Bonus Material

Refraction by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga: Exclusive Author Guest Post

June 14, 2018 by Denise

In celebration of their new release, Refraction, a book in the Collaborations series, the amazing authors, Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga stopped by for a little banter about Tucker and Calvin and the inspiration for their story. So excited to have them! I’m reading this now, and they aren’t kidding…this one starts with the reader needing a serious fan!

Texas artist Tucker Williams arrives in New York City for a gallery showing of his work and finds the city blanketed in snow. He meets free-spirited underwear model Calvin McIntire on the steps of the Midtown library and is captivated by a wild beauty that manages to compete with the demons that occupy his soul and fuel his work with their lust for blood and erotic imagery.

Unable to deny a new inspiration, Tucker sublets a studio and finds the city’s energy almost as addictive as Calvin.

Tucker is obsessive, barely holding on to sanity as his art consumes him, and Calvin is dealing with demons of his own, trying desperately to protect his soul in a business where only his appearance has value. They each prove to be the perfect remedy for the other’s personal brand of crazy until, in the midst of stress and exhaustion, they discover that a promise Calvin needs is the one thing Tucker can’t give him, and their heaven turns to purgatory.

Can both men find a path toward wholeness in Tucker’s beautiful but chaotic Texas home? In order for them—and their passionate relationship—to thrive, they’ll need to adapt, share their psychoses, and find a true balance between New York City and rural Texas.

Title: Refraction
Series: Collaborations
Authors: Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga
Release Date: June 12, 2018
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 250

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Jodi: Hey there! I’m Jodi Payne. I’m a proud Jersey Girl, and I’m here with BA Tortuga, the self-proclaimed resident redneck, to talk about our new release, Refraction!

BA: The question is how were Tucker and Calvin born? The answer is, well, we were hard at work trying to come up with a concept and Jodi said, “Let’s just work on something to keep the words going.”

HA!

Ha, I say.

I write a sentence about a Texan sitting on the steps of the NYC main library and BOOM.

Just work on something to keep the words going. No big deal. Nothing serious.

HA.

Jodi: Right. These two were not supposed to be a book, remember? And then Calvin dragged that poor frozen Texan out of the snow and into a coffee shop, and Tucker did that thing with a spoon and turned Calvin on, and BOOM. Again.

BA: Yeah…these boys are very BOOM, with a little ARGH and a touch of UHN.

Jodi: No slow burn here for sure, these guys hit it off fast and work backward to the romance. Because Tucker is only in town for the weekend, and Calvin is busy, and they were not supposed to be a Thing.

BA: Yeah, well… You know, these assholes never do what they’re supposed to, do they? (FYI, the answer is no.)

Jodi: But I think I was seduced by the idea of making everything that’s different about them be an asset, not a liability. That one really could be a light to the other one’s dark. That what seems impossibly complicated to one man can be clear as day to the other.

BA: While I was all caught up by the sparkly. (I know, y’all are not surprised. Rainbow glitter is the easiest way to catch my attention.)

Jodi: (If that doesn’t work, try shouting “squirrel!” *snort*) Okay, so we talked about how we started writing them, so what kept us writing? Tucker is fascinating to me. His creative energy is so raw and the obsessive way he works is almost scary. And so many everyday things, socially and sexually, were foreign to him. All that discovery was fun to write. What was it about Calvin for you?

BA: Calvin? He’s a good man trying to pretend he’s not. I love that. I love his heart. Calvin would argue with me, of course, but he’s allowed to.

Jodi: So that’s where Tucker and Calvin came from. I think they’re some of the best characters I’ve ever not intended to write. *grin*

BA: In other words, I went fishing and caught myself a co-writer. I’m a lucky girl.

Jodi Payne takes herself way too seriously and has been known to randomly break out in song. Her men are imperfect but genuine, stubborn but likable, often kinky, and frequently their own worst enemies. They are characters you can’t help but fall in love with while they stumble along the path to their happily ever after. For those looking to get on her good side, Jodi’s addictions include nonfat lattes, Malbec and tequila any way you pour it.

Twitter https://twitter.com/JodiPayne

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/payne.jodi

FB Author Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/jodisgents/

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/267617.Jodi_Payne

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jodipayne1800/?hl=en

BA Tortuga: Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds and her beloved wife, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.

Twitter https://twitter.com/batortuga

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

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/batortuga/

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/batortuga

Instagram https://instagram.com/batortuga/

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A Full Plate by Kim Fielding: Exclusive Author Guest Post and Release Day Review

April 20, 2018 by Denise

Opposites come together for a spicy surprise.

Bradford “Tully” Tolliver has everything—money, a great car, a beautiful condo, and a promising career as one of Portland’s hottest young lawyers. Sure, he puts in long hours and has no social life to speak of, but who needs romance when corporations pay top dollar for his expertise? He hesitates when a colleague asks if her cousin can live with him, but the arrangement will last less than a year, and then the cousin—Sage Filling—will return to his tiny hometown.

But Sage is handsome and intriguing, and his cooking makes Tully swoon. Sage has obligations back home, though, and Tully has offers he might not refuse from a persistent—and very wealthy—ex. Since Tully and Sage each have a full plate, can they make room for a side of love?

Title: A Full Plate
Author: Kim Fielding
Release Date: April 17, 2018
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 197

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Hi! I’m Kim Fielding, and I’m very excited to announce the arrival of my new Dreamspun Desires book, A Full Plate! If you’re in the mood for a sweet little opposites-attract romance with a hint of spice, this may fit your tastes exactly.

Are you a city slicker or a country bumpkin? Neither of those are very positive terms, so let’s put it another way. Are you more comfortable amid the high-rises of the urban jungle, where the hustle and bustle and the 24/7 lifestyle keep you juiced? Or would you prefer to remain in the quiet of the country, with nature at your doorstep and a slower, steadier pace?

I think both locales have pros and cons. I love the convenience of the city, the variety, and the opportunities for people-watching. But I also appreciate the peace of the countryside and the relative lack of stress.

To be honest, I live in neither environment. I’ve spent most of my life in the burbs or in cities that are too big to be towns but far too small to be metropolises. My current home is two blocks from almond orchards and cornfields, but the freeway roars nearby, and I can buy pho or a microbrew without leaving the city limits.

My day job and other practicalities keep me where I am for now. But if I were completely free to choose, I’d opt for a big-city condo—with frequent vacations to the mountains, the desert, and the beach. The best of both worlds, right?

In my new book, A Full Plate, the main characters face the basic question of where to live. Tully is a corporate attorney, born in Manhattan and now living in a Portland high-rise. Sage, however, is from the tiny central Oregon town of Hair Shaker—one of those places where everyone knows everyone else’s business. He aspires to nothing fancier than being a good cook, but he must temporarily live in the city in order to support his family.

So there we have it: a classic conflict. How can these two very different men ever find happiness together?

Where would you prefer to live, in the city or in the country?

Here’s a nice country-inspired recipe from my childhood.

Fruit Coffee Cake

Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 ½ tsp grated orange peel

½ cup butter

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

3 ½ cups fresh fruit of your choice, washed, pitted or hulled, and cut into bite-size pieces

Topping:

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

¼ cup flour

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp butter

½ cup chopped nuts (optional)

Make cake: In a bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and orange peel. With pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles cornmeal.

In another bowl, beat eggs lightly, then stir in milk and vanilla. Make a well in center of flour mixture and pour in egg mixture; stir just until moistened. Spoon batter into well-greased 7 ½ by 11 ½ pan and arrange fruit evenly on top, pressing in lightly.

Make topping: Combine sugar, flour, and cinnamon. With fingers, work in butter. Stir in nuts.

Squeeze together handfuls of topping, then break into chunks and scatter over fruit.

Bake at 350F until pick comes out clean, about 60 minutes. Cool 20 minutes on wire rack.

Sigh. I just love a happy ending. Not just when it ends on a good note, but when we get to see the characters in their new lives, enjoying each moment. It’s one of the reasons I love the Dreamspun Desires series. That happy ending is never far away.

I really enjoyed this one by Kim Fielding. A Full Plate gave me all the good feels. Sage was happiest right where he felt at home, in the kitchen, make those around him happy with his food. Okay, there was that one time with Tully, but it led to happy, so easily forgiven. J

What I loved most was Tully though, and not simply because the book was written from his POV. Tully grew up rich in Manhattan, going to private schools, having the best of everything, until he came out. That kind of childhood could have led to him being a snob, and looking down on Sage for “only wanting to be a cook”. Yet he didn’t, he told people with pride what Sage did. He treated him with respect and care, not caring that Sage didn’t have a college degree, or that he didn’t work for a Michelin starred restaurant. Tully was a person of great integrity-although I think he should have given Eddy hell for destroying wetlands-and treated everyone respectfully.

Tully and Sage were so compatible deep down, that it seemed odd that it took them so long to make that connection. But they did, and all cylinders seemed to fire from there. Love was inevitable.

I would love to see them pop up again somewhere else, just to get more of a glimpse into how their lives have evolved.

4 pieces of eye candy

Kim Fielding is the bestselling author of numerous m/m romance novels, novellas, and short stories. Like Kim herself, her work is eclectic, spanning genres such as contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and historical. Her stories are set in alternate worlds, in 15th century Bosnia, in modern-day Oregon. Her heroes are hipster architect werewolves, housekeepers, maimed giants, and conflicted graduate students. They’re usually flawed, they often encounter terrible obstacles, but they always find love.

After having migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States, Kim calls the boring part of California home. She lives there with her husband, her two daughters, and her day job as a university professor, but escapes as often as possible via car, train, plane, or boat. This may explain why her characters often seem to be in transit as well. She dreams of traveling and writing full-time.

Follow Kim:

Website: http://www.kfieldingwrites.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/KFieldingWrites

Twitter: @KFieldingWrites

Email: Kim@KFieldingWrites.com

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bau3S9

A complete list of Kim’s books: http://www.kfieldingwrites.com/kim-fieldings-books/

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Guns n’ Boys Series by K.A. Merikan: Exclusive Guest Post with Giveaway

April 12, 2018 by Denise

Guns n’ Boys Series Blog Tour

Book #1 He Is Poison
Book #2 He Is Mine
Book #3 Homicidal Instinct
Book #4 Swamp Blood
Book #5 Chokehold
Book #6 Bloodbath
Book #7 Gilded Agony

Midway through writing the Guns n’ Boys series, our covers have gone through a radical transformation.

When we first published book 1, we thought we found the perfect photo for it. It needed to be dark, to communicate its serious atmosphere and the violence between the characters.

But we didn’t take into account a very important issue–despite these books having so much action and blood, they are romances at the core, and that was what the cover needed to project. So no matter how much we loved the old covers for their style, by the time we got to book 5, we bit the bullet and approached our designer (Natasha Snow) for a big rework of all the covers.

We wanted them to be hot, dark and gritty. So yes, we went full man-chest 😉 When starting out in M/M romance we had big dreams of artsy covers. Kat even drew the first one herself! But as we learned about the market and gained better understanding of what makes an eye-catching cover and how it needs to communicate genre and content at first glance, we needed to change our approach. This is what we came up for the series with Natasha:

Including the latest one:

It features an attractive man, while still communicating the themes of violence, entrapment, and building intrigue.

When the time came to think about the cover for book 8, we knew we needed to keep the series branding and make it somewhat similar in style, but because “Guns n’ Boys: A Breath of Innocence” has much less violence and a sweeter relationship, this is what Natasha came up with for it:

We were delighted to have all this brightness and light after the darkness that always lurks somewhere in Domenico and Seth’s relationship. The bright background will nicely distinguish the books about Mark and Griffith while staying in the same style as the whole Guns n’ Boys series.

The Novel Approach, Alpha Book Club, MM Good Book Reviews, Padme’s Library, Gay Media Reviews, Two Chicks Obsessed, My Fiction Nook, Love Bytes, Diverse Reader, Boy Meets Boy, Making It Happen, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Mirrigold, Bayou Book Junkie

To begin your journey with Seth and Domenico you should start here, with Book One: He Is Poison.

— Love like butterfly knives in the stomach. —

Domenico Acerbi. The Villani Family’s best assassin. Ruthless. Vicious. With no patience for weakness.

Seth Villani. The Don’s son. Clueless. Stubborn. In dire need of someone to keep him in line.

Domenico Acerbi grew up ready to give his life for the Family. Ready to follow orders and exceed expectations. A proud man of honor.

The last thing he wants to deal with is training the Don’s son for his future role within the organization. Lazy, annoying, spoiled, and as hot as a Sicilian summer, Seth Villani is no mafia material. But a man who could never become a threat might just be what Domenico needs.

Seth Villani wants nothing to do with the mafia. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a say when he’s pulled back into the fold. Thrown into a den of serpents otherwise known as the Villani Family, Seth has to find a way to navigate the maze of lies. But when Domenico Acerbi, the most vicious snake of them all, sinks his fangs into Seth, letting go becomes impossible.

If Seth is doomed to follow in his father’s footsteps, he might as well enjoy himself with the most intoxicating man he’s ever met. Maybe he can even fool himself into believing that Domenico isn’t a handsome sociopath who kills for a living.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:

Themes: Enemies to lovers, mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime, forced proximity

Genre: Dark, twisted M/M romance / crime thriller

Length: ~110,000 words

WARNING: Adult content. Sizzling hot scenes. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.
‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin.

K.A. Merikan are a team of writers who try not to suck at adulting, with some success. Always eager to explore the murky waters of the weird and wonderful, K.A. Merikan don’t follow fixed formulas and want each of their books to be a surprise for those who choose to hop on for the ride.

K.A. Merikan have a few sweeter M/M romances as well, but they specialize in the dark, dirty, and dangerous side of M/M, full of bikers, bad boys, mafiosi, and scorching hot romance.

FACEBOOK PROFILE
K.A. MERIKAN’S TWITTER (RUN BY KAT)
AGNES MERIKAN’S TWITTER
K.A. MERIKAN ON GOODREADS
PINTEREST
M/F ROMANCE BY MISS MERIKAN

Comment on the post to win, one person from each stop in the blog tour will win their choice of a backlist ebook from K.A. Merikan. Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for your chance to win the Grand Tour Prize. (You can enter this one daily for more chances to win!)

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A Dom and His Artist by Xenia Melzer: Exclusive Guest Post and Release Day Review

April 9, 2018 by Denise

Sometimes the perfect man can be found in the most unexpected place….

Martin Carmichael owns a security firm and is part owner of Club Whisper. He’s a Dom in search of the right guy, and when his car breaks down on a lonely stretch of road, he thinks he might have found him.

Artist Collin Malloy is talented, easygoing, but somewhat insecure. Still, he has a big heart and is quick to offer help when he sees Martin in need. To thank him, Martin invites Collin to dinner, where the attraction between them becomes harder to resist.

But what will become of their budding relationship when Martin reveals that he likes his men bound, submissive, and in pain? Is it something Collin can accept… and possibly enjoy exploring? Even if he can, Collin has a secret of his own—a secret he doesn’t even realize he’s keeping.

Title: A Dom and His Artist
Series: Club Whisper: Book 2
Author: Xenia Melzer
Release Date: April 10, 2018
Category: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Pages: 194

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

An Interview with Collin Malloy

X.M.: Hello Collin, it’s great to talk to you. How are you doing?

C.M.: Hello Xenia, I’m fine, really fine. You know, Martin and I had a scene just yesterday and it was so nice, with hot wax in different colors, so of course I had to call red and start experimenting right away, and did you know Martin has all kinds of colors and the candles are made from bee’s wax and smell totally good, and I got a very nice dribble pattern on the sheets of our bed, and then I researched candles and wax, and in some parts of Bavaria and Austria people make pictures of holy people, like the Virgin Mary or Christ on the cross, from wax, which is just fascinating, and Martin said we can have some beehives so I can get my own wax, and the honey, though I think it’s kind of mean to take the honey from the bees, since they work so hard for it, and I’m sure sugar water isn’t even half as good, but at least they don’t have to fly far to get the honey, because our garden has all kinds of flowers and they bloom all year round, so perhaps it’s okay to take some of the honey, since the bees can always collect more, and isn’t that just cool?

X.M.: Uh, yeah, I guess so? Now, how did you meet Martin Carmichael?

C.M.: *bounces up and down on his chair* Uhh, that was so great. I was out looking for dreams, you know, the kind of dreams that you have and you feel they’re kind of real, even though a part of you knows you’re dreaming, and all it takes is a hard pinch to wake you, and somehow you want to wake, but somehow you also don’t want to, because then this feeling of being there and not being there is gone, which is a beautiful paradox that only makes sense in the dream world, which goes to show how important dreams are, and sometimes I wonder if the dream world isn’t the real world and what we think is reality is just some kind of twisted version of what could be if we would only realize it – though I’m not sure how eating and drinking would work when you’re asleep and the dream world was your home, and perhaps things would just switch around and we wouldn’t even notice.

X.M.: Yeah? About Martin…

C.M.: Right. How I met Martin. Sorry, I get distracted sometimes. This world is just so full of wonderful things… Anyway, I was looking for dreams and I found some pretty good ones, a skull, some pipes, old branches, and a few odd stones that reminded me of Stonehenge, the way they were grouped, and I hope I didn’t destroy somebody’s magic site, though I didn’t feel anything magical and there didn’t seem to have been any people recently, so I think it was fine. I was on my way back to Miami when I spotted Martin by the side of the road. His car had just stopped working, and later, nobody at the garage could tell him what the problem had been, but I think it was so that we could meet, and that is a totally logical explanation, even though Martin doesn’t think so, but I know when I’m right, because then I get this tingly feeling deep in my stomach, similar to when Martin makes me feel good in the playroom, and have you ever noticed how your body tries to talk to you and helps you with decisions and stuff, because mine does this all the time, and not only when I need to eat or drink. *smiles happily*

X.M.: Yes, I actually know what you’re talking about. Now, your first meeting with Martin…

C.M.: I still haven’t told you? Funny, how time runs away from us sometimes, as if it’s this living thing, like a puppy, that wants to play with us, and sometimes it runs so fast we can’t keep up, and other times it’s so slow, it seems as if nothing will ever happen again, and I can see why people refer to time as a river, though rivers are also a symbol of life and life’s journey, and perhaps I should start working with water, or no, I have to drive to the next river and find my answers there, and I wonder if it’s possible to build my own river, but then Martin has to buy a bigger yard to fit the river, and where would we put the beehives then, and I have to think about this, though my own river is probably not a good idea, but perhaps I can have my own pond with frogs, and fish, and dragonflies, and water lilies, and ducks. Ducks would be nice, don’t you think?

X.M.: *gives up* Yes. Yes, I think ducks would be nice. Thank you for your time, Collin.

C.M.: *already gone to find ducks*

This book is definitely not your average BDSM story. If you read the above interview with Collin, the sub MC in this book, you will absolutely see that this story will be a bit different than most would expect from a BDSM. However, the characters are just so interesting, it really makes that read just that much more enjoyable.

Collin is a true artist, and I loved this character so much. He saw art in everything, which was amazing. He was fascinated with bees, and skeletons, and tree branches. Honestly anything he saw. There was actually a BDSM scene in the book that I was very intrigued about, where it takes an unexpected turn. His Dom, Martin, at first is irritated, but quickly realizes he is looking at the situation from the wrong perspective.

That scene really honed in on the connection between the two characters, and how perhaps when you find someone, you need to allow them the leeway to be themselves, in order for them to be what you need in your life.

Martin learned quickly as his relationship with Collin developed that what had been his previous rules were never going to work with Collin. Martin quickly found his way into this new role.

A really enjoyable read that brought home the fact that BDSM is not about a set of rules that cannot be broken, but about finding the right set of rules for your situation, and your relationship. What works for one couple will not work for another.

4 pieces of eye candy

Xenia Melzer is a mother of two who enjoys riding and running when she’s not writing stories. She doesn’t like beer but is easily tempted by a Virgin Mojito. Or chocolate. Truffles are especially cherished, even though she doesn’t discriminate. As a true chocoholic, she welcomes any kind of cocoa-based delight.

You can contact her through her website: http//www.xeniamelzer.com

Or befriend and follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xeniamelzer/

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No Tears for Darcy by Vicki Reese: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt and Release Day Review

April 3, 2018 by Denise

Letting love pass them by would be a crime.

Former forensic accountant Cameron has lost nearly everyone he’s ever loved, and now his vintage clothing shop has been broken into and trashed. When town police chief Will Carson asks an out-of-town cop friend of his for help, Cam takes one look at the dark-haired, blue-eyed detective and knows he’s in real trouble—and it has nothing to do with vandalism or murder.

Pete Minchelli is on leave from his job in Philadelphia due to a gunshot wound, but he figures he can help an academy buddy with some light police work. Plus, he’ll have a chance to experience small-town life. He’s tired of the big city and all its corruption. But he quickly discovers that not all the bad stuff happens in cities. What he doesn’t expect to find is death, treachery—or love.

Title: No Tears for Darcy
Author: Vicki Reese
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Category: Mystery/Suspense
Pages: 197

A mazon

Dreamspinner Press

Luc’s story

Hi! I’m Luc Minchelli. I run the new restaurant and club on the outskirts of town. I own it with my brother Pete. We’re doing pretty well, though I often wished Pete would take more of an interest in it. But he’s a cop. Or was one up til recently. That job may be in jeopardy, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Pete’s been in too many scrapes for the family’s comfort. He’s been shot, knifed, battered, nearly drowned… way too many things. But I think with Cam in the picture, that might be over.

Cameron came into our lives when his vintage clothing store downtown was vandalized. Pete’s friend Will, our chief of police, asked Pete to help out with the investigation. Pete was supposed to be on leave, taking it easy after his last run in with a perp. Shot up his leg pretty badly. I tried to get him to help me out here at the club more, but Pete couldn’t pass up a chance to help Will out. Not once he saw Cameron. I never believed in love at first sight, but with those two, it just might be something.

I’ve never seen anyone so totally taken with another person than those two are with each other. The first time Pete brought Cam up here, I knew. He’d never brought any of his male friends around before, but suddenly there’s Cam, looking all cute and innocent. And hungry! Pete brought him up for lunch, so we fed him. Had a great time teasing Pete as we made linguini and salt and lobster. That poor man wasn’t sure what to make of the way Pete and I are together. I mean, we’re brothers and from a big family. So we bicker. A lot.

Then we added Toni, our little sister, in. I’m surprised Cam didn’t run for the hills. Especially when we found out he was an only child. I wish! No, I take that back. My brothers and sisters may drive me nuts, but I love them all and wouldn’t change a thing. Our family is big, noisy, and every stereotype of Italian you can think of, but they’re mine. We may fight, but you don’t mess with us. We know how to fight back. And will.

So, anyway, this whole mess with Darcy and Cam’s ex and everything ended up being the best thing that ever happened to Pete—and me! I get to have my brother around more and Cam as a brother-in-law (eventually). And I am so glad. Cam is definitely a good person to have around. It’s a shame what he went through, but it brought him to our family so that’s all for the good.

“Pete will have my head for not feeding you,” Luc said.

Cameron groaned. “It’s no wonder you have all that exercise equipment out in the garage. With what I’ve been eating lately, I’m going to need to borrow it.”

“You? That’s absolute bunk. It’s no wonder you caught Pete’s eye.”

Cameron could feel his face heat. “Thanks. Why hasn’t some gorgeous babe captured you yet?”

“I’ve been saving myself for that someone special, but, alas, my big brother saw him first.” He put his hand theatrically to his brow, then ducked when Cameron lobbed a pillow at him.

“I’m pretty sure you don’t swing that way. Seriously, is there anyone, Luc?”

“You’re right. I don’t. But if I did….” He waggled his eyes at Cam, earning another pillow toss. “And yes, and no, to your other question. There’s a girl I’ve been dating off and on since we were in high school.”

“So what’s stopping you?”

He looked off, like he was seeing something distant. “I don’t know. I guess we’ve just gotten too comfortable with the way things are. She went away to college for a few years, then off to the old country to study art. She just got back a couple of weeks ago. I guess I didn’t think she’d feel the same way about me anymore.”

“Did you ask her?”

“No. I mean….”

Cameron threw another pillow at him. He was running low on ammunition. “Honestly, straight men are so stupid sometimes. Do you love her?”

“I guess so.” Luc stared at the floor as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

Cameron snorted. “Uh-uhn. There’s no ‘guess’ about love. How do you feel when she’s not around?”

“I miss her like crazy.”

“And if someone else looks at her or wants to date her?” Cam couldn’t help answering his own questions in his mind with Pete. He realized he’d never loved Jim. Been infatuated? Maybe. Jim had just been… handy. Which made him actually feel a little sorry for Darcy. She was right. He’d never asked. But it begged the question as to why Jim went after him. What did he have that Jim could want? And then there was Pete. Yeah, that was completely different. And it scared him a little. He brought his attention back to Luc as he gripped one of the pillows like he was strangling someone.

Luc looked up, eyes narrowed, mouth drawn down as if he’d eaten something rotten. “I’d have Pete arrest him, or he’d meet with an accident.”

It took Cam a second to remember what his question to Luc was. Oh. Yeah. Someone else wanting his girl. “Violence is not the answer. When you close your eyes and think about a future and a family, who’s in that picture with you?”

Luc nodded and smiled. “She is. Is that love?”

Cam grinned at him. “It isn’t indigestion. So, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to go get you the best dinner we have, then I’m going to call the florist and order her a dozen red roses and call her.”

Cameron grinned. “So go. And Luc? Be sure to say the words to her. She needs to hear them.”

My enjoyment lately of gay romantic suspense (not normally an area I read) started with C.S. Poe’s Snow and Winter series, which by the way has a book 3 coming soon-ish (SQUEE!), and continues with what I am hoping is the beginning of a series by Vicki Reese in No Tears for Darcy.

This book was a slow burn, with Cam and Pete dancing around each other for a while, and at times, it seemed as if they didn’t trust each other. Yet, through it all, they kept finding their way back into each other’s space, and eventually heart and bed.

Pete was the protective cop, while Cam was just trying to make his way in his new life, as he worked through his grief over his mother. Cam was not helpless by any means, having spent time with the FBI, but with all the blows he’d taken emotionally, having someone to help him through, with Pete and his family all stepping up, helped keep him safe.

This was a good who-dun-it, with me wavering until the end wondering who was so obsessed with Cam. I loved that aspect of this story. There were a few suspects that could have been the stalker, and that kind of guessing always makes for a more engaging story. The author did a fantastic job of creating a thriller, with a suspect that went in several directions, always unexpected, and creating a character who the reader could see was unhinged from the beginning.

This book had a little of everything I like in this type of story, a love story with the MC’s getting their HEA, an unhinged criminal creating trouble for everyone, and a crazy family that takes over whenever their family members are threatened. There were laughs, scary moments, and love. All elements that came together in this to make for a satisfying ending.

4 pieces of eye candy

Vicki Reese has been married forever to the one person who accepts that she lives in a fantasy world most of the time. She’s even been seen at the beach building worlds for her stories. In addition to creating suspenseful situations or fantasy worlds, she is very good at boring things like writing procedures manuals and continuity spreadsheets, both of which she actually earned money doing. With a master’s in library science, she likes things organized. Okay, so her family thinks having the spice rack alphabetized is a bit much, but she has no problem finding what she needs when she needs it. And just because her extensive library is catalogued and organized by the Dewey Decimal system doesn’t mean she’s obsessive. Honest!

When not writing, Vicki can be found in the kitchen cooking up gluten free/lactose free/allergy free goodies for her family, or just watching the world go by from her front porch swing.

You can find her online at:

Website: http://www.vickireese.com

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

Twitter: @AuthorVictoria

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Found by Annabella Michaels: Exclusive Guest Post, Blog Tour, and Excerpt

March 1, 2018 by Denise

As a former U.S.A.F. Pararescueman, Jeremy O’Brien is used to following orders, no questions asked. So, when Micah, his boss at Hamilton Security, asks him to take on a special case, he readily accepts. Micah’s instructions are simple, find the man in the picture and bring him back to Chicago.

Seven years ago, Zane Wilkinson left the hospital against doctor’s orders, only to suffer a final, devastating blow that left him with no choice but to leave the only place he’d called home. Feeling heartbroken and empty, Zane moved from town to town just trying to survive, while never letting anyone get too close.

In a chance encounter, Jeremy finds himself crossing paths with a man who fits Zane’s description. His instincts tell him that he’s on to something, but Micah warns him that he needs to be absolutely sure. Jeremy sets a plan in motion that will allow him to get closer to the man he believes to be Zane. However, the closer he gets, the more he likes the man and begins to question why he was sent to find him.

Will Jeremy be able to follow through with his orders without becoming too attached? Or will he realize that in his search for Zane, he’s found so much more than he bargained for?

Author- Annabella Michaels
Title- Found: Hamilton’s Heroes Series Book 1
Genre- MM Romance
Release date- February 23
Cover artist- Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art

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Where Zane was FOUND.

*** This post contains spoilers for those who may not have read FOUND yet.

For quite some time, readers have been curious about what happened to Zane. Where did he go once he left the hospital? In Found, we finally find out his location as well as why he left. For those of you who have read it already, you know that while he traveled around for several years, Zane finally settled and found peace at Bradbury Lake.

My stories are very character driven. I listen to them and let them tell their story as they see fit. That being the case, I let Zane tell me where he was. He made it pretty clear from the beginning that he was somewhere peaceful. Yes, he was lonely and yes, he still missed Isaac terribly, but he’d finally found a place that brought him peace and he was, for the most part, happy. I could actually see him, floating on the lake in the early morning hours while staring up at Isaac’s star. Once he showed me that, I knew exactly where he was.

Bradbury Lake is a fictional name for a very real place. When I was growing up, my aunt owned a pay lake. I spent nearly every summer there and I would work in the bait shop and go night fishing. There were even contests held where the fishermen would try and catch Moby Dick. My aunt, who was the inspiration for Edith, was a strong, independent woman. She was hard-working, compassionate and protective of those she loved.

Like Edith, she had a dog named Bear who the vet swore should be put down because his lower jaw wouldn’t grow. She didn’t listen though and hand-fed him until he was able to eat on his own. Bear was cuddly and lovable and enjoyed a long and happy life. My aunt also had countless three-legged deer who lived on her property. I loved feeding and petting them.

As a kid, that lake was a magical place, where I was free to run, play, and touch squishy, slimy things. As a teenager, it was a peaceful place where I could relax and read along the water’s edge. As an adult, I miss my aunt and the carefree days I spent at her lake, but I feel so blessed to have such wonderful memories to cherish. I’m so glad that Zane allowed me to revisit that special place and I couldn’t have imagined a better location for him to fall in love.

He pulled up to the window and I watched him as he lifted his hips and dug his wallet out of his back pocket. The move shouldn’t have been sexy, but it planted images in my head of those hips rising up to meet mine and I had to swallow back a groan as I turned and looked out my own window. The guy was sexy as fuck, there was no denying that, but I could barely get him to look me in the eye or talk to me. If he knew the things I’d been thinking about him, I’d scare him away for sure.- Jeremy

I am married to my high school sweetheart who let’s face it, is a saint for putting up with me all of these years. Together we have been blessed with the chance to raise two amazing human beings and so far, we haven’t screwed it up; I’ll let you know for sure later. I love watching movies, cooking, going to the beach and spending time with my family and best friends. I am an obsessive reader who is a complete sucker for a good love story but loves to feel a broad range of emotions throughout a book. I think real life is hard enough and so my books offer twists and turns, but always with a happy ending.

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