4 stars

Safe Place (Rainbow Place #2) by Jay Northcote: Blog Tour and New Release Review

August 31, 2018 by Denise

Where do you go when your home is no longer a safe place?

Alex is about to turn eighteen and is firmly in the closet. He’s been biding his time, waiting to escape to uni, and finally come out away from the oppressive influence of his homophobic father. When he flunks his exams, he’s stuck in the small town of Porthladock—and what’s worse is that he’s working for his dad. The only thing that makes it bearable is Cam.

Cam’s comfortable with his bisexuality, but he doesn’t broadcast it. Young, free, and single, his social life revolves around playing rugby and hanging out with his mates. He’s attracted to Alex, but with the six-year age gap, Cam’s wary of getting involved. Plus, he thinks Alex needs a friend more than he needs a lover, and as their friendship grows, Cam decides he’s not willing to risk ruining it for casual sex.

When Alex’s dad finds out about his sexuality, Alex is suddenly both jobless and homeless. He finds work at Rainbow Place, the local LGBT-friendly café and Cam lets Alex stay in his flat for a while. But Alex would rather be sleeping in Cam’s bed than on his sofa. With them both living under one roof, their feelings for each other grow stronger, and the sexual tension is hard to ignore. Will giving in to it ruin their friendship and complicate things for Alex even more?

Although this book is part of a linked series, it has a satisfying happy ending, and can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design

Length: 48,000 words approx.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

So, I loved Seb and Jason in book one, though I did want to strangle Jason a time or two. I was glad to see things had worked out so well with them. Not only that, but remembering Alex from their story had me really hoping for his own story.

Alex is young, only seventeen with a very influential father in town; he’s kept his sexuality a secret from everyone apart from the people at Rainbow Place. It’s his sanctuary of sorts, the only place he can really be free to be himself. If you’ve read the first one, you know that Rainbow Place is a place coffee shop for both the LGBT+ community AND their allies. I love the concept, I so badly wish every place had someplace like that. Especially smaller towns where it could be dangerous for people to be themselves. Alex and his friends though, they fit right in thanks to Seb…

And then there’s Cam, a part of the rugby team that helped Seb when the shop was vandalized. It was obvious to anyone with eyes that they were taken with each other…However, just when Alex gets the nerve to acknowledge Cam and Cam makes a move…he discovers who Alex’s father is.

A bit about Alex’s dad…not only is he a terrible father, he’s also a bigoted, hateful and controlling man. He wrote the letter in the paper that no doubt had everything to do with Seb’s café being vandalized, if he wasn’t behind it altogether, I’m still not sure; but the things that come out of his mouth…He’s just an ugly person. My heart broke for Alex having to grow up around that…His mother too, but I felt that maybe she just more uneducated…stupid to what she didn’t understand, and she got there in the end, and I was glad for that for Alex’s sake.

When Alex’s dad finds out his secret, he not only tells him how much he does not approve but he also physically hurts him… Alex knows he can’t go back to living under his dads roof and working under his thumb, luckily, he’s got lots of friends and of course Cam. Cam tries to keep things platonic, he doesn’t want to lose the friendship he’s built with Alex, but the attraction to each other goes deeper than either of them expected. It’s nice seeing Alex stand up for himself and learn to depend on himself. I love Seb for his help and the way Cam and his roommate step up for Alex.

Overall, it was a great addition and I’m curious to see who’s next.

4 pieces of eye candy from me!

August 31 – Mikku-chan, Gay Book Reviews, Two Chicks Obsessed, My Fiction Nook, Lelyana’s Reviews, My Mind’s Landscape, September 3 – Katie’s Book Corner, Cupcakes & Bookshelves, September 5 – Bonkers About Books, September 7 – Queerly Reads, September 10 – Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, The Way She Reads, The Day Before You Came, September 12 – Wicked Faerie’s Tales, Wicked Reads, September 14 – BooksLaidBareBoys, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Geekery Book Review, September 17 – Nicole’s Book Musings, September 19 – Xtreme Delusions, Book Lovers 4Ever, September 21 – Drops Of Ink, Valerie Ullmer, Mirrigold, Lillian Francis, Making It Happen, OMG Reads, Bayou Book Junkie

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. He has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Facebook author group

Newsletter

Jay’s books

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

Private Charter by N. R. Walker: New Release Review

August 31, 2018 by Denise

Stuart Jenner’s job is high stress, high stakes, and everything he’s strived for. So why, when the apex of his career is within reach, does he stumble? At his doctor’s insistence, he books a privately chartered yacht to sail around the Whitsundays for two weeks of sun, surf, and sex. When his friend-with-benefits bails on him at the last minute, Stuart decides to go alone.

Foster Knight left the rat race behind six years ago, bought a yacht, and now calls the Great Barrier Reef his home. Sailing tourists around tropical waters is all in a day’s work, and he’s never been happier. When his next client arrives alone, the two-week charter will be the most private job he’s ever had.

Foster can see how stressed and exhausted Stuart is, and he promises him extensive rest and relaxation. Stuart slowly realises his original plan for two weeks of sun, surf, and sex might not be lost yet. Confined to a yacht, isolated by aqua-coloured oceans and the sweltering sun, Stuart and Foster are about to find out just how hot the tropics can get.

Tagline:
Just how hot can the tropics get?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I am a big fan of NR Walker, as are a lot of readers. And rightly so. Yet I will admit that this blurb gave me just the tiniest of pauses. Two characters, alone, on a boat for 2 weeks? I was afraid of it being either really boring or really repetitive. It was neither.

The book jumped right into the story. I think the first chapter was about the one day leading up to his vacation and why he needed it so badly. And why he ultimately went alone. No wasting endless chapters watching this guy fall apart plodding away at a job that was killing him. Refreshing.

Although Stuart- the guy on vacation- pretty much jumped right in with the flirting, Foster- the yacht captain/owner- was hesitant. For a lot of reasons, but the biggest was fraternizing with a client. He finally gave in with a little help from everyone’s friend tequilla.

From there the sex ramped up quickly, but so did the relationship. The men really getting to know each other. And how could they not when they were the only two there?

There was substance as well. Discussing the coral reefs and the damage they have incurred, learning about a lot of the outlying islands of Australia and of course, Foster tried teaching Stuart about sailing. So while I wouldn’t trust me sailing a boat, I can probably pretty confidently answer a few questions on Jeopardy the next time sailing is a category.

And without spoilers, because I just don’t do that, I loved the ending. And the epilogue.

A solid read with plenty of sex and a bit of romance, you absolutely will enjoy this book.

4 pieces of eye candy

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance.

She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things: a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

Contact N.R. Walker

Email:

nrwalker@nrwalker.net

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

Tempt Me by Remmy Duchene: Exclusive Guest Post and Release Day Review

August 17, 2018 by Denise

Officer Gabe Ford knows finding love could be a tad problematic—especially since he hasn’t come out to his partner of six years yet. But what’s a guy to do when his body wants what his brain is saying he can’t have?

A year and a half after a breakup, Jason Tomlinson isn’t actively looking for a relationship. Hell, he can do bad all by himself. But Gabe Ford is just too damn yummy to resist. Just as things are beginning to pick up, one bullet may end it all before it even begins.

Title: Tempt Me
Author: Remmy Duchene
Release Date: August 17, 2018
Category: Erotic, Contemporary
Pages: 85

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Hey Everyone,

My name is Remmy Duchene and today—well, today is release day! TEMPT ME sprang from a watching a soap-opera – One Life to Live. Why is this story so different than anything I’ve written so far in my over ten year writing career? Well, it is not interracial. For the first time (rather the second time) I have written something, not multicultural. That was how my muse brought me the tale and I obeyed.

The idea for TEMPT ME came from watching cuts of KISH on youtube. For those who have no idea who they are, KISH consists of Kyle Lewis and Oliver Fish from One Life to Live. They were, I believe the first gay couple on daytime television in a soap opera.

Actually, to be completely honest, one scene alone inspired this short. Kyle and Oliver meet in a park the morning after they finally planned a date for later that evening. Kyle was on his way to the hospital (where he was a resident working to become Dr. Lewis) and Oliver was gearing up to keep the crowd in line at the majors swearing in. They talked, showed us why we loved KISH so desperately, were adorably awkward and just as Kyle was about to walk away, Oliver stopped him and bravely kissed his cheek.

*swoon*

Sure, it wasn’t a huge deal for most but if you watch this storyline, you would understand. That scene did my heart so well because that one moment, that one kiss on the cheek, in a public place, showed how far Oliver had come.

I used that scene to inspire Gabe and Jason. Sure, Jason isn’t a doctor but it’s the same sentiments. I had fun (some might say a little too much) writing these two and I really do hope you enjoy them.

This is my first read by this author and I know I can be kind of judgey, but this one was good!
Jason owns his own bar/grill; two of them actually, but one of them is a frequent stop for emergency responders. EMT’s, firefighters and most especially, cops. That’s where he meets Gabe, who’s not out to his partner, so when Jason gives him his number, he isn’t sure about calling him.

Luckily, his partner is really cool and I was glad he was so accepting. Not the most friendly bunch, cops. But, Malik, I suspected might even have his own little secret. Maybe not, but it was the vibe I got. So, with Malik’s encouragement, he calls Jason and sets up a date. I really liked how confident and sure Jason was. He didn’t play coy or beat around the bush. He thought Gabe was hot, so he just threw it out there and Gabe picked it up.

Now, there were a few things that came out of left field for me, like Jason’s ex… There was no indication that he was kind of crazy enough to shoot someone, especially just after one phone call two years after they’d broken up and he just started dating someone else. Was just weird to me. Then, while they were taking each other to pound town, and let me tell you how I have a really good imagination, so I use it…. A lot, while getting the good times with two hot dudes… Ain’t no shame in my game….but, anyway the semantics a time or two, I was like…. How did he do that? Are his arms on backwards? Whoa, just bust out with a “daddy”, no warning whatsoever and only once. I could’ve gotten on board with that… but it was only the once …

Other than that, these guys knew what they wanted… in a bigger picture and from each other; so there was no back and forth, no drama or ups and down. Only the slight trouble with the ex, and even that was resolved quickly, so… it was a light read with one minor blip. Short and sweet, I reckon.

I’d be curious to see what happens with Malik.

4 pieces of eye candy from me!

Remmy Duchene now lives in Canada where she works for lawyers during the day and write like the wind at nights. She loves movies, books, pretending to be a photographer and spending time with family.

Website: https://remmyduchene.wix.com/remmyducheneromance

Twitter: https://twitter.com/remmyduchene

Facebook: Remmy Duchene

IG: @manluvlikeaboss

Something About Us by Riley Hart: RDB, Excerpt and Release Day Review * 2

August 14, 2018 by Denise

Falling in love was the easy part.

Lucky and Saint are head-over-heels for each other. It doesn’t matter that they met only a few months ago. It also doesn’t matter that this is Saint’s first real relationship and Lucky’s first with a man. They’re infatuated, happy, and excited to start their life together in LA.

It isn’t as easy as they thought.

Away from home for the first time and feeling like he has to compete with Saint’s experienced and cultured friends, Lucky is a fish out of water. Saint is still coming to grips with his recent loss while doing everything he can to keep Lucky happy. The only time things feel right is when they lock themselves away from the world—when they’re alone, everything is perfect.

But reality comes crashing back in to challenge them at every turn. Lucky and Saint need to learn how to stand together, as well as apart, if they’re to have any hope of making this last. They’re learning the hard way that “I love you” is when the real work begins.

SOMETHING ABOUT US

SAINT AND LUCKY BOOK 2

RILEY HART

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 08.15.18

COVER DESIGN: X-Potion Designs

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Lucky Holloway had never seen so many cars in his life.

Okay, so maybe he was exaggerating a bit. It wasn’t as if back home he’d never driven into DC. Obviously, he had, but that was different. DC wasn’t something he did on a daily basis. Since he’d just moved to Los Angeles with his boyfriend, Saint, this—the mass amounts of traffic—would be his life. Every day. He figured he’d better get used to it.

Lucky watched the obscene number of cars, thinking about how many people were there. Again, he glanced at his boyfriend—his boyfriend. It was still an adjustment to realize he had a boyfriend and that moving to LA was a part of it. He would take hours in traffic if it meant having Saint, if it meant stepping outside of the world he’d always known and seeing what else was out there.

There was a loud honk, and Saint cursed and zipped between two vehicles, changing lanes into a spot where his car technically shouldn’t have fit.

“You gotta be a little aggressive to get your way.”He winked, and Lucky playfully rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, this is going to take some getting used to. It’s so amazing to me that there can be this many people right here on this freeway with us, when there are fifty other freeways with likely the same amount of people on them.”

“It’s wild when you think about it in those terms. For me, it’s life. I don’t really know any different.”Saint continued to push his way into spaces, making other cars slow down to let him in, until he exited the freeway. Lucky still couldn’t believe he was there, that he’d met Saint only a few months ago. That somehow, in the course of Saint going to Lucky’s hometown of Cottage Grove, Virginia, to reconnect with an estranged grandmother, Saint and he had fallen in love. And how so soon after Saint had become a part of his grandmother, Alice’s, life, and in turn Lucky’s life, Alice had passed away. He was angry on Saint’s behalf. It wasn’t fair that Saint had lost her so soon after finding her. It wasn’t something Saint mentioned, not outside of that moment they’d shared in Saint’s grandfather’s old office. Saint kept himself zipped tight, as though he hadn’t lost Alice and this was all about their adventure. Lucky decided to make a point of trying to get him to talk about it more.

What he really couldn’t believe was that he’d made the decision to uproot his whole life, leave behind everything he knew, and go with Saint. He’d never done something so uncharacteristic in his life—falling in love in such a short amount of time—and it was both thrilling and scary as fuck.

Sighhhh, Lucky and Saint….

We met them first in “Something About You” when Lucky reached out to Saint on behalf of his neighbor who his grandmother’s lifelong friend/roommate/love. They’re about as different as night and day, one being from small town Virginia and the other from LA. But, despite that, and the fact that Lucky wasn’t out to anyone in his small town… the feelings they had for each other was undeniable.

However, in this one…. Lucky things aren’t so easy just because they love each other. After leaving to LA with Saint, it’s a culture shock to say the least. A blue collar small town man who is newly out and trying to be comfortable with himself and his new relationship, moves to LA with his white collar boyfriend.. It was a lot on both of them. Saint because he wanted to do whatever he could to make Lucky love LA, and Lucky because he was trying to slide into Saint’s life and be comfortable there instead of making his own life there. Lucky needed to get a job and feel like he was contributing, but the cost of living in LA meant whatever job he got, would be chump change compared to Saint’s income, or the cost of his house, or even a light bill. For someone who prided himself on being independent, that would be a hit….

We also see Saint come to terms with losing the grandmother he’d only met a short time ago. Using Lucky coming to LA as a deterrent to talking about it or really even thinking about it, had Saint hiding his head in the sand and not even grieving properly over the woman he loved so much, and who was the only family he had left. I feel like they both needed to find themselves and figure out where to go next was important, before the relationship and living together, instead of for one another could be healthy. They did, and it worked, but it was a bumpy ride getting there.

I was also really concerned with Saint’s friend and co-worker Aaron. I didn’t think I was going to like him. I didn’t like the way he was with Lucky at first, though now I know came from a good place, I really thought he’d cause trouble between the two…. That wasn’t the case and I loved that. I’m really hoping for a good happily ever after for him.

Even with all the back and forth of Lucky hating LA, to the vast difference in lifestyles and friends and career’s, it still wasn’t all the angsty, which I loved (I’m not big on angst)….but I also wasn’t surprised when the guys decide that the both needed to make a change so that they could be what the other needed. I never gave up hope on them; the fact that they loved each other and wasn’t willing to let anything get in the way of that; was important. They were loyal to one another and the trust they had to have never wavered. It was a nice change of pace, and I was really happy with the way things ended for them. I’m sure there’ll be more for these two, and I’ll read every one of them and love it…. I’m hoping there are more anyway!!

Overall, I love this couple, I love their supportive families and best friends, and I loved the way they love each other. I’ll read every book they’re apart of.

4 pieces of eye candy from me!

Yes! Finally! A book that explores a relationship after the honeymoon period of book one. So many books I read that are a happily ever after, but COME ON! One or both main characters made some seriously big life changes. There will be turmoil. SHOW ME!

So, if you haven’t guessed, you absolutely need to read book 1.

Book 2 picks up after Saint and Lucky get to LA. Saint is so happy to be home and while Lucky is happy to be with Saint, he is a bit adrift in LA- a world that is basically the polar opposite of what he lived in his whole life. When they were in Lucky’s hometown, the only thing to really remind Lucky how wealthy Saint is was his Corvette. Which, really, isn’t that big of a deal. But being in LA, it smacks Lucky right in the face how much money Saint has.

And money means nothing to Saint, right? Of course not. Because he is used to money. He grew up with money. He makes tons of money now. He never has to worry about money. And being that he was always surrounded by it, means his friends have it as well.

So while they are home in their bubble without the outside world, Lucky and Saint are totally happy. But they are avoiding the real world because they know trouble awaits.

And I loved it! I love seeing a couple struggle. Because it happens. To everyone in every relationship.

So eventually Lucky makes a decision that could either make or break them as a couple. And while I really enjoyed the decision he made, I felt like that section could have been longer. More detailed. I wanted to see Lucky come into his own more. But I guess me wanting more of something is a good thing. Because if it was a crap story I certainly wouldn’t want more.

So don’t worry happy readers. Saint and Lucky still get their HEA. It was just a tiny bit too tidy for me.

4 pieces of eye candy

Riley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a hopeless romantic, a lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together.

She loves reading, flawed characters, and hanging out with her husband and children, who she adores. She and her family live in Southern California, soaking up the sunshine while also missing seasons. Not a day goes by that she isn’t thankful she gets to wake up and do what she loves.

Life is good. Riley also writes young adult and new adult under the name Nyrae Dawn.

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

Montana Series by RJ Scott: Series Review and Giveaway

August 13, 2018 by Denise

Crooked Tree Ranch (Montana #1)

The Cowboy and the City Slicker.

On the spur of the moment, with his life collapsing around him, Jay Sullivan answers an ad for a business manager with an expertise in marketing, on a dude ranch in Montana.

With his sister, Ashley, niece, Kirsten and nephew, Josh, in tow, he moves lock stock and barrel from New York to Montana to start a new life on Crooked Tree Ranch.

Foreman and part owner of the ranch, ex rodeo star Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Todd has been running the dude ranch, for five years ever since his mentor Marcus Allen became ill.

His brothers convince him that he needs to get an expert in to help the business grow. He knows things have to change and but when the new guy turns up, with a troubled family in tow – he just isn’t prepared for how much.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Okay…. I’m in love with the whole family!

Nate is the oldest of the brother’s that run Crooked Tree Ranch. He’s broody and reserved, and he’s had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders since losing both parents and having to take care of so much at barely adult age. He’s doing it though, with the help of two awesome brothers and a couple of ol’ ranch hands that are more like family…. Even the surly, old, foul-mouthed Henry that you can’t help but love, despite his old timey views of the world and what’s acceptable. I hated him until he saw some page time, and he’s like that grandpa that says all the wrong things, but you have to love him anyway, cuz he’s grandpa.

Anyway…The Crooked Tree is losing profit since dude ranches are all about commodity and the illusion of actually being on a dude ranch, instead of the way they do it on CT; so, when they decide to run an add for a marketing guru to come in and spruce up the place.

Jay just got fired from his job in New York; downsizing, I guess. Either way, he’s working one day and gone the next. Taking care of his big sister and her two kids since she was in an abusive relationship though, he can’t afford to be out of a job….especially in New York. He tries just about everything he can to find work, but when nothing pans out; he sees an opening at a Dude Ranch in Montana. Waaaay different life than life in New York.

It’s rough going at first…. Jay’s niece Kristen is a nightmare, Ashley (the sister) is wary of the guys, even though Gabe, the middle brother takes a very special interest in the little family (seriously, he’s so cute) and Jay and Nate do NOT get along….. until they do.

Their relationship is rocky and starts off as nothing more than physical, but it was a given, seeing how much these guys actually were into each other and trying to hide it. Nate surprised me, I thought he would be harder to convince to want “more”, but he fell for Jay swift and vicious.

I loved the relationship between the brothers, I loved the relationship between both families, and the way they all came together. I’m anxious to see what happens with Markus, even though, his surliness wasn’t my favorite and I didn’t know how to take him; he really feels like he’s keeping secrets and I don’t like that. I was also hoping for a more karmic punch in the face for the ex who hurt the nephew and sister. I hope his plane crashed on his way home or something…but I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the family.

4 well deserved stars from me!

The Rancher’s Son (Montana #2)

A man without memories, and the cop who never gave up hope.

When he wakes up in the hospital, the victim of a brutal beating, John Doe has no memories of who he is or who hurt him. The cops can find nothing to identify him and he can’t remember anything to help… except the name Ethan and one recurring place from his dreams. Two words, and they’re not much, but it’s a start: Crooked Tree.

Detective Ethan Allens has never stopped searching for the two boys who vanished. When a report lands on Ethan’s desk that may give new leads, he jumps at the chance to follow them up. The man he finds isn’t his brother, but it’s someone who could maybe help him discover what happened twelve years ago.

What neither man can know is that facing the very real demons of the past could destroy any kind of future they may have together.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Okay, so I’m not big into the whole amnesia trope. It gets too angsty for me, and I can’t deal… In saying that… this one is by far my favorite. I absolutely adored Adam and Ethan!

If you’ve read the first one, you’ll know that Adam ran away 12 years ago, just a teenager, with his best friend Justin, who happened to be Ethan’s brother. They were all like one big family, having grown up on the Crooked Tree Ranch together, but Adam and Ethan had always had a connection unlike the other boys. They loved each other, even from a young age, they knew they loved each other; but something happened and Justin and Adam fled. Ethan never gave up hope of finding them, though almost everyone else did. Especially their fathers. Well, Ethan and Justin’s anyway, Markus.

When a badly beaten John Doe comes up as a red-flagged, it gets pinged to Ethan who’s a cop in Missoula. Hoping and praying it’s his missing brother, he literally runs right that minute to jump on a plane and go see for himself. Sadly, it isn’t, but it is his lost love, Adam.

Unfortunately, Adam has no memory of anything prior to waking up in the hospital and has no idea where he’s been or who he was with the last twelve years. Doesn’t even know why he ran. Ethan wanted answers, of course he did. He still hoped he’d find his brother alive, and Adam has all the answers, he just doesn’t know them yet.

As Ethan takes Adam back to the Ranch that they both called home for so long, hoping to help his memory fill in it’s blanks, he never wavers in his love for Adam. He felt it way back when and he still feels it now. And even though Adam knows that he feels it too, he wants to make sure he’s able to have a life with Ethan before he tells him. He wants the memories back so he can know without a doubt that he can love him without anything hanging over their heads. It’s admirable….

Now, these books are loooooong, and I wanted to know everything right then, but I didn’t skip ahead… it kept me interested the entire time. That’s rare for me, as longer books are harder to keep my attention and I tend to skim. Not here. I needed everything and I was so afraid of missing something. Nothing made sense when it came to why the boys left and had to stay gone. When we find out why, or the suspected reason why, it made sense…. Kind of, although maybe a little unbelievable… but maybe just because I live in a small town where stuff like that only happens in the movies… I dunno….

Anyway, the pieces slowly started coming together and I enjoyed meeting Adam’s brother Cole, I was happy he remembered him. And hello, hot Navy SEAL…. Nice of you to join us! We got to see all the guys, Nate and Jay, and such a sweet little tidbit from Gabe and Ashley… I liked seeing Luke and Kristen together, I’m curious to see how that goes, being that they’re so young.

I felt for Ethan and Justin’s dad, Markus. I wasn’t so sure of him in the beginning. I hated the way he seemed to just give up on Ethan in favor of his failed hope to ever find Justin. They had a strained relationship, and it was nice to see why Markus was the way he was. I couldn’t imagine losing a child and just not knowing where they were, or if they were even dead or alive. That has to be a parents personal hell.

Overall though, and since the book is already out, it won’t be such a spoiler… Justin is in fact, not dead and my heart was hammering in the small two lines that he came back and I cannot wait to jump into his story. I want to know more, to fill in the blanks of where they’ve been and why… And hello, another hot soldier… don’t mind if I do! And with Sam, the Chef? I literally just finished that one and am not even taking a break, I’m itching to get to it.

The only thing I didn’t care for, was at the end, Ethan is going back to Missoula to work and coming home when he can, while Adam stays at the ranch… I wanted them to ride off in the sunset together and that doesn’t include a long-distance relationship… sigh…. I hope they get it together in Justin’s book.

(Lookit me being all emotionally invested and irrational)

4 stars for me on this one… Definitely, recommend!

A Cowboy’s Home (Montana #3)

One burned and broken man finds his way home. Can he find peace in the arms of a man easy to love?

Justin made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, battling domestic terrorism, never the man he really was, using hate to avenge the death of his best friend. The friend he’d killed.

What he doesn’t count on is getting shot, and if he’s going to die he wants it to be on Crooked Tree soil. Home.

Sam is as much a part of Crooked Tree as any of the families, and the offer to buy into the ranch is a dream come true. But falling for a hidden, secretive, injured man isn’t the way to keep his head in the game.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Holy drama and angst… I was not ready.

Okay, I was actually so ready, I couldn’t wait to finally get Justin home!!

Although I felt like a bit of it was too far-fetched, I guess it made for a good reason why he was gone like he was. As we know from the beginning, Adam and his bestie Justin had gone missing 12 years ago and nobody knew where they went or what had happened to them. When Adam pops up with amnesia and no recollection of his life, only the name of a ranch and random name in his head… he makes his way with Ethan (Justin’s brother) back to the ranch and Justin finds out that he’s actually alive.

After being told that he was dead and lead to a life of danger and murder for hire from some form of government agency… the last twelve years had been a lie. After finding out and having what amounts to a shoot out with the only people who knows who he is, he somehow makes it back to the ranch, although hidden, but back home, to die. Quite literally, I hurt for him so bad, the things he’d been through and the life that was taken from him. His best friend, his brothers, his family….He’d been lied to about all of it, so seeing them all, knowing they were okay, he was prepared to die.

Then comes Sam…. Now, I loved Sam. Flirty and sassy and so lonely; had been working on the ranch at the restaurant, looking for a place to belong. Having a terrible family who turned their back on him, he made a sort of home out of the family of all the guys we’ve gotten to know and love. Being around all of those loved up couples though, I could see where it would be lonely.

After finding that someone was sneaking into the restaurant after hours, he follows the blood trail to one of the vacant cabins, and finds a very sick, very injured Justin… though he doesn’t know him to be Justin, and to keep him safe, Justin makes him swear not to tell anyone, nor does he tell him his name. Foruntaly, he’s too hurt for just Sam to take care of, so he brings Gabe, who brings Ethan who brings the rest of the crew, and they all get Justin back… kind of.

He’s bent on leaving to keep everyone safe, but he’s in no shape to go anywhere for a while. Sam, as well as the rest of the guys take shifts nursing back to health, but all he really wants is Sam. The rest, everyone one else wants answers, answers that Justin cant’ give them… especially Adam. He’s better of not knowing. I truly believed that too. What they went through was torture. He was once again protecting Adam, and trying to protect everyone else…. Through all of it though, Sam was there just for him.

I see everyone talking about how this one wasn’t so much romantic as the others, but I disagree…I think the way Justin needed Sam was very romantic, and the way in which Sam gave to him, with no exceptions, no real idea who he really was, just how he felt, with such patience and understanding and no conditions…. That was very romantic. How can you say otherwise? I loved it.
Of course, Justin was determined to leave, to keep people out of harms way and to seek the last person on this revenge list…. But after the threat of everything is over…. And it’s not just that easy, but come on… I can’t give it all away… he comes back for his family, his home….. and hopefully Sam.

Though it isn’t so cut and dry, they do get there in the end. I was so glad that the two of them found their way to each other and I love the way that Sam helps Justin heal, and Justin gives Sam the family that he’s been missing since he was 15.

Overall, such a great addition, I can’t wait to read more. I’m hoping to maybe see some more of Rob, and maybe Ryan and Aaron… (Aaron Carter, haha), whoever’s next.. I can’t wait to see! We have weddings in the near future to see!

4 stars from me on this one!

Snow In Montana (Montana #4)

An actor in the closet, a sheriff in love, and memories that won’t stay hidden.

Jordan Darby is known as the King of Christmas. The star of eight made-for-TV Christmas movies, the leading man who always gets his girl. Filming at Crooked Tree Ranch in Montana, in the ice and snow, Jordan is fighting to make a go of his new company and dealing with fears of exposure over one huge secret. After all, who the hell would buy into him being a romantic straight lead if rumors about him being gay were proven to be true?

Sheriff Ryan Carter is advising on the new movie being made at Crooked Tree. He hoped this would be one day of work and nothing more. Until, that is, he meets the hero. But while Jordan is sexy, he’s also very much stuck in the closet—everything that Ryan doesn’t need in his life. And then lust becomes part of the equation, and Ryan’s quiet life is thrown into turmoil.

Their story unfolds against the chaos that overtakes the ranch, with Adam regaining memories that terrify him and make him look at Justin differently, and Justin leaving the ranch to make things right. Only through trusting in love and friendship can Justin and Adam learn to look to the future instead of letting the past destroy everything. But will they ever see clearly enough to do that?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Sigh… these books just keep getting better.

I was so in love with Justin and Adam story as best friends torn apart by a childhood trauma that nobody could really explain. So, I was glad that we get to see them in this one; to get their continued stories in each point of view…. Back to that in a minute…

So, if you’re reading this one, then I’m assuming you’ve read the others. If you haven’t, stop what you’re doing…..and go do it. You won’t regret it. So, after reading the others, you’ll know Ryan, the Sherriff of small-town Montana, and friend of the guys of Crooked Tree, is lonely. Six-five and intimidating on the outside, you’d never guess that he’s a big ol’ softy with lowish self-esteem and a big ol’ heart. You couldn’t not love him.

And Jordan, he’s new… an actor that his brother and their team had requested to shoot their Christmas movie on the ranch. A closeted B-list actor, Jordan was the king of Christmas movies made for tv, and he and his brother had sunk all of their inheritance into making their own production company. That meant for the next few years until Jordan made a bigger name for himself, he’d need to keep a lid on his sexuality, especially since he’d been playing hetero parts his entire career.

Unfortunately, things aren’t always as easy as we’d like them to be, and there was a guy who came around to cause trouble, but I was surprised that nothing really happened with that. The angst and turmoil came from Justin and Adam really. While the guys did have to juggle a somewhat long-distance relationship at one point, it didn’t get much page time and it got resolved fairly quickly. I was glad to see that.

Back to Adam and Justin…. I admired Justin courage to do what he needed to do for Adam. It had to be so hard on him. I loved seeing a new side to him, where he was all emotion and vulnerability. I adored Sam and his unwavering love for Justin. No matter what, he was there for him, no question; even if it meant leaving his home, his business and everything he’d worked so hard for. He’d do whatever Justin needed, no hesitation. Isn’t that beautiful?

I was a little bit confused about Luke and Kirstin…. It was mentioned that there was unrequited love there, but I thought from literally all of the books that they were together. What did I miss there???
Other than that… I loved it all. I loved seeing all the guys and how their families are expanding and growing with each other. Everyone is happy and healthy and together, and back on Crooked Tree.

You can’t ask for better than that. I’m so excited to read Aaron (Ryan’s brother) next!!!

4 stars from me!

Book #5 – Second Chance Ranch – Out August 28 – All Info Here.

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

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

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

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

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

Email RJ (rj@rjscott.co.uk)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Master Will Appear by L.A. Witt: Audiobook Tour and Review with Giveaway

August 10, 2018 by Denise

Dr. Mikhail “Misha” Budnikov takes one look at fellow fencer Ryan O’Connor and instantly knows his type. The undisciplined hothead is all ego with no finesse and even less control. In short, Misha’s pet peeves personified. To put the arrogant kid in check, Misha challenges him to a sparring match, which he predictably wins.

Not so predictably, Ryan asks him to be a mentor and show him how to fence. Startled by the moment of humility, Misha agrees.

What begins as fencing lessons becomes something much hotter, and before they know it, Misha is giving Ryan an entirely different kind of education. Dominance, submission, pain, pleasure—at the hands of an older, experienced man, a whole new world is opening up for Ryan.

As the trust deepens and their bond strengthens, though, Ryan retreats because that sham called love left him jaded long ago. Cynical beyond his years, he’s not letting his guard down, least of all for a thrice-divorced man twice his age.

Now Misha has to find a way to crack through those defenses…or accept defeat and walk away from the submissive who might just be the love of his life.

Length: 12hrs 59mins

Narrated By: Michael Ferraiuolo

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Audible

I have this book on paperback (stick with me here…) that I purchased and had signed by the awesome L.A. Witt at GRL last year, but I never read it, even though I REALLY wanted to. The reason was simply because for some reason the size of the book (Amazon estimates at 447 pages) intimidated me. So when the Audible version came out, I jumped at the chance to listen to it.

And as usual, L.A. Witt rarely disappoints. This author writes across genres (she has several pen names), across age, race, religion, political issues, as well as across sexual orientation. That is one of the things that I love most about this author. She does not write the same group of 20 something gay, white males, living in San Francisco (as an example) for each book. While I enjoy those books, I also very much appreciate that this author realizes that this is a very diverse country, and world, and her writing reflects that.

In the case of The Master Will Appear, Witt takes on a Russian college professor and fencing. I’d imagine that took some serious research. Misha, the Russian college professor, and a Dom, meets and clashes instantly with Ryan, a college student at a different university at a fencing club, and Ryan asks Misha to teach him more about fencing. As they take on a teacher/student relationship, they also quickly learn that not only are they attracted to each other, but Ryan wants to learn more about being a submissive. I love that this didn’t turn into a story about Ryan becoming the best fencer, and winning-or losing-a huge match (a la Karate Kid), while falling in love with his teacher. It really was a story about not just the relationship that developed between Misha and Ryan, both romantic and D/s, but also about the relationships that these men had with their families and friends.

All that helped the story flow from a realistic perspective, and explained so much about Ryan’s outlook on love and life. With Misha clearly being a romantic (he’s being married and divorced three times) and Ryan being as anti-romance as possible, it left room for Ryan to learn what love was, when he had not seen any examples of it in his life before Misha. It took time for Ryan to transition to that point, but Misha was patient, even as Ryan didn’t realize he was falling in love. He realized he loved being a sub, and the sex, but missed the part where he fell in love. I do enjoy it when characters are clueless about their own feelings. J

Witt took her time showing us all the levels of these men, just as it would take time in a real relationship. We learned new things about their pasts, how they became the men they were, winding it all together to allow the reader to learn who they were slowly.

The narrator, new to me as an audiobook listener, was engaging to listen to, and was able to perfect the Russian accent (at least to this untrained ear) so that the listener didn’t always need to know by the words who was speaking. Yet, he didn’t overdo the accent. It was only apparent while Misha spoke, not in his thoughts while it was in his POV, and it wasn’t so thick to make it difficult to understand. I tend to listen to my audiobooks at 1.25X, and had absolutely no problems dicephering the words.

All in all, a book I would definitely read and listen to again.

Story: 4.5 pieces of eye candy

Narration: 4 pieces of eye candy

August 1 – Dog-Eared Daydreams, Mainely Stories, Gay Book Reviews, August 6 – Gay Media Reviews, August 8 – Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, Love Unchained Book Reviews, August 10 – Lillian Francis, Momma Says To Read Or Not To Read, Bayou Book Junkie, Xtreme Delusions, Two Chicks Obsessed, Wicked Reads, United Indie Book Blog, BFD Book Blog, We Three Queens

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut…

Website: http://www.gallagherwitt.com

E-mail: gallagherwitt@gmail.com

Twitter: @GallagherWitt

Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway