Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

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Author Guest Post

Murder Most Lovely by Hank Edwards and Deanna Wadsworth: Exclusive Guest Post & Excerpt Release Day Review and Giveaway

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I’m so excited today! I’ve been waiting for this post for a while. Hank Edwards and Deanna Wadsworth are here to give everyone a little taste of Murder Most Lovely, their new release with Dreamspinner Press. I’m a cat person…like seriously a cat person (I have 5) and so having Mr. Pickles Furryton the Third hosted on here was even more of a pleasure. He’s a sassy little (well, not little, he’s fat) cat who gets himself catnapped by some dangerous peeps. But all in all I couldn’t have enjoyed this stop more, so check out the excerpt, the giveaway, and my gushing review. 🙂

A killer at a small-town literary festival. Bumbling drug dealers. A kidnapped cat. Starting a romance among all this chaos might be the death of them.

Michael Fleishman is excited to meet his favorite mystery writer, Russell Withingham, at Lacetown’s Literary Fest. He is not expecting to cross paths with sexy hairdresser Jasper “Jazz” Dilworth—or become embroiled in a real-life mystery. As Lacetown’s only mortician and the county coroner, Michael is called to his first murder scene and is shocked to recognize the victim—Russell’s young lover.

Jazz only wanted to confront his ex, Russell, over his cheating. Instead, he meets the adorably awkward Michael and becomes a murder suspect. Soon Jazz is teaming up with Michael to clear his name. Along the way, they are helped and hindered by Michael’s sassy assistant, Kitty, the grumpy Sheriff Musgrave, Russell’s creepy PR rep, Norbert, and Michael’s lothario grandfather, who likes his manhattans strong and his women saucy. And of course, Mr. Pickles Furryton the Third….

Title: Murder Most Lovely
Series: Lacetown Murder Mysteries: Case One
Authors: Hank Edwards and Deanna Wadsworth
Release Date: April 30, 2019
Category: Mystery, Suspense
Pages: 239

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

iTunes

GooglePlay

Kobo

Nook

Bookbub

goodreads

Meet Mr. Pickles Furryton III

If you haven’t heard yet, Hank Edwards and Deanna Wadsworth wrote a book together. It’s a laugh out loud romantic mystery set in a fictional Lake Michigan town named Lacetown.

A killer at a small-town literary festival. Bumbling drug dealers. A kidnapped cat. Starting a romance among all this chaos might be the death of them.

The MCs are sharp witted and sarcastic Jasper “Jazz” Dilworth and the outwardly shy but dirty-minded mortician Michael Fleishman. But the real scene stealer of  Murder Most Lovely—Lacetown Mysteries Case One is Mr. Pickles Furryton III, Michael’s fat black-and-white kitty.

Michael carries Mr. Pickles back and forth between his house and the funeral home. Mr. Pickles has the run of the funeral home (not the basement, however, where the embalming takes place), and sometimes acts as a therapy cat for people who are grieving.

Mr. Pickles had a lot of personality, and he plays a large part in the story. At one point, the poor kitty is cat-napped and held for ransom, a twist that leaves Michael in deep anguish.

But don’t worry! No cats were harmed in the making of Murder Most Lovely!

Enjoy a special excerpt for TCO readers where Jazz meet’s Mr. Pickles for the first time when he picks Michael up for their first date. Michael is unfortunately still working on the autopsy of the gruesome murder victim discovered in Lacetown, so Jazz goes next door to the funeral parlor where Michael works to wait for him, hoping Michael hasn’t forgotten about their date.

EXCERPT:

“You can wait in this display room,” the buxom blonde told Jazz. She’d said her name was Kitty.

When Michael had texted seven was still a good time, Jazz hadn’t expected Michael to still be working next door at the funeral parlor. But he supposed the death business didn’t run on a schedule. He could understand that.

Being a hairdresser, Jazz might be scheduled to work until five but end up being at the salon until seven. Russell had always acted like Jazz was lying, probably cheating because of his unpredictable hours.

Pot calling the kettle black.

“He’s just finishing up,” Kitty went on. “You don’t mind sitting in here, do you? The offices are private.”

Jazz looked around the large room. Where some funeral homes went overboard with floral wallpapers, antique furniture in the vein of “look but don’t touch,” and watercolor landscapes, Jazz was happy to see that was not the case at Fleishman Funeral Home. Soft pastel wallpaper, tasteful comfortable furniture, and a few plants made the room feel welcoming. “It’s just a room.”

“Where the deceased are displayed,” she countered, gesturing to the front of the room where heavy drapes and two pedestals framed a space for caskets. “Makes some people uncomfortable and—” Her words were cut off by a meow.

They both looked down when a fat black-and-white cat joined them and began caressing itself on her leg.

“This is Mr. Pickles Furryton the Third,” she said. “I suppose he can keep you company while you wait. That should make it less creepy.”

Jazz tried not to frown. It was almost like she was trying to weird him out. Maybe it was a test of some sort. To see if Jazz was worthy of Michael.

If that was the case, Jazz was going to like this lady. Anyone that protective of her friends was a good person.

“Mr. Pickles Furryton the Third,” Jazz said, smiling at the cat. He knelt and held out a hand, knowing better than to pet a cat without its express permission.

“Yes, he’s Mr. Fleishman’s cat. Comes to work with him every day,” Kitty explained.

Oh my God, Michael just got more adorable every second.

A grown man who named his cat Mr. Pickles Furryton the Third was a man after Jazz’s own heart.

“I’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” she told him. “I’m headed out for the evening. Enjoy your important meeting with Mr. Fleishman.” With a flirtatious wink that surely made all the straight boys drool, Kitty sauntered off.

And yes, those curvy hips definitely knew how to saunter.

Once alone with the cat, Jazz sat down. Mr. Pickles jumped lightly to the padded arm of the chair and paraded back and forth as Jazz stroked his soft fur. He must have been doing things correctly, because Mr. Pickles was purring like a small lawn mower. But just as that thought entered Jazz’s head, Mr. Pickles tensed, looked around, then leaped from the chair and took off.

Jazz chuckled as his fluffy white tail disappeared around the corner.

Typical cat.

Looking around the room, Jazz put his hands on his knees. There was an accordian style floor to ceiling divider tucked behind a brocade curtain, doubtless used to shrink the big room for small services, which struck Jazz as sad. Or was it sadder to leave behind so many mourners that a funeral was standing room only? As he pondered that, he wondered how long Michael would be and hoped he wasn’t so engrossed in his work that he forgot about their date.

Voices in the hallway outside the display room door caught his attention.

“…very disturbing indeed.”

That was Michael’s voice.

Jazz stood up and moved toward the main hallway, not wanting to interrupt Michael with a client or appear to be lurking. The plush carpet absorbed the sound of his footsteps.

“Who in their right mind shoves rubbers full of heroin up their poop chute?”

Flinching, Jazz was startled to hear Sheriff Musgrave .

“That, I’m afraid, is a question for you,” Michael said, his voice closer now. “I simply provide you with the evidence.”

A split-second before Jazz was about to announce his presence, Michael walked past the open doors and glanced in, doing a double take.

“Jazz!” Michael cried. “What are you doing here?”

Okay, I loved this book, so let’s just start with that. Lately, I have been enjoying more mystery/suspense books, and when I saw this, I knew it was right up my alley…then they went and added a sassy cat, and there was no way I wasn’t reading this! Mr. Pickles Furryton the Third just made me happy, made me giggle, and made some bad people mad…all the things to love about a cat! Meanwhile, I loved the MC’s, too!

Michael, a shy, somewhat insecure, but very DIRTY, mortician/county coroner was fantastic. He had the most inappropriate thoughts at the most inappropriate times, and really…who doesn’t? This time we just got to read them. 🙂 But he was also sweet, and adored Jazz from minute one, despite Jazz having a little paunch, being (cough cough) slightly older, and at first glance, very different. He loved his cat very much, and wasn’t afraid to show tears when he couldn’t find him. And even was sweet to his grandpa.

Jazz, meanwhile, had a few hang-ups going in, but never lost sight of wanting Michael. He was definitely the more outgoing of the two (being a hairdresser in town) but always made sure that Michael wasn’t excluded. He took care of Michael when he needed the extra comfort, and made sure Michael knew that he was a priority.

The story itself…the authors created a mystery here that surprised me. (The one where the murderer is caught was VERY surprising…in several ways!). It wasn’t an easy who-dun-it, and that’s always fun. But honestly, even if I had known who the murderer was…I would still have read through. It was funny, engaging, had side characters that were just as enjoyable as the MC’s, and brought some serious heat in, as well. On top of all that, one thing that you rarely see in romance novels is multiple POV’s, behind the MC’s, but we got to see multiple POV’s, which created even more richness to the story, and the mystery. It isn’t confusing at all, because those POV’s come at an appropriate time in the book.

Just a fun, wonderful story, that I would read again…or even better…I want more!!! Give me 5 more of these books!!!! PLEASE!!!!!

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Deanna Wadsworth might be a bestselling erotica author, but she leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her wonderful husband and adorable cocker spaniels. She has been penning stories since childhood, and her first erotic novella was published in 2010 and served multiple as President of the Rainbow Romance Writers in 2017. When she isn’t writing books or brainstorming with friends, you can find her making people gorgeous in a beauty salon. An avid reader, she also loves gardening, cooking, music, and dancing. Often she can be seen hanging out on the sandbar in the muddy Maumee River or chilling with her hubby and a cocktail in their basement bar. In between all that fun, Deanna cherishes the quiet times when she can let her wildly active imagination have the full run of her mind. Her fascination with people and the interworkings of their relationships have always inspired her to write romance with spice and love without boundaries.

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Check out Deanna’s young adult alter ego, K.D. Worth Amazon│Twitter│BookBub

                 

Hank Edwards has been writing gay fiction for more than twenty years. He has published over thirty novels and dozens of short stories. His writing crosses many sub-genres, including romance, rom-com, contemporary, paranormal, suspense, mystery, and wacky comedy. He has written a number of series such as the suspenseful Up to Trouble, funny and spooky Critter Catchers, Old West historical horror of Venom Valley, and erotic and funny Fluffers, Inc. No matter what genre he writes, Hank likes to keep things steamy and heartfelt. He was born and still lives in a northwest suburb of the Motor City, Detroit, Michigan, where he shares a home with his partner of over 20 years and their two cats.

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Read about the Town of Superstition, Hank’s YA series written as R.G. Thomas on Amazon

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Ties That Bind by Alex Whitehall: Exclusive Guest Post and Giveaway

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Thank you to Alex Whitehall for joining TCO to talk about his latest story, Ties That Bind. This looks really good, and at a short story length, a quick read to get drawn into. 🙂 Make sure you enter the giveaway at the end.

Thank you for joining me on my blog tour for Ties That Bind, the story of three men searching for a way to keep one of them alive. Now out at all major retailers!

Originally Ties That Bind was written for a submission call looking for poly relationships, but it wasn’t the first story I dreamed up. Today I’m going to talk about a few of the other ideas I brewed and what it might mean for future books I’ll write.

My main goal while brainstorming was to not have the relationship be the driving conflict. It’s too easy for me to want to fall into the insecurities of one character and have that become a central issue, so I immediately took that off the table. From there, I spent a lot of time telling my ideas to the dogs I was pet-sitting and trying to figure out what might work.

The first idea involved two men going on vacation to a house in the middle of nowhere and the “ghost” that they find there. I actually wrote several openings for this concept, but the more I brainstormed the story and how it would unfold, the more I realized that there was no way it was going to fit within the original word count limit! So it was shuffled to the side to languish until I have the time and focus to give it the attention it needs.

The next idea stemmed from one similar to Ties That Bind, drawing on threes as a source of power in magic. However, in Ties That Bind, one of the characters isn’t actively involved in the day-to-day magic, while in the potential story, it was going to be a plot point, specifically centered around the solstice and conveniently (or inconveniently) falling in love with someone you remember from high school. Again, the more I pondered, the bigger the story became and it went on the shelf. For another day.

Thinking my problem was involving magic, I wrote several openings in a contemporary setting, but after the first few pages, the characters fell flat. So I wandered back to magic, and not magic, and how a world with both would exist together, and how a mixed triad of magic and non-magic users would work, and I definitely needed to have a familiar in there…

And that’s how I got Ties That Bind. But don’t be surprised if you see something of those other ideas show up in future books!

For Chel, Tomlin, and Mathias, life is simple but good. They share a home and a love, and despite a few conflicts of personality, are happy. Mathias runs a magic shop, where he makes magic items and potions for his customers, and Tom is his familiar, helping supply his magic. Chel, who’s not magical, works at a bookshop and makes sure dinner is on the table for his lovers.

When Mathias suddenly comes down with a mysterious illness, Chel and Tomlin seek out answers. As Mathias’s familiar, Tomlin can sense that nothing is wrong with the magical parts of him, but when a trip to the doctor’s indicates nothing is wrong with him physically either, they start to worry.

Then Mathias collapses, and the search to find the truth becomes urgent.

Word Count: 17,000

Price: $1.99

For Chel, Tomlin, and Mathias, life is simple but good. They share a home and a love, and despite a few conflicts of personality, are happy. Mathias runs a magic shop, where he makes magic items and potions for his customers, and Tom is his familiar, helping supply his magic. Chel, who’s not magical, works at a bookshop and makes sure dinner is on the table for his lovers.

When Mathias suddenly comes down with a mysterious illness, Chel and Tomlin seek out answers. As Mathias’s familiar, Tomlin can sense that nothing is wrong with the magical parts of him, but when a trip to the doctor’s indicates nothing is wrong with him physically either, they start to worry.

Then Mathias collapses, and the search to find the truth becomes urgent.

Less Than Three Press

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

If there are two types of people in the world, Alex Whitehall probably isn’t one of them, despite being a person. Their favorite pastimes include reading, horseback riding, sleeping, watching geek-tastic television, knitting, eating, and running. And wasting time on the internet. And spending glorious evenings laughing with friends.

While Alex prefers sleeping over doing anything else (except maybe eating), sometimes they emerge from the cave to be social and to hunt for food at the local market. They can be found blogging, reading, and tending after their aloe plants.

Connect with Alex:

Comment with your email address below to be entered in the giveaway! The winner will be able to choose between an ebook copy of Hard Truths or an Audible download of Magic Runs Deep! Selection will be made Sunday, April 28 at 7pm. The winner will be contacted by Alex.

Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour for more chances to win:

Boy Meets Boy Reviews – April 24

MM Good Book Reviews – April 24

Love Bytes Reviews – April 25

That’s What I’m Talking About – April 25

Book Reviews and More by Kathy – April 26

Bayou Book Junkie – April 27

 

Under His Protection by LaQuette: Exclusive Guest Post & Excerpt and Release Day Review

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TCO is very excited to have LaQuette here today, talking about her new Dreamspinner Press release, Under His Protection. In her guest post, she talks about that one moment…where you fall in love in that instant. Check it out!

They can escape their enemies, but not the desire between them.

Prosecutor Camden Warren is on the fast track to professional nirvana. With his charm, his sharp legal mind, and his father as chief judge in the highest court in NY, he can’t fail. Nothing can derail his rise to the top… until an attempt on his life forces him to accept the help of a man he walked out on five years ago.

Wounded in the line of duty, Lieutenant Elijah Stephenson wants to ride his new desk job until retirement—not take a glorified babysitting gig with more risk than it’s worth… especially not protecting the entitled lawyer who disappeared after the best sex of their lives.

The threat against Camden’s life is real, but their passion for each other might prove the greatest danger they’ve yet to face.

Title: Under His Protection
Author: LaQuette
Release Date: April 16, 2019
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 250

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

 

Hello, I’m LaQuette, and I’m so happy to be here at Two Chicks Obsessed.  Sending a huge shout-out to Denise for inviting me to chat for a bit.

As both a romance author and reader, I’m always looking at life events through a romance lens.  It’s a quirky habit of mine, but it also makes it so much fun to live in my head.

When writing my latest release, Under His Protection, I was thinking of how sometimes a single experience with a certain person can have an enormous impact on our future lives.  Hence, when crafting Elijah and Camden’s story, I wondered if one night with the right person could lead to forever.

Love at first sight is something we all laugh at.  It’s improbable if not impossible, and no one can build a future on today’s whim.

Although I don’t know how wise it is to jump in with both feet so to speak, I do believe that all it takes is an instant for hearts to connect.  Camden and Elijah are the perfect example of that.  They met once, had an amazing encounter, and five years later when their paths crossed again, they still couldn’t forget that one night.

Perhaps the idea of wagering your future on a whim seems ridiculous.  But, if there is magic in the world, I believe it’s love. How great would the world be if we all stopped for a second to embrace the magic of love the way romance novel characters do?  It might not be realistic, but it sure is an amazing thought to have.

Check out the excerpt below to see how the sparks still fly between Camden and Elijah when they meet for the first time five years after their initial encounter.

Camden turned around at the call of his name. His gaze followed the familiar sound until he was staring into eyes he hadn’t seen for five years.

Still tall, with long locs still hanging just below his shoulders, and a trimmed goatee. Skin still the same color as smooth, tanned oak. Camden’s eyes continued to travel down a broad chest and shoulders that made his fingers itch to caress them. Arms still wide with carved muscle, and a lean waist that tapered down into a thin vee made Camden swallow to push the dry knot blocking his airway free.

He forced his eyes closed as his gaze fell on the metal belt buckle sitting at the bottom of this walking memory’s waist. If he continued his perusal, if he kept remembering the fire that burned through him with every touch and taste of his tormentor’s body parts, this encounter was liable to turn into something very different from a police matter.

“Elijah?”

Camden shook his head, uncertain why he’d said the man’s name as if it were a question. This was Elijah Stephenson. Hard, beautiful, and so sexy he made Camden’s mouth water.

“You remember my name? I’m impressed,” Elijah added.

Remember? Camden laughed at that. Who in the hell could forget a real-life walking sex dream? If big, muscular men with an imposing presence were your cup of tea, Elijah Stephenson was a person you wouldn’t soon forget.

Camden was no slouch. His bulk remained tight with a personalized fitness plan that kept his muscle shirts filled and his jeans fitted. But Elijah didn’t need a gym plan or a personal trainer. His physique and power came from things like running down criminals on the street and lifting cinder blocks or some such real-world thing Camden would never engage in. He didn’t care to get his own hands soiled, but a man who liked to play in the grit of life was always Camden’s weakness.

Camden blinked his eyes again, flipped the switch in his head that turned on his prosecutor’s facade. Hands on his waist, shoulders pushed back, and eyes narrowed at his target. Camden stepped toward Elijah, refusing to let his memories or the delicious sight Elijah made shake his fortitude.

“Why are you here, Elijah? How are you involved with my case?”

“I’m your assigned babysitter, Counselor.”

Camden caught the faint hint of amusement in Elijah’s voice, and his mood soured. To keep his calm, he dismissed Elijah with a cold glare and turned to the captain at his side. “Not a possibility. Get someone else,” he demanded.

“Mr. Warren,” Captain Searlington began. If the deep breath she’d taken just before she said his name was any sign, she wasn’t all that thrilled with Camden now.

Camden sighed and pressed his fingers firmly against his temple. If he were the man his father raised him to be, he’d be throwing his weight around right now, making demands of everyone in the room. But after how poorly Camden behaved five years ago, treating Elijah like a discarded one-off, he found it difficult to muster up his practiced asshole tendencies.

“Mr. Warren, Lieutenant Stephenson has an impressive career record. He is the best at what he does.”

Camden ran a frantic hand through his raven locks. “And what does Lieutenant Stephenson do?”

“He has a nose for sniffing out the bad guys. He’s the best tactical mind I’ve seen in our house in a long time. He also has a protective streak for simpletons who find themselves in situations they can’t get out of. And when he’s called on to protect someone who can’t defend themselves, he locks like a Pit and doesn’t let go until either he or the threat is destroyed.”

Camden’s shoulders rose with every breath he drew in through his flared nostrils. Did she call him a simpleton? Did she reprimand him without so much as raising her voice?

“So,” Captain Searlington continued, “are there other officers I can assign this case? Yes. But if you want to live through this experience, I’d suggest Lieutenant Stephenson is the man for the job.”

Not gonna lie. It was the cover that sucked me in. I mean. Did you see it? Because damn.

Camden and Elijah are a second chance love story. I guess my biggest issue was that really they had one date, one night before Camden ghosted. So ya, there was chemistry and attraction and everything. But I wish there was more than a one time thing between them to spark back up five years later.

Still, I really enjoyed this story.

Camden is prosecuting the leaders of a cult who want him dead. Because they think that will stop the trial I guess? So Elijah, a lieutenant in the police force coming back from medical leave after almost dying in a bust gone wrong is tasked with keeping him safe for a week. Elijah was hoping to sit at a desk and work cyber crimes but he can’t say no to this job and the one that got away.

The hide out in Elijah’s house outside the city thinking they will have peace and quiet. Except Elijah forgot he invited his family for a long weekend. What could have been awkward was really just kind of fun. Mom wasn’t too over bearing, Dad wasn’t too scary, brother wasn’t too annoying. It was just a family enjoying themselves and hanging out. And Camden and Elijah rediscovering each other.

There was a few things that were just far too convenient- a house Elijah bought with a shell company (plus what cop can afford a house in Westchester AND an apartment in Brooklyn?), a garage apartment at his house that is unoccupied, etc.

The chemistry between the men was undeniable. And she can write a sex scene like no one’s business. They flowed though, the scenes weren’t forced at all.

The entire book only took place over the course of a week but it wasn’t rushed at all. Elijah’s family added to the story instead of getting in the way and the ending wrap up was well done without being contrived.

Won’t be my last story by this author, that’s for sure.

3.75 pieces of eye candy

LaQuette is the 2016 Golden Apple Award Author of the year winner. She writes bold & sexy tales for diverse characters who are confident in their right to appear on the page. Represented by Latoya C. Smith of LCS Literary Agency.  Visit her at LaQuette.com and LaQuette@LaQuette.com

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Impacted! by Mickie B. Ashling: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt and Giveaway

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Once again, Mickie B. Ashling is stopping by to bring us some fun from her latest release (re-release) Impacted! There is a great little excerpt, along with a giveaway of a DSP gift card, so make sure you enter! Can’t wait to read this book!

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?

First Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, August 2009.

Title: Impacted!
Series: Bay Area Professionals
Author: Mickie B. Ashling
Release Date: April 12, 2019
Category: Contemporary, BDSM
Pages: 191

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

I’d like to thank Two Chicks Obsessed for giving me the opportunity to share an exclusive excerpt of Impacted! This novel was originally published in 2009 when I was a newly minted author. It was my first foray into BDSM and I’ll admit I didn’t know much about the men and women who participate in the lifestyle. The second edition offers a gorgeous new cover designed by Kanaka along with extensive edits for a more enjoyable reading experience. This book is the first in a five-book series involving dental and medical professionals living in San Francisco. People rarely associate sexy with dentistry but I can promise you my characters are nothing like the ghoulish men who come to mind when you think of dentists. I hope you’ll give them a try.

They met downstairs at the entrance of the building, rather than leaving the office together. Something unspoken, a shared paranoia due to the nature of their workplace, acknowledged this would be for the best. They walked several blocks until they got to Grant Street and then turned left to enter the portals of Chinatown. After maneuvering several streets, Scott led Robin into a six-table hole-in-the-wall, assuring him the restaurant had some of the best Szechwan food around.

“You like spicy?” Scott asked as they sat across from each other. Space was limited, and their knees were touching under the round table.

“I like hot sauce,” Robin replied. “Does that answer your question?”

“Yes.” Scott nodded. “The Yu Shan shrimp will make your toes curl.”

Robin chuckled. “My toes usually curl when a sub starts to beg.”

Scott felt the blood rush to his cheeks. “Are you always this direct?”

“Would you prefer a lying sack of shit?”

“No,” Scott replied uneasily, “but most men would ease into this conversation.”

“Why be ambivalent when I know exactly what I want?”

Scott picked up the bottle of beer the waiter set on the table and took several gulps. He could feel Robin’s eyes on him the entire time. He wanted to iron out the pros and cons of starting anything, given their special circumstances, but his cock had a mind of its own, and his control was unraveling.

“How do you know I’m interested?”

Robin reached under the table and licked his lips when his fingers grazed the growing bulge between Scott’s legs. “I can smell your need, Dr. Gregory.”

Scott inhaled sharply.

Robin continued to stroke, and Scott found it difficult to think of anything other than his aching groin. It was embarrassing to lose control this quickly, but he couldn’t pretend he was unaffected, not when he was so obvious.

Robin leaned forward until their mouths were inches apart. “Tell me what you want, my gorgeous pain slut.”

Scott looked down and let out a shaky groan. “I want….”

“What, baby?” Robin asked gently. “How can I make it better?”

“Hurt me,” Scott whispered, almost afraid to say the words. “Dominate me.”

“I would love to,” Robin said. He shifted in his seat, and Scott almost cried out when Robin stopped stroking. With both hands back on the table, Robin pinned him with a determined look. “We need to talk first. Tell me what your limits are.”

Scott nervously ran a hand through his hair, taking deep breaths as he fought to recover. He couldn’t believe he’d caved this easily. “I don’t like to be bound.”

“You didn’t seem to have a problem with the cuffs.”

“No, it’s the heavy stuff I can’t handle. The idea of cages, straitjackets, and ball gags make me claustrophobic.”

“So you don’t like it or haven’t tried it? There’s a difference.”

“I guess I’ve never been with anyone who made me feel safe enough.”

Robin nodded. “We’ll work on it. What about pain? Do you have limits there?”

“Not really, except you can’t mark my arms. I wear short sleeves at work.”

Scott nervously fidgeted with the utensils, and Robin reached out and laid a firm hand on his. “Don’t be embarrassed.”

Scott laughed a little too quickly. “I’m really nervous, for some reason.”

“There’s no need,” Robin said, radiating confidence. “We’ve already lived through the awkward first date—which exceeded my expectations—and I can’t wait to be alone with you again, but getting these pesky questions out of the way will guarantee future success. Do you have a favorite tool?”

“I like most of them, but I prefer the cane.”

Robin whistled. “You are a little pain slut, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Shall we pick a safeword?”

“Already?” Scott asked, surprised.

“I want you something fierce,” Robin stated matter-of-factly. “I’ve had a raging hard-on since I walked into the office and saw your beautiful face.”

“God….”

“Don’t you want me?”

“More than anything.”

“Good,” Robin replied in a low voice. “I want to be sure we’re on the same page.”

“Oh yeah, same page, same book,” Scott acknowledged.

Robin squeezed Scott’s hand and turned it over. He rubbed his thumb in gentle circles on Scott’s wrist, moving gradually up his arm. Goose bumps erupted, and Scott forgot how to breathe. The gentle strokes turned rougher, and Robin snuck under the short sleeves and dug his nails into the tender skin near Scott’s armpits. Scott’s whimper wasn’t planned, but the satisfaction on Robin’s face made Scott wish they were in a private room so he could lunge at the man and kiss away the smirk.

“You’re so fucking responsive,” Robin husked.

“Robin?”

“What, baby?”

“Can we go to my place after we’re done eating?”

“Hell yeah, but you need to pick a safeword before we leave.”

“It used to be red, but obviously I’m changing it. How about blue?”

“Whatever works for you, baby.”

“Please don’t call me baby.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t like it.”

“I do, and unless this is a hard limit, I’ll call you whatever I want,”

 

Mickie B. Ashling is the pseudonym of a multifaceted woman who is a product of her upbringing in multiple cultures, having lived in Japan, the Philippines, Spain, and the Middle East. Fluent in three languages, she’s a citizen of the world and an interesting mixture of East and West. A little bit of this and a lot of that have brought a unique touch to her literary voice she could never learn from textbooks.

By the time Mickie discovered her talent for writing, real life got in the way, and the business of raising four sons took priority. With the advent of e-publishing–and the inevitable emptying nest–dreams of becoming a published writer were resurrected and she’s never looked back.

She stumbled into the world of men who love men in 2002 and continues to draw inspiration from their ongoing struggle to find equality and happiness in this oftentimes skewed and intolerant world. She admits to being an angst queen and making her men work damn hard for their happy endings.

Mickie currently resides in a suburb outside Chicago.

Contact Info

E-MAIL: http://mickie.ashling@gmail.com

BLOG: http://mickiebashling.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/mickie.ashling

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MickieAshling

INSTAGRAM: @mickieashling

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004QSCN3E

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2904716.Mickie_B_Ashling


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Yes, Chef by T. Neilson: Exclusive Guest Post and Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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TCO is excited to have T. Neilson stop by today, bringing everyone a guest post, excerpt and giveaway from Dreamspinner Press’ newest release, Yes, Chef.  I love the excerpt, especially the ending! Make sure to leave a comment at the end to enter the giveaway.  

A savory slice of first love.

Simon’s dad died when he was young, leaving Simon to take the reins of the family restaurant business—and the responsibility for his mother and brothers. His commitment to his duty left Simon time for little else, least of all romance.

Argentinian celebrity chef Luke Ferreya has wanted Simon since their culinary-school days, but for Simon, family always came first. Now Luke’s back in Simon’s life—briefly before he returns to South America—and he’s determined to give Simon a sample of everything he’s missed out on.

Simon’s brothers are grown, and his mother is doing fine on her own, and Luke is offering a second chance for a future full of the pleasures of fine food, wine, and especially love. Without his obligations to hide behind, can Simon finally allow himself to say “Yes, Chef”?

Title: Yes, Chef
Series: Amuse Bouche: Book Two
Author: T. Neilson
Release Date: April 2, 2019
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 193

Amazon

Dreamspinner

Kobo

If you can’t handle the heat…

Well, Simon never could handle the heat, which was exactly why he got out of the kitchen. He’s a much better restaurant manager than a chef. At least, that’s what he’s been telling himself. He was never really chef material. Not like his friend Luke. Luke with a natural ability with flavors, with great knife skills…. and an exceptional ass. But that was more than ten years ago, and anyway, Simon ran away to work the family restaurant at Lake Balmoral, Middle of Nowhere USA. It seemed so much easier than figuring out why Simon did what he did the last time he saw Luke.

As for Luke, he’s had about as much of the kitchen as he can stand. Burnt out after earning two Michelin stars, Luke is ready to leave the culinary world behind, and his family’s ranch in Argentina is singing a siren song. There’s just one thing he wants to do before he leaves forever, and that’s find out if an old culinary school friend could, after all this time, be something more.

Now Simon Love, a man too busy to have his own place let alone go on a date, suddenly finds himself back where he was ten years ago — head over heels with Luke. Which would be fine, if Simon wasn’t prepping for the biggest make-or-break event in the culinary calendar, and if his kitchen wasn’t in total disarray.

On the shore, Simon tried not to watch Luke dress, but he still found himself sneaking glances. He told himself not to be a creep, but he kept right on doing it.

Luke didn’t seem to notice, but then, Luke seemed to be having trouble getting his jeans on over his wet legs. They seemed to stick to his skin, and Luke wriggled and twisted to get them up his thighs and over his ass. Jesus. Simon tugged his own pants on as fast as the fabric would allow and then zipped his cock safely away. Luke left his pants undone as he pulled his shirt on. Ridged belly, black- fuzzed treasure trail, skin all damp and glistening. Simon’s cock pulsed. The lake had not been cold enough.

He pulled on his shirt and saw Luke watching him. Horrified, he glanced down at himself, but didn’t see any evidence of unplatonic interest, at least not visible. “What?” he asked.

Luke shrugged. “I think it’s important for you to know what it is you do and don’t do,” he said.

“What?”

“I mean, I think if you don’t set boundaries, you try to do everything yourself. And then you wind up like me.”

Luke touched Simon’s shoulder with a cool, damp hand, and the contact startled him. He looked at Luke, at his hand.

For an instant he imagined that hand tightening. He imagined Luke stopping him, turning him. He imagined Luke leaning toward him. God, his skin would be cool still from the water, and damp, but his mouth would be hot. He thought of how it would be to feel the thick muscles of Luke’s legs brush against his, slide along his, frame his hips.

“You are worried that you’ll burn out like me. Aren’t you?”

Simon forced his mind back from the brink. “You’re the best chef I’ve ever known,” he answered in a croak. “I should be so lucky.”

Luke’s eyes were fixed on him, dark and soft and warm as an August night. His broad brow creased under the slick of his wet black hair. He’s beautiful. How did I miss it for so long?

Luke’s grip on Simon’s arm softened just a little, and the subtle shift made the hairs on Simon’s arm and neck stand up. The contact was as electric as a rolling summer storm. He found himself holding his breath, waiting for something he couldn’t explain or express. “I should be so lucky,” Simon heard himself say again, in a whisper.

Luke’s mouth parted just a little and curved just slightly into a small, soft smile.

“Simon,” Luke said in a low, soft voice that Simon could hardly hear over the buzzing in his head. It was a rumble—a purr. I want him to kiss me. God, please let him kiss me. “It’s not lucky to burn out. It’s a disaster. I wasted my whole youth building a business I walked away from. And what good have I done in the world? Who have I helped? No one.”

Simon reached for something that would sound sensible, reasonable. “You’ve mentored so many chefs,” he managed at last.

Irritation creased Luke’s features. He shook his head. “That’s the absolute least I could do. Besides, I get their labor. It’s not altruism. It’s trade. Listen to me,” Luke said. He turned and gripped both of Simon’s arms, firmly but not hard. “There’s more to life than your kitchen. Don’t do what I did. Don’t let the work become who you are.”

It was too late. Work had poured like sand into every part of Simon’s life and filled up all the empty space inside of him until he was his own shape, but all the him had been displaced… until now.

He felt his breath coming short, as though he were about to give a talk to a banquet room full of guests. His lungs felt too small for his chest, and his heart battered against the cage of his ribs like a bird beating at a window. He knew what he wanted in a way he had never known before. Kiss me, kiss me, please kiss me.

Book one in this series, Sweet Nothings, was a book I really enjoyed. I loved the youngest brother, with the oldest brother, Simon from this book, dynamic. However, Yes, Chef, just fell flat for me.

This being a category romance, usually you do have the MCs separate for a while, before they do finally find their way to each other. In this book, the MC’s don’t even acknowledge to each other that they want the other, much less kiss, before 85% of the book has been completed.

I felt like there was a ton of “I want him, but he doesn’t want me” and “I want him but he’s leaving for Argentina”, and very little of the two men actually re-connecting. As a reader, it felt like a repeating pattern throughout 3/4 of the book.

There were definitely aspects that I really enjoyed. I’d like to see a follow up scene with these two men, to see where they are at six months down the road. I want to know more about Sam’s circumstances, as a future possibility of a story. He was intriguing to me. I also really loved the camaraderie with the Brasserie employees. They all seemed to get along so well, and cared about each other so much. A very different scene versus what Luke had left behind.

Overall, a book that had potential, but needed more character connection for this reader, but still has kept me interested in a next in the series.

3 pieces of eye candy

About the Author: T Neilson is a writer and foodie who lives on Vancouver Island where the bread, beer, and coffee scene is a thing to behold. A romance writer since 2015, and a food industry die-hard for over a decade, Neilson decided to get out of coffee tasting and get into writing for good. These days Neilson spends a lot of time chasing after a toddler, thinking about upcoming books, and working toward the perfect hand-pie crust. It’s not an easy life, but someone has to do it.

https://www.tneilson.com/

https://twitter.com/TamMacNeil

T. Neilson is giving away an ebook copy of her book Submission Guidelines (a book that features some of the side characters who appear in this book). Leave a comment on this blog post and be entered for a copy of it! Check the book out here.

The Leprechaun Next Door by Elizabeth Coldwell: Exclusive Guest Post, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

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Thank you to Elizabeth Coldwell for stopping by today and bringing an exclusive Guest Post for her new book, The Leprechaun Next Door. Johnny is a little naughty, so you know I like him. 🙂 Congrats to Elizabeth on the new release, and make sure you leave a comment, and you could win a copy of the book!

Happiness might be waiting at the end of the rainbow, but will it come with a price?

Devon’s down on his luck—he’s lost his job and discovered his boyfriend is cheating on him. His neighbor, Johnny, is not only cute, he also has a big secret: he’s a leprechaun with a pot of gold… and the ability to grant wishes.

Can Devon wish his way out of the hole he’s found himself in? He’d like a new job, some revenge on his lying ex, and maybe even love. Johnny can give him what he wants, but it won’t come for free… or in the ways Devon expects. Can he trust a sexy leprechaun to help him make a new start and wish himself into the arms of the man of his dreams?

Title: The Leprechaun Next Door
Author: Elizabeth Coldwell
Release Date: March 15, 2019
Category: Fantasy
Pages: 145

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Dreamspinner Press

Love That Leprechaun

When you’re thinking up the paranormal love interest in an urban fantasy novel, a leprechaun might not be high on the list. Other, more popular creatures definitely have the edge when it comes to being a supernatural bad boy. Vampires are a given – they’re dark, brooding and danger lurks behind their handsome, sophisticated façade. Shifters may be charming, but they could unleash their animal side at any moment. As for elves, just think Orlando Bloom in the Lord of the Rings films and it’s easy to see why they have their many admirers. But leprechauns?

It’s fair to say the leprechaun suffers from an image problem. They’re always depicted as no more than three feet high and grumpy, dressed in a green suit, buckled hat and knee britches, and almost homicidally attracted to protecting their stash of gold. If you’re American, you may also find it hard to separate them from their caricature on a breakfast cereal packet (Lucky Charms have never reached the UK in any quantity, which means an awful lot of jokes on The Simpsons passed us by over the years…). But the fact they’ve never really been regarded as sex symbols means there’s a lot more scope to get creative, and unleash a side of them the reader has never considered. Part of the fun of writing The Leprechaun Next Door was riffing on that unflattering image and the opportunity it gives Johnny, the leprechaun of the title, to hide in plain sight in a world where paranormal beings exist alongside humans – if only you know where to look.

Leprechauns are, as I’m sure you’re aware, one of the staple figures in Irish mythology. Stories about their misdeeds date back to mediaeval times, though their green clothing is a more modern invention. When I started researching them for the novel, this being one of those books where the title came first and everything else followed, I discovered one of the alternative spellings of their name was lubrican. And if that doesn’t make you think of sex, what does?

So as I worked on creating Johnny, I gave him most of the main traits of the classic leprechaun. He’s protective of his gold, which is safely stashed away from prying eyes, and has the ability to grant three wishes. However, because leprechauns have a streak of malevolence and love practical jokes, those wishes have to be carefully considered because they’re likely to come with a sting in their tail. Plenty of the old folk tales about leprechauns involve them tricking simple Irish folk into making foolish wishes that will dog them with bad luck. When Johnny grants Devon his wishes, Devon is in a low place, and as one of his wishes contains an element of revenge, that’s all Johnny needs to wreak a little havoc.

The classic leprechaun occupation is making and mending shoes, but in the modern world, the cobbler’s shop has all but disappeared from our high streets. So instead Johnny is a bartender who knows how to throw a great party. Rather than fitting the leprechaun image of being quick-tempered and solitary, he’s friendly, garrulous, and great fun to be around, which is part of the reason why Devon is so attracted to him. And like all leprechauns, Johnny loves to drink and adores music, especially that played by Devon, who’s been forced to hide his dreams of being a singer and songwriter since his ex was never very supportive of his talent. I like to think that Johnny would be a good friend but one you wouldn’t want to cross.

Now that I’ve done my best to reclaim the leprechaun, maybe it’s time to shine a light on other less popular supernatural creatures and make them sexy too. Once you start looking, there are so many to choose from. Try Jimmy Squarefoot, a creature from the Isle of Man who walks on two legs but has a pig’s head and the tusks of a boar. Or Jack Frost, the King of Winter, who’ll freeze you as soon as look at you. Bring on the dwarves, the pixies and the sprites – in the world of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, each one of them is just waiting to find the right man to love.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I set a leprechaun trap for St Patrick’s Day, and I need to check whether I’ve caught anything. If I have, my wish is simple – that you all have as much fun reading The Leprechaun Next Door as I had writing it.

 

I am Rotherham’s foremost (okay, only) writer of quality erotica and erotic romance. Though I’m now based in London, family and football take me back North on a regular basis. Indeed, if you’re ever at a Rotherham United match (I know, what are the chances?) and you spot a small blonde with a large ‘London Millers’ flag, that’ll be me. Originally from South Yorkshire, Elizabeth Coldwell has been making up stories for as long as she can remember, only now she gets to people them with hot men. When she’s not got her nose in a book, she’s reviewing or trying to stop one or both of her cats from walking over her keyboard. She spends her time following her home town football team and baking the best brownies in East London.

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Leave a comment for Elizabeth, and you could win a copy of the book.