with her telepathically. In addition to writing smut and disturbing the locals, L.A. is said to be working with the US government to perfect a genetic modification that will allow humans to survive indefinitely on Corn Pops and beef jerky. This is all a cover, though, as her primary leisure activity is hunting down her arch nemesis, erotica author Lauren Gallagher, who is also said to be lurking somewhere in Omaha. Website: http://www.loriawitt.com | Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com | Twitter: @GallagherWitt
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (30th September 2013)
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Heat:Â Moderate – Explicit
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Heart:Â Â 4 Hearts
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Reviewer:Â Pixie
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Blurb: Adam Craig is burned out. Lead singer of the hard rock band Black Varen, he’s tired of the empty life of groupies, paparazzi, and hotel rooms. Worse, a life in the closet. After the final concert of their latest tour, he flees the afterparty, pursuing memories of lost summers and carefree days, until he passes out on the patio of a shuttered lake resort.
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Miles Caldwell is a brilliant artist, tied by agoraphobia and social anxiety to his family’s lodge. Alone but for his parrot, he spends his days illuminating manuscripts and hiding from the complexities of life. When he discovers Adam asleep in a deck chair, he’s furious but intrigued. Adam soon charms his way into Miles’s bed, and they lose themselves in a summer idyll, safe from the compromises and claims of reality.
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But Adam’s life, with all it demands, is waiting for him. And Miles, uncertain of Adam’s true feelings, is battling demons of his own. Somehow, the man who’s never home and the man who never leaves it must find the strength to fight for a future together. Â
Review: Adam reaches breaking point during the after party of the final concert of  the tour for his rock band Black Varen, he jumps in the back of a cab and ends up at a childhood vacation spot. He awakens the next morning on the patio of the closed lake resort to a grumpy artist who wants him gone. Miles is a recluse, he has his art and occasional visits from his sister and two best friends and that is all he wants, but coming across a hungover man on his patio is the beginning of a shake up in his well ordered life. Two men, one private and one in the public eye must both find the courage to grab hold of love and never let go.
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Adam and Miles are two different people, ones a famous rock star the other is a reclusive artist but they come together during a near idyllic time, learning each others quirks and discovering the wants and needs of each other… but what happens when the outside world encroaches and Adam has to go back in the limelight? Adam has to go back to playing the game and Miles’ insecurities come out to play.
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Miles is a complex character, his circumstances unfold throughout the story and we discover the enormous changes to his character from when he was a carefree, confident young man to the grumpy recluse he has become. Adam is more than just a rock star, he first started out in musicals and that’s where he wants to return to. While Miles is content with his safe space, Adam has him hoping for more and Miles begins to slowly work on coming out of his safe haven. Adam is locked into his own cycle which includes drinking, drugs and partying and it takes a near brush with death for him to finally get stock of his life.
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This is a great story, with interesting characters who entertain and confuse. Miles and Adam make a brilliant easy couple when they are at the lake resort but become frayed quickly when they are apart. Some of Adam’s choices was pretty pathetic, falling back into his old routine with no real concern about how it would look to Miles and he was easily convinced to party and do drugs when he at first refused. Miles had good reason for his doubts with the way Adam was acting and I think he made the right choice to distance himself from Adam, forcing Adam to think about what he really wanted. Both men face their own challenges together and alone making them stronger as a couple and on their own.
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I recommend this to those who love great stories of opposites attracting, overcoming your own fears, corralling impulses and taking control of addictions, developing love and hot sex and a wonderful ending.
Blurb:  Charming rascal Tristan Northwood seems to have it all: an ancient name, a noble inheritance, a lovely wife, and a son he adores. Women love him, men admire him, and it seems there is nothing he can’t do, whether it’s seducing a society wife or winning a carriage race. Little does Society suspect that the name means nothing to him, the fortune is in his father’s controlling hands, and he has no interest in his wife except a very distant friendship. Society bores him, and he takes dares because he only feels alive when he’s dancing on the edge… until his wife’s brother comes home from the wars.
Decorated war hero Major Charles Mountjoy jerks Tris out of his despair by inspiring feelings of passion Tris had never suspected himself capable of. Almost as terrifying as those feelings for Charles are the signs Charles might return his affection—or, even worse, that Charles sees the man Tristan has been trying so valiantly to hide from the world.
Review: Tristan Northwood is a deviant by the standards of his time. He drinks like a fish, parties like a rock star, takes any dare that is thrown his way and sleeps with any woman that blinks in his direction. It’s all just a façade that he presents as his public persona. He lost his mother and baby sister when he was just a boy, and he’s felt his father’s disdain for him every day since. Now a grown man, his father continues to control him, as he is the one that holds the purse strings.
An arranged marriage is set, as the Baron no longer wants his son and only heir ramshackling his way across the countryside. Charlotte Mountjoy and Tristan are married and being their otherwise unconventional marriage as mere strangers. Over the next several years, though they develop a bond that is unwavering, becoming best friends and parents to a little boy with another child on the way. But Tris is even more restless all these years later. Until Lottie’s twin brother, Charles comes for a visit.
Tris is attracted to Charles from the start, which only adds to his uncertainty as of late. He’s always had an odd attraction to the same-sex, but never acted on it due to the negative and damning effects of homosexuality at the time. Charles as well hides his attraction to Tris, until he learns that the attraction is mutual. But Tristan’s self-loathing and dangerous plans threaten to destroy any chance these two would have at happiness.
I loved the history that was woven into the story. From the costumes of the period down to Napoleon and the war. The book was set in the late 1800’s, a time in which homosexuality was considered sodomy and punishable by incarceration, possibly death. It was interesting how Speedwell painted this aspect of the storyline without weighing down the overall story. I was fascinated as I listened to Tristan’s exploits and followed him as he went from insecure and immature to a strong, fierce, and loyal doctor. Charles and Lottie play a huge role in his growth throughout the story. They both love him unconditionally, but it’s Charles that is IN love with him, and it’s that love that gives Tris the strength to become the man he is at the end.
This book was narrated by Paul Morey, and Morey is a fantastic storyteller. You can hear the emotions in his voice from changes in octave to slight nuances within the different characters. He expertly nails the sensuality and passion of the more intimate scenes between Charles and Tris as well. I know they say an audio book is a different experience from reading the story, but I would recommend this book regardless of the final delivery.
Blurb: Three years undercover with one of the worst gangs in the country left FBI agent Joshua Chastain shattered. Battling nightmares and addiction, he leaves the concrete jungle for New Mexico horse country, hoping to start over on his uncle’s ranch.
Foreman Eli Kelly spends his life rehabilitating abused animals, and Joshua is just another lost soul. But as Joshua slowly begins to put his life back together, Eli realizes that Joshua is a lot more than his newest project.
Joshua’s plan seems to work—maybe a fresh start was just what he needed. Then, just when he has finally found a sense of peace, crime and hatred nearly destroy all his hard work, forcing him to reevaluate what he wants out his relationship with Eli and his own life.
Review: Joshua was nearly broken at the end of a three-year stint undercover for the FBI, the gang life nearly killed him, and now he is trying to pick up the pieces. He leaves the city far behind him for New Mexico horse country and his uncle’s ranch, where he hopes to find some peace from his nightmares and drug addiction. Eli is the foreman at the Triple C ranch and he works with abused horses, when he first meets Joshua the younger man reminds him of a badly abused horse and he soon realizes that there is more to Joshua than a wrecked shell. Just as Joshua begins to make real progress, a shocking hate crime makes him re-evaluate and his guilt makes him rethink his relationship with Eli. But, Eli isn’t willing to give up but can he get Joshua to rethink his decision?
This story blends the horrors of FBI work, PTSD and ranch life brilliantly while adding in other horrors to make an angsty, guilt ridden, rediscovering yourself story with added romance. Joshua has been through hell for his job, he lived in the underbelly of a gang for three years to bring their drug cartel down, but it wasn’t without its casualties. Forced into murder and drug addiction Joshua now has to live with the guilt of what he did, but his self-worth is low and he doesn’t feel he has anything left to give. Eli is drawn to the damaged young man and can see the light hidden deep inside, he can imagine what the man has faced but knows Joshua isn’t bad or evil; he is just dented and needs to recover. Living deep in cowboy country doesn’t make it easy for gay men but they make a go of it until tragedy strikes.
I really enjoyed this story with its life on a horse ranch and the recovery of a damaged man, crippling nightmares, the guilt that Joshua has to live with, and the love of a good man. Eli is an incredible man who has incredible patience when it comes to horses and people, but even he may have bit off more than he can chew when it comes to stubborn Joshua. Joshua is a man who your heart goes out to, he has been to hell and back all in the name of the job and now he has to piece his life back together, his self-esteem is gone and his guilt plagues him. Together they are fantastic but theirs is a rocky path with Joshua throwing obstacles in their path as his doubts resurface.
From the opening lines of this book, to the last, lines you are gripped with the trauma Joshua has gone through, we see a man struggling to hold on to life and who now thinks he is worthless but it takes one hot cowboy to begin to heal his wounds. Eli is a compassionate man and we root for him to shore up Joshua’s soul, we see his progress and setbacks as he handles the skittish Joshua. I loved this entire story from the day-to-day life on a horse ranch, to the struggles of a broken man trying to find his place in life, to the compassionate lover and the horrific attack that makes Joshua doubt himself. This is a story that is filled with angst and depression with a hero clawing his way to recovery, I loved that Rowan Speedwell didn’t have a magical fix for Joshua and that we see the true reactions to his situation.
I recommend this if you adore angst driven drama, unexpected horrific attacks, and two men finding their way to love and understanding and an ending that is family driven. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
‘Flowers for Him’ by Marie Sexton and Rowan Speedwell
He wanted to learn about beauty. He never expected to learn about love.
Billionaire Chandler Harrison’s third marriage is now history, and he’s left with his ex-wife’s parting barb, “You have no appreciation of beauty.” Determined to prove her wrong, Chandler hires artist Neil Sweeney to add a mural to his office wall. He doesn’t even care what the picture is, as long as it’s beautiful.
Neil Sweeney is an ex-tagger, a free spirit, and a bit of a hippie. He’s never met anybody as uptight as Chandler, but when it comes to warming up Chandler’s cold, stark office, Neil has plans involving more than art.
Chandler begins to find himself strangely moved by the mural developing on his office wall. He’s especially moved by the artist himself. Chandler has denied his homosexual urges for most of his life, but it isn’t long before Neil begins introducing Chandler to all kinds of new things. As Neil’s masterpiece comes to life, so does Chandler’s appreciation for art, color, and the best kind of beauty of all—love.
Review:Â I thought this story was very beautiful. I loved the depth of both characters. I loved the way they just sort of meshed together and the storyline is just sweet and swoon-worthy, the sex super- hot! Wow great story!Â
‘Vital to Him’ by SL Majors
Hot sex in the back of a limo? Billionaire Brenton Marston is stunned when his street-wise chauffeur welcomes him home in a way he never expected, and Brenton wonders who is really in the driver’s seat.
No fraternizing…
Billionaire Brenton Marston has rules meant to keep the boundaries clear. He respects his employees and never wants anyone to feel as if they owe him anything.
Robert Silles, the reformed hoodlum, has desired his boss for years. Robert has fantasized about introducing Mr. Marston to the pleasures of man-on-man sex, fucking him and sucking him until he forgets his numerous stresses.
When his trusted chauffeur suggests a hook-up, Brenton is stunned, but he knows he shouldn’t be. No one knows him better than the man who’s seen him at his best as well as his worst.
It shouldn’t surprise him that Silles knows him and his innermost secrets. In fact, Silles recognized the truth before Brenton ever did.
Silles’ suggestive offer turns Brenton on. Damn if he isn’t attracted to this broad, handsome, sexy man, in a way he never wanted anyone else.
The question is, will Brenton push aside his inhibitions and reservations? Will he allow his chauffeur to give him what he craves? Will he willingly surrender to the orders of his servant?
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of M/M, rimming, anal sex, spanking with leather belt and hand and sex outdoors
Review: I thought this story was so hot. I loved the way the roles were reversed and the driver took charge. I loved both characters. Hot sexy story Wow!
‘Fly to Him’ by J.P. Bowie
A young flight attendant gets a billionaire’s attention in a way that could have meant the end of his career, but instead could be the beginning of an unexpected romance.
When Kevin Tate takes over for a friend as flight attendant on billionaire Logan Maguire’s private jet, he is certain it will be his one and only time aboard when he accidentally dumps an ice-cold drink on his employer’s lap. Instead, an instant attraction flares between the two men and Kevin accepts Logan’s offer to stay with him at his villa in Puerta Vallarta.
Their fledging romance is abruptly brought to an end when Logan hurries back to the States on a desperate mission to save his company from a hostile takeover. Kevin is left wondering if success and wealth is more important to the billionaire than the chance of love and real happiness.
Review:Â This story was pretty hot. I did find it a bit odd that the billionaire just jumped the new attendant and they went straight for the bedroom. Having said this, I am like a love at first sight story I just think this should have been worked into a bit more gradually but it was a very hot sexy story. I loved it
‘Enough for Him’ by Em Woods
When secrets come to light, two men must realize that, despite their fears, the love they have really is enough.
When software mogul Shannon Murphy is requested to appear at an international convention to accept an innovation award, he’s honored. But when the invitation arrives and requires the attendance of his fictional partner, he needs a plan. There is only one man he wants, one man he trusts, to help him. He turns to personal assistant and best friend Noah Greene.
Noah isn’t sure if this is his most secret desire come true, or his worst nightmare. Once the media connects them in a relationship, no secret will be safe, and Noah is positive that Shannon won’t be comfortable in the reflected spotlight of a recovering gambling addict. Unable to turn away his friend, Noah decides to do this one favor for Shannon before sacrificing everything he’s worked so hard to build and walking away.
Review: Wow words can’t say how much I loved this one!  Everything was fabulous. The both characters are so endearing with their plight for love of one another and why they haven’t pursued anything other than friendship. The story line intriguing and written with finesses and wit and charm, the sex is hot. I just can’t say enough!                                                                                                                            ‘Surrendered To Him’ by Sara York
When the storm hits, everything changes. Will shifting priorities lead to a shift in life, or will Storm Bennett abandon his heart’s desires?
Storm rules the Bennett Empire with an iron fist, never taking time to allow emotions into his life, leaving him looking like the bad guy in the media over and over again. When a typhoon hits the island where one of his hotels is located, he sees it as a chance to repair his damaged reputation.
On the island, nothing is as it should be. Storm meets Keoni, a native, who challenges everything Storm knows about relationships, family and love. Keoni is blown away by Storm but wants the man so badly he can taste it.
Can he risk his newfound peace, giving a part of himself to Storm, or will he stay detached, allowing love to slip away?
Review: This story is very heart warming. A big-shot finally learning that life is more than money but can he live without money can love be enough? You must read this and see. I am a huge, huge Sara York fan and she did not disappoint here! A great story and very hot mansex
‘Designs For Him’ by Noelle Keaton
Normally all business when it comes to his career, Jon finds the lines between the professional and the personal getting blurred after falling in love with billionaire CEO Warren
After months of unemployment, Jon Pritchard finds work with Cressen Furniture, the ‘American IKEA’, in a low-level job. A software program he creates in his free time attracts the interest of Warren Cressen, the interim CEO of Cressen Furniture, who quickly gives Jon a promotion.
The attraction between the two men is undeniable, and it isn’t long before they act on it, though they agree to be discreet until Warren’s position as CEO is made permanent.
Their relationship grows serious, but it is tested when evidence is discovered that seems to point to Jon being a corporate spy and Warren starts to wonder if he hasn’t been used all along.
With the highest professional stakes on the line, Jon and Warren have to decide whether the professional success they share in the boardroom is worth sacrificing the passion they share in the bedroom.
Review: Another great story in a very hot collection.  This story had great characters and a great story. The attraction was mutual then the thought of betrayal and mistrust and boardroom scandal. Just when you thought things was going so well. This story will have you on your toes. It’s hot and sexy with a twist you don’t see coming.
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Recommendation: If you like anthologies this is one to get. Everything about it is fabulous. An A list of fantastic authors, stories of scandal, boardroom sex, friends to lovers, mile high club, storms and devastation, art, and some great hot mansex. A must read!
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Title: A Pocketful of Stardust
Title: Bitterwood (2nd Edition)
Title: Night and Day, 2nd Edition
