New Release Review

Reckless Behavior by L.A. Witt and Cari Z: Release Day Review, Blog Tour and Giveaway

January 1, 2018 by Denise

After too many years of putting his job first, Detective Andreas Ruffner is getting his priorities straight. He’s ready to spend some quality time with his adult kids, not to mention come clean about some things he should’ve told them a long time ago. And introduce them to his partner and boyfriend, Darren Corliss.

But in a heartbeat, a family dinner turns into Andreas’s worst nightmare. When the dust settles, one of his kids is hurt, and the other three have been abducted.

Andreas is going to find his kids, and nothing, not even a broken ankle, is going to stop him. Thank God for his sharp, level-headed partner . . . who has a crisis of his own pulling him away when Andreas needs him the most. As both men try to support—and lean on—each other, they get no closer to finding the kids. And the longer the children are missing, the less likely it is they’ll ever be found.

Amazon

Riptide Publishing

Sometimes, you sit down to read and want a wildly passionate, steamy story about two men falling in love. Other times, you need something… more. And that’s what you’ll get with the entire Bad Behavior series from LA Witt and Cari Z. Somehow, I’d completely missed the second book in the series, but that didn’t stop me from clutching Reckless Behavior, book three, in my greedy little hands as soon as possible.

I absolutely loved Andreas and Darren when I read Risky Behavior. They didn’t meet, fall in love, face issues, and live happily ever after. That’d be far too sweet for an ass like Andreas (and I mean that in the best possible way). He didn’t want Darren as a partner. Didn’t like knowing why Darren was there, but something made the rookie detective impossible to resist.

A lot of times, I get bored by series that continue with the same main characters. Once I’m certain they’re stable in their relationship and are going to make it through whatever comes after the end, it’s hard to keep my attention. Andreas and Darren are an excellent departure from this issue.

There’s so much I can’t say about Reckless Behavior because it’ll either spoil this book or the books before, but basically, it comes down to people holding grudges over that first big case, determined to teach Andreas a lesson. Again, it could’ve turned incredibly cliche, but the writing talents of this duo kept me turning from one page to the next until… I’m not going to admit how late it was when I finished and went to sleep. I’m a responsible adult who would never stay up until nearly sunrise in thedead of winter, all because she needed to make sure the couple was going to be okay. That everyone was going to be okay.

I can’t wait to see what comes next for Andreas and Darren. They’re one of my favorite couples of 2017!

5 pieces of candy (preferably the peppermint butter mints, because YUM)

About the Bad Behavior Series

It’s “hell no” at first sight for newly partnered detectives Andreas Ruffner and Darren Corliss. Darren is too chipper, Andreas is too gruff, and that whole “IA wants me to prove you’re a dirty cop” thing really doesn’t get them off on the right foot.

It doesn’t matter if they like each other. They’re partners and that’s final. Though Andreas is easy on the eyes. And Darren is kind of cute. And . . . okay, maybe they can make this work.

They’d better, because as their cases get more horrifying—and more personal—they’ll have to trust each other with their lives, and with their hearts.

Check out Bad Behavior!

About Cari Z

Cari Z was a bookworm as a child and remains one to this day. In an effort to combat her antisocial reading behavior, she did all sorts of crazy things, from competitive gymnastics to alligator wresting (who even knew that was legal!) to finally joining the Peace Corps, which promptly sent her and her husband to the wilds of West Africa, stuck them in a hut, and said, “See ya!” She also started writing, because some things she just thought she could do better. She’s still climbing that ladder, but can’t stop herself from writing, or from sharing what she creates.

Cari enjoys a wide range of literary genres, from the classics (get ‘im, Ahab) to science fiction and fantasy of all types, to historical fiction and reference materials (no, seriously, there are so many great encyclopedias out there). She writes in a wide range of genres as well, but somehow 90% of what she produces ends up falling into the broad and exciting category of m/m erotica. There’s a sprinkling of f/m and f/f and even m/f/m in her repertoire, but her true love is man love. And there’s a lot of love to go around.

Cari has published short stories, novellas, and novels with numerous print and e-presses, and she also offers up a tremendous amount of free content on Literotica.com, under the name Carizabeth.

Connect with Cari at http://cari-z.net/ or via her blog, http://carizerotica.blogspot.com/

About L.A. Witt

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut . .

L.A.’s backlist is available on her website, and updates (as well as random thoughts and the odd snarky comment) can be found on her blog or on Twitter (@GallagherWitt).

To celebrate the release of Reckless Behavior, one lucky winner will receive a $10 Riptide credit and their choice in an ebook from each of Cari and L.A.’s backlist! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 6, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Rebel by Rhys Ford: Double Release Day Review

December 29, 2017 by Denise

The hardest thing a rebel can do isn’t standing up for something—it’s standing up for himself.

Life takes delight in stabbing Gus Scott in the back when he least expects it. After Gus spends years running from his past, present, and the dismal future every social worker predicted for him, karma delivers the one thing Gus could never—would never—turn his back on: a son from a one-night stand he’d had after a devastating breakup a few years ago.

Returning to San Francisco and to 415 Ink, his family’s tattoo shop, gave him the perfect shelter to battle his personal demons and get himself together… until the firefighter who’d broken him walked back into Gus’s life.

For Rey Montenegro, tattoo artist Gus Scott was an elusive brass ring, a glittering prize he hadn’t the strength or flexibility to hold on to. Severing his relationship with the mercurial tattoo artist hurt, but Gus hadn’t wanted the kind of domestic life Rey craved, leaving Rey with an aching chasm in his soul.

When Gus’s life and world starts to unravel, Rey helps him pick up the pieces, and Gus wonders if that forever Rey wants is more than just a dream.

Title: Rebel
Series: 415 Ink
Author: Rhys Ford
Release Date: December 29, 2017
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 220

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

I wanted to love this book. And there were parts that I did, but….

As an avid m/m reader this was actually the first Rhys Ford book I’ve read. I liked the blurb, second chance love, set in one of my favorite cities, so I jumped in. But I was a bit disappointed.

Gus is part of a rag tag family of brothers. Some related by blood, others by circumstance. After running away to try and find himself after a bad break up, he returns to San Francisco and the brothers he left behind. And the man who broke his heart.

Being that this is the first of a series there is a lot of getting to know all of the various characters. Sadly, I didn’t feel like any one character was really fleshed out. Even Gus and Rey, the main characters of this book felt incomplete. And while Rey was the more likeable guy, Gus was broken and didn’t seem to want to put the pieces back together.

As for the group of guys, his one “brother” Mason seems to really be a bit of a jerk when it comes to Gus. They treated each other horribly- and not in the brotherly way, in my opinion. There were parts of the book where I was just shocked that two guys who considered themselves brothers, lived together for years, but treated each other with such animosity. The oldest “brother” Bear is the typical curmudgeon with a soft side, Ivo- Gus’ half brother- was my favorite of the bunch and I actually look forward to his book. Luke rounds out the five and he intrigued me as well. He went down a different path than the other four but still is one of them.

To complicate Gus and Rey finding love again is the love child that Gus didn’t know he had. And while I understand that he had a crappy childhood and wanted to do better for his son, he is very repetitious with “I can’t think about me, only my son”. A man needs to have a life.

But like I said, there were parts that I did like. I am all for a good angsty book. I love families that are made and not born. And the story arc was decent, but it was just overdone. Too much descriptors in different parts, relationships that didn’t seem genuine and circumstances that seemed a bit over the top.

I am going to take it all with a grain of salt that this was the first in the series and there are a lot of characters to get to know and a world to build. I will definitely read the next (especially if it is about Ivo), and hope for the best.

3 pieces of eye candy

Second chance romance, tattoo artists, and a group of (mostly) non-blood-brothers that have formed their own family? Gimme.

Rey and Gus were crazy about each other but broke up 3 years ago. Gus didn’t seem to want to settle down, and Rey didn’t tell him that that’s what he wanted. Gus skipped town right after, but now he’s back and ready to get serious about his life. Rey wants a second chance, but Gus has a new set of baggage with him: he just learned that his post-breakup one-night stand produced a son.

Gus has had a tough life and I totally feel for him. He had a horrible family trauma as a child, lived through the foster care system and now has a small band of brothers who are also foster care survivors. I love people forging their own family, made of members who’ve chosen each other. Rey had a more stable childhood and he’s now a firefighter. He has seen the happy family and wants that for himself, but Gus is wary of that life.

I have to say it took me a little bit to get into this book. Sometimes the writing sort of confused me and it took me a while to understand who all the “brothers” were and how they met. But eventually I did get into this and liked it. Gus’ past trauma just hurts my heart. Rey has had a more stable upbringing and I want him to be just what Gus needs in his life. Gus wants to be the dad he didn’t have to his own son, and seeing him try is very sweet. These two are clearly still in love with each other, I hate seeing them apart!

Gus’ brothers are all pretty different and I expect there will be further books for each of them. This is the first book I’ve read by Rhys Ford, and while the writing sort of weirded me out initially, I will definitely read more from her.

3 pieces of eye candy

Jared’s Fulfillment by Riley Hart: Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

December 28, 2017 by Denise

Kieran

My relationship with Jared has lasted too long. He’s mesmerizing, beautiful in his devotion, pure in his need. He reaches parts of me I thought no longer existed, places I’d never known were there. His submission is a gift. His cries of pleasure and pain call to the most primal parts of me. I want to inhale him, own him, mark him as mine. He’s my boy and I need to be his Daddy, but my fear holds me back. I’ll fail him like I’ve failed everyone else I’ve loved. Before that happens, I’ll walk away.

Jared

I’ve never known security, love, or true pleasure before Kieran. With every touch, every command, every second of blissful, torturous pain, my heart grows and my soul is at peace. He protects me, spoils me, gives me what I need. Still, in some ways, he’s closed off and won’t let me in. But Kieran’s given me strength. I’ve evolved, and won’t accept less than I deserve…and I won’t let Daddy accept less than he deserves, either.

It’s a delicate balance: give and take, pleasure and pain. Together we can break each other down to our purest forms and build each other up again. Kieran always says I’m stronger than I think, but I know that together we’re invincible…if only he’d believe me.

We have two choices: say goodbye or fight for what’s always been out of both our reaches…fulfillment.

Warning: Jared’s Fulfillment contains BDSM elements, domestic discipline, spanking, and daddy kink–without age play–between consenting adults. If any of those things offend you, reading this book might not be a good idea.

Jared’s Evolution and Jared’s Fulfillment must be read in order.

Jared’s Fulfillment is part of the Desires Unleashed collection. Some books in this collection will have darker themes. Please be aware Desires Unleashed are er*tic and not your typical Riley Hart romance. You can expect the mental and emotional journey to be led by the physical/sexual moments–which will be intense, frequent and kinky.

Amazon

Whew. This was definitely one of the hottest, kinkiest books I’ve read. I am so glad that I read book 1 right before I got book 2 so I didn’t have to wait too long (24 whole hours I think!) to see the rest of the story played out.

We met Jared and Keiran in book 1. I won’t replay my review of it, but check it out. Book two is the conclusion of the story. You cannot read this book without reading the first.

Let’s start with the non gushy part of my review. There were definitely parts that were a bit cookie cutter. Like of course that happened like that. But I guess it was necessary to move the story line along, but if it went a different way I would have liked it more. So that was difficult to say without spoilers.

Now to the gushy part. Above all, this story is really character driven. You really get to know these men, both in and out of their relationship. You see them separately and together with friends, at work and alone. With that there is more complexity to the characters than just what they are when they are together. They each introspectively consider why they enjoy different things while coming to the same conclusion- because it is who they are and there is nothing wrong with it.

And the scenes. THE SCENES. My gawd I wondered if my Kindle would catch fire. I hadn’t read a BDSM book that hot (without the whole stereotypical thing) since The Taming of Sleeping Beauty. If you enjoy BDSM, look it up. It’s a classic.

The story line wrapped up a bit quickly for me, but overall, this was an excellent set of books.

4.5 Pieces of Candy

“Turn, Jared. Face me,” I said. I didn’t have to wait for my boy to do as he was told. His body rotated—his soft, brown eyes firmly on mine.

“Good boy.”

There was a flash of pride on his face as I praised him and it suddenly felt as if it had been too long since I told him how good he was. I wanted to tell him that he’d done nothing wrong and even when he made mistakes he was still a good boy. That more of the mistakes were mine than he could possibly realize.

“Come,” I told him.

Jared walked to me slowly. I wrapped my hand around him, and rubbed the soft globes of his ass. He trembled and damned if it didn’t cause me to do the same. He’d unraveled, exposed parts of me I’d thought I’d hidden away, and it was a constant fear raining down on me.

That I would mess up.

That I would hurt him.

That I would fail him.

I pulled my hand away, and stuck my finger in his mouth. “Suck.”

He did automatically, pulling my finger into his mouth and getting it wet. When he finished, I said, “Spread your legs.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

My finger trailed down his crease until it met his pucker. I rubbed it, pushed the tip of my finger in and, as Jared exhaled a breath that rushed out as if it had been trapped for years, I told him, “Daddy missed his hole.”

I worked my finger in deep, in this place we both needed me to be. Jared’s eyes rolled back and he purred, “Please…”

“Please what?” I replied. “Tell me what you need.” It was a selfish request because I knew exactly what he needed, but I wanted to hear the words on his lips. Wanted to feel his breath brush across my skin when he muttered them.

“Please, Daddy. Fuck me.” Jared stepped closer, and rode my thigh.

“Has it been too long since I had you? Since I gave you my load?” It had only been about a week but it felt longer to me. I’d deprived us, I realized. We’d both been struggling and, as a result, I’d stopped providing him with something he needed. I’d done that with my emotions first, and now with my dick.

I was already neglecting my position.

“Yes.” He burrowed his face in my neck, as I continued to finger him. It was drying and I knew it couldn’t be comfortable, but when I tried to pull out, he cried, “No. Please…”

His words hit me in the chest, bounced around in there like an echo I couldn’t block out. He needed me and I so very much, needed the same thing. This had gone farther than I’d expected, deeper than I could have imagined. He’d reached places inside of me I thought I’d ridded myself of long ago.

I was depriving him of the love I knew he sought. Of the experiences and desires I knew he craved.

“I need to feel you inside me. Please, Daddy. Please,” he whispered against my skin.

Riley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a hopeless romantic, a lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together.

She loves reading, flawed characters, and hanging out with her husband and children, who she adores. She and her family live in Southern California, soaking up the sunshine while also missing seasons. Not a day goes by that she isn’t thankful she gets to wake up and do what she loves.

Life is good. Riley also writes young adult and new adult under the name Nyrae Dawn.

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Someone to Kiss by Scotty Cade: Release Day Review

December 27, 2017 by Denise

Dane McCormick’s job negotiating leases and building out furnished office suites takes him all over the country. He stays until the job is done—and then he moves on. As satisfying as the job is, it leaves him no place to call home and no chance to build a personal life. After arriving in Greenville, South Carolina , for a job, a severe stomach virus knocks Dane for a loop. He finds a local urgent care clinic… and a tall, dark, and handsome doctor who goes well above and beyond his duties to treat Dane. The doctor’s bedside manner makes Dane forget all about his stomach flu.

Carter Baldridge has dedicated his life to caring for others. Since graduating from medical school, he has spent all his time and energy building his urgent care business, But the morning he steps into his examining room and sees Dane McCormick on the table, he realizes it might be time to devote some attention to a part of life he has neglected. The spark is there, but so is a major obstacle in the form of Dane’s peripatetic lifestyle and a bad experience in Carter’s past. Both have to decide if the risk is worth the reward.

Title: Someone to Kiss
Author: Scotty Cade
Release Date: December 27, 2017
Category: Holiday, Contemporary
Pages: 69

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

One of the things I enjoy most about a Scotty Cade story is that it’s real life problems coming at men who are living their lives as normal, and just happen to find their HEA, perhaps after a time, but an HEA nonetheless.

Meeting the man of your dreams while vomiting in front of him doesn’t seem like putting your best foot forward, but it seemed to be a good start for these two men, one who settled where he was originally from, one who traveled the country for work. From the prologue, I was hurting for these two men, as you see where they will be shortly into the story. Dane, knowing his job would be taking him away from Greenville, still allows himself to fall for Carter, who swore never to have a long distance relationship.

What really hit home on this holiday novella was the fact that their circumstances made sense, and were real. Long distance relationships are tough, even for the most dedicated. But if you decide to let go, and only hold on in your heart, then you never know what will great you at the end. Taking a chance like that was difficult for them both, but there’s nothing quite like an unexpected happy ending to make you all weepy and sappy, and Scotty never fails to give me something to get me weepy and sappy about, including the HEA I’m looking for.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Deal Maker by Lily Morton: Release Day Review and Excerpt

December 22, 2017 by Denise

Sometimes your mouth makes deals that your heart can’t honour.

Jude is a highly successful model, but a very reluctant one. His life is full of casual hook-ups with pretty men in glamorous locations, but it’s still empty. However, circumstances decreed a long time ago that this was his path, so he’s resolutely stayed on it and accepted his fate with good grace. He made a deal with himself and his hook-ups. Get in, get out and no ties with anyone.

However, an accident at home one night leads to him making a new deal and accepting the offer of help from an unlikely source. It leads to an unexpected summer of falling in love with a larger than life man and his child.

But by the end of the summer his reasons for not staying are still valid. Will he turn away? Can he?

Asa is a talented actor who has spent time away from the scene to look after his son. But now he’s back, and the last thing he needs are complications from the gorgeous man who is staying with him. Scarred from too many betrayals, he has no intention of forming a lasting tie with anyone. However, he can’t resist the beautiful man with secrets, and to his horror he develops feelings.

But a deal’s a deal and they said it was just for the summer. What can Asa do with a man who has forever in his eyes and goodbye on his lips?

From the Amazon bestselling author of ‘Rule Breaker’ comes another scorchingly hot romantic comedy.

Amazon

Goodreads

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

This book started right out with me laughing. Always a good sign. The giggles continued- along with some swooning, some “awwww” and lots of hot.

I really loved the first book in this series “Rule Breaker” and this follow up didn’t disappoint at all. Both the dialogue and the story just flows.

Jude is a model working to help his parents financially when his apartment suddenly needs major work. Without any place to stay, his friend and sometimes lover offers up his brother’s house. Being the total flake that he is though, he didn’t explain to his brother that he would be sending Jude to live there.

Asa is a former actor and stay at home dad to a precocious 5 year old. Honestly, this kid had me cracking up at times. Asa is not a fan of models, but he begrudgingly lets Jude stay as payment for acting as his assistant for the time being. But Asa’s distaste of models and assumption that they are airheaded gives Jude an idea to play a part. And oh my god is it funny.

There is quite a cast of supporting players, but they all fit well into the story and are used well. From Jude’s friends to Asa’s employees and a few parents from his son’s school. I love when extra characters add to the story instead of just being filler.

The romance is a sloooooowwwww burn, but it is so worth it. Jude and Asa together are awesome and I loved watching them discover their love for each other. Beyond the humor and romance, there is still some angst and drama. Again, not a thrown in conflict, but one that fit well with the story and makes sense.

Lily Morton has quickly become an auto buy author for me. And you should as well. You don’t need to read the first book in order to read this one, but you should just because it was equally as good.

4 pieces of eye candy

I come awake a few nights later. At first, I look around blearily, trying to work out what’s woken me, and then I sit up with a muffled scream. “Were you lifting up my eyelids?”

Billy settles down cross legged on the pillow next to me. “Yes,” he says in a loud whisper. “I wanted to see if you were awake.”

“I am now,” I say faintly, and a deep chuckle sounds from the door. Looking up, I see Asa, his big frame washed in the light from the hallway. He’s dressed in faded jeans, a white t-shirt and a navy cardigan. His hair is tied up in a messy man bun and he looks disgustingly awake.

“You can laugh,” I say. “He’s graduated from standing over me, staring at me, and waiting for me to wake up, to actual bodily contact with my eyelids. It’s escalating, and starting to look like a scene from ‘The Omen’.”

“What’s ‘The Omen’?” Billy asks, and I notice he’s dressed too, in grey cuffed joggers, a navy t-shirt and tiny navy Converse.

“A comedy about a boy and his dog,” I say absently, hearing Asa’s snort of laughter. Then my eye falls on my phone. “What the… it’s three in the morning. What’s happened? Is it the apocalypse? Because I have to say that unless it’s actually reached St Johns Wood, I’m not leaving this bed.”

“What’s a pocolip?” Billy asks, setting down in the bed and cuddling into my side. I sling my arm around him, and look up to see Asa looking at us, a soft look in his eyes.

“It’s what happens when you wake me up at three in the morning for no discernible reason.”

“Oh, but we have got a reason,” Asa drawls. “Go, Billy!”

In the next second the bedroom explodes with coloured paper, as he and Billy let loose the giant party poppers I’ve just noticed they have in their hands. ‘Happy Birthday’ they shout, and Billy jumps up and down on the mattress, catching the falling paper and looking like a five-year-old trampoline champion.

I sit up slowly. “Oh my God,” I say softly. “What is happening to my life right now?”

Asa crosses over and sits on the edge of the bed. To my surprise, he looks almost worried, his soft brown eyes full of trepidation. Inexplicably I want to comfort him. Instead I just sit and stare at him with my mouth slightly open, while he shifts uneasily.

“The thing is,” he says slowly. “We might have done something.”

“What?”

He flinches slightly. “Yes. I’m not exactly sure we should have done it, but -” He pauses and then picks up speed, the words tumbling out. “It’s just that it’s your birthday, and Bill and I … well, we really like you.” A flush creeps over his face, and he shrugs his massive shoulders slightly. “Anyway, we couldn’t ignore it, so we decided we’re going to take you away for your birthday.”

I’m absolutely struck dumb for a second, and then I say slowly, “So, when you say we decided, you actually meant you decided.”

He shoots me a sideways glance, analysing my facial expression, and then carries on talking in an earnest, serious manner that is absolutely melting something inside me. “Okay, I decided. I know you said you have bad memories, so I thought maybe you could for once try and make new memories, better ones.”

Lily writes contemporary romance novels, and specialises in hot love stories with a good dose of humour.

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

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

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – chocolate Baileys! Her lifetime’s ambition is to have a bath in peace without being shouted by one of her family.

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Color of You by C.S. Poe: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

December 22, 2017 by Denise

Bowen Merlin—yes, that’s his real name—accepts a position in the quaint town of Lancaster, New Hampshire, as the high school band director. He leaves New York City for the snowy countryside of New England just in time for the holidays. With class, homework, after-school activities, and a surprise Christmas concert to plan and rehearse, Bowen is plenty busy. And since he’s never had much luck with romance, factoring in time to find Mr. Right isn’t a priority….

Until he meets the proprietor of Snowy Ridge Apple Orchard, Felix Hansen. Suddenly, true love seems like a possibility for the first time in Bowen’s life. The two are a perfect match and fill the skipped beats of each other’s hearts. But as wonderful as Felix seems, he’s harboring scars that could end their budding relationship when someone in town goes to great lengths to sabotage their careers.

If Bowen is to survive the holidays, he’ll need to lean on old friends and new, convince Felix he’s worth any hardship, and prove they can come out of the catastrophe stronger if they do so together.

Hello, everyone! I’m C.S. Poe, and welcome to the final stop on the Color of You blog tour, here at Two Chicks Obsessed. We’re only a few days away from Christmas and the release of my first novel-length contemporary romance. I’m so excited, and I really hope you all enjoy Color of You.

I’m happy to introduce you to the main characters at each stop of the tour, and be sure to check out the unique giveaway at the end!

Name: Stephen Kelly

Nickname: n/a

From: Boston, Massachusetts

Current location: Lancaster, New Hampshire

Age: 45

Hair: White with hints of black

Occupation: High school accounting teacher

Hobbies: Reading

Favorite holiday: Valentine’s Day

Favorite piece of clothing: Socks

Summer or winter: Winter

Coffee or tea: Coffee

“I can’t wait to:” Meet someone

Interesting fact: Has always wanted a Dalmatian

Quote: ‘Never order the turkey, meatloaf, or chili.’

“Bowen,” he repeated. “I’m Stephen Kelly. Accounting and school newspaper advisor.”

Stephen had a pleasant green voice and a sort of Anderson Cooper thing going on. Nice. And definitely why I’d caught a passing group of girls staring.

“Not me,” he stated.

“Huh?” Stephen smiled and nodded at the girls after they put some distance between us. “A young, cute, new teacher. They were staring at you.” He held out a hand. “Can I carry those for you? I’ll walk you to the music room.”

“Thank you,” I said, offering Stephen the folders before collecting my instrument case and following.

“I used to get those dreamy looks from students…. You know, twenty years ago.” Stephen gave me a wink.

I laughed but felt my cheeks getting warm and hoped I wasn’t blotchy. “Ha-ha… well, I’m definitely not looking to relive acne, long division, and learner’s permits. Nothing is more attractive to me than maturity.”

Stephen chuckled. “Mortgages and worrying when that thin spot will suddenly become a bald spot.”

I stood on my toes to inspect Stephen’s hair. “Nah. Looks full to me.”

He grinned, eyes crinkling in the corners. “Better watch it, Mr. Merlin, or you’ll have more than just fantasizing sixteen-year-old girls hanging around outside your classroom.”

If you read the tagline for C.S. Poe, it is “Murder. Romance. And the bizarre.” And she never fails to slip something bizarre into her books. In this, a contemporary romance, one of the MC’s has a condition that I had never heard of, likely most people have not, synesthesia. For Bowen, that means sound to color synesthesia. He SEES sounds as color. I’d say that qualifies as a bit bizarre. But he is also an incredibly caring and (as this author always seems to do) entirely unique character. And I loved him. I loved all of the characters! Well, except… 😉

Anyway, the sweetness of this is offset by a dynamic that shows the reader that looks can be deceiving, and stereotypes are often miscalculated. And can bring some hotness and fun to your screen! J One of the best moments was with Felix’s son, Alan, as they went to cut down a Christmas tree for Bowen.

“Closer. On your knees,” Felix said.

“Hey.” I looked at him. “I say that.”…

“I can hear you,” Alan stated from nearby.

“Pretend you didn’t,” I called back.

I laughed so hard at that little scene. It showed that Bowen was never afraid to be himself, even at the discomfort of his boyfriend’s teenaged son.

As always, C.S. Poe brings intrigue, humor, sexy scenes and such clear descriptions that I felt like I could understand what it was like to have synesthesia. The characters were wonderfully drawn and clearly, undeniably themselves. And take a good hard look at that beautiful cover, it is so appropriate for this book. It tied it all in together. What a joy to read!

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Tour:

12/18 – Bayou Book Junkie

12/19 – Open Skye Book Reviews

12/20 – Sinfully Gay Romance

12/21 – Love Bytes Reviews

12/22 – Two Chicks Obsessed

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C.S. Poe is an author of gay mystery, romance, and paranormal books.

She is a reluctant mover and has called many places home in her lifetime. C.S. has lived in New York City, Key West, and Ibaraki, Japan, to name a few. She misses the cleanliness, convenience, and limited-edition gachapon of Japan, but she was never very good at riding bikes to get around.

She has an affinity for all things cute and colorful and a major weakness for toys. C.S. is an avid fan of coffee, reading, and cats. She’s rescued two cats—Milo and Kasper do their best on a daily basis to sidetrack her from work.

C.S. is a member of the International Thriller Writers organization.

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