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Only Love by Garrett Leigh: Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

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The diagnosis of a chronic stomach condition leaves thirty-two-year-old Sergeant Jed Cooper with little choice but to call time on his Army career. Then on the dusty streets of Kirkuk, an ambush gone tragically wrong decimates his team, and he returns to the US with a shattered leg and the memory of his best friend dying in his arms.

Life in his sleepy hometown proves intolerable until he finds solace in a lakeside cabin with vivacious young carpenter, Max O’Dair. In the shadow of the epilepsy that periodically plagues Max, he and Jed form an unspoken bond. After a late night episode, Jed realizes how much Max means to him, and life has taught him not to waste time.

But the lines between contentment and complacency are blurred. Things left hidden resurface to tear through their world, and before they can repair the damage, death comes to call again. Faces, past and present, rally around them to weather the storm, but before long, they are left with only love.

Length: 355 pages

Cover Design: Book Cover By Design

Amazon US

Amazon UK

 

This book was a bit of a heart breaker. Mostly because Jed is just so broken. Physically and mentally. But if you know me, you know I love a good tear jerker!

After losing several of his “brothers” while on a mission, and taking a bullet to the leg, it is time for Jed to say goodbye to military life. When he is hurt, his brother asks him to come home to Seattle and stay with his family. Well that turned out to be a fairly epic mistake. So Jed’s sister in law mentions that her brother rents a quiet house on the lake and has an extra bedroom. Off Jed goes to live with a stranger- which is a better alternative than his alcoholic brother.

Max and his service dog are used to being alone. Max has epilepsy, but having his dog trained to alert him has given him the independence he craved. So while he isn’t used to having anyone in his space, he can’t say no to Jed.

There were a few things in the book that were a little eye rolling. Setting up the 2 gay brothers. Gay military guy in love with his straight best friend. Thrown out by his father at 18 for being gay. A few others that I don’t want to give away as spoilers. But there was also a nice slow burn love story. Of two men who really didn’t know how to have a relationship with each other and were stumbling through. Of both men having medical issues that have to be dealt with.   Those things trumped the eye rolling things.

My heart broke for Jed so much. PTSD, recovering from a fairly catastrophic gun shot wound to his leg AND gastroparesis. Not to mention his messed up family. Or his friends that were more like family than his was. And Max who just wanted to help Jed. And love him.

Max has his own secrets, but they were kind of anticlimatic to me. But they did add that necessary turmoil.

There were lots of tears in the last 1/4 of the book. Which is not a problem for me- but fair warning. You will most definitely need tissues. The epilogue was…kinda of a mess. I didn’t understand several things. But *shrugs*.

Overall, it was different, but parts were very formulaic. I’d still recommend because it was a good story.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

 

Dec 11 – The Way She Reads, Reading In Sarah’s Corner, MM Midnight Cafe, Xtreme Delusions, Diverse Reader, Sexy Erotic Xciting, Dilyana’s World, Kimmers Erotic Book Banter, Two Chicks Obsessed, Jessie G Books, Sizzling Romance, Dec 13 – Mikku-chan, Drops of Ink, Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Lelyana’s Reviews, Wicked Reads, Dec 15 – Gay Media Reviews, Book Corner Reviews, Mainely Stories, Mirrigold, Love Unchained, Dec 17 – The Secret Of Ko, Making It Happen, The Geekery Book Review, Dec 19 – Bonkers About Books, Dec 21 – MM Good Book Reviews, Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, Bayou Book Junkie, Lillian Francis, Book Review Virginia Lee

 

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, 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: http://www.garrettleigh.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh

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A Soldier’s Wish (The Christmas Angel Series) by N.R. Walker: Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

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The year is 1969…

Gary Fairchild is proud to be a hippie college student, and he protests the Vietnam War because he believes in love and peace. To him, it isn’t just a counterculture movement—it’s a way of life. When tickets to the Aquarium Exposition—3 Days of Peace & Music, or Woodstock, as it was better known, go on sale, there’s no way he isn’t going.

Richard Ronsman is a sheltered farm boy who lives in the shadow of his overbearing father. He’s hidden his darkest secret to earn his father’s love, but nothing is ever good enough—not even volunteering for the Vietnam War. And with just a few days left before he’s deployed, he’s invited by a striking hippie to join him at a music festival.

Three days of music, drugs, rain, mud, and love forged a bond between these two very different men that would shape the rest of their lives. They share dreams and fears, and when Richard is shipped off to war, they share letters and love. For Richard’s first Christmas home, he is gifted a special angel ornament that just might make a soldier’s wish come true.

This story is one of seven stories which can all be read and enjoyed in any order.

The Christmas Angel Series

In 1750, a master woodcarver poured all his unrequited love, passion, and longing into his masterpiece—a gorgeous Christmas angel for his beloved’s tree. When the man he loved tossed the angel away without a second thought, a miracle happened. The angel was found by another who brought the woodcarver True Love.

Since then, the angel has been passed down, sold, lost and found, but its magic remains. Read the romances inspired by (and perhaps nudged along by) the Christmas angel through the years. Whether it’s 1700s England (Eli Easton’s Christmas Angel), the 1880’s New York (Kim Fielding’s Summerfield’s Angel), the turn-of-the-century (Jordan L. Hawk’s Magician’s Angel), World War II (L.A. Witt’s Christmas Homecoming), Vietnam-era (N.R. Walker’s Soldier’s Wish), the 1990’s (Anyta Sunday’s Shrewd Angel), or 2018 (RJ Scott’s Christmas Prince), the Christmas angel has a way of landing on the trees of lonely men who need its blessing for a very Merry Christmas and forever HEA.

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Christmas Angel – Eli Easton – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Summerfield’s Angel – Kim Fielding –  Amazon US | Amazon UK

The Magician’s Angel – Jordan L. Hawk – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Christmas Homecoming – L.A. Witt – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Shrewd Angel – Anyta Sunday – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Christmas Prince – RJ Scott- Amazon US | Amazon UK

Gary and his friends are on a break from school and on their way to Woodstock, cuz… heck yeah, they are!
Classified as a “hippie” and don’t judge me because I was born in the ’80s, but neither Gary or his friends really felt like the classic “good-for-nothing, earth-hugging, vegan-types-of-the-new-millennium we have these days lol He was amazing. The wisdom he had, and his compassion and patience. You can’t help but fall in love with him immediately.

Anyway, on the road an entire hour, Gary and his friends decide to stop at a little diner on the way. That’s where Gary sees a sad looking solider, sitting alone at a table looking like he might cry. Now, maybe it’s the day I’m having or maybe it’s the other’s I’ve read in this awesome, Christmas-time series, or maybe it’s a tiny reminder of what seems like everyone has forgotten….Vietnam. Either way… I was crying from the beginning. Happy Monday!

Richard has just visited his family before being shipped out, and having enlisted for the wrong reasons and being confused about who he was, and why… I was so glad that he found Gary. Like I mentioned, Gary was so compassionate and so full of wisdom. He helped Richard acknowledge who he was when he offered him the lifeline of 3 days at Woodstock.

I adored their time together, dancing, singing, experimenting… and just being. It hurt so bad when those days were up and Richard had to go. No stranger to ugly crying, I didn’t even try to hold it back. Deciding to write to each other while Richard was away, it broke my heart to see him go.

Those letters though… those letters were everything. Getting to know each other and keeping each other sane in a time when everyone overseas needed a little bit of sanity. They fell in love through those letters and made plans for their future, and I believe it was probably the only thing that kept Richard going. And that Gary was going on with his life, making plans for them to be together when Richard finally returned. It was sweet and hopeful, and I was dying for them to finally get their happily ever after.

Unfortunately, there were so many obstacles in their way. War and destruction, of course, but also it’s hard to imagine, in today’s world, but it wasn’t long ago, and it still is in so many places, illegal for two people of the same sex to be together. Doesn’t that just seem insane? Like, literally, inconceivable. Who’s business is that? How would you prove it, if you suspected it? People were really arrested for it? What a sick and sad time to be a minority. It’s getting better all the time, but I look forward to a day when there is no distinction at all. No gay marriage, just marriage. No, same-sex relationships, just relationships. Here’s to hoping!

But, together, again with Gary being so amazing, patient, persistent and reassuring, they got through it all together. I know I said it last book, but this one might just be my favorite. Not only because I love this author, but because once I started it, I couldn’t even go to the bathroom, I didn’t want to put it down.

I loved all of it. Gary’s best friend Kat and his amazingly accepting and wonderful parents…. So sweet. And the quotes. I highlighted more in this short story than I ever have, any book, ever. It was all so profound. Just… if you haven’t, you really should read this one, and of course, we get the Christmas Angel. I can’t wait to see who she blesses next.

What a great Christmas read. Loved it!

5 pieces of eye candy

Dec 2 – Boulevard des Passions, Gay Book Reviews, Dec 4 – Lelyana’s Reviews, Dec 6 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Megan’s Media Melange, Dec 8 – Xtreme Delusions, My Fiction Nook, Dec 10 – Mirrigold, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Sexy Erotic Xciting, Open Skye, The Secret Of Ko, Rainbow Book Reviews, Dec 12 – Bookaholic & Kindle, Dec 14 – Making It Happen, MM Good Book Reviews, Dec 17 – Momma Says: To Read Or Not To Read, Lillian Francis, Wicked Reads, Two Chicks Obsessed, Dec 19 – Drops Of Ink, Kimmers Erotic Book Banter, Bayou Book Junkie, Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, Dec 21 – Bonkers About Books, Book Corner Reviews

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things…but likes it even more when they fall in love. She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Website

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Rend: A Novel (Riven Series book 2) by Roan Parrish: New Release Review

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After a whirlwind romance, a man with a painful past learns to trust the musician who makes him believe in happy endings.

Matt Argento knows what it feels like to be alone. After a childhood of abandonment, he never imagined someone might love him—much less someone like Rhys Nyland, who has the voice of an angel, the looks of a god, and the worship of his fans.

Matt and Rhys come from different worlds, but when they meet, their chemistry is incendiary. Their romance is unexpected, intense, and forever—at least, that’s what their vows promise. Suddenly, Matt finds himself living a life he never thought possible: safe and secure in the arms of a man who feels like home. But when Rhys leaves to go on tour for his new album, Matt finds himself haunted by the ghosts of his past.

When Rhys returns, he finds Matt twisted by doubt. But Rhys loves Matt fiercely, and he’ll go to hell and back to triumph over Matt’s fears. After secrets are revealed and desires are confessed, Rhys and Matt must learn to trust each other if they’re going to make it. That means they have to fall in love all over again—and this time, it really will be forever.

Amazon

Wow, this book was different. Riven was book 1 and I loved it. So when I found out that Matt and Rhys would be the subject of book 2, I was a bit confused. Because weren’t they already together?

Because this book went back to the beginning of Matt and Rhys- before Theo and Caleb even met in Riven.

Matt and Rhys have a whirlwind romance that ends in marriage fairly quickly. What we normally get in an entire book we get in 1 chapter. Because the rest of the book deals with Matt and Rhys adjusting to married life and what it means to each of them.

Rhys has to go out on a 2 month tour to promote his new album. But Matt has literally never lived alone. He went from his mother and aunt, to his aunt, to the foster system, to various roommates who shared the rent. And now he is totally alone. That will mess with a guy.

Matt broke my heart. This guy needed love so badly. But when he truly got it, he thought it would disappear. Watching him spiral down and not asking for help or telling anyone how bad he was.

And while Rhys was unaware, I think he also had his head in the sand a bit. He didn’t want to think anything could be wrong, because he didn’t want to lose what he had.

I really enjoyed this different take on a love story. Instead of ending with a marriage, this book starts with it. Because isn’t that where life really changes?

As always, Ms. Parrish write beautiful prose. I could feel Matt’s despair. To me, Rhys wasn’t as fleshed out as a character, but I think that the author just writes broken men better.

If you are looking for something different, but really well written, pick up Rend. I highly recommend Riven as well.

4 Pieces of Candy

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The New World by J.P. Bowie: New Release Review

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Jamie finds his life and possible destiny irrevocably intertwined with Tanaka, a Choctaw warrior and shaman, but danger lies all around in a land troubled by unrest and war.

When Jamie finally reaches the Americas, he is a changed man—one whose innocence has been replaced by a keen sense of self-preservation and a determination to survive, no matter what. That determination is challenged when he is charged with piracy and must choose between a death sentence or life as an indentured slave.

Choosing to live, he suffers the humiliation of slavery until he is rescued by Tanaka, a Choctaw warrior-shaman. Jamie joins the Choctaws against the soldiers of King George, who are trying to force them off their land. It isn’t long before Jamie and Tanaka’s admiration for each other becomes a love that will shape their destinies.

General Release Date: 27th November 2018

ISBN: 978-1-78651-691-6 Imprint: Pride Publishing
Book Length: Short Novel

Genre:

EROTIC ROMANCE
GAY
HISTORICAL

Amazon

Pride Publishing

This is the second book in what looks like a 3 part series, but it’s pretty much a stand alone if you haven’t read book 1 (I didn’t). Jamie arrives in the new world as captain of his ship and almost immediately runs afoul of British troops in the woods of Georgia. He’s arrested and sold into indentured servitude to a cruel farmer. He’s rescued by Tanaka, a young native warrior who’s lost his home and family to the same British troops Jamie has made enemies of.

Jamie and Tanaka quickly trust each other and become close friends and more. They work together with the remaining native tribe to fight off the wave of troops that have come to claim the Choctaw land in the name of England.

This was a quick story to read, and outside of the conflict between the natives and the English, there wasn’t much in the way of angst between the main characters. There’s an odd element of the supernatural as we learn Jamie and Tanaka have dreamt of each other for some time before meeting. Each “knew” the other on sight. I feel like this story should have been one larger book, with more of the characters and action fleshed out. This was just okay for me.

3 pieces of eye candy

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From These Ashes (Haven Heart Book 4) by Davidson King: Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

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A product of his past, Black spends half his time saving lives and the other half taking them. Every day, a hard choice must be made and he’s the man to make it. Long ago, he vowed to never love again; one-night stands with a willing body was all he ever needed. But along came Quill, and Black’s life is irrevocably changed. He never expects something as simple as Quill’s persistence to alter the way he not only sees the world, but how he lives it.

Quill has bad taste in men and equally horrible luck. Growing up wasn’t easy, surviving is even harder. When his past and present collide, he’s convinced he’ll finally witness his own destruction. But when an unlikely antihero steps in to protect him, his life is turned on its head. He’s spent months flirting with the man of his dreams and hoping he’d take notice. But it turns out, being on Black’s radar isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and his idea of protection varies greatly from Quill’s.

Unknowingly sharing the same goal—burying their own pasts deeper than the fires of hell can reach—they’re both unaware that jumping into that fire will do more than ignite their feelings, it could lead to their own demise. Will Black and Quill be consumed by the flames, or from these ashes, will they find their own happily ever after?

FROM THESE ASHES

Haven Hart Series, Book 4

DAVIDSON KING

RELEASE DATE: 11.28.18

Cover Design: Covers by Designs by Morningstar

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Black

I parked my car as close to Joker’s Sin as I could. I took my leather jacket off the seat and quickly put it on, hit the alarm, and made my way toward the club. There was still a line after midnight. The place closed in two hours, why would people wait that long? Well, I wasn’t.

“Can I help you?” the large bouncer asked.

“No.” I barreled through him and made my way into the club. It was like dubstep nation in there and so much fucking leather.

“Hey.” I felt someone tap my shoulder. I whipped around and grabbed whomever it was by the neck. It was the bouncer from the door.

“Not today, Junior. You tell Atlas, Black is here. Now fuck off.” I pushed him away and made my way to the bar. I hadn’t been inside Joker’s Sin before, I only knew how it looked based on Mace and Bill’s description.

I liked the concept and would’ve taken more time to appreciate it if I wasn’t hell-bent on finding Quill.

“Can I help you, handsome?” I turned and looked down. A small guy with pink hair and barely-there black leather shorts had spoken.

“No. Where’s Quill?”

The small man slid his fingers down my arm. “Mmm. Quill didn’t tell me he had a God for a boyfriend. You’re better than most I see him with.” He jerked his head to the right. I followed the direction and there before me, was Quill.

He was dressed in red leather. I couldn’t see below the waist, but the vest he wore was tight against his pale skin. I knew he loved his bracelets, and he had them all on tonight. His arms were covered in red and silver glitter, making him stick out like a gorgeous disco ball. It looked like he had put all of his piercings back in, and I could see when the light shown on his face, he also had glitter on his cheeks.

“I’ll just leave you to it,” the small man said with a chuckle, and I took the few steps to where Quill stood mixing drinks.

He hadn’t noticed me yet, and I got a chance to see he had red eyes and black liner on his lids. He looked like pure sin. I was surprised when I felt my cock stiffen. Until now, I was never sexually interested in Quill. Okay, to be fair, I admired him. He was stunning, but there was a line cut somewhere between admiration and want.  Why was I feeling something now?

“Are you following me?” Quill’s voice snapped me back to attention.

“I thought you wanted me to follow you.”

Quill narrowed his eyes, but I saw how he swallowed as he took me in. He was a flirt by nature and no matter how peeved he was at me, he could never sustain that anger.

Oh yeah….King. We’ve been waiting for King to get a man. We had a feeling it would be Quill, right? But to see it played out is all the fun.

Quill is unashamed of his flirting with King. He figures he never has a chance anyway, so why not? Until Quill’s ex boyfriend puts him in the hospital and King goes all alpha on him. Hot.

And it was cute how King tried to deny his feelings for Quill. I mean, come on big guy. We all see it.

And of course they were ridiculously hot together. *fans self*

The story itself (not the romance part) was a little weak to start. It all culminated and made sense, but a little more to get me sucked in faster would have been good. I started thinking “is this really a jilted ex?”.

There were lots of other things going on in the periphery that makes me want more. Like those guys. And that one. And what about that guy? Hmmm???

The ending was a bit heavy handed but I can also see why it went down that way.

It was a mixed bag, but definitely more on the YES than the no for me.

And there’s a kitten.

4 Pieces of Candy

Davidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.

When she’s not writing you can find her blogging away on Diverse Reader, her review and promotional site. She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.

If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she’d tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you’re afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RZAUBi

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidsonKing11

Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/DiverseReader

Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/DavidsonKingAuthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidsonkingauthor/?hl=en

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DavidsonKingsCourt/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17286464.Davidson_King

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Living On Air by Susan MacNicol: Throwback Thursday Quick Review

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PIERCING THE NIGHT

Cary Stilwell has been existing since he was ten years old, and each year it gets harder to find meaning in his bleak life. The only exception – his work. As a top-billed aerialist in a popular travelling circus, he enjoys accolades and applause, but little else. When notable photographer, Rhys McIntyre, joins the circus to catalogue its inner workings, Cary fights the attraction that hits him from the moment they meet. But a kind soul wrapped in a beautiful body has a way of battering all the walls Cary has built around his cold, dark heart.

WITH LIGHT

Rhys McIntyre is on his third iteration of reinventing himself. Once a hotdog financier, he embraced his passion for photography and became an eminent war photo journalist. Until one too many bullets lodged in his body, and he gave up the front lines for the softer side of chronicling life. When he accepts the assignment to record life in a circus, the last thing he expects is to find the man crush of his dreams. Except Cary Stilwell is a cold, tortured man who seems incapable of any warm emotion, never mind love. But Rhys is known for his persistence, and this time the pay-off might be more than he could have ever imagined.

Amazon

The story had a good premise. Circus aerialist with a secret past (and present) and a photographer sent on a cushy assignment to document the circus for a coffee table book. Being that this photographer was a well respected war photographer, it seemed kind of odd but I was ok with it.

Trigger warning of self harm.

A lot of time was spent on Cary’s self harm. I mean, it was a huge part of who he was, but there were pages and pages and pages of it. How he kept it a secret from everyone else in the circus was a mystery to me. Of course he was super prickly and didn’t seem to like people, which kept them at arm’s length but still.

Rhys, the photographer, is immediately drawn to him. And even though Cary treats him like crap he keeps going back for more.

Much is said about the circus being a family, but Cary is so mean. To just about everyone. I don’t know why they all put up with it.

There are times when the dialogue is a bit to flippant for the scene. A serious, heartfelt scene comes to a screeching halt for me with silly dialogue.

It was good, not great. I didn’t feel the connection between Rhys and Cary until nearly the end of the book and needed more of an emotional connection with them. Cary was just too antagonistic.

3 Pieces of Candy

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