Book Excerpt

Check Yes, No, or Maybe by Stormie Skyes: RB, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

January 16, 2022 by Denise

Crappy job. Yes.

Take back an annoying ex. Definitely no.

Hit on the sexy new firm partner looking him over…maybe?

For Aaron Cambrian, life is lived by checklists. No matter how promising, everything – jobs, potential partners, cars, drinks, food, etc – needed to meet all his criteria or he walks away.

Everything changes one night at the cocktail bar when his best friend challenges Aaron to abandon his list and ask the first hot guy who catches his interest if he can buy him a drink.

Thanks to his old nemesis alcohol, Aaron takes the dare! The next thing he knows, he finds himself in the condo of an absolute stranger! It was supposed to be one drink. One accidental kiss… Good thing he’d never see the guy again.

Wrong! When the sexy new partner at Kimball & Marks law firm turns out to be the hot stranger, Aaron is faced with a life-changing decision: keep the checklist or lose the hottest, most frustrating man who ever stole his heart.

Check Yes, No, or Maybe by Stormie Skyes
Publication date: January 12th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

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Elliot beamed victoriously. “Get that sexy little ass up, go find yourself a guy, and ask him to buy you a drink.” He scooted close, throwing an arm over my shoulders. “And that delectable thing,” I followed the manicured, freshly painted fingernail to a man at the opposite end of the bar, “has had his eyes on you all night.”

I didn’t remember the exact details, but I did remember the guy’s good looks. Maybe some hipster glasses and sideswept dirty-blonde hair? Who cared? My liquid courage had my ass getting up and strutting to Mr. Sexy Thing. His eyes followed each move I made, inflating my ego the closer I got.

Heat hit my cheeks, cock standing at attention when he took a drink, staring over his glasses’ frame. Those eyes were wild. Hungry. And I was the lucky fucker getting devoured by them.

Damn, he really is watching. I nearly stopped and returned to my seat. Through the haze, I remembered thinking I’d never been looked at like that. Should I really be doing this? I glanced at Declan who’d found me and glared like he was daring me to keep going. Confidence renewed, I picked up the pace.

“Hey there,” I said, leaning a hip against the bar.

Mr. Mystery raised his eyes to meet mine. “And hello to you, too.” Even through the fogginess, I recalled the timbre of his voice.

Holy shit, and I thought Declan had a hot tone. Compared to this guy, Declan … well, didn’t compare. This guy blew my ex’s sophistication and cockiness away with only one sentence!

Before I lost my nerve, I asked, “So, you come here often?” Did I really just say that! “I mean…” Oh, come on, he only said hello! Get a fucking grip!

“I know what you meant,” he said with a laugh. “No, I’m just visiting.” With the grace of a wildcat, he turned his attention back to his drink, tongue teasing the liquid on his lower lip. “Why? Do you come here often?”

“What? No. I mean…” My heart pounded in my ears. I wasn’t sure if it was his mocking or the sexy way he looked me over, but the confidence I’d built up slowly deteriorated. I was in “quit with the small talk and fuck me” mode in two seconds. How had he turned everything around with only a few words? “If you aren’t from here … where … are you, um…”

God, what is wrong with me?

“Miami,” he replied. “Why don’t you join me? Perhaps allow me to buy you a drink to calm your nerves?”

I did what Elliot dared me to, but I wasn’t ready to let Mr. Hipster Frames charm me out of my jeans.

Time to take back over. I sat and leaned on my forearms, gingerly letting my knee brush his in an “I’m open for business” manner. “Sure, but only if you play a game with me. Win and you can buy me a drink.”

“And if I lose?” he replied, clearly enjoying the challenge.

I shrugged a shoulder. “Then I walk.”

“Hmm.” A devious smile curved his lips. “Sounds good.” The glasses came off. I watched him close them, set them down, and turn to face me. Thick lashes and dark green bedroom eyes pierced through the Scotch-induced amnesia. “But, how about we up the ante? How about if I win, I buy you a drink and get you to come home with me?”

A gasp escaped me, piercing my lust-addled brain. It was like he read my mind—or maybe my actions, I wasn’t sure at that point—though I was too nervous to ask him for the last part. “O-okay. If you lose?”

The devious smirk widened. “I let you use me to make whoever is sitting at that table,” he gestured his head and eyes to my ex, “incredibly jealous, and you can walk. Deal?”

Is he for real? He knows what I am up to and doesn’t care? I can’t put this guy in any category on my checklist so far.

Every alarm, red flag, and warning sign went off in my brain. The last thing I remembered was telling him he had a deal.

This book appears to be from a previously published author, using a pen name, to which I was a bit surprised. This book gave me the appearance that it was from a debut author. There were definitely some areas that felt choppy and lacking in explanation.

I do love that cover though! This is proof that a cover does not have to have a man with his shirt off holding a puppy, (or an axe, or gun or whatever tool of their trade is) but with some other great visuals can be extremely appealing.

I did like the storyline…poor Aaron who’s been having a life, but trying to get it on track. Maverick, an English attorney taking over as partner in an NYC firm. Side characters of Elliot and Josh, Leslie and Frankie and even Travis, we didn’t get a whole lot of background on, but they kept popping up making the story interesting and moving it along.

However, there were just several things that didn’t work for me. Every time Aaron mentioned his books for his college courses, he calls them “college books”…I’ve never heard anyone say that. It threw me out of the story. We also find out very briefly that Declan (small spoiler here) has physically abused Aaron, but other than Aaron being afraid, being sucked back in by Declan in the past, it is really never addressed. It’s only mentioned one time, and briefly at that. And honestly, Maverick was kind of a controlling bastard sometimes, but then super crazy vulnerable. It was a dichotomy that made me wonder what he would be like in 3 months, 6 months, a year.

I did love that Aaron was attending college, wanting to become a chef (although the relationship with his father, a famous chef himself, was odd) but wanting none of the paparazzi. And he had the sweetest dog in Roxxie who he made sure to not forget as he began the relationship with Maverick.

I was never bored with the book, but definitely found myself questioning a few things as it continued on.

3 pieces of eye candy

A multi-published author of mystery, both Urban and Paranormal, Stormie returned to her love of romantic comedy and contemporary romance. If you love spicy, humorous, and near-erotica stories featuring sexy male protagonists and the men who love them, then look no further. Stormie’s paranormal mystery won quarterfinalist in Screencraft’s novel to screen contest and is a competing finalist in Chanticleer’s International book awards. When Stormie isn’t busy dishing out a new, hot romance, she’s busy blogging her love of books and helping writers become authors.

Author links:
https://www.facebook.com/authorstormieskyes
https://www.instagram.com/authorstormieskyes/
https://stormieskyes.com/
https://stormieskyes.com/newsletter

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Because of Ben (Star Crossed, Book 2) by Lisa Henry: RB, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

January 11, 2022 by Denise

Marco Chase is the lead singer for Static, one of the world’s most famous and successful rock bands. Marco’s bad boy rock star image isn’t just one he’s cultivated for his fans—it’s Marco all over. Marco’s past is full of one night stands, bad decisions, and blackouts. Marco never saw a cage he didn’t want to rattle—and from the moment he lays eyes on him, he really wants to rattle sweet, innocent Ben Selden’s cage.

Ben Selden comes from a fundamentalist Baptist family. Ben is struggling under the weight of knowing that he’s gay, and a lifetime’s teachings that tell him that his God will condemn him, and his family reject him, if they ever find out. With a future he doesn’t want already mapped out for him, Ben’s at a breaking point when he meets Marco.

Marco’s teasing, flirting, and obvious interest awakens a hunger in Ben, and he knows this might be his only chance to act on his attraction to a man—if he’s brave enough to risk his future, and his family, to take it. He doesn’t expect Marco to be his savior, but maybe a savior isn’t what Ben needs—maybe he just needs someone to believe in him enough that he’s willing to save himself.

Because of Ben is the second book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly.

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Catch-up on the series with Book 1:
Not Until Noah

Carter Westlake is on the brink of being Hollywood gold. Cast as the lead in a highly-anticipated sci-fi trilogy filming in Australia, he’s primed to be the next A-list action hero: all-American, hot as hell, and straight. The problem is, Carter can only check off two of those boxes. But that’s okay—his bisexuality can remain a secret until these movies are behind him.

Childhood educator Noah Jones has a plan. Work as a nanny for six months, make some extra cash, and move to the UK to teach. He doesn’t expect his new boss to be a Hollywood star. And he certainly isn’t prepared to fall for the guy.

One kiss sends them tumbling into a secret relationship, even though they both agree it can be nothing more than a fling. Carter needs to stay in the closet for the sake of his career, and Noah’s leaving. But when their feelings continue to grow into something deeper, Carter has a decision to make. Knowing that exposing his sexuality could cost him his career, would he rather carry on living a lie, or risk it all to stand tall in his truth?

Not Until Noah is the first book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly.

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Marco was playing around with the bridge of the song when his room phone chimed. He set the guitar aside and climbed to his feet—he liked working on the floor and always had—and crossed to the bedside table to pick up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Mr…McClintock,” said someone who very obviously knew that wasn’t his name, “this is Hannah calling from reception. I have a young man here at the front desk who says you’re expecting him.”

Ben. Thank fuck for his recording software because he immediately forgot everything he’d been working on for the past few hours.

“Yeah,” he said. “Thanks. Let him know I’ll come down and see him.”

And to slide a fifty across the front desk with a thanks to Hannah for being discreet. Not that he’d ever cared who knew he sometimes invited pretty things up to his room, but Ben wasn’t some enthusiastic fan who’d be screaming it from the rooftops himself.

He grabbed his room card and wallet and headed downstairs.

The elevator took an age to arrive, and Marco shared it with a couple of parents who were too preoccupied with their gurgling baby to pay him any attention. He held the doors for them when they reached reception so they could get the stroller and their suitcases out.

Ben was sitting in one of the comfortable chairs scattered around reception, shoulders hunched in, one sneakered foot tapping anxiously against the floor.

Marco veered quickly past the front desk to thank Hannah and leave her a tip, and then he walked over to Ben. Ben watched him approach with wide eyes, like a rabbit frozen under the stare of a predator. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Ben echoed.

“You want to come up to my room?”

Ben opened his mouth to reply, and maybe the words got stuck because he gave a jerky nod and pushed himself to his feet.

They headed back to the elevators, and once they were inside, Marco hit the close button. He didn’t want to share this ride.

“Come here,” he said when the doors rolled shut. He held out his hand.

Ben’s hand was shaking when he took it.

“Nothing’s gonna happen that you don’t want, okay?” He tugged Ben forward, relishing his gasp as they collided gently. “Is this okay?”

Ben closed his eyes, his breath shuddering out of him. He nodded, and Marco slid an arm around his waist and turned him so that they were both leaning on the wall of the elevator, their sides pressed together. A casual pose for Marco, but he could feel Ben vibrating with tension like a guitar string wound too tightly. He didn’t try to move away, though, which meant they were on the same page here. Ben knew what Marco wanted, and he’d come looking for it. He could work with that. Hell, even if they didn’t end up doing anything, lunch had been a lot of fun. It wasn’t as though spending time with Pretty Boy Ben was any hardship, even if neither of them got off. All the same, Marco was definitely hoping to see Ben shiver apart as he came. He was just so fucking gorgeous.

Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.

Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn’t know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she’s too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.

She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.

She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

Lisa has been published since 2012, and was a LAMBDA finalist for her quirky, awkward coming-of-age romance Adulting 101, and a Rainbow Awards finalist for 2019’s Anhaga.

To connect with Lisa on social media, you can find her here:

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
Bookbub
Twitter

She also has a Facebook group where you’ll be kept in the loop with updates on releases, have a chance to win prizes, and probably see lots of lots of pictures of her dog and cats. You can find it here: Lisa Henry’s Hangout.

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Revolving Door (Open Doors, Book 2) by Vinni George: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

January 10, 2022 by Denise

Fletcher Morgan doesn’t like a single thing about Archer Waverly—not his pretty face, his wicked wit, or his perfect body. He especially hates the way Archer flirts with anyone and everyone. Everything about Archer reminds Fletcher of someone from his past he would much rather forget.

Archer thought Fletcher could be the silver fox of his dreams…until Fletcher opened his mouth and told Archer exactly how he felt about him. Now Archer is more than happy to rile Fletcher up and accept the consequences. Sparks fly every time they see each other proving hate is as potent as lust and enemies with benefits just might be hotter than friends with benefits.

When an unfortunate incident involving Archer’s aging drag queen housemate brings Archer and Fletcher together, they realize there might be more to the other than meets the eye and maybe there really is a thin line between love and hate.

Revolving Door is the second full-length novel in the Open Doors series featuring a slightly surly silver fox surf shop owner who refuses to fall in love again, a (mostly) reformed flirt who has never been in love, and a fabulous aging drag queen who has a penchant for platforms.

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Hold the Door (Book 1)

“You’ve got one hell of a shiner there, kid,” a guy near the end of the pack said as our paths crossed.

“Yeah.” I never knew where to look when I was talking to someone naked. I picked a spot over the older guy’s shoulder and focused on it.

“You got an ice pack to put on it?”

“I don’t. But I don’t live far. I think I have a bag of peas in my freezer.”

“Hold on.” He held out a hand to stop me and put his thumb and forefinger into his mouth and whistled. “Hank! You still got that first aid kit in your trunk?”

Several of the older guys turned at the sound of the whistle, and a guy with a neon purple yoga mat started jogging our way. There was no help for it. I had to watch as his cock and balls swung in the breeze.

“Hey there, hot stuff,” the other guy, presumably the aforementioned Hank, said while he gave me a very thorough once-over. I had never been so grateful to be wearing clothes. “What can I do for you?” His white brows bounced, and I did everything I could not to cringe.

“Does that first aid kit you carry have an ice pack?” the first guy, whose name I still hadn’t caught, asked.

“I’m not sure. Let’s go take a looksie.” Hank turned and sauntered back to the parking lot, leaving us to trail behind him taking in the full rear view of his nude body. God, I had to stop surfing here.

Hank stopped behind a sky-blue Volkswagen Beetle convertible with a tan top and popped open the trunk. When he bent over to rummage through the trunk’s contents, I had to avert my eyes. There were things I could handle and things I couldn’t. This moment was fast approaching the latter category.

“Honestly, I appreciate it, but I’m really—”

“Here it is!” Hank turned with a pretty large pink plastic case bedazzled with the words Drag Bag in his hand and slid the tabs to the sides so he could open it. He pulled out a white pouch and handed it to my other rescuer, who snapped it, shook it, and held it out to me.

I grudgingly had to admit the cold felt really good. “Thank you. I appreciate this.”

“Anytime. I do some performance art, and I find it’s best to keep some useful things on hand. I have a hot glue gun in this kit as well. You know, just in case.”

“Performance art. Ha!” the other man said as Hank turned and put his first aid kit back into the car. “You’re the oldest drag queen in California, and for reasons I still don’t understand, you just recently realized you’re not as young as you used to be.”

“Age is just a number and a state of mind, Ken.” Hank stretched his arms over his head, and I closed the eye not currently covered with the ice pack. “I feel better now than I did when I was in my forties.”

I didn’t read book 1 in this series, but I definitely want to go back and read the first, based on my love for this book. There was a lot to love in this book!

This book was an enemies to lovers (or more enemy to lovers, since Fletcher was really the driver behind it), with the added fun of some seriously angry sex.

I liked that this was a slow burn book. The author made sure that their story happened over a period of about a year. It wasn’t a quick “I hate you…now I love you” type book. Fletcher was a hard nut to crack for Archer. Fletcher was determined to not fall under the spell of an enormous flirt again, and well Archer was many things, including a flirt, but also brought a few things to the table that Fletcher wasn’t expecting.

Fletcher was seriously hurt by his ex-husband, who was SUCH a tool! So, really, no one could blame him for having up as many walls as possible.

Having an elderly drag queen as a neighbor and best friend for Archer, helped pull Fletcher out of his self imposed box, as well. Hank was fantastic…stole every scene he was in, and rightfully so. He was sassy, and fun, and clearly had lived a life of joy, and wasn’t stopping because of a silly little broken bone. 🙂

This one was fun, sexy, and just a really enjoyable read. Looking forward to any future books in this series.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Vinni George has been a lover of romance novels (of all shapes, sizes, and colors) since she first got her hands on one of her grandmother’s Harlequins and has never looked back. She lives in Ohio with her two favorite guys (her husband and son) and, hopefully—one day—a dog. When not writing her own stories, she can be found helping to polish other people’s novels. In her spare time, Vinni dabbles in performance art, quilting, and various culinary pursuits and enjoys traveling.

Connect with Vinni:
Website: http://vinnigeorge.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Vinni-George/e/B0912X5MNL/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/vinni-george
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vinni-george-3
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21344795.Vinni_George
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Hard Chrome by Anna Kensing: RB, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

January 10, 2022 by Denise

Neither time nor distance is on their side…

Twenty years ago, Dylan and Sebastian weren’t ready for the feelings between them, but the death of Dylan’s father has brought them back together. Dylan lovingly restores classic cars and he’s not keen on sharing his shop with his much younger lawyer stepbrother from the big city. But he doesn’t want to dishonor his father’s dying wish.

When Sebastian returns to Maine and learns of his inheritance, their passion flares into something neither of them is ready for.

Love requires sacrifice, but will either give up the life he’s built for a new life together?

Hard Chrome is a second chance, small town romance with an age gap between a hot-tempered mechanic and a cool-as-a-cucumber lawyer, competence kink (on both sides), a 1955 Ford Thunderbird in need of restoration, meddling best friends (and former best friends), a cat named Simone and a dog named Giles, at least three hundred houseplants, and car sex.

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Dylan’s got his hand curled around Sebastian’s neck, and his fingers are in his hair, nails scratching lightly at his scalp. He tugs on the strands wrapped around his fingers, and Sebastian shivers.

“Oh, you like that, huh?” Dylan says against Sebastian’s lips. Sebastian retaliates by muscling him onto his back. He sits up on his knees between Dylan’s legs and plants his hands on Dylan’s chest, just below his collarbones. He strokes firmly with both hands, down Dylan’s chest, over his nipples. Dylan arches into his hands as his palms catch on the tight buds.

“Oh, you like that, huh?” he echoes, and grins down at Dylan’s heavy-lidded eyes.

“Shaddup,” Dylan says, but he’s smiling, so Sebastian does it again. Dylan arches into his hands again, and then he gets to the fly of Dylan’s jeans. He finishes unbuttoning them and tugs at the waistband. Dylan obligingly lifts his hips, and Sebastian peels the jeans off him, tossing them over his shoulder to the floor.

Dylan’s wearing black boxer briefs that cling to his muscular thighs and strain over his erection. There’s a wet spot blooming just under the waistband. Sebastian brushes his knuckles over it, and Dylan pants, “Come on, man.”

He peels the damp fabric off as slowly as he can, until Dylan is naked and sprawled before him, and Sebastian thinks he’s never seen anything so gorgeous. His own erection is about to bust the zipper of his pants, but he ignores that for the moment and dips his head to meet Dylan’s dick.

He flicks his tongue at the slit, getting his first taste. Dylan’s dick jerks against his lips, another bead of fluid welling up, and there’s a groan somewhere above Sebastian. He finally takes pity and engulfs the whole thing in his mouth, and there’s a long, drawn-out “yeah” in Dylan’s deep voice.

Dylan’s not small, and the heft of him fills Sebastian’s mouth perfectly. He goes down as far as he can, then sucks as he comes back up for air. He spares a glance at Dylan, whose pupils are blown wide. There’s a pink flush blooming on his neck and chest.

“Holy shit,” he says, a little breathlessly, and Sebastian grins at him, making sure to show his teeth. Dylan’s head drops back to the pillow, and he stares at the ceiling, as if watching is too much for him.

“Whatever you want, man,” Dylan says breathlessly, his hands clenching at the sheet. “Just get the fuck on with it.”

Anna Kensing writes steamy paranormal historical romances that flirt with taboo. Her characters are often weird, mostly queer, and always get their happily-ever-after. Eventually. She’s obsessed with octopuses and the tv show Supernatural, listens to classical flute duets and heavy metal music while writing, and loves her scotch and Irish whiskies. When she’s not thinking about writing, she’s usually thinking about her next tattoo.

Connect with Anna:
https://linktr.ee/annakensing

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On A Midnight Clear by Lily Morton: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

January 7, 2022 by Denise

It can safely be said that Lord Barnaby Greenwood is not having the best of Christmases.

He’s penniless, up to his eyeballs in debt, and about to lose his estate. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that when a local property developer offers a lot of money to buy King’s Wood from him, Barnaby is very tempted. But his father had always impressed on him that the green wood was sacred and must be protected at all costs, so he finds himself saying no.

He knows this will result in the loss of his home, but duty comes before everything. However, that fateful decision leads instead to a magical Christmas for Barnaby, complete with an old god who grants him a favour, and a beautiful statue that comes to life.

Cosmo is perfect for him. He’s funny and kind and completely enraptured with Barnaby, and for the first time in his life, Barnaby falls in love. But how can this lead to anything but heartache, when on the last stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, Cosmo will go back to being a statue and take Barnaby’s heart with him?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a truly magical romantic comedy.

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I shake my head. “This is real, isn’t it?”

He looks steadily at me. “This is magic, Barnaby Greenwood. It is the furthest thing from reality that can be.”

I bite my lip. “It’s incredible. Nothing like this ever happens to me.”

“Well, that is sad. Good people deserve good things.”

“How do you know I’m good?”

He throws his head back and laughs merrily. “Oh, Barnaby. Do you forget your youth so easily?”

I flush. “Oh my god, you were listening to me? You could hear me?”

He winks. “I was. Statues can hear and understand. Apart from one exception per day, we are marble and granite, bronze and alabaster, but we can still hear and understand. And nothing interested me so much as your tales of school woes and your terrible crush on the games teacher.”

I rub my nose awkwardly. “He was rather good-looking. That’s fairly mortifying and rather boring for you. I do apologise that you had to lie unable to move and just listen to my adolescent angst, although that does make you an ideal companion for a teenager.”

“Barnaby, I have lain in this house as a statue for hundreds of years. I have seen generations of your ancestors be born and die, and nothing has caught me as much as you. So many pass through this room and they look, but their glances are brief, and their eyes move on as quickly as bees to flowers. You would come and sit and talk to me as if I were human, and I found that extraordinarily pleasing. So, I kept an eye on you for that, and what I saw saddened me.”

“Why?”

His mouth turns down at the corners. “Because when you were young, you burnt bright as a flame. You were sweet and happy, and to see that youthful fire and energy dissipated by money problems and grief is saddening to me.”

I sigh. “There isn’t much that I can do about that, I’m afraid.”

He watches me for a long moment, his pale green eyes intent and warm. “There is a lot that we can do.” He stands up. “Let us go.”

“Go?” I echo, staring up at him. “Go where? Have you missed the fact that you’re bloody naked?”

“We have much to do,” he says, ignoring me. He clicks his fingers at the dog, and he jumps down, taking a position at his master’s foot, a pose similar to the one he adopted as a statue. “And very little time to accomplish things.”

I gape at him and then have to scurry to catch up with him as he sweeps out of the room, his canine shadow at his heels. “Wait. Where are you going?” I pant. “What do we have to do?”

He doesn’t reply, making his way down the long corridor instead.

To me at least, Christmas is the most magical holiday. Starting when we are kids and most of us grew up believing in Santa and the decorations and lights and food and family. So a book, set at Christmas with LITERAL magic in it? Yes, yes, yes.

This is not the first book that Lily Morton has written that is set at an old estate that was formerly owned by a duke or a something or other with great status. And as it is passed down through the generations, people no longer make money by status alone and the estate is starting to fall into disrepair.

But this estate is bordered by woods that are, apparently, filled with magic. And when Barnaby (owner of the estate) is being pushed into selling those woods, magic comes to light. In the form of Barnaby’s favorite statue. Who comes alive. He will only be alive until the stroke of midnight on Christmas and while Barnaby has no idea how a now living statue can help him financially, he was going to take advantage of his dream man being a living, breathing man.

Cosmo not only shows Barnaby magic, but also love. Being treasured and loved for who he is. And with Barnaby being in his early 40’s, it is a perfect example of how not everyone is a well built 20 something as a main character. 40 something, kind of broke and perhaps a bit soft in the middle are worthy of love.

Cosmo also helps Barnaby figure out how to save his estate.

This was such a fun, magical romp. Statues that come to life for an hour. Statues that come to life for more than an hour. History and secrets and Christmas. Townspeople and employees and…magic.

This is must read and I think it might be a reread for me next year at Christmas.

4 pieces of eye candy

Lily is a bestselling gay romance author. She writes love stories filled with heat and humour.

She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.

Lily has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – Chocolate Baileys.

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Winter of the Owl (Seasons Of The Likoi, Book 1) by Iris Foxglove: Release Blitz, Exclusive Excerpt and New Release Review

January 7, 2022 by Denise

Sava has the best house in all of Lukos. He built it himself, dreaming of the day when he and Milan, the man he loved, could live there and brave the harsh winters of Lukos together—only to be devastated when Milan was found dead in the spring. Fraught with grief, Sava resigns himself to spending his winters alone.

Then a stranger appears on his doorstep, and everything changes.

Victor is a scholar from Gerakia, a land known for its long summers and vibrant history, and he has never been more unprepared in his life. Abandoned on the inhospitable island of Lukos after a disastrous relationship, Victor has to adapt quickly to survive. It helps, of course, that he’s taken in by Sava, who has the biggest heart of any man Victor has ever known. Victor and Sava start to make a home together, growing close as snow falls outside, but the true danger of a Lukos winter is closer than they suspect…

Winter Of The Owl

Seasons Of The Likoi, Book 1

By Iris Foxglove

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“I must be the worst submissive in Lukos. Can’t cook, can’t start a fire, scared of ghosts—” He jumped again as the wind howled outside, and Sava raised a hand as though to steady him before drawing away again.

“I don’t know why you say these things about yourself,” Sava said. “When you just started a fire, and you’ve shown yourself to be clever and eager to learn.”

“Sorry.” Victor wrapped his arms around himself. “Can you believe I used to be too confident?”

Sava frowned slightly. “Did something happen to change that?”

“More like someone.” Victor sighed. “As long as we’re talking about unpleasant things. You know I spoke of a … mate, before. Someone I thought would be one.”

“The one who sent you here. You don’t have to speak of him.”

“I know. But I should.” Victor huddled under the blankets. “He was my teacher, I guess. I took a class with him, on … we call it philosophy. It’s where a lot of people argue about how to think.”

Sava narrowed his eyes. “Don’t they already know how?”

“Yeah, you’d think so. But David taught it, and he always left these really critical notes on my papers. Usually—in my other classes—I got top marks, so I was mad about it. If I failed, I’d have to go home, so I went to his office. Where we could talk alone. And he offered to give me lessons, and I … oh. Oh, no.”

Sava sat up as Victor covered his face with his hands. “What? Did he force you?”

“No. It’s that I’m embarrassed at the thought I’ll now be a cautionary tale to other students, about the dangers of seducing your professors.” Victor groaned into his hands. “But I thought I loved him, and then when I became too much trouble for him, he got rid of me. He said there was a trip planned to visit Lukos, and he’d arranged for me to join the group. So. Well. Fuck.”

“He thought you were trouble?” Sava’s voice was colder than Victor had ever heard it. “So he sent you here to die? You?”

“You say that like it’s surprising.”

“Is he the one who did this?” Sava leaned closer, and Victor fell back, catching his breath as Sava lifted his chin with one hand. “Made you feel small?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. Yes. I think so.” Victor was finding it rather hard to think with Sava radiating warmth over him, holding him still. “I didn’t think about it at the time, but he was always saying how, you know, ugly I was, and—”

Sava made a sound so close to a growl that Victor shivered. “I do not know this man, but I know you enough, Victor, to know he is a liar. If he were in Lukos, he would be punished for breaking our laws and casting aside a man like you. I would cast him out myself if I could.”

Victor couldn’t speak, and Sava looked him in the eye, his calloused fingers firm but so gentle on Victor’s chin. “You forgot how valuable you are, little owl, but you can learn again.”

A sweet fantasy story about a young orphaned scholar who fancies himself in love with an older more powerful man and is tricked when the other man decides he is a nuisance to be gotten rid of, and is basically dumped on what appears to be a frozen wasteland and left to die.

The native people there are honorable and take in the young man. He goes to live with Sava who has lost his mate so lives on his own.

It’s not difficult to imagine they fall in love despite the obvious baddy who resents Victor for taking Sava who he considers is his.

I honestly didn’t feel the dominant/submissive angle did anything to the story, either the plot or the characters and could easily be ignored.

Having said that it was an easy uncomplicated read when you’re in the mood for one.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Iris Foxglove is a shared pen name between two authors, Avon Gale and Fae Loxley. Together, they’re writing fantasy with an emphasis on biological imperative kink (“BDSM alternate universe” or “D/s-verse”), complex worldbuilding and unforgettable characters.

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