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Sharing our love of M/M Romance

TCO Reviewer: Jennifer

Pure (Trenton Security Book 4) by J.M. Dabney: Blog Tour, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

Innocence wasn’t a personality flaw.

Nicolas “Pure” Warner lived with the curse of a cute face and a terminal blush. He was waiting for his happily ever after. Yet he’d given up on finding his one. His partner and spotter wasn’t the type to settle down but he’d always been drawn to the other man. Pure decided he could live with that, but when powers outside their control took Raul away, Pure would stop at nothing to get Raul back even if that meant leaving the Trenton Security team behind.

Touching the sun only left you burned.

Raul Martinez was a brutal fighter. He’d worked freelance for several years at Trenton Security. There was one dark spot to the perfect job: Pure. The man was sweet and looking for forever. How did the damaged and unworthy ever hope to touch the sun without getting burned? And touching Pure would be a dream come true. When Pure endangers his freedom to save him, how could Raul convince his boy that letting him go was the only option?

Title – Pure

Series – Trenton Security Book 4

Author – JM Dabney

Word Count – 46,000

Genre – MM Romantic Suspense, Daddy/boy

Cover Design – Reese Dante

Release Date: 08.17.19

Amazon

 

He still felt Raul staring at him and it pissed him off, “I said go away.”

“Not happening.”

“Hey, Pure, back to see me again?”

He lifted his head to see the usual ER doctor breeze in. The man was handsome, probably about his age. His visits normally correlated with this doctor’s, his name was Carlton and the man had asked him out for coffee. He’d politely declined and it hadn’t been brought up again.

“Not by choice.”

“I see that,” Carl said with a friendly smile. The man turned to where Raul stood. “Sir, will you leave us so I can–”

“Like that, wouldn’t you, pretty boy?” Raul started to push away from the wall.

No one might think he paid much attention to the dangerous man other than when they were fighting but that wasn’t true, he knew what the man was getting ready to do. “Raul!”

Raul pivoted with the grace of a trained warrior and glared at him. “What?”

“Quit being an asshole.”

“He wants–”

“Shut up, he wants to know if he should call the cops in case I’m being abused.”

“I would never fucking put my hands on you, Pure, what the fuck?”

It was odd to see Raul looking offended and slightly hurt. They fought, a lot, but he never once thought Raul would ever hit him. The man seemed obsessively protective of him. Which was weird since he was at least three inches taller and about fifty pounds heavier than Raul. Raul was a fighter. Brutal when it came to his work. And, yes, the man was an asshole but he wasn’t bad when Raul wasn’t ordering him around.

“It’s standard procedure when someone has as many visits as Pure does and you always seem to be the one with him. I’m aware of his profession, but that doesn’t erase the chance of domestic abuse. Let’s check you out.”

Raul was strangely quiet. The man was eerily silent on most days, an observer, and Raul didn’t miss a thing. Except when Raul had anger rolling off him in waves, he knew the man was ready to strike. They’d spent several years anticipating their moods and moves, they worked as a perfectly synchronized team.

“I don’t have a concussion, I’m not nauseous, my head does hurt but nothing out of the ordinary when you head butt a wall.” He heard Raul’s deep growl and knew what was coming. He didn’t need another lecture. “Raul, don’t start.”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge if you have a concussion or not?”

“Yes, sir,” Pure grumbled.

I feel like I’ve been waiting for Pure and Raul forever! I knew I was going to love Pure, I have such a thing for the wounded bird and he was the very definition. After a teenage trauma, you understand why he’s been saving himself for “the one”…. I wasn’t sure how the type of relationship was going to work with that, and he seemed to get over his hangups really quickly without any therapy or even talking to someone, but.. hey… to each their own, right?

Now, Raul has wanted Pure from the moment he met him, but has kept him in the partners at work and acquaintance category because he didn’t think he was good enough for the innocent man. But Pure, as much as he pushed Raul away in previous books, he was done waiting on him to make a move and when Raul gets arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, Pure makes his move…. Pure makes all the moves, actually, to ensure his Daddy’s safety. I loved watching Pure fight for his man when usually, especially in these tropes, it’s the other way around. I also liked the bottoming Daddy… hot.

What I didn’t like….is that the Crew, none of them took their back, when had it been literally anyone else, they would have. Even Peaches….. all these guys are bordering on insane, but for Pure and Raul, who like Pure pointed out, has gone above and beyond for every one of them at least once, and they were in the wind when it came time for Raul and Pure to need them? It’s unforgivable…

I don’t even think any of them apologized really… not like they needed to, and then Gage had the nerve to talk to Raul like he was the one in the wrong?? Uhm, no sir… I lost a lot of love that I had for the crew in this one, so it wasn’t my favorite. We did get more Horace and Freddie, I really hope they get their own story… I’d love for them to get their happily ever after’s!

I loved Pure’s mom… she was the only one who had their backs no matter what. She was the family that Raul needed and it was good Pure had her, because the guys proved they weren’t worthy of that title in this one. I’m really disappointed about that… and I’m bitter lol

But…. alls well that ends well…it ended beautifully between the two of them and everything Pure ever wanted… I just hope the guys come together in the next one and remember where their loyalties lie and who’s had their back and do better.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

J.M. Dabney is a multi-genre author who writes Body Positive/Diverse Romance and Fiction. They live with a constant diverse cast of characters in their head. No matter their size, shape, race, etc. J.M. lives for one purpose alone, and that’s to make sure they do them justice and give them the happily ever after they deserve. J.M. is dysfunction at its finest and they makes sure their characters are a beautiful kaleidoscope of crazy. There is nothing more they want from telling their stories than to show that no matter the package the characters come in or the damage their pasts have done, that love is love. That normal is never normal and sometimes the so-called broken can still be amazing.

The author is Gender Nonconforming are uses the preferred pronouns They/Them.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/J.M.DabneyAuthor/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/jmdabney_author

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/authorjmdabney/?hl=en

Reader Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/585182991553194

Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.com/J.M.-Dabney/e/B006QZIFLE

Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-m-dabney

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In Safe Keeping by Victoria Sue: Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

by

He can’t save everyone…

Firefighter Lucas Attiker is mired in guilt by his inability to save his young son, who perished in a fire three years ago. When he rescues a troubled young man and his baby daughter from a Colorado forest fire, Lucas finally begins to forgive himself. But the wildfire is only the beginning of the dangers facing them.

Hell-bent on saving his daughter from his crime boss ex, Owen Michaels is on the run with the baby in tow—fleeing both the killers who are after him and the US Marshals Service deputies assigned to protect him. When his desperate flight lands them in the midst of an inferno, the man who saves them offers hope for more than just survival.

They might have escaped a blazing forest and a hail of bullets, but both men will need to risk their lives—and their hearts—to give a little girl a loving family… if they can make it out alive.

Title: In Safe Keeping
Series: Heroes and Babies: Book Two
Author: Victoria Sue
Release Date: September 3, 2019
Category: Romantic Suspsense
Pages: 199

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Owen closed his eyes. Sometimes the fight was too hard. He felt a touch on his leg and opened his eyes to see Mia grabbing his sweatpants. Smiling. He smiled back. Or maybe, sometimes to protect those you loved, the fight wasn’t hard enough.

“I don’t know who to trust,” he admitted. “We were in an apartment—some kind of safe house they used—and Terry got a call. I didn’t even get a chance to ask who was on the line because I’ve never seen people move so fast in all my life. Terry grabbed the diaper bag, Barry lifted Mia from the small cot we had and handed her to me, and what seemed like only two minutes later, we were running from the building.” And being fired upon. He swallowed. “I’ve never been so scared in all my life. Barry got hit as we came out—”

“You were shot at?” Lucas interrupted, sounding shocked.

“Yes. There was more than one shooter. Terry bundled me between two cars. It was dark, around midnight, and pretty deserted.”

“Where were you?”

“Just north of Old Town in Fort Collins, but it was a Tuesday and really quiet.” Not like the weekends, which were kind of wild. “Mia woke up at the sound of gunfire. She started crying, so it was obvious where we were. There were footsteps, and Terry just stood up and started firing. He shouted for me to run. His truck was only a few feet away, but he was shot.” It hadn’t been the first time Owen had seen someone killed by a bullet, but he hoped to God it was the last.

Something told him that was unlikely.

“Terry must have shot them. I don’t know if they were killed, but they didn’t come after me.”

“Why are people shooting at you?”

And there it was—the question he had been expecting since yesterday and still didn’t know how to answer. “Are you sure you really want to know?”

Lucas didn’t reply, but then he didn’t have to. His confidence, some deep assurance on a different level screamed the answer to Owen. Trust me.

He glanced down at Mia, not only for the little bolt of courage he needed, but to remind himself of why he was here and why he would fight to his last breath to keep her safe. “Because I saw my ex-boyfriend kill her mother.” Lucas’s eyes widened a little, but he still kept silent. Waiting. Owen half smiled. “That’s a good interrogation technique you’ve got going on there.”

“Patience?” Lucas’s lips tilted upward at the corner, and from out of nowhere, Owen suddenly had the desperate urge to press his lips to that spot. Shocked, he jerked back a little.

“Did you know her?”

Owen refocused himself, pushing the inexplicable urge away. “She was my friend.” And he was the reason she was dead.

Lucas waited again, but Owen knew he had to answer. He would see the disappointment on Lucas’s face. Maybe even judgment. Disgust was a given, but he might as well get it over with. He shouldn’t forget that Lucas had saved his life yesterday, and even though Owen had sometimes been in that strange halfway place between fighting for your life and being ready to give up, he was the only thing keeping Mia from Damien. And if there was one thing he absolutely had to do for his best friend, it was to keep her daughter safe. Especially since he had failed so spectacularly at being a friend.

“I met Mary two days after I left home. A couple of guys followed me after I had used the cash machine.” He had been so clueless. “One pinned me, and the other took my cash and card. He wanted the PIN number, and I thought I’d be hard-core and refuse. Turned out they had a knife.” And really shaky hands. He would never forget the press of metal against his throat and the sheer terror he’d felt as it slid across his skin. “I thought they were gonna kill me, even after I told them, but Mary walked into the alley and called them by name. Told them to stop fucking with me.” And they laughed. He had thought he was going to die, and they had thought it was funny. “They took all the money I had left, but Mary stayed.” She’d even gotten him some water after he had puked his guts up. “That was four years ago.”

He glanced out the window, praying Lucas wasn’t going to want it all. He wasn’t ready for that.

“How did you get a car?”

Owen shot Lucas a grateful glance. Lucas could easily push, and Owen was in no position to say no, but as he focused on the deep understanding in Lucas’s gaze, he knew Lucas was giving him a breather. “I stole it.” He watched Lucas carefully, but again, there was no reaction. “I wish I’d gotten a better one, but it wasn’t even locked, and old cars are easier to hot-wire.”

Lucas’s eyes crinkled with sudden humor, and he laughed quietly. “I’m not surprised, if it was that blue Ford Taurus from the cabins. I think rust was holding it together.”

Owen stared. Lucas didn’t seem to be judging him. He’d done a lot of things over the years he wasn’t proud of.

“How long have you got to wait to give evidence?”

“I was supposed to give evidence to the grand jury three weeks ago so they could indict Damien, before we had to run. Now I’m not sure what will happen.” He didn’t know how he was going to last that long on his own. “I just want to disappear.”

“Not easy with a baby,” Lucas said doubtfully.

“I know.” Owen knew he was right. “But I don’t know who to trust.”

“Have you met Deputies DuPree and O’Connor? They’re the two who came to see me in the ER.”

“I like DuPree. She said her niece was called Mia.” He wasn’t sure about O’Connor, though. “I saw her with Terry a couple of times, once just after we left their offices the first time. I have absolutely no idea if I can trust either of them.”

“They can’t all be dirty. Jacko—remember him from the fire? African American? Big guy?”

Owen couldn’t help a short laugh. “You’re all big guys.”

“Well, Jacko comes from a family of cops. His dad and two brothers are on the force, and his uncle is a vice detective.” Lucas grinned. “It took months before his old man forgave him for becoming a firefighter. Anyway, we could ask Jacko to ask his uncle to check into the situation.”

That might work. It was just such a huge risk.

“You can’t run forever.” Lucas pointed to Mia, where she was chewing her fist. “Not with her, anyway.”

No. “So what? You’ll talk to Jacko?”

“How about this? You stay here with me while I sound things out. I don’t even have to mention your name—”

“No? How many witnesses running for their lives do you usually keep around—” Owen clamped his lips closed. He was joking, but his throat had suddenly gotten really tight.

Lucas’s face softened. He’d seen. Owen had a feeling Lucas didn’t miss much. “Why don’t you both plan to stay—at least for today. I don’t think you’re going to be any worse off, and you both need a rest.”

Owen nearly laughed. He possibly would have, if he hadn’t been keeping his lips clamped shut. A rest? When was the last time he’d had that? “I need some things for Mia.”

Lucas stood up. “Help yourself to anything in the fridge for her and make me a list.”

A loving home.

A father who knows what he’s doing.

But they’d start with diapers and milk.

Wow, what a ride!

Lucas is part of the wildfire first responders for the fire department. During a dangerous wildfire, he and his team are sent to check the area and make sure the park and cabins are cleared out of anyone who might be there and in the path of the fire. As I’ve realized over the last several years, and again with this story… the saying, “spread like wildfire” is faster and more dangerous than you realize.
When the team gives the all clear, Lucas chances a glance behind him and sees someone in a car, trying and failing to get it to start. He jumps into action, and that’s where he meets Owen and baby Mia.

Owen is on the run from a very powerful mob boss kind of guy with more power and more reach than any of them know what to do with. Inprisoned by Damien for far too long, he risks his life by running with the baby that was his best friends, who he saw murdered at the hand of the Damien, who happened to be his ex. The things that man put him through will turn your stomach. It was hard to read, at least for me, because I know that these things happen in real life and the police and judges and people of power who are in on it too, make it impossible to tell anyone or escape. So, he run… runs with the baby he considers his daughter, and luckily finds Lucas who isn’t willing to let them go without a fight.

Struggling to deal with his own demons from a life that got taken from him, he feels strongly for Owen and baby Mia. They kind of come in and bring him back to life, when he’d just been going from one day to the next, wallowing in guilt, shame and memories, both painful and beautiful.

Unfortunately, the guys don’t know who they can trust and are surprised a couple of times at who Damien has under his thumb, even someone close to Lucas…. That kind of sprung up out of nowhere, because it was either a small town or Damien’s reach was so long that he just had people sprinkled along everywhere. It seemed a little too convenient, but, whatever. I’d hoped we’d gotten closure from the man’s wife or at least an explanation, so that Lucas didn’t have to live with anymore guilt than he already had.

Being on the run together, trying to keep one another and the baby safe, and having to put all your trust into another person when it was proven that you literally couldn’t trust anyone… had brought these two together and thought was both insta-lovey and slow burny for me… I enjoyed them together. I loved Lucas and the way he was with both Owen and the baby, and I loved how Owen was with both Lucas and the baby… They made a cute little family that would do anything to protect one another and they proved it time and time again throughout this action packed story.

Fortunately, the bad guy doesn’t get away with being the bad guy and everything gets worked out. I won’t tell you how or what happens or why, but it’s a crazy ride and if you like suspenseful reads and don’t mind pricy ebooks, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

4 pieces of eye candy

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.

www.victoriasue.com

@vickysuewrites

https://www.facebook.com/victoriasueauthor

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1182647028418709/

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/VictoriaSueNewsletter

Leave a comment for Sue about her new book, and you could win a ebook copy of any of her backlist books.

Heel (Working Out the Kinks Series, Book 2) by K.M. Neuhold: Blog Tour, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

“I’ve never thought of calling a man Daddy before, but I can’t think of a word that fits Vale better. He’s my Daddy, and I’m his pup.”

Broken and bruised, there’s nothing I won’t do to protect Adrian. I picked him up and made him whole before, and I’ll do it again. Adrian is a sweet pup with a smile full of sunshine and a heart made for love. A sweet pup needs a gentle hand, and that’s exactly what I intend to give him.

There’s nothing quite like slipping an expensive pair of high heels onto Adrian’s feet and watching him light up. If he wants a fairytale, I’ll happily be his Prince Charming.

*** Heel is the second book in the Working Out the Kinks series but can be read as a stand-alone. This book contains a scene of domestic violence. This book also contains an adorable man who loves to be a puppy, fabulous high heels, and the happily ever after Adrian deserves.

Heel

Working Out the Kinks Series, Book 2

K.M. Neuhold

M/M Romance/Daddy/puppy play

Release Date: 08.02.19

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

“Be still, Sunshine,” Vale says commandingly, giving my body no choice but to obey, going limp in his arms. “You’re the most tempting, insanity inducing man I’ve ever met,” he accuses affectionately, my mind short circuiting when his lips brush against the base of my neck.

“Please,” I whimper again.

“Shh,” he soothes. “I want you to listen, because this is what we’re going to do.”

The calm domination in his tone settles the place deep inside me that craves direction and structure, to be taken care of by someone who knows better than I do.

“Yes,” I say breathlessly.

“Good boy. Now, first you’re going to give me your fingers to lick clean because I don’t think I can go another minute without a taste.” I groan in agreement, and he brushes another kiss against the back of my neck. “Then, we’re going to get out of bed, and I’m going to make breakfast. We’re going to talk about that kiss and where we go from here.”

Part of me wants to argue that talking is overrated, that I’d much rather have him bury himself inside me, and we can figure things out sweaty and screaming instead of talking over coffee. But the other part of me, the part that went all mushy and calm at the use of his Dom voice, is ready to give Vale anything he asks for if he’ll just tell me I’m his.

“Yes,” I answer, and he groans his approval, his cock jerking against my ass, clearly excited by my easy submission. I’ll say yes to anything to hear him make that sound again.

With great effort, I manage to let go of my cock. Vale’s grasp is still around my wrist, guiding my hand, making sure to slick my fingers with more precum before pulling it out of my underwear and to his mouth. I moan as his hot lips engulf my fingers, sucking them in and holding them in place as his tongue flicks over the tips, seeking out every drop of my arousal.

He grunts as he sucks my fingers clean, my eyes rolling back in my head as I imagine exactly how the same treatment would feel farther south.

“God, you taste even better than I imagined,” he praises in a raspy voice when he finally releases my fingers.

“You imagined what I’d taste like?”

“You have no idea, Sunshine.”

K, so I’m kinda new to this whole puppy play business… I’m not so much a fan of the BDSM, so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I discovered puppy/kitty play. I’ll also say that I’m coming into this book without having read the first one, but I’m a sucker for a hot daddy, so, I jumped in! I was a smidge confused at first who the people were, but I got the gist pretty quick and it didn’t take away from the story at all for me.

In this one, we have Adrien, who’s been in love with much older Vale since he was eighteen and Vale took him off the streets and helped him get his feet back on the ground so he wasn’t living out of an old car at the junkyard (how fitting, a homeless pup, right?) Unfortunately, Vale didn’t think he was what Adrien needed, not only much older than him, but he’d never had a pup of his own before, content to just teach folks at the club how to get their pups comfortable and how to interact with a dom and his pup.

Now, I’m not one to judge… to each his own. If it’s not hurting anyone (unless you like that sorta thing, heh), then do you, boo boo. It’s just not something I understand. If I saw someone barking and jumping around like a puppy, I wouldn’t know what to do… but I love the aspect that people like Adrien and people who find comfort in those types of power exchanges, enjoys having the structure and routine and someone to care for them and love them and put their needs above their own. And that’s what Vale did… people think that Dom’s have all the power, when it’s the other way around… Dom’s (good ones anyway) want to take care of their subs…. They want to love them and make them feel good and protect them, and that’s all Vale wanted for Adrien… it was sweet and I loved them together.

The ex annoyed me, just because he was so clichédly (is that a word) mean… He tore Adrien down and made him feel terrible and expendable; he cheated and there at the end was physically abusive as well as emotionally and verbally abusive. I was glad that he had such great friends to have his back, but ughhh I can’t stand when bad guys just get away with being bad guys! I needed karmic justice… a kick to the pieces wasn’t nearly satisfying enough for me LOL, petty? Absolutely….

Overall, the cuteness of this story kept me going. Even if you don’t enjoy, or don’t quite “get” the puppy play like I do yet, I think you’d still enjoy this story. Very sweet.

4 pieces of eye candy

Author K.M.Neuhold is a complete romance junkie, a total sap in every way. She started her journey as an author in new adult, MF romance, but after a chance reading of an MM book she was completely hooked on everything about lovely- and sometimes damaged- men finding their Happily Ever After together. She has a strong passion for writing characters with a lot of heart and soul, and a bit of humor as well. And she fully admits that her OCD tendencies of making sure every side character has a full backstory will likely always lead to every book having a spin-off or series. When she’s not writing she’s a lion tamer, an astronaut, and a superhero…just kidding, she’s likely watching Netflix and snuggling with her husky while her amazing husband brings her coffee.

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Addiction by Roberta Blablanski: Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

by

Addiction can destroy your life. But if you destroy addiction, can you get your life back?

At twenty-eight, Owen Fredrikson is homeless, unemployed, and grappling with drug addiction. Before he let drugs take over his life, he had a pretty sweet job working the front desk of a fancy hotel, his boss was his best friend, and he had a loving fiancé.

After three years together, thirty-three-year-old middle school math teacher Dex Atterbury could no longer ignore Owen’s demons. Dex made the tough decision to part ways, leaving Owen destitute and Dex heartbroken.

When tragedy befalls Owen and Dex is called to his side, Owen has some tough decisions to make. Both men must determine how far they are willing to go to rebuild the life they once shared.

Can Owen conquer his addiction while facing his demons? And can Dex open his heart and trust Owen again?

Content Warnings:
1. Depictions of drug addiction, drug use and abuse, and drug withdrawal
2. Scenes of violence

Length: 44,000 words approx.

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Owen and Dex.

This is a first for me with this author and I knew going in that it was bound to be a “taboo” subject. I knew though, from personal experience loving an addict is something more people need to talk about. It’s affecting more and more people by the day, and you can point fingers and blame whoever you want, until you’ve experienced it… you have no idea.

With this one, like so many people who get addicted to opioids, Owen had suffered a broken ankle and was prescribed pain pills. He had a great job, a wonderful fiancé and great friends. In less than a year, he lost it all.

Dex had tried everything to get his fiancé the help he needed. At first, he ignored the signs and took his word for it, that everything was under control. And then he lied and he stole from the people that meant the most to him, and continued to let them down and too much was too much and he eventual burned all of his bridges and lost everything he’d ever worked for.

That’s the way it is with addiction. People say, you love the drugs more than me, or, are the drugs more important than me? …. The short answer… yes… yes, they are. Yes, they do…. They may not want to, they may hate themselves for it… but until they’re ready to stop.. there is no low that’s too low for an addict. Ugly truth.

I love how realistic it was from Dex’s perspective. I love how much he loved Owen and cared about him and wanted to help him, even after he’d left him. Here he was, ready to pledge in sickness and in health, and that doesn’t go away just because he had to. Sometimes you have to force folks into getting help. Sometimes you have to lose everything in order to be ready to fight to get it back.

I thought it was a little bit too easy for Owen. I mean, it glossed over some pretty important parts of losing everything and feeling the shame of it…. But, real addiction… real rehab… real relapses, especially an addict that didn’t want to get help, doing it for someone else, just isn’t realistic. Going through physical therapy without pain management and only over the counter ibuprofen or something, without withdraws, detoxing, the physical illnesses and ugly symptoms and he just did it like no problem? That isn’t realistic in the slightest…. But for the sake of the story… I was glad it worked out so well for the both of them. It doesn’t always.

Overall though, I did enjoy these two together and I loved the people willing to help, especially the officer and his wife. I loved that Owen had such a good friend in Sammy, even if he was a touch overly dramatic lol I’m kind of hoping we see something good for him, so I hope there’ll be a book 2 with this. And I enjoyed reading something that wasn’t all fairytales and rainbow fluff, though I’m glad it worked out for them in the end.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Roberta Blablanski hails from The Big Easy: New Orleans, Louisiana. She draws inspiration from her colorful hometown and her former life as a college radio DJ. When she isn’t writing, she spends her days searching for the world’s best Bloody Mary and avoiding people she went to high school with. Her normal habitat is curled up in bed with a good book and a cup of coffee.

Roberta developed a love of books at an early age, spending her summers at the library. Years later, after watching the American version of the television show Queer as Folk, she began searching for books featuring queer characters finding love. Most recently, she began writing queer love stories of her own, drawing from her own personal experiences and creating characters and story lines as vibrant as her ever-changing hair color.

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Heart Strain by Michele Notaro & Sammi Cee: Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

by

Holden~

When I get a call that my twin brother’s been shot, I’m in shock as I head back to Baltimore to be with him. Seeing him in a coma is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do; sitting here not knowing whether he’s going to live or die is the worst thing I can imagine. But at least Jameson is with me—he makes it more bearable, and I don’t feel like I’m in this alone. With everything going on, I probably shouldn’t be checking out my brother’s work partner, but I can’t seem to help it. Jameson’s been so sweet and kind and considerate; not to mention he’s so sexy I can’t keep my eyes off him.

Jameson~

My partner getting shot and ending up in a coma brings everything in my world to a screeching halt. He’s not only my partner on the police force, but my best friend and confidant. When I see his twin brother, Holden, sitting in the waiting room, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude that he neither blames me nor pushes me away. Now I’m doing my best to take care of him and support him; if only I’d stop noticing how his emotions reflect in his eyes and wondering how it would feel to touch him.

Will the bonding that takes place during their long bedside vigils become more than they expected? Can they be honest enough with themselves and each other to take it to the next level? And if they do, will Holden be willing to sacrifice the life he loves for the brother he’s kept at arm’s length for almost ten years and the man who could end up being his everything?

Heart Strain is the first book in the Interlocking Fragments series, but is a standalone novel. Each book in the series will feature a different couple, but the couples will show up throughout the whole series. This is a contemporary romance intended for 18+.

Heart Strain

Sammi Cee & Michele Notaro

M/M Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 07.22.19

Cover Artist: Soxsational Cover Art

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Holden~

As soon as the movie ends, I say, “I’m going to start dinner.” I need to get away from him for a minute before he notices what he’s doing to me. Unfortunately, the sexy bastard follows me into the kitchen with Nala trotting behind him. 

“What can I do to help?” 

I point to a stool. “You can sit down and look pretty while I cook.” 

His eyebrows go up a little. “I can’t help?” 

“Nope.” 

“When did you have time to buy all this stuff?” 

“Uh… I woke up early, so I went out this morning before you picked me up.” What I don’t say is that I’ve been having trouble sleeping—no matter how long I run at night or how tired I am—and it seems to be getting worse every night. But that’s not his problem, so I keep it to myself. 

He hesitantly sits on the stool and tentatively asks, “Why are you doing all of this?” 

Blowing out a breath, I shrug as I get the ingredients out of the fridge. “You’ve been helping me since I got here, and… and I wanted to do something nice as a thank you.” 

“You don’t have to thank me.” When I look at him, I can tell he has something else to add, but he doesn’t say whatever’s on his mind, so I just shrug again and get everything ready. 

“I made this marinade this morning and the tofu’s been soaking it up all day, so hopefully you’ll still like it even though you like eating animals.” 

He laughs out, “Gross.” 

I shoot him a grin. “Anyway, I’m gonna do some mashed potatoes and green beans, so hopefully you’ll like at least one thing.” 

“Sounds delicious, even the tofu.” 

After a minute, I notice him looking a little sad or something, so I finally relent. “Will you stop frowning if I let you help?” 

“Yes.” He smiles, just a tad.

“Fine,” I groan. “Help me with the potatoes.” 

“Yes!” Jameson grins widely and hops off the stool. “I knew you’d cave.” 

I laugh. “Was your plan to sit there looking all sad and pathetic until I did?” 

“I was going to start sighing dramatically to add to the effect.” 

I elbow him in the side with a chuckle and catch his gaze again. I can feel his warmth radiating off him because he’s standing so close to me. The moment I lick my dry lips, I see his eyes track the movement, and my breath catches. Does he want to kiss me as badly as I want to kiss him? Don’t look at his lips, Holden. Don’t look at them! 

I look at his lips. Dammit!

But I catch myself, clear my throat, and force my body to move away from him. 

Lucky for me, Jameson isn’t a huge awkward nerd like I am, and he ends up talking about the movie while we cook. Before I know it, he has me laughing again. 

Interesting…

This is a first from me from either of these author’s, but the blurb had me intrigued. Holden was coming back to his home town after his brother gets shot in line of duty. His childhood wasn’t as happy as his twins was, thanks to his mother mostly, so when he left for college, he never came back. Now both his parents are long since dead and his brother is fighting for his life… so of course, he’s there, no question.

Things are dicey when he arrives and it takes hours before the doctors tell him anything, but luckily he’s got his brothers partner and best friend, Jameson, who was there at the time he’d gotten shot… and although he blames himself heavily for not being able to stop the criminal from hurting Hendrix, he did get him back for shooting his partner. He’s also there holding Holden together.

Jameson is amazing. I loved him. Though in no way would I ever ever ever let anyone call me Foxy as a nickname, nor would I call someone Holds. I couldn’t get behind that. I ignored it. They were Jameson and Holden to me or I couldn’t take them serious. And Drix? Someone needs to teach the art of nicknames because those just didn’t work. At all.

Now, while Hendrix is in a coma Holden and Jameson spend a lot of time together because as you could imagine, Holden’s scared of losing his brother and Jameson is worried about his best friend. They’re kind of all each other has because once you meet Jameson’s family that works with him and Hendrix, you’ll not doubt why he doesn’t have anything to do with them. They make his life miserable, but they’re all like elementary school bullies… not even grown-up ones, they’re so juvenile… and they leave so much up in the air because Jameson has to do something about his innocent father being in prison. He has to do something to get his Uncle, who is his boss, out of his position of power. I mean, he’s a terrible person. He’s a terrible cop, and he deserves to be in prison… I haate haaaaaaaaaaate, hate when bad people get away with being terrible people. It ruins the whole book for me. I need karmic justice and we just don’t get it here anywhere. Jameson’s uncle and his brother and his cousin just get away with being terrible, and they’re people in a position of power in which they manipulate and take advantage of…. It made me sick and brought down the hole tone of the book for me. Ugh. Almost as much as having to say “Holds” and “Foxy.”

However, watching Holden and Jameson get to know one another and be there for each other was sweet. I loved how even though Jameson was jealous of Holden’s best friend, he still accepted him because he knew how much he meant to Holden. And I loved how Holden never question Jameson because he knows he’s an honest and trustworthy man. I loved their animals and the sweet people who had a small hand in getting them to stop beating around the bush and take a chance on each other, and I love knowing that the series is going to continue with Gavin… I hope it’s either with Hedrix or I really, really hope something amazing happens with Aiden. I also wouldn’t be upset if Jovany got his head out and helped everyone get justice from the terrible chief and his son… I hope he redeems himself and I hope we get to see it….

So, the dialogue was a little bit iffy for me and the nicknames were a straight up NO GO for me… but the rest, I found incredibly sweet and I’ll look forward to giving book 2 a chance when it comes out.

4 pieces of eye candy

Michele is married to an awesome husband that puts up with her and all the characters in her head—and there are many. They live together in Baltimore, Maryland with their two young boys and two crazy dogs. She grew up dancing and swimming and taught dance—ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, & modern—for ten years before her kids came along. Now she stays home to write about the sexy men in her head and does PTA everything—as long as coffee is involved. Two other tattooed moms run the PTA with her, and though she wants to rip her hair out from it, she still loves it.

Michele Notaro Links: 

Website: https://notarobooks.com/ 

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/author.notaro/  

IG: https://instagram.com/michelenotaro.author  

Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/michelenotaro 

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cseIXT 

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2yBe2RD  

My FB Group, Notaro’s Haven: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NotarosHaven/  

Reading Past the Realm (Paranormal group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReadingPastTheRealm/

Sammi Cee was raised in a family of readers. Summer vacations consisted of a good book while sitting lakeside from as far back as she could remember. After growing up and having her own children, her appreciation of how the written word could transport you on an adventure, bring you to tears, or give you hope, took on a whole new meaning. 

These days Sammi is watching her children develop into fine young ladies while doing the things she enjoys most: drinking coffee, eating chocolate, and writing her own stories. 

Sammi Cee Links:  

Facebook Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSammiCee/ 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/cee_sammi 

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/sammi_cee_author/ 

Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/sammicee

My FB Group, Sammi Cee’s: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SammisSanctuary/

Prolific Works: https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/aZYLOwCi

Reading Past the Realm (Paranormal group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReadingPastTheRealm/  

 
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Heart Unbroken by Andrew Grey: Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

by

Car restorer Dean Milford knows how to make damaged things beautiful again. Only, after a bad breakup, he loses sight of who he is, playing the field and distracting himself with any man he comes across. But now there’s only one guy who really matters to him. And maybe with his latest restoration job—a vintage Cobra—he’ll get the chance to let him know.

Losing his sight wasn’t the worst thing to happen to Lee Studer—losing his independence was. It’s taken a while, but he’s finally found his place in the world—in a garage. Funny enough, his acute hearing allows him to pinpoint engine problems just by listening. And even better, he’s going to have a chance to help his long-time crush, Dean, rebuild his fantasy car.

As the restoration comes together, so do Lee and Dean, building a friendship that quickly turns into so much more. But before they can think about a future together, they have to deal with the past. Only that turns out to be more dangerous than either one ever dreamed….

Title: Heart Unbroken
Series: Hearts Entwined: Book 4
Author: Andrew Grey
Release Date: August 6, 2019
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 192

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Lee  and Scott were done with the Cadillac. Scott was just moving the car out of the bay  when a hand touched Lee’s shoulder. Lee tensed until he smelled Dean. “You two do amazing work.”

“I hear the problems, and he sees them. I know my way around most engines, and he guides me. I wouldn’t be able to do this job without him.” Lee was well aware that Scott would be a great mechanic whether he was there or not. He was grateful that Scott worked with him, and he hoped he was helping Scott more than he was slowing him down.

“Trevor and I have come to an agreement. I’ve been restoring cars for the last decade out of my home garage, but I can’t keep my head above water. So he and I are going to partner together.”

“Down at the old Sears place? Trevor has been looking into that lately, and he always seems to be able to find the right fit for his ideas.”

“Yeah, exactly. And he said you and Scott might be interested in working with me. I do a lot of the body work—that’s my specialty—but I need experienced people to rebuild the engines and things like that. I can do it, but I’m better at other parts of the process.”

“I can talk with Brent and Scott.” Lee was excited about the possibilities. He’d heard one of the guys mention that Dean had just come across a Cobra he intended to restore. Lee’s hands itched to spend some time with that engine.

“Please do that. We’d all be working for Trevor, so things wouldn’t really be that different. But you’d have the chance to work on classic cars for a change, bringing them back from the dead.” Excitement filled Dean’s voice, and it was catching.

Lee nodded as his nose filled with the richness of Dean’s cologne , even over the garage’s exhaust fumes and grease. “Okay. I’ll think about it,” Lee said, wishing he had more questions, if only so he could get Dean to stay and talk with him a little while longer.

Where to start….

First.. love the cover!

Okay, so in this one, if you’ve read the first two in this series, you should remember
Dean, who is best friends with Trevor and Brent. He’s a bit of a player and still stuck in the bachelor life, even though his friends are both loved up and living their own lives… he seems a bit bitter about it, and to be honest, he was hit and miss with me in the other books, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like him… even at the beginning of this one, I didn’t really… but it all changed when he met Lee…

Lee works with Trevor at the garage, he’s the ears in the duo of him and Scott, who is deaf. A blind and deaf mechanic? I know… it’s hard to wrap your head around, but they seem to make it work and they’re both good at it…. Plus they have very supportive friends, whom I love.

Because Dean is a restorer of old classic cars and Trevor owns his own garage, he offers Dean a partnership of sorts to work for him but still do his own thing… which Dean appreciates because he was barely keeping his head above water financially as it was. A bonus was getting to work with Lee, who he had his eye on for a while but never did anything about because a bad breakup had him playing the field and not interested in getting hurt again, and Lee was a bit younger than him as well….which showed, a lot in my opinion.

Dean seemed kind of jerky until he caught Lee’s attention too. I liked watching them get to know one another and watching them both kind of navigate something new. Dean because he was opening himself up for something more than random hookups and Lee just getting to experience a normal type relationship with a normal guy… not that his impairment was abnormal, but it was just the way he felt. I can understand how hard it would be feel normal when everyone treated you with kid gloves…

And that brings me to the few things that I didn’t like…. There was the stereotypical overbearing mother… which I get… I’m a mother of two teenagers and sometimes I still treat them like they’re 10…. And they let me, why? Cuz I’m their mom and sometimes you just gotta humor your mom…but my goodness, Lee’s mom was too much….every conversation with her, literally every single one was him telling her that he’s not a kid… that he wants to be independent… that he cares about Dean, because yes, she was even a jerk to Dean…” what are your intentions with my son”, and “I think you need to break up with him”… like, really?? … I understand her concern, but it was too much, though she did redeem herself by the end I guess.. was still very stereotypical.

Also, things kept happening at work and when the guys went out to the club… elaborate things that you’d expect in a superhero movie with over the top villains … I knew exactly who was causing problems though I didn’t guess how they were related, I was annoyed when nobody seemed to know who was behind it all when it was so glaringly obvious.

Lastly…. Lee can smell illness? Is that a superpower? Someone walks up and asks to talk to Dean and he’s like…. Hepatitis or HIV? … I can smell it.
That whole part had me like…. Whaaaaat?

Overall though, I love this author’s stories and I love the way in which he uses impairments and real life problems with life and love. I like the complex situations and realistic views and solutions in handling things. I like the little embarrassing moments that some author’s skip over and I love the happily ever after’s that we get in this series. I was glad to see Dean get his happy and I loved the way he loved Lee.

It was a sweet read and I hope the series continues.

4 pieces of eye candy

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.

Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing)  He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Author Links

Amazon Author Page

Barnes and Noble Page

Dreamspinner Press

Facebook

Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey

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Twitter @andrewgreybooks

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