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Seeing Red by E. L. Esch: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

What would you do if you lost five years of freedom? If everything you’d ever known was torn away from you, all because the one person you counted on to save you didn’t come through?

This is the cruel reality for Gabriel “Red” Thatcher, convicted at age nineteen for the murder of his father. Now twenty-five and eight months out of prison, Red has nothing to his name and no one to help him through the horrifying memories of his past.

​Then he meets Silo Winters, a man so much like him yet so different that it drives Red crazy. How could someone who went through the same trauma he did in prison still look at life so cheerfully? And though Silo tries to show Red that life after hardship isn’t bleak and meaningless, Red finds it difficult after all he’s been through to let anyone in.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

The smells of the park hit me hard and fast as we rounded the bend a few blocks from Berkley and started down the dirt road that led to the main gate. Overused fry oil met my nose first. Ribbon-cut fries were Mila and Arty’s favorite.

“We’d get a whole big basket of them every time we came here and eat them as we walked,” I told Silo. “Joe always had to get a separate order for himself because he was the only one who liked his fries with vinegar. Mila, Arty, and I preferred them plain.”

Among the fries, I caught a whiff of fried dough and smiled. Silo probably liked the dough nice and sweet, slathered in strawberry preserve and powdered sugar. I imagined sitting on a park bench, eating some with him. Some jam would dribble down the corners of his lips. He’d let me lick it off, and nobody around us would give a shit because everyone knew we were only having fun. That was my favorite part of amusement parks—the air of tranquil companionship that existed between everyone, no matter their race, religion, orientation, or beliefs.

We could see the royal-purple painted archway of the park’s entrance now, accented with gold letters that read, Tenley Carnival, July 7th – September 7th.

“Oh it’s a carnival, not an amusement park,” Silo chided me.

“There’s a difference?”

“Uh, yeah.” Silo tossed his head, gesturing to the dates on the sign. “Carnivals travel; amusement parks are permanent fixtures.”

“Well, excuse me, Mr. Park Aficionado.” I shoved him through the gate, spurred on by the sheer sight of the crowd and the smiles on people’s faces. Funny, I’d thought I’d be afraid of crowds after prison. I certainly hated prying eyes, but here I felt like none of what’d happened in the past mattered. No one knew me here, either the real, inner me that mattered, or the outer, shallower me that didn’t. It felt good, almost homey—to simply be another stranger among strangers.

We grabbed some fried dough by the main gate to eat as we walked. Silo gave me plenty of trouble about paying for his, but I ignored him. He couldn’t have been too caught up in the whole money situation, though, because the next minute he was laughing and clapping at a band of street performers pulling colored ribbons out of their ears. I wanted to point out how there had to be a logical explanation behind the trick, but I didn’t want to spoil Silo’s fun.

“Hey, Red?” Silo stopped beside a bench and sat down. We’d have to share it with a woman and her baby, but neither of us seemed to mind. “You don’t think this is silly at our age?”

“You’re saying that to me?”

Silo chuckled. “I know. This just doesn’t seem like your type of scene.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“That you’re a bit of a hardass.” Silo popped the last of his fried dough into his mouth and grinned.

“You just don’t know me well enough.” I sat down beside him. “Besides…” I looked off across the dirt pathway and watched the people there. A young man stood holding the hand of a woman who I assumed was his girlfriend, watching as a carny in a clown costume formed a pink balloon animal. They looked about nineteen, maybe twenty, smiling and holding each other’s hands, occasionally kissing without a care in the world. “Besides,” I repeated, “I lost out on my time to do things like this.”

Silo said nothing for a long time as he looked down at his hands folded in his lap. Then, “Hardass.”

“Hah, I guess so.” I looked around again, catching sight of the Ferris wheel.

“You want to ride it, don’t you?” Silo intercepted my thoughts.

I cursed that perceptive gaze of his. “Mila and I used to when we were little. Well, when I could persuade her it wasn’t going to break and roll away, and even then she’d only sit with Joe. I guess I’m feeling nostalgic.”

“You miss your little sister.”

How could I not? We’d been so close when we were little, and now we hardly knew each other. Hell, she didn’t even seem to want to know me now.

“I can’t believe how big she’s gotten.” I felt Silo’s hand on my knee. The woman beside us smiled softly at me when I caught her looking at us. I smiled back, feeling the genuine warmth in her gaze. She didn’t care about my past like Mila did. She—a stranger—could smile at me with kindness, where my own sister could only smile cautiously and in fear.

“Well, let’s have her over. Invite her. I’ll make dinner.”

“Silo, why are you trying so hard for me?” Was it just because I was letting him stay at the apartment? What made this man try so hard to make me happy?

“Because it’s important to you. Need I another reason?” Silo hopped to his feet and held out his hand to help me up. “Come on. Let’s go ride the Ferris wheel.”

I love angst. I love broken characters. I love when they find redemption. And while I didn’t love this book, I still enjoyed it.

One of the things I enjoyed is that it was different. TWO men recently out of prison trying to find their way in the world again. Trying to find jobs. Trying to just live their lives. Unexpectedly coming together as friends to start, sharing a small apartment in the not so great part of town.

The guys navigate this post prison world together. Silo is a pretty optimistic guy for having served time and his father not letting him move home. It is his light that helps bring Red out of the dark.

I had a couple issues with the book, but I can’t really talk about them without giving up possible spoilers. But my issues are often not anyone else’s issues in a book. Why am I like this? GAH!

I think this author only has 2 books out right now. And while the book wasn’t perfect, I can see the potential for the author to just get better at storytelling.

3 pieces of eye candy

I could copy-paste my biography from other websites, but that’s boring so instead here’s some fun facts about me:

​- I own 2 crested geckos and an axolotl. What’s an axolotl? You know Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon? His design is based off one. Basically it looks like a cross between a tadpole and a wingless dragon. And they’re dumb. Very dumb. But cute!

– I have an unhealthy obsession with video games. I am an avid PC gamer, and can be found up most nights on World of Warcraft. I’m the first to admit I have a problem. For the Alliance!

​- I could probably drop a fourth of my body-weight if I stopped drinking soda, but I won’t. I’m letting myself have this one.

​- If I had a quarter for every time I swore, I’d probably be able to retire.

​- I don’t know how I started writing M/M Romance, but if I had to blame anyone it’d be my best friend for getting me hooked on Yaoi in high school. You know who your are; you did this.

Connect with Eryn:
Website: https://www.eleschbooks.com
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/author.elesch
Facebook Group Signup – https://www.facebook.com/groups/elesch
Instagram Follow – https://www.instagram.com/e_l_esch/
Bookbub Follow – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/e-l-esch
Goodreads Follow – https://www.goodreads.com/e-l-esc
Amazon Follow –  https://amazon.com/author/elesch
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A Husband for Hartwell (The Lords of Bucknall, Book 1) by JA Rock and Lisa Henry: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

He must marry, or risk his fortune.

The whole of London Society has long assumed Lord William Hartwell will marry his childhood best friend, Lady Rebecca Warrington. After two Seasons, Hartwell remains quite content with bachelorhood–his parents do not. When Hartwell learns they intend to cut his purse strings unless he makes a match this Season, he resigns himself to a marriage of convenience with Becca, and yet he can’t help but be drawn to her younger brother, Warry.

He must marry, or risk his sister’s ruin.

The Viscount “Warry” Warrington is used to being viewed as the tagalong little brother. Now a grown man about to enter his second Season, Warry is desperate to be seen. When Lord Balfour, a handsome older peer, takes Warry under his wing, Warry thinks his dream is finally coming true. Until Balfour reveals his true intent–to make public a letter that will destroy Becca’s reputation, unless Warry agrees to marry him.

Time is running out for both of them.

When an injury forces Warry to recover at Hartwell House, the two succumb to a secret flirtation. But Warry’s sudden announcement of his engagement to Balfour drives Hartwell near mad with jealousy–and right into Becca’s arms. With the clock ticking for Warry to save his sister, will Hartwell discover the truth of Warry’s feelings before it’s too late?

A Husband for Hartwell is the first book in the Lords of Bucknall Club series, where the Regency meets m/m romance.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Hyde Park was lovely. It being March, the ride was cool, and Warry wished he’d worn a scarf. The winter had not been a bad one, although the tail end of it was proving to linger, the pattern of generally bright and sunlit days marred occasionally by chilly, drizzly ones such as this. It had been several years since Town had seen what Warry’s father called a ‘real’ winter; winters these days seemed damper and more miserable rather than sharp and cold. Warry could remember visiting the frost fair several years ago, amazed at the story of an elephant being led over the frozen Thames, even if he hadn’t witnessed it himself. He’d bought hot chocolate and he and Becca had gone skating. Their parents had declared the other children too young, which had led to Charlotte wailing all the way home, but not even that had ruined Warry’s good spirits. He’d promised to take Charlotte to the next frost fair, but every winter since then had been too mild for the river to freeze over.

There wasn’t much traffic on Rotten Row when Balfour drove the curricle over to that end of the Park so that they might watch the riders. A pair of gentlemen raced half-heartedly, though neither they nor their horses seemed much inclined to break a sweat. Warry feigned more interest than he felt, mostly to avoid looking at Balfour. Balfour had been polite and chivalrous from the moment Warry had climbed up into the curricle beside him, which seemed like nothing more than a cruel trick now that Warry had glimpsed the man’s true nature. A part of him would have preferred that Balfour acted like the monster he was.

Instead, Balfour chatted about the weather, the latest news from the Continent, and the slow start to the Season that year. Although people had been coming to Town since just after Christmas, the Season had yet to really warm up. Why, there hadn’t even been any scandals as yet. Warry’s skin prickled when Balfour said that with a sly smile, because they both knew Balfour held the power to uncover one.

“I do believe our match will be widely talked about,” Balfour remarked.

          “I suppose so,” Warry said carefully, uncertain of the man’s meaning.

“Marriage can either be a very beautiful thing or a very ugly one.”

Warry’s throat tightened with the implications of that statement.

Balfour went on. “My father was courted by a Lord Bainbridge, many years ago. To hear him speak of it, Bainbridge was his one great love. He cares not at all for my mother. She destroyed his happiness, you see. She did it bit by bit, day by day. I had no siblings. There was no other option available to me but to endure that household in all its misery. Such terrible things she would say to him. To me.”

Warry gazed out at the people promenading. He did not want to feel anything for Balfour—the pain of the man’s betrayal was still too raw—but in spite of himself, he spared a moment’s pity for a small boy in a loveless household. His own upbringing had been full of kindness and indulgence, and he supposed it was unjust that some were granted such blessings and some were not—in the way he’d often thought it unjust that his mother adored him but seemed to find Becca wanting in everything but looks.

“For years, it made me hard and bitter.” Balfour rapped on the curricle’s side as though to jerk himself from his reverie. He turned his gaze toward Warry, his grin false and strange. “But I have come to enjoy a rich social life and the symbols of status that come from being my own man rather than my father’s puppet or my mother’s target practice. I have even begun to believe once more in love. I’m no romantic, you understand, but I should very much like to have what my father had with Bainbridge. And Joseph—” he paused. “I have known since that first afternoon we spent together that you are capable of both feeling and giving this love.”

Warry chewed his lip, wishing that Balfour’s flattery had no power over him. Wishing he did not sit there wondering if it was true. Did he have a rare and admirable capacity for love, and would there be others, if he could only get free of Balfour, who would see it?

Perhaps I would have given it freely to you had you not trapped me, he wanted to say.

People were broken in all sorts of ways. They sometimes use disagreeable methods to achieve their ends, but didn’t they all want essentially the same thing? To be loved? Could that brief flash of pity he’d felt for Balfour grow into forgiveness, and might they have a marriage that was at least civil? “My parents sometimes seem strangers to each other.” He didn’t know what else to say. “That is certainly not what I want for myself.”

“Then I’m glad we’ve made this promise to one another.” Balfour smiled with sincere warmth as though that promise they had made to one another was not born of sickness on Balfour’s part and terror on Warry’s.

I love historical romances. When I started reading back in my teen years…oh so many years ago…that was where I started…Victorian era regency romances. And now reading m/m romance, I do still like a good historical regency, and this gave me a very good taste. There is a little part at the beginning that helps to set up the book, which I hadn’t heard of, so I am guessing it was helpful for the book timeline. And it was helpful for me to stay in the story. 🙂

There was a lot going on in this book, which is what made it such a fun read. Hartwell knew he had to marry a woman, to have heirs, since he was the only son. His best friend was a woman, and a lesbian as it happened, so that seemed to be his obvious choice. Meanwhile, her brother, Warry, was trying to save her reputation from some unpleasant folks, after he found a letter that was a bit naughty. Let the secrets begin!

The book definitely had a lot of the schoolyard bully being mean to the object of his affections feel to it. Which honestly disturbed me a little in the beginning and the middle. I had a hard time connecting how Warry could want to be with someone who was kind of a jerk to him, a lot. As the book went on, though, I could see a bit more the issue was Hartwell really in denial. If he hadn’t redeemed himself about that, I would have been most disappointed.

It was still a fun read, with lots of the things that I’ve always enjoyed about historical romances…lack of communication, people trying to protect people by giving up their virtue/agreeing to marriage, etc. And the final scene with the bad guy was *chefs kiss*, and made me ready for book 2, which must be…well, you’ll have to see. (Or you can check out the preorder that is up now here).

*Side note: These covers are so awesome!!!*

4 pieces of eye candy

About JA Rock:

J.A. Rock is the author of over twenty LGBTQ romance, suspense, and horror novels, as well as an occasional contributor to HuffPo Queer Voices. J.A.’s books have received Lambda Literary, INDIEFAB, and EPIC Award nominations, and The Subs Club received the 2016 National Leather Association-International Novel Award. 24/7 was named one of the best books of 2016 by Kirkus Reviews. J.A. lives in Chicago with an extremely judgmental dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

https://jarockauthor.com

About Lisa:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
Bookbub
Twitter

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

Head to Head (Nerds Vs Jocks, Book 3) by Eli Easton & Tara Lain: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, and Giveaway

by

If these two don’t kill each other, they might fall in love.

Rand hates Jax because he’s the laid-back, vegan-eating, tree-hugging, total-Zen-until-I-get-a-chance-to-screw-you president of Sigma Mu Tau, the nerdy fraternity that’s the sworn enemy of Rand’s house, Alpha Lambda Alpha. What a phony!

Jax hates Rand for being the privileged, rich-heir-to-an-oil-empire, environment-destroying, soul-sucking president of the ALA jocks—but mostly because Rand hated him first. Rand has sent nothing but hateful vibes his way since the day they met. What a douche!

The enemies have never had a single conversation that didn’t involve shouting—until Jax’s old Buick breaks down on a road trip and Rand plays reluctant rescuer. Jax is forced to sit on Rand’s dead cow seats. Rand learns chickens can enter the living room and that Jax’s beliefs are more than skin-deep. The bitter rivals embark on a quest to save a family member and discover that sometimes animosity is a mask for crazy-hot attraction. With this much face time, head-to-head might become heart-to-heart.

HEAD TO HEAD is an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, opposites attract, searching for his sister, clashing cultures, MM romance—with a whole lot of fracking.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

I’d been so angry after the meetup with the Johnsons that I’d just walked away from my father and fucking Fremont before I said something I couldn’t take back, and I wasn’t ready to hang out with them on a long flight either.

I grabbed for my phone and dialed.

Two rings and my father’s anxious and pissed-off voice said, “Where the hell are you?”

“Go back without me. I’ll come later on commercial.”

“What the fuck, Rand? Don’t be childish. I have a perfectly good jet waiting at the airport.”

“I said I’ll take commercial.”

“Why?”

“You know why, and so does Fremont. Thanks for a happy graduation day, by the way.”

“Dammit, Rand, be fair. Neither Fremont nor I had any way of knowing we were walking up to some alternate boyfriend you never told us about. Yes, Fre told me that you two weren’t engaged, but come on. Couples fight. They break up and get back together. It never occurred to me you wouldn’t even want Fre at your graduation, for craps sake. So I made a gaff? I’ve got a big mouth. Sue me.”

Shit, my head was spinning. Had I overreacted? Everything he said made sense as usual, but my heart hurt and my stomach wanted to lose its contents. “Look, Dad, I just need to think. I’ll be home later tonight or tomorrow, whenever I can get a flight.” I hung up and wiped angrily at my eyes.

“Hi. Are you an SMT?”

I blinked and stared at a kid, maybe seventeen or eighteen, standing at the base of the porch. “No.”

He wrinkled his nose. “Darn. I just love the SMTs. My dad says they’re the very best fraternity with all the smart guys. I really hope they ask me to pledge.”

“You’re a freshman?”

“In the fall. So why aren’t you an SMT? You look like a smart guy.” He grinned and pushed up his glasses. He was SMT material all right. He reminded me of Sean.

“I’m an ALA.”

“Oh.” His eyes widened as he looked across the street. “Aren’t the SMTs and the ALAs enemies?”

I gave him a tight smile. “We used to be. But things kind of changed this year.”

“Darn. I thought all the jokes and pranks sounded like fun.”

“The Dean got tired of them.”

“Oh.” He gave an exaggerated sigh. “So is there anybody inside?”

I shrugged. “There might be, but I didn’t see anyone.”

“I’ll go see.” He walked up the first two steps, then stopped. “So if ALA and SMT are friends now, maybe I’ll see you.”

I shook my head. “I just graduated. I’m headed home.” The words felt like rocks scratching over my throat.

“Oh yeah, that makes sense.” He took another step. “I thought you looked like an adult.” He walked inside as my stomach did a flip. Jesus. Didn’t I wish.

About Eli:

Coming from a background in computer game design, Eli has written over 35 books in m/m romance since 2013. The Mating of Michael (2014) and A Second Harvest (2016) both won The William Neale Award for Best Gay Contemporary Romance, and Eli’s books have won many awards from the Goodreads M/M Romance Group’s Reader’s Choice Awards. She is best known for her Christmas romances, the Howl at the Moon series of rom coms featuring dog shifters, and her Sex in Seattle series, which revolves around a sex clinic in Seattle.

Connect with Eli:
www.elieaston.com
Facebook: Eli Easton
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/164054884188096
Twitter: @elieastonAbout Tara:

Tara Lain believes in happy ever afters – and magic. Same thing. In fact, she says, she doesn’t believe, she knows. Tara shares this passion in her stories that star her unique, charismatic heroes and adventurous heroines. Quarterbacks and cops, werewolves and witches, blue collar or billionaires, Tara’s characters, readers say, love deeply, resolve seemingly insurmountable differences, and ultimately live their lives authentically. After many years living in southern California, Tara, her soulmate honey and her soulmate dog decided they wanted less cars and more trees, prompting a move to Ashland, Oregon where Tara’s creating new stories and loving living in a small town with big culture. Tara loves animals of all kinds (even snakes), diversity, open minds, coconut crunch ice cream from Zoeys, and her readers.

She has around 57 books published or scheduled for publication.

Connect with Tara:
Website: https://taralain.com/
Facebook Reader’s Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/255111391312743
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taralain/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/taralain
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taralainauthor/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tara-lain

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Proficiency Bonus (Roll for Love Book 3) by Charlie Novak: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

by

Organising yourself is harder than it looks—Lewis may be a highly proficient PA for two very successful cosplayers, but that means nothing when you’re living at your parent’s house after yet another failed relationship and trying to find some stable ground.

Jason Lu, star of Celestials, is stuck between a rock and a hard place. When the show is cancelled and his character pigeonholed into a homophobic ending, Jason must choose whether to fall in line or break ranks. But one misstep will mean bumping heads with some powerful people.

Teaming up with the very cute guy he met at Comic Con seems like a natural first step and now Lewis and Jason must choose between heartbreak and justice. As they forge ahead, they realise there are no bonuses for navigating life’s challenges, instead they’ll just have to fight for what they believe in.

But sometimes overcoming the biggest hurdles yields the best results.

Proficiency Bonus is a 79,000-word contemporary MM romance featuring plushies, Pokémon, and a fight for the perfect ending. It is book three in the Roll for Love series and can be read as a standalone.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Lewis POV 

At first, I hadn’t been sure whether Jason had meant to send me such blatantly sexy selfies, but over the past couple of weeks, I’d noticed a distinct uptick in the number of shirtless ones where his skin was glistening, and they were taken at just the right angle to show off all Jason’s best features. If they hadn’t been deliberate before, they were now.

“Thanks. You’re not bad yourself,” Jason said, and I felt my interest pique. I’d tried to be restrained, and so far I’d managed not to send any of the slightly slutty selfies I’d taken. I’d wanted to. I just hadn’t been sure whether they’d be welcome or whether that would be a step too far.

“Oh? Have you been looking at pictures of me, Mr. Lu?” I asked, unable to stop myself from grinning. I flicked over to my Instagram, wondering which ones he’d been looking at. My eyes settled over the picture of me at Pride.

“Er…” Jason stammered. “Maybe?”

“Can I ask which ones?”

“Just, you know, some of the ones on Instagram.”

“It was the Pride one, wasn’t it?” Some hot feeling swirled in my gut and my hips absent-mindedly rubbed across the bed. I bit my lip to stop myself from moaning.

What would Jason do if I moaned? Would he freak out and hang up, or would he indulge me in a little fun? Quiet fun since it was the weekend, and my mothers were downstairs. And there was no way in hell I was having phone sex where there was any chance of them hearing me.

God, I needed my own place.

“If I said yes,” Jason said quietly, “would you mind?”

“Definitely not. In fact, I have more photos I could send you… if you’re interested?”

“That, er, that would be nice.”

There was an audible amount of tension between us but neither of us seemed ready to break it. If we did, we both knew there’d be no coming back, and it felt like we weren’t quite ready for that.

“You looking forward to your Christmas break?” I asked, changing the subject and rowing us back to safer waters.

First off, I ADORE this cover. He is Jason!

If you read the first two of this triology, you know Lewis. PA to Edward who deserves a raise. This time, he gets his happily ever after.

Lewis and Jason meet in the green room at London Comic Con. Lewis thinks he looks familiar, but can’t place him and shrugs it off as being mistaken. Except Jason is one of the leads in a VERY popular show called Celestials.

Since we are in the social media age, they reconnect through instagram and develop a friendship over their shared love of Pokemon and other nerdy things. (No offense as I am a self professed nerd) So when Jason decides to go home to London during the Christmas break, he and Lewis decide to meet up.

Whirlwind romance! But not really because they really got to know each other over several months of texting and facetiming. Their chemistry in person was off the charts, even though the flirting they did online was so tame it almost wasn’t there.

Through all of this, Jason learns news about his show that he knows will upset the fans. And I don’t want to spoil anything, but it was pretty awesome to read a plot point that gets discussed fairly often in the LGBT world- burying the gays. You finally get a gay character who isn’t a stereo type, who is happy and stable, but they are always the first to get killed off.

Getting to know Lewis more was great. His whole giant blended crazy family are introduced as well. They made my head spin, but they were super fun and obviously loved each other quite a bit.

Another great thing was Lewis having ADHD. Because the author took the time to explain how ADHD affects Lewis AND how he can be so scatterbrained in his personal life, but meticulous in his work life. He is a fixer and wants to help Jason with his work issue- but he also never gets pushy or bossy. Just offers.

I really loved these two together. And I loved that there is an Asian main character. We need more of that!

There is also PLENTY of Edward and Izzy, as well as other characters from the previous books.

Super fun read that can be a stand alone, but all three books are great reads.

4 pieces of eye candy

Charlie lives in England with her husband and a dachshund named Biscuit. She spends most of her days wrangling other people’s words in her day job and then trying to force her own onto the page in the evening.

She loves cute stories with a healthy dollop of fluff, plenty of delicious sex, and happily ever afters — because the world needs more of them. Charlie also believes that loves comes in all shapes and sizes.

Charlie has very little spare time, but what she does have she fills with cooking, pole-dancing, reading and ice-hockey. She also thinks that everyone should have at least one favourite dinosaur…

Connect with Charlie:

Website: https://charlienovak.com/
Newsletter https://charlienovak.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/charlienovakauthor/
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/charlie-novak
Twitter https://twitter.com/charlienwrites

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Not So Sincerely, Yours (For Him, Book 2) by A.M. Johnson: Exclusive Excerpt and New Release Review

by

Ethan,
About last night… I could blame the bourbon. I could say I let things get out of hand, that I should have never called you, but I’m done lying to myself—to you. I know what you’re going to say. You’re not very good at keeping your opinions to yourself, but this can’t happen. It’s inappropriate, at best. I’m your boss. Not to mention, you’re clearly still hung up on him. I’m not a consolation prize.

Anders~

**

Anders,
You didn’t think it was inappropriate when you had your tongue down my throat, but I digress. As for your accusation, I’m not the only one stuck in the past, but at least I’m not running from it. I can’t believe I’m about to say this… Maybe you’re right. You shouldn’t have called me. Especially if you never intended to own it. Own that you wanted it to happen. Admit that you wanted me.

Not so sincerely,
Yours

Not So Sincerely, Yours (For Him, Book 2)
By A.M. Johnson

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

(this one is a bit steamy)

I punched and folded the pillow a few times trying to get comfortable, my head filled with too much stimulus. Sirens echoed somewhere in the city as I closed my eyes. Like every night, my brain switched to autopilot, and I couldn’t settle down. I sat up a little, resting my back against the pillows and raked my fingers through my hair. The lights of Times Square flashed inside my head, the kid laughing in the park on a loop inside my ears. And Ethan. And his mouth. And his scent of wood and soap and rain. I blew out a long breath, wishing I hadn’t packed away my book.

“Goddammit.”

Giving in, I grabbed my phone and opened up the app I’d been avoiding ever since Ethan had mentioned it. Attraction was an idea. An idea that plagued you until you either acted on it or moved on. Maybe seeing him like this, outside of the confines of the office would quell the growing curiosity.

I’d never been so wrong about anything in my entire life.

A simple shot of Ethan’s abs filled my screen. His fingers were fisted in what looked like a blanket as he pushed it dangerously low, exposing the smooth, pale skin below his tan line. I stared at the trimmed brown hair that dusted the top of his pelvis, and the ache in my dick became too prominent to ignore. I reached under the sheets and palmed the growing erection inside my boxer briefs. This was not the reaction I wanted. Instead of switching out of the app like I should have, I scrolled through his pictures. Bad idea number—I’d lost count. Some of the images were older, and I had to admit, the leaner version of Ethan was just as sexy. He had broad shoulders and a swimmer’s body all packaged with a bright smile and the most unique eyes I’d ever seen.

Not happening.

I closed out of the app and tossed my phone, gently this time, onto the side table. Lying back down, I flipped to my right side and then my left about four times. Growling into the void, I fell onto my back and shoved down the sheets. I slipped a hand under the waistband of my underwear and smeared the dot of pre-come leaking from my slit down my shaft with my thumb. A ragged breath escaped my lungs, the first real breath I’d taken all day. I stroked myself hard and steady, thinking about his soft pale skin, that patch of hair, and how it would feel against the tip of my nose, my hip, rubbing against my dick. I forced out all the warnings and the rules and let myself go. This didn’t have to mean anything. It was a physical response to a hot picture, and I hadn’t gotten laid in over a month. It was about flesh and muscle. I thought about the sharp line of his jaw and how it would taste. I didn’t think about his eyes or his smile or his smart mouth, and how I wanted to fill it with my cock or my fingers. My hips jerked as I groaned through clenched teeth, and my orgasm splashed against my stomach. Breathless, I slammed my eyes shut as goose bumps broke out across my skin. The longer I lay there, the harder it was to rationalize away what I’d done.

I’d gotten off thinking about an employee.

About Ethan.

His eyes, his smile, his smart mouth.

Everything I shouldn’t want.

Everything I couldn’t have.

I didn’t read book 1, Love Always, Wild. But I loved reading the blurb on this one, enemies to lovers being one of my favorite tropes. So, I jumped in here…and now really want to go back. 🙂

I loved this book. It was fun, sexy, smart, and just all around worth sitting down and reading in one sitting.

Their previous interactions were not good, so Anders hiring Ethan as his temporary assistant was not on either of their lists of things to do. However, it turned out to be what they both needed. Anders needed an assistant for a maternity leave, and Ethan needed some time until he moved onto his next phase. Perfect. And the fights were small. hahaha

It was definitely a slow burn, as they began to slowly get to know each other, get over their previous relationships, then like each other, and then onto the hotness of “can’t get enough of him”.

I really enjoyed this one, and now want to go back and read book 1, and will definitely be keeping an eye out for future A.M. Johnson books.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Amanda lives in Utah with her family where she moonlights as a nurse on the weekends.
If she’s not busy with her three munchkins, you’ll find her buried in a book or behind the keyboard where she explores the human experience through the written word.
She’s obsessed with all things Austen and Oreos, and loves to connect with readers!

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Bad Daddy (Unexpected Daddies Book 3) by Victoria Sue: Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

by

Bad so bad.

Caleb DeLuca knew that tattooed, scarred ex-cons didn’t usually get trusted with anything precious. He’d spent the second half of his forty-three years atoning for the lives he had destroyed in the first half and was shocked to get invited to the club his brother-in-law owned, especially when he found out what type of club it was.

Max was too young, too beautiful, and too fragile for Caleb to get any ideas they could ever be more than friends. Besides which, Max was searching for a man that could inflict the pain he craved, and Caleb was done hurting people.

Even if that was what they wanted.

Bad Daddy is the story of a man who doesn’t believe he deserves anything good and the boy who finds out that sometimes the best things might come in the most unexpected packages.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Book 1: One Cup Of Daddy and a Dash of Love

Book 2: A Daddy for Christmas

“Max?” Caleb called out loud enough to rouse him but not to frighten him. Max grunted but didn’t open his eyes. “Max, you’re going to have to take the cock cage off. It needs to come off.”

Max mumbled and tried to turn on his side again. Caleb sighed, then as quickly as he could, eased the strap that the key was hung from over his head. Max never stirred, and he eased the shorts down and unlocked and removed the cock cage, trying really, really hard not to look. He would not lech over a barely conscious man. Even if he would really like a second look when Max was conscious.

Although when Max knew where he was and who he was with, he would probably go back to being disdainfully polite. He’d seen the dismissal in Max’s eyes when he’d walked in and had taken the hint that Max had dropped like an anchor. Not that he blamed him. At forty-three, Caleb had to be at least double his age. Caleb huffed as he eased a pair of his sleep pants on Max. They were ridiculously large, but he hoped Max would appreciate waking dressed. He followed that with a too-tight T-shirt—or too tight on him anyway—and managed to rouse Caleb sufficiently to get him to swallow a couple of sips of water before rolling him over and putting a bowl on the floor in case it was needed.

Now what?

He could go downstairs and sleep on the couch. That was easy, and he’d slept in far worse places, but what if Max got sick again? He was still pretty much out of it, and Caleb wondered why. He’d been better at the club, but this seemed like more than exhaustion, and he knew he’d had a glass of wine, but he knew two was everyone’s limit. Not that that had stopped him from drinking anything beforehand.

Or taking anything.

Should he get him to a doctor? Although Adrian hadn’t suggested it. It was a good job he was off tomorrow. He’d just finished the Morgan order and was ridiculously proud of it, and he had at least twenty-four hours before he needed to start his next one. His new part-timer, Rachel, could handle orders.

Caleb chewed his lip and gazed at Max. Then, getting a cloth from the bathroom and a little moisturizer he occasionally tried to use on his back, he very carefully wiped the black smears away from under Max’s closed eyes. If he slept with all that on, they could be sore in the morning. Max never moved. He was completely out of it. Caleb pushed a pillow against his back so he couldn’t roll on it, then tucked him up. Caleb’s lips curved into a smile. He was really cute.

He got the spare blankets from the cupboard and a pillow and made himself a bed on the floor. Close enough to be near in case Max needed him, but far enough away to resist temptation.

A little while later, Caleb wasn’t sure what had woken him at first until he heard the toilet flush, and everything came back to him in a rush. He immediately sat up as the bathroom door opened and Max crept out.

“You feeling any better?”

Caleb kept his voice low and steady, but Max still jumped a little, then groaned. “My head’s going to explode.”

Caleb stood, glad he had sleep pants on, and walked over to where Max sat on the edge of the bed, shivering. “Did you have anything earlier that would interfere with taking some Tylenol now?”

Max hesitated for a fraction of a second, and Caleb knew he was going to lie before he did so.

“No.”

Caleb’s heart sank. He guessed this was what had been wrong earlier, and he sat on the bed next to him. Much as Caleb wanted to wring Max’s pretty little neck, Max was an adult, even if he wasn’t acting like one. “How about we try that answer again?”

Max’s head shot up, and his eyes widened as if he hadn’t been expecting to be called out.

Caleb could see his pupils were normal even in the dim light. He was conscious and alert, just miserable. “I’m not going to give you anything.” Max shivered again and seemed to fold in on himself. Caleb’s heart went out to him. “Come on, let’s get you back in bed.” Max obeyed instantly, shuffling down and closing his eyes.

“I assume this is your place?”

“Yep,” Caleb acknowledged. “You felt sick in the car, and according to my GPS, your address was over twenty minutes away.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” Max murmured, opening his eyes again and biting his lip. Caleb didn’t correct the “sir” again. Whatever made Max feel comfortable was fine by him.

“No worries. Try and get some more sleep. Is there anywhere you have to be in the morning?” He checked to make sure Max had some water.

Max’s response was really quiet, but Caleb heard him loud and clear. “There’s never anywhere I have to be.”

Caleb didn’t reply. What could he say? He closed his eyes again, determined to get some more sleep, but when Max had turned over for what seemed the hundredth time in half an hour, he sat up again. “Is it your head?”

Max waited for a moment before answering. “I-I guess.”

Caleb thought about that. He didn’t seem at all sure. He also didn’t sound in as much pain as before, just frankly miserable. His eyes narrowed on the mound in bed. Maybe he was cold? He seemed to be trembling. Caleb got up and padded over to the bed, perching on the edge and touching Max’s forehead, which was about the only part of his body visible. He trembled again.

“Are you cold?” For an awful moment, he was worried it was fear that was making Max shake. He didn’t exactly inspire confidence in a lot of people. Which was ironic as for years he’d tried to make himself as frightening as possible.

“I think it’s a reaction from earlier,” Max whispered pitifully. “I’m sorry I disturbed you. I’m afraid I don’t sleep very well.”

Caleb chewed his lip indecisively, which was totally not his thing. Mel would have asked Max if he needed a hug, but Max didn’t know him, and he knew he scared a lot of people. Max shivered again. Sighing inwardly, and hoping he wasn’t making things worse, he lifted the top blanket and comforter and got in, making sure a sheet still separated them. He tugged at Max’s arm wordlessly, but Max didn’t seem to need things spelled out because the speed at which he rolled over and practically buried himself against Caleb’s side shocked the fuck out of him.

Caleb tucked all the blankets firmly around Max and shushed him soothingly. In another moment, Max had stopped shivering. Maybe five after that, his body relaxed. Caleb doubted it took another five minutes before he was asleep.

Victoria Sue fell in love with love stories as a child when she would hide away with her mom’s library books and dream of the dashing hero coming to rescue her from math homework. She never mastered math but never stopped loving her heroes and decided to give them the happy ever afters they fight so hard for. 
She loves reading and writing about gorgeous boys loving each other the best—and creating a family for them to adore. Thrilled to hear from her readers, she can be found most days lurking on Facebook where she doesn’t need factor 1000 sun-cream to hide her freckles.

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