Quick Reviews

Charity Parkerson’s Sugar Fighter (Sugar Daddies #1): Quick Review

September 17, 2018 by Denise

Zeke is the older man. The richer man. The man who plans to give Korey the world.

As MMA’s Light Heavyweight champion, Zeke’s million-dollar matches and multi-million-dollar sponsorships have given him the freedom to do whatever he likes. It pleases him to spoil Korey. Before Zeke’s best friend Charlie was deployed two years ago, he made Zeke swear he’d care for his brother Korey if anything happened to him. When Charlie is killed by a roadside bomb, Zeke takes the young college student in, determined to give him everything he requires to succeed. He never expects to end up hoping he can keep Korey under more than his roof. He needs Korey beneath him.

If Korey had been in his right mind after Charlie’s death, he would’ve turned down Zeke’s offer. By the time he realizes his mistake, he’s already addicted to Zeke’s powerful presence. He never meant to end up dependent on the man’s smiles and hot glances. The money, Korey could live without. The man has him hooked. There’s only one problem—neither man wants to cross the line from friends to lovers, ruining what they have.

Sugar Fighter is a short introduction to a new series by Charity Parkerson, Sugar Daddies. This series will feature male/male May/December romances where the men are hot, rich, naughty, and don’t like to be told no.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Hmmm, hot older guy and the younger brother of his best friend from the army who had passed…. Sounds good right? I thought so too!

So, first, we have Korey, who when he lost his brother, he lost the last person he had. Having moved to a new state where he didn’t know anyone just before, he was surprised that his brother’s best friend Zeke stepped up and offered him a place to stay so he could continue school…..He had plenty of money and plenty of room, and he’d promised to look after Charlie’s little brother.

Zeke was a professional MMA fighter and a good one at that. He had more money than he knew what to do with, so it allowed him to take care of Korey; and he loved doing it. He had feelings for Korey and wanted to be the one that he relied on. Korey was in the same boat, but never imagined Zeke would return his feelings.

That was, until hiding their feelings was too much on both of them and they finally gave into each other. Should’ve been great, right? But of course it wouldn’t be that easy…. Zeke reacted badly and Korey got his feelings hurt, and the more Zeke messed up, the more he didn’t know how to fix it.

I really felt for Korey, who hasn’t had that one unrequited love? It’s the most painful feeling to know that your heart is with someone and then them not feel the same way. Of course, Zeke did, but it took a while for him to admit it to not only himself but to Korey.

With the help of Maverick, though…. They got there. Overall, it was a short and sweet read… I’m looking forward to Maverick’s story… he deserves someone amazing. I have a feeling his story will be just as bittersweet.

4 pieces of eye candy from me!

Second Chance Ranch by RJ Scott: Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

September 14, 2018 by Denise

Rob arrives at Crooked Tree determined to find a safe place for his niece and nephew. A family for them is the final thing on his list, and then he can vanish completely. Falling for a local paramedic along the way, is a disaster in Rob’s otherwise perfect plans.

Paramedic Aaron, the middle of five brothers, would like someone to love. A great believer in fate he is convinced though, that one day he’ll find someone. He just never thought it would be a man in so much pain, or that children would be part of the package.

Rob is ready to leave. Aaron wants him to stay. Their love has an expiry date, and it’s tearing them apart. Can they find a way to save what they have?

Length: 55,300 words approx.

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Amazon

Book #1 – Crooked Tree Ranch – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #2 – The Rancher’s Son – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #3 – A Cowboy’s Home – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #4 – Snow In Montana – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Chapter 1

Rob Brady knew three things. His sister was dead, he was the guardian to her two boys, and he was stuck in Hell.

And why am I fixating on Hell?

Oh yeah, the room, the kids, the crushing grief of absolutely fucking everything.

If Hell was a small, airless room with no windows, a flickering light, and two utterly silent children staring at him as if he’d personally murdered their mother.

Oh, and a thin-lipped woman from Child Protection Services looking at him the same way.

Of course, he hadn’t killed his sister because he only ever took out the bad guys. With ruthless efficiency, he’d carved out the poison in the US and kept its citizens safe. Most people would’ve described him as an assassin, but he was more than that; the last resort when normal lines of defense failed.

At least, he used to be until he caught a bullet things went pear-shaped.

“How long have they been on their own?” Rob Brady didn’t know what else to ask. He wanted to be angry with the DCFS but how could he be? Instead, he wavered between anger and guilt, and it was guilt that was winning.

“Mr. Brady, they were never on their own.”

“My sister—” He stopped talking when he realized he was just about to state how long ago his sister died when her children were sitting right there in the room. Lowering his tone, he then turned to Sylvia from the DCFS, efficient and steady, and just ever so slightly pissed at him. “A year. They’ve been on their own a year.”

Sylvia inhaled sharply and clutched her folders to her chest.

“And for a little less than that, we have tried to track down their uncle and been unable to find anything.”

“I know. I get that.” Anyone trying to find him would reach several dead-ends whichever way they went. First of all the navy and his time in the SEALs, then when he joined the team combatting mainland terrorism. At every turn, his existence was classified, and in the end, he’d become nothing more than a ghost. “That isn’t my point.”

Sylvia tapped a finger on the files in a steady rhythm. “Then please, can you enlighten me as to what exactly is your point?”

He opened the door and gestured for her to go into the hallway, following her out and shutting it behind them. He had questions and didn’t want to ask them in front of his nephews.

“Why has no one adopted them? Why don’t they have a forever home with a new family?”

“Because your sister’s intention was that you would take the boys. It’s explicitly stated in every legal form we have, and it was her dying wish.”

“But she couldn’t have known I would ever come back. Or that I was even alive…” He floundered for something to say. He’d come back to town on the off chance he’d see what was left of his extended family from a distance, and instead, he’d learned his sister was dead, after losing a battle with cancer, that there was no father in the picture, and that his nephews were in the system.

“Nonetheless, they are legally your responsibility. Given you worked so hard to get authorization from Governor Chilton, something I’ve never seen before, along with psych evals that no normal person would have access to, you are now in a position to leave with your nephews.”

The minute he’d heard about the boys, he’d realized he needed to get things done. He’d called in favors, had people who owed him create a backstory so tight he seemed like Mother fucking Teresa, and now he was here. His nephews needed a home, and he thought on his feet because he only had another three good months to put anything in place for them. He wanted them looked after, safe, and so he had one more mission before leaving. He’d have to delay spending his last weeks on a beach in Aruba, sipping cocktails and sleeping with anything that moved.

“I can take them today?” he asked. A small, hesitant part of him wanted her to say no, that there were more details to be ironed out.

“Yes.”

“Now?”

“Yes.” She pursed her lips as if it were against her better judgment. But he’d passed all the checks, and the references were sound, he had the governor’s endorsement. It was done.

“Okay then.”

He pushed back into the room. Bran, the older of his two nephews, stared at him steadily. Toby, the youngest, sniffled and gripped his brother hard. Any ordinary uncle would’ve hugged them close and told them everything was going to be okay. But he wasn’t a regular uncle, and he swore Bran knew that because there was accusation in his eyes.

You don’t even know us; he seemed to be saying.

Was it right for Rob to be taking them from their new foster home? They’d been placed with a family currently fostering six kids, and on the surface, everything seemed okay. He’d done his due diligence, and the parents checked out, but there was a weird vibe in the house, a rule of fear, and he didn’t like it.

He’d stayed alive this long by listening to his instinct, and his gut told him he should take Bran and Toby, that he was the boys’ kin. He also knew where he could find them a better home. In the mountains, with rivers and horses, and a whole group of people who would look out for them.

“Everything will be okay.” Was he reassuring himself or the boys?

If anyone who knew him had seen he was being handed two children to take care of, they’d call the cops.

Of course, he could handle the cops. He’d done it before, but the kids would slow him down. Unless he strapped them to his back and—

“Mr. Brady?”

Sylvia talked to him, or at him, and from her expression, she wasn’t impressed he’d stopped listening.

“Sorry, say again?” He glanced at Toby who was sniffling harder and snuggling deeper into his brother. I should go to Toby and…

And what?

Do what? Say what? Scare the kid rigid by being all up in his face?

“We need an address for our records. Unless you reside with Governor Chilton?” The last she added sarcastically.

Oh yeah, a house, an address, he probably needed those. He’d managed to fool them with his credentials so far, and the recommendation he’d gotten from the governor for a favor owed had cut through the red tape. The address was easy; it was the only place he had on his to-do list, the one where the kids could maybe have a home. He just needed to hire a lawyer, update his will, get Justin to agree to his proposal, and he’d be able to leave without any worries.

“Crooked Tree Ranch, outside of Helena, Montana.”

I love this whole series!!!

I’ll admit, it’s been a minute, so I had to go back and remind myself who Rob was, but if you loved and read Justin and Sam’s story, you’ll remember that he’s a former partner of Justin’s, sent to kill him in their book. Of course, he didn’t, because he wanted out of the life just as Justin did, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous and that when he left Justin alive, he didn’t think he’d ever see him again.

Rob never counted on checking on the sister he’d left behind at 18, when he signed up to serve his country. Imagine his surprise that she’d not only died but she’d left him her two children, boys, Toby and Bran. Now, we all know Jennifer’s a sucker for stories involving kids, and this one was no different. The two boys were a major part of this story; more so even than relationship that forms between Rob and Aaron, the sheriff’s brother, the paramedic. Remember him? Yeeeeah, I was excited for him too.

Unfortunately, things hadn’t been easy for Toby and Bran, shuffling into foster homes until they found Rob; (which meant, Rob wanted to be found), he was all set to leave them in foster care until he checked out the home of where the boys were staying and moved heaven and earth to get them with him. He didn’t know what to do with them and the boys didn’t trust him for a good little bit; but they needed him…they needed each other, Rob just didn’t realize it yet.

Rob had been shot and left badly injured after his last mission, and the effects from that were a problem. We don’t get to that problem for a while though, so I was left frustrated with Rob the majority of the book. And figuring something is going to happen to him; he takes the boys to Crooked Tree Ranch, because he hopes that Justin will have his back. It’s slow going, but Justin and Sam were my favorite and I knew that Justin would indeed have his back and take care of those kids should he and Sam need to. I fell in love with him all over again.

My heart still hurt for Rob, because I knew how hard he was trying to keep a distance from the kids, and trying to get the kids to keep their distance from him as well; and I hated seeing it; because those kids needed him so badly.

See, Jennifer not only loves stories about hot guys with kids; but she also has two kids, two boys and was a single parent until her oldest was 5. Remembering them trying to impress my husband of the last 9 years, wanting him to love them and be to them what they didn’t have. Stories like this one hits me close to home…(okay, and Jennifer will stop referring to herself in the 3^rd person, and also mention, he jumped into that dad role and has been the best one ever since) So, I was rooting for this small family, even when I thought it was impossible.

I shouldn’t have worried though, not really; I’ve read this entire series and I’m also a big fan of Ms. Scott, and I know that especially in this series; we get our happily ever afters! And Aaron, he was stubborn, having all those brothers, I’m sure he had to be; but it worked in his favor here. He didn’t let Rob scare him or push him away, and the quiet way he loved Rob, not pushing him, even when he knew what the outcome would likely be….He was just there, loving him in the time he got with him. He fought for them, but he couldn’t make him do anything unless Rob was willing to fight for all of them. It was Justin who pushed, and I loved him all the more for it.

I loved them all actually, I don’t even know what I’m saying. And while Justin and Sam remain my favorite, I’ll have to say that Toby and Bran are a very close second. I’d love to read more about this little family and I hope we get so much more from this series. I love them all, and I loved the way this one ended. Yay for all of them..

Sigh…Great addition…I’ll take the next one, now please 😀

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

August 30 – Cdawgz Reads, Gay Book Reviews, OMG Reads, Xtreme Delusions, September 3 – BFD Blog, September 5 – My Fiction Nook, September 7 – The Geekery Book Review, MM Good Book Reviews, September 10 – Mean Girls Luv Books, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wicked Reads, September 12 – Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, Reading In Sarah’s Corner, September 14 – Two Chicks Obsessed, Southern Babes Book Blog, Jim’s Reading Room, Nicole’s Book Musings, September 17 – Momma Says: To Read or Not To Read, Wicked Faerie’s Tales, The Way She Reads, Sexy Erotic Xciting, September 19 – Making It Happen, Padme’s Library, September 21 – Mirrigold, Lillian Francis, Bayou Book Junkie, Virginia Lee

RJ’s goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.

RJ is the author of the over one hundred novels and discovered romance in books at a very young age. She realized that if there wasn’t romance on the page, she could create it in her head, and is a lifelong writer.

She lives and works out of her home in the beautiful English countryside, spends her spare time reading, watching films, and enjoying time with her family.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit and has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the following links below:

Email RJ (rj@rjscott.co.uk)

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* Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. *

Looking Forward by Michael Bailey: New Release Review

September 13, 2018 by Denise

Owen Hannity was nineteen when he lost almost everyone he thought he could trust. Each loss more painful than the last.

With the unwavering support of his best friend, Andy, Owen put the pieces of his life back together. Now, more than two decades later, Owen owns and operates a successful comic shop. Despite his modicum of success, he still feels like a shell of a man, carrying the emotional scars from his past.

Without warning, Owen’s past returns. Secrets come to light. Secrets that could either destroy Owen or finally give him the strength to re-evaluate everything he thought he knew about Andy, himself, and the way in which he views the world.

To see that he is truly worthy of loving himself and finally begin…

…Looking Forward.

Amazon

Oof. This is a tough one for me to write. This is Michael Bailey’s second book. I hadn’t read the first one because I tend to get nervous about new authors who are know readers of the genre. If that makes sense. But I read some of the reviews from the first book and thought- hey! let’s give this one a shot.

Again, oof.

What this story needed (besides several edits) was a hard assed beta reader. Or three. Sure, have your friend beta read it, but tell them to be honest. Like brutally honest. Sometimes honesty hurts when you put your heart and soul into something, but ultimately it will make it SO MUCH BETTER!

Because the bones were there for a good story. And there was a lot there. But it was too much because scenes weren’t long enough to really sink our teeth into and care about these characters.

It’s a love story with angst and pain. There’s a time jump from 1992 to present. I enjoyed seeing the references about how so many silly things were different in 1992. Land lines. Land lines and long distance phone charges. Writing a phone number down. On a napkin. Silly things, but they harken back to when I was in my late teens.

As much as I enjoyed those things, the first “half” of the book in 1992 was entirely too long. And the second half, set in the present, was too short.

I needed more. I needed to sink my teeth in. But there was no meat. Just bones and fat.

2 Pieces of Candy

* Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. *

The Mystery of the Moving Image (Snow & Winter 3) by C.S. Poe: Exclusive Guest Post (#3 in series), Release Day Review and Giveaway

September 12, 2018 by Denise

It’s summer in New York City, and antique shop owner Sebastian Snow is taking the next big step in his relationship with NYPD homicide detective, Calvin Winter: they’re moving in together. What should have been a wonderful week of playing house and celebrating Calvin’s birthday comes to an abrupt end when a mysterious package arrives at the Emporium.

Inside is a Thomas Edison Kinetoscope, a movie viewer from the nineteenth century, invented by the grandfather of modern cinema, W. K. L. Dickson. And along with it, footage of a murder that took place over a hundred years ago.

Sebastian resists the urge to start sleuthing, even if the culprit is long dead and there’s no apparent danger. But break-ins at the Emporium, a robbery, and dead bodies aren’t as easy to ignore, and Sebastian soon realizes that the century-old murder will lead him to a modern-day killer.

However, even with Sebastian’s vast knowledge of Victorian America and his unrelenting perseverance in the face of danger, this may be the one mystery he won’t survive.

DSP Publications

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Hello again, friends! I’m C.S. Poe, and this is the third stop of The Mystery of the Moving Image blog tour. This is Book Three in the mystery-romance series, Snow & Winter. My post is a continuation of an exclusive coda, following Sebastian and Calvin’s adventure in apartment hunting in the East Village of New York City!

There is also a giveaway I hope you will enter. I have Sebastian and Calvin acrylic keychains that are super adorable, and signed character artwork.

Enjoy Part 3 of my coda.

C.S. Poe

I got out of the passenger seat of Calvin’s car the next morning, shut the door, and looked up at the classical architecture of a small residential building we were checking out with a new Realtor. “Not bad,” I murmured.

“Mr. Snow!”

I turned toward the building’s front door and a big man with a big smile, dressed in a bigger suit, came at me with his hand outstretched. “Ah, yeah. That’s me,” I said, reluctantly shaking his hand.

“Timothy Thomas, licensed real estate agent. It’s a real pleasure!” He just about dislocated my arm.

All right, Starry-Eyed, Steve. It is eight in the damn morning and I’ve only had one cup of coffee.

Luckily, Calvin stepped onto the sidewalk before I had the chance to tell Boy Scout Bill to calm down.

“And you must be Mr. Winter,” Timothy said, shaking hands with a man who could handle that ridiculous, meathead grip. “Are we excited to see our dream home today?” he asked next.

“I’ll reserve my judgement until I’m holding the keys,” I answered.

Calvin nudged my arm. “We haven’t had the best of luck so far,” he said more tactfully.

Timothy made a grand gesture with his hands. “I understand. I understand perfectly. But I’ve just the place. It’s huge, spacious—great for a family.”

“We only have a dog,” I added quickly.

Timothy smiled his big smile again. “And this apartment could easily fit a Great Dane. Come on.” He motioned for us to follow, walked to a small gate, and started down the steps to a basement dwelling.

“Uh. Hang on,” I called, rushing after. “Tim? No first floor apartments. That was my biggest no-no.”

Timothy glanced back at me while pushing open the door. “This is a basement apartment.”

“If I didn’t want the first floor, what on Earth makes you think—”

“Just go look,” Calvin whispered in my ear, coming up behind me.

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered. I walked down the steps like a chastised child, following Timothy into the darkness.

“What’d I say?” Timothy asked. “Huge! Am I right?”

“Yeah. A real cave,” I replied, deadpan. I mean, I admit it was nice on my eyes, but there were no windows. Even I needed a bit of sunlight now and then.

I heard a heavy thud and turned around. Calvin was wincing and rubbing the top of his head while it was awkwardly cocked to one side. “Did you…hit your head on the ceiling?” I looked back to Timothy. “We’re going to need a taller place.”

The hunt really went downhill from there. And it wasn’t even due to my pickiness. I mean, it’s like Timothy had gathered up every short, dank, weird little shithole he’d been absolutely unable to get off the market and said, here you cranky sonofabitch! This is all you get to pick from!

“This apartment isn’t wide enough, Tim,” Calvin said.

“I know it’s a strange design, but you don’t actually lose that much floorplan!” He turned and pointed down the long, awkward setup with both hands, and motioned like he was aiding an oversized truck backing up. “See how far it goes?”

I did see how far it went.

Calvin stepped around us into what I guessed was the bedroom, a room with no door that seamlessly rolled into the room even further in behind it. “I don’t think a bed can fit in here.”

“Oh no, it can!” Timothy insisted.

Calvin held his arms out and put his hands on either wall. He looked at me.

I shook my head.

“What else is there?” he asked Timothy.

“Why is the shower in the kitchen, Tim?” I asked.

“They’re remodeling.”

“Where is it going after they’re done?”

“Ah….”

“The bedroom is in a loft,” Timothy explained.

I pointed at the ladder and shook my head. “No.”

“No?” he echoed.

I raised my hand and ticked the points off on each finger. “Legally blind. Mornings. No coffee. I’m going to kill myself.”

“I’m going to have to say no too,” Calvin murmured while staring up at the loft. “I’d really like a place where I can stand up straight when I get out of bed.”

I’ve got a great place in Midtown.”

“What?”

“Just a block away from Times Square.”

“Tim, I think we’re done.”

Another action packed Snow and Winter book! I have been absolutely loving this series–yes, a big part is that I identify with the extreme snark of Seb, but also because the author weaves in so many different aspects seamlessly. Murder, snark, mystery, snark, ex-lovers times two, even more snark, and friends that continue to be there for Seb through thick and thin. (C’mon, Max had to be one of the truest friends ever to deal with all he’s dealt with and keep coming back for me…maybe someday we get to see his story?).

This book really highlighted the vulnerabilities of both Seb and Calvin, and it both touched my heart, and broke it. Calvin crying on Seb’s shoulder? For a detective who does everything he can to hide even the barest hint of vulnerability, that he can let go and not only show it to Seb, but allow Seb to carry him through that moment was such a beautiful moment. Meanwhile, Seb, trying NOT to show his vulnerabilities, still finds himself mired in a lack of confidence…even in the bedroom, how often do you ever read that in any time of romance? Yet, he knows that Calvin is always there for him, and trusts him completely.

I would have loved to see a bit more of Seb’s dad…because Seb learned that snark from one person! 🙂 I also really liked that we got to see more of Neil, and how he deals with the way his world has changed.

On top of all of that, Poe, weaves a mystery in here that has some dead bodies, but takes more than half the book to even find out what the mystery to solve is. Loved it!

Oh, and I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…these covers are fantastic. I love them, and they fit this series, and Seb, so perfectly.

Recommended, as I seem to do with all of C.S. Poe’s books. This series is not only worth picking up, but binge reading. And I was just wishing that this series was out on audio, and I see that The Mystery of Nevermore and The Mystery of the Curiosities, and they are both narrated by Derrick McClain, and so I need to go now, because I will be listening for hours. (HOW did I not know these were there???)

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Tour:

09/10/18 – Gay Book Reviews

09/11/18 – Love Bytes Reviews

09/12/18 – Two Chicks Obsessed

09/13/18 – It’s About the Book

09/14/18 – Boy Meets Boy

C.S. Poe is a Lambda Literary and EPIC award finalist 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.

Her debut novel, The Mystery of Nevermore, was published by DSP Publications, 2016.

| C.S. Poe’s Curious & Mysterious |Acrylic Sebastian and Calvin keychains and signed character art.

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Rules & Regulations:

Giveaway ends 10/19/18

One winner will be randomly chosen by C.S. Poe

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Three Stupid Weddings by Ann Gallagher: Exclusive Friday 5-ish Questions and Pre-Release Day Review

September 7, 2018 by Denise

On the heels of a painful and long overdue breakup, what Victor Nelson needs is time to lick his wounds. What he doesn’t need is everyone in his family trying to play matchmaker so he can find someone new… which is exactly what they’ll do at the three stupid weddings he has to attend this summer.

Fortunately, it’s Dominic Lowe to the rescue. Dom is more than willing to come along to all the weddings as his best friend’s “boyfriend”… even if he’d much rather be there as Vic’s real boyfriend.

Convincing people they’re a couple is easy. The charade is miserable for Dom, though, after years of being madly in love with Vic. But maybe those three weddings are a rehearsal for the relationship he knows they could have for real.

This asexual M/M romance is approximately 38,000 words long.

Trigger warnings: eating disorder, discussions of verbal/emotional abuse

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Thank you to Ann Gallagher, AKA L.A. Witt, for stopping by and answering my Friday 5-ish questions. Her answers are just AMAZE-BALLS!!!!

You seem to have plot bunnies, that make more plot bunnies. They seem to replicate like real bunnies! 🙂 Tell us about your inspiration for Three Stupid Weddings.

They really do replicate like real bunnies. I literally have rainbow plot bunnies tattooed on my arm because, well, plot bunnies are my world. I am constantly sending emails to myself with story ideas, jotting notes in my phone’s notepad or on scraps of paper–there are bunnies everywhere, and they always find me.

Three Stupid Weddings came from seeing some tweets from readers who enjoy the “fake boyfriend” trope, and I realized it was one I’d never written before. I’d also been wanting to write another asexual romance, so I started playing with the idea of an ace fake boyfriend. The story pretty much fell together after that.

You have several pen names. You chose Ann Gallagher as the pen name for Three Stupid Weddings, even as it is M/M. What makes you choose one pen name over another? Is there a method to this madness?

LOL Oh yeah the pen name madness. It’s…well, madness is a good word. There is a method to the madness, though if I had my career to do over again, I might have done things differently. I didn’t foresee writing so many genres, or that I would branch out into pairings beyond M/M and M/F. Initially it was L.A. Witt for M/M and Lauren Gallagher for M/F, and then I write an M/M/F and realized it wasn’t that simple anymore. So when a book blurs the line between two names, I have to make a decision. In the case of Three Stupid Weddings, it was actually easy: Ann Gallagher writes sweet romances. Since Three Stupid Weddings has no on-page sex (none off-page either), it was clearly an Ann Gallagher book. Where it gets tricky is when I’m writing a sweeter — but not 100% sweet — romance, and it feels more L.A. Witt than Ann Gallagher. Because heaven forbid I make things easy for myself.

Following you on twitter (Peeps! If you don’t you should!) I know you have been doing research on incel, as well as terrible bosses. What can you share about your current WIPs?

The terrible bosses research is for a non-fiction book that I’m hopefully not botching too terribly, and as for the incel research…Oh Lord, I am so glad to be done researching that “community”. That was SUCH a toxic experience. In the end, though, I’m pleased with the resulting suspense novel, INCEL, which will be out later this fall. It’ll be under my fourth pen name, Lori A. Witt, because of course it will. That name used to be exclusively for more mainstream SFF, but I decided to expand to mainstream suspense too; INCEL has a romance subplot, but it’s not really the focus of the book. That and by its very nature, the subject matter meant delving into some hardcore misogyny and rape culture, and I decided the book (and the other books in the series) should be under the name that focuses less on romance.

Anyway, that book is in edits right now. I’m currently working on a historical novella to go with a Christmas-themed multi-author series later in the year, as well as the final book in my Cruising trilogy (a fluffy M/M trans vacation romance). My main WIP, however, is a M/M contemporary that will also be playing with the fake boyfriend trope, and I’ve assembled A DREAM TEAM OMG of narrators for the audio version, so I’m basically writing it with their voices in my head. No details on that one yet. 😉

Is there a plot bunny that you’ve had that you were afraid/concerned to write, or maybe felt you couldn’t do justice to it, if you did write it? Why?

Oh, there have been a few. Once Burned involved a character who’s an undocumented immigrant at risk of deportation. When I wrote Static waaaaaaay back in like 2012 I was terrified I’d screwed up the genderfluidity, trans characters, etc. I literally had nine trans* beta readers for that one. Lead Me Not, a Christian M/M romance, was definitely a risk for me because I had no idea how anyone — the Christian community, my readers, my Christian readers, etc — would take it.

So yeah, sometimes it’s scary diving into a book, but I’ll usually write it anyway, and just make sure I have someone else read it.

Always the fun questions! What cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy?

I’m probably some very weird mix of Sterling Archer and Stewie Griffin…

Ah-stinkin-dorable!

This was short, but oh so sweet. The fake boyfriend trope will just never grow old with me. And because these guys are asexual, there was no drunken sex that they felt guilty about after even though they both wanted it.

Instead it was like a slow romance. Building with each wedding they went to. Best friends who slowly acknowledge that they really are in a relationship and love each other.

The book was separated by wedding, which was fun. Besides the beginning of the story establishing character, the rest of it takes place at each of the three weddings.

There is a little bit of angst with Vic dealing with the repercussions of a caustic relationship he is newly out of, but nothing that bogged down or turned the story serious.

This was the perfect, fluffy, sweet, romantic book that is short enough to be a nice fast read, but in depth enough to make you care about the characters.

4 Pieces of Candy

Somebody to Die For by Kris T. Bethke: Exclusive Guest Post and Release Day Review

September 5, 2018 by Denise

Dying is easy. New love is terrifying.

Avery Wagner quit ghostwalking when he lost his beloved anchor to cancer. Now teaching others who have the ability, he’s beginning to live again—but he’s not looking for another lover, not now, maybe not ever.

But then he meets Jameson… younger, talented, dedicated, almost perfect, even though his mouth sometimes opens ahead of his brain. And Jameson wants Avery desperately, though he’ll settle for friendship if he can’t have more.

When an emergency demands they work together in the field, Avery discovers just how perfect Jameson is. But he had a perfect love once before, and he’s scared to even consider that he might have a chance at another. Can he trust Jameson with his newly healing heart?

Title: Somebody to Die For
Series: Requiem Inc.: Book 3
Author: Kris T. Bethke
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Category: Paranormal: Ghosts, Dreamspun Beyond
Pages: 212

Amazon

Dreamspinner

Hey there! I’m Kris T. Bethke, and I’m here to bring a little insight into my latest release, Somebody to Die For. The third book in the Requiem Inc. series and part of the Dreamspun Beyond line.

When I wrote the first book in the Requiem Inc. series, I didn’t actually know it was going to be a series. Writing that first book, though, gave me secondary characters who started screaming for their own story.

Avery Wagner was one character whose story needed to be told.

The challenge with a series is to make each book different. No one wants to read the same story twice, even if they have different MCs. So I needed to find a different angle. And really, once Jameson Parker came into the picture, I knew exactly what the story should be.

Avery had the One True Love. But that doesn’t mean he can’t love again. It doesn’t even mean that the new love isn’t as amazing as the first. But Avery has baggage, and he’s been through a lot. So he had to have a different kind of love this time around.

Ghostwalking is integral to Avery’s life. But he just doesn’t know how much until he’s forced to do it again. With Jameson at his side, the experience is different than when Avery ghostwalked with his anchor and bonded. Jameson is everything Avery needs at this stage in his life. And at the same time, Avery is everything Jameson needs.

I packed this book with some of my favorite tropes: hurt/comfort, age gap, friends to lovers, and new love after loss. But I only used them because they fit the characters I had created and the story that needed to be told. It’s not an easy journey, to be sure. There’s definitely a slow burn going on. And there has to be. Avery has healed a lot since he lost his bonded and husband. But that doesn’t mean he’s ready to jump in with both feet. He and Jameson get off to a rocky start, and it’s just the sort of push they need to get going. First as friends, and then as so much more.

For Jameson, the attraction is instant. He knows the moment he sees Avery that he wants him. For Avery, on the other hand, things progress much slower. He has to come to terms with his feelings for Jameson, and what that means for his heart.

I loved writing this story, and continuing in the world I created. I hope you get a chance to check it out. Somebody to Die For is out now!

Once again, I will say, as I said in the last two reviews I did of the books in this series…I don’t normally read these types of books. And yet, I have enjoyed the world of this series so much. The author created a parallel world to what we live in, giving us characters to care about, and ones to root for.

This one is a bit different than the last two books.

**Side note** In Kris’ guest post she talks about how writing this series, and writing all of the character’s with different stories was important. As I was reading this third book, I had actually been thinking how very different she had made the stories for each of these books. And I’m so glad she did!

This one is different because Avery doesn’t ghostwalk anymore, after his bonded love and anchor died of cancer. His grief was so all consuming the thought of doing it was just too much. Meanwhile, he was slowly falling in love with someone who was in training to be an anchor, with no ghostwalker as a match. Perfect scenario for Avery to freak out…again and again. And he did, and yet Jameson was so patient and loving with Avery, never giving up on him, even when Avery continued to push him away.

A couple things that I really appreciated about this book are often not portrayed in other books. The first…books often have the “I love you” before the end. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love that moment, it makes me so happy. But in the case of this book, it was so appropriate for Avery as he continued to deal with grief and guilt over moving on from his bonded, Luke. Even at the end, (and this is a tiny tiny spoiler) there is a comment about Jameson “staying” with Avery, versus living with him, purposefully so that Avery could get used to the idea. It was exactly what this relationship needed.

Second, the author didn’t write to pretend that Avery’s bonded hadn’t died, and there wasn’t still grief and fear. She wrote Avery as someone who fought against the idea of “replacing” Luke. Yet, the author created a world where it was okay to love again, even as you wonder and question. And it is. Humans need to love, and Avery found the chance again, despite all his efforts to the contrary. The time when Avery goes to his bonded’s cemetary…yeah…I was crying…on my way into work. I need to pick and choose the times when I am reading something I am sure will make me cry much better. 🙂

I highly recommend this series…even if you aren’t necessarily a paranormal fan. It is grounded in the real world, and in real life emotions, and at the heart of it is finding love in all its varieties.

4 pieces of eye candy

Kris T. Bethke has been a voracious reader for pretty much her entire life and has been writing stories for nearly as long. An avid and prolific daydreamer, she always has a story in her head. She spends most of her free time reading, writing, or knitting/crocheting her latest project. Her biggest desire is to find a way to accomplish all three tasks at one time. A classic muscle car will always turn her head, and naps on the weekend are one of her greatest guilty pleasures. She lives in a converted attic with a way too fluffy cat and the voices in her head. She’ll tell you she thinks that’s a pretty good deal. Kris believes that love is love, no matter the gender of people involved, and that all love deserves to be celebrated.

Find her on her site https://kristbethke.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Kris-T-Bethke/100014524539852 or on Twitter https://twitter.com/kristbethke

* Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. *