You Can See Me by A.E. Via Book Blast, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!

A.E. Via - You Can See Me Book Blast Banner

Hi guys, we have A.E. Via visiting today with the book blast for You Can See Me, we have a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway where there’s 4 $25 Amazon GC’s up for grabs,we have Cat’s and Tams reviews so check out the post and then enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~

A.E. Via - You Can See Me Cover 870wedh

You Can See Me

by

A.E. Via

World renowned chef Prescott Vaughan was at the height of his career. Right before he’s to leave for Paris to work alongside his idol, a horrific car accident leaves him completely blind.

His female fiancé leaves him in a state of desperation and depression. He pines for love, companionship, and so happens to find it in the form of his very sexy neighbor. Sexy male neighbor, Dr. Rickson ‘Ric’ Edwards.

Prescott’s not gay – at least he never considered himself gay – until Ric saves him from a date, gone terribly wrong. The two neighbors hit it off quickly and waste no time exploring and learning each other. Things are great until Ric begins to have his doubts about meeting Prescott’s many wants.

When Ric insist he and Prescott take a breather, Pres finds himself lonely and lacking again. Enter, male escort and aspiring chef, Blair McKenzie to fill the void.

In the meantime, Ric works on his issues that prohibits him from displaying the love he knows he has for Prescott. When Ric is finally ready and returns to claim Prescott he’s not sure that Pres can let go of the sexy, southern, hotness that is Blair McKenzie. After Ric has his own personal encounter with the sinfully sexy man, he can’t help but become entranced and crave more as well.

Pres soon realizes that there’s no need to choose between his two men, because when all three of them finally come together – grab a cold drink – the heat is going to go all the way up!

.•.•.**❣️ Amazon US | Amazon UK ❣️**.•.•.

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All I Want – Home For The Holidays by Posy Roberts Book Blast, Reviews & Giveaway!

Posy Roberts - All I Want - Home For The Holidays BBBANNER-4

Hi peeps, we have Posy Roberts popping in today with her paperback release All I Want – Home For The Holidays, we have a brilliant giveaway and Lisa’s review of Analog to Digital, and Tams audio review of Feathers from the Sky, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~

Posy Roberts - All I Want - Home For The Holidays Cover 36hv3

All I Want – Home For The Holidays

by

Posy Roberts

Prefer paperbacks? Both Feathers From the Sky and Analog to Digital in printed in All I Want: Home for the Holidays.

Heading home for the holidays is stressful enough, but pile secrets atop carefully wrapped presents, and it’s enough to turn anyone into a Grinch. But as the year comes to a close, surprises might spell new beginnings.

Family time, winter fun, and romantic surprises.

Paperback
.•.•.**
❣️ Amazon US | Amazon UK ❣️**.•.•.

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Nothing Special by Jay Northcote Blog Tour, Excerpt & Review!

Jay Northcote - Nothing Special RTBANNER-46

Hi guys, we have Jay Northcote popping in today with the tour for his new re-release Nothing Special, we have a short excerpt and Tams’ review so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~ 

Jay Northcote - Nothing Special Cover 348745ghl

Nothing Special

by

Jay Northcote

When Noah’s insecurity threatens their fledgling relationship, can Sol convince Noah that he’s enough?

Noah thinks he’s nothing special. Average height, a bit on the skinny side, and cute but rather geeky, he’s relentlessly ordinary. He certainly doesn’t expect to be noticed by Sol, the gorgeous dark-haired stranger Noah usually sees on his commute home.

When a friend persuades Noah to take a big risk in a bid to get Sol’s attention, things turn out better than Noah dared to hope. But Noah doesn’t believe he’s interesting or sexy enough to hold Sol’s attention.

As Sol tries to get closer, Noah tries to protect his heart by pulling away. If their relationship is going to survive, Noah needs to accept that Sol sees him very differently to how Noah sees himself. Because to Sol, Noah is something very special indeed.

.•.•.**❣️ Amazon US | Amazon UK ❣️**.•.•.

Continue reading “Nothing Special by Jay Northcote Blog Tour, Excerpt & Review!”

Black Dog Blues by Rhys Ford (3rd Edition)

Rhys Ford - Black Dog Blues Cover 6tr45uTitle: Black Dog Blues

Series: Kai Gracen 01

Author: Rhys Ford

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

Length: Novel (237pgs)

ISBN: 978-1-64405-317-1

Publisher: DSP Publications (5th March 2019)

Heat Rating: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4 – 4 ½ Hearts (combined)

Reviewers: Tams & Pixie

Blurb: Ever since being part of the pot in a high-stakes poker game, elfin outcast Kai Gracen figures he used up his good karma when Dempsey, a human Stalker, won the hand and took him in. Following the violent merge of Earth and Underhill, the human and elfin races are left with a messy, monster-ridden world, and Stalkers are the only cavalry willing to ride to someone’s rescue when something shadowy appears.

It’s a hard life but one Kai likes—filled with bounty, a few friends, and most importantly, no other elfin around to remind him of his past. And killing monsters is easy. Especially since he’s one himself.

But when a sidhe lord named Ryder arrives in San Diego, Kai is conscripted to do a job for Ryder’s fledgling Dawn Court. It’s supposed to be a simple run up the coast during dragon-mating season to retrieve a pregnant human woman seeking sanctuary. Easy, quick, and best of all, profitable. But Kai ends up in the middle of a deadly bloodline feud he has no hope of escaping.

No one ever got rich being a Stalker. But then few of them got old either and it doesn’t look like Kai will be the exception.

This Third Edition features new cover art by Chris McGrath.

Purchase Link: DSP Publications | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Tams’ Review: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Dark, gripping, intense and imaginative, Black Dog Blues is the first book in a new somewhat Urban and slightly Dystopian fantasy series full of paranormal creatures that will surprise you.

Kai Gracen is an Elf with a dark past, living as a human and working as a Stalker. He was won in a poker game by his boss and sort of father figure, Dempsey, who is now retiring so Kai is taking over the family business. Kai is an enigma. He was born an Elf, but prefers to live his life like a human. His parentage will surprise you, but he wants nothing to do with that part of his life. And while Kai would be considered bi-sexual, he is far from someone that confines his sexuality to a title or a box.

When Kai is hired to retrieve a pregnant human woman it is supposed to be an easy job, that is until the  sidhe lord Ryder shows up on his door step, intent on accompanying Kai on the job. Secrets are revealed on both sides and the job turns out to be more dangerous that Kai assumed, and then there is the lustful way Ryder eyes Kai that sets his teeth on edge. Unanswered questions prove deadly for the Elfin Stalker. Who is this human pregnant woman that Ryder is hell bent on protecting? And why is Kai’s father suddenly intent on bringing his wayward son back home?

I think I just fell in love with a fictional, slightly psychotic elf with a death wish and a snarky sense of humor. Kai is unapologetically brash and intense. He loathes his past and is determined to live his life in his own way, make his own rules. Ryder is very mysterious and secretive but the one thing he doesn’t hide is just how much he wants Kai. While there isn’t any romance per say in this story, there is an undeniable attraction between these two that Kai does an impressive job of ignoring.

There was a lot going on throughout this story, Dempsey retiring, Kai taking over, the safe transport of the pregnant woman, Ryder’s involvement in her life, Kai’s past merging with his present and the link he has to Ryder. While I was completely engrossed in this story from start to finish, I got a little confused at times with everything that was taking place, but all roads intersected along the way. There were a few unappealing secondary characters as well, but I’m thinking Ford may have plans for them somewhere in the context of this series, so I’ll file them all away for later.

Overall I thought this was a great read. As I said it is dark, imaginative, mysterious and engaging. The way Ford merged the human and Fae worlds, the history and lore of the sidhe that was told, I’m anxious to see where Ford takes Kai and Ryder and possibly Alexa in the next story. This book reminded me a lot of Holly Black’s Modern Tales of Fairy series, which is one of the best Fae series to date. If you read multiple genres like I do, or you are thinking of dipping your toe into the warm waters of the MM genre, then this book would probably be the perfect start for you.

Pixie’s Review: 💖💖💖💖💖 4 ½ Hearts

Elfin Kai was won in a poker game by a human Stalker, Dempsey, and was trained to be a Stalker, he is the only Elfin Stalker in southern California. Now with Dempsey retiring due to injury Kai has set up shop in San Diego, contracting out to the local SoCalGov depot to kill the monsters that were released when Underhill merged with Earth.  Kai is so merged in the human culture that he sometimes forget he was Elfin but when he is contracted to work for sidhe lord Ryder he is reminded of his past. Kai’s new contract was supposed to be an easy run, but heading up the coast during dragon-mating season to retrieve a pregnant human woman is anything but simple when he is dragged into a bloodline feud and his own past comes back to haunt him.

This is an absolutely brilliant Urban Fantasy story that has danger, horrible monsters, tempting sidhe and intriguing heroes. Kai has a mysterious past that is filled with horror, he wants nothing to do with any other Elfin and is perfectly happy with his life in the human world, it is dangerous but nothing that he hasn’t faced before and he lives by his own rules. Being forced to take a job for the sidhe lord Ryder is far from his idea of fun but if he doesn’t do it his Stalker licence could be pulled, gritting his teeth he sets out on an action packed journey that brings his bloody terrifying past back to him.

Kai is a brilliant character, he faces so much in this story and his reactions are just perfect. Kai is scarred by his past in more ways than one and his fears reach out and grab you, he has good reason to never want to see the Dusk Court again. Kai’s sexuality is fluid, male/female doesn’t matter to him he enjoys both, but some people he will steer clear of. Ryder and the other characters are there but more in the background, this is Kai’s story and although it is a great with the action, danger and Kai’s history being revealed, nobody really jumps out like Kai does so we are left wondering as to who could really catch Kai’s eye because it isn’t only Ryder who wants a taste of Kai.

It left me wondering just what direction this series would head in with Kai’s love interest because Kai seemed much more receptive to the females, because even with his detailed reaction to Ryder he still seemed to welcome the females touch more than Ryder’s.

This story is very much focused on the Urban Fantasy with any romantic/sexual interest taking a back burner, the imaginative settings and terrible creatures pull you into an exciting adventure and discovering Kai’s life is interesting. There’s plenty of danger from the black dogs, dragons, Dusk sidhe and Dawn sidhe, and Kai gets dragged into the Elfin world even as he tries to stay out of it.

We get a dark gritty story that makes you wonder as you turn the page just what Kai will face next, and you wonder just how much more his poor body can take before it gives up.

I recommend this is you want a dark, gritty, danger filled Urban Fantasy, incredible world building, fascinating characters and just a slight hint of sexual attraction.

Covet Thy Neighbor by L.A. Witt (2nd Edition)

L.A. Witt - Covet Thy Neighbor Cover 971ive5Title:  Covet Thy Neighbor

Series: Tucker Springs 04

Author: L.A. Witt

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (185 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (3rd March 2019)

ISBN: 978-1-64080-905-5

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: Welcome to Tucker Springs, Colorado, where sparks fly when opposites attract—but are some obstacles too great to overcome?

When tattoo artist Seth Wheeler meets his new neighbor, it’s like a revelation. Darren Romero is everything Seth wants in a man: hot, clever, single, and interested. For a minute he seems perfect. Then Darren drops the bomb: he moved to Tucker Springs to be a pastor at the New Light Church.

As a gay man whose parents threw him out, Seth has a strict policy of keeping believers at arm’s length for self-preservation. But Darren’s perseverance and the chemistry bubbling between them steadily wear down his defenses.

In a small town like Tucker Springs, Seth can’t avoid Darren—or how much he wants him. Which means he needs to decide what’s more important: protecting himself, or his feelings for his neighbor.

Product Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

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.

Road Series by Garrett Leigh Blog Tour, Reviews & Giveaway!

Garrett Leigh - Road RTBanner

Hi peeps, we have Garrett Leigh popping in today with the tour for her new re-releases Slide, and Rare, we have a brilliant giveaway and Tams’ reviews so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~

Slide

(Road 01)
by

Garrett Leigh

Don’t look back. Don’t you ever look back…

Shy tattoo artist Ash has a troubled past. Years of neglect, drug abuse, and life on the streets have taken their toll, and sometimes it seems the deep, unspoken bond with his lover is the only balm for wounds he doesn’t quite understand.

Chicago paramedic Pete is warmth, love, and strength—things Ash never knew he could have, and never even knew he wanted until Pete showed him. But fate is a cruel, cruel mistress, and when nightmares collide with the present, their tentatively built world comes crashing down.

Traumatic events in Pete’s work life distance him from home, and he doesn’t realize until it’s too late that Ash has slipped away. Betrayal, secrets, and lies unfold, and when a devastating coincidence takes hold, Pete must fight with all he has to save the love of his life.

.•.•.**❣️ Amazon US | Amazon UK ❣️**.•.•.
Slide is FREE for the next few days!

Rare

(Road 02)

Paramedic Pete Adams lived through the year from hell watching his lover, Ash, fall apart, and the precarious balance between work and home is becoming more strained. His heart is always home, with Ash, but the dark side to his job is weighing him down.

Tattoo artist Ash Fagin is recovering from a nervous breakdown triggered by revelations about his traumatic childhood. His battle with mental illness is far from over, but with Pete by his side, he’s feeling good again, so good he doesn’t notice something missing until it walks right into his living room.

Ash believes he’s had enough coincidence in his life, but when a voice from the past comes looking for him, it takes the devastating injuries of the one he loves most to convince him to let a ghost become the family he never knew he wanted.

.•.•.**❣️ Amazon US | Amazon UK ❣️**.•.•.

Circle

(Road 03)

I love him…but he’s forgotten why.

A lot can happen in six years, and Ash and Pete have seen their world flipped upside down more times than most. Being parents to Pete’s young nephew wasn’t in their plan, but life happens to them and they roll with the punches. Or at least they did, until new heartache rocks their hard-won happily-ever-after.

Ash loves Pete as much as ever—more, in fact—but Pete battles alone with a burden that weighs heavily on his heart. Ash is no stranger to dark clouds, but the secret Pete keeps from him is a storm that could break them.

Despite the fierce love that once buoyed them, they’re both drowning until a new friend throws them a lifeline. His wisdom offers insight—for better or worse, real love is rarely a smooth journey. For Ash and Pete to come full circle once more, they’ll have to hit the road and chase it.

.•.•.**❣️ Amazon US | Amazon UK ❣️**.•.•.

Garrett Leigh - Road Series INstaPromo

About Garrett!

Garrett Leigh logoGarrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Riptide Publishing, and Fox Love Press.

Garrett’s debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.

Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with photographer Dan Burgess.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway!

Win an Ecopy of Roads Series!

Reviews

Title: Slide

Series: Roads 01

Author: Garrett Leigh

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: Novel (366 pgs)

Publisher: Garrett Leigh (18th September 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 3 Hearts

Blurb: Don’t look back. Don’t you ever look back…

Shy tattoo artist Ash has a troubled past. Years of neglect, drug abuse, and life on the streets have taken their toll, and sometimes it seems the deep, unspoken bond with his lover is the only balm for wounds he doesn’t quite understand.

Chicago paramedic Pete is warmth, love, and strength—things Ash never knew he could have, and never even knew he wanted until Pete showed him. But fate is a cruel, cruel mistress, and when nightmares collide with the present, their tentatively built world comes crashing down.

Traumatic events in Pete’s work life distance him from home, and he doesn’t realize until it’s too late that Ash has slipped away. Betrayal, secrets, and lies unfold, and when a devastating coincidence takes hold, Pete must fight with all he has to save the love of his life.

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Tams

Review: Pete is a paramedic working the mean streets of Chicago. Long and unpredictable shifts coupled with dangerous calls that sometimes leave him battered and bruised leave his boyfriend anxious and jittery. He met the super shy street artist, Ash, through their mutual friend Ellie. What started out as a roommate arrangement quickly grows into more based on an intense mutual attraction. But Ash’s past is shrouded in darkness and mystery that threatens their already volatile relationship.

What is perceived as secrets and lies slowly unravels as a darkness in Ash’s past that he’s tried hard to bury. This secret has caused something within Ash to break, mentally, sort of like self-preservation. He can’t really remember the memory, only the voice, and the same voice that sends him spiraling out of control for no apparent reason. Can Pete piece together the seemingly random clues and help Ash not only face his past, but also come to terms with it, before he loses him inside his warped mind forever.

I had high hopes for this book and anxiously awaited its release for weeks. The story started out on a high note, and I enjoyed getting to know Pete and Ash at the start. I soon became frustrated with Pete constantly assuming things, but never really talking to Ash, they’d just fall into bed every five minutes as if that were the answer to everything. Don’t get me wrong, these two had some serious steam, but at times, it weighed down the story. I thought I could see where the author was going with Ash’s story early on, and in the end, I was partially right. It was so aggravating and long-winded that by the time what should have been an “oh my god” moment came along; it was more like “it’s about damn time you clued me in.”

This is a rare novel that should have been a novella. I could have done with the condensed version or the footnotes. Sorry guys, I tried really hard to like this one, but it just fell flat in the end for me.

Title:  Rare

Series:  Roads 02

Author: Garrett Leigh

Genre: Contemporary

Length:  Novel (318 pages)

Publisher: Garrett Leigh (23rd September 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: Paramedic Pete Adams lived through the year from hell watching his lover, Ash, fall apart, and the precarious balance between work and home is becoming more strained. His heart is always home, with Ash, but the dark side to his job is weighing him down.

Tattoo artist Ash Fagin is recovering from a nervous breakdown triggered by revelations about his traumatic childhood. His battle with mental illness is far from over, but with Pete by his side, he’s feeling good again, so good he doesn’t notice something missing until it walks right into his living room.

Ash believes he’s had enough coincidence in his life, but when a voice from the past comes looking for him, it takes the devastating injuries of the one he loves most to convince him to let a ghost become the family he never knew he wanted.

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Tams

Review:  Ash is on the mend after suffering a breakdown last year. His relationship with Pete is stronger, but they still have a long road ahead. Ash may have made it through the darkness to the other side, but it left him scared, both mentally and physically. Pete as well has suffered mental and physical setbacks causing exhaustion and frustration. But the one constant in their unpredictable, crazy lives is each other.

When their best friend and closest ally brings his girlfriend home to meet the boys, Ash will discover a link to his past he’s not sure he wants to know. And Pete is worn out with being a Paramedic. He’s exhausted and his body carries the scars of some bad calls. Just when you think that what little progress they’ve made will be shot to hell, these two will surprise you as will their unwavering love for each other.

The writing in this installment grew leaps and bounds compared to the first book in this series, for me at least. I felt more of a connection with the characters, and all the issues they faced this time they faced head on. Thinking back, perhaps that was the intention of the author in the first book, to portray some type of disconnect there so that she could morph and change the characters along the way. Pete’s character has grown up a lot due to the challenges he’s faced throughout this series. And Ash… Oh my, I think I’m in love with a crazy, neurotic, gay tattoo artist!

There was never any question that these two had some definite chemistry, and Leigh conveyed that again in Rare. There is still a lot of growth these characters have to do and I’m excited to see where they go as the series continues.

Garrett Leigh - Road TourGrahic

Check out the other blogs on the

October 16 – Two Chicks Obsessed
October 22 – The Secret Ko, Wicked Reads

The Little Things by Jay Northcote Release Blast & Review!

Jay Northcote - The Little Things RBBAnner

Hi guys, we have Jay Northcote popping in today with his new re-release The Little Things, we have Tams review so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~

The Little Things

by

Jay Northcote

Sometimes it’s the little things in life that make you appreciate what you have.

There are lots of things that brighten Joel’s life. His three-year-old daughter Evie is one. His close relationship with her mother, his best friend from university, is another. Joel’s boyfriend, Dan, adds spice to his child-free nights, and Joel is pretty happy with how things are.

One cold and rainy night, everything changes. Joel’s life is turned upside-down when he becomes a full-time dad to Evie, and his previously carefree relationship with Dan cracks under the strain.

Meeting Liam, who acts as if getting hurt isn’t a foregone conclusion, shakes Joel to the core. Their attraction is mutual, and Liam makes no secret of how serious he is about Joel. But Joel is wary. He tells himself he’s keeping Liam at a distance for Evie’s sake, when really he’s protecting his own heart. Taking a chance on this new relationship with Liam may seem a small step—a little thing—but is it one Joel can take after losing so much already?

Amazon US | Amazon UK
Currently on Sale for $2.99/£2.21

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Mayhem and Murder by Rhys Ford

Title: Murder and Mayhem

Author: Rhys Ford

Genre: Contemporary 

Length: Novel (236 pages)

ISBN: 9781634762236

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (June 5th 2015)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Tams

Blurb: Dead women tell no tales.

Former cat burglar Rook Stevens stole many a priceless thing in the past, but he’s never been accused of taking a life—until now. It was one thing to find a former associate inside Potter’s Field, his pop culture memorabilia shop, but quite another to stumble across her dead body.

Detective Dante Montoya thought he’d never see Rook Stevens again—not after his former partner’d falsified evidence to entrap the jewelry thief and Stevens walked off scot-free. So when he tackled a fleeing murder suspect, Dante was shocked to discover the blood-covered man was none other than the thief he’d fought to put in prison and who still made his blood sing. 

Rook is determined to shake loose the murder charge against him, even if it means putting distance between him and the rugged Cuban-Mexican detective who brought him down. If one dead con artist wasn’t bad enough, others soon follow, and as the bodies pile up around Rook’s feet, he’s forced to reach out to the last man he’d expect to believe in his innocence—and the only man who’s ever gotten under Rook’s skin

Product Link: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: If there is one thing in life Detective Dante Montoya hates, it’s Rook Stevens. The pain in the ass, sly thief got under Dante’s skin several years back on a case, and never wormed his way out. His former partner was so certain of Rook’s guilt that he stepped outside of the margins and tried to frame Rook, costing him his badge and damn near cost Dante his as well. Now two years later, Dante is the lead on a call to Rook’s shop, where there just happens to be a body. Oh happy day!

Rook has been on the wrong side of everything, including the law, since the day he was born. His mother was worthless and left Rook the day after he told her “I like boys just like you.” He was eight. Rook may be a thief, and a damned good one, but he also has a conscious and tries to help out his fellow dregs. So when he finds himself on the run first from Dante and the cops that think he killed Dani. Then on the run from someone hell bent on killing him, Rook calls the last person you’d think he had on speed dial, Dante.

Things go from bad to worse real quick, but in the middle of all the murder and mayhem, Rook and Dante carve their own little piece of heaven wrapped in each other’s arms. But Rook doesn’t understand the concept of love, because he has never had it. Can Dante tame the frisky feline he’s sleeping with? Then you have to ask yourself, does he even want to tame Rook, or lead him around on a leash. And let’s not forget about that pesky psychopath blazing through town leaving a trail of bodies and body parts in their wake, trying to get their claws into Rook.

Holy Christ, I think this is hands down the best book Rhys Ford has written to date. Don’t get me wrong, I love everything of hers I’ve ever read. This book went above and beyond though. It’s like she took ALL the Morgan men personalities, bottled them up, shook the shit out of it, and when she let the cap off, out popped Rook! And Dante, if I didn’t know better I would think that Cole finally figured out how to get Jai pregnant and Dante was their love child. I laughed so hard I think I literally pee’d my pants.

But then there was a lot of action, suspense, dry humor and passion. Dante tried very hard to hate Rook in the beginning, but it was cute how much he didn’t hate him, not even a little. There banter back and forth could only be described as foreplay. The writing was off the chain, the storyline solid and the characters were seriously flawed (I can think of a better F word) which gave them depth. Even the secondary characters were so well planned and placed within the story.

Definitely a must read, for so many reasons. Intriguing, engaging, passionate, sexy and hysterical are just a few adjectives I’ll use to describe this book.

Handle With Care by Josephine Myles Release Blast, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!

Josephine Myles - Handle With Care RB Banner

Hi peeps, we have Josephine Myles stopping by today with her new re-release Handle With Care, we have a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and Tams’ review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link! <3 ~Pixie~

Josephine Myles - Handle With Care Cover

Handle With Care

by

Josephine Myles

Great things come in small packages…

Ben Lethbridge doesn’t have many vices left. He lost his youth to raising his little sister to adulthood, then made up for lost time with reckless abandon. Two years of constant partying—and ignoring his diabetes—has left him tied to a home dialysis regimen.

He can work from home, fortunately, but most of life’s little luxuries are forbidden. Except for watching porn… and fantasising over Ollie, the gorgeous purple-haired skateboarder who delivers his discreetly packaged DVDs.

Their doorstep banter is the highlight of Ben’s solitary day, but his paranoia over his illness-ravaged body prevents him from seeing their flirting for what it really is. He knows Ollie is far too young for him anyway, but he figures there’s no harm in sprucing himself up a bit.

Then one day, a package accidentally splits open, revealing Ben’s dirty little secret. But instead of Ollie being repelled they make an unexpected connection that has Ben wondering if he’s been reading the situation wrong all this time. The only way to find out if they have a chance at love is to risk showing Ollie every last scar. And that could take more courage than Ben owns.

Warning: Contains superhero porn comics and a pint-sized, accident-prone delivery guy with colour-changing hair. Readers may experience coffee cravings, an unexpected liking for bad mullets, and the urge to wrap Ollie up and take him home.

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Continue reading “Handle With Care by Josephine Myles Release Blast, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!”

This Is Not A Love Story by Suki Fleet Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!

Suki Fleet - This Is Not A Love Story RT Banner

Hi guys, we have Suki Fleet popping in today with This is Not a Love Story, we have a fantastic excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and Tams review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link! <3 ~Pixie~

Suki Fleet - This Is Not A Love Story Cover

This Is Not A Love Story

(Love Story 01)
by

Suki Fleet

When fifteen-year-old Romeo’s mother leaves one day and doesn’t return, he finds himself homeless and trying to survive on the streets. Mute and terrified, his silence makes him vulnerable, and one night he is beaten by a gang of other kids, only to be rescued by a boy who pledges to take care of him.

Julian is barely two years older than Romeo. A runaway from an abusive home, he has had to make some difficult choices and sells himself on the street to survive. Taking care of Romeo changes him, gives him a purpose in life, gives him hope, and he tries to be strong and keep his troubles with drugs behind him. But living as they do is slowly destroying him, and he begins to doubt he can be strong enough.

This is the story of their struggle to find a way off the streets and stay together at all costs. But when events threaten to tear them apart, it is Romeo who must find the strength within himself to help Julian (and not let their love story turn into a Shakespearean tragedy).

Continue reading “This Is Not A Love Story by Suki Fleet Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!”

Misfits by Garrett Leigh Retro Review Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!

Garrett Leigh - Misfits RT Banner

Hi peeps, we have Garrett Leigh stopping by with the retro review tour for Misfits, we have a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and Tams’ review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link! <3 ~Pixie~

Garrett Leigh - Misfits _400x600

Misfits

(Urban Love 01)
by

Garrett Leigh

Restaurant owner Tom Fearnes has loved his partner Cass for as long as he can remember, but their work often keeps them apart. When he meets a striking young man named Jake on the vibrant streets of Camden Town, their heady first encounter takes an unexpected turn.

Jake Thompson can hardly believe his luck when he wakes up in Tom’s bed. Tom is gorgeous, kind, and . . . taken. Tom’s explanation of his open relationship leaves Jake cold, but Tom is too tempting, and when hard times force Jake to accept Tom’s helping hand, he finds himself between two men who’ve lost their way.

Cass Pearson is a troubled soul. He loves Tom with all he has, but some days it feels like he hasn’t much to give. Jake seems like the perfect solution. Cass risks everything to push Jake and Tom together, but Jake resists, wary, until the darkness of Cass’s past comes to call. Then Jake finds himself the last man standing, and it’s time to dig deep and shine a light for the men he’s grown to love.

Continue reading “Misfits by Garrett Leigh Retro Review Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!”

Shock & Awe by Abigail Roux Audiobook

Abigail Roux - Shock & Awe Audio CoverTitle: Shock & Awe

Series: A Sidewinders Story book #1

Author: Abigail Roux

Narrator: Brock Thompson

Genre: Contemporary MM Romance

Length: 3 hours and 59 minutes

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (12-18-2015)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: After barely surviving a shootout in New Orleans, Sidewinder medic Kelly Abbott has to suffer through a month of recovery before he can return home to Colorado. He’s not surprised when fellow Sidewinder Nick O’Flaherty stays with him in New Orleans. Nor is he surprised when Nick travels home with him to help him get back on his feet – after all, years on the same Marine Force Recon team bonded the men in ways that only bleeding for a brother can. He’s very surprised, though, when Nick humors his moment of curiosity and kisses him.

Nick knows all of Kelly’s quirks and caprices, so the kiss was a low-risk move on his part…or so he thought. But what should’ve been a simple moment unleashes a flood of confusing emotions and urges that neither man is prepared to address. Now, Kelly and Nick must figure out what they mean to each other – friends and brothers in arms or something even deeper – before the past can come back to ruin their tenuous future.

Product Link: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/audio/1545

Reviewer: Tams

Review: Kelly Abbott and Nick O’Flaherty have been friends, brothers, comrades in arms for over a decade. With Kelly still on the mend after being shot during the fiasco in New Orleans, Nick takes the time off to stay with his friend and help him while he heals. Kelly isn’t sure if it’s the pain meds, or being in such close quarters with Nick, but his perception of his friend shifts almost as soon as they get to his cabin. What starts out as mild curiosity quickly turns into so much more and soon, they cross a line that they can never jump back over again.

I really enjoyed getting to know more about Nick and Kelly. Being secondary characters throughout the Cut & Run series as members of Ty’s rag tag secret black ops team, the Sidewinders, I only got to know them in the capacity that fit into those stories. Now the focus of the story shifts to Nick and Kelly, the strong bond they already share after relying on each other in life or death situations for over a decade. So, while to some this may seem like an insta-love story, I assure you, it is not. It’s been brewing for close to fifteen years.

Narrated by Brock Thompson, this is my first audio with Thompson and it did take me about twenty minutes to get used to his narration. After listening to the Cut & Run series, I got used to that specific voice for Nick and Kelly, so Thompson’s was off at first. It did not take long for the story to pull me in though, and I actually think I like Nick more voiced by Thompson because he has his Boston bread accent. This wasn’t the norm for the Sidewinder guys, this was a singular story about Nick and Kelly realizing a mutual attraction, talking about it, and then acting on it. It was short, sexy and even a bit steamy.

I quite enjoyed this romantic reprieve and look forward to more stores for Nick and Kelly. They aren’t quite as troublesome and volatile as Ty and Zane, but they might graduate to that with more time. If you are a fan of the Cut & Run books of course you’ll enjoy this companion series.

But if you’ve avoided that series due to the madness, murder and mayhem… this is slower but just as appealing as anything else Roux has written.

Crash & Burn by Abigail Roux Audiobook

Abigail Roux - Crash & Burn audio CoverTitle: Crash & Burn

Series:  Cut & Run series book 9

Author: Abigail Roux

Narrator: JF Harding

Genre: Contemporary MM Romance

Length: 10 hours and 44 minutes

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (15th December 2015)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: It’s been five years since Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett first worked together to solve the Tri-State murders, and time has been both harsh and kind. Engaged now, they face the challenge of planning a deeply uncertain future together. Zane is at the pinnacle of his career with one last mystery to solve, while Ty is at sea in a world where he’s no longer the tip of a spear.

There’s just one more hurdle in the way of their happy ever after: a traitor from their inner circle who threatens to burn their world to the ground.

Squeezed between the Vega cartel, an unknown mole, and too many alphabet agencies to count, Ty and Zane must gather all their strength and resources to beat the longest odds they’ve ever faced. To make it out alive, they’ll need help from every friend they’ve got. Even the friends who might betray their trust.

Product Link: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/audio/3771

Reviewer: Tams

Review: Ty and Zane have survived so much, fought so hard for the right to love each other. Their life will never be boring, but a little bit of sunshine is always appreciated, even for half psycho FBI agents that like to shoot things. Ball & Chain ended with Zane finally accepting Ty’s proposal, and this book starts with their wedding. I was sitting on my head in the few minutes leading up to the ceremony, fearing Roux would pull out some sort of ninja on a wave runner with an AK47 to destroy the nuptials. I was so very pleased, and even in tears, as Ty and Zane had probably their first ever day of peace to have a quick civil ceremony on the water with Livvy and Deuce by their side. The wedding night was full of passion and love we’ve come to expect from these two. When the bell tolls one, all bets are off and the madness begins by way of a battered, bruised and bloody Nick landing on their doorstep with a gunshot wound. 

From this moment on the action was non-stop, the suspense insane and the body count climbing as Ty, Zane, Sidewinder, the Cia and Nia set out to take down the Vega cartel that won’t stop until Ty and Zane are dead, buried and burned to the ground. It just so happens that the afore mentioned list of crazy people and agencies with nothing but alphabets in their name feel the same way about the cartel. Now the race is on to see who can take down whom first. 

I have mixed feelings about this book. I love the characters and their story, but I’m sad that this is the last HooRah for Ty and Zane. Five years after that first tryst in a hotel room while investing the death of one of Sidewinders team members, Elias Sanchez, Ty and Zane are moderately healthy, mostly happy and ready for the next chapter. Too bad their pasts didn’t get that memo, because everything is about to come to a gnarly head and not everyone makes it out with their life. 

What I have thoroughly enjoyed about this series is that nine books in, and I’m still intrigued, sad in fact that it’s the last one. Every installment has brought something new to the table, more madness and chaos for Ty and Zane and everyone they care about. These two men have literally been to hell and back, and back again, a side trip to New Orleans where the devil himself was knocking on their door, and now they find themselves facing down those demons, praying they will make it out alive. These books are action packed, emotional, dramatic, passionate and intense. 

Narrated by JF Harding and its amazing how he pulled off so many different voices and never, not once, mixed them up. Everyone has their own distinct voice that wavers occasionally depending on the characters mood or the circumstance at that time in the story. As I said, this is probably the most intense, emotional book of the series and Harding captured every ounce of the pain, fear, love, elation and desperation with tones and nuances as he voiced the characters. I hadn’t listened to anything from him prior to this series, but I will probably seek him out for his voice chops alone in the future. 

If you are a fan of this series you are going to love this final climax for this multitude of characters you’ve come to know and love. Everyone that is anyone in the Cut & Run universe, that is still breathing that is, is back for their 5 minutes of page time. As I said, it’s very bittersweet. Sad to say goodbye, but the boys definitely went out with a bang and a smile.

Despite The Odds by Chris T. Kat Audiobook

Chris T. Kat - Despite the Odds audio CoverTitle: Despite the Odds

Series: Odds Are book 1

Author: Chris T Kat

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Genre: Contemporary MM Romance

Length: 3 hours and 20 minutes

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (12th January 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Never judge a book by its cover.

Michael Campbell can’t hold a job for more than a few days. He’s lucky his foreman is giving him another chance with the solar panel project at an elementary school in Atlantic City. When he spies a man walking strangely in front of the school, Michael laughs, assuming he’s drunk or high. Little does he realize that Joshua Stone, a teaching assistant, has cerebral palsy, and he’s having a bad muscle control day. Taking a tumble right in front of the handsome construction worker is just his luck.

When Michael learns the truth, he feels bad for his cruel behavior. He offers to give Joshua—and his tricycle, the Racing Rhonda—a lift. Joshua accepts the help, and suddenly there’s a gorgeous man breezing into his life, turning his world upside down. But Michael has more issues than his inability to hold down a job, and neither man is sure if they’ll be able to overcome their fears in order to be together.

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/despite-the-odds-by-chris-t-kat-2662-b | http://amzn.to/28XVWKW

Reviewer: Tams

Review: Michael Campbell’s mission in life is pretty simple… stay with a job for more than a couple of weeks, get drunk and get laid. Everything changes when he meets Joshua, the shy teacher’s aide with Cerebral Palsy. At first Michael ridicules him, thinking Joshua is drunk in the middle of the day since he can’t walk straight. Learning about Joshua’s disability makes Michael feel like the south end of a north bound mule and he sets out to make it right.

Joshua has been sneered at, leered at, picked on and put down his entire life because of his disability. The gorgeous electrician laughing at him and calling him a drunk isn’t anything he’s not used to. The apology, the ride home and the resulting friendship that blooms, that’s very different. Neither of them is a stranger to being on their own, to not being wanted because they are different. The question is, can they look past years of self-loathing and see what they see in each other?

This story captured my attention from the start and continued to carry its weight from there. This wasn’t a story about a guy down on his luck, lived a hard life, finding his prince charming. No, this was a story about two men down on their luck, for different reasons, getting a chance to have the life they’ve always wanted, but never thought they’d have. It was a little sad to listen to the inner thoughts and self-loathing each of them had. Joshua doesn’t see himself as attractive or desirable, mostly because of the effect his disability has had on his body, but a worthless step dad and a mother too wrapped up in said step dad to listen when her son told her how the man ridiculed and picked on him. Michael has never learned to read and doesn’t see himself as any prize either. Together, they both become more with the confidence that they lend to each other. What I enjoyed most about this story was Michael’s devotion and patience with Joshua, it was beautiful and brilliant.

Narrated by Joel Leslie and he is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators. I love how every book I listen to that he voices is distinctly different. By that I mean the tones and nuances he uses in each book is different, rarely are there any two voices the same, that’s amazing in my opinion.

Definitely a must read for anyone that enjoys the stories with a hard fought happy ever after.

Clockwork Tangerine by Rhys Ford Audiobook

Rhys Ford - Clockwork Tangerine audio CoverTitle:  Clockwork Tangerine

Series: N/A

Author: Rhys Ford

Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Genre: Dystopian, Steam Punk,  MM Romance

Length: 2 hours and 10 minutes

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (12th May 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: The British Empire reigns supreme, and its young Queen Victoria has expanded her realm to St. Francisco, a bustling city of English lords and Chinese ghettos. St. Francisco is a jewel in the Empire’s crown and as deeply embroiled in the conflict between the Arcane and Science as its sister city, London—a very dark and dangerous battle.

Marcus Stenhill, Viscount of Westwood, stumbles upon that darkness when he encounters a pack of young bloods beating a man senseless. Westwood’s duty and honor demand he save the man, but he’s taken aback to discover the man is Robin Harris, a handsome young inventor indirectly responsible for the death of Marcus’s father.

Living in the shadows following a failed coup, Robin devotes his life to easing others’ pain, even though his creations are considered mechanical abominations of magicks and science. Branded a deviant and a murderer, Robin expects the viscount to run as far as he can—and is amazed when Marcus reaches for him instead.

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/clockwork-tangerine-by-rhys-ford-7109-b | http://amzn.to/28OELcK

Reviewer: Tams

Review:  What happens when you not only rescue, but fall in love with the man that inadvertently caused your father’s death? Well, Marcus Stenhill is about to find out. Marcus is running an errand for his grandmother one afternoon when he stumbles upon a group of men literally trying to beat another man to death. Upon learning that the man he rescued is Robin Harris, Marcus is confused more than anything else. Robin is so young, far younger than Marcus thought him to be. Over the course of the several weeks it takes Robin to heal from his injuries, Marcus stands vigil by his side and learns there is so much more to Robin than he’d thought.

Robin Harris was only fourteen years old when he was used as well as his designs, which were meant to help people, for a darker purpose. He has paid for that decision a hundred times over. When he finds himself in the company of Viscount of Westwood, Marcus, Robin finds himself attracted to the man that should hate him, but he doesn’t. The attraction is mutual, but a friendship is secured first. The only problem from there is convincing Marcus’s family, some of who are still quite bitter over their father’s death, that Robin was a pawn and he truly is a kind man with a brilliant mind. 

If you follow my reviews then you already know how much I enjoy it when Greg Tremblay takes Rhys Ford’s novels and brings them to life. This book is no exception. I was intrigued by the world and era that Ford created, a mixture of Steam Punk and Dystopian edge. Tremblay took care to guarantee that every character had their own voice and persona; sometimes the voice itself gave me a feel for the character that tied in with the way they were written.

The story was short, just a few hours in length, but there was a lot of content and character development in those few hours. I think Marcus’s grandmother stole the show though. She cracked me up with her need to break ugly porcelain animals and maneuvering the hovercraft thingy while giggling and clapping like a happy child. 

I think anyone that enjoys the Steam Punk and Dystopian style of stories will enjoy this one for sure, but there is a lot more to the story than just that distinction.

Highly recommended by me!

Covet Thy Neighbor by L.A. Witt Audiobook

L.A. Witt - Covet Thy Neighbor audio CoverTitle: Covet Thy Neighbor

Series: Tucker Springs 04

Author: L.A. Witt 

Narrator:  Charlie David

Genre: Contemporary

Length:4 hrs. 39 minutes

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (4th May 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Opposites attract, but heaven help these two.

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 smoke screen to keep him from facing deeper fears? It’s either see the light, or risk pushing Darren away forever.

Product Link: http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Covet-Thy-Neighbor-Audiobook/B01DTHCYWC

Reviewer: Cat & Tams

Cat’s Review: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

This is a book four of the series but stands alone perfectly. Each book is a standalone set in Tucker Springs.

Seth is a tattoo artist has been single for several years and is an Atheist. He lives above his tattoo shop.

Darren is a minister that moved from Oklahoma across from Seth. Sparks fly immediately between the two men, but Seth has a very hard time dealing with his attraction to Darren.  Partially because Darren is a minister which could cause all sorts of issues since ministers don’t do casual sex. Seth doesn’t do relationships and the biggest thing is the religious issue. But Darren is unlike any other minister or man he has met.

I have been eagerly awaiting Seth’s story and was not disappointed. Who would be a better match for the Atheist Seth than a minister? I loved both Darren and Seth. I loved the dynamics of their relationship. My only issue with the story is that they kept going back and forth over the same issues. I wish there had been a bit more to the story, just a little more action.

Charlie David did a good job telling the story. he showed great excitement and I loved how he conveyed Seth’s inner conflict. I do wish he had changed the voices of Seth and Darren a bit more. However, the story is written well enough and he narrates well enough you could follow along quite well.

If you like ministers, tattoo artists, good contemporary romance and some fairly hot man-sex you  should love this. I also highly recommend this entire series.

Tams’ Review: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

E-book review April 2013

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 a 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.

Audio review May 2016

This story was already a favorite read of mine, now with Charlie David’s narration I love the story just that much more. David is not so much a narrator as a story teller. His changes in tone, nuance and inflection are slight from one character to the next, but he still does a great job of making sure the reader/listener is aware of whose voice they are hearing. Listening to Seth and Darren’s story actually brought things to the forefront that I missed when I read the book. The struggle Seth had with his attraction to Darren coupled with his disdain for Darren’s profession had more impact when I was listening to their conversations. As I stated 3 years ago after reading the book, these guys are inexplicably drawn to each other to spite their differences, both having some baggage that they automatically bring into the relationship. It’s Seth that really has to examine who he is and who he wants to be before the two of them can make a go at it. 

Definitely worth the read or the listen, both even. I think that you will get something different from each version as I did, and both are well worth your time. A passionate love story about how opposites not only attract, they can make it work. 

Dirty Heart by Rhys Ford ~ Audiobook

dirty-secretTitle: Dirty Heart

Series: A Cole McGinnis Mystery, #6

Author: Rhys Ford

Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Length: 7 hours and 19 minutes

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (04-01-16)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 5 Hearts

Blurb: Former LAPD detective Cole McGinnis’s life nearly ended the day his police partner and best friend Ben Pirelli emptied his service weapon into Cole and his then-lover, Rick. Since Ben turned his gun on himself, Cole thought he’d never find out why Ben tried to destroy him.

Years later, Cole has stitched himself back together. Now a private investigator and in love with Jae-Min Kim, a Korean-American photographer he met on a previous case, Cole’s life is back on track – until he discovers Jeff Rollins, a disgraced cop and his first partner, has resurfaced and appears to be working on the wrong side of the law.

As much as Cole’s fought to put the past behind him, he’s soon tangled up in a web of lies, violence, and death. Jeff Rollins is not only trying to kill Cole’s loved ones, he is also scraping open old wounds and long-forgotten memories of the two men Cole loved and lost. Cole is sure Rollins knows why Ben ruined all their lives, but he isn’t looking for answers.

Now Cole is caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a cold-blooded killer with the key to not only his past but his future.

Product Link(s): https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/dirty-secret-by-rhys-ford-5229-b

http://amzn.to/1YdM8B2

http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Dirty-Heart-Audiobook/B01DMUE6ZO

Reviewer: Tams

Review:  Tams’ 5 Heart E-book Review (March 2016)

Every really good Author has their proverbial ‘Murphy’s Law’ coupling. Diana Gabaldon has Claire and Jaime, Mary Calmes has Sam and Jory, Abigail Roux has Ty and Zane, and Rhys Ford has Cole and Jae. Cole and Jae have been through so much, both as a couple and on their own before they even met. It’s taken a very long time for Jae to live his life openly, to admit he loves Cole and to own his sexuality. Whereas Cole has always worn his sexuality like a badge.

As this story starts, it looks like Cole is still up to his finding trouble no matter where he goes antics, but it also looks like he and Jae are finally settling into a comfortable relationship with no boundaries or barriers.

Well, if you know Cole and Jae, you know that them being happy is like a homing beacon for trouble. You also know Cole will stop at nothing to protect those he loves. Everything is about to come full circle for this unlikely duo. Someone in Jae’s estranged family reaches out to Cole and Jae for help, which is laughable, considering what said family have put them both through.

And then another ghost from Cole’s past decides to start wreaking havoc and putting bullet holes in anyone or anything standing still. Is it just an unhappy coincidence that these things are happening simultaneously? Or has the grim reaper finally come to collect the debt Cole squirmed his way out of when he survived the shooting that took his former lovers life?

I think what has drawn me to this series with each new story is not only watching Cole and Jae struggling with issues both as a couple, and as individuals. Watching their bullet riddled love story unfold. I think it’s the way their feelings, emotions and thoughts have been described in such meticulous detailing that I feel I can almost see inside them. Ford could possibly make a sociopath feel with the way she vividly describes the characters and their emotions.

Another fantastic aspect of Ford’s stories, not just this series, is how she creates these secondary characters that are as vital to the story as Cole and Jae are. Then there is the dry, witty sarcastic sense of humor Cole embodies.

Jae goes off on Cole at one point in this story, having had enough of his pleas with Cole to “not get hurt” or “not get shot” ignored quite long enough. It is hysterical. I laughed so hard I think I peed my pants just a bit. Claudia deserves mom of the year y’all! And Bobby, that man cracks me up. One of my favorite lines in the book came from Bobby, talking to Cole.

“Get out of my truck so I can go home and fuck your brother.”

Definitely a must read story for fans of the Author and/or the series. If you don’t grab a copy you will never know exactly what drove Cole’s former partner on the police force to shoot Cole and his then lover, leaving one of them dead before turning the gun on himself. I’ll admit that I have had a couple of theories since the first book.

And I was surprised when the truth is revealed. If you like action packed, non-stop, thrill a minute stories with flawed, three-dimensional characters and these absolutely insane story lines… I would wonder why you haven’t read this series yet.

Tams’ 5 Heart Audiobook Review (June 2016)

Rhys Ford and Greg Tremblay… a more perfect union could not be found I tell you. Between Ford’s immaculate attention to detail and the way she can shape and mold words, and Tremblay’s ability to breathe life into any character he voices… its chocolate for my ears! I couldn’t be more pleased that Tremblay carried the torch from start to finish for this series. I came to feel like the characters I was listening to were old friends, and every year or so we would have a visit, bullet proof vest and riot gear required, of course.

Everything comes to a volcanic head in this last book, and when it finally blows, no one is safe. I think that Cole is pretty much done. The man has more holes in him than a slice of Swiss cheese, and the constant worrying for every single person he loves and holds dear. He’s just ready for some semblance of a normal life with Jae, growing old and fucking like bunnies until they can’t see straight. Being an uncle, brother, best friend and son (to Claudia of course, not that SOB father of his).

But there is one more bad guy to take down before Cole can rest easy.

I highly recommend this series… well, this Author and Narrator in fact. I believe Rhys Ford had some water bottles at GRL one year that read “Murder – Mystery – Mayhem” those three words aptly describe this series, with a metric ton of passion and just a little bit of angst. You can read, listen or do both as I did.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Penny Wishes by Lucy Hawkins

30337985Title: Penny Wishes

Series: N/A

Author: Lucy Hawkins

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 211 pages

Publisher: Southern Lights Publishing (June 3rd 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Blurb: What would you do if the one who got away… came back?

“After all these years he still gets under my skin.”

Tyler Lockhart takes life one day at a time. After serving in Afghanistan, he finds safety in his routine of making furniture with his Labrador, Jess, by his side. Single again after a relationship that just didn’t work, he still holds hope that he’ll find his happily ever after one day. Even if he’s haunted by the distant memory of a fierce teenage love for his older brother’s best friend.

“I won’t let you trick me again.”

Austin St. James is washed-up. After a successful run as the front man in rock band Vision X, it’s been three years since he’s made any music he’s wanted to share. When his past comes calling, Austin knows he can’t keep running. Returning to his hometown after eight years was not part of the plan and neither was having to call in a favor with his childhood friend, Tyler. All grown and muscled-up, the boy he once swore to protect is now a man and the tether that binds them is still fiercely electric.

“What are you doing?”

“Making up for all the years I was supposed to be kissing you.”

But so much has changed for the two men who lead very different lives. Tyler struggles with change and Austin uses it to cope with his past. When the unexpected reunion reignites the flame between them that never really died, will they be able to keep it alive?

Penny Wishes is a sweet and steamy second-chance gay romance. It is a full-length novel with no cliffhanger and an HEA.

ASIN: B01GICTZB8

Product Link: http://amzn.to/1XXuCAl

Reviewer: Tams

Review: You never forget your first love.

Tyler Lockhart has known two things since he was eight years old. He’s gay and in love with Austin St. James. Despite the age difference between them, and the fact that Austin is Ty’s older brother Rory’s BFF, the two strike up a strong friendship.

Over the years through middle school then high school, the two become inseparable. They share their first kiss and so much more. But then Austin leaves town without much more than a good riddance and Tyler is devastated. Over the next eight years, both men live their separate lives… Ty joins the marines while Austin goes on to become the lead singer for the Rock band Vision X.

The one thing that never goes away is their connection, so when Austin winds up back in Oak Falls after his father dies, they are offered a second chance at happiness, if they can be honest with each other.

I was drawn to this book by both the synopsis and the cover. Specifically this excerpt here…

“What are you doing?”

“Making up for all the years I was supposed to be kissing you.”

Hawkins has created these two guys that are so perfect for each other, yet both are too stubborn to admit those feelings. At least, in the traditional sense. Ty may have been just a child when the realization of what and who he wanted hit him, but his young heart knew exactly who held it and that hasn’t changed eighteen years later. He’s convinced himself that if he doesn’t admit the way he feels about Austin out loud, then he can’t be hurt.

The problem is, not admitting how he feels is hurting him as well. Austin is still reeling over the death of his father, a man he thought hated him until he finds a box of newspaper clippings depicting his concerts and achievements in the music industry. He’s also under the mistaken impression that he can only be happy if he has Tyler and he’s playing with Vision X. He has to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, figure out which is more important.

I quite liked this book. The concept of a young man knowing exactly what he wanted at an age where adults would say he was too young to know that, and actually still feeling the same, stronger even, at twenty-eight years old as he did at eight years old. Both characters are flawed and broken, the only way for either of them to be whole or heal is if they are together.

There were a couple of times that the story didn’t flow from one part to the next, a bit choppy, but overall I really liked this book. Romance, passion, a miscommunication that lasts almost a decade and just the right amount of angst really made for a great read.

My first book by Hawkins, but it won’t be my last.

How to Howl at the Moon by Eli Easton ~ Audiobook

51Ck9S1kTrL._AA300_Title: How to Howl at the Moon

Series: Howl at the Moon, #1

Author: Eli Easton

Narrator: Matthew Shaw

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Length: 5 hours and 52 minutes

Publisher: Pinkerton Road (03-19-2015)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts

Blurb: Sheriff Lance Beaufort is not going to let trouble into his town, no sir. Tucked away in the California Mountains, Mad Creek has secrets to keep, like the fact that half the town consists of ‘quickened’—dogs who have gained the ability to become human. Descended on both sides from Border Collies, Lance is as alert a guardian as they come.

Tim Weston is looking for a safe haven. After learning that his boss patented all of Tim’s work on vegetable hybrids in his own name, Tim quit his old job. A client offers him use of her cabin in Mad Creek, and Tim sees a chance for a new start. But the shy gardener has a way of fumbling and sounding like a liar around strangers, particularly gorgeous alpha men like Sheriff Beaufort.

Lance’s hackles are definitely raised by the lanky young stranger. He’s concerned about marijuana growers moving into Mad Creek, and he’s not satisfied with the boy’s story. Lance decides a bit of undercover work is called for. When Tim hits a beautiful black collie with his car and adopts the dog, its love at first sight for both Tim and Lance’s inner dog. Pretending to be a pet is about to get Sheriff Beaufort in very hot water.

Product Link: http://amzn.to/1Y18m6K

Reviewer: Tams

Review: Tim Weston’s youth and naiveté have caused him a lot of pain in his life. He is in his early twenties and never had a positive role model. His father was abusive, his former boss a worthless liar and a thief.

So Tim quits his job, packs up and heads to Mad Creek where a friend is lending Tim her house for six months so he can work on some hybrid seeds for plants and vegetables. Right away he draws attention, since Mad Creek is a town full of shifters, Tim sort of sticks out like a sore thumb.

Sheriff Lance Beaufort has his doubts about Tim’s intentions from the start, so he befriends Tim in his shifter form, a border collie that Tim names Chance. In his shifter form, Lance can spy on the newcomer to see if he is up to no good.

The more time Lance spends with Tim, in both forms, the more attached he becomes. Things can’t help but end badly when Tim discovers that someone else he could care for has been lying to him.

Let me tell you how refreshing it was to read a story about something other than wolves. I love Easton’s unique take on the shifter world with the dogs, how some don’t manifest their first shift until later in life, and some have issues acclimating to the real world after being in their dog form for so long.

Even better than the unique story was the narration.My first listen with Matthew Shaw and I loved his take on the story. He literally dove into the characters, right down to every growl, howl and bark.

If you are looking for a fast, fun story that is both well written and entertaining, you should give this story a go.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Damaged Goods by Susan Mac Nicol

29616981Title: Damaged Goods

Series: The Men of London, #7

Author: Susan Mac Nicol

Genre: New Adult Romance

Length: 183 pages

Publisher: Boroughs Publishing (April 28th, 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts

Blurb: Touched by tragedy, love is an elusive dream never to be realized by eighteen-year-old Jax Grady–until he discovers his secret admirer and receives the sweetest gift he could ever desire.

THE SWEETEST GIFT

Tragedy and horror shaped Jackson Grady’s life, leaving him orphaned and scarred. At eighteen he’s ready to claim his future, but who could love his disfigured face and damaged soul? Definitely not a big, burly, beautiful Irish Traveller who is entirely the stuff of dreams.

Dare Rowan didn’t mean to become obsessed with the blue-eyed man he first saw across a field, but that porcelain skin and innocent air demanded another meeting. Jax has the face of a wounded angel, and the rest of the young man is as heart-breakingly perfect.

Jax is beautiful in every way and teaching him about love and life will be something Dare will embrace. Like unwrapping and savoring the candy at the shop where he works, Dare will show this young man everything Jax desired but never thought he’d have, and take Jax to new highs while he holds him through the lows.

Between them, they’ll find out just how sweet life can be.

ISBN: 9781944262242

Product Link(s): http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/damaged-goods

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/631793

http://amzn.to/1Za5hSj

Reviewer: Tams

Review: Jackson Grady has experienced far more trauma at the tender young age of 18 than many people twice his age. First his father re-married, a woman with her own teenage son, neither new wife or new step brother caring much for Jackson. In the hospital with scars on the outside as well as in, caused by said step brother, his father dies of a heart attack. Not only does Jackson miss the funeral, his step monster sells everything and leaves Jackson to fend for himself. Thankfully, his father thought ahead and left his son a trust.

Kildare Rowan, known to most as Dare, is drawn to Jackson from afar. He sees the scars, he realizes that the object of his affection has been hurt by the way he carries himself, guarded and curt. Jackson sees himself as broken, ugly and unwanted.

But Dare sees him as his Angel, the scars and the painful past bringing Dare’s protective instincts to the surface. It’s a rocky start for these two. Between the age difference, Jackson’s trust issues that are absolutely and completely warranted, and Dare’s inability to communicate appropriately early on, they have a few hurdles to jump.

Just when I think Mac Nicol has covered every possible angle for a story in this series, she surprises me yet again. I loved the pairing of Jackson and Dare. Jackson so fragile, innocent and uncertain… Dare’s brooding and bodyguard mentality that presents itself as love and protection… they come from different worlds, but they manage to find a way to make it work.

The writing is superb as usual, the romance and passion these two share is on a different level and expresses itself in a different way, but I really liked that about the story.

Definitely a must read for fans of the Author and/or the series, but I feel that anyone that reads the genre would enjoy the story. A damaged character finding love, a big guy that just wants someone to cherish finding the perfect person for him, a different kind of love story.

Although you could probably read this book as a standalone story, several characters from the past books make an appearance and their impact on this book might not make as much sense if you haven’t read them all.