Author Interview

The Experiment by Rebecca Raine: Exclusive Author Interview, Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

August 19, 2020 by Denise

When a single kiss calls your sexuality into question, there’s only one sure path to a reliable answer: further research.

Patrick

I like to think I know myself outside and in. As a developmental psychologist, I’ve spent years exploring the true foundations of my identity. So, when losing a bet means kissing my best friend, Logan, I already know I’m going to hate every second of it. All the relevant questions regarding my sexuality were asked and answered years ago. The results were conclusive: despite the odd same-sex attraction, I dislike being touched by men.

That is, it seems, until Logan is the man doing the touching. The intense desire aroused by his kiss contradicts all my expectations and I have no idea how to integrate the new information. Thankfully, I know exactly how to uncover the truth about myself—once and for all.

Logan

I’ve put a lot of effort into keeping Patrick out of my fantasies and in the friend-zone. Our recent lip-lock may have unleashed my feelings for him temporarily, but I’ll get them back on their platonic track in no time. Falling for a friend, especially a sexually ambivalent friend, is a one-way ticket to heartache.

But, when the unforeseen impact of our kiss inspires Patrick to conduct an experiment into the extent of his bisexuality, I can’t resist volunteering to help. If any man is going to join Patrick on his journey of self-discovery, it’s sure as hell going to be me.

Book Title: The Experiment

Author: Rebecca Raine

Cover Artist: Bec Rivers

Release Date: Tuesday, 18 August (AEST)

Genre/s: Contemporary MM Romance

Trope/s: Friends-to-Lovers, Gay for You, First-time Gay

Themes: Friendship, Self-discovery, Self-experimentation

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 85 000 words/ approx. 210 pages

It is a standalone book.

Goodreads

Amazon US – Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK – Kindle Unlimited

The prized possession you value above all others…

My phone. My entire life is organized through my phone. I would be completely lost without it.

The unqualified regret you wish you could amend…

Buying a two-door car. I had no idea I’d be still be driving that car around after giving birth to two children years later. Do you have any idea how hard it is to fit a baby car seat into one of those things? Because I sure as hell do!

The temptation you wish you could resist…

YouTube. I love YouTube! There is soooo much to watch: fan-made videos of all my favourite couples; lessons from my favourite self-development gurus; tips for organizing my life, work and home. I can get lost in YouTube for hours. Some of my favourite channels include: Lessons from the Screenplay, Binging with Babish, and Primitive Technology Man. If I ever get stranded on a desert island, I with totally know how to build a hut.

The film you can watch time and time again…

A Room with a View. It was one of my favourite movies as a teenager. It’s everything I adore in a movie … beautiful, funny and romantic. I can happily watch Lucy and George fall in love over and over again.

The unlikely interest that engages your curiosity…

Graphic design. I started making graphics when I joined Instagram in February of 2019. The more I play with pictures the more I love trying new and interesting techniques. I’ve really enjoyed watching my own development over the past year and a half.

The poem that touches your soul…

Invictus by William Ernest Henley. I love the poem so much I incorporated it into one of my novels, All the Broken Pieces.

The song that means the most to you…

Uprising by Muse. It’s a kick-arse song that always gets the blood pumping.

The unfulfilled ambition that continues to haunt you…

Supporting my family with my writing income. That’s the big dream. I will keep whacking away at that thing until I conquer it. Or die trying. 😊

Your early recollections of writing fiction…

I was in Grade 4 when I wrote a story for school. It was a sweeping saga set during the American Civil War (I’d recently watched Gone with the Wind) and featured a brave and beautiful heroine. It had some minor historical inaccuracies (like the heroine finding out the war was over when she heard it on the radio) but I clearly remember getting lost in the telling of that tale. Then, one day, I arrived at school to be told I was supposed to have finished it over the weekend. I hurriedly wrote a ‘and then I woke up’ ending and handed it in. The teacher loved it… except for the disappointing ending. I don’t blame her.

The crime you would commit knowing you could get away with it…

I would absolutely rob a bank. Gimme the cash!

The philosophy that underpins your life…

You can’t fail if you never give up. I may not be fast, but I am bloody tenacious.

The character you enjoyed writing the most…

Oh no, that’s like trying to choose between children. I suppose the character I enjoyed most was Jeremy (from Everything We Need and All the Broken Pieces). Probably because, of all my characters, he was the most ‘real’ to me. He’s the character I never made up. Instead, he waltzed into my head, fully formed, and introduced himself.

The character you found difficult to write…

Harrison (also from All the Broken Pieces) because he hurt the most. He suffered from Major Depressive Disorder and went through a depressive episode during the book. Put that together with his painful backstory and… well, I shed quite a few tears spending time with Harrison.

The book you enjoyed planning/writing the most…

That would definitely be my latest book, The Experiment. I never felt like I had to plot this book. Instead, the whole story downloaded into my head fully formed and all I had to do was roll with it. There was still a lot of work involved in the actual writing part, but I always knew the story was there. That took a ton of the pressure off, leaving me free to have fun with it.

And the promo…

Tell us something about your new release, The Experiment.

The Experiment is a contemporary MM romance. It contains friends-to-lovers, gay-for-you and first-time-gay tropes and has a solid HEA. There’s plenty of fun to be had, a little angst, and hot sexy times.

At its core, The Experiment is a story of self-awareness. It’s the push and pull between what we believe to be true about ourselves, and the subconscious parts of us that lurk deep beneath the surface. What would you do if you uncovered a part of yourself—an intensely vibrant part—that you had no idea was there? Would you want to learn more?

Where did the idea for The Experiment come from?

I was at home, minding my own business one day, when a new idea came to me in a flash of inspiration. I could see a man trying to psyche himself up to kiss another man, even though he really didn’t want to. I knew they were in a bar, and that he was doing it to satisfy a lost bet, but other than that I had no idea what was going on.

Then the man turned to his friend, who was sitting beside him, and said, “You know, mate, this would be a hell of a lot easier if you’d quit laughing.” In that instant, I knew the friend was the man he would end up kissing, and he would be anything but reluctant by the end of it.

I loved the idea so much I grabbed a notebook and pen and spent the next hour furiously scribbling down every detail I could come up with. That scene became the opening of The Experiment and that one line of dialogue is still there, exactly the way Patrick said it the first time.

What makes The Experiment different from other novels?

One of the interesting quirks of this book is that it isn’t set out in chapters. Instead, it’s divided into the sections of a research experiment. Including the Research Question, Participants and Methodology, and Data Gathering, all the way through to the Conclusion. It was an idea I had early in the planning, and it grabbed me from the start. The more I wrote the more the idea seemed to fit. By the end, I couldn’t imagine setting it out any other way.

Are you more like Patrick or Logan?

My personality definitely shows up more in Patrick’s character. Like Patrick, my background is in psychology. And, while I’m not as obsessed with self-awareness as Patrick, I am well and truly an overthinker. There is nothing I like better than experimenting with new tricks and techniques to find better ways of doing things. They usually have to do with trying to figure out how to write faster.

“You can do your experiment with me.”

My heart pounds, as I wait for him to respond to my offer. The part of me that’s sure he’ll say yes is already weak with relief that he won’t go out looking for anyone else. I don’t want other men touching Patrick. If he’s only ever going to do this experiment with one man, I want that man to be me.

“I thought you wanted to go back to the way things were.” His gaze is wary, and he has yet to move a muscle. “We’re friends, nothing more. That’s what you said.”

“Yes, and it’s still true,” I assure him. “I do want to go back to being friends. But we can do it after the experiment.”

His breath has quickened and, when he speaks again, his voice is rough. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“It’s the best viable solution,” I tell him, as if coating my possessiveness with a thick layer of pragmatism will make it less obvious. “Don’t forget, it was my kiss that breathed life into your queerness.” My body reacts to the idea of doing it again… and again… and again. However many times he needs to be satisfied. I make a show of licking my lips, enjoying the way he watches with rapt attention. “How much do you want to bet I can get more than a boner out of you?”

With a start, his eyes narrow and he points a finger at me. “No more bets.”

Laughing out loud, I nod. “That’s right. How could I forget?”

He runs a hand over the back of his neck as he looks around the bar, before returning his gaze to me. “I’ll admit, when I decided to do this, my first instinct was to come to you.” He gestures at me with an impatient hand. “You’re the only guy I’ve ever enjoyed kissing and it totally blew my mind. Why do you think I’m doing this in the first place?” he growls, his frustration coming through. “It’s not just because of what happened when we kissed. It’s the fact I can’t stop thinking about it.”

He’s not the only one. I’ve rubbed my cock raw in remembrance. The urge to shove him back against the nearby wall washes over me. I want to give him something new to think about. Ignoring the impulse, I swallow hard and speak in a low voice. “When you’re thinking about it, are these analytical thoughts about what it all means? Or are they wanking thoughts?”

He glances away, trying to appear nonchalant. “Both.”

My muscles tighten at the thought of him with his hand wrapped around his throbbing dick, fantasising about kissing me while he pants and moans his way to orgasm. I want to know what he looks like when he comes. What he sounds like. How he feels.

“But,” he says, with emphasis, interrupting the lustfest going on in my head, “I decided against it because I know you don’t—” The words cut off and his eyes close briefly. “I don’t want us to stop being friends.”

“I don’t want that either but, Patrick, you’re playing with fire here and assuming no one will steal the matches. I’m the only one I trust to do this right.”

He’s still reluctant. I can feel the force of his doubts. But he hasn’t said no.

“Patrick, listen to me.” I slide a hand around the back of his neck, urging him to meet my gaze. “You need someone you can trust to stop when you say stop, no matter what’s happening when you say it. Someone who won’t get pissed at you and accuse you of being a tease when you leave them with blue balls.” Releasing him, I grin. “Besides, you tried looking for someone else to kiss. It didn’t work. You chose me and now you’re stuck with me for the duration.”

He huffs out an indignant sound. “I could find someone else to kiss,” he blusters, “if I looked really hard… for about ten years.”

I laugh out loud, knowing I almost have him convinced. “Yeah, but even if you did, it wouldn’t matter.”

“Why is that?” He leans closer, as if he’s looking forward to my response.

In that instant, I realise how badly I want this—him. I want to tug on every thread of his sexuality, freeing each strand for thorough inspection. I want to tie him in knots, before making him unravel for me. And I want him to know, every second along the way, I’m the one who is doing this to him. That I’m the only man to ever make him feel this way.

Licking my lips, I take a step closer and bring my face in next to his. “Because even if you did hit your limit with someone else, you’d always wonder how much further I could have taken you.” I lower my head, so he can feel my breath against his neck as I go in for the kill. “Patrick, my friend, I’m going to drag your arse so far down my end of the spectrum, you’ll have to claw your way straight.”

Sorry, nope. I was 5% and already had 3 notes written about eye rolling things. Two of them were questionable language/phrasing. “Tickling man tonsils”? Seriously? And “He comes across as a breeder”. Sorry, but I take offense with that term.

And the last was “We don’t hang out all the time because you rub me the wrong way.” Said from one friend to another. When they both want to sleep with each other. Who tells a friend that they rub them the wrong way?

After those I had to go to Amazon and look up the author to see if I had read anything else by her. Big nope. Why? I think all but 2 or 3 were traditional hetero romances. It just makes me wonder why she then decided to write gay romance. Because it is popular? Sorry, go back to what you know.

I read the whole thing. It wasn’t AS cringy as the first 5%, but it wasn’t great. So much stereotyping. So much just silliness. Patrick is in a master’s program for developmental psychology and to justify his feelings for his friend Logan (out of the closet gay) he wants to approach it as an experiment.

He decided as a teenager that he was straight. That’s nice, but a developmental psychologist focusing on human sexuality will KNOW that sexuality is fluid. So, duh.

Logan was already kept a secret by another friend and it ruined a life long friendship. And he is going to do it again?

I’m sorry, it was just not a good book at all. Get a good beta reader (or 5) who know MM romance. Because this wasn’t it.

Rebecca is a long-time lover of all things romance. Whether it’s a book, movie, or real life, she will always have more fun if there’s a love interest thrown into the mix. She lives in Queensland, Australia with her very own hero husband, two quirky kids and one big, black dog. Other than reading and writing books, her favourite things include loud music, enjoying a glass of wine on the patio, organising everything in existence, and spending too much time on the Internet.

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Too Close to the Flame by Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood: Exclusive Author Interview, Excerpt and Giveaway

August 3, 2020 by Denise

One of my favorite exclusives is Author Interviews. I just love to get to know the authors better, and what they think about the characters they’ve written. Today we have a great interview with the authors of the new release Too Close to the Flame, Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood. We get a little bit of everything in this interview. Love! 🙂 So take a look, read the excerpt and don’t forget the giveaway down below!

Can he ever learn to trust again?

Brandon Weber’s old boyfriend almost beat him to death. Brandon survived, but still bears the emotional scars. Eighteen months later, he has withdrawn into himself, convinced he’ll never be able to trust another man.

Devin Macadam, fresh out of law school, has an exciting new job. He is also on the lookout for just the right guy, someone to take care of and love.

When Devin shows up for the first day of work at his new office, he meets Brandon, a legal assistant there. Sparks fly, but Brandon is paralyzed by fear and isn’t about to give another man the power to hurt him again. Devin, never one to give up easily, doesn’t want to take no for an answer. Both men feel the magic, but can their relationship ever get past the friend zone?

Too Close to the Flame is a dark-to-light, sweet romance featuring out and proud gay men, lots of feels, steamy love scenes, and a wonderful happy ending. The book is approximately 86,000 words and has X-Ray enabled for your reading pleasure.

Trigger Warning: Too Close to the Flame contains specific memories of physical abuse.

Title: Too Close to the Flame

Author: Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood

Publisher: Wainscott Press

Release Date: July 31, 2020

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 86,000 words

Genre: Romance, Hurt/Comfort Gay Romance, Sweet Gay Romance

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Interview with Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood on the Release of Their New Book, Too Close to the Flame

Tell us about yourselves. You’re married, right?

RYAN: We are married. We met in law school and were attracted to each other right away. Soon, we started dating, and eventually got married several years later, in 2017.

JOSH: Ryan practices law, and writing is a side gig for us. We spend as much time as possible together, and have a constant companion in our big, goofy German shepherd.

How did you start writing?

RYAN: Josh started reading gay romances, and after he made me read a few, I got hooked on them too.

JOSH: A lot of the books out there are really good, even inspirational. We have such a beautiful love story of our own that we wanted to share parts of it. Also, we thought we had a unique perspective from which we could portray gay male characters as authentically as possible.

RYAN: We wanted to find issues that were important to us and gently work them into our stories. For example, in What He Really Needs, we dealt a bit with immigrants’ and women’s rights in the workplace.

Josh: When we got back from our honeymoon, we started our first book, No Brief Affair. It took us a year to write, and it tells some of our own story with a lot of fiction thrown in.

Do you still write a book a year?

RYAN: No, we’ve gotten faster. Our current goal is to put out three or four books a year.

JOSH: That’s a lot, considering that Ryan works fulltime, but we’re dedicated to trying.

Let’s switch to the book that was just released, Too Close to the Flame. What can you tell us about it?

RYAN: Too Close to the Flame is a slow burn, hurt/comfort, sweet love story about Brandon and Devin. Brandon works as a legal assistant in a law practice, and Devin, who has just graduated from law school, goes to work there. As soon as they meet, they’re smitten with each other.

JOSH: Each tries to resist the attraction, for his own reasons. Devin soon gives in and tries to get Brandon interested in dating, but Brandon holds back. He has a secret—his old boyfriend was an abuser and almost killed him.

RYAN: Devin eventually finds out, and the two men become friends. Eventually, they become boyfriends.

JOSH: There are some hard patches as Brandon begins to recover from what he went through. Devin’s there to help him, and once Brandon lets him in, their romance blooms into something beautiful.

RYAN: There’s nothing like true love to help you recover from bad things, which is one of the points we wanted to make.

JOSH: The other thing we want to do is bring attention to the often neglected issue of domestic violence in gay relationships.

RYAN: Brandon suffered, but Devin begins to draw him out of his shell. The romance blooms and takes off. The rest of the book is about Brandon’s increasing confidence as Devin shows him unconditional love. Brandon also helps Devin by trusting him so much. The book absolutely roars into an extremely happy-ever-after ending.

It sounds really good. Is it intense?

JOSH: There are only a few places early in the book where the abuse is discussed graphically. Other than that, it’s something their love overcomes.

RYAN: We put a trigger warning on the book for people with special sensitivity to the topic, but everyone else should be fine. Too Close to the Flame is a happy book—it’s just that the characters have to earn their happiness.

JOSH: We hope people will appreciate the beautiful story and celebrate everything Devin and Brandon find in each other.

A few more questions. What do you guys like to do in your spare time?

RYAN & JOSH: (Laughing.) Write.

JOSH: Fulltime work and putting out three or four books a year doesn’t leave a lot of spare time.

RYAN: We enjoy hanging out a lot. Sometimes we watch movies or play games, and we love to cuddle up and read.

JOSH: I like gardening. I used to watch my grandpa do it, and as an adult I wanted to try. It’s very Zen.

RYAN: I love to swim, and I was on my high school and college swim teams. Now, I especially enjoy it when my husband joins me in one of the Speedos I buy him.

JOSH: You goofball! I do not wear Speedos, hardly ever.

RYAN: I know. You make me wait for it!

JOSH: (Poking Ryan in the ribs.) Is it worth the wait?

RYAN: (With a straight face.) I keep buying them, don’t I?

Anything else you like to do?

RYAN: We love bike rides and walks. The dog loves to play, so we spend as much time doing that as we can.

JOSH: Cooking. We like to cook together, but we both love making food for each other too.

All right, every interviewer has to ask a few silly questions, so here we go. Salty snacks or sweet?

RYAN: Josh prefers salty and I like sweet.

Wine or beer?

JOSH: We enjoy both, but Ryan’s a big fan of craft beers. I usually prefer a nice wine.

Tea or coffee?

RYAN: We’re definitely a split household on that issue. I love coffee and Josh is a tea man.

What’s your favorite place to vacation?

RYAN: Anywhere we are. We love to travel, especially in Europe, but we have a trip to Australia on the books. We were going to go this summer, but with everything that’s happening, it wasn’t possible. We’ve rescheduled for December and hope we can go then.

JOSH: We love nice beaches. The Caribbean, Hawaii, and Spain have the best, of the places we’ve been.

RYAN: We both love the winter and it’s fun to ski and go snowmobiling.

JOSH: Ryan likes to snowboard, but I don’t do that.

RYAN: (With a hopeful smile.) Do it with me this year?

JOSH: Not on your life. I prefer having all my limbs in one piece.

Thanks for being with us today. Anything else you’d like to say?

JOSH: We’d like to send out a huge thank you to everyone who reads Too Close to the Flame. You guys have a lot of books to choose from, and every time you read one of ours, we are very thankful to you.

RYAN: Let us know how you like it. Also, consider joining our Facebook group, Ryan and Josh’s Room. We’re in there every day, so it’s a good way to stay in touch. We’ll leave a link right below.

I raced into the kitchen like a madman, afraid that something was on fire. Acrid, gray smoke billowed out of the toaster, and I barely kept from yelling in frustration. Everything was going wrong this morning. My alarm hadn’t gone off, the water in the shower was cold, I cut myself shaving, and my best blue suit had come back from the dry cleaner with a stain on the lapel.

After unplugging the toaster, I used a fork to coax out the pieces of charcoal that used to be a bagel. Damn it!—it was the last one. Now I’d have to take time to scramble eggs, because there was no way I could go to my first day at a new job on an empty stomach.

Returning to the bedroom, I decided my gray suit would have to do. A white shirt and maroon Hermès tie made it look better than it was, and I wore my black cap toe oxfords. They were comfortable and looked great with the suit. Another glance in the mirror and I headed back into the kitchen, where I barely had time to cook and inhale three eggs. The drive to the office had taken about fifteen minutes when I did a practice run a few days earlier, but I wanted to leave half an hour early just in case.

The extra time turned out to be a good thing. Traffic on Massachusetts Avenue was mostly fine, but there was an accident where I was supposed to turn onto 9th Street. I sat for ten minutes waiting to make the turn. “Fuck!” I yelled about five minutes into the delay, and banged on the steering wheel for good measure. I ended the tantrum with a long blast of my horn.

My new job was a good one, and I wanted to do well. I had to be ready to do anything, as soon as I was asked to do it. Furthermore, I had to do a kickass job because I didn’t want anyone thinking I got the position because of my last name. But being the best wasn’t only measured by doing great work. Early and eager were watchwords I needed to live by.

Waiting for the intersection to clear, I thought back over the last few months. When I graduated from law school in May, I felt like I had the world by the tail—law degree, awesome boyfriend, and a job waiting at one of the hottest boutique firms in the nation’s capital. Things changed when I got home from bar exam prep class one day and heard a strange knocking noise in the bedroom. Afraid someone had broken in, I picked up a baseball bat that was leaning against the wall—I hadn’t put it away after our game the night before—and slowly crept through the apartment. When I pushed the bedroom door open, I almost threw up. My awesome boyfriend was riding one of our supposed best friends in the middle of our goddamned bed, his face screwed up in the ecstatic expression I’d thought was only for me to see. He must have heard the door creak, because he opened his eyes and smiled. “Hey, Dev. Want to join?”

Barely resisting the urge to wield my bat on both of them, I left the apartment and went to cry on my friend Jacob’s shoulder. He was a 2L, a year behind me, and was my best buddy since I helped with orientation for his class. After listening to me curse fate for a while, he pointed out that the lease to the apartment I shared with my ex–boyfriend was in my name. After a beer to soothe my nerves, he and I walked back the building where I lived. The ex-boyfriend was gone, so Jacob and I packed up his stuff and carried it out onto the front steps.

A honking horn brought me back to the present. Traffic was moving again, and I made it to the office with five minutes to spare. After introducing myself to the receptionist, I asked for Liam Macadam, my new boss. She made a quick call, but it wasn’t Liam who came around the corner thirty seconds later. An impossibly beautiful man with light blond hair and sparkling, sapphire eyes, put out a hand. “I’m Brandon Weber.”

I took his hand and —whoa!— the spark flew right up my arm. I jerked away. “Sorry. Static electricity?”

We both chuckled but he seemed frozen in place as he didn’t put his arm down. Seeing too good an opportunity to pass up, I reached for his hand again. He widened his eyes and I realized I needed to say something. “I’m Devin Macadam. Today is my first day.”

Brandon broadened his smile and nodded. “I know who you are. I’m Liam’s assistant. He’s running a little late, but he’ll be here soon.”

I gave him a flirty smile but couldn’t seem to move. After a moment, Brandon tugged his hand away. “Why don’t I show you your office and give you a tour?”

The spell was broken, and I quickly put my professional expression back on. “That sounds good. This is a nice place.”

“We like it. It’s an old warehouse, and you should have seen it when Liam and Michael—the first two partners—rented it. The building was a disaster and needed to be completely renovated. I can’t believe it’s the same place.”

A small cleft in Brandon’s chin caught my eye, and it was a few beats too long before I answered. “Yeah, it’s nice.” Oh God, get a grip. He’s a guy, that’s all.

Brandon put a hand on my elbow and guided us down the hallway. I noticed that he moved with an unusual, stiff gait. Three doors in, on the right, he held out his hand. “Here we are.”

Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood met in law school and were married in 2017. They live in a suburb of Washington, DC, and share their home with a big, cuddly German shepherd. Ryan and Josh enjoy travel, friends, and advocating for causes dear to their hearts. In addition, Ryan loves to swim, and Josh likes to pretend he has a green thumb every chance he gets. Both men love writing, and the romance they were so lucky to find with each other inspires their stories about love between out and proud men. You can contact them through their website at www.ryanandjoshth.com.

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https://www.facebook.com/ryanandjoshth

https://twitter.com/RyanTaylorandJ1

ryan-josh@ryanandjoshth.com

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https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07L3D9PZ1

Ryan and Josh’s Room

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rjthroom/

Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood’s Website

https://www.ryanandjoshth.com/

Tour Schedule

8/3 Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy https://twochicksobsessed.com/

8/4 Bayou Book Junkie https://bayoubookjunkie.wordpress.com

8/5 Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews http://wickedfaeriesreviews.blogspot.com/

8/6 Love Bytes Reviews http://lovebytesreviews.com/

8/7 Boy Meets Boy Reviews http://boymeetsboyreviews.blogspot.com

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Barely Regal (Rosavia Royals Book 5) by E. Davies: Exclusive Author Interview, Blog Tour, New Release Review and Giveaway

July 15, 2020 by Denise

A bratty boy prince needs: a firm but fair Daddy.

Prince Renford is a royal brat. Nineteen and last in line for the throne, Wren hates his made-up job: Commander of Roses. Good thing his long-time valet has a firm hand—if only Wren could tempt him to break all palace protocol and use it.

Thom Pierce is sixteen years older. Old enough to know he should ignore his prince’s less-than-subtle flirtation. He’s been burned by a higher-ranked boy before. His job and reputation are at stake if the palace catches a scandal unfolding under their noses.

Wren needs the part of Thom that he’s kept locked away for years. If the young prince wants to be taken as seriously as his older brothers, he has to grow up fast. Thom’s rules could help Wren become the man Thom knows he can be in time for the Royal Ball… or they could attract the very attention that forces them apart forever.

Welcome to the tiny European country of Rosavia, where roses ramble over alpine slopes and princes fall for the men of their dreams. Every Rosavia Royals book happens simultaneously, so books can be read on their own, or in any order… but keep an eye out for familiar faces around the palace!

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

How did you become a part of this project/world?

Funny story, actually! The covers came first—they started out as premade covers from our wonderful cover designer, AngstyG. The time zones happened to work out perfectly: I was on vacation and Helen (HJ Welch) was awake late, so we saw them straight away. Helen said, “We HAVE to do an MM royalty shared universe!” and that was it!

We’d already learned how to build a shared world while working together to run Men of Hidden Creek (I herd the cats and set up and Helen cheerleads). So we quickly set about recruiting our shared beta reader, editor, etc, and reaching out to authors as we started collaboratively building the world of Rosavia. This time, we’ve really focused on getting all the authors to beta-read for each other as we wrote so that we could nail as many crossovers as possible. And I’ve also been the main series organizer post-draft-completion, so I feel like I’ve been living in Rosavia since late February! It’s very weird but incredibly exciting to finally share it with the rest of the world.

Where did your story’s inspiration come from?

The title of Barely Regal came to me first; I knew I wanted to write the story of the youngest prince, and as a youngest child myself, I knew that he was going to be a feisty little rebel who hadn’t yet learned the importance of his own duties. Muddy little Renford (or Wren, for short) came to life in a flash. I also knew from the very start that I wanted to write his valet, Thom Pierce, experiencing a conflict of interest between his palace duties and the pull he feels to fulfil Wren’s needs.

Also, on the cover, Wren has mud streaked across his neck. I decided that he’s learning to garden, and that the roses in Rosavia represent each family. Each royal family member has their own rose created for them at birth, so when they marry, another rose is created by crossing the couple’s varieties. Of course, when you’re marrying someone you were never expected to end up with, this creates complications…

How did you create your Prince?

Once I realized that Wren had to be the youngest prince, his bratty, flirtatious nature was obvious. And every brat needs a Daddy! The obvious man for the job was Thom, the quiet valet who has guided and steered him for the last decade. These two just came to life at the same moment, because they’re so made-for-each-other.

I really wanted to tell the story of Wren growing into his duties. Through the course of the story, Wren starts off feeling like he’s not taken seriously. I think last-born kids can relate to that feeling of being babied for too long, and it’s not helped by his own bratty nature! But luckily someone’s there to see what’s immaturity and what’s Wren’s need for a strong guiding hand. Over the story, Wren comes to realize that he’s actually playing an important role in telling the royal family’s story, and his unique talents matter.

Five books by five authors about five different brothers who are part of a monarchy in the fictional country of Rosavia. You’ll see this is book 5, but all 5 books occur simultaneously, culminating with the Royal Ball that is celebrating 500th birthday of the country. So they can be read in any order because they are all happily ever afters and those HEAs are revealed at the end of each book. So book 1 reveals the that yes, prince 5 did in fact end up with his valet.

I’ve read three of the books so far, and this one remains my favorite. I think partly because the characters get into a specific type of relationship, congruent with their romantic relationship, and I think it was well done without being too serious. And really, Wren is just kind of funny. He is 19 and acts 19. Which I think is awesome, even with the monarchy. He is kind of awkward trying to flirt and be sexy with his valet who is not only 16 years older than him, but has also been his valet for a long time. He has seen Wren from a child at his worse to a burgeoning man. And while he tries to stay away, he just can’t.

Add in some crazy cats, blueberry lube, a serious rose garden and very accepting parents, this was a fun book to read. I suspended all belief for this sweet, romantic, sexy fairy tale of a series. You should too.

4 pieces of eye candy

Book 1: Up for Heir By Stella Starling

A playboy heir needs a man to marry, right now.

After spending half his life dodging his duty to the crown, the rebel heir to the Rosavian throne has been told in no uncertain terms that it’s time to settle down. Crown Prince Leopold has one month and a vetted list of suitable princesses, and he will announce his engagement during Rosavia’s Royal Ball. But Leo’s got his own ideas about what really suits him…

Royal Librarian Edvin Blom is good at not attracting attention. Shy and self-conscious of his stutter, he’s used to being overlooked and more than happy to stay in the background. At least, until the crown prince with a wild reputation shows up at the library’s new opening and decides to flirt with Edvin’s sister…

Edvin isn’t at all what Leo thought he wanted, but turns out to be everything he can’t stay away from. Edvin’s been burned by falling for someone out of his league before, though. And believing that Leo has really fallen for him? While Edvin’s drowning in his own doubts and insecurities, that might prove impossible… unless love gives them both a reason to come up for air.

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Book 2: Reign or Shine By HJ Welch

A secret prince needs a lost tourist to save.

Prince Cassander is on vacation from his overdeveloped sense of duty. While hiding out as simply ‘Cas’ in the Rosavian capital, he rescues a gorgeous, distressed American tourist. Matty has no idea that Cas is second in line to the throne. And with only two weeks together to explore the sparks between them, he doesn’t need to ever find out.

New Yorker Matty Doyle is a fish out of water, taking care of his niece and mending his broken heart. When Cas rescues him, the handsome stranger coaxes Matty out of his shell and he throws caution to the wind. Nobody knows him here. Would it hurt to live a little for once?

But a prince can’t stay secret in his own country for long. Cas would give anything to protect Matty from reality, but how can this fantasy together continue when they belong in different worlds?

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Book 3: Throne Together By Zoe Dawn

A pining prince needs: a second chance at love.

Prince Julius has only ever wanted one man. Raised alongside Prince Dante of Thedes, the two were inseparable until their unspoken mutual attraction ignited into a single passionate encounter. Convinced that it ruined their friendship, Julius retreated to his duties in Rosavia, where he daydreams of another chance to win Dante’s heart.

After four years apart, fate brings Prince Julius back to Thedes. He offers Dante a coveted invitation: return to the Rosavian palace for ten days, and be his plus-one to the Royal Ball of the century. Before long, they realize one night of passion wasn’t enough, and they can’t imagine losing each other again.

As the clock ticks down to the ball, Julius catches wind of Dante’s family meddling, and he must decide if their feelings are real or if they’ve both been played. Were they always meant for each other, or is it all an illusion that will melt away at midnight?

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Book 4: In His Court by Max Rowan

A spy prince needs a man who sees through his disguise.

Prince Benedict is not what he seems. His image as a lazy playboy is carefully constructed to hide the truth. Trained since childhood to become Rosavia’s top spy, he spends his life in disguise—and danger—to protect his country. Nobody sees the loneliness in his heart.

Felix Wright is a genius with four degrees, no real-world experience, and a top-secret job… and he’s never even been kissed. A lifetime of being alienated for his most valuable assets has left him reluctant to trust the charming prince who thrusts him into fieldwork for the very first time.

When the Crown Jewels are stolen two weeks before the royal ball, it’s their job to save the country’s reputation. Benedict helps Felix believe in himself, while Felix slowly coaxes the real prince out of hiding. But can they find the jewels and rescue the most priceless treasures of all: each other?

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Rosavia Royals Out Now!

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E. Davies grew up moving constantly, which taught him what people have in common, the ways relationships are formed, and the dangers of “miscellaneous” boxes. As a young gay author, Ed prefers to tell feel-good stories that are brimming with hope.

He writes full-time, goes on long nature walks, tries to fill his passport, drinks piña coladas on the beach, flees from cute guys, coos over fuzzy animals (especially bees), and is liable to tilt his head and click his tongue if you don’t use your turn signal.

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Arctic Heat by Annabeth Albert: Exclusive Author Guest Post and Interview, Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

September 23, 2019 by Denise

A lasting connection needs more than simply surviving a winter together—they’ll have to outsmart danger, let down their defenses and open their hearts.

Owen Han has a fresh lease on life—he’s kicked cancer’s ass and is roaring through his bucket list. The former investment banker hopes to find his next challenge in Alaska, volunteering alongside park rangers and fulfilling his childhood dreams of snowy winters and rustic life. Of course, those dreams did tend to feature big strapping mountain men in vivid detail…

Ranger Quilleran Ramsey would like to be anywhere other than dealing with newbie volunteers. And really, the only thing he needs less than a green volunteer “partner” is the flirty attentions of a buff city boy who doesn’t look ready to last a week, let alone an Alaskan winter. They’re all wrong for each other, even if Quill’s traitorous body enjoys the flirting more than it should.

As the weeks pass, the two snowbound men give in to temptation. But can their seasonal romance last until spring? For them to have a future together, each will have to trust the other…while hoping that the harsh elements and omnipresent dangers don’t destroy what happiness they’ve found in the moment.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

This book is approximately 89,000 words

ARCTIC HEAT by Annabeth Albert

Series: Frozen Hearts #3

Publisher: Carina Press

Release Date: Sept. 23 (ebook/audio), Oct 1 (print)

Length (Print & Ebook): 89,000 words

Subgenre: m/m contemporary romance/ action adventure m/m romance, interracial romance

Warnings: None.

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Hi! I’m so thrilled to be here on Two Chicks Obsessed, one of my favorite blogs! I’m here with some Q&A about ARCTIC HEAT, my newest release in the Frozen Hearts series set in Alaska. As with the other two books in the series, this one stands alone fine—there’s only the briefest of mentions of the prior books’ couples and no spoilers. This is my opposites-attract, odd couple roommates, snowbound romance as a seasoned ranger finds himself paired with a newbie volunteer for the winter season where they’ll be snowed in together at a remote Alaska state park. Quill and Owen were so much fun to write, and I can’t wait for readers to meet them! Got other questions for me? Be sure and hit me up on social media! I love hearing from my readers!

Where did you draw inspiration for an Alaskan series from?
- I’ve always loved the Arctic setting, and I have a fond place in my heart for the old-school Alaskan romances from authors like Nora Roberts and Debbie Macomber and other category romances taking place in Alaska. When I was brainstorming a new series, I wanted to capture that feel—big scenery, rugged terrain, real dangers, isolated settings—but in a modern way that welcomed some LGBTQ pairings and reflected changes, both in Alaska itself, but also in the romance genre. I wanted romances that felt fresh and real but still had all the appeal of some of my favorite Alaska tropes, like snowbound and close proximity!
How much ‘world building’ takes place before you start writing?
- For this series, there was a ton of background research. Maps. Biographies. Websites. Message boards. State documents. Documentaries. I tried to really immerse myself in the world as best I could and then started fleshing out the plot from that point. While completely fictional, I did try to ground the series in reality, basing locales on actual places I discovered in my research and trying to make the plot points feasible. I also do a lot of characterization work before I start writing, really digging deep into conflict, motivation, wants, need, and desires for each character.
When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
- Each book in the Frozen Hearts series has a different couple with unique background and unique hurdles to their HEA. This keeps things fresh for me because each character needs different things and as a result, each book is very different. I also kept things fresh by doing different times of year—Book 1 is Summer into Fall. Book 2 is Late Spring into Summer. Book 3 is Fall into Winter. Also the tropes vary from book-to-book within the series. Book 1, ARCTIC SUN is very much an opposites-attract, hurt/comfort romance. Book 2, ARCTIC WILD is a May/December romance with a plane crash at its center. Book 3, ARCTIC HEAT, is a fish-out-of-water, close proximity, snowbound romance. Varying the tropes kept me on my toes, and I think it also lets each book stand on its own with readers. I also tried for not too much crossover between books so that each truly can stand alone and reader can read in the order that they prefer.
What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?
- Writing from Oregon, my biggest challenge was in not being there! Absolutely, not being able to take a weekend trip to explore a locale in the book was a big issue for me throughout the series. I had AMAZING beta readers for the series who were from Alaska, and I owe a huge debt to them.
What’s your favorite scene from this book?
- Without giving away too many spoilers, I have to say that while this isn’t a holiday romance, the Christmas scene is probably my favorite romantic moment in the book, but there were so many little moments and scenes I loved!

Thank you so very much for having me! I hope you check out ARCTIC HEAT!

“Tea for everyone. Then a hot shower and lots of blankets,” Owen declared as they entered the building, bossy streak making a blessed reappearance right when Quill really needed to not be the one thinking. If Owen had a plan, so much the better because Quill wasn’t good for much besides stripping off his gear, stowing his piece, stomping upstairs, and flopping into a kitchen chair. Owen draped one of the blankets from the couch around his shoulders before doing the same for himself, wearing it like a cape as he made tea. “Bourbon in yours? I found a bottle in the cabinet the other week.”

“Yeah.” Quill didn’t often imbibe, but he needed the burn of the liquor even more than any warmth-giving properties. The bourbon was there exactly for nights like this one where Quill had done his best and it still hadn’t been enough. Fucking universe and its random acts of cruelty.

After adding a healthy glug of liquor to each of their mugs, Owen shoved a cup at Quill. He also put a plate of cookies from the batch that got baked on the table. “Here you go. Eat something so the alcohol doesn’t hit too hard.”

“Feels like I should be the one taking care of you,” Quill admitted after he’d had a few sips of tea, let the warmth and burn work past the tightness in his throat and chest.

“We can take care of each other,” Owen countered, pulling his chair close to Quill’s. “That’s what we’re here for, right?”

A few hours ago, Quill would have argued that being alone was the best way to cope with something like this—find a way to push through and on to the next day either with the aid of some strong drink or just a restless night spent replaying the events until sleep did its thing, softened the edges of the awfulness. But when Owen grabbed his hand, squeezed, and looked at him with such compassion in his eyes, Quill couldn’t find it in himself to pull away.

“Yeah,” he said, even as he knew that he shouldn’t let himself come to need Owen like this, to lean on him. He and Hattie had always tended to retreat to their own corners after a hard shift, and he prided himself on being a strong man. Sure, accidents like this affected him as they would anyone, but he’d always tried to handle those emotions on his own. Harsh memories of his father’s comments about men who showed their feelings didn’t help any, but lately all those memories, all the family drama, seemed more distant. Less sharp.

And funny how without that mantle of a painful past, his present seemed somehow more hopeful, old wounds and past fears no match for Owen. In fact, they’d been on the verge of another disagreement when Owen had dropped everything to come help. And now here he was, taking care of Quill yet again. Owen simply didn’t seem to have it in him to hold a grudge too long. Quill would be a fool to pull away now, even if he knew the next night like this, the inevitable one after Owen left, would hurt that much more. But that moment, all he wanted to do was hold Owen close, take every comfort he offered from Christmas lights to hot toddies to underdone gingerbread to that strong hand of his, holding on when Quill needed it most.

Sweet, slow burn, opposites attract. It was….nice.

The third in the series she set in Alaska, this time we get the introverted park ranger and extroverted volunteer. Of course they are paired together.

I really loved the story- Owen the volunteer trying so hard to at least be friends with Quill. Hearing about all that they do as rangers and volunteers. The Northern Lights, the super short days, the cabin fever.

I just didn’t really feel the heat with Owen and Quill. And even though I really liked Owen, I just didn’t see him living a remote life like that. Several times in the book he stated he was going crazy from not having anyone to talk to.

The story is definitely readable- especially if you are a fan of the author and/or Alaska. I’m just not going to put it in her top ten.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance series include the #FrozenHearts, #OutOfUniform, #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat, #RainbowCove and #PerfectHarmony series.

To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.

Connect with Annabeth:

Website: http://annabethalbert.com/

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Dine With Me by Layla Reyne: Blog Tour, Interview, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

September 16, 2019 by Denise

Life never tasted so good.

Miller Sykes’s meteoric rise to award-winning chef is the stuff of culinary dreams, but it’s all crashing down around him. He’s been given a diagnosis that could cost him something even more precious than his life: his sense of taste. Rather than risk the very thing that defines him, Miller embarks on a last tour of his favorite meals while he still can.

But there’s a catch: he needs a financial backer to make it happen, and he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s sick.

Dr. Clancy Rhodes has two weeks to come to terms with putting aside oncology to work at his father’s thriving plastic surgery practice. When the opportunity to travel with a Michelin-starred chef presents itself, the foodie in him can’t believe it. It doesn’t hurt that Miller’s rugged good looks are exactly Clancy’s cup of joe.

As Clancy and Miller travel from coast to coast and indulge in everything from dive bars to the most decadent of culinary experiences, they’re suddenly sharing a lot more than delicious meals. Sparks fly as they bond over their love of flavors and the pressures of great expectations. But when Miller’s health takes a turn for the worse, Clancy must convince him he’s more—so much more—than just his taste buds. And that together, they can win a battle that once seemed hopeless.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

This book is approximately 69,000 words

Title: Dine With Me

Author: Layla Reyne

Release Date (e-book and audio): September 16, 2019

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Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?

LR: It’s not just Miller and Clancy in this story. There’s a supporting cast of characters—family, of the blood and found sort—that I absolutely adored writing. And they support, first and foremost. No one here is trying to foil or divert our main characters, and I love that about this story. They are there to support Miller and Clancy, as best and as full-of-heart as they can.

Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

LR: Every place Miller and Clancy visited is a place I’ve dined or based on a place I dined. (Sadly, a few of my favorites had closed!) Each place in this book is as special to me, for my own reasons, as it is for Miller and Clancy. For instance, one of the stops is The French Laundry, which is where my husband and I got married, so it holds a special place in my heart too.

Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?

LR: Ohmigod, they both do. This story has been rattling around in my head since 2015. It was on the initial list of project ideas I gave my agent. There’s a lot of me in both Clancy and Miller (more so Clancy, my husband more so Miller), but it’s really a love letter to all the amazing dining experiences I’ve been so lucky to have in my life.

What is the significance of the title?

LR: It starts as the opening line of the advertisement Miller posts for the tour. It also ends the book in a way that still makes me happy sigh.

What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?

LR: This is a standalone, so there won’t be a sequel. Though keep your eyes peeled for a special project involving one of the secondary characters.

If you had to describe character Miller Sykes in three words, what would those three words be?

LR: Loyal, Self-Sacrificing, Stubborn

If you had to describe character Clancy Rhodes in three words, what would those three words be?

LR: Earnest, Honest, Risk-taker

If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?

LR: Oh, this is easy (since the book has been in my head for YEARS). I’ve always had Clive Standen as my fancast for Miller and Grant Gustin as my fancast for Clancy.

Was the writing process different and what challenges did you face writing contemporary romance versus romantic suspense?

LR: I couldn’t just throw a car chase or explosion in when I needed to pick up the pace! But seriously, I really did have to dig deep to center this one more on emotions, more on the journey of these two men, individually and potentially together in the future. That’s what’s driving the story, versus my usual twisty plot.

Seventies Santa laid a hand on Clancy’s hip, and the connection between Miller and Clancy snapped, the latter’s attention drawn to the interloper. Miller was off his stool the next instant. If he thought too hard on it, he’d reverse course and walk out the door instead of onto the dance floor. Let Clancy pursue things with the attractive man who was clearly interested in him. Who wouldn’t be? And why shouldn’t it be Santa? It sure as hell shouldn’t be Miller, who had a death sentence hanging over his head.

He had no business making any sort of claim on Clancy. No business getting more involved with him, even if only for the week they had left together. No business shoving his body between Santa’s and Clancy’s, knocking Santa’s hands off him, and grasping Clancy’s hips. No business, when Clancy grinned and stepped forward, coasting his hands over Clancy’s hips and splaying his fingers across the curve of that perfect ass.

Santa ceased to exist, Clancy’s attention totally on him.

“Dancing,” Miller shouted over the music. “Wouldn’t have figured.”

Clancy leaned forward, speaking right into Miller’s ear. “Did you miss the part where I like dick and live in WeHo?”

Laughter bubbled out of Miller, and Clancy’s goofy smile made him impossibly sexier. That body, those moves, and still the irrepressible brightness. Miller stepped closer, swiping back Clancy’s damp hair and letting his fingers drift slowly through it. “Fuck, you’re stunning.”

Smile wide, Clancy draped his arms over Miller’s shoulders and brought their bodies into brushing contact. “Dance with me, Chef.”

Miller didn’t even care about the slip, not when it was uttered in that low, sexy voice, seducing him into movement.

Song after song, they swayed and writhed in sync, their bodies like magnets inching closer and closer. Miller couldn’t say how many songs it was before his forehead fell against Clancy’s and the last bit of distance between their bodies vanished. The instinct was there to close the distance between their mouths too, but almost as strong was the profound relief rushing through Miller. He’d needed this release, needed to let go and forget about everything except moving his body in time with the gorgeous man in his arms. Clancy had known that, had recognized it while they’d sat at the bar, and had made it happen. He’d been exactly what and who Miller needed tonight.

“Thank you,” Miller whispered.

“You’re welcome.” Clancy’s warm breath tickled his lips. “But this is ninety-five percent selfish on my part.”

“It’s one hundred percent selfish on mine.”

Clancy looked up with dilated eyes, only a thin ring of dark green visible. He licked his lips, and if he hadn’t spoken, Miller would have claimed them. “I’m more than okay with that.”

Unhooking his arms from behind Miller’s neck, Clancy ran his hands over Miller’s shoulders and down his arms, tracing the ink. They traveled back up, then down his chest, fingers curling in Miller’s T-shirt. Clancy dragged them backward until his back hit the wall. Miller tried to slam on the brakes, not wanting to crush Clancy, not wanting to eat him alive in public, but Clancy kept hauling him forward. Cheek to cheek, chest to chest, Clancy slid a knee between Miller’s legs and pressed his thigh up against Miller’s straining cock. Clancy canted his hips, revealing his own need, and Miller couldn’t stop himself from rocking forward. He shoved a hand between the wall and Clancy’s ass and grabbed a handful of cheek, holding Clancy and his dick tight to him, chasing after this feeling. Heat, relief, life, desire, all driving him higher. He snuck his other hand under the hem of Clancy’s shirt, dragging his fingertips through the sweat at the small of his back. A shiver raced through Clancy, and Miller thrust his hips again. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this turned on, had felt so wanted while also wanting so much.

Clancy nipped his earlobe. “Be selfish a little longer.” He dragged his lips along the line of Miller’s beard and over his cheek, angling toward his mouth.

Miller wanted to taste him, more than he’d ever wanted to taste anything. Wanted to taste the hot, flushed skin behind Clancy’s ear, the sweat from his back that slicked Miller’s fingers, and the softly curving lips that had tempted Miller every time they’d closed around a damn fork. He wanted to know how the bitter, spicy sweetness of the Vieux Carré mixed with Clancy’s own unique flavor.

This is both a foodie lover’s dream and a romance lover’s dream. Long, slow burn and a happily ever after (no spoiler there, it says it right in the blurb).

Miller is all about food. As a chef but also as a foodie. He loves and appreciates it all- from burgers to the finest meal at the finest restaurant. And with his mortality in question, he wants to eat it all one last time.

Clancy finished his residency and is about to join his father’s medical practice in LA. But before that, his parents are footing the bill for him and Miller to take a two week eating tour of all of Miller’s favorite spots. Because even though he is a doctor, Clancy is a total foodie. He wants to eat it all, experience it all, talk about and dissect it all.

They talk about food. A LOT. They eat A LOT of food. And we are all in with the first restaurant, the real life The French Laundry. Where they eat various courses for 4 hours.

So you’d better like reading about food. Luckily for me, I really do.

I loved following these guys as they traveled to different spots in the United States. The best is that they weren’t always the best of the best by Michelin stars standards. They were the best in Miller’s heart for various reasons.

The bison stew was amazing, but they were also there for the view. Irish pub food in NYC that you could get on any corner, but this is where Miller and his two best friends really cut their teeth in the business.

And through the travels and the food and the stories, Clancy begins to really try to diagnose Miller, because his excuse of altitude sickness isn’t cutting it. But he is also trying to respect Miller’s boundaries. All the while caring more and more about the man as a friend. And questioning his career choice to work with his father in plastic surgery instead of his first love of oncology.

There is not a meal that wasn’t on purpose. Even when they hit a road block with one of the scheduled stops. They improvised and another magical meal with meaning (sorry for the alliteration) was enjoyed.

The sicker Miller got, the more Clancy wanted to help. But also the sicker he got, the more his defenses slipped around Clancy. Until neither could fight it any longer. Which just made it all the better.

If you don’t love and or appreciate food and the restaurant business, some parts may get boring for you. But I truly loved it.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

RITA Finalist Layla Reyne is the author of the Agents Irish and Whiskey, Fog City, and Changing Lanes series. A Carolina Tar Heel who now calls the San Francisco Bay Area home, Layla enjoys weaving her bi-coastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline-fueled suspense and heart-pounding romance. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and its Kiss of Death and Rainbow Romance Writers chapters. Layla is a 2019 RWA® RITA® Finalist in Contemporary Romance (Mid-Length) and 2016 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist in Romantic Suspense.

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A New Life (Loving Again Book 2) by Mel Gough: Exclusive Interview, Blog Tour and Review

February 22, 2019 by Denise

New apartment, new job, new love – Ben and Donnie’s life in Atlanta is everything they dared to hope for. And when Zac, a baby in need of a home, comes to live with them, their family is complete.

But caring for a little one is hard work, and Donnie’s fragile health soon suffers. And then certain criminal elements from Donnie’s past turn up again. Ben and Donnie fight hard to preserve their little piece of heaven, but the destructive forces are determined to pull their happiness to pieces.

Can the two men prevail, or will they lose their baby son and everything they’ve fought for?

Book Title: A New Life (Loving Again Series, Book 2)

Author: Mel Gough

Publisher: Self-published

Cover Artist: Black Jazz Design

Genre/s: Contemporary romance

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 49,000 words/188 pages

Release Date: February 22, 2019

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What one thing happened as you were writing this book that you absolutely weren’t expecting? (No spoilers needed here!)

To be honest, I hadn’t expected this to become a series. As most readers know, the three books started as fanfic. I wrote the first one with no intention for it to be more than a long-ish story on AO3, but found that I loved the concept so much that I wanted more from Ben and Donnie. And I think that Book 2 is the best out of the series, in terms of suspense and action. A lot of drama happens, but there’s such sweetness too, which also was somewhat of a surprise.

Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?

I first write all my books and stories by hand, into an A5 notebook. I can write on the train that way and in fact do so most days. I used to carry one notebook with my current story, but now tend to carry two, one that’s exclusively dedicated to my current new novel and one for other things (like short stories or rewrites of other projects).

Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Racy?

I’m not usually very excited to write the sex scenes. I can write them ok I think, but they’re not my forte. And I don’t particularly enjoy reading sex, either. It’s not that it bothers me, and sometimes it’s needed, but I find it hard to come up with new ways to make those scenes interesting. For the Ben and Donnie books, at least the sex had the added bonus of being something that’s not easy for them, so I used thoe scenes to explore some of their hang-ups and difficulties.

What does your next project look like?

Which one? 😉 I have a lot right now. I’m writing the first draft of a reverse harem story, which I’m hoping to finish sometime in the middle of the year. Then I have a short story that I want to submit to an anthology. I also have a five-part MF romance series I’ll publish after the Ben and Donnie tour de force is over. They’re currently in a slightly chaotic editing stage.

Always my fun one! A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?

Ha! It probably got on the wrong train at Victoria and is looking for the zoo. Here in London sometimes the pigeons take the train, and I’m not entirely convinced they don’t know exactly what they’re doing because they’re always super chill and hop off when they get to the stop they wanted!

The story continues with Donnie and Ben, only now it’s a couple of months later and things are settling in with them quite well. They’ve got a new place together, Ben’s got a new job, Ben and his ex are getting along, and he gets to see his daughter, though she doesn’t have much page time in this one either. He’s very much a sometimes dad to her, which sucked in my opinion, because in this one, he and Donnie get a baby and he’s all kinds of a dad to him!

Okay, so I’ll explain. A woman at the shelter Donnie works for is staying there with her baby, and once Arthur (love him) helps her find a job, the baby, Zac, stays in the daycare with Donnie. He forms a quick bond with him, wanting to protect him from the life he knows they live. He’s familiar with it, having lived it himself as a child and he wanted to protect him. He’s also positive, like Donnie, so it seemed to just kind of bond them in a way that was easy and genuine and really sweet, though very sad…He’s good to the core like that, Donnie is. I really grew to like him a lot in this one.

I also liked the realness of the stress and sleepless nights and irrational frustration with people, when they’re only trying to help. Having a new baby around is stressful and I like that things were portrayed the way they would be in real life. Although, some things still irked me….. DCFS, would not take the word of someone saying their a baby’s real father without a blood test to confirm, especially going so far as to show up at a foster carers house without warning and take the child from their carer. There are guidelines and protocol’s that have to be met; the dad would have to have several meetings with the baby, his house to be inspected, paperwork galore and it wouldn’t happen in 10 minutes… more like weeks. Also.. why in the world were Ben and Donnie trying to give a 6-month-old baby, tea? I can’t be the only one who noticed that.

And seriously? I have never, in my life, called a boyfriend “buddy” unless he was in trouble and I needed him to hear my words before someone got hurt… i.e. him…. “listen up, bud.”…. but as far as endearments go…. Buddy is a terrible one. I hope that gets fixed for the next book, which I’m not sure I’m looking forward to if it’s called “A Broken Promise”… I think Donnie’s had enough brokenness in his life, he doesn’t need more and I’m not sure I can handle any more for him.

Also, prepare for random flashbacks that make a little bit of sense in the end, but otherwise were just random, confusing and there is on page sex with someone other than the boyfriend. Some don’t like that… I didn’t mind it because it eventually made sense… kind of. But warning, it’s there.
You’ll also see the word “summat” a few times, if anyone knows what that means, please let me know.

So, in this one, there are more hospital visits, (seriously, they should rent a wing, they’re all there so much), we meet new friends, there’s a new baby (and you all should know by now how I feel bad hot dads), ever patient boyfriends (Ben), loving daddy’s (Donnie) and a cute HFN. I suspect we’ll see more from these three in the future.

3 pieces of eye candy from me

Mel was born in Germany, where she spent the first twenty-six years of her life (with a one-year stint in Los Angeles). She has always been fascinated by cultures and human interaction, and got a Masters in Social Anthropology. After finishing university she moved to London, where she has now lived for ten years.

If you were to ask her parents what Mel enjoyed the most since the age of six, they would undoubtedly say “Reading!” She would take fifteen books on a three-week beach holiday, and then read all her mom’s books once she’d devoured her own midway through week two.

Back home in her mom’s attic there’s a box full of journals with stories Mel wrote when she was in her early teens. None of the stories are finished, or any good. She has told herself bedtime stories as far back as she can remember.

In her day job, Mel works as PA and office manager. No other city is quite like London, and Mel loves her city. The hustle and bustle still amaze and thrill her even after all these years. When not reading, writing or going to the theater, Mel spends her time with her long-time boyfriend, discussing science or poking fun at each other.

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Amazon – Kindle Unlimited Goodreads | BookBub

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited
Goodreads | BookBub

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited
Goodreads | BookBub

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited
Goodreads | BookBub