Hi guys! We have Rebecca Cohen visiting today with the tour for her new release Anthony, Earl of Crofton, we have a fantastic guest post from Rebecca, a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Anthony, Earl of Crofton
by
Rebecca Cohen
A tale set in Stuart England, where the king’s life depends on his most loyal of subjects.
Anthony Redbourn, Earl of Crofton, delights in his reputation as a charming rogue. Life is never quiet at the court of King James I, especially with his good friend and secret lover, Sebastian Hewel, by his side. As an actor with the celebrated King’s Men, Sebastian has his own admirers, but neither man has eyes for anyone else.
When a plot against His Majesty is uncovered it threatens Anthony and Sebastian’s charmed lives, and they are dragged into the political intrigue and the race to save the king from danger. Fear that a traitor is linked to the King’s Men leaves Sebastian and Anthony with no choice but to stage a very public dissolution of their friendship, so Anthony can be free to be the patron of a new rising actor, and Sebastian can be the prodigy of another noble.
It is a dangerous game they are playing to expose the plotters and still find a way to meet in secret, as Anthony is adamant that they will not sacrifice the love they have fought so hard to win. They will do whatever it takes to protect the king’s life, and their commitment to each other.
Hi guys! We have Morgan James stopping by today with her upcoming release Love Conventions, we have a brilliant guest post fro Morgan and a great excerpt, so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~
Love Conventions
(Dreamspun Desires 81)
by
Morgan James
A happy ending worthy of a TV fantasy… in real life?
Ashland Wells is an actor of sci-fi cult fame but with little direction for the future, when handsome grad student Remy Beaumont lands in his lap at a fan convention. Remy is everything Ash ever wanted and wished he could be—including out and proud. For twelve hours they’re the best of friends. But the convention ends, and saying goodbye to Remy might be the biggest mistake Ash has ever made.
A few months later, they’re reunited on a new production—Ash as an actor, Remy a writer—and though Ash doesn’t plan to let him go twice, being with Remy means going public about being gay. He’s not sure that’s a risk he—or his career—can handle, no matter how great the temptation.
If only they could write themselves the romantic happily ever after they both need.
Hearing those words from his very straight, very ex-best friend doesn’t put Nate in a helpful mood. Not only did Kellan Brooks’s father destroy Nate’s family in his quest for power, but Kel-lan broke Nate’s heart back in high school. Nate thought he could trust his best friend with the revelation that he might be gay, only to find out he was horribly wrong and become the laugh-ingstock of the whole school. Kellan must be truly desperate if he’s turning to Nate now.
Kellan’s through letting his father run his life, and he wants to make the man pay for cutting him off. What better way to stick it to the bigot than to come out as gay himself—especially with the son of the very man his father crushed on his quest for money and power. Kellan can’t blame Nate for wanting nothing to do with him, though. Kellan will have to convince him to play along, but it’s even harder to convince himself that the heat between them is only an act….
Review: Bad Company is the first book in KA Mitchell’s series Bad in Baltimore. I’ve not read anything in the past by Mitchell but I was nonetheless intrigued reading the blurb and I was happy to become invested in a new series. For that matter, Chet Daniels as the narrator of the audiobook was also a new experience for me, so I really went into this one blind.
So firstly, the narration. I was quite impressed by the narration. I found myself easily getting lost in the narration and the characters and the voices given to the characters. For me the narration was easily the highlight of the book. Daniels’ voice was entertaining and quite honestly kept me going because I have a suspicion that if I were to read this story it would be a reluctant finish at best, or a did not finish at worst.
I’m going to explain those comments before I go into discussing the story. Basically, there are a lot of sex scenes in this book that go on for long chapters. If that’s you’re thing, this is probably going to be one hot read. However, for me, it’s not really my thing, so while I enjoyed the story for the most part the sex scenes popping up (especially at points where I wanted the plot to move forward) were annoying at times.
As for the story itself, we follow the romance between Kellan and Nate. Kellan and Nate were best friends once upon a time when they were kids, but Kellan’s uber rich father destroyed Nate’s father’s livelihood and stole his idea/patent, which was compounded by the fact that Kellan never stood up for Nate in high school when he was bullied for being gay.
Now that they are adults, Kellan is a rich boy and more than a tad arrogant and selfish. His father is an arsehole and the two butt heads, ending in Kellan with no money, no car and no place to live. He is homeless. All Kellan wants is revenge on his father, who also does not approve of Kellan being gay. So Kellan throws himself at the mercy of his ex-best friend, who is now a successful newspaper editor and the two concoct a plan that will allow Nate to do an expose on Kellan’s father, and Kellan can get his revenge on his father.
I had trouble with the storyline, because it was hard to suspend my disbelief to believe that this hare-brained scheme would work in any world. Kellan was also a difficult character to warm up to, and in some respects so was Nate. They’re both contrary sort of blokes but they did have a chemistry that made their romance work. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the audio enough that I am willing to go on and give the rest of the series a go. It’s not uncommon that a narrator will allow me to enjoy a book that I normally wouldn’t be able to finish if I read it.
I recommend this book to people that like 1) lots of sex, and, 2) friends-to-enemies-to-lovers type scenario (which was honestly the draw for me).
Blurb: James has seen some big changes in his life of late. First, he was dealing with a debilitating illness, the consequence of which would leave him scarred for life. Then he split up from his girlfriend, who also happened to be his boss. To top things off, he fell for his doctor, a certain Jack Thesiger, a man destined to change the course of his life forever.
When a series of strange manuscripts fall into James’s possession, he finds himself drawn into an enchanting love story two hundred years in the making. It is the story of two young men who fall hopelessly in love, but as James sinks deeper into their tale, his growing obsession takes on a sinister dimension.
Someone is following him, a tall ominous stranger who seems to be connected to the manuscripts somehow. No matter where James goes, the stranger is never far behind, haunting his every waking moment until James starts to doubt his own sanity.
As illness once again ravages his body, Jack decides to take James away to Scotland so they can spend some quiet time together. It is there where the mystery really intensifies, and James finds himself plunged into a living nightmare where nothing is as it seems.
You know what they say when it comes to relationships. Love is what you make it..
Review: I have read a lot of books in my life and I have to say this is one of the best books I’ve read in it’s genre in a long time. It is difficult for me to write this review as I do not want to give anything away. There are so many things that happened throughout this story that had me on the edge of my seat in suspense.
I loved reading about Victor and Henry, though their story was heartbreaking and shocking in it’s intensity. The author did an excellent job of blending James and Jack’s story with Victor’s and Henry’s to the point that I honestly did not figure out what was going on until it was almost at the end.
James I really felt for as he suffered greatly as well as Henry. My heart broke for what they had both endured. I am still reeling from the ending as it was masterfully written and I so loved everything about the book.
I highly recommend this story to all. It has deceit, betrayal, love, romance and a plot that rivals a Stephen King novel.
Blurb: You can’t plan when you’ll fall in love—sometimes it just kinda sneaks up on you.
Todd Foxx was only looking to unwind from the stress of running The Sausage Shack when he went out for an evening of fun at The Big O. After he ended the evening by hooking up with a hot new alpha in town, he certainly never thought he’d see him again.
Hugo Keller left his high-profile job as a certified cicerone back east and moved across country to take a brewmaster job in Hollydale’s unique beer garden and sausage restaurant. A single dad, his only plans involved giving his young son a place to put down roots and focusing on his new job—even if it was a major step down from where he began. He certainly never expected to see his smoking hot one night stand again.
Can two men—and one precocious little boy—find a way to make a family? As Hugo and Todd slowly journey from lovers to coworkers to friends and back to lovers, they’ll need to deal with an ex-wife with boundary issues, a surprise pregnancy, and mysterious “mill girls” who like to giggle in the night.
Review:Each book in The Hollydale Omega collection features a new romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
There is a rule that should be followed, never mess around with someone you work with. That was one of Todd’s little rules, to bad he forgot it in one night. To be fair he had no clue Hugo was his newest employee, but it was a fun night. A night that left them with a little gift.
Hugo had been married once before and it left him with a cute little four year old that asked many, and I do mean many questions. One night with a sexy omega and damn his eyes if he doesn’t walk into work and see him. To his shock and surprise, it is his new boss. Things are going to get real interesting. That is if his nutty ex-wife could keep her word and the three little girls who keep showing up did not drive him crazy first. Wait till you find out who those girls are, or should I say what they are.
When I first started reading this series I had decided four books later to drop her off my reading list. There had been so much spelling and grammar wrong with them that left me not wanting to waste my time on them. Even though there is a lot of humor mixed in with just a bit of paranormal weirdness to keep me entertained. I had decided on this story to just give it one more chance and I was very surprised with it. Which now makes me want to read the four I did not read.
The puns were quite a blast to read even if the freaky ghost were a little out there. It does make a good Halloween type story though. I liked the characters and Tom is always a pleasure to have in a story. Now I am still not a fan of the paranormal aspect of a story that doesn’t actually have the men doing anything other than giving birth. They don’t shift or anything like that and it is a downside for me. Also the alpha and omega titles with human guys doesn’t really do for it either. That was actually my only issues with this story and I hate to say would continue to do so.
Other than that it was a pleasant surprise and I was glad to have taken the time to read it. I like the uniqueness to it, as I only know one other author who writes similar stories. I am sorry to say that it won’t be a type of story that will be read more than, oh a half a dozen times (laugh). I had a blast reading it and look forward to the next book.
Blurb: An ancient evil stalks the earth, seeking to finish what it started…
Matt Callaghan is pretty sure he’s just an average guy. His tragic past haunts him, and the only comfort he finds is something he’s not willing to explain to anyone else. The jasper stone he found as a child had been with him for over half his life, and he can’t be parted from it.
There’s more to the stone than Matt knows. Thousands of years ago, one man, the last of his people, was cast into the stone, his soul protected when his body could not be saved.
The evil that hunted him is still alive, still waiting for a chance to destroy the jasper stone.
Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of violence and physical assault.
Review: I really enjoyed this story about Andilun and Matt. How they were brought together by a stone was intriguing. Who Andilun is blew my mind. The gods, goddesses and the triad were fascinating in the roles they all played. The evil one and who he was seemed fitting and he delivered on everything he did.
Good versus evil and all that entails are all throughout this amazing story. Andilun’s backstory broke my heart at what was done to his people. Matt was determined and hopeful as the story progressed. Such an emotional, suspenseful, and dramatic read that grabbed my attention from start to finish.
Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc. (March 25, 2019)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts
Blurb: Desperate for work, Owen travels to Honey Haven, an isolated hotel deep in the mountains. He’s excited to start his new job, and even more thrilled that he gets to live there for free. But his enthusiasm is short-lived. When he steps into the stuffy old hotel, Owen soon finds out that the gorgeous owners aren’t the friendly type. To make matters worse, he’s told that the hotel is haunted.
Caleb knows time is running out. The hotel is hemorrhaging money, and if he and his brothers can’t figure out who is sabotaging Honey Haven, the doors will close for good. With enough problems on his hands, Owen walks through the front doors, and Caleb is taken aback by his good looks and sweet nature. He’s attracted to Owen, but Caleb doesn’t mix business with pleasure and keeps Owen at arm’s length. Until one passionate kiss, Owen in danger and a saboteur on the loose forces Caleb to admit what Owen has come to mean to him.
Review:Each book in the Honey Haven collection features a new romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
Bears and honey are a mix made in heaven. Owen has not had the best of luck when it comes to jobs so after his disaster at the diner, well he called the number his old boss gave him. He didn’t really know much about cleaning a hotel room but damn if he wasn’t going to give it the old college try. New job with free rent what more could a guy ask for. Well the sexy man at the front desk. Haunted hotel, grumpy owners, crazy workers and it was going to be one interesting place to work.
Caleb is at the end of his rope. The hotel was going downhill, someone was screwing around with the property, and he wanted the sexy new housekeeper. All he has to do is to figure it all out. What is a bear shifter to do.
I saw a few issues with the story that drove me nutty. One of them was the fact that they were bear shifters but the only time you see it is after our sexy character started to run from Caleb. Other than that the story pretty much rocked. The characters were a hoot to read about and Gus was the winner in this series. I loved the EMF that Gus bought to search for ghosts. That kept me laughing. In fact that this series has a serious tone to it but it has an amazing amount of humor in it. That is one of the reasons this author is such a hit with me. I love reading a book that is going to have me in stitches.
This story was a blast to read and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book. I can guarantee that it will be one of those stories that will be read many times over.
Before Kallen, there was Tarragon. Oryon history sees him as the first and greatest of all technomage kings. What history has forgotten, however, is that he was also the very first to partner with a symbiont.
Tarragon altered the face of Oryon’s history when he fully embraced magic and emerged as the first ever technomage king.
At the age of eighteen, Tarragon became clan king by default. Seven years later, with the help of the scorned magicians, Tarragon defeated the Zaruthra and Caprici clans. Not only had he been almost unbeatable on the field of battle, but his political leadership and emerging talent as a mage were evidenced by the fact that his empire would live on for a long time, even after his death, through his children because of the infrastructure and policies he put in place. He took advantage of a more advanced technology but also showed brutality in the execution of his opposition’s leaders. Surrounded by deadly rivals that were intent on eradicating his family, as the last surviving heir, Tarragon, needed to learn how to control his magic and how to fight. Survival was not easy, and if it meant getting involved in a dangerous secret, so be it.
Review: Tarragon is a young man in the middle of a war that took his family in brutal ways. He’s determined not to end the same as his family did against his enemies. Along the way he discovers who and what he is.
I loved this story. It was intriguing reading about Tarragon and all that transpired to make him what he became. There are are many twists and turns as well as revelations that lend a greater understanding as the book progressed.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (18th November 2016)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 3 Hearts
Reviewer: Prime
Blurb: Bobby McGrath’s Christmas trip to the beautiful Italian island of Capri to meet his eccentric extended family offers stunning views – none more stunning than his third cousin, Paolo Mascobello, a real stocking stuffer. As the two young men embark on a relationship, Bobby, a driven law student, learns to relax and bask under the Italian moon, and Paolo realizes there’s more to life than a frolic on the beach. For the two to find everlasting amore, Paulo must overcome his fear of commitment and learn to follow his dreams, and Bobby must get his wish for happily ever after.
Review: A Home for the Holidays is a short story by Joe Cosentino. While I love Joel Leslie and despite what I think of the book itself, I can’t really fault his narration. Meanwhile, Joe Cosentino is a new author for me. The audio is under two hours, so if you got a commute and want a story that you don’t really need to pay attention, this will probably work for you. For me, I started thinking about it too much and got annoyed. It wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t started thinking too hard on the story.
The story is about Bobby McGrath, who is sent over to Italy for his Christmas present to spend the holidays with his mother’s Italian family. That’s where he meets his third cousin and immediately falls into lust. Paolo Mascobello, the hot Italian third cousin, shows interest but he is purposely holding himself back (but not because they are related). Paolo lives with the expectations of his well-off family and so his dreams are stifled until Bobby convinces him that perhaps it’s okay to dream.
I think some people would be bothered by the whole third cousin thing, but since the guys never met before this holiday, it doesn’t bother me so much. For me I was mostly put off by the bad Italian stereotypes, being that I got my crazy Italian family on my mother’s side I found some of it cringeworthy. The only other thing that annoyed me was how much Paolo brooded without communicating – it got on my nerves. However, one thing that the story has going for it is that the story is fast paced and I liked how Bobby carried himself and developed through the story. Being so short there isn’t a lot of room to move, so I think all good stuff was given to Bobby and that made him a sweet and relatable character.
Hi guys! We have R.R. Campbell stopping by today with his new release Mourning Dove, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant $10 NineStar GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Mourning Dove
(EMPATHY 02)
by
R.R. Campbell
In the aftermath of the calamitous Human/Etech research study, Chandra and Kyra struggle to reclaim the life they shared in a pre-EMPATHY world, while Ty, armed with knowledge of EMPATHY’s programming language, seeks revenge on the Halmans for the harm that’s befallen his friends.
As a North American Union investigation into the happenings on the compound looms, a grief-stricken Peter works to resurrect the memory of his mother from a harvested nanochip, and Heather scrambles to keep her family—and their company—together. Alistair, having abandoned the family business, plots to save his hide and that of his wife while she strives to stay one step ahead of a husband she has no reason to trust.
Far to the north amid civil unrest, a recently retired Rénald Dupont investigates the disappearance of his friend and former colleague, Meredith, despite grave threats from an increasingly skittish North American Union government.
As old and new foes emerge, spouse is further pit against spouse, brother against sister, and governments against their people. In the end, all must choose between attempts to reclaim the past or surrender to the inevitable, an intractable world of their own creation.
Mourning Dove is an evocative, sweeping symphony of love, revenge, and desperation in cacophonous times. It is the second installment in r. r. campbell’s epic EMPATHY sci-fi saga.
Hi guys! We have Jana Denardo visiting today with her new release Modified and Sacred, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic $10 NineStar CG giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ❤ ~Pixie~
Modified and Sacred
by
Jana Denardo
Lieutenant Addison Hunt is proud to serve the Confederation even if he still feels like he’s on the outside looking in. Addison was illegally genetically modified as a child, leaving him burdened with a sense of shame. Emotionally isolated from his fellow crewmen and recovering from injuries from his last job, Addison is happy to have light duty transporting an esteemed diplomat to a peace conference.
Deveral is one of the Sacred Kin, possessing a psychic ability that his people consider a spark of the divine. Like all the Sacred Kin, he’s led a sheltered life as a temple priest, but his heightened empathic ability makes him the perfect diplomat. Nervous to leave his home, he’s curious about his new companion, Lieutenant Hunt.
Not everyone wants the diplomatic mission to succeed, and a rebel faction poses a real threat to Addison and Deveral. Finding themselves cast adrift on a “lost” colony, they’ll have to fight to stay alive.
Hi guys! We have Kelly Haworth popping in today with her new release Gotta Catch Her, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant $10 NineStar GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Gotta Catch Her
by
Kelly Haworth
Who says phone games are only for kids? Sometimes they give just the respite you need from a hectic life. At least, that’s the way Ann feels about Ani-min Move, an AR mobile game full of cartoon animals caught with nets. Legendary raids have just launched, and Ann arrives at a nearby park to find it full of people of all ages playing the game, including Rachael, a kind, attractive single mom. And sweet! Rachael is more than willing to teach Ann the proper way to spin her nets to snag the raid boss.
Back in reality, Ann has a lot on her plate: a full workload as a project manager, finding the energy to walk her dog, Franny, and now trying to figure out if Rachael is queer. And how does Ann converse with Rachael about her six-year-old son when she doesn’t know a thing about parenting?
Ann is lost as to how to proceed until Rachael takes the guesswork out of the equation by proclaiming she’s bi—right when Ann gets a massive work assignment that consumes way too much of her time. Life/work balance was never Ann’s forte, but between caring for her sweetheart dog and figuring out how to navigate a relationship with a single parent, Ann’s determined to make it work, especially before Rachael gets cold feet and leaves Ann playing by herself.
So, collect those ultra-nets, Ann. Can you catch her?
Hi peeps! We have Grace Kilian Delaney popping in today with the tour for her new release Living On A Dare, we have a great guest post from Grace and a fantastic giveaway where you can win an ecopy of Living on a Dare & a $5 Amazon GC, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Living On A Dare
(Shore Thing 01)
by
Grace Kilian Delaney
Stuntman Draven O’Connor never turns down a dare—even if it means getting down on one knee to propose to his former college roommate and friend. The same man he’s been crushing on since the first day they met. The same man that has grown distant over the past year. And the same man who just agreed to be his fiancé.
Julien Bouchard is tired of living a lie. He spent the past year exploring his sexuality in secret, enduring countless dates with women to appease his mother, and dodging his best friend, Draven, who knows everything there is to know about him, except the one thing that could change their friendship. Ready to face his friend, he meets him at a bar and is greeted by an unexpected marriage proposal. The dare isn’t surprising; it’s the scorching hot kiss that sends Julien’s head and heart in a tailspin—and gives him an idea for the perfect plan.
But perfect plans are never go according to plan, and news of their fake engagement spreads to their families as fast as a wildfire, forcing them to confront their true feelings about each other and hope they don’t get burned.
While cutting through the Interstices—the post-creation gap between realms—Smith, half-demon tech specialist for Enchanted Occasions Event Planning, spies the person he yearns for daily but dreads seeing again: the ifrit, Hashim of the Windrider clan.
On their one literally smoldering night together, Smith, stupidly besotted, revealed his true name—a demon’s greatest vulnerability. When Hashim didn’t return the favor, then split the next morning with no word? Message received, loud and clear: Thanks but no, thanks.
Although Hashim had burned to return Smith’s trust, it was impossible. The wizard who conjured him holds his true name in secret, and unless Hashim discovers it, he’ll never be free.
When their attraction sparks once more, the two unite to search for Hashim’s hidden name—which would be a hell of a lot easier if they didn’t have to contend with a convention full of food-crazed vampires on the one day out of the century they can consume something other than blood.
But if they fail, Hashim will be doomed to eternal slavery, and their reignited love will collapse in the ashes.
Luckily Smith is the guy who gets shit done. And Hashim is never afraid to heat things up.
Review: Devouring Flame is the second book in EJ Russell’s Enchanted Occasions series, which is also apart of the Dreamspun Beyond line. This works as a standalone book, as there is only a passing mention of one of the MCs from the previous book, but no mention of anything that had happened in Nudging Fate (Enchanted Occasions book 1).
Smith is half-demon, half-human (something that echoes from the first book with Anders). He is an event planner for Enchanted Occasions and while slipping between realms in Vegas (because of course the Sin City is basically the Hellmouth) he encounters the one being that he had dreamed of his happily ever after with. Hashim is an ifrit and despite knowing that Smith is the other half of his soul, he can’t give himself to the man that he felt such a strong connection to because he is a slave for a master that keeps Hashim’s true name from him. The catch is for demons, to be able to mate and bind their lives together, they need to exchange true names. While Smith is heartbroken because he has done so for Hashim, he does not realise the trouble that Hashim is in, and the evil wizard that is holding so many paranormals in their own personal hell.
Somehow, these guys have to conquer evil, find Hashim’s real name and somehow also work one of the major events of the century, where vampires hold a convention on the one day that they can consume real food. It’s a melting pot of drama, but Hashim will do anything to have Smith’s trust back, and Smith will do anything to help the man who holds his heart.
This is a good book for those that like a story where two people overcome a misunderstanding to finally find love again, because at the heart of it, that is the main theme of this book. It was fun and I found myself quickly invested in the lives of Smith and Hashim. The other workers of Enchanted Occasions are also quirky and I am hoping that we get to see some of those guys have their own HEA. I would also love to know more of the story of the cute minotaur Rion.
The gilded cage of propriety where Nathan grew up as a member of the Deilian aristocracy became a true prison when, at fifteen, his homosexuality came to light and created a terrible scandal. His parents see only one way to preserve their reputation amongst the other noble families: fit Nathan with a chastity belt to increase his value to a potential partner and marry him off as soon as possible.
The recipient of that prize is Lord Rother Marsh Delaga III. After a hasty wedding, Rother whisks Nathan away to the strange and seductive land of Marisol, where Nathan will begin a new life, free to explore the pleasures of the marriage bed, though his life is still not his own.
But Rother’s Delaga House is a place of secrets, dangers, and depravity Nathan can scarcely comprehend. Where friends are few and peril waits around every corner, Nathan must employ all the manipulation he learned from high society, along with his talent for clockwork. Most of all, Nathan must adapt, compromise to survive, and cast off the preconceptions of his homeland.
Because only he can orchestrate his freedom, and it’ll come at a cost.
Review: Wow! This story blew me away with its twists and turns.
Innocence & Carnality starts out as expected for a historical setting story, a young stripling told point blank that he will be marrying a man of his father’s choice and he’d better like it or else. Then said young man comes over all aflutter when first meeting his husband to be, being swept off his feet by an older man who oozes carnal delights, and then rushed through marriage and dropped into a setting he is too innocent to understand. And that’s when things start to get juicy and veers off from a standard historical.
Nathan is the young man in question, after the first couple of days with his new husband he has high hopes but they are swiftly dashed, he gets a brutal awakening as to what his husband is really like and our young Nathan starts to plot.
Rother is the man who had to have Nathan after seeing just one picture, he’s a ruthless man who knows how to get what he wants and he never allows anyone to get the best of him.
When I first started reading this I expected it to follow the normal historical formula, young innocent breaking through to the ruthless lords’ heart and softening his outlook, well I was swiftly disabused of that notion as it is Nathan who comes into his own and changes vastly from the innocent young man we first meet.
All the characters in this story stand out in their own ways, each one vibrant with their personalities, and whether you like them or not each one leaves a mark in your mind. There are some characters you end up adoring who you weren’t sure of in the beginning, others earn your scorn and hate even though at first they appealed to you.
The rich settings have you plunging into the story, with a few well-placed words you’re in an office, a bedroom, a hallway, a salon, walking down a busy street or a quiet shop. We are treated to an amazing story that surprises at turns and shocks with its twists, it has vices and violence that has your eyes widening and yes there are some scenes of brutality.
One thing I want to say is don’t be put off if you hear about the cheating, I’m one for turning my nose up at cheating in a story and I take a very dim view of it but with this story it is essential and makes the story what it is.
I’m not gonna delve further into the story as it really does need to be discovered by yourself, but I will say it’s thoroughly enjoyable that I had a very hard time putting down.
This story isn’t about hearts and flowers, it’s not about first loves and breaking through someones toughened shell, it’s about surviving a situation that looks bleak, it’s about playing the game until you can turn the tables, and it’s about striving to make your own life on your terms.
J. Alan Veerkamp has written a story that drags you along on a journey that you just don’t know where it’s going or how it’s going to end, and you’ll love every minute of it.
Genre: Angels and Demons, Urban Fantasy, Werewolves, Shapeshifters
Length: Novel (241pgs)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (February 12, 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 1/2 Hearts
Blurb:For over a century, Edward Youngblood has been the logical one in a family of temperamental magical beings. But reason has not made him immune to passion, and Edward’s passion for Mullins, the family’s demon instructor, has only grown.
Mullins was lured into hell through desperation—and a fatal mistake. He’s done his best to hang onto his soul in the twisted realm of the underworld, and serving the Youngblood family when summoned has been his only joy. Edward concocts a plan to spring Mullins by collecting a series of items to perform an ancient ritual—an idea that terrifies Mullins. He can’t bear the thought of losing Edward and his brothers to a dangerous quest.
But every item in their collection is an adventure in brotherhood and magic, and as Mullins watches from the sidelines, he becomes more and more hopeful that they will succeed. When the time comes for Mullins to join the mission, can he find enough faith and hope to redeem himself and allow himself happiness in the arms of a man who would literally go to hell and back—and beyond—to have Mullins by his side?
Review: I loved this story about Mullins and Edward. The hunt for the items needed to set Mullins free was an adventure for me. I was rooting for Edward and Mullins even though Mullins had his doubts.
The different characters throughout added a colorful addition to the story as it progressed. Thoughts and feelings from the men gave the reader a deeper understanding of who they are. Overall this was a good addition to the series as we are taken further in by the series with new MC’s at the forefront.
Looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
Claw—fearless leader of Seattle’s Team 32—has faced many dangers during more than a century and a half as a dreamcatcher. Yet nothing has ever scared him more than his obsession with Nathan Gallagher. Tormented by visions and dreams about the man ever since he first laid eyes on him, Claw now has to deal with living under the same roof with the object of his most ardent desires. And Nathan is so much more than a simple crush.
Brother of the caster who’s been plaguing Team 32’s area and less-than-willing houseguest of the team after a strange break-in attempt, Nathan may hold the key to finally apprehending his sister and putting a stop to the havoc she’s wreaking on Queen Anne…. Meanwhile, Nathan’s wreaking some havoc of his own on Claw’s heart.
Review: Lover Behind Enemy Lines is the third book in Liv Olteano’s Dreamcatchers series and is part of the house line Dreamspun Desires. My only experience in reading anything by the author is this series, but so far I like what I’ve read in terms of character development, romance, action and writing style.
The story focuses on the last single member of Seattle’s Team 32 of Dreamcatchers, who battle against the life draining spaga to keep the general populous safe. I highly recommend reading this series in order because there is an overarching storyline that is the entire basis for the backstory of the two MCs. Yet in saying that this book is definitely my favourite in the series, followed by book 1. I’m not sure if I just connected with the characters better, found their backstory a lot more intriguing or if it was just the result of two books of build up and I wanted to see the tough leader Claw get a HEA. Most likely it was a combination of all.
Aside from Claw, the other MC of this book is Nathan Gallagher. He pops up in book 2, where he is captured breaking into Team 32’s sanctuary and it was quickly realised that he is the brother to the team’s greatest enemy, a ley line witch with power to drain life from anyone, and she has been doing so at an alarming rate. Her evil needs to stop and the team need answers from Nathan.
However, Claw finds his feelings in turmoil, because something so primitive forms a connection between the two men. Claw is close to two hundred years old, he has seen a lot in his long life and he has loved in the past, as a very young man. Now Nathan is challenging his personal feelings while Nathan’s family are behind a situation that could kill many, including the team.
There is a lot of mistrust (understandably) but they work to form the trust so that the Team can stop the evil witch, which unfortunately for Nathan means that he finds out some horrifying truths about his family. Nathan has a really fascinating storyline, both his connection to Claw and his powers are really interesting and he is discovering a lot about himself while growing closer to Claw. The two have a wonderful chemistry, but there is enough mistrust and urgency in the current situation to be able to keep the instalove at bay.
This is a great end to the Dreamcatchers series and I really enjoyed every minute of it. If you’ve read previous books in the series, I don’t think you’d be disappointed, as per my opinion above. If you’re into the demon chasing, witch or spiritual side of paranormal romances this is good book (series) to get into.
Blurb:His attraction to men means Kalean is the black sheep of his wealthy and powerful family—but it won’t get him out of attending his brother’s pretentious wedding ceremony. Kalean doesn’t want to go, but if his parents insist, he has a stipulation: he’ll be there with a man on his arm.
On the pleasure planet, Wish, Kalean goes to a brothel to meet some potential escorts. But the man who captures his attention isn’t one of those on offer….
Descani is as surprised as anyone at Kalean’s attraction to him—and at his own interest in the young man. He’s even more perplexed as a bond begins forming between them.
But a murder rips apart Kalean’s family and redefines his role. He’ll be isolated on his cold and barren home world, far from the warm and colorful planet of Wish—and the arms of the man who’s coming to mean so much to him—unless he can find a way to escape the forces separating them.
Review: Even though his family is well to do Kalean has no say in his life what so ever. He is demanded to attend his brother wedding so he also demands he be allowed to bring a male partner. Here is where the pleasure brothel comes in at as Kalean goes there to find someone to take with him. He meets Descani and knows he’s the one.
The two have different lives and with family trying to interfere it causes chaos. But the two are determined to be with one another. This is not a monogamous relationship as Descani continues to work and enjoy it. Kalean for his part accepts Descani’s decision to remain working.
There are twists and turns that make for an added element to the story.
Blurb: Sometimes you have to get dirty to come clean.
When muscle-bound Denver Rogers effortlessly dispatches the frat boys harassing grad student Adam Ellery at the Tucker Springs laundromat, Adam’s thank-you turns into impromptu sex over the laundry table. The problem comes when they exchange numbers. What if Adam wants to meet again and discovers Denver is a high-school dropout with a learning disability who works as a bouncer at a local gay bar? Or what if Denver calls Adam only to learn while he might be brilliant in the lab, outside of it he has crippling social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Either way, neither of them can shake the memory of their laundromat encounter. Despite their fears of what the other might think, they can only remember how good the other one feels. The more they get together, the kinkier things become. They’re both a little bent, but in just the right ways.
Maybe the secret to staying together isn’t to keep things clean and proper. Maybe it’s best to keep their laundry just a little bit dirty.
Review:This is the 2nd edition and while it has been tweaked and brushed up there’s no change to the story.
Adam is being harassed by frat boys when he does his laundry. Lucky for him, sexy cowboy, Denver, comes to his rescue and Adam ends up bent over the Laundromat table having the time of his life, after he thanks his savior. Denver can’t get Adam out of his head, even seeing all the other hot geeky twinks at work doesn’t stop him wanting Adam. Adam seemed to want the same kind of play as Denver enjoys, but Denver has to wait for Adam to make the first move.
This is a wonderful story of working past your limitations and embracing your quirks. Adam suffers from OCD, he has a lot of quirks that go with it and he has to work hard to keep his panic attacks at bay. When Adam first meets Denver he tries to hide his problems, believing that if Denver found out about his mental health, then he would want nothing to do with him. Denver has his own problem which holds him back, he works as a bouncer because the job he really wants means going back to school and he just can’t deal with books. dating Adam makes him want to try though and both men have to face their problems.
Denver and Adam are a couple that you wouldn’t think would work, but both their personalities are perfectly synced. they draw out the best in each other and are very encouraging when it comes to their individual problems. The one thing you could never doubt is how hot they are together, and we get the pleasure of seeing how hot they are together with their kinks, and although there are elements of BDSM, we really only see the kink side, with Adam reminiscing about the more mainstream BDSM.
I will admit that when I first started the book and for the first couple of chapters I thought it was going to be the typical BDSM Dom/sub story, but we get so much more than that. We get their everyday fears and the mental health problems they face, but we also see how their kinks work with the OCD. Adam and his OCD are written incredible well, with his fears being dealt with instead of being glossed over. Denver’s learning disability was covered and handled quite well, and his reaction to the knowledge was perfectly described. Both these characters’ worm their way into your affections because they are both so incredibly sweet with each other, they try to protect each other in their own way and they both dread the other finding out the truth about them.
I will recommend this to those who love geeks and cowboys, dealing with mental health problems head on, some hot kink and BDSM elements, gaining control of your life and finding your own flawed true love.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (12 April 2019, 2nd edition)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Prime
Blurb: On his way home from vacation, Scott Gregory, a closeted sub, hooks up with the gorgeous Red, a flamboyant Dom, for a thrilling one-off at a BDSM bar. They part ways after a satisfying scene… but meet again when Robin Kennedy—Red—arrives at his new job as a dental hygienist and discovers one of his two bosses is Scott.
Robin and Scott embark on a journey of exploration into their kinkier sides and discover they’re more than compatible—they’re a perfect match. But keeping employer/employee and Dom/sub separate at the office presents difficulties, and to make matters even more complicated, the owner of the dental practice is an acknowledged homophobe.
They fall in love, but Robin chafes at all the secrecy, refusing to live in the shadows. Scott isn’t as brave; he’s desperate to protect his job and his future. Will they be able to find some middle ground… or will their entire relationship fall apart because of fear?
Review: Impacted! is the first book in Mickie B Ashling’s Bay Area Professionals series. I’m aware of the author, however, I can’t say I ever remembering reading Ashling’s work, so I went into this book blind about anything except the blurb. Being that there is already four books in the series I can see that this could become quite the saga, but I will park those thoughts for now until I get to the rest of the books.
The only thing that I was concerned about was that this is a BDSM novel, I find BDSM a little hit and miss. I’m not sure why, I suppose the easiest explanation is the some authors can write the emotions of the D/s couple really well, while others just write what feels like a soft porn. The latter is certainly not the case with this story. There is a lot of depth to the stories and the characters, even some of the minor characters have their little side stories going on at the same time. It very much reminds me of a soap opera in that respect. The BDSM side of things, while important and an essential part of the relationships in the book, is not the primary focus of the book.
The story is about Scott Gregory, he’s a closeted sub working for a homophobic jerk while at the same time being one of the best dental surgeons around. On vacation, he had an amazing night with a Dom called Red, who understood Scott’s needs as a submissive, but it was only a one night stand. However, everything changes when Scott is back at work and the new dental hygienist ends up being Red, real name Robin Kennedy.
I don’t want to go more into this because while the characters are complicated, much more on blurb and we’d be in major spoiler territory. Scott and Robin are an excellent couple, they have chemistry, baggage and will to make it as a couple, which makes for a compelling story. I found the side story where Scott’s best friend explores her kinks with the support of Scott and Red interesting too, despite the fact I’m not into reading women in sex scenes. So fair warning if you’re like me, but at the same time it is not a lot and everything is done tastefully.
I recommend this one for people looking for a bit of saga and are into BDSM romances.