New Release Book Blast

Bet You (Franklin U Series, Book 4) by Neve Wilder: Blog Tour, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

September 16, 2022 by Denise

. .

Spencer

Whose brilliant idea was it to build university housing next to one of Franklin U’s most notorious party frats?

I’m a real student—the kind who actually came to college to learn, not some dumb frat bro who sees Franklin U as a four-year challenge to consume the most booze and throw out the best pick-up line.

Their all-hours lifestyle is driving me crazy. Not to mention, the jerks keep taking my assigned parking spot.

But the worst offender might be Cory Ingram. Sure, he has a smile that could melt a polar ice cap, but no way will I ever be one of his minions. I’m pretty sure I made that clear when I blew my top at him. So I have no idea why he’s suddenly everywhere around me, turning on the charm like I might actually fall for it.

Nope. Not gonna happen.

Cory

From the first day I set foot on Franklin U’s campus, everything has been golden. I have a ton of friends, endless parties to be the life of, and whoever I want in my bed on any given night. Sure, I’m a shameless party boy, but I’m not a jerk. Ask anyone. Seriously.

Even the crotchety old groundskeeper waves and smiles at me when I pass.

Then there’s Spencer Crow. I’ve never seen a guy’s face get so red over a parking spot. Even when I try to make it right, he proceeds to give me the tongue-lashing of a lifetime—which is about the moment I notice that, in addition to being irrationally irate, he’s also crazy hot.

My friends think I’ve finally met the one person I can’t seduce…

Bet you I can.

Title: Bet You
Authors: Neve Wilder
Length: 65K
Series: Franklin U Series, Book 4
Genre: Contemporary.
Tropes: opposites attract, hate to love, fratboy player/confident geek, rich/poor.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

Damn, this dude is fired up. And while I hear the words coming out of his mouth, it’s the visuals that strike me. Dark brown hair swept back from his forehead in a way that catches the sunlight in threads of warm gold. His eyes are a crystalline blue and what I’d consider penetrating if they weren’t filled with so much fury that I’m convinced he’s trying to laser me to ash on the spot. And a mouth that, well, if it wasn’t currently spewing venom at me, would leave me curious about how it’d feel wrapped around my cock.

How have I not noticed this guy before?

Or have I?

Shit, have I slept with him?

Maybe that’s why he’s so pissed over a parking spot? Who the hell gets this butthurt over a parking spot without some background motivation? I mean, I’m always up-front with my hookups that I am in no way relationship material, but that doesn’t mean feelings don’t get hurt sometimes. Maybe this guy is a ghost from hookups past?

“Have I slept with you?” I blurt, interrupting him while he’s saying something again about a dumpster on Lee Street.

His jaw snaps shut, then opens again, bewilderment wrinkling his forehead. “What? Of course not,” he growls as if I’ve mortally offended him by the suggestion, which in turn kinda offends me.

Look, my body count is pretty high, but like I said, I’m always up-front with my partners, always get consent, and am dedicated to their pleasure as much as mine. I mean, Jesus, I once went down on a girl for two hours because she’d never had an orgasm from oral before, and it took us that long to figure out what combination of lips, tongue, and fingers was the winning ticket. But by god, we fucking found it. And then celebrated after with a two-hour nap before she blew me a kiss as she left. I never heard from her again, but I like to think she’s out and about these days tugging the roots of guys’ hair as they bring her to multiple orgasms.

God, he’s still going. I zero in on his mouth, the plump Cupid’s bow and the thinner lower lip—which gives him a stern look that’s really working for me. I shake my head, trying to focus on the words coming from those sexy lips.

“…not if you were the last man alive.”

Okay, so he’s gay. Or bi. I squint at him, still confused. “I’m sorry, but I need to ask again: Is this amount of aggression really warranted over a parking space?” When he purses his lips, I can’t help it—I have to fight back a grin. It’s just… he’s so fucking indignant. “Look, I’ve said I’m sorry about your space, and I’m moving the car now.”

“Which would only help me if I could time travel back to an hour ago to before you parked in the spot.”

“How about I drive you to your car?” I figure that’s a considerate offer and the best olive branch to offer that I can think of at the moment.

He blinks in surprise before his mouth pulls into another scowl. “No, thanks. I’ll walk.” He stalks past me and starts down the street.

If you’ve been reading the books as they release, you know that we had met Spencer previously. He was hoping to get into the life sciences house to live with other people with his major. His friend warns him of the frat next door. The one that is ALWAYS loud and often throws parties. He doesn’t listen.

The frat IS loud and keeps him up often. After school full time AND working at the local bar, he is over it. And finally snaps when someone parks in his assigned spot. AGAIN. When he snapped, I felt it in my soul. Been there.

Cory is the guilty party. He tries turning on his charm to no avail. He is known for his charm! But Spencer isn’t having it. So now it’s a challenge. And when the frat brothers find out, it’s also a bet.

Cory is RELENTLESS in his pursuit. But alone with that, he is actually super respectful. And Spencer is charmed, he is just trying not to be.

If you’ve read any Neve Wilder books before, you know she can write a pretty filthy (in a good way!) sex scene. Well. Let me tell you. There were scenes where these two guys weren’t even in the same house and my kindle almost caught fire.

There’s some good cat and mouse here without being creepy. Cory is funny and charming and Spencer is no match. They play off of each other really well. Cory’s charm to Spencer’s snark. But it is a slow burn until they get their hands on each other.

This was a fun read with a good plot and a nice story as well. Sexy, cute, funny AND romantic. Excellent addition to the FU world

4 pieces of eye candy

Enemies to lovers, is not a favorite trope of mine, but is always entertaining! In this one, we have Corey and Spencer… again, as we’re used to seeing in this series so far, they’re about as different as night and day, and it isn’t all sunshine and roses when they first meet… – or any time they meet, there at the beginning. Spencer is at Franklin U to get an education. He takes it seriously, or as seriously as he can living next door to a fraternity. A party-friendly fraternity, with bro’ey dudes that do nothing but keep him distracted and disrupt his life… they even steal his parking space…

Now, I wanna say that I was a little apprehensive to start this one because I hate the whole ‘bet’ thing, they always get caught and someone always gets their feelings hurt…it’s right around the same ball park as “rule number one: you can’t fall in love with me…” like, well, now we know it’s going to happen… but I’m glad I stuck with this one because I did enjoy the chemistry and the banter between these two. I didn’t think I was going to warm up to Corey, (and not because I have a weird taste or Corey’s since it’s my husband’s name) but I’m so glad that I stuck with it!

I’m really enjoying this series and though I’ve been called out recently for spoilers and telling the whole synopsis in my review, I’ll leave it here and say that if you enjoyed the rest of this series, you’ll love this one too!

4 pieces of eye candy from me!

Neve Wilder reads promiscuously, across multiple genres, but her favorite stories always contain an element of romance. Incidentally, this is also what she likes to write. Slow-burners with delicious tension? Yes. Whiplash-inducing page-turners, also yes. Down and dirty scorchers? Yes. And every flavor in between.

She believes David Bowie was the sexiest musician to ever live, and she’s always game to nerd out on anything from music to writing.

And finally, she believes that love conquers all. Except the heat index in July. Nothing can conquer that bastard.

Connect with Neve:
https://www.nevewilder.com/social-links
Newsletters: nevewilder.com/subscribe
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/neve-wilder
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3S8U32a
Facebook Readers’ Group: facebook.com/groups/WildersWildOnes
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A Little More Trust (Hot Property Book 1) by Pauley J Ray: RB, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

September 12, 2022 by Denise

. .

Ethan Scott has everything he could possibly want: an amazing career, great friends, and more money than he’s ever dreamed of. Oh, and men. So many men. Yep, life is perfect, and he doesn’t ever see it changing.

Nate Sullivan has sworn off men. They can’t be trusted. Simple as that. After years of being lied to by the man he thought he loved, the very married man with a wife and kids, he’s promised to never give his heart away or get emotionally attached to anyone again.

Ethan thinks it’ll be a sure thing to get Nate into his bed, but when the sexy and frustrating decorator rebuffs him at every turn, he comes up with a new plan to tempt the man he can’t stop thinking about. A sex agreement. For the duration of Nate’s work contract, with no strings attached and definitely no hearts and roses or emotional fallout.

It sounds like the perfect deal. Nate gets to have the man he’s been craving since they first met before walking away, his heart intact. Ethan gets to have Nate in his bed, finally satisfying the itch he’s constantly trying to scratch. Problem is, Ethan’s still trying to extricate himself from his disastrous marriage and if there’s one thing Nate won’t touch, it’s a married man. When Nate finds out what Ethan’s been hiding, the betrayal of trust leaves him devastated.

Nate leaves, but Ethan’s determined not to let him go. Will Nate give him the chance to explain, or will he risk losing the only man he’s ever truly loved?

Title: A Little More Trust

Series: Hot Property, Book One

Author: Pauley J Ray

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 09/06/2022

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 84600

Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, alpha males, blue-collar, businessman, home repair

Amazon – All Regions

NineStar Press

Goodreads

Ethan

Pouring the steaming coffee into my usual mug, I let the rich aroma fill my senses. God, I needed this. Taking a large gulp, I savored the strong taste as it hit my tongue, the heat burning my mouth and throat as I swallowed, I hoped like hell the caffeine would kick start my body after the late night I’d had.

I plopped myself down at the kitchen table to take the weight off my aching thigh muscles from last night’s activities when the front doorbell rang loudly in the quiet space. Who the hell was that—I glanced at the clock on the wall—at a quarter to nine on a Saturday morning?

The bell rang again so I pushed my seat back and dragged my ass up the stairs and down the first-floor hallway. Yanking the front door open to get rid of whoever had ruined my peaceful morning, I was about to give them an earful, but then I looked into his face and the words died on my lips.

The man standing on my doorstep must have been mid-twenties at the most. A few inches shorter than my own six two, he wore a blue baggy t-shirt a good couple of sizes too big, almost drowning his slim frame, and a pair of loose-fitting gray jeans and black sneakers. His angular face gave him a Scandinavian look, with a strong jaw and high cheekbones. Sandy blond hair shone golden in the morning sun, short on the sides and long on top, swept away from his forehead and held in place with some product. My fingers itched to slide through the strands to see if they were as soft as they looked and a sudden image of my hand gripping tightly in his hair as I tilted his head to lick up his neck flashed through my mind.

Despite the tempting package he presented, I couldn’t seem to tear my eyes away from his lips. Pink and full, they were begging to be kissed, and I had to bite down hard on my tongue to refrain from licking my own in readiness.

Well, hello, Blondie.

“Mister Scott?” his smooth, quiet voice asked, giving me goosebumps and pulling me from the trance I’d fallen into. Lifting my gaze to the palest green eyes I’d ever seen, I nodded at his question, my mouth suddenly unable to voice a coherent response. He shifted on his feet, “I’m, err, here about the painting quote.”

Damn, was that today?

He extended his hand out in front of him, and, giving myself a mental shake to wake the hell up, I reached for his and clasped his palm, my own larger hand encasing his. A shock of electricity shot up my arm catching me by surprise. The guy obviously felt the effect too as his eyes widened and he took in a short, sharp breath.

Interesting.

“Please, call me Ethan.” I held onto his warm hand a little longer than necessary before reluctantly releasing it and giving him a friendly smile.

The guy stiffened slightly and inclined his head. “I’m Nate.”

“Nate.” I savored his name on my tongue, rolling it around. “Please, come on inside.”

I stepped aside to let him enter, unable to resist the urge to lean in slightly and inhale his scent as he passed by me. Light and citrusy with a hint of soap. As he moved into the hallway, I gave him the once over and was disappointed to see his t-shirt covered his ass, obscuring my view.

Jesus. I had to stop perving on the guy. I deliberately pushed my hands into my sweatpants pockets to try to hide my growing erection and to subtly press my fingers against the head of my cock to give me some degree of control and hopefully, relief.

It didn’t.

Nate had stopped a few feet into the hallway, glancing around, assessing his surroundings, but he didn’t say anything and waited silently for me to take the lead.

“Come on,” I offered. “I’ll give you the tour, and we can talk about what I want.”

He paused for a second but then walked past me into the hallway, my eyes once more running over the baggy t-shirt and shapeless jeans he wore. I almost cursed out loud wondering what the body hiding underneath might look like, which was weird as this guy wasn’t my type at all, so why Nate intrigued me was puzzling.

Maybe it was because he wasn’t all over me like guys usually were? I inwardly scoffed at the notion of my ego being so fragile I couldn’t handle not being wanted and had something to prove. Not surprising with my upbringing but hell, I hoped I wasn’t that shallow.

Though there was something attractive about the way his calm demeanor pulled me in. With my hectic social life and full-on work schedule, I barely had a second in which to relax, but though I’d only met the guy five minutes ago, Nate slowed everything down and being in his presence made me calmer.

Mentally shaking my head, I tried to focus on the reason why Nate was here. To give me a quote to paint my house. So, concentrating on that, I proceeded to give him the grand tour.

I’d moved into the four-story Victorian townhouse just over a month ago, so had hardly any furniture cluttering the place, which made things easier to see and for Nate to get a feel for what needed to be done. With an open and airy first floor letting the light flood in and four bedrooms spread over the upper two floors, the place was far bigger than I needed, but as soon as the realtor had shown me around, I had to have it.

Taking the stairs down to the lower floor I led him past the dining room and into the huge open plan kitchen at the rear of the house with the French doors leading onto the garden.

I’d been watching Nate carefully as I’d given my tour. He still hadn’t said much, and his lack of communication was beginning to get to me, as was my inability to get a read on him, something I was usually extremely good at. But as we progressed and each room had been revealed, he’d relaxed a bit more as his obvious delight at the house and the possibility of getting his hands on such a historic building to paint had emerged.

Which I liked. A lot.

“You have a beautiful home, Mister Scott,” he said, his gentle voice filling the quiet surrounding us.

The words were the most he’d spoken since we’d begun the tour. I was extremely pleased at his compliment but, for some reason, refrained from saying so. Instead, shoving my hands back in my pockets, I rocked back and forth on my heels. “I like it, and as I stated earlier, please, call me Ethan.”

The corner of his lips curled up in the barest hint of a smile, making my heart beat a bit faster in my chest.

Pulling out a chair, he sat down at the whitewashed kitchen table and hooked his hands underneath his legs. “So, if you let me know what you’d like, I can put a quote together for you.”

I tried to resist, but, for some reason, the quiet man in front of me made me determined to get some sort of reaction, so I lowered my voice an octave and replied, “You want to know what I like?”

My flirty question had the desired effect as a full-on blush formed on his cheeks and his mouth dropped open.

God, he’s so cute.

“F-for the house.” He fidgeted in his seat. “What you’d like for the house.”

“Ah, okay.” Moving away from the counter and pulling out my own chair, I sat down opposite him, needing to get closer to this man who predictably leaned as far away in his seat as he could. “This is where I’ll need your help.” I rested my hands on the table. “I’m not good at this type of thing.”

I wasn’t clueless at all. In fact, I was damn good at painting, as my business partners and I had built a successful construction company from our humble beginnings with house renovations. And because of our success and the crazy number of hours I worked, it left me no time to paint my own home. Hence, the need to hire someone to do it for me.

The premise behind this book was great, it drew me in, even with the warning about cheating, which is generally a big no for me. However, there were extenuating circumstances, so even though it was technically cheating, with Ethan in the middle of a divorce, it was not crossing that line in my eyes.

Nate was super shy, almost terribly so, stuttering from nervousness whenever Ethan tried to get too close. He was a very sweet guy, who just wanted to do his job, keep his head above water, and ignore the mess that his love life was after dating a man for years who was married to a woman with young kids. It definitely laid the foundation for the break of trust that comes later between Nate and Ethan.

Once Nate gave in to Ethan, it fairly quickly became a bit of insta-love. And this next sentence is one I’ve only written once or twice in a review before. There was too much sex in this book. As a general rule, I think, the sex should move the story along. There can be as many sex scenes in a BDSM book, but it would likely not feel like too much sex, because of the genre. However, this had scenes that I felt easily could have been cut from the book, and it would not have changed it at all.

I would have liked to maybe have a scene or two with Ethan’s ex, Andrew, to have a better understanding why he was so challenging when it came to signing the divorce papers. Maybe even a confrontation between Nate and Andrew. To be honest, I did expect that to happen the times that Nate was left at Ethan’s home waiting for him.

It was a bit of an abrupt ending, with a final scene that seemed to fall a bit flat for me, as it came in the last 4% of the book, followed up with a short, but sweet epilogue to follow.

Overall the writing was well done, for a first time author, and I’d like to read an additional book in this series.

3 pieces of eye candy

Pauley J Ray has been making up stories in his head for as long as he can remember, and now gets to write those stories down in his own gay romantic fiction, involving sexy, complicated, and flawed characters searching for their happily ever after.

When not writing, he loves meeting up with friends and can’t wait to get outdoors with his husband, hiking, camping and traveling to new and exciting places as often as they can.

He feels extremely lucky to be able to sit at his laptop, all day, every day, creating the heartfelt, angsty and passionate romance books he himself loves to read.

Author Links

Website: http://www.pauleyjray.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057196472957

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pauleyjray

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Scars (Permanently Black and Blue, Book Two) by C.R. Scott: Release Blitz, Excerpt and Giveaway

August 31, 2022 by Denise

. .

After a disastrous first kiss, Shaun is angrier than ever. He doesn’t want to be gay, and he’ll do anything to avoid talking about his emotions. Jesse, however, is intrigued with the new–secret–budding romance and he needs someone to talk to.

Against Shaun’s advice, he befriends Kyle, Shaun’s ex-best friend, and tells him a lot more than he should. When everyone at school finds out about them, Shaun quits the band to escape the embarrassment.

Depressed and struggling with his sexuality, Shaun is hesitant when his old bandmate comes up with the idea for him to front his own band. With Jesse’s encouragement Shaun figures he might as well give it a shot.

Jesse wants to support him as much as possible, but he’s got serious issues going on at home. They are talking about moving out, but Jesse still has one last secret he’s holding on to, and he wonders if Shaun is mature enough to handle it.

Title: Scars

Series: Permanently Black and Blue, Book Two

Author: C.R. Scott

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 08/30/2022

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 119700

Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, coming of age, family drama, high school, in the closet, musicians, young adult

Amazon – All Regions

NineStar Press

Goodreads

Jesse ran as fast as his legs would carry him. He didn’t stop, because if he did, he’d think about what had just happened.

He reached the house in under a minute. The front door was open, and he slid inside, slammed the door, then pressed himself flat against it as his heart thudded in his chest.

Tyler and Allison were on the couch. They turned and looked at him in surprise.

“Jesse?” Monica called from the kitchen, and Jesse peeled himself off the door and bolted for the stairs, two at a time.

Sam was in the bedroom, lying on the bed. His head was buried in his phone, but he looked up when Jesse burst into the room.

“Shit,” Jesse muttered.

Sam glared at him.

Jesse stood in the doorway, vibrating with a nervous energy. “Can you get out of here for a while?”

Sam sneered at him. “Screw you.”

Jesse huffed. He was seconds away from a huge breakdown, and the last thing he needed was for Sam to witness it. “Leave!”

Sam looked back at his phone, a taunting smile on his lips. “No.”

Jesse marched across the room and grabbed his brother’s phone. Sam yelped in protest, but Jesse was already back at the bedroom door.

“I’ll throw it down the stairs if you aren’t out of here in ten seconds.” He started to count down.

“All right!” Sam leapt up and shot Jesse a nasty look. “I’m going, asshole.”

“Shithead,” Jesse shot back as his brother stomped into the hall. The second he left the room, Jesse slammed the door behind him.

Finally.

Alone.

Jesse had been expecting an explosive reaction, but he felt nothing.

Numb, he climbed up to his bunk and pulled the blanket over his head. Darkness enveloped him.

Shaun had kissed him.

Jesse shivered under his blankets. He didn’t know what to think.

He’d kissed girls who were more experienced than Shaun. Girls who knew how to give a guy an erection with a kiss alone, but Shaun…

Jesse brought his hand to his mouth and traced his lips with the tips of his fingers. The feel of the other boy’s lips on his had been startling. Strange, unexpected, but not bad. Shaun had kissed him so intensely, so desperately, Jesse hadn’t been able to react. It was like nothing he’d ever felt before.

Jesse had become incredibly clingy after hearing Shaun’s backstory. He wasn’t oblivious, like he’d pretended to be, he just couldn’t help himself.

What had happened to Shaun was terrifying, and Jesse wanted to touch him at every opportunity to assure himself he was here. Safe. That everything was all right. The feel of Shaun’s taller, sturdier body against Jesse’s smaller form was so reassuring. But now that they’d kissed, everything felt different. All those intimate touches, longing looks, the desire to be close, it all made sense now.

Jesse was unequivocally, painfully, stupidly, in love with a boy he’d only known for a few weeks. One who’d seen horrible things and had possibly done things just as bad.

But Jesse wanted him anyway. He needed him in a way he’d needed no one before.

Just one kiss had been enough. It had opened a chasm of feeling and emotion, and Jesse wanted it back. Desperately.

So why hadn’t he said anything? Why had he stood there after the kiss with his mouth hanging open? Why hadn’t he kissed Shaun back?

And the crying?

Jesse buried his face in his pillow. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried. He couldn’t believe how blubbery he’d been over Shaun’s wounds. That alone was the biggest indicator Jesse didn’t have normal ‘best friend’ feelings toward the other boy. Just the thought of Shaun being in pain was enough to make him cry like a baby. Jesse wished he’d stayed. If anything, he could have made sure Shaun got himself looked at.

“Stupid idiot. Cutting yourself doesn’t do any good,” he muttered.

Regardless of Shaun’s stupidity, Jesse couldn’t wait to see his friend again…or whatever he was after everything that had just happened. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say to him, but he knew he had to be near him again. He wanted to touch him and hold him close, maybe even kiss him again.

The thought brought a smile to Jesse’s lips. He traced his mouth again as he remembered the harsh way Shaun had claimed it.

Somehow, everything would work out. Jesse was determined.

“Jesse?” Brian poked his head into the bedroom. His blue eyes were wide with curiosity.

Jesse sat up. “What’s up, little man?” He hadn’t wanted company, but he found he couldn’t turn the boy away.

“Can I come up?”

Jesse nodded, and Brian’s face lit up with excitement. Jesse shrugged off the blankets and made space for the toddler as he clambered up the ladder.

Brian crawled across the bed on his hands and knees. “Is Shaun coming over?”

“Not today,” Jesse said as the toddler curled into his side. It reminded him of Shaun and all the times he’d convinced him to lie in this very bed. He’d invited Shaun to sleep with him Friday night. How had Jesse not realized how completely obsessed he was with him? The whole point in getting Shaun wasted Saturday night was so he could get close to him.

Shaun was upset Jesse hadn’t kissed him back. Didn’t he know Jesse was in love with him?

“Mommy said you were spending the night with Shaun,” Brian said. “How come you don’t have sleepovers here?”

Jesse stroked his hair. “We went to a party.”

“Why didn’t you invite me?” Brian’s bottom lip protruded. “I like parties.”

“It was a grownup party,” Jesse said with a laugh, thinking of the way he’d ended up wrapped around Shaun. That had been terribly ‘grownup.’ He’d realized right away Shaun was sporting an erection, but he’d assumed it was because he was drunk and horny. He hadn’t once thought it was because of him.

“You’re not a grownup,” Brian muttered.

Jesse continued to stroke his hair. “I’m eighteen,” he said. “I could move out and get a job if I wanted. That’s pretty adult.”

Brian grumbled under his breath, but Jesse let it slide.

“Hey. Let’s play a game or something,” he said.

Brian smiled, and Jesse ruffled his hair, his mood lifting just the tiniest bit. They climbed down from the bunk and went to select a game downstairs.

C.R. Scott is a self-taught writer with a BA in psychology. Her characters are flawed and imperfect and she loves them for it. They urge her to write their stories. She currently resides in the ever-changing climates of Ohio with her husband and two children. This is her first published book, with more to come.

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Playing Games (Franklin U Book 1) by Riley Hart: RB, Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

August 26, 2022 by Denise

. .

Brax

Tyson Langley thinks the king in Franklin University Kings is in reference to him. Star lacrosse player and God’s gift to the female and male population, there’s nothing the spoiled jock can’t have.

It’s impossible for us to be in the same room without talking crap to each other. But I also have a secret… As much as I despise Ty, I want him too. I revel in our banter and in never knowing what he’ll say next.

I’ve spent too much time on the wrong side of the law for someone like Ty, though, and if I want to make it through college and escape my past, he’s a distraction I don’t need.

Braxton Walker needs to learn to lighten up. If you search brooding online, his name pops up. He’s the bad boy with a leather jacket and a scowl. We couldn’t be more different.

Finding ways to annoy him is like the longest foreplay session of my life. And when we end up working together, it gets harder to deny how hot he makes me.

What’s a little hooking up between enemies?

We weren’t supposed to become friends or share secrets. We weren’t supposed to understand each other and all the complicated stuff we’re going through.

I’m used to playing games, only the more time I spend with Brax, the less it feels like playing around and the more it becomes something real.

Title: Playing Games
Authors: Riley Hart
Series: Franklin U Series, Book 1
Genre: Contemporary.
Tropes: opposites attract, enemies to lovers.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

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“You like that I don’t make anything easy on you. If I had, you would have lost interest already. Everyone gives you what you want without you even having to ask for it, but not me.”

“That’s not why I want you. I want you because you’re hot.”

We stopped walking. Brax didn’t seem to have the same issue I did about wanting to protect what we were doing. He stood close, cupped my cheek, traced my bottom lip with his thumb, which made me chub up because, again, he was hot. “Truth, but it’s also because I don’t kiss your ass, and I don’t sugarcoat shit for you. Eventually, that’ll get old and you won’t want someone who makes you work for it.” For a second, I thought he was going to kiss me, right there under a palm tree, in the middle of campus, but instead he dug his teeth into my bottom lip and bit gently. “I’ll never stop making you work for it, Lacrosse.”

Classic enemies to lovers, Jock and anti-Jock. But since we enter the chat 3 years into the enemies thing, we get the fun turning into lovers part.

Saying they are enemies is a stretch. Brax just doesn’t like jocks- especially rich boy jock Tyson. They guy is a golden boy, handed everything on a platter. Brax is the complete opposite. Works while going to school, mom took off when he was young, dad is prison. He was handed a house though, by his grandmother, that he shares with his Dad 2.0 brother, but still.

Once they start working together though, the playful banter turns into playful sex. Which turns into more. It’s so seamless and natural the progression of their relationship. Nothing was forced at all. I loved how Ty just kind of insinuated himself into Braxton’s life.

Brax could have been super emo and angsty about his life, but instead he is determined to do better for himself. Ty is the one who is emo and angsty about his life, but he also doesn’t take it out on anyone, he keeps it to himself.

This was a fun read that also set up the shared world of Franklin University, which consists of 8 books by 8 different authors. I love these types of series and look forward to the rest.

Listen… I’m a sucker for the opposites attract.

Maybe because my husband and I are as different as night and day and yet somehow… that’s what attracted me to him, but these two are really cute!

In this one, we have the nerdy-esque type one and the bro. Ty and Brax.
I love the chemistry between these two, even when they pretended to hate each other.
Why boys think being jerks is a form of flirting, I’ll never know, but these two pulled it off so well.
It’s a low angst read, which I really needed right now and I found Brax really charming.

These two felt they had to be one way to the world, hiding the things that were going on in their lives, but they found a safe space within each other and watching them get to that place was really cute. I really enjoyed it. It felt genuine and real and new.

I found myself rooting for both of them, both separately and together, though, really together.
There were times where I felt like the picking at each other was a little much, I think they went overboard a little bit at times and I wanted to slap them both around, but it worked for them and the development of their relationship. It was comfortable, in a way.

Overall, it’s just a really cute story with little drama and I just really needed that this week. I really really hope we get a story about Ty’s brother next!

4 pieces of eye candy from me!

. .

Riley Hart has always been known as the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She won her first writing contest in elementary school, and although she primarily focuses on male/male romance, under her various pen names, she’s written a little bit of everything. Regardless of the sub-genre, there’s always one common theme and that’s…romance! No surprise seeing as she’s a hopeless romantic herself. Riley’s a lover of character-driven plots, flawed characters, and always tries to write stories and characters people can relate to. She believes everyone deserves to see themselves in the books they read. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading or enjoying time with her awesome family in their home in North Carolina.

Riley Hart is represented by Jane Dystel at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Literary Management. She’s a 2019 Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Of Sunlight and Stardust. Under her pen name, her young adult novel, The History of Us is an ALA Rainbow Booklist Recommended Read and Turn the World Upside Down is a Florida Authors and Publishers President’s Book Award Winner.
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Riley loves hearing from readers. You can contact her at rileyhartwrites@yahoo.com

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Real Hazard by Elle Keaton: Release Blitz, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

August 25, 2022 by Denise

. .

Foster Jennings

Things I love

✓ my kid sister

✓ the no-hope dogs I rehabilitate

✓ my job as an EMT

✓ and maybe my new friend Dutch.

But Dutch isn’t gay and physical attraction isn’t something I feel often. Are these feelings real, or am I just tired of being alone?

Dutch Hansen

This is all Hazel’s fault. Hazel the Hazard.

✓ Hazel made me come to first grade safety day.

✓ Hazel blurted out—loudly—about the beautiful fireman.

✓ Hazel invited the beautiful fireman over for a tea party.

I swear I’m not gay, but Foster Jennings is the most beautiful man I’ve ever met, outside and in.

Dutch
Hansen is the single dad of a precocious daughter. He moved to Piedras
wanting a better life for Hazel and himself. Things are shaping up, he’s
landed a permanent job at Brooch Resort and Hazel has quit having
nightmares that someone is going to steal her away.

Then everything goes sideways, Dutch’s past threatens his future and he doesn’t know where to turn.

Something is wrong, Dutch is pushing him away and won’t tell Foster why.

When Hazel goes missing Dutch can’t hide anymore, he needs his… Foster to help him get Hazel back.

#Demisexual #BiAwakening #SingleDad #FindingFamily

Book four in the West Coast Forensics series, can be read as a standalone but may be more fully enjoyed if you start with Real Trouble.

Title: Real Hazard
Authors: Elle Keaton
Series: West Coast Forensics, Book 4
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense.
Tropes: Demisexual, Bi-Awakening, Single Dad, Finding Family.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

“It is what it is. I’m the one who keeps an eye on the old man. Scott won’t set foot back here. Which, to be honest, I’m fine with. Scott and I do not get along. But enough about me.” Wade looked back at Dutch. “What about you? What skeletons do you have in your closet?”

Dutch blinked, feeling the spotlight swing his direction. He’d had just enough beer to be sort of honest. “Oh, you know. Chaos, mayhem, anarchy, and a little destruction here and there…”

“The cousins of the four horsemen.” Foster snickered, not knowing how close to the truth Dutch had come. Luckily the waiter returned with their beers and two bowls of popcorn, and the conversation veered away from the past. Dutch breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t even like thinking about his history, as if it might find its way back to him.

When their second beers were gone and the popcorn bowl empty, he and Foster both declined Wade’s offer to buy them a third. “I’m not the man I used to be.” “Dutch shook his head. “If I have another, I’ll need a ride home, and I need to be on my toes tomorrow.”

“Suit yourself,” Wade grumbled. “I’m gonna stay here a bit longer and drown my sorrows.”

“Dutch clapped him on the back as he scooted around to leave. “Take care. See you at work. Don’t let the raccoon sex get you down.”

“I keep promising myself I’ll quit.” Wade barked out a laugh. “Damn raccoons definitely have a better sex life than I do.”

Foster walked with Dutch to his car. “I never did find out your favorite band,” he complained. “Next time.”

“Definitely. My schedule is settling into something normal-ish, so just text me when you’re free.”

Dutch beeped his lock, watching Foster amble down the sidewalk to wherever he’d parked. Or maybe he’d walked here? Pulling onto the street, Dutch realized he was smiling. The evening had been fun. Even running into Wade had been fun. The squishy feeling in the center of his chest was a fledgling sense of belonging, and he wanted to keep it growing.”.

. .

Elle Keaton writes contemporary gay romance and MM romantic suspense set in the Pacific Northwest. Elle’s books are known for their hot mm romance, complex characters, and unique sense of place. The men start out broken, and maybe they’re still banged up by the end, but they always find the other half of their hearts.

Elle published first in 2017, now she has over seventeen books available for you to read or listen to.

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

Love always wins, thank you for supporting this indie author!

Connect with Elle:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ElleKeatonWrites
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HighwayToElle/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elle-keaton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellekeatonauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PirateQueenRdz1
MeWe: https://mewe.com/profile/5ac2766f310a7853d4ce8ad4
Website: https://www.ellekeaton.com/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3R02Cff
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/ek-gr-profile

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The Barkeep and the Bookseller (Campo Royale #3) by V.L. Locey: RB, New Release Review *2 and Giveaway

August 7, 2022 by Denise

Can two men move past their shattered dreams and create a new future together?

Corduroy Lopez is a hard-working man. He has to be. There really is no alternative. He’s a single father with a beautiful special needs daughter to support. His mother and grandmother help when they can but he’s a proud Pan man who is determined to make it on his own. When his daughter is accepted into a prestigious developmental education preschool Cord needs cash and he needs it yesterday. When the cute owner of the new bookstore mentions wanting to start a drag story hour Cord leaps at the chance. He’s done drag before. Once. Performing on stage at the Campo hadn’t really been his thing but donning a wig and dress to sing children’s songs while strumming a ukulele should be a much more enjoyable experience. Also, the bookshop owner is adorable, newly single, and spending a great deal of time sitting at Cord’s bar sipping virgin piña coladas after the bookstore closes.

Jagger Collins never meant to end up here. He’d been a happily married man with a swanky job in a Philadelphia bank just two years ago. Then the bottom fell out of his life. His marriage combusted, his job quickly followed, and he found himself with only his dog Hamish, his brother, and half the cash from the home he thought he would be starting a family in. Taking the advice of his elder sibling to heart he left the big city and bought a small brick building in downtown Wilmington. Trading in ties for tomes, Jagger is now embracing the simpler things in life. Reading, biking, knitting, and admiring the lithe bartender at the Campo Royale. Cord is ticking all the right boxes in a big way but Jagger’s not sure if he’s ready to put his heart on the line again.

The Barkeep and the Bookseller is a single father guy next door gay romance that features a hard-working dad, a learning-to-love again bookdealer, a precocious preschooler, high heels, loving family, flashy floral fashions, and a ukulele rich happy-ever-after.

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Length: 53,000 word approx.

Campo Royale Series

Amazon – All Regions

Book #1 – The Viking and the Drag Queen – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Book #2 – The Bachelor and the Cherry – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Okay, first, I have to start off by saying that I haven’t read the others in this series and I’m coming in completely blind… but I saw a single dad and I’m a sucker for those, so I had to give this one a chance!

So, first, we meet Cord, his mother who is also his neighbor and babysitter and cuter than cute toddler, Paloma. Cord is a single dad, with a lot of help from his family, but he’s working every single day of his life trying to support his darlin girl because, well… we all know how expensive life is, especially now days, but Paloma also has a form of down syndrome that the state will only half provide for, so he’s working himself to death to keep her in a special school that is better equipped for her needs.
He’s a good dad, you can see that right off and I’m so glad he has his family right next door.
Also, he’s the barkeep in this scenario 😛

Next we meet Jagger in his bookstore, along with his besties, Wattley (his brother) and Nate, (a billionaire) who are hilarious together and Jagger’s people. Oh, and his little pupper Hamish as well. He’s the bookseller and a handsome and sweet, semi-damaged one at that. So, you know I’m gonna love him right away! I did.

I hope these other boys have their own stories because I want to read all of them now! Nate, might be the one I’m most looking forward to, so fingers crossed for me on that one!

So, okay…their meeting is cute and their dynamic as the complete opposite of what I kept expecting and I really enjoyed them getting to know each other and then spending time together when Cord works so much and has a daughter to take care of full time … it wasn’t always easy, but I loved Paloma’s relationship with Jagger and the way that developed and just the whole.
It was so very very cute.

I’m honestly about to go check out the others in this series because I must know more about all of these people. I enjoyed all of them, they were all meddlesome and pushy and overbearing, but in all the best ways that your bestie-made family can be. It’s their job, right?

I loved how supportive everyone was even though there are a few references to past trauma, I just found myself wanting to hug both of these guys, the cute girl and wiley puppy too. It was a super cute story, would definitely recommend! Off to see who’s next!

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

First off, this is book 3. I haven’t read book 1 or 2 and I was completely fine. ALSO the cover is exactly as Jagger is described and I love that.

Jagger has some serious damage. And while there are glimpses and one story told of what he went through with his ex, a lot is left unsaid. But it’s made clear that he was in a very abusive relationship and it has had lasting effects on him.

Cord is a pretty well adjusted guy considering his dad died, the mother of his child took off, he is raising a special needs child and he gave up his career dreams. He is the first to say that giving up that dream was completely worth it if it meant keeping his daughter. Which he did.

This is a very slow burn romance. But I really loved that it was. There was flirting and romance. Innuendos and smoldering looks across a bar. I feel like they got to know each other and people and friends first. Which also gave Jagger a look into what Cord’s life was really like. Living with his mother and grandmother and daughter.

And his mother and grandmother are really great strong women. I love seeing strong women like them represented.

Back to our couple. I love how in tune to Jagger Cord was. I think a lot of that has to do with his daughter and how he needs to be in tune with her needs. But he was never condescending. He was just chill.

I adored Jagger’s best friend Nate and seeing that his book is next made me happy.

If you don’t fall a little bit in love with Paloma, Cord’s daughter, there might be something wrong with you. I kid, I kid.

There was a happily for now vibe but I kind of wish it went further into their relationship to see how things progressed. But maybe we will get some hints in future books. That is why 3 1/2 rather than 4. I needed more at the end than I got. Too many “but what about…” questions.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

. .

USA Today Bestselling Author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Dr. Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

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