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Sharing our love of M/M Romance

Barbies and Beaches by Asta Idonea: Release Day Review

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For the first time ever, Shane is not looking forward to the annual Boxing Day barbeque at Matty’s house. He recently divorced, none of his friends know what to say to him now, and Shane is tired of the pity and awkwardness. Things take a turn, however, when he meets Matty’s English cousin. Neil is struggling with the Australian heat, having left the UK after a bad breakup. When Shane suggests the two of them head to a secluded beach to cool off, the growing intimacy between them might make both reassess their current situation.

Title: Barbies and Beaches
Author: Asta Idonea
Category: Holiday, Advent
Pages: 21

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Barbies and Beaches was a very short, short story. I’m not sure I would call it cute, as both characters were basically somewhat depressed at the time they met. However, I could see how they made a connection based on their recent breakups.

I definitely would have liked having a few more pages to connect with the characters, so that they could connect with each other. I don’t even think we learned what Neil did for a living, although we did learn about Shane’s occupation.

Short stories are what they are, short, but this one felt like I could have enjoyed it more, if I’d had a few more pages to learn more about the characters versus the issues behind why they both wanted to leave the party.

3 pieces of eye candy

Rough Trade by Sidney Bell: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

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Quick-witted hustler Ghost is no stranger to living dangerously; survival has always been the name of the game. He’s just always gone it alone. Now he’s got the wrong people breathing down his neck, and the only way out demands placing his trust in the unlikeliest of heroes: Duncan Rook, a gruff cop whose ethics are as solid as his body.

Cozying up to a criminal is hardly what Duncan’s reputation on the force needs–especially when that criminal is temptation personified. Ghost is Duncan’s polar opposite, and the last person he expected to fall for.

So then why does every imaginable scenario for taking down their common enemy end with Ghost in his arms?

Rough Trade (Woodbury Boys #3) by Sidney Bell

Publisher: Carina Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook):

Ebook: Monday December 3

Print (mmp): Tuesday December 25

Length (Print & Ebook):

Ebook: 496

Print (mmp): 496

Subgenre:

Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Male/Male Romance

Reader warnings: Childhood sexual abuse, angst

This book is approximately 122,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Amazon

Carina Press

Harlequin

Barnes & Noble

Google Play

iTunes

Duncan didn’t look at him, but that didn’t matter because he didn’t need to. He could feel Ghost stretched out next to him, his long, slim body akimbo on the duvet, his narrow bare feet dangling off the edge of the bed. He wasn’t that close, not really—his knee was a foot and a half away from Duncan’s thigh, but that didn’t matter, either, because it might as well be an inch.

Ghost didn’t feel it, Duncan reminded himself. He didn’t have this electricity under his skin at the mere idea of touch. Because Ghost didn’t want him. Ghost didn’t want anybody.

He jerked his mind back on track. “I think the safest way for them is if we ship one of these next-day air. We can set it up in advance and save the number of our phone in the contacts. This way, if we get busted before we can ditch the phone we used, when Spratt traces the number we called, all he’ll get is the address

of the store where the phones were bought.” By Estee, which Duncan didn’t like, but with cash, which he did like. And even if her face had been caught on a security camera, the chances that a Verizon store would hold on to unremarkable footage for days or weeks at a time were minuscule.

“If we’re going to take the risk of going out in public to ship these, we might as well buy some clothes for you that fit,” Duncan pointed out. “And we should change motels too, in case someone picks up our trail.”

“And leave our castle?” Ghost asked wryly, waving a hand at the general splendor of their motel room. When he lowered his hand, though, he let it land against Duncan’s hip. The knuckles pressed against his jeans, and though there was no way the heat of his skin was actually making it through the denim, he felt scorched all the same.

Duncan glanced over his shoulder, his heart hammering all of a sudden. Ghost lay there like a cat, limbs stretched out, his expression hard to read. There was defiance in the tilt of his chin, unconcern in the relaxed curve of his mouth, caution in his eyes. And something else, some impossible emotion that Duncan couldn’t deconstruct that tied the whole thing together.

He’s fucking with you, part of Duncan’s brain whispered, and that made sense to an extent. But it also didn’t. Something about this rang differently. Duncan trusted his instincts, and his instincts said that this wasn’t a game. Ghost was watching him too carefully, was too invested in the outcome. No, it wasn’t a game.

It was a test.

For a moment, Duncan wondered what answer Ghost was expecting. Something aggressive, probably. Sex ual. He’d say yes, Duncan suspected. If he rolled over and put his hands on Ghost right now, he’d let him. He’d probably kiss him back and make those small noises of hunger that he’d made in Duncan’s kitchen the other day. He’d make it believable. But it would be fake, because Ghost didn’t actually want him, and at some point, he’d do that empty doll thing, and Duncan would feel sick all over again, and he didn’t want any of that.

He let his eyes drop to Ghost’s hand on his hip and said, “This isn’t necessary.”

“What if I want to?”

“Are you referring to sex or touching my hip? Because I’m not comfortable with the first, but this is fine if you’re actually in need of reassuring contact.”

Ghost’s forehead furrowed. “‘Actually in need of reassuring contact,’” he repeated. “You are something else, Rook, you know that?”

“The real question is how we can get a new motel room without getting recognized.”

Ghost laughed under his breath and pulled his hand back. “Leave that to me.”

Holy emotional ruin!

So, I needed a couple of days before I tried to sit down and write this one out, and let me tell you now, that is extremely rare for me. I knew that Ghost’s story was going to chew me up and spit me out, because what page time he has on the previous two books, he chewed me up and spit me out. He was so complicated and dangerous, and yet, he was just a kid. He was a survivor in every since of the meaning, but it had torn him apart to the point that he didn’t know who he was. No one did, because every aspect of his being was a lie. To protect himself or one of the few people he cared about… everything was a fabrication for self-preservation. (say that 10 times, fast)….Still… you couldn’t help but love him, and want to help him, and hug him… I related most with Tobias, because I just loved through it, even all the bad.

Speaking of Tobias, we see him and Sullivan help Ghost in the last book, when they sent him with a good friend of Sullivan’s…. retired officer Walt. And that’s where we pick up… with Walt taking him to someone he trusted because he couldn’t be enough to keep Ghost safe from not only the dirty cop we read about in the last book, but also the Russian- Mama.

If I go into detail, I’ll spoil the whole thing, and normally, I wouldn’t care to do that… but with Ghost… it’s best if you experience all the surprises for yourself. It was like an action movie that had my blood pressure fluctuating with each chapter. I cried for Ghost so much… man, did I… The life he’d lived, the life he was forced into and the life he chose… it was haunting and horrible… but when he tried.. when he really wanted to try, for Duncan, who you’ll meet and also fall in love with…the way he wanted to be more for him… the way he tried to better himself, the way he done whatever he could, no matter how badly it hurt him, to be good enough for someone else…. Jeeeeeez, I went THROUGH IT!

Of course, with Ghost, you have two very different situations he’s trying to survive, and Duncan, the definition of a “Buddy Cop”, who had morals and values and was honestly good to the core, helping him not only survive two very different, deadly situation that Ghost found himself in, but he also was helping him from himself.

This book hurt.

It was worth it, but, it hurt. Because of that though… it so much sweeter when Ghost finds himself and learns to love… and he does, make no mistake. He loves Duncan, and learns what it means to be loved BY Duncan….mostly because he had to work really hard for it.

The only thing I was a little bit disappointed by, was the ending. I hoped that Ghost would get the happiest of happy endings… for all that he’d been through, I wanted so much for him. He deserved all the love and the overtopness, even though, you’ll find that it’s neither him or Duncan, but still… I was hoping for, especially since the ending, we cut to four years later…. But I hoped for big declarations, a wedding, friends, family… all the stuff that he’d missed out on so much in his life…. And though the happy we get is still happy…so don’t worry.. I just hoped for so much more.

BUT, in saying that… I loved Church… so much, and I had such a soft spot for Tobias… but Ghost… Ghost is one that I’ll likely never forget and I love, love, love when that happens.

5, of the hardest, easily deserved stars I’ve ever given.

 

Sidney Bell lives in Colorado with her amazingly supportive husband. She received her MFA degree in Creative Writing in 2010, considered aiming for the Great American Novel, and then promptly started writing fanfiction instead. More realistic grown-ups eventually convinced her to try writing something more fiscally responsible, though, which is how we ended up here. When she’s not writing, she’s playing violent video games, yelling at the television during hockey games, or supporting her local library by turning books in late.

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That Turtle Story by C.S. Poe: Excerpt and Release Day Review

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Nor O’Brien spends his days in sunny Key West caring for and rehabilitating sea turtles. He doesn’t need anything else in life, expect maybe a significant other to cuddle with after a long day. But recent heartbreak has left Nor salty, and he’s not in the mood for anything, Christmas included.

Then Eugene Montgomery walks into Turtle R&R, claiming to have found a clutch of eggs in distress. Nor is smitten with the tourist at first sight, and at the suggestion of his screwball colleagues, indulges in some no-strings-attached fun. Nor and Eugene are quick to get along, happily enjoy each other’s company, and take in the island’s unique holiday pleasures together.

But Nor would never leave his turtles, not for any man. So when his rebound fling turns into strong romantic feelings for Eugene, it’ll take a Christmas miracle to keep the two together forever in Key West.

Title: That Turtle Story
Author: C.S. Poe
Category: Holiday, Advent
Pages: 41

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

“Nor was recently dumped,” Gus said suddenly from behind us.

Eugene looked over my shoulder at her.

“Yup. So it’s mot that he’s a typical eye-undresser,” Gus continued, “just that I think he’s entering the rebound state–”

“I’m not,” I hastily said to Eugene.

“And he saw your abs,” Gus said.

Eugene smiled at that and glanced down at me. “I’m a personal trainer,” he clarified.

“Of course you are,” I answered. My face and neck were hot, I was surprised no one saw smoke wafting up from the collar of my shirt. “Gus is teasing.”

“No, I’m not,” Gus said, sounding too serious for her own good. “Hey, if you’re into dudes,” she addressed Eugene, “Nor is Grinch-lite–cute in the glass-is-half-empty sort of way. Might make your vacation memorable.”

I specifically asked the author for the above excerpt, because it was such a perfect example, early in the story, of how funny and enjoyable this one was.

I love C.S. Poe‘s stories, long and short, in part because the humor and sarcasm that she puts into her characters speaks to my sarcastic personality. And this short Christmas story is no exception. Nor’s internal dialogue, and Bah Humbug attitude, made me laugh, Gus’s external dialogue was hilarious. And I loved how sweet Eugene was. All the things I love about this author’s books.

Their conflict was simply a lack of verbal communication, although their communication behind closed doors seemed to be spot on. 🙂 The story was cute, sweet and fun.

The ending was just perfect, because you couldn’t help but root for these two.

4 pieces of eye candy

 

Join the Club by Charlie Cochet: Blog Tour, Excerpt and New Release Review

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When the cards are stacked against you, the Kings will even the odds.

Eduardo “Lucky” Morales is a fighter, from his childhood days in Cuba to his time as a Special Forces Green Beret. Scarred by the wars of his past, Lucky has learned nothing lasts forever. Guarding his heart is second nature, and getting emotionally involved is not an option. As co-owner of Four Kings Security, Lucky works hard alongside his former brothers-in-arms and fellow Kings, but he also plays hard. Flirting with sexy Texas cowboy and detective, Mason Cooper, is too much fun to resist, until Mason turns the tables on him.

Mason Cooper may not be a soldier, but he’s fought his share of battles as an openly gay cop and now a detective for Major Crimes. Mason has no idea when things changed between him and Lucky, but the gorgeous, fiery Cuban has turned his world upside down. When a mistake leads to his suspension from the force, Mason turns to the least likely person for help: Ward Kingston.

Determined to keep Mason at arms’ length, Lucky is surprised to find the man at Four Kings Security. The Florida nights might be getting cooler, but the heat between Lucky and Mason burns hotter with every passing moment. Working private security can be dangerous and unpredictable, but so can falling in love.

Word count: 75,208

JOIN THE CLUB

FOUR KINGS SECURITY #3

CHARLIE COCHET

M/M ROMANTIC SUSPENSE/CONTEMPORARY

RELEASE DATE: 11.19.18

COVER DESIGN: REESE DANTE

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

This was going to be a long night. Lucky felt it in his bones.

Once they were in downtown Jacksonville, Lucky pulled the truck into the parking lot of the bank across the street from the skyscraper they’d be watching. Jack had acquired the perfect spot near the lot entrance in case they had to move quickly, and a small team of security agents were parked in the Central Station parking lot, waiting for word from Lucky. With the engine turned off, Lucky unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out of his seat at the time Mason did. Lucky reeled back in an effort not to bump into him, the back of his knees hitting the seat. He flailed, throwing an arm out, but he needn’t have worried. Mason wrapped an arm around his waist and caught him, bringing him up against his hard body.

“Easy there, darlin’,” Mason murmured quietly, their lips only inches apart. “Don’t want you hurting yourself.”

Lucky swallowed hard. He felt Mason’s warm breath against his skin. “You’re stepping on my shoe.”

Mason frowned. “You’re worried about your shoe?”

“These boots are Guiseppe Zanotti.”

“Am I supposed to know what that means?” Mason asked, releasing Lucky.

“It means they cost almost a thousand dollars.”

Mason stared at him. “Why the hell are you wearin’ thousand-dollar boots to work surveillance? You know there are kids out there starvin’?”

“Yes, I know,” Lucky spat, pushing Mason away from him. “I was one of them. Now excuse me. We have work to do.”

At least Mason had the decency to look mortified.

“Shit, Lucky, I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

“Forget it,” Lucky muttered, taking a seat behind the console to log into the security system. “I don’t need to explain myself to you. Just sit down and pay attention.”

Mason took a seat beside him, his expression solemn. Thankfully, he didn’t speak. Lucky didn’t need his apologies or his permission. In Cuba he’d spent most of his time barefoot because the shoes given to him were either beyond salvation or he grew out of them so quickly they hurt his feet to the point he couldn’t walk. Now he could afford all the shoes he wanted, and if he wanted to spend money on designer shoes, no one had the right to make him feel like shit for it. He wasn’t stupid. His savings account was solid, and his retirement account was one of the first things he’d set up when he got his first job. He spent a lot of money, but he also saved money because he knew what it was like to have nothing. He was never going back to that again. Never.

In my experience, in a book series there is always that one that is kind of…meh. Still good, but not nearly as good as the others. That is what we have Join the Club.

I was looking forward to Lucky and Mason. They were heating up the pages of books that weren’t theirs. But this story just didn’t do it for me. I felt like the catalyst for Mason temporarily joining the Kings was weak and never resolved, they had several jobs that they worked which just kind of cluttered the story and for all the bluster King himself says about how he hires employees, he basically just handed Mason the job for the sake of he and Lucky getting together.

We saw a lot of Ace- which was good for some comic relief- and got more of Lucky and Mason’s respective back grounds. but…meh. It felt like a filler book to me. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret reading it, if you are a fan of Charlie Cochet and this series you should read it, but it is definitely my least favorite.

3 pieces of eye candy

Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From adventurous agents and sexy shifters, to society gentlemen and hardboiled detectives, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!

Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

Website: http://www.charliecochet.com

Blog: http://www.charliecochet.com/blog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charliecochet

Facebook Author Page: http://facebook.com/authorcharliecochet

Tumblr: http://charliecochet.tumblr.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/charliecochet/

Twitter: @charliecochet

Instagram: http://instagram.com/charliecochet

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/charliecochet

 

 

 

First Light (Heartsville Book 2) by Christina Lee and Felice Stevens: New Release Review

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Two years after the death of his wife, Aubrey Hendricks is still weighed down by grief. He can’t focus on anything beyond working at the family farm, First Light. At the urging of a friend, he takes a step toward resuming a normal life and reopens the bakery his wife once ran. He places a Help Wanted ad in the local paper, and to his surprise, an applicant shows up the next day.

When Oliver Hansen gets a second chance at life, he grasps it with both hands. Leaving his stressful life in New York, he plans to enjoy the simpler things. Driving to Heartsville in the Pocono Mountains to thank his heart donor’s widower is a top priority. But the brusque man with the melancholy eyes strikes a chord in Oliver. So when Aubrey mistakenly believes he’s there to apply for the bakery job…Oliver takes him up on the offer.

As Oliver busies himself with the grand reopening, he and Aubrey establish a tentative friendship, which soon shifts to blazing attraction. Oliver falls hard for him, yet he can’t help but wonder if Aubrey’s feelings are an attempt to maintain a connection to the wife he’s still mourning. And Aubrey is unsure if Oliver will tire of the slow pace in Heartsville and go running back to the city he loves. The two must successfully navigate the stormy waters of grief, doubt, and their very different lifestyles, or they risk losing both their hearts—again.

*Please note: This is in the same world as our MMM, LAST CALL, except FIRST LIGHT is MM and a complete standalone.

Amazon-Kindle Unlimited

First Light is a super slow burn romance with mature men and second chances.

I really enjoy books with main characters are around my age. It shows that just because you aren’t 22 anymore doesn’t mean you can’t find love. And for Aubrey, it was finding love for a second time when he absolutely did not expect it.

There were no real dramatics or big angst between the couple- which I thoroughly enjoyed. It could have been VERY dramatic or angsty given the nature of their relationship, but as mature men, they actually discuss things. So refreshing.

Poor Aubrey is so gruff and grumpy. He honestly doesn’t realize how many people truly care about him. He doesn’t have the typical walls up of “I’ll never love again!”, he is just doing the best that he can.

And while Oliver is a total city guy his whole life, he adjusts to living a quiet farm life fairly quickly. He was open to new things, new experiences, perhaps a new life. He never tried to make Aubrey move on. In fact, he encouraged Aubrey to talk about Lisa and their life together.

I didn’t completely understand why Aubrey’s former in laws blamed him for Lisa’s death. She was a grown woman who was driving herself home. I mean, if it was me I sure wouldn’t want someone coming to pick me up just because it was raining. They only appear about twice in the story and were a bit distracting for me. If anything, I would have wanted them in there more. Perhaps making Aubrey question moving on with his life.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The premise was different, mature men, slow burn…so many things to love

4 Pieces of Candy

Santa Daddy by Keira Andrews: RDB, Review and Giveaway

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Mall Santas aren’t supposed to be hot.

Hunter Adams is hopelessly adrift after college. He’s still a virgin, can’t find a real job, and has no clue what to do with his life. In desperation, he returns to his humiliating old job as an elf at the Santa’s Village in his hometown’s dying mall. The Santa on the job is an unexpectedly sexy lumberjack, twice Hunter’s size and age. He makes Hunter feel very naughty—too bad he’s grumpy and intimidating.

Years after the tragic death of his partner, Nick Spini has his beagle and long, hard days on his Christmas tree farm. That’s plenty. But he can’t refuse a loyal friend’s plea for help and finds himself filling in as Santa at the local mall. Despite Nick’s attempt to stay aloof, the beautiful, anxious young man playing elf brings out his long-dormant daddy instincts.

When a surprise blizzard traps them alone in Nick’s isolated forest home, their attraction burns even brighter. Will they surrender to the sizzling connection between them and find the release and comfort they crave?

Santa Daddy is a holiday gay romance from Keira Andrews featuring an age gap, steamy m/m first times, daddy role-playing and light spanking, Christmas romance feels, and of course a happy ending.

Length: 30,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Dar Albert @ Wicked Smart Design

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Keira Andrews writes across such a wide range of romance sub-genres. Her characters can be anything from vampires to an age gap to historical and everything in between. But she manages to create a world where those characters find what they are looking for, not just as a romantic partner, but often in their own lives, as well.

The best thing about holiday stories is that, even though you are reading romance, you are always guaranteed a happy ending. And I have to say I absolutely loved the ending to Santa Daddy. Hunter, who is rudderless in life, finding and charting his course, as he finds the love of his life, created a dynamic that worked well for these two MC’s.

There was a large age gap between Hunter and Nick, but with the Daddy kink it worked. Keira Andrews can write some seriously sexy and hot scenes, and this book is no exception. She also writes her characters with heart, as well as real issues and problems.

Nick was a big Grinch who was forced to deal with someone, despite his initial intentions to stay as far away as possible. Then realizing that Hunter was a virgin, and was into having a daddy, his enjoyment of the holiday season took a turn upward.

This was a fun, sexy, cute holiday story, that you’ll definitely want to pull out again next Christmas.

4 pieces of eye candy

After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, fantasy, and paranormal fiction and — although she loves delicious angst along the way — Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said:

“The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”

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