Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Will & Patrick’s Happy Ending by Blake & Griffiths : Book Blitz, Review and Giveaway

April 30, 2016 by Denise

Follow Will & Patrick in this final installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!

Sure, Will and Patrick are in love now, but they weren’t when they got married in Vegas. For Patrick, that’s no problem, but Will can’t shake his doubts that a relationship started through coercion can ever become the real deal.

Since the Molinaro crime family has reversed their position on divorce, Will and Patrick have a chance to rectify their drunken mistake. But is divorce the solution? Find out in this final installment of the much-beloved Wake up Married serial.

Episode 6 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.

Author: Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

Title: Will & Patrick’s Happy Ending

Series Title and Number: Wake Up Married, Episode 6

Publisher: Leta Blake Books

Release Date: 4/15/16

Genre: Romantic Comedy, M/M Romance

Tags: gay, woke up married, rom-com, happy ending

Heat Level: 5

Pairing: M/M

Length: 127 pages

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The perfect ending to this wonderful story. I really wanted to smack Will in the last book. Seriously that guy really needs to stop listening to other people. My heart broke for Patrick in this one. I have to admit this one made me shed a few tears. I did really like the fact that the ending wasn’t rushed. Holy Hell, though I would really like to kill Ryan. If there ever was a piece of scum it was him. I would have really liked to see Will punch him out just one time. I will be sad to see this series come to an end, but I am so happy they got their happily ever after.

5 pieces of eye candy

Will leans back heavily in his desk chair and sweat pricks the back of his neck. A tight band squeezes his chest, but he manages to ask, “What do you mean we can get divorced? Did Frankie and his new bride call it quits?”

Eleanora’s throaty chuckle comes through the phone. “No, darling. They’re still madly in love for now. It’s Romeo Molinaro we have to thank for this piece of good fortune.”

Will frowns, mind scrambling through dozens of half-forgotten or never-known relatives.

“Zeno’s favorite nephew,” Eleanora prompts.

“Oh. Right.”

Zeno is the current boss of the Molinaro family, his father’s uncle, and a terrifying man.

“Unfortunate marriages are going around like the flu in this family. It seems Romeo got hitched to a fetching ragazza. Charming, beautiful, young—the usual. But, as it turns out, also a spy from the Korotayev crime family in New York.” Nonna clucks over the line. “Oh, men. Following the dictates of their little heads always leads to their downfall.”

Bright sunshine screams through the window of the room, ricocheting around and giving Will an instant headache. “If she’s a spy, why arrange a divorce? Why doesn’t Zeno just—” Will drags his finger over his throat even though Nonna can’t see him. “Off her?”

“How like your father!” Eleanora puffs her disapproval. “No, no, darling. That’s no solution. Besides, Romeo begged his father not to kill her. Apparently he’s still smitten. But don’t worry. There will be some other kind of recompense paid, I’m sure. William, the less we know about it all, the better.”

Will exhales slowly. He stands up, turns to the windows behind his desk, and adjusts the blinds, dimming the light. “Romeo’s still in love with her? But he’s going to divorce her anyway?”

“Presumably. Regardless, Zeno’s quote-unquote discovered a loophole in the Trust that smashes through the edict regarding love matches and divorces.”

“Dad knew about this the whole time he was in town, didn’t he? He was just messing with us.”

“We’ll never know for sure, darling. All I know is he told me about Romeo’s situation and Zeno’s solution this morning before his flight out. Regardless, the issue is resolved. You and your doctor are free to handle your marriage as you see fit and Good Works is safe.”

Will stomach knots hard, and he stares at the lines of light the closed blinds leave on his desk. “We could file for divorce immediately? Today?”

“You could. That is, if it’s still what you want to do.”

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Leta Blake

Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.

You can find out more about her by following her online.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Alice Griffiths

A long-time reader of romance novels, Alice Griffiths finally took the plunge into writing, teaming up with best-selling author Leta Blake for the ‘Woke up Married’ serialized comedy. A lover of tropes, Alice enjoys mining old ideas and putting a fresh, funny spin on them. Formerly working in the newspaper industry, Alice is now an art curator. She lives in Sydney, Australia.

You can find out more about her by following her online.

Twitter | Facebook

Two lucky winners will win one eBook copy of any Will & Patrick episode.

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Damaged Goods by Susan Mac Nicol : Release Day Blitz, Review and Giveaway

April 28, 2016 by Denise

Title: Damaged Goods

Series: Men of London #7

Author: Susan Mac Nicol

Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group

Genre: M/M New Adult Contemporary

Release Date: April 28, 2016

Touched by tragedy, love is an elusive dream never to be realised by eighteen-year-old Jax Grady–until he discovers his secret admirer and receives the sweetest gift he could ever desire.

THE SWEETEST GIFT

Tragedy and horror shaped Jackson Grady’s life, leaving him orphaned and scarred. At eighteen he’s ready to claim his future, but who could love his disfigured face and damaged soul? Definitely not a big, burly, beautiful Irish Traveller who is entirely the stuff of dreams. Dare Rowan didn’t mean to become obsessed with the blue-eyed man he first saw across a field, but that porcelain skin and innocent air demanded another meeting. Jax has the face of a wounded angel, and the rest of the young man is as heart-breakingly perfect. Jax is beautiful in every way and teaching him about love and life will be something Dare will embrace. Like unwrapping and savouring the candy at the shop where he works, Dare will show this young man everything Jax desired but never thought he’d have, and take Jax to new highs while he holds him through the lows. Between them, they’ll find out just how sweet life can be.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Susan Mac Nicol usually makes me curl up in a ball crying with the pain she puts her characters through. I was prepared for that with Damaged Goods. What I got was a very different story, in a good way.

Jax had an extremely tough teenage years, and due to that would be challenged for the rest of his life. But the author didn’t bring too much of that angst in to the storyline itself. Which consider all that Jax had been through may have been a good thing. I can only buy so many Kleenex.

After meeting Jax through Clay and Tate in Feat of Clay, the reader wanted Jax’s story. Wanted to know that he got his happy ending, and as with all Susan Mac Nicol books, once you get past the pain, her men always get their happy ending.

I absolutely loved Dare. He was the perfect choice for Jax. He was able to be patient, and not try to take over when he thought Jax needed help, he could sit back and wait. But when sh*t got real, when Jax’s well-being was in jeopardy, he was in there ready to fight for his man.

My usual expectation of tons of angst with Susan Mac Nicol books was not realized in Damaged Goods. That being said though, I really wanted a happy, joyful life for a young man who had been through so much, so having a lovely story, with a few unhappy moments for him made the book just right for me.

4 pieces of eye candy

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AMAZON US / UK

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

SMASHWORDS / CREATESPACE

BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS

AMAZON US / UK

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

SMASHWORDS / CREATESPACE

BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS

AMAZON US / UK

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

SMASHWORDS / CREATESPACE

BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS

AMAZON US / UK

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

SMASHWORDS / CREATESPACE

BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS

AMAZON US / UK

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

SMASHWORDS

BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP

“Who’s there?” he called out. Jax hated the slight quaver in his voice, not wanting to appear defenceless to a potential burglar. “I can hear you, so no use hiding. Just tell me what you want here. Or get the fuck out of my home.”

He wouldn’t tip his hand, telling the burglar he had a weapon. Let the bastard find out for himself, he thought grimly. The scuffling noise stopped and now all Jax could hear was someone’s steady breathing. Jax stood straight and tall, hoping he looked intimidating in the dim light, where no one could see he wasn’t superhero material.

A quiet voice echoed from the darkness. “I’m not here to rob you or hurt anyone. I hope I didn’t scare you.” The voice sounded familiar and Jax frowned, trying to place it. “I’m not scared.” Jax gripped the poker tighter. “Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?” He let out the breath he hadn’t known he was holding and scowled, reaching down to fumble for the table lamp. He switched it on and the room flooded with warm light. Jax momentarily closed his eyes, trying to adjust to it. When he opened them, a large, blurred figure stood by the door to the hallway. It was half open and Jax guessed the man had been trying to make a clean break away from whatever he’d been doing in the house. Jax stepped around the huddled blanket on the floor and made his way closer to the other man. If he was going to hurt me, he’d have done it already. “Are you going to tell me what the hell you’re doing in this house?” he demanded. Something propelled him forward; he didn’t feel nervous anymore, simply curious. As Jax got closer, he squinted at the stranger, trying to see him more clearly. “I came to return something.” The other man’s even tone sent a shiver through Jax’s body. “Something that was taken from you that didn’t belong where it was.”
Now Jax was sure he knew the person behind the voice. It surely couldn’t be who he thought it was, could it?He moved, closing the distance until he could see more clearly. The sight that greeted his eyes took his breath away.
God, it is Dare from the mall. Crap, he’s one sexy beast. Even if he might be a serial killer.
Jax waved the poker at Dare. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Dare huffed. “It’s a long story.” He eyed the poker dubiously. “Really, a poker? That’s your weapon of choice?”
Jax snorted. “I can clobber you with it if you try anything. Come on, dude. Tell me what the hell is going on. Are you that desperate to have coffee with me?”
Dare laughed, a little shakily. “‘Dude?’ You love that word. It’s pretty cute when you say it. And yes, I’m definitely partial to having coffee with you one way or another. But this wasn’t quite what I had planned.”
Jax blinked. His eyes felt gritty and sore and he had gunk bunging up one corner of his left eye. He reached up and rubbed it away softly. “How do you know I use the word ‘dude’ often?”
Dare gave a deep, indrawn breath. There was silence. Jax got the impression Dare had revealed something he wasn’t supposed to.
Jax grew impatient. “Are you going to tell me anything anytime soon? Because if not, I’ll call out for the owner of the house and he can call the cops, then we’ll get the story—”
“No, no police.” For the first time Dare sounded panicked. “God, you’re so damn feisty.”
Jax got the impression that wasn’t a problem for this man from his admiring tone. Jax’s groin warmed more. Now his dick was standing at half-mast and it was the last thing he needed if he did have to call on Randy.
I’m getting a hard-on for someone who broke into the house. Could shit get any weirder?
“So, what’s the story, Mr Dark and Sexy? Do you actually have one or are you just an opportunistic burglar making something up?”
The chuckle that emanated from Dare’s mouth was low, and yes, still damn sexy.
“Really? You think I’m dark and sexy?” Dare’s face twisted into a grin. “I’m flattered. You’re something yourself.”
Jax went on the offensive. “Do you always hit on people whose houses you break into? What are you, like, the Flirty Burglar or something?”
Really? This god of a man thinks I’m something? And honestly—the Flirty Burglar. Face palm.

Susan Mac Nicol is a self-confessed bookaholic, an avid watcher of videos of sexy pole dancing men, geek, nerd and in love with her Smartphone. This little treasure is called ‘the boyfriend’ by her long suffering husband, who says if it vibrated, there’d be no need for him. Susan hasn’t had the heart to tell him there’s an app for that… She is never happier than when sitting in the confines of her living room/study/on a cold station platform scribbling down words and making two men fall in love. In an ideal world, Susan Mac Nicol would be Queen of England and banish all the bad people to the Never Never Lands of Wherever -Who Cares. As that’s never going to happen, she contents herself with writing her HEA stories and pretending, that just for a little while, good things happen to good people.

Sue is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association in the UK.

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A Mended Man by Jaime Reese: Release Day Blitz, Excerpt and Teasers

April 28, 2016 by Denise

Title: A Mended Man

Series: The Men of Halfway House #4

Author: Jaime Reese

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 28, 2016
Photographer: wagnerLA Photography
Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Detective Aidan Calloway is rock-solid strong. He’s a man of justice—loyal to his friends, family, and job—even if it requires bending a law…or two. He shields himself behind an abrasive, fearless facade, until a phone call one night chips his armor and throws his perfectly planned, hollow life into a tailspin.

Jessie Vega is the epitome of optimism. His carefully crafted attitude of hope and positivity protects him from a past filled with too much pain. When a ghost from a dark time resurfaces and nearly breaks him, he must tap into his inner strength or risk losing everything he’s worked so hard to build.

But Jessie can’t do it alone. He must fight to break through Aidan’s ironclad defenses to reveal the heart of the man hiding beneath the tough surface and mend his damaged spirit. Only then can they truly heal and become strong enough to battle the demons that haunt them and threaten their chance to finally be together.

———

***This book contains scenes and subject matter some readers may find distressing.***

———

Although part of a series, this book can be read as a stand-alone.

“This book is wonderful and beautifully worded. Jessie has a gift with words.” – Reader Review

“This story is not only an emotional roller coaster but it is full of action and mystery as well. There are several different stories all coming to a proverbial head in this book, and the outcome is excellent.” – Alpha Book Club

(This is taken from a scene between Aidan and Jessie.)

“You don’t give up, do you?”

“Not when it comes to you. No.”

“Jess, I’m not easy. I have more baggage than the underbelly of a cargo plane.”

“Then I’ll set my bags right next to yours.”

He shook his head. No one had ever been this relentless to be with his miserable ass.

“I’ve got one last question for you,” Jessie said.

Aidan turned his head slightly toward him but refused to make eye contact.

“Do you…” Jessie hesitated and rubbed his hands on his thighs again, revealing a hint of that introverted, vulnerable side others usually saw when they looked at him. “Do you want to be with me?”

Point-blank. That was the million-dollar question that determined how this conversation would end. Even if he did have enough energy to erect his shield, he couldn’t lie to Jessie. He exhaled heavily. “More than anything.”

“Then that settles it.”

“Jess…it’s not that easy.”

“Don’t make it harder.”

Aidan sighed. “I’m not used to this,” he said, gesturing between them with his hand.

“Talking or having a relationship?”

“Either. Both. Fuck if I know.”

“Okay. Well, you’ve never had a problem talking to me before, so we’ll work up to the big stuff. One detail a week. I’m not going to stress you out with a one-a-day quota. One detail we wouldn’t share with anyone else.”

One a week. Aidan forcefully rubbed his hands together. He could handle that. Maybe. Sorta.

“And as far as the whole relationship thing, I’m not an expert. But, we kinda already have something. Don’t you think?” Jessie looked over to him with a hint of a smile playing in his expression, cocking his head.

He definitely wasn’t an expert in relationships, but if Jessie thought this defined a relationship, then maybe he could totally handle this.

Jessie bumped his shoulder. “We’re just missing out on all the fun stuff.”

Aidan groaned. It drove him nuts when Jessie teased him.

“I’m not saying it’ll be easy. I know…” Jessie hesitated and rubbed his thighs again. “I know we’re both very different from each other and from what other people usually see when they look at us. But…I see you, not the guy you want everyone else to see. And you’re worth it, Aidan. It bothers me that you don’t recognize how amazing you are, but I’m willing to give this a shot. I just…I hope you think the same of me.” He quieted for a few moments then subtly nodded, concluding some internal conversation. “You work at things so you can appreciate the success at the end.”

Aidan shook his head and scoffed. Jessie and his inspirational poster lines…too fucking cute to deny. His ability to take a mountain and turn it into a few pellets of dust always amazed Aidan. Jessie was bossier than people could imagine and far more of a control freak than anyone suspected.

“Jess.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re totally worth it.”

Jaime Reese is the alter ego of an artist who loves the creative process of writing, just not about herself. Fiction is far more interesting. She has a weakness for broken, misunderstood heroes and feels everyone deserves a chance at love and life. An avid fan of a happy ending, she believes those endings acquired with a little difficulty are more cherished.

The Men of Halfway House
A Better Man
A Hunted Man
A Restored Man
A Mended Man…More to come…

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X-Factor by Sean Michael: Release Day Review

April 27, 2016 by Denise

Game designer Henry Delloit loves his life, his mountain community, his isolated dream home, and the snow. He also loves that the X-treme Games blow into the area for a month every year, bringing with them hundreds of athletes.
Ecco Rasmussen loves boarding. He knows he’ll never make it to the big time, but as long as he can get on his board and go, he doesn’t care. If only his manager, Blake Dobbs, would cut Ecco a break. The man’s possessive and mean, and believes he owns Ecco.

When Henry and Ecco meet at the Branchberry Games, it’s lust at first sight. An injury on Ecco’s qualifying run offers an opportunity to spend quality time together at Henry’s home, away from the crowds and out from under Blake’s thumb.
At this rate, lust might turn into love, but not if they can’t keep their romance hidden from Blake.

Title: X-Factor
Author: Sean Michael
Release Date: April 27, 2016
Category: Contemporary
Pages: TBC (Novella)

When I get ready to read a sports themed book I usually assume I will like it, but not love it. How many times can we re-read the same story really? I was totally wrong! I’m a big girl, I can admit it.

Henry, a video game designer lives in a secluded mountain area in a gorgeous house with a spectacular view. His house is far enough away from town to feel like he’s in the middle of nowhere, but close enough to go see the X-treme Games when they are in town.

Ecco is an older (by snowboarding standards) boarder that will probably not make it big, but loves the sport just the same. The only thing that can dim his love of the snow is his psycho manager Blake.

Henry and Ecco meet after one of Ecco’s practice runs and after some drinks and flirting agree to meet for dinner later. After a great meal with good company and relaxing conversation the attraction takes root.

Ecco hurts himself during a practice run and ends up in a cast. His manager goes crazy and hurts him even worse. When Henry sees Ecco the next day he knows he would do anything to help him escape. The two quietly slip away for a few weeks at Henry’s place to let Ecco heal.

After two weeks in paradise Henry knows he would do just about anything to make Ecco safe and Ecco knows that he needs to make a clean break from Blake once and for all.

The story was so entertaining. Every time I had to put it down I would get mad, real life is so inconsiderate.

There were enough snowboarding terms in the book that you could tell the author knew about the sport, but not so many that I didn’t have a clue what was being said. It was a great balance. I loved that Ecco wanted to be the one to fix his own mess and the Henry was strong enough to let him try without his help. Their banter back and forth was endearing and their was just enough of the conflict with Blake to keep it from getting boring.

This was a great read. I’m excited to read more of Sean’s work.

5 pieces of eye candy

Not Just Passing Through by Jamie Dean: Release Day Review

April 27, 2016 by Denise

Socially awkward, closeted virgin Avery Malcolm passes his days and nights running his bigoted aunt’s motel in rural New Mexico. He dreams of getting away and hitting the road, but with one friend, a few acquaintances, and no real life to speak of outside his duties as front desk clerk, he doesn’t know if he’ll ever get a chance.

Fate sends hot drifter Chase Lancaster to the Red Ram Motel, riding in on his sexy black motorcycle. Within twenty-four hours, Avery’s life is turned upside down. Before long, even though Chase’s sexual interests seem to run exclusively toward women in bars, Avery finds himself falling for the beautiful biker with no permanent address. Chase is much more than his bad boy persona, so while it’s nice to have another friend, Avery doesn’t know how he’ll survive with his heart intact when Chase inevitably moves on.

Title: Not Just Passing Through
Author: Jamie Dean
Release Date: April 27, 2016
Category: Contemporary
Pages: TBC (Novella)

This a good slow burning, first love story.

Avery is the manager of his aunt’s motel when Chase rides in on his motorcycle to rent a room and turns Avery’s life upside down in the process.

It’s instant attraction for Avery, while Chase insists that he is straight. The two manage to build a friendship even with the one sided attraction.

As the weeks turn to months Avery realizes he is in love with Chase, while Chase is fighting his growing feelings for Avery. When Chase has to leave to help his sister, Avery isn’t sure if he will ever see his love again. Chase will have to come to terms with his feelings for Avery and decide whether they are worth pursuing and if he can be tied down to one place.

This was a slow burn, too slow in some spots. Since this story is told from Avery’s point of view we only see and hear what he does, which isn’t much. There isn’t a lot going on at the hotel and he doesn’t have much of a social life. If we had gotten a split POV with Chase’s internal dialogue I think it would have helped. He seemed to be the more conflicted character, and watching him work through his feelings would have been interesting.

Overall, the characters were interesting and the setting was well described.

3 pieces of eye candy

Personal Entanglement by Sylvia Violet: Preorder Blitz, Teaser and Giveaway

April 26, 2016 by Denise

Title: Personal Entanglement

Series: Thorne and Dash, Book 2

Author: Silvia Violet

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 30, 2016

Several months ago Thorne hired Riley as an escort. They fell hard for each other and ultimately made their relationship personal rather than professional. Every moment they spend in bed is pure bliss, but good sex can’t solve all their problems as they struggle to make things work between them. Thorne convinces Riley to move in with him, but their differences in age and income weigh more heavily on Riley once they share a home.

If that weren’t enough, culinary school is turning out to be a disappointment for Riley rather than a dream come true, and he’s considering the daunting prospect of starting his own business. Thorne wants to swoop in and fix everything, but Riley keeps refusing Thorne’s money or advice, feeling like he’s losing control over his own life.

Thorne and Riley will have to rely on their love for each other to help them find the balance between independence and entanglement.

Silvia Violet writes fun, sexy stories that will leave you smiling and satisfied. She has a thing for characters who are in need of comfort and enjoys helping them surrender to love even when they doubt it exists. Silvia’s stories include sizzling contemporaries, paranormals, and historicals. When she needs a break from listening to the voices in her head, she spends time baking, taking long walks, and curling up with her favorite books. Read excerpts from Silvia’s stories at http://silviaviolet.com and keep up with her latest ventures by signing up for her newsletter: http://silviaviolet.com/newsletter.

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