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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

author

Cash Plays (Seven of Spades #3) by Cordelia Kingsbridge: Blog Tour with Giveaway

June 8, 2018 by Denise

​
In this game, the stakes are life or death.

The Seven of Spades is back with a vengeance—the vigilante serial killer has resumed their murderous crusade, eluding the police at every turn. But a bloodthirsty killer isn’t the only threat facing Sin City. A devious saboteur is wreaking havoc in Las Vegas’s criminal underworld, and the entire city seems to be barreling toward an all-out gang war.

As Detective Levi Abrams is pushed ever closer to his breaking point, his control over his dangerous rage slips further every day. His relationship with PI Dominic Russo should be a source of comfort, but Dominic is secretly locked in his own downward spiral, confronting a nightmare he can’t bear to reveal.

Las Vegas is floundering. Levi and Dominic’s bond is cracking along the seams. And the Seven of Spades is still playing to win. How many bad hands can Levi and Dominic survive before it’s game over?

Amazon

Riptide Publishing

 

Thanks for checking out the blog tour for Cash Plays, the third book in the Seven of Spades series!

After the Seven of Spades returns at the end of Trick Roller, they resume their vigilante mission with a vengeance. Levi and Dominic do their best to keep up, but a bloodthirsty serial killer isn’t the only threat they face…

About the Seven of Spades Series

Las Vegas has never seen a serial killer like the Seven of Spades.

The self-styled vigilante is on a mission to cut down the wicked and treacherous, and Sin City has no shortage of targets for their bloody wrath. What happens in Vegas . . . ends with the Seven of Spades’s calling card on a grisly corpse.

Standing against the killer are Levi Abrams, a dedicated homicide detective locked in a constant struggle to restrain his own dark side, and bounty hunter Dominic Russo, a charming rogue with a heavy secret weighing on his shoulders.

The hunt for the Seven of Spades sends Levi and Dominic on a collision course, igniting a passionate relationship forged in conflict and sealed with blood. Together they’re stronger than the sum of their parts, but a wily, elusive serial killer isn’t the only threat that will strain their bond to the breaking point.

Ante up, because the Seven of Spades is all in. Are you?

Cordelia Kingsbridge has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.

Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!

Connect with Cordelia:

  • Email: cordeliakingsbridge@gmail.com
  • Tumblr: http://ckingsbridge.tumblr.com
  • Twitter: @c_kingsbridge
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cordelia.Kingsbridge/

To celebrate the release of Cash Plays, Cordelia is giving away a $15 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on June 9, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Filed Under: Author Guest Post, Author Spotlight Tagged With: author, blog tour, Blog Tours, Cordelia Kingsbridge, gay, Giveaways, lgbtq, new release, Riptide, romance

Shadowlands by Charlie David: Exclusive Guest Post and Interview – All About the TV Miniseries

June 5, 2018 by Denise

Shadowlands is a collection of heartfelt and sometimes heartbreaking short stories from well-known actor and entrepreneur Charlie David that explore the passion and pain of gay sexuality. Ancient myths are re-imagined with an exciting queer twist, masterfully depicting the charged, fragile relationships of urban life today.

Story genres in this collection include romance, science fiction, fantasy/paranormal, horror, and poetry.

The host of the TV travel series Bump!, which now airs in over 55 million households worldwide, Charlie David has played many roles in M/M film and television, including A Four Letter Word and Kiss the Bride, Bravo’s Godiva’s, Showtime’s Reefer Madness, Sundance Channel’s award-winning Terminal City, and a starring role in the gothic gay soap opera Dante’s Cove.

In 2007 he started Border2Border Entertainment Inc., a production company whose award-winning films include Mulligans, Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride, and Judas Kiss. Most recently he’s opened Charlie David Travel, which specializes in luxury travel to the southern hemisphere.

 

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

Audible

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads


Hi all!  I’m Charlie David and I’m happy to stop by here at Two Chicks Obsessed.  I’m excited to share that my book Shadowlands was released as the Shadowlands TV miniseries on Sunday, May 27th!  Whether you like to read a book and then watch a show or the other way round, I’d like to invite you into my world and explore Shadowlands.

We’re at an exciting time when it’s still rare for a book in the M/M genre to be made into a film or TV series.  While Shadowlands isn’t traditional romance it does explore love in three thematically connected stories – a couple renegotiating a relationship, a narcissist grasping to comprehend love, and star-crossed lovers mourning its loss.

I had the pleasure to work with a really talented cast and crew and so today I’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to Vasilios Filippakis, one of the stars of the ‘Mating Season’ episode of the Shadowlands TV miniseries.

The Shadowlands gay TV series is comprised of three distinct stories exploring love.  There are story connections between the three episodes of Shadowlands.  You can read about them here.

 

VASILIOS FILIPPAKIS is excited for the premier of  the Shadowlands gay series where the world will be able to discover an array of relationship dynamics within gay culture.

Vasilios is a Toronto based actor born in Windsor Ontario. After graduating from theatre school at York University, he has trained with many coaches across Toronto ranging in technique and continues working to deepen his craft.

When Vasilios is not training or creating his own work, you may see him in a soon to be released feature film “The Lone Paddler”, or in commercials for Swiss Chalet, Gradifi, or Kit-Kat to name a few.

 

Tell us about your story in the new Shadowlands gay series. What were the main challenges and fears you had in your role?

Vasilios Filippakis: In Shadowlands, the story I am in is called “Mating Season”, which explores the boundaries of a monogamous relationship. A gay couple takes a few days in the woods for  a romantic camping trip when they meet a harmless man who has been camping for some time .

It turns out, the man isn’t exactly as he appears ( I don’t want to give anything away). This aspect is something I really considered while preparing for this role. As real as “Daniel” (the character I played) is there are many elements of mystery with him that were interesting to find spots to incorporate into the script.

Honestly, I didn’t have many fears going into filming this project, It was all excitement. The ONE thing that was difficult was trying to be sexy in that really cold water. We really tried our best.

How much of yourself goes into a character?

Vasilios Filippakis: I always try to put as much of myself into all my work and characters. I think as a human with years of life experience you can find many correlations between your real life and the one that is depicted on the script. Sure there are some stretches here, for example, playing a murderer, but even in that case a person is much more than a killer.

You still have other human qualities that make you whole, and those are things that I look to explore and pull when creating. I believe that the best performances come from things I grab from my experience. In this case it’s all about love, loss, hope, reflection and finding peace, all things that I as Vasilios can live authentically in the moment because they are things that I feel naturally.

How much were you able to relate your own experiences to create your character?  And how much did you have to research or imagine?

Vasilios Filippakis: I could relate to my character’s experience a lot. Daniel really struggled with the idea of being loved and accepted. I think that we all have had that in our lives.

He has this monologue about a past love that was “the one” for him. Again, I think everyone has a similar story to Daniel and has or will feel love the way he did.

Each story or episode is unique and has its own world of characters, time and place.  And yet there are connections between them. Were you aware of these connections while filming or was it a surprise to learn later?

Vasilios Filippakis: Honestly, I wasn’t really aware of any of this until we started filming. I remember in rehearsal Charlie David was framing a shot to mimic one that is shown in the third episode. It was all a surprise until I saw the final edits and saw all three episode after each other. I think this will be fun for the audience to discover!

Romance between men and between women was common place and written about in Greek and Roman mythology.  Many of the stories in the Shadowlands book were inspired by these ancient myths. Why is it important to continue sharing these types of stories today?

Vasilios Filippakis: It’s important to share these stories because love is love, no matter the time, place or gender. Every story explored in the Shadowlands gay series is very relatable to present times.

This show really just shines another light on life as it is. As much as the inspiration came from Greek and Roman mythology I think the audience will see how much these stories are rooted in today.

What was the hardest scene for you to do and why?

Vasilios Filippakis: The hardest scene for me (no pun inteneded) was for sure all the water scenes. The water was SO cold. Trying to not shiver and look good is a challenge, believe me. The rest of the shoot was so fun and easy. The cast and crew made being on set a dream! I would go back to film with these people in a heartbeat.

Who is a major influence for you and on your creativity?

Vasilios Filippakis: The major influence for me on my creativity is my own life. I just think that we all have a story, that is unique and nobody else can live it or write it. To me that’s inspiring. Who else can tell your story? Nobody! I know that I am a well of emotions and have so much to tell that I am constantly in a state of creation.

With so much going on in the world today, what’s your motivation to be a performer? Do you act to explain?  To get away?  To move past? To widen our knowledge? To incite a conversation?

Vasilios Filippakis: I act for my heart.  It wasn’t till recently that I explored this reason. I was in acting class with the amazing Suzanne Bastien (At The Creative Space) here in Toronto, when we were asked this question “Why do you act”?

We began exploring our hearts why on why we have chosen to be an actor. For me it’s about exploring every emotion without holding back. Acting a vessel to be free and really let

What’s next for you as a creator/actor/performer?

Vasilios Filippakis: I am currently working on a show I created called “FAK YAASS”. I’m the creator, writer, producer and lead actor (it’s totally about my life). The show is a  mix between “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “Queer as Folk”.

We have an amazing team and we’re really looking forward to putting this story out there! We have a concept trailer out now and should have some more updates soon about the project!

 

 

Follow Vasilios Filippakis

Insta: @vasiliosf

Website: vasiliosf.com

About Charlie David

Charlie David has been a host for E! Television, NBC, OutTV, LOGO, here! TV, Pink TV, EGO, Fine Living and Slice Networks on such shows as FYE!, SpyTV, Crash Test Mommy and his travel series Bump which shot over 100 episodes around the world and garnered a Hugo Television award. He has appeared as musical guest on VH1, BBC, CBS’s The Early Show, and dozens of radio shows.

In 2005 Out Magazine recognized Charlie in the ‘Out 100’ at their gala in New York.  In 2007 the Philadelphia Film Society awarded Charlie with their Rising Star Award.  In 2008 the Festival del Sol in Gran Canaria awarded their Best Male Actor Award to Charlie and the male cast of A Four Letter Word. His documentary and scripted films have won several jury and audience awards at festivals around the world.  Formerly in a rock band… okay, actually it was a boy band, Charlie opened for Destiny’s Child, Pink, Snoop Dogg, Rick Springfield and Black Eyed Peas.

A love of storytelling led Charlie to start Border2Border Entertainment, a production company whose film and television credits include Shadowlands, Mulligans, Judas Kiss, I’m a Stripper (series), Studlebrity, Balls, Dating Unlocked, PolyLove and Positive Youth. Border2Border Entertainment’s films have been licensed to Showtime, Vice, Super Channel, HBO Canada, MTV/LOGO, Sundance Channel, Discovery Networks, The Movie Network, Movie Central, Hollywood Suite, hereTV, Encore Avenue, and OutTV in North America as well as finding a worldwide audience through international distribution partners.

He is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and his current passions include travel, encounters with wildlife, SCUBA diving, mosaic tiling and podcasts.  He resides in Toronto and Montréal, Canada when he’s not living out of a suitcase.

You can explore Charlie’s films and TV shows on his website at https://border2border.ca or become a part of his social media network by visiting:

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/MrCharlieDavid
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/officialcharliedavid
Twitter: https://twitter.com/charliedavid
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/border2border
Audible: http://adbl.co/1K3xhz8
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2895612.Charlie_David
Dreamspinner: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/AuthorArcade/charlie-david
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrcharliedavid/

 

Filed Under: Author Guest Post, Author Interview, TCO Exclusives Tagged With: author, blog tour, Blog Tours, book, excerpt, exclusive, gay, lgbtq, m/m romance, new release, romance

Out, Proud and Prejudiced by Megan Reddaway: RDB, Release Day Review and Giveaway

June 4, 2018 by Denise

One’s proud, one’s prejudiced, and they can’t stand each other.

Quick-tempered Bennet Rourke hates Darius Lanniker on sight. Darius may be a hotshot city lawyer, but that doesn’t give him the right to sneer at Bennet, his friends, and their college. It doesn’t help that Bennet’s restaurant job has him waiting at Darius’s table. So when his tutor recommends him for an internship at Darius’s Pemberley estate, Bennet isn’t sure he wants it. He’s also not sure he can afford to turn it down.

Darius is a fish out of water in the small college town of Meriton, but something keeps pulling him back there. He’s helping out a friend with business advice, nothing more. If he’s interested in Bennet, it’s not serious. Sure, Bennet challenges him in a way no other man has. But they have nothing in common. Right?

Wrong. Their best friends are falling in love, and Bennet and Darius can’t seem to escape each other. Soon they’re sharing climbing ropes and birthday cake, and there’s a spark between them that won’t be denied. But betrayal is around the corner. Darius must swallow his pride and Bennet must drop his prejudices to see the rainbow shining through the storm clouds.

A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Amazon

This is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, where Bennet is the main hero who is slowly drawn towards Darius, a snobbish lawyer who treats our hero pretty shabbily from the get go. Bennet swears to have nothing to do with Darius, but because his best friend Jaime is dating Darius’ best friend Tim, the two would-be enemies keep finding themselves thrown together. They slowly learn to see past the superficial first impressions and find spots of common ground. And still some things manage to get in the way. But if you’re a fan of P&P, you’ll enjoy the ride knowing you’ll be satisfied in the end.

I really liked this book. I love retellings of classics. It’s so fun to see how much the author changes, what is kept the same and how it’s all modernized. It’s fun all around. In many ways it’s pretty faithful to the original, with minor twists. Instead of the five Bennett sisters, there are four roomates (poor Mary) whose personalities match the girls very well. There’s still scandal, and miscommunication, and oh how fun is Darius’ “I hate myself for loving you” speech? Love how this author changes things up.

3.5 pieces of eye candy


MEGAN REDDAWAY lives in England and has been entertained by fictional characters acting out their stories in her head for as long as she can remember. She began writing them down as soon as she could.

Since she grew up, she has worked as a secretary, driver, barperson, and article writer, among other things. Whatever she is doing, she always has a story bubbling away at the same time.

For news of Megan’s gay romance releases and two free stories, visit her website: http://meganreddaway.com
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: New Release Review, Quick Reviews, Release Day Review, TCO Reviewer: Rosa Tagged With: 3.5 stars, author, blog tour, book, Book Reviews, gay, giveaway, Giveaways, lgbtq, m/m romance, Megan Reddaway, mmromance, new release, review, romance

Riven by Roan Parrish: Release Day Review

May 29, 2018 by Denise

Theo Decker might be the lead singer of Riven, but he hates being a rock star. The paparazzi, the endless tours, being recognized everywhere he goes—it all makes him squirm. The only thing he doesn’t hate is the music. Feeling an audience’s energy as they lose themselves in Riven’s music is a rush unlike anything else . . . until he meets Caleb Blake Whitman. Caleb is rough and damaged, yet his fingers on his guitar are pure poetry. And his hands on Theo? They’re all he can think about. But Caleb’s no groupie—and one night with him won’t be enough.

Just when Caleb is accepting his new life as a loner, Theo Decker slinks into it and turns his world upside-down. Theo’s sexy and brilliant and addictively vulnerable, and all Caleb wants is another hit. And another. That’s how he knows Theo’s trouble. Caleb can’t even handle performing these days. How the hell is he going to survive an affair with a tabloid superstar? But after Caleb sees the man behind the rock star, he begins to wonder if Theo might be his chance at a future he thought he’d lost forever.

 

Amazon

I am a fairly unabashed fan of Roan Parrish. From her first book (that I honestly couldn’t believe was her first book) through and including Riven. She writes stories and characters that I just care about. That I want to know more about. I get immersed in their stories and don’t want to let go.

The dynamics between Theo- lead singer of Riven- and the rest of the band is like nothing I have read before. There’s the tension of Theo getting the most press being the lead singer, but there’s also the tension of him being the outsider. Riven was a band of three who needed a lead singer and song writer. He got hired. I think that this book really showed that even if you are in a rock band and famous, it is a job. And you don’t always get along with your coworkers for one reason or another.

Caleb knows what fame feels like. And the fall from it because of drugs. In recovery again, he basically hides out at his farm, venturing into the city once a month or so to play music in a dive bar without recognition. Until Theo sees him and feels his music deeply.

Oh I loved Theo. He is so broken, so lost, so innocent. He isn’t the angry guy who hates fame and is a total jerk about it. He hates fame but deals with it because it is part of the job. And because he needs music.

And Theo helps Caleb find his music again.

Their relationship started out as sex. And then grew into a really beautiful love. The way they supported each other without becoming a crutch was so sweet. No one was a whiny brat. No one did the whole “you can’t get past my walls!” thing. There was a bit of the you deserve better than me, but they worked through it.

Gah, I’m rambling.

I really loved this book.

4.5 Pieces of Candy

Filed Under: New Release Review, Quick Reviews, Release Day Review, TCO Reviewer: Erin Tagged With: 4.5 stars, author, Book Reviews, gay, lgbtq, m/m romance, mmromance, new release, review, romance

Wash Out (Anchor Point #7) by L.A. Witt: Exclusive Excerpt from Sink or Swim (Book 8), Blog Tour, and Giveaway

May 25, 2018 by Denise

Casey Olson has always known he was destined to be a Navy SEAL, and the best day of his life was when he was accepted into training. The worst day was when a snapping bone ended his dream.

After three combat tours in five years, Logan Carter left the Marines and self-destructed. Now he’s sober and, thanks to a forgiving ex with friends in high places, has a promising job as a civilian contractor. All he has to do is stay on the rails and out of a bottle, even when his demons won’t leave him alone.

Logan likes his job, and he really likes the gorgeous man at the next desk. Casey tries not to check Logan out, but who is he kidding? From the start, despite their best efforts, neither man can resist the other. Sizzling chemistry leads to sex so hot they can both almost forget why they’re stuck in this office to begin with.

It would be perfect, except Logan can’t stop reliving wars he’ll never forget and Casey can’t stop grieving the SEAL he’ll never be. And they’ll never have a future together until they can make peace with their pasts.

Amazon

Riptide Publishing

 

Calm and ready to face the snarl of corroded wires I’d been working on before lunch, I carefully rolled-up the mat and collected my misbaha and Qur’an. As I rose, I nearly dropped everything, though.

When had Dylan come into the sanctuary? I’d been distantly aware of movement and footsteps, and I’d heard someone take a seat in one of the creaky pews, but somehow hadn’t realized it was him. Which was stupid. He was the chaplain. Of course he was in here.

For whatever reason, though, my heart was suddenly racing. Had he been watching me pray? Did it bother him even though he’d insisted he had no problem with it?

Dylan wasn’t watching me, though. In fact, he was staring straight ahead. Elbows on his knees, hands clasped under his chin, he just . . . stared. Probably not at anything in particular.

Or rather, probably not anything that was actually in this room.

I swallowed. I knew that look. No one served in the military or even lived within spitting distance of a base without becoming familiar with the thousand yard stare. Even the fluorescent glare on his glasses couldn’t hide the blank look in his eyes.

It had been jarring the first time I’d realized chaplains weren’t immune to combat-related PTSD. Intellectually it made perfect sense, and I’d never thought they were immune to it, but actually seeing a chaplain fighting off a flashback had hit me hard. They were the counselors of every command. The guy you went to see when separation from your family was getting to you, or if you’d been to combat, when the nightmares and flashbacks caught up.

So who does the chaplain talk to when he’s the one with PTSD?

Maybe the other chaplain? Or . . . I didn’t know.

I stepped a little closer, moving cautiously, and kept my voice soft. “Hey. You all right?”

Dylan jumped, but then he nodded. He shook himself and wiped a hand over his face as he sat back in the pew. “I’m sorry. Did . . .” He blinked a couple of times. “Did you need something?”

“No, I just, uh, thought you were kind of . . .” I waved my own hand in front of my face.

“Oh. Right.” He dropped his gaze as his cheeks darkened. “I’m fine. Just distracted.”

You’ve been somewhere with bombs dropping, haven’t you?

Who do you talk to?

I cleared my throat. “Hey, um. This might be out of line, but . . .” I hesitated, muffling another cough, then blurted out, “Do you want to get coffee later?”

Dylan blinked. “Coffee?”

“Yeah.” With a cautious smirk, I added, “You know—hot bean water?”

He actually laughed, and the color in his face deepened. “Cute. But I mean, you’re . . .” He looked in my eyes. “Coffee, together?”

“Yeah.” I shrugged. “You look like you could use some company. Maybe someone to talk to.” The words were out before I could stop them, and now that they were, I wanted the deck to split open and swallow me up so I wouldn’t have to be here for his reaction.

To my surprise, though, he smiled. Faintly, but genuinely. “That would be nice, actually.” He paused. “Did you have any place in mind?”

“Not really. There are a few cafés in town.”

Dylan’s eyes lost focus for a second before meeting mine again. “What about the O-club on base?”

The officers’ club? For coffee? Wasn’t exactly the first place that sprang to mind, but I supposed if they catered to officers, they would have decent coffee.

“Sure.” I matched his smile. “I clock out at four, so I can meet you any time after that.”

“I’ve got a meeting at 1700, so why don’t we say 1830?”

I nodded. “Great. I’ll see you there.”

 

 

Welcome to Anchor Point!

Nestled on the northern coast of Oregon, this small town is home to Naval Air Station Adams. On base, you’ll find freshly minted Sailors who’ve just graduated boot camp, salty officers counting down till retirement, grounded pilots who’ve landed behind desks, and everyone in between—and they’re all looking for love. Well, not all of them, but that won’t stop love from finding them.

So pull up a barstool, grab a beer, and get ready for some sea stories as these men in uniform—or not—navigate the waters of love and life in the military.

Anchor Point stories can be enjoyed in any order. Hop in wherever you’d like!

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.

L.A.’s backlist is available on her website, and updates (as well as random thoughts and the odd snarky comment) can be found on her blog or on Twitter (@GallagherWitt).

To celebrate the release of Wash Out, L.A. is giving away reader’s choice of two eBooks off of her backlist! (Excludes Wash Out.) Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on May 26, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Filed Under: Author Guest Post, TCO Exclusives Tagged With: 4.5 stars, author, blog tour, Blog Tours, book, excerpt, exclusive, gay, giveaway, Giveaways, guest post, L.A. Witt, lgbtq, m/m romance, mmromance, new release, Riptide, romance

Shades by Jaime Reese: Release Day Review

May 24, 2018 by Denise

Life made him dangerous. Love made him lethal.

Killian Marks is a third-generation hitman. After hunting monsters for over twenty years, he lives under no illusions of happily ever afters and fairy tales. Until he meets a man who threatens to disarm him, by giving him hope for a future and showing him there’s more to life than just death.

For Nick, living in shadows is second nature. He’s all too familiar with the dark side of humanity and knows how delicate life can be. Each new day is a gift, even though it means doing it alone. But he’ll risk his survival for the one man who awakens something deep within and leaves him yearning for more.

Nick wants to solve the mystery behind the dark, brooding man, while Killian craves the life and light emanating from Nick. They soon discover they have more in common than either could have anticipated. With both their lives and hearts at stake, they must confront the ghost from Nick’s past intent on tying up a loose end. Only then will they truly find peace, and discover the shades of life in between.

Title: Shades

Author: Jaime Reese

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance; Romance Suspense

Release: May 23, 2018

Cover Design: Reese Dante

Goodreads

Amazon US

Amazon CA

Amazon UK

Amazon AU

 

Jaime Reese’s series, The Men of Halfway House, is in my top 10 probably. I loved how these broken men were trying to get their lives back together, finding love, etc. So I jumped on this book (which is a stand alone, no affiliated with TMOHH at all), because these guys sounded so broken. I am a glutton for angst. Bring it on!

And…..it was ok. I never understood the whole assassin thing. I mean, I get it. They are a real thing. Probably not as prevalent as books would make them seem (they are running a close second with billionaires), but ok. What I don’t really get is that when the object of their affection finds out that they are an assassin- they seem fine with it! Oh, it’s ok because you only kill bad guys, no women or children. Uh, ok.

Anyway. I really liked Nick. The non-assassin half of this couple. He was just a guy, trying to get by in life without the mob finding him. But he wasn’t whiny, wasn’t really with the dramatic “oh woe is me, I can never have love”. He just kind of did his thing. Well, and fell for an assassin. No big whoop.

Letting the assassin thing go for a minute. There is another part of the story line that was a bit out there for me for many reasons. I won’t say what it is. But here are my issues. 1. money 2. no way can it be a secret 3. the sheer logistics of it. Just, no.

Yes, I am being vague. Sorry, not sorry. I am not one for spoilers.

Killian and Nick were hot together. That goes without saying. I loved the slow burn. I really loved that Nick said no for a long time. Killian’s romantic overtures were swoon worthy. Killian’s partner Dex is absolutely hilarious. He did remind me of a *different* Dex, but I’ll let that go.

It was a fun story to read. Not really the angst I was suspecting and it was wrapped up in the end pretty neatly, but still. It was ok, I liked it.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

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.

Social Media Links:

Website

Amazon Author Page

Facebook page

Twitter

BookBub

Goodreads Author Profile

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Filed Under: New Release Review, Quick Reviews, Release Day Review, TCO Reviewer: Erin Tagged With: author, book, Book Reviews, gay, Jaime Reese, lgbtq, m/m romance, mmromance, new release, review, romance

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Cover for Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

We are two chicks who love books (m/m romance with an HEA) and enjoy our eye candy. http://twochickso

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

8 hours ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
✨Did you see?✨CALEB by @coraroseauthor available NOW! Grab it in KU! #OneClickNowbooks2read.com/u/4En91A Why you need to #ONECLICK this book…🔥Touch Starved🔥Opposites Attract🔥Roommates🔥Angst🔥Found Family🔥Extrovert/IntrovertI don’t let anyone in… I can’t afford to. But he’s the first person who makes me want to try.#newbookalert #mmromance #corarose @theauthor.agency ... See MoreSee Less

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

3 days ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
Shadows Never Lie (Shadow Duet Book 1) by Lark TaylorMy review:Ok, going into this knowing that there is a book 2.....And I just have to start by saying I really appreciated that they are identical twins who don't get along. So often they are BFF and twin telepathy and all that. And it does happen. But not always.I have to admit I was sucked in from the start. Especially since the first chapter was present day and then chapter two starts the back story. Just from chapter 1 I wasn't expecting their younger years to be as they were.And I really wanted to hate Dominick. But once more information about his life came to light AND how he started treating Ryan, I had a soft spot for him. Max (Ryan's twin) on the other hand, can go scratch. It will take a lot for him to redeem himself in book 2 if that even happens.I kind of saw the cliffhanger coming. I still wasn't prepared. Oh my heart just broke. And I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS! Good thing book 2 comes out in 2 weeks...4 pieces of eye candy ... See MoreSee Less

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

3 days ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
✨Let’s celebrate! It’s release day for SHADOWS NEVER LIE by @larktaylorauthor! Grab it in KU!#OneClickHeremybook.to/NeverLieWhy you need to #ONECLICK this book…🔥Enemies to Lovers🔥Brother’s Best Friend🔥Double Bi-Awakening🔥Opposite Attract🔥Virgin MC🔥Only one bed🔥Angst🔥College Romance🔥MM Romance Dominic Walker has always been a good liar.Dominic stands where I am supposed to — at my identical twin’s side. His confidant. His right- hand. His best friend. The brother he would choose.I’ve been cast aside, relegated to the shadows. Forced to watch as Max and Dominic get everything they want. Everything I secretly want.But then, Dominic suddenly sees me and issues an offer I can’t refuse. A challenge, actually. One he never expects me to follow through on.With anyone else, I wouldn’t have considered it. But I’ll be damned before I let Dominic get the better of me.It has me sinking to my knees. Literally.A decision that changes everything.Dominic pulls me out of the shadows, and I never want to go back.But it’s not the shadows I need to be afraid of.No, it’s the path that leads somewhere far darker than I could ever have imagined. Somewhere where truth and lies become shadowed.#newbookalert #larktaylor #shadowduet #mmromance The Author Agency ... See MoreSee Less

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

4 days ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
Avalanche (Ricochet Ridge) by Jillian Wray My reviewI really liked these two characters and how they aren't exactly what you expected.First, yes they are step brothers. But they are 4 years apart AND Stone left when he was 18. You can extrapolate that there wasn't even a crush between these two guys until this book. Hero worship, yes. Romantic crush, nah.Stone, kind of a hot shot on the mountain because he is part of the blasting crew who set charges to trigger avalanches when no one is on the mountain. He is obviously good looking and popular, but the outside doesn't necessarily match the inside.And Hanlon, babied his whole life because he has a mild case of cerebral palsy, but he also grew into a independent college senior who has a gym body, is confident, out and proud.The quiet kid grew into a confident adult and the confident kid turned into a quiet adult.There was animosity between the step brothers for different reasons. But once they pushed past that and they started feeling things, it got interesting.Again, role reversal of the stereotypical characters. And that made it so fun.It sucked that they basically had to stay in the closet. Because of family and because of work. But we all know that doesn't last forever. And I totally understand their parents feeling the way they do. But like good parents, they found acceptance in their hearts.The CP representation was done really well. Showed that there are different levels of CP and even when it isn't overtly obvious, there's still a lot that a person has to deal with.AND I learned more about avalanches.4 pieces of eye candy ... See MoreSee Less
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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

4 days ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
THE WHITE RAVENS is #1! 🔥 🔥 🔥I LOVED this book! 🔥 🔥 🔥Scar and Gage have fought their way straight to the top, and I couldn’t be more grateful for every reader who grabbed this book, shared it, reviewed it, and loved these men as fiercely as I do.It hits all the marks!!! 🔥Enemies to Lovers 🔥 Touch Him and Die 🔥Blind Hero 🔥 Found Family 🔥Morally Gray Assassins 🔥Protective/Possessive Love#whiteravens #EnemiesToLovers #bestsellingbooks #bestselleramazon #assassinbookwww.amazon.com/White-Ravens-Book.../dp/B0FRYNC87F... ... See MoreSee Less

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