Book Excerpt

Feinted Love (Crimes of the Hearth) by Elle Keaton: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

October 5, 2020 by Denise

A gambit for love and a half-baked revenge plot; one hot Seattle summer…

Arnie

One minute I’m minding my own business enjoying the sunshine, next I’m wearing my iced coffee.

I’m going to teach Tobias Barrington a thing or two; the first: you don’t always get what you want. I have no idea what the second is, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Falling in love with Tobias is not on my list of lessons.

Tobias

I’ve never forgotten Arnie Ferguson, or the night we had together. When I find him again, I want to get to know him—as more than a friend.

I may come from a wealthy family; but I know better than most that money can’t buy happiness. But brash, socially awkward Arnie Ferguson makes me think happiness is possible when you let your heart chose.

Feinted Love is a first person, dual POV, following Arnie Ferguson and Tobias Barrington as they do their best to awkwardly fall in love. No cliff hanger, HEA guaranteed. Heat level, 3+.

Crimes of the Heart, Book 1

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Arnie’s POV

Side by side, holding hands again because the Broadway neighborhood is awesome like that, we begin to walk north. I’m trying to sort out how to casually invite Tobias to my apartment while I also try to focus on what he’s telling me about Down by Law and the director, Jim Jarmusch. I figure I’m just going to have to watch the movie again on my own.

“He’s the main reason I got interested in writing screenplays. But I also like Wim Wenders, Christopher Guest, the Coen brothers—there’s a ton more who are incredible.”

“That’s cool.” I want to know everything about Tobias. The real Tobias is so different from the imaginary one I built up in my head over the years. “What about your job now?”

“I hate working for my dad,” Tobias answers. “But… I don’t want to ruin the evening talking about the job or him. Want to stop here for a drink?”

I need to tell Tobias about my new job, but I don’t want to ruin our evening either. Here is the De Luxe, a place I’ve never been to even though it’s been in business since before I was born, the outside canopy declaring to everyone who passes by, “Since 1962.”

“Sure.”

“You don’t sound too excited.”

We stop walking. I’m trying to figure out how to ask him over without sounding totally pathetic.

I’m not cool. I’m not suave or polished, and I don’t have any idea what I’m doing (both tonight and in general). But I want Tobias to come home with me. You’re supposed to be getting revenge, the little voice in my head reminds me. I shove the thought aside. Revenge is the last thing on my mind right now. That ship has sailed. Being with Tobias isn’t about getting revenge or cosmic justice anymore—if it ever was.

“A drink sounds nice, but…” I’m fumbling my words, but I keep going. “I… do you want to come back to my place? Duff’s not home tonight. I made sure.”

I know I’m blushing a bright, hot red as I force the words out, but if I don’t ask, I will never forgive myself. Never, never, never. Ever.

With a grin, Tobias tugs me out of the way of the foot traffic. “I’d love to come over. Are you sure?”

“Oh, yes. I am very, very, sure.” My cheeks are still burning, but I return his grin.

There’s no stopping me now; I might as well humiliate myself completely. I’ve had a partial erection for hours. I’ve told Tobias the story about Hank the band kid. There’s not much lower I can go. Well, I’m sure Duff could think of an event I’ve forgotten about, but luckily, I’ve made sure he won’t be home.

“Should we grab a bite to eat first? Or was popcorn and Mike and Ikes enough for now?” Tobias asks.

I grab Tobias’s hand and drag him down the street and away from the De Luxe. “Next time.”

Tobias laughs, trailing after me down the sidewalk.

I announce, “You know, you ruined Dick’s for me for years.” I am hungry, after all, and we passed the famous hamburger stand a few blocks back.

“Excuse me?”

I look over my shoulder just as Tobias nearly trips over a crack in the sidewalk. “I ruined dicks for you? Somehow I don’t think so.”

I stare at him, dramatically widening my eyes as far as they will go. “Dick’s, not dicks. You’re as bad as Duff. I mean the burger place, not, you know.” I grab my package to demonstrate exactly what I mean, just as a couple of guys turn the corner heading toward us. They stare at Tobias and me. As they pass by, one of them mutters, “I’d say a four.”

“Oh my god, I can’t believe I did that,” I say to Tobias. At their retreating backs, I yell, “What do you mean ‘a four’? These skinny jeans make me look awesome!”

Tobias snickers and grabs my hand again, drawing me close to his side. “Okay, so tell me more about your problem with Dick’s.”

I love books with nerdy characters. Having them find love despite their odd tendencies is my favorite. And this book had Arnie, huge nerd, and Tobias who was a nerd hiding behind money and his jerk of a father. Two perfect nerds together. 🙂

Having read one or two books from Elle Keaton, I knew this one would be fun, and it was. These two were pretty hilarious together. I don’t often highlight books, it’s usually when I find funny lines, but this one has many highlights. Arnie’s mental musings made me laugh every time. Here are just a few of the things that made me lol:

Role play is not something you do with your mother. Wait. Is there…mommy kink?

“Are you worried about the dinner?” Tobias asks. No, I’m worried about arriving to the dinner alive.

These two tried so hard to create a plan how to be together/not be together, but just had to let nature take its course.

This was just a fun, enjoyable read. No angst, (other than Tobias’ father) and I would absolutely recommend it. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

4 pieces of eye candy

Elle hails from the northwest corner of the US known for, rain, rain, and more rain. She pens the Accidental Roots series, the Never Too Late series, and the soon be published Hamarsson and Dempsey series, all set here in the Pacific Northwest. All Elle’s books feature hot mm romance with the guarantee of an HEA. The men start out broken, and maybe they end up that way too, but they always find the other half of their hearts.

Elle began publishing March 2017, now she has ten books out. Fall 2019 Elle is adding a third series, Hamarsson and Dempsey, also set in the Pacific Northwest. H&D will focus on a single couple as they navigate the treacherous waters of romance and police work.

Elle loves both cats and dogs, Star Wars and Star Trek, pineapple on pizza, and is known to start crossword puzzles with ballpoint pen.

Connect with Elle:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ElleKeatonWrites
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HighwayToElle/
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/PirateQueenRdz1
MeWe: https://mewe.com/profile/5ac2766f310a7853d4ce8ad4
Website: https://www.ellekeaton.com/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ng0XUK
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Rocking the Boat by C. Koehler: Tour, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

September 28, 2020 by Denise

Nick Bedford coaches the men’s rowing team at California Pacific College, a small liberal arts school in Sacramento. He’s quiet, dedicated—and closeted. He struggles with professional ethics and NCAA rules as he denies his attraction for Morgan Estrada, one of his rowers. While they may not be far apart in age, the difference between coach and athlete leads Nick to worry about exploitation.

But Morgan has desires and a mind of his own, and what he wants is his coach. As the spring racing season advances, Morgan feels his coach’s eyes on him. Morgan may be gay, and while he’s not out to team, he hasn’t hidden it, either. It may be a coach’s job to check out an athlete’s form, but Morgan hopes Nick’s interested in more than his technique.

Morgan corners Nick in the boathouse, and Nick admits that while he wants Morgan he can’t have him. Morgan laughingly points out that he’s not bound by any of those rules and he wants Nick. Nick and Morgan start a relationship, but Nick worries whenever they’re in public: what if someone sees? An anonymous complaint from a rower to the athletics director sends Nick’s worries into overdrive just as the crew prepares for the make-or-break race of the year.

Title: Rocking the Boat

Series: CalPac Crew, Book One

Author: C. Koehler

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: September 28, 2020

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 68500

Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA, Contemporary, romance, gay, new adult, sports, rowing team, multiple partners, in the closet, outed, coach/athlete, university

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Nine Star Press

Coach Nick Bedford watched the eight men—his athletes, sweaty and pushed to the edge, their sides heaving like thoroughbreds—do their best to beat each other on the boathouse ergometers. The ergs, specialized rowing machines that duplicated the rowing stroke almost exactly, were his rowers’ best friends and worst enemies, building their conditioning and strength but also devouring everything they had to give and demanding more. He often shared their workouts, but not today. Today he walked around each athlete’s erg, looking for flaws in his technique. The crew’s coxswain helped him, but he was still the coach. It was his job to get them in shape.

They were a small crew, and California Pacific College was a small school. A former college rower himself, Nick was a graduate student working on his master’s degree in exercise physiology at a not-too-distant state university, and around the boathouse, he did it all. He was the resident expert on bodies in motion, guiding each athlete through workouts on land and water, each designed to make the boat go faster. He was the dietician, trying to keep a group whose natural prey was pizza and beer on the nutritional straight and narrow to build muscle and fuel recovery. He was their sport psychologist, helping them through losses and guiding the young men through the shoals of school, rowing, and life. He spent his free time immersed in exercise science literature, reading, reading, reading—anything to give his men that extra edge.

He even rigged the boats, adjusting the hardware and making minor repairs.

Eight varsity athletes, eight seats in the varsity boat. Nick was lucky they were so competitive, even with each other. Posting their erg scores meant someone would be pulling harder next time. He also had a standing offer to the junior varsity rowers: any JV athlete who beat a varsity rower on the ergs could challenge him for a seat in the boat. He’d only had to make good once. Each of his eight rowers put the “I” in team, each determined to beat the others. For a small program, it was ideal. For eye candy, it was unbeatable.

“What’d you think, Coach?” his coxswain asked, coming to stand next to him.

Nick was lucky. Stuart Cochrane had coxed in high school, and the junior premed major was as skilled as they came. “There’s room to improve,” Nick said, never taking his eyes off his athletes. “Look at Sundstrom. He’s hunching his shoulders. On the ergs, it’ll hurt, but on the water, it’ll strain his muscles and make it hard for him to stay in synch.”

“He’s never going to catch Morgan without fixing his technique, either. I’m on it,” Stuart said. He walked over and knelt next to the large rower, watching intently for a few strokes before correcting him. Stuart returned, his coxswain’s strut even more pronounced.

Nick had to smile. The best coxswains were small and light, so they didn’t slow the boat with weight that wasn’t pulling an oar, and they had Napoleon complexes. Stuart fitted the bill: short and cocky and determined to win. “That worked.”

“Of course, it did.” Stuart smirked. “Keep your eye on Estrada. Have you noticed how he speeds up just a bit during the last two k? That’s part of how he keeps beating Brad.”

“I like a nice, friendly rivalry.” Nick grinned. “It keeps the erg times fast.”

“I’m not sure how friendly it is. Brad was the fastest until Morgan joined the team and hasn’t taken kindly to being beaten,” Stuart added quietly, his voice just loud enough to reach Nick’s ears over the sounds of the ergs. “And some of the other guys are beating him too.”

“Then Brad needs to up his game.” Nick didn’t want to know about rivalries like that. He’d seen crews torn apart by such distractions. So long as his rowers left their differences on the dock when they rowed, he didn’t care. As he’d told Stuart, a rivalry on the ergs would move the boat faster.

Nick returned his focus to the ergs. He’d kept an eye on Morgan Estrada, all right. It was hard not to. Collegiate rowers were in fantastic shape, but something about Morgan drew his eye. He was tall, taller than Nick (who, at six feet, wasn’t short), but then, rowing selected for tall men and turned them into muscular ones. Sweat dripped from one wavy brown lock, running down his cheek, but Morgan ignored it.

Nick noticed it, however. It defined Morgan’s cheek, flushed red with effort, but normally very fair. There was more conquistador than conquered in Morgan Estrada’s background. All Nick’s men were good looking in one way or another, but something about Morgan pulled him in, something that threatened to swallow him whole.

Eye candy was a perk of his job, but Nick tried not to stare too much. They were his boys; he was their coach. There was a trust there, and he took that trust very seriously.

Still, watching Morgan strain, sweaty and grunting and red, made Nick think of crossing that line.

I definitely was looking forward to reading this one, as I hadn’t read anything before on rowing. And I absolutely loved that we got a fairly in depth view of what rowing in college was like. For instance, I had no idea that a coxswain was apparently generally like (at least I thought of it this way) a horse jockey. Small but packed full of fire! (BTW, seriously want to hear Stuart’s story, but that’s for another day…).

Nick and Morgan definitely did a lot of eye f*cking for the first half of the book or so. However, once they let that go, they did not waste any time. lol. But what I loved is that they both knew what they wanted for themselves, and in a relationship. They were not afraid to get serious quickly, rather than pretending it would be just a one or two time thing. Nick couldn’t afford to have that kind of relationship with one of his rowers.

I definitely was confused at the climax of the book. Why things were done as they were, and not revealed fully. It was hard for me to grasp the need to do it, and then immediately regret it, and do whatever you could to undo it. For the story’s sake, it was a bit difficult for me to fully grasp. But as I’ve said before, sometimes you don’t get all the answers. And I definitely would like to see the story that comes out of all that.

However, all in all, I enjoyed the book, and would like to see a bit more of all these characters again.

4 pieces of eye candy

Christopher Koehler always wanted to write, but it wasn’t until his grad school years that he realized writing was how he wanted to spend his life. Long something of a hothouse flower, he’s been lucky to be surrounded by people who encouraged that, especially his long-suffering husband of twenty-nine years and counting.

He loves many genres of fiction and nonfiction, but he’s especially fond of romances, because it’s in them that human emotions and relations, at least most of the ones fit to be discussed publicly, are laid bare.

While writing is his passion and his life, when he’s not doing that, he’s a househusband, at-home dad, and oarsman with a slightly disturbing interest in manners and the other ways people behave badly.

Christopher is approaching the tenth anniversary of publication and has been fortunate to be recognized for his writing, including by the American Library Association, which named Poz a 2016 Recommended Title, and an Honorable Mention for “Transformation,” in Innovation, Volume 6 of Queer Sci Fi’s Flash Fiction Anthology.

Facebook | Twitter | eMail

https://fb.me/Christopher.tells.stories

http://www.twitter.com/christopherink

christoarpher@gmail.com

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Cinderella Proposal (Boys of Bliss, Book 2) by Harley Grace: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

September 21, 2020 by Denise

David wasn’t expecting his ex to be at his friend’s wedding—especially not as the groom.

Six months ago, David’s relationship disintegrated, but when a colleague invites him to his wedding at the newest gay-friendly island resort right off the coast of Florida, he sees his chance to put himself back out there. It turns out groom number two is none other than his ex-boyfriend. He needs cover, stat, and in saunters the hottest little room cleaner he ever did see.

While David needs a fake boyfriend, Fin needs a bailout.

After getting kicked out of his house as a teenager, Finley Sweet is finally back on his feet. He’s got a good job at Bliss Resort, but when a self-made millionaire offers him a mountain of cash to be his fake boyfriend for a week, Fin leaps at the chance to change everything and get his inheritance back from his evil stepfather.

What starts as a business transaction becomes so much more, but there’s a time limit to their love, and the contract runs out when David goes back to the mainland. Only it’s more than a contract holding them together, and everything they want is right there if they can read between the lines.

Cinderella Proposal, The Boys of Bliss, Book 2 by Harley Grace

Goodreads

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Honeymoon Refrain, The Boys of Bliss, Book 1

When his fiancé leaves him at the altar, Andrew Wellman runs straight to Bliss.

After spending the last year of his life busting his butt on the new resort off the south coast of Florida, all Andrew has to do is stick the landing—a gorgeous wedding and a honeymoon to blow the socks—and everything else—off his groom-to-be. But when he finds his fiancé buried deep not in wedding preparations but in his best friend, Andrew calls the whole thing off and cashes in that plane ticket for a solo honeymoon.

Rock star Cord Fabien’s whole life blew apart when his band broke up.

Now, he owes his label a solo album, but all he wants to do at the new gay resort run by the mysterious billionaire Adrien Bliss and is hide from the paparazzi and lick his wounds. But when one sad interior designer catches his eye, Cord finds the inspiration to make beautiful music again.

Two men, completely adrift, find in each other the strength to pursue their passions. But Bliss can’t last forever, and the lives they’ve left behind are waiting to shatter a romance that bloomed in paradise.

“David!” Chet’s excited voice drifted through the entire lobby. “Honey, look who it is. It’s David.”

If he said my name three times, could I sink into the expertly laid marble slab under my feet and wake up back home? God, how had I lived with that annoying fakeness for two years?

It’s amazing what a guy will put up with when he thinks he’s in love.

Eric, for instance, was letting Chet drag him across the lobby by the hand, over to where I was sitting. He didn’t look thrilled about it, and I wondered if I really should keep my nose out of it.

“And look,” Chet said when they reached me at my sofa, then looked dramatically to one side of me and then the other. “Still alone, I see.”

“Sweetie,” Eric whispered, looking around, not for my missing boyfriend, but for other people who might be listening. “I’m not sure this is really necessary. David’s a big boy. He can handle himself.”

“Oh, but this is awful,” Chet said, sticking out his lower lip like a five-year-old being denied candy. He turned and leaned toward me, switching to a stage whisper. “David, honey, did your ‘boyfriend’ stand you up?”

The way he said boyfriend, of course, left no room to question what he meant. Hell, he’d barely refrained from using finger quotes.

And worse, he wasn’t wrong. It was galling that even if I’d paid someone to pretend to be my boyfriend to keep him from finding out, the asshole was right, and I had no one. He was going home to a nice guy like Eric, and when my contract with Finley ended, I’d go back to the enormous empty house I’d built for myself.

I opened my mouth—to say what, I wasn’t sure. Tell him to fuck off, admit the truth—there was no telling what might have come out, because Adrien Blissand’s voice filled the whole lobby.

“David, my boy, I’m terribly sorry. I’ve been monopolizing your young man. He’s just such a delight, it’s hard not to.” He was wearing his fancy white linen suit, looking like a million bucks, with a nervous looking Finley tucked against his side, both hands wrapped around his elbow.

Finley stared at Chet like he was evil incarnate, and I felt that in my soul. Then his eyes tracked to me, and he smiled, and for just a second, I felt like it was real.

Like this beautiful man was here for me, relieved to see me.

This book was all kinds of good feels and happiness. It wasn’t angst filled, other than a little bit (much more so for one of the side characters). Just a whole lot of happiness. Not quite insta-love, but fairly close. I didn’t read book 1, but there already seemed to be a few established couples, so I wasn’t sure if they came from another series or not. However, I loved the range of personalities of all the characters.

Finley really didn’t have a great time growing up. Being a gay homeless teen after losing his mother, and then being kicked out. He still worked hard to get himself into a position to care for himself, and did it through sheer determination.

David, meanwhile, pushed himself to build a business that he loved, and was successful, despite knowing his father never would get to see his success. Then he arrives at a wedding for a friend, and unwittingly takes a huge emotional hit.

However, these two men really connected, and found they had a ton in common. There might have been a bit more sex than necessary to move the story forward…but very good sex scenes, very well written. 🙂

I enjoyed this one, and definitely would like to read more about Bliss Island. There are a lot of potential stories there.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Harley Grace is an author duo in love with love. Writing M/M romance, they’re all about giving sugar, spice, and everything nice to their boys. They enjoy long walks on the beach, reading by the fireplace, and always looking at the lighter side of life.

Connect with Harley:
Website: harleygrace-author.com
Mailing List: https://sendfox.com/lp/3o6lgd
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/harleygraceauthor
Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/harleygraceauthor

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Everything Changes (Resilient Love #1) by Melanie Hansen: RB, Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

September 15, 2020 by Denise

A childhood in foster care taught Carey Everett to hold tight to what he has. Enlisting in the Marines gave him purpose, but a life-threatening injury ended his career—and took his leg. Now fully recovered, Carey’s happier than he’s ever been. He has a fulfilling job, a chosen family and, best of all, a cherished friendship with Jase DeSantis, the platoon medic who saved his life.

Jase knows how to take care of the people he loves. As the oldest of seven, and then a Navy corpsman, it’s what he was born to do. Still, he’s haunted by his actions overseas. Playing music with his band keeps the demons at bay, but it’s a battle he’s starting to lose.

After a week of sun and fun in San Diego, Jase and Carey’s connection takes an unexpected turn. With change comes a new set of challenges. For Jase, it means letting someone else into his deepest pain. For Carey, it’s realizing love doesn’t always equal loss. In order to make their relationship work, they’ll each have to come to terms with their pasts…

…or risk walking away from each other for good.

Title: Everything Changes

Series: Resilient Love #1

Author: Melanie Hansen

Publisher: Self-Published (formerly Dreamspinner)

Release Date: September 14, 2020

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 65,000

Genre: Romance, Military, disability, amputee, post-traumatic stress, friends to lovers, bisexual

Goodreads

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With an oath, Carey broke away from Jase, turned, and strode off the dance floor.

Cursing, Jase ran after him.

“Carey, wait!” he called, but Carey didn’t stop as he pushed through the doors leading to the patio. It was almost empty, the chill of the late night air having driven most everyone back inside. Abruptly, Carey whirled and grabbed onto Jase’s T-shirt with both fists.

Bracing for a shove, or a blow, Jase staggered when Carey instead yanked him into the shadows just outside a soft pool of light.

“Damn you,” he hissed, his eyes glittering. “Damn you, Jase.” Despite the harshness of his tone, Carey didn’t let go of him, his fingers twisted in the fabric of Jase’s shirt. His lips were parted, breaths coming in pants, spots of color high on his cheekbones.

His heart thudding painfully in his ears, Jase deliberately took one step closer until their bodies were only inches apart. Carey turned his head away, but still didn’t let go, his grip tightening.

“Damn you,” he said again, but the words were without heat, softer, more like an exhalation. He dropped his head back to the wall, pulse throbbing visibly in the hollow of his throat, eyes drifting shut. “Oh God. I don’t know what’s happening to me.” His voice was barely audible.

Blood racing, body trembling, all Jase could do was wait him out. At last Carey opened his eyes, the normally brilliant blue dark with emotion. His gaze clung to Jase’s, his lips parting as Jase started to close the last few inches of distance between them…

Gasping, Carey shoved him back, then yanked him close again in an abrupt motion that had Jase slamming his palms against the wall to keep from crashing into him. He looked down at Carey’s fists, still twisted in his shirt, then met his eyes once more.

“Let me go,” he said softly. “If you don’t want me to kiss you, push me away.”

For one heart-stopping second, Carey’s grip loosened, then tightened again. Leaning in until their lips were only a whisper apart, Jase breathed, “Let me go. If you don’t want me to kiss you—”

The rest of his words were muffled by Carey’s mouth, crushing his. Hot, slick, eager, Carey’s tongue slid deep, almost devouring him. With a hoarse groan, Jase slanted his head, his own tongue thrusting, parrying. They bit and licked at each other, bodies straining, breaths sawing in and out…

Then Carey ripped his mouth free. “No.”

Struggling to focus, Jase staggered a bit when Carey pushed him away. For the space of several heartbeats they stared at each other, chests heaving, Carey’s body tense, coiled, as if ready to flee.

Seeing it, Jase forced himself to blow out a long, slow breath, and crammed his hands in his pockets as he deliberately took another step back, giving him some room.

“I’m sorry,” Carey whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” With an effort, Jase kept his voice low, calm. “I was a more than willing participant.” He waited until Carey met his eyes. “You think I don’t want this? Want you?”

Carey shook his head wildly. “I can’t risk it. I can’t.”

“Oh, Carey. Risk what?”

His throat worked. “Losing you.”

“Losing me?” Jase took a step forward, but Carey put up a hand to hold him back.

“Three years ago, I did almost lose you. Over this.” He made a sawing motion between them.

“That was different.” Jase still kept his voice low, despite the emotion raging through him that made him want to shout at the top of his lungs. “This is—”

“It’s what?” Carey interrupted. “Unfinished business? Curiosity?”

Pain stabbed Jase down low. “Is that what it feels like to you? Curiosity?”

“I don’t know!” Carey shoved his hands through his hair, then linked his fingers behind his neck, visibly striving for calm. He met Jase’s eyes again. “But whatever it is, it’s not worth risking our friendship over. I can’t—”

He sounded so distressed that Jase dredged deep and summoned a smile. “Then we won’t risk it. We’ll forget this ever happened, okay? Chalk it up to temporary insanity or something.”

The relief that spread across Carey’s face made his heart ache. “Yeah. Okay.” Pushing off the wall, he brushed past him, muttering, “See you at home.”

Melanie Hansen will almost always make you cry. Count on it. Point of Contact? Sobbed through the whole thing. This one wasn’t nearly as bad, but I still cried.

Carey and Jase are Army buddies and best friends. Jase, the medic of their platoon who took care of everyone, helped Carey after a catastrophic injury. Now they are separated by miles- Carey in Colorado working with other vets, and Jase in Los Angeles, working as a medic but also trying to get his band noticed and signed.

Jase has a giant crush on Carey, but Carey is straight. He thinks. Except for that one time. Which when I read about that I was like, huh. You didn’t run with that? But anyway.

Carey drives to LA to visit with Jase. All of the guys in the band know Carey, so this isn’t the first time he has gone out for a visit. This time is different though. Carey is seeing Jase in a different light.

Carey and Jase dance around each other, but Jase is hiding more than his crush. He has some serious PTSD but is so used to being the one who takes care of everyone else, he hides his own problems. But since Carey works with vets, he knows what is going on and tries to get Jase to open up.

Big surprise- they do get together, but then it is dicey and no one is talking and ugh. Why are boys like that? To keep us turning the pages- that is why!

There’s a subplot with the band which is kind of cool, but at the same time it seems really secondary. More like it is for fun than for making it big.

The conflict and resolution were really done well and brought the book to a good close.

So if you like wounded heroes- physically and mentally- and need a good cry, pick this one up.

4 pieces of eye candy

Melanie Hansen doesn’t get nearly enough sleep. She loves all things coffee-related, including collecting mugs from every place she’s visited. After spending eighteen years as a military spouse, Melanie definitely considers herself a moving expert. She has lived and worked all over the country, and hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to the love stories she gets up in the wee hours to write. On her off time, you can find Melanie watching baseball, reading or spending time with her husband and two teenage sons.

http://melaniehansenbooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009084006829

http://twitter.com/meljoyaz

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13505006.Melanie_Hansen

meljhansen@gmail.com

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The Sorcerer’s Guardian (Chronicles of Tournai Book 4) by Antonia Aquilante: RDB, Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

September 14, 2020 by Denise

Savarin honed his Talent through years of study, and to achieve his goal of becoming the most powerful and accomplished sorcerer in Tournai, he made magic his life. Among the wealthy and noble circles he moves in, no one would suspect the handsome, refined, arrogant sorcerer’s humble beginnings—which is how Savarin prefers it. He wants to be seen only as the man he’s made himself. When Tournai’s princes task Savarin with studying and strengthening the spells that protect the principality from magical attack, he is more than happy to do so. The spells are complex, centuries old, and exactly the type of puzzle Savarin is eager to solve. But to his annoyance, the princes insist Loriot accompany him on his journey.

Second son of a minor noble family, Loriot worked his way up the ranks of the royal guard to captain with single-minded determination and takes pride in his service to the crown. He must obey the prince’s orders to protect Savarin, despite believing his skills would be best used elsewhere and his wariness of magic. UnTalented himself, Loriot has learned not only the benefits of magic but also its potential for harm—and how to counter it. He still believes it’s best to avoid most magic entirely, which is difficult when he’s tasked with playing guard to a powerful sorcerer.

Loriot and Savarin clash repeatedly during their journey, but the simmering tension between them doesn’t only stem from their work, and passion develops into feelings neither expected. But Savarin must still secure Tournai’s magical barrier, and his only solution will endanger both him and the royal family.

Title: The Sorcerer’s Guardian

Series: Chronicles of Tournai, Book Four

Author: Antonia Aquilante

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: September 14, 2020

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 111400

Genre: Fantasy, LGBTQIA+, Fantasy, romance, family-drama, gay, cisgender, magic, cat shifters, magician, captain of the guards, storm, antagonists to lovers, court intrigue

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Amazon

Nine Star Press

As afternoon waned into evening, Loriot approached his house on Dove Lane. Weariness dragged at him with each step. He hadn’t slept more than a few minutes in the last few days, and now that the crisis had passed, he felt the fatigue down to his bones. But the lack of sleep was worth it for the good outcome of the situation.

He trudged up the few steps to his front door, its rich blue color recently freshened, and let himself in. The key turned smoothly in the lock, and the magical protections on the house recognized him as belonging, allowing him inside. He shivered, even though he didn’t feel anything as he crossed the threshold; perhaps someone with a Talent would, but he had neither Talent nor any sensitivity to magic.

Inside, the house was quiet. The formal parlor was empty, which was unsurprising as they rarely used it—only when Joceline and Oriana chose to entertain. He wanted more than anything to go up to his bedchamber and collapse into his bed for the next few days, but he couldn’t. Couldn’t even collapse for a few hours without checking on his family. But he knew where at least one of them was likely to be at this time of day

The sitting room at the back of the house was quiet, too, so quiet he could hear the scratch of his sister’s pen on paper as he stepped into the doorway. Joceline sat at her writing desk, papers spread around her, pen flying across the page. Despite the silence, she didn’t notice him. A good writing day, then. He hated to disturb her, but she’d want to know he was home.

“Story going well?” he asked, keeping his voice quiet so he wouldn’t startle her. He’d learned it was better to have to repeat himself than to scare her when she was absorbed in a world of her own creation.

But he didn’t have to repeat himself today. She glanced up immediately, her gaze hazy and then sharpening. “There you are! I was wondering if you were ever coming home.”

He hadn’t been gone so long—only a couple of days—but he did try not to let a day go by without returning for at least a little while. He stepped farther into the room and sank down into a comfortable chair. “It was unavoidable. You got my notes?”

“Of course. You know I was just teasing.” Joceline narrowed her eyes and studied him with an intensity he could almost feel. “Is everything all right? You look exhausted, and I heard yesterday the guard was searching everyone leaving the city.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face. Sitting had been a mistake. His eyelids wanted to droop; his body wanted to melt into the cushions. “There was a kidnapping.”

“Not Prince Julien?”

“No, no. And it’s fine now,” he reassured her, trying to keep her from coming out of her chair in her alarm at a threat to the heir to Tournai’s throne. “It wasn’t a member of the royal family at all.”

“But you were involved?”

As captain of the royal guard, Loriot normally wouldn’t be directly involved in such a situation. “The baby taken was the daughter of Prince Amory’s friend, Master Tristan. The merchant. Though if what I saw means anything, he’ll likely be a member of the royal family soon.”

“Really?” Joceline leaned forward, her interest of a different kind now. “There’s going to be a marriage? To whom? The princess?”

He shook his head. He didn’t need to tell her what he said should go no further. He didn’t ever tell her anything truly secret, but Loriot didn’t see the harm in a little meaningless court gossip now and then, especially since she wouldn’t spread it. “No. Lord Etan.”

She sat back with a huff. “Well, they really are bucking tradition, aren’t they?”

He let out a short laugh. But what she said wasn’t untrue. Both Tournai’s prince and his cousin, a royal duke, had married men in the last couple of years, and now it seemed Lord Etan, another cousin of Prince Philip’s, would do the same. Loriot couldn’t think of a time when such a thing had happened, as the royal family and nobility tended to marry those who could provide bloodline heirs for their titles—and some families were even more conservative, only marrying women.

“Good for them,” Joceline said. “I hope they’re happy.”

“Now that Tristan’s daughter is back with them, I believe they are.”

Concern flooded back into her pretty face. “You found her? And the person who took her?”

“Yes, with Master Savarin’s help.” He’d gotten over any resentment he might have had that he needed the help of magic long before today and was happy to use any tool he had access to. Savarin, the most powerful sorcerer in Tournai, was not someone whose help should be turned away, and Savarin never withheld it, serving Tournai whenever he was called upon.

“The sorcerer? How did he help?” Joceline sat forward, a gleam in her eyes he recognized well. She wasn’t simply curious; she wanted to know because she might use the information in a story.

“Joceline.”

“What?”

He sighed and shook his head. “He used his magic to try to track the kidnappers and then to try to find the baby directly. He pointed us in the right direction, let us know where to search for them.” Loriot didn’t bother mentioning the help they’d received from someone else, a scholar at the university. If he read Savarin right, Savarin would be finding Master Corentin at the university soon and asking him about the magic he used, because it also sounded as if Savarin hadn’t heard of anything like it.

“Interesting.”

“Let me guess, your new story has a sorcerer character.” He arched an eyebrow at her, his mildly disapproving tone mostly put on. Which she would know, as she was aware how proud he was of her accomplishments.

“I have an idea that would call for one. What’s Master Savarin like?”

“I don’t know him very well.” He tried to think of anything he knew about Savarin beyond the surface. “He’s powerful and arrogant with it.”

She shrugged. “I’d be surprised if he wasn’t. Aren’t all powerful sorcerers arrogant about their power?”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t know any others.” He resolutely pushed his newly acquired knowledge of the royal family’s secret Talent from his mind. He didn’t need Joceline seeing a hint in his expression and trying to badger the information out of him. He would never tell, but life would be easier if he didn’t have to fight Joceline about it.

“All the ones I’ve read about in stories are. Especially the evil ones.”

“Tell me you’re not going to base a character on Master Savarin and make him evil.” Making the most powerful sorcerer in the country an evil character in a book sounded like a horrible idea.

Another shrug. “Powerful sorcerers always seem to be evil characters. Or self-sacrificing ones who save the day.”

Loriot shook his head and heaved himself to his feet. If he didn’t move, he’d end up sleeping right there. “Alain is upstairs?”

“Yes. But wait,” she called after him as he walked toward the door. “You must know something else about Master Savarin.”

“I really don’t.” He didn’t turn.

“Is he handsome?”

Savarin’s image filled his mind—his height and broad shoulders, perfectly carved features, blond hair he thought would be soft under his hands. His stride hitched, but he shook the image away and ignored Joceline calling after him. Perhaps she would forget the idea entirely if he didn’t encourage her.

He doubted it, but he could hope. The idea of Savarin as a character in a book on the shelf of a bookshop made him cringe.

Trudging up the stairs took the last of his energy, but he forced himself to bypass his own bedchamber. He couldn’t go to bed without seeing Alain. Not after so long away, not even if it hadn’t been very long. The door to the room at the back of the house was partially open. He peeked in as he pushed it open the rest of the way. The room was tidy, except for a veritable city built of blocks in the middle of the rug. The nursemaid noticed him first, but Alain wasn’t far behind. He looked up, his bright-green eyes—twins of Loriot’s own—lighting up, and something inside Loriot melted, just as it always did under those eyes.

“Papa!”

With ease of long practice, he caught the five-year-old bundle of energy that came flying at him and swung his son up into his arms. He cuddled him close for as long as Alain would allow. As tired as he was, he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. “There’s my boy. I missed you. Show me what you’ve been doing.”

I want to start off by saying I have read and loved this entire series so far. It would be impossible to read book seven without reading the other six, or at the very least the first couple.

This fantasy world is centered around its magical royal family. I’m not going to reveal the “talent” except it’s a novel twist on the expected genre, and in my opinion not explored enough.

Getting to this book, and while saying I loved the series I think this was my least favorite and maybe because it centers on two secondary characters I feel never really come into their own. The court wizard/sorcerer and the Captain of the Guards. I think based on the other books this didn’t have enough external plot to keep the story moving, and I know I shouldn’t review one based on the others, but I can’t.

The love story – sort of enemies to lovers and kind of forced proximity was a little weak.

But I will definitely pick up the next in the series when it publishes.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Antonia Aquilante has been making up stories for as long as she can remember, and at the age of twelve, decided she would be a writer when she grew up. After many years and a few career detours, she has returned to that original plan. Her stories have changed over the years, but one thing has remained consistent—they all end in happily ever after.

She has a fondness for travel (and a long list of places she wants to visit and revisit), taking photos, family history, fabulous shoes, baking treats (which she shares with friends and family), and of course, reading. She usually has at least two books started at once and never goes anywhere without her Kindle. Though she is a convert to e-books, she still loves paper books the best, and there are a couple thousand of them residing in her home with her.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Antonia is living there again after years in Washington, DC and North Carolina for school and work. She enjoys being back in the Garden State but admits to being tempted every so often to run away from home and live in Italy.

Facebook | Twitter | eMail

http://www.facebook.com/AntoniaAquilanteAuthor

https://twitter.com/antoniaquilante

antonia.aquilante@gmail.com

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Soothe Me, Daddy by Elouise East: Exclusive Author Interview, Excerpt, Release Day Review & Giveaway

September 10, 2020 by Denise

Soothing his boy is a pleasure in more ways than one

Once upon a time, there was a boy who wanted a Daddy…

Henley knows what he wants from a relationship: to be taken care of by a Daddy. He’s under no illusions that he can be a handful. When he starts a new job, his gaze is taken to a prime specimen. Maybe Henley could persuade him to be his Daddy…

Isaac is worn out from the clubs, the scenes, the boys who say they want a Daddy then change their minds. When he’s given the responsibility of training the most obedient guy he’s ever met, Isaac is hooked. But does the guy even know what a boy is, despite acting like one?

They are powerless to stop their relationship. They complement each other so well.

Is Isaac the right Daddy for Henley, and is Henley the right boy for Isaac?

This is a 40,000 words sweet Daddy/boy romance

Book Title: Soothe Me, Daddy

Author: Elouise East

Publisher: Self-published

Cover Artist: Elouise East

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: Daddy kink

Themes: Workplace romance

Heat Rating: 3 – 4 flames

Length: Approx. 42 000 words

It is a standalone book.

Goodreads

Amazon US – Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK- Kindle Unlimited

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing since May 2019 officially, but I actually have been writing since I was a teenager.

What made you decide you wanted to put yourself out there to be published?

A friend pushed me to try. I was beta reading for them, and in one of our many conversations, I mentioned about my writing. They told me to try. That I had nothing to lose from creating a story. They were right.

Your first published book?

My first published book was First Kiss from the Crush series. It is a taboo nature and follows two brothers who cross a line and end up being blackmailed.

Would you ever write a hetero romance? Why or why not?

Yes, I definitely would and have, although it’s not for sale at the moment. I have several female characters within my Crush series who want their stories told, and I will get to them at some point in the future.

What is your opinion on the “chicks with dicks” analogy? In your opinion, is it wrong for your males to be emotional or romantic?

Not at all. I love it when guys are who they want to be, be it emotional, strong, romantic, withdrawn. What I love most is when guys are able to let go of all the preconceptions that are thrust on them, and they can become who they were meant to be.

Name your favorite authors and some of their stories? What do you like about the writing?

CJ Bishop is one of my favourites. She has several series which are interlinked, The Phoenix Club, Cowboy Gangster to name a couple of series. I love how the characters rise above the horrors they have lived with to become amazing people.

I also love JR Ward and her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It’s fantastic. She make everything see so real and unique. She doesn’t leave you scratching you head because you can’t figure out how something has happened.

What book are you reading at the moment? It’s okay to give a fellow author a plug!

I’m reading A Hate Story by Abrianna Denae.

What are you currently working on?

I have just started the Crush Book 5, which is Casey’s story, who was a side character in Deep Down and had a very minor role in Instant Desire. I’ve had readers request this character, so I thought I best get on with it, lol.

When creating your characters, do you have models in mind or are they totally fictional?

Usually, they start out completely fictional and then I search to find a photo that links with what I envisage the character being. Occasionally, I’ll find a photo and just know who it is. I don’t know how that works, but it does.

If you write gay romance or erotica, just how descriptive are you in their sex scenes?

I am fairly descriptive in the sex scenes. I think of it like a movie playing in your head. If things seem disjointed or jump from one place to another, I find it difficult to stay in the story. So, that is why I detail a fair amount.

As a gay fiction or m/m romance author, do you feel that the trend is changing where it is becoming more mainstream?

I definitely feel that MM romance is becoming more popular, but I’m not sure if it’s on its way to mainstream. It’s certainly not a taboo genre anymore, which is fantastic, but I think there is a long way to go before it’s properly mainstream. Just my opinion, though.

Recently, a writer sabotaged her career by answering a bad review on a blog. How would you have handled this and do you think authors should answer their reviews?

This is a tricky situation. Personally, I will never respond to a negative review. In fact, now I have a PA, I don’t read my reviews. I have heard several well-known authors recommend that you respond to positive reviews with a “thank you” or something similar, but at present I don’t do that either. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on your work. There is nothing you can do to make every single person happy. It’s impossible. So, it’s better to allow readers to comment their opinions and I will stay quiet. As far as I’m concerned, if I didn’t like the book I had written, it wouldn’t be published.

As an m/m romance or gay fiction writer, what stereotype of gay men bothers you the most?

That they look like twinks, and you can spot them a mile away. I know several gay men, and until they told me, I had no idea. Every person is individual.

Fun questions

Your favorite gay TV show or movie?

I enjoyed Love, Simon. But also a German movie called Free Fall.

Do you feel that celebs who are gay or bi should come out the closet?

Not if they don’t want to. They shouldn’t be forced into something they are not comfortable doing.

Have you attended a pride parade? If so, where you inspired when doing so?

No, but I would really love to one day.

“I don’t want you to change yourself for me, Henley.”

“What do you mean?”

“You need to be yourself from the beginning. Don’t act or speak how you think I want you to. If I think something about your behaviour needs correcting, I will discuss it with you and help you alter it.”

“Through punishments?” Henley asked, eyebrows raising.

“If I believe that is the best way to remind you, yes.” Isaac hesitated. “For me, being a Daddy is a twenty-four-seven responsibility. I would need you to realise that everything I do for or to you is for your own benefit. I want to help you become all that you can be, and in return, you need to trust me wholeheartedly. Telling me the truth at all times, even when it scares you. You need to trust that I will catch you should you fall. I will hold you close and protect you with everything I am.”

Isaac gazed at Henley, seeing a shimmer begin in his eyes before they filled and overflowed.

“Come here.” Isaac issued the order, and they both scooted out of their opposite seats, Isaac guiding Henley to slide over in the booth seat so he could sit next to him. Isaac wrapped his arm around Henley’s shoulder, hugging him close and resting his fingers against the side of his face as his tears continued to fall soundlessly.

Once Henley had calmed, Isaac lifted his face. “Are you okay?” Henley nodded. “I need your words, sweetheart.”

“I’m okay,” he croaked. “I…You…It’s everything I want.”

“Alright. Let’s eat our food, and once we’re full, we can talk some more.”

Isaac reached for Henley’s plate from the opposite side of the table and placed it in front of Henley. Henley smiled, and though a little watery, it filled Isaac’s heart with joy. He couldn’t believe he had found someone who already knew about Daddies and boys, and in fact, was one.

After they had finished their meal and Isaac deduced Henley didn’t want a dessert, he gripped Henley’s hand and left the restaurant. It wasn’t particularly late, and the air was warm, so he suggested a short walk.

“For a relationship to work with me, I would need to give you a routine to stick to—”

“What kind of routine?”

Isaac raised his eyebrows at Henley, waiting until he apologised for interrupting before continuing, “Things like when you’d need to go to sleep, when to wake, when to eat. I don’t do this because I think you are incapable of doing them yourself. I do it because then I will know you are looking after yourself like I have asked you to. I trust that if I ask you to do something, you will do it. For example, if I ask you to eat at midday, and you agree, I expect you to eat at midday, barring any unforeseen circumstances.”

“That sounds good.” Henley glanced up at Isaac from underneath his eyelashes. “I do sometimes forget whether I’ve eaten or not.”

“Good to know, and thank you for being honest with me. I have seen that you can be a little excitable at times. I would like to help you find a way to manage that. I think your work, however amazing you already are at it, would benefit a great deal from you being calmer and more in control of your actions.” He paused and smirked. “And mouth.”

“Hey!” Henley pouted for a second before grinning. “Yes, okay. I know I can be a chatterbox. But I have so much to say.”

“And I wouldn’t ever want to stop you from saying it, but I do think there is a time and place for certain topics of conversation.”

Henley scrunched his nose up. “Is there really?”

“Yes,” Isaac said firmly.

They walked in silence for a few steps before Henley asked, “What should I call you?”

Isaac exhaled deeply. “I would love for you to call me Daddy. But you don’t have to. Isaac is fine, too.”

Henley rested his head against Isaac’s shoulder, wrapping his free hand around his biceps. “I would love to call you Daddy.”

“Does everything sound okay so far?”

Henley nodded, and when Isaac raised his eyebrows, he added, “Yes…Daddy.”

Isaac inhaled and briefly closed his eyes, his pulse skyrocketing at the word. “Perfect.”

Okay, sooooo….I’m not usually big on boss/employee type tropes because it’s just so much drama and I’m just too emotionally messy to handle it, and there was a little bit in this one, but not enough to make me an angsty mess, so that was a plus for me.
Henley, cute name btw, applies for a job within the company he thought was only a pit stop job and as luck would have it, he gets the position AND the hot guy to train him!

Isaac, ready to get back to life after his last failed relationship has given up the prospect of finding exactly what he wants and wouldn’t you just know it, that’s when the perfect one usually falls right into your lap. Enter Henley….

He’s chatty and sassy and knows exactly what he wants. He also knows who would be great to fill that position… I liked that he didn’t play coy or try to hard, everything seemed to start naturally, though very quickly, even for Daddy tropes sake.
I loved how supportive each of their families were, especially Henley’s dad. I thought Isaac’s setting her sister up with the barista was a bit pimpish and I couldn’t understand all the nicknames for Isaac, Is and Isie, like… how is that a nickname for Isaac?
I also thought they were both a bit extra at times, but Daddy’s sometimes have to be, don’t they?

Alls well that ended well too, I don’t want to give everything away (I’ve recently been told I do that from time to time), but I’ll say that it was a short and sweet read with very low angst and a cute little ending. I wouldn’t mind reading more about these two and seeing who might be next in the series!

4 pieces of eye candy

Elouise East is a bestselling author of contemporary MM romance. She writes a variety of themes: sweet and fluffy to high angst to taboo, but there is a huge nod in the direction of friendships being integral to each character’s experience. She writes books that are emotionally realistic, even if liberties are taken with other aspects of her stories.

Reading and writing have always been a part of her life, although her debut book wasn’t published until July 2019, when she was 36 years old. Her experience has come from reading thousands of books over the years and being a perfectionist when it comes to trying to make things right. She lives in the centre of the UK with her two children, who make life worth living, keep her (in)sane and make her laugh. She loves Zumba, yoga and walking, all things that can be done alone as she is very introverted.

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