blog tour

Love in Spades by Charlie Cochet: Exclusive Excerpt and Release Day Review

April 27, 2018 by Denise

Ex-Special Forces soldier Anston “Ace” Sharpe is fighting a different battle these days—one involving the world of private security across the state of Florida. As part owner of Four Kings Security, Ace and his fellow Kings tackle everything from armed transport and investigations to cyber intelligence and executive protection. Cocky, fearless, and brash, Ace isn’t afraid to take risks.

After years of working alongside his father, Colton Connolly is ready to take the helm at Connolly Maritime, but his father’s retirement is put on hold when Colton begins receiving death threats. If that isn’t bad enough, his father signs a contract with Four Kings Security to provide Colton with round-the-clock protection, despite his adamant refusal. Colton’s life has been turned upside down, the last thing he needs is a shadow, especially in the form of infuriating, sexy-as-sin Ace Sharpe, who seems to be on a mission to drive Colton mad.

Sparks fly the moment Colton and Ace meet on a sultry night club dance floor. But getting involved with a client, even one as fiery and beautiful as Colton Connolly, is a line Ace is unwilling to cross. Colton might be attracted to Ace, but he’d been burned before. He might be willing to put his life in Ace’s hands, but not his heart.

As the Florida nights heat up, so does their passion, and Ace and Colton are faced with a difficult choice—take the plunge and risk it all, or play it safe and walk away?

If Ace can keep a deadly threat from robbing Colton of a future….

LOVE IN SPADES

CHARLIE COCHET

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 04.24.18

COVER DESIGN: REESE DANTE

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Ace’s lips curled into a wicked grin, and he dove under the water. Colton stilled, waiting for Ace to pop, but he didn’t. Jesus, the guy could hold his breath for a long time. It was like he’d vanished. Until something grabbed Colton’s legs. He released a barrage of curses as he was lifted, his arms flailing in an attempt not to lose his balance as Ace came up under him, and Colton ended up on Ace’s shoulders.

“You ass!” Colton hugged Ace’s head to keep himself steady as he sat on the man’s broad shoulders while Ace laughed himself silly. He held on to Colton’s thighs, and started walking. “What are you doing?” Colton squeaked.

“Going for a walk,” Ace said as if it were obvious.

“No, you have something devious planned; I know it.”

Ace chuckled. “Are you doubting me?”

“Absolutely. Remember the pool?”

“In my defense, you were being an ass.”

Colton let out a mock gasp. “Are you using inappropriate language toward your client?”

“I’ll show you inappropriate.” Ace growled deep in his throat, and Colton shivered.

“Ace,” Colton moaned. “Please don’t make that sound while my crotch is pressed against the back of your head.”

Ace stopped moving. Before Colton could ask if he was okay, Ace sank into the water, and disappeared again, leaving Colton standing there wondering what the man was about to do next. One thing was for sure, Ace always kept him on his toes. Hands caressed his legs, and Colton groaned, his eyes closing as Ace slid his hands up Colton’s body until he resurfaced, his arms around Colton and front pressed to Colton’s back. Colton covered Ace’s hands with his and leaned back into him before turning in his arms.

“We should head back,” Ace murmured, his eyes on Colton’s lips.

“You drive me fucking crazy, you know that?” Colton huffed. He slipped his hands beneath the water and cupped Ace through his shorts, making him groan. “How about you stop teasing me, take control of these gorgeous balls, and bury yourself deep inside me.”

Ace cursed under his breath. He opened his mouth to reply, but Colton put his fingers to Ace’s lips and released his hold on him.

“You know where to find me.” Colton turned and swam back to the shore. If Ace was determined to drive him out of his mind with his sensual caresses, lingering looks, and sultry voice, then it was only fair Colton return the favor.

What a fun book!

Ms Cochet has big shoes to fill. Those of Dex, Sloan and all the characters she created in the THIRDS series. Honestly, I wondered if we were going to get Dex Redux. Nope. These are totally new characters, without a hint of THIRDS.

Four Kings Security is owned by 4 friends, former special forces military who are basically brothers. They are known to be the best- and as such they are hired to protect the son of a well known businessman. But the protectee does not want to be protected. So take-no-shit Ace is put in charge of the job.

Naturally, sparks fly. Chemistry abounds. Ace and Colton dance around each other and their attraction.

I really liked that the focus of the story was more on Ace and Colton- and protecting Colton- than it was on finding out who is sending Colton the threatening messages. It gave the story the chance to showcase them instead of the mystery of the Big Bad.

We also get to know quite a few side characters who I assume we will get to know even more closely in coming books. This band of brothers who all work together with the shared experience of something going wrong on a military mission. The love they have for each other shines through. But they always, ALWAYS take their job seriously.

Colton and Ace are both snarky. And both seem to be able to turn it off like a light when needed. Colton can be totally professional at work, at it doesn’t ever seem to be like he is faking it. He just has a clear line between work and play.

Ace is the same. Joking around one minute, military attention the next.

Sure, they fell too easily and quickly for each other. And maybe Ace should have fought the attraction a bit harder- at least until the job was done. But overall, it was a really fun read, with likable characters and hot sex.

I absolutely look forward to reading more from the Four Kings and getting to know them all even more.

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

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

Website: http://www.charliecochet.com

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

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

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

Tumblr: http://charliecochet.tumblr.com

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

Twitter: @charliecochet

Instagram: http://instagram.com/charliecochet

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/charliecochet

The Eager Boy by Sean Michael: Exclusive Guest Post and Release Day Review

April 26, 2018 by Denise

Eight months ago Robin Secoya left his lover and master, Stack Lobond, because he didn’t believe Stack really cared about him. He was sure that for Stack, any warm body would do, and Robin wasn’t willing to be just a warm body anymore.

A chance meeting at the Iron Eagle Gym brings them back together, and old feelings aren’t far from the surface. They decide they can’t pass up a second chance at romance. But this time, it isn’t just Stack’s demanding career as a big-cat vet putting strain on their relationship. Robin also has a new job that takes up a lot of his time.

Will their kinky love affair crash and burn a second time, or can they find the balance that will allow the passion between them to flourish?

Title: The Eager Boy
Author: Sean Michael
Release Date: April 24, 2018
Category: BDSM
Pages: An Iron Eagle Gym: Book 5

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Thank you to Two Chicks Obsessed for hosting me today!

One of the characters in The Eager Boy – Stack – rides a motorcycle. I have a neat coincidence happening. The book came out this week, and this week is also the week when our weather turned from winter to summer (yeah, we have kind of skipped over most of spring) which means that there were suddenly a whole bunch of motorcycles on the road. Given that for six months of the year the roads are fairly traitorous for two wheeled vehicles, most drivers of motorcycles only use them during the late spring, summer and early fall.

There’s something sexy about a man on a motorcycle, isn’t there? There’s the leathers they wear to keep the bugs and wind from trashing their skin, not to mention to help against road rash should they have an accident. And there’s the image of the motorcycle driver being a bad boy. Yum.

I’m not that knowledgeable about motorcycles, but even I can recognize something unique and special when I see it on the road. There’s one here in the city that is this really dark pearlized purple with always brightly polished chrome. It’s quality. That’s the kind of bike I like to think that Stack rides. Something that makes people who see it immediately think that it’s quality and it’s driver is hot 😉

Whether you’re into motorcycles or not, I hope you enjoy Stack and Robin’s story.

Sean

smut fixes everything

I do like Sean Michael’s writing. It is real, the conversations are how I would expect to hear them as if I was standing next to the characters in real life, and the issues that come up are often ones you see in your own relationships or those around you.

This book with Robin and Stack was a second chance romance, Robin having left Stack months before because Stack was not giving him the attention he needed. And Stack, when he had the chance to get his boy back, realized he needed to change. However, I felt like it wasn’t the most sincere of changes in the beginning. Stack claimed not to know why Robin left, and clearly communication was an issue, but not having spent the time to understand why he left, before trying to reclaim their love lost me somehow.

I loved that Robin decided to reclaim his independence, getting a job, and his own apartment, working out on his terms. However, when he met up with Stack again, he seemed to immediately fall into whatever Stack wanted to do, which in the short run included getting into bed, and a scene. I felt that keeping his job was essential to him continuing a path towards independence, even if they lived together.

Although, I liked the characters, and their second chance, I felt like there were some pieces missing. I would love to catch up with them later, though, and see if that has been addressed.

3 pieces of eye candy

Best-selling author Sean Michael is a maple leaf–loving Canadian who spends hours hiding out in used book stores. With far more ideas than time, Sean keeps several documents open at all times. From romance to fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi, Sean is limited only by the need for sleep—and the periodic Beaver Tail.

Sean fantasizes about one day retiring on a secluded island populated entirely by horseshoe crabs after inventing a brain-to-computer dictation system. Until then, Sean will continue to write the old-fashioned way.

Sean Michael on the web:

WEBSITE: http://www.seanmichaelwrites.com

BLOG: http://seanmichaelwrites.blogspot.ca

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites/

TWITTER: @seanmichael09

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/seanmichaelpics/

Exploration by Quinn Ward: Exclusive Excerpt, RDB and Giveaway

April 25, 2018 by Denise

TCO is happy to have Quinn Ward here for Release Day, bringing an exclusive excerpt. Quinn’s new book, Exploration, Kinky in the City, is all about finding control, and surrendering control. Take a look, and then pick up the book!

The reluctant manager of his family’s restaurant, Frankie attempts to live up to the legacy of his father and grandfather. Running a business that isn’t his passion and trying to do it without asking for help leaves him turning to less-than-legal means when he wants to surrender control.

Newly divorced, Calvin no longer lives in the closet, leaving him searching for what he most desires- control. So when he finds Frankie on his knees in the back room of a local bar, Calvin sees the sub he’s only ever fantasized about having.

Can Calvin find the confidence to explore his dominant side while showing his younger roommate that submission isn’t only about whips and pain?

Length: 65,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Marisa @ Cover Me Darling

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

“I don’t have all night, Frankie,” Cal stated without any hint of emotion in his voice. He didn’t sound pissed off or turned on or anything else. I really could’ve used a few cues to understand how he saw tonight playing out.

I couldn’t stand in front of the door forever; I needed to make my choice. Go hear what Calvin had to say or turn and walk out, hoping he’d forget what he saw tonight by the next time we ran into one another. With a ragged breath, I squared my shoulders and took the first daunting step into the living room.

After I ran into the arm of one of the chairs, the room was flooded with light. I blinked a few times, trying to adjust my eyes to the sudden brightness, and stared at the man who’d summoned me. He was one of those guys who could pull off just about anything from sweats and a T-shirt to a suit and tie, but tonight, he was sitting on the couch wearing nothing but a pair of dark wash jeans. Shirtless. How in the hell did I not realize Calvin was hiding all that ink? Fucking edible. While my brain screamed that it was a horrible idea to pursue anything with the man whose name was on the deed, my dick begged me to crawl onto Calvin’s lap and lick every line spanning his chest.

“Please, take a seat.” Calvin motioned to the chair that’d just attacked my leg. I felt like an idiot, because if he was putting me across the room from him, he wasn’t looking for anything more than answers. No matter how much I’d told myself I didn’t want anything more than our current arrangement, I couldn’t ignore the tightness in my chest as I realized what a fool I’d been. Now that he didn’t want me, I wanted him to need me the same way I’d decided I needed him. I squirmed in my seat, trying to get comfortable as Calvin watched my every move. Only once I appeared settled did he speak again.

“Ever since you left tonight, I’ve been trying to figure out what your deal is.” Calvin leaned back on the couch, resting one foot against the opposite knee. He stared at me and scrubbed at his beard. His scrutiny had me resisting the urge to fidget or sit straighter. “I know you have a good job. I happen to know what most of your living expenses are, and they’re not much for a single guy. So it makes no sense why I’d find you in the back room on your knees like a cheap hooker.”

I bit down on my lips to keep from telling him what I did was none of his fucking business. It wouldn’t be an inaccurate statement, but he seemed genuinely curious. Too bad I wasn’t about to explain it to him. So, I did what any mature adult would do and I shrugged before crossing my arms tightly over my chest.

“You’re not denying that you were turning tricks?” Calvin pressed when I remained silent. Pleading the fifth was my only option because I couldn’t lie to save my life. Calvin leaned forward in his seat and stared at me until I couldn’t take another second of eye contact and I had to look away. “Help me understand why, Frankie. If you’re having trouble making ends meet we can work something out.”

“Yeah, I can just bet how you’d suggest we do that,” I sniped.

“I don’t like what you’re implying. I have no intention of trading sexual favors for room and board.”

Quinn writes LGBTQ romance with a kick. Their stories center around the relationship building between the characters, but also shows how compatible they are in the bedroom (or wherever else the urge strikes).

Goodreads Page
Facebook Reader Group
Email Quinn at: quinn@quinnwardwrites.com
Website

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Second Chance by Jay Northcote: Blog Tour, Excerpt and Release Day Review

April 25, 2018 by Denise

Everyone deserves a second chance.

Nate and his teenage daughter need a fresh start, so they move back to the village where he grew up. Nate’s transgender, and not used to disclosing his history, so it’s hard living where people knew him before. When Nate reconnects with Jack–his best friend from school and unrequited crush–his feelings return as strong as ever.

Jack’s returned home to get his life in order after an addiction to alcohol caused him to lose everything: his job, his driver’s licence, and nearly his life. He’s living with his parents, which is less than ideal, but rekindling his friendship with Nate–or Nat as Jack once knew him–is an unexpected benefit of being back home. Jack is amazed by Nate’s transformation, and can’t deny his attraction. Trying for more than friendship might ruin what they already have, but the chemistry between them is undeniable.

Doubting his feelings are reciprocated, Nate fears he’s risking heartbreak. Jack’s reluctance to tell his parents about their relationship only reinforces Nate’s misgivings. With both their hearts on the line and their happiness at stake, Jack needs to make things right, and Nate has to be prepared to give him a second chance.

Length: 67,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Black Jazz Design

Amazon

A hint of cigarette smoke carried on the wind caught Nate’s attention, and he realised he wasn’t alone. A hunched figure sat on a bench by the church. Wearing a heavy coat with the hood up, their head hung low staring at the grass between their feet rather than at the landscape stretched out before them. A cigarette hung from bony fingers that protruded from black fingerless gloves. As Nate watched, the man—because Nate could see his face now—raised his head to take a long drag before stubbing the cigarette out on the bench.

A shock of recognition made Nate’s heart jump, thudding erratically.

Jack.

Torn between conflicting urges to approach and flee, Nate stared at him, powerless to move.

How many years had it been since Nate had seen him? At forty-five Nate found each year passed faster than the one before. It must have been twenty years at least since he’d seen Jack, maybe more, and longer still since they’d spoken properly. Their last meeting had been nothing more than an awkward exchange of greetings when they ran into each other in the village pub one Christmas. The distance between them had cut Nate like a knife, so different to their teenage years when they’d been best friends, and almost inseparable.

Jack slumped forward again, letting the cigarette butt fall from his fingers. He put his hands over his face and Nate recognised despair and hopelessness, because they’d been his companions in the past. Acting on instinct, he approached.

“Sorry to intrude,” he said, pausing in front of Jack. “But are you okay? Is there anything I can do?”

Jack jerked his head up in surprise. His pale cheeks flushed as he shook his head. “Not really. Just having a bad day. You know how it is… or maybe you don’t.”

“I do.”

Nate studied him. The years had changed Jack, of course, but the essence of him was still the same. Sharp features, the strong nose Jack had always hated, even more defined with age, but more balanced now with dark stubble and the lines that the years were beginning to carve around his eyes and mouth.

As Jack stared back, Nate realised there was no recognition dawning on Jack’s face. To Jack, Nate was a stranger. Five years on testosterone had changed Nate to a point where Jack couldn’t see the person Nate had been before. Normally this was something Nate was glad about, but now he felt a pang of regret.

Hmmm, where to begin. First, this is my very first FTM read, and while I thought I knew the basics… I very much did not. Interesting, and kinda hot!

Now, on to the story….Nate and his teenage daughter are living back home with Nate’s mom, after Cass- the daughter was falling in with the wrong crowd and getting into trouble where they were previously. Being back home with your parents is never easy, especially after having a family of your own; but they both needed a fresh start. Having only been there for a few months, Nate runs into Jack, a former best friend whom she was in love with when they were younger. Except, back then, she was Nat.

Jack didn’t recognize Nate at first, having known her pre-transition….but I liked how open minded he was about everything. Jack, is also suffering from depression, also living with his parents after somewhat of a breakdown when things just kept piling up on him. I liked the way that was handled and not glossed over, depression is a very real and common thing… it made them more relatable, to me.

What kind of threw me off a bit, was… had they not said a couple times that both men were in their forties, I would’ve guessed teenagers. The dialogue between them was… blah at times, and just situations were just very teenager’y… I guess because they were back living at home, and having to sneak around and stuff… but I dunno, it was weird for me.

The guys, since running into each other, decide to keep in touch, which turns into a friends with benefits kind of thing, which never works out….especially when one or both people have deeper feelings. I knew it was likely to get messy, but it wasn’t angsty and back and forth, so, that was a plus.

What I also loved, was how accepting Nate’s mom and daughter was. I could see where Jack would be hesitant to share his relationship with his parents, because they didn’t seem as welcoming, not only because they knew Nate as Nat, but, they just didn’t seem that open minded with Jack’s orientation either. It did make for a little bump in the road, but they got there in the end.

As my first FTM read, I really enjoyed it!

4 stars from me!

April 20 – Gay Book Reviews, Katie’s Book Corner, Mainely Stories, OMG Reads

April 23 – Mikki-chan, Diverse Reader

April 25 – V’s Reads, Two Chicks Obsessed

May 2 – Bonkers About Books, Au Boudoir Ecarlate

May 4 – Wicked Faeries Tales & Reviews

May 7 – Xtreme Delusions, BFD Book Blog

May 9 – Kimmer’s Erotic Book Banter, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

May 11 – RAM PA Group, My Fiction Nook, Making It Happen, Wicked Reads

May 14 – Urban Smoothie Read

May 18 – Mirrigold, Bayou Book Junkie, Book Review Virgina Lee

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.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.

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Set Ablaze by KC Burn: Exclusive Guest Post, Release Day Review and Giveaway

April 23, 2018 by Denise

California firefighter Hayden Hurst is starting to realize there’s more to life than fighting fires and drinking with his buddies. He has room in his home and his life for someone special, but no one has stood out among his hookups. And while he’s out at work, admitting he’s gay is very different from showing up at social functions with a man. He’s afraid that’ll be too much for his less-than-accepting “friends.”

Broadway dancer Jez Bouchet hasn’t been mistaken for straight since he was gay-bashed at seventeen. After getting a lucrative job offer in Hollywood, he uproots his life in New York and drives to Los Angeles. His brother, who is Hayden’s best friend, arranges for him to crash at Hayden’s place.

The attraction between Hayden and Jez is unexpected but fiery, and they succumb before they’re even sure they like each other. But Jez hates Hayden’s homophobic friends, and Hayden knows Jez is too flamboyant for him to fly under the radar. Then there’s the complication of Jez’s brother.

Despite those hurdles, they fling themselves into a relationship. But Jez has secrets: a tiny spoiled dog and a determined stalker. If he doesn’t come clean, he might torch their burgeoning relationship before it has a chance to bloom.

Title: Set Ablaze
Author: KC Burn
Release Date: April 24, 2018
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 193

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Hi all! I’m KC Burn and I want to thank Two Chicks Obsessed for hosting me today for my new release Set Ablaze.

I know there are authors out there who have to hide what they write from family. There are readers out there who have to hide what they read. I am not one of those people. My friends are all supportive, my family is mostly supportive, my in-laws are super supportive. My hubby is the most supportive man I could ask for. When I’m not behind on deadlines, he edits my books and he’s excellent at catching plot holes and continuity errors as well as grammar mistakes.

For Set Ablaze, though, I required a different brand of support. Set Ablaze is set in a fictional firehouse, in Pasadena, California, where I currently reside. I’d done a bunch of research (like many of my books, the heroes’ professions only peripherally influence the story, so I didn’t need HUGE amounts of information about firefighters, just enough to get the parts I do reference correct). There were two questions I could not seem to locate answers for online though.

During this creation process, I traveled to Toronto for a conference. While I was there, I saw a Facebook post for the city of Pasadena. One of the fire stations was having an OPEN HOUSE. While I was AWAY. You could wander in and check the place out, and ask questions.

The conversation with my hubby went like this… “So… do you have any plans for Saturday?”

Yes, the hubby went to the open house, armed with my two questions, and took some pictures for me. It was exactly what I needed to finish the book. Gotta love my supportive hubby.

What about you? Have you been scorned for your reading choices? And I’m not necessarily talking m/m romance. Romance is often looked down on by the rest of the literary world. I’ve gotten flak for straight romances, and even just any sort of genre fiction. I really feel for those out there who can’t just enjoy the escape that reading (and writing) provides.

When I said I would review this book, I had no idea what to expect. A firefighter who’s out, but not quite out, a dancer with a future, but no home, and a puppy. So, yeah, all those together, and I said “yep, that’s for me!” Having not read this author before, I took a chance. (Meanwhile, I went and searched and found I had purchased at least one book by this author, and its in my TBR, moved up accordingly. 🙂 )

What I did not expect was the twists and turns this book would take, and not the normal ones you might expect. Jez’s brother, his reactions to Jez, and later his reasoning behind it all were surprising to me. Also, the…for want of a better word…s**t that Hayden took from his friends, despite them knowing he was gay, and how it was handled. This impressed me as a reader, because it could have easily turned into a hugely dramatic part of the book, and instead was dealt with as (hopefully) most adults would have handled it.

In the end though, I loved the relationship between Hayden and Jez. They respected each other, despite their extreme differences, and didn’t allow circumstances to pull them apart. They truly just worked on falling in love, with only a little internal drama-and a whole lot of cute puppy. 🙂

Hayden’s own issues made complete sense considering the circumstances he’d had to deal with, and the way he allowed Jez to assist with the process of letting go was touching. They really did make a good team together.

I really enjoyed this book, and am hoping to find some time soon to read Cop Out now…or if there’s another in this series, that too!

4.5 pieces of eye candy

KC Burn has been writing for as long as she can remember and is a sucker for happy endings (of all kinds). After moving from Toronto to Florida for her husband to take a dream job, she discovered a love of gay romance and fulfilled a dream of her own — getting published. After a few years of editing web content by day, and neglecting her supportive, understanding hubby and needy cat at night to write stories about men loving men, she was uprooted yet again and now resides in California. Writing is always fun and rewarding, but writing about her guys is the most fun she’s had in a long time, and she hopes you’ll enjoy them as much as she does.

Visit KC at her website, on Twitter, on Facebook, or find out about new releases by signing up for her newsletter.

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A Full Plate by Kim Fielding: Exclusive Author Guest Post and Release Day Review

April 20, 2018 by Denise

Opposites come together for a spicy surprise.

Bradford “Tully” Tolliver has everything—money, a great car, a beautiful condo, and a promising career as one of Portland’s hottest young lawyers. Sure, he puts in long hours and has no social life to speak of, but who needs romance when corporations pay top dollar for his expertise? He hesitates when a colleague asks if her cousin can live with him, but the arrangement will last less than a year, and then the cousin—Sage Filling—will return to his tiny hometown.

But Sage is handsome and intriguing, and his cooking makes Tully swoon. Sage has obligations back home, though, and Tully has offers he might not refuse from a persistent—and very wealthy—ex. Since Tully and Sage each have a full plate, can they make room for a side of love?

Title: A Full Plate
Author: Kim Fielding
Release Date: April 17, 2018
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 197

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Hi! I’m Kim Fielding, and I’m very excited to announce the arrival of my new Dreamspun Desires book, A Full Plate! If you’re in the mood for a sweet little opposites-attract romance with a hint of spice, this may fit your tastes exactly.

Are you a city slicker or a country bumpkin? Neither of those are very positive terms, so let’s put it another way. Are you more comfortable amid the high-rises of the urban jungle, where the hustle and bustle and the 24/7 lifestyle keep you juiced? Or would you prefer to remain in the quiet of the country, with nature at your doorstep and a slower, steadier pace?

I think both locales have pros and cons. I love the convenience of the city, the variety, and the opportunities for people-watching. But I also appreciate the peace of the countryside and the relative lack of stress.

To be honest, I live in neither environment. I’ve spent most of my life in the burbs or in cities that are too big to be towns but far too small to be metropolises. My current home is two blocks from almond orchards and cornfields, but the freeway roars nearby, and I can buy pho or a microbrew without leaving the city limits.

My day job and other practicalities keep me where I am for now. But if I were completely free to choose, I’d opt for a big-city condo—with frequent vacations to the mountains, the desert, and the beach. The best of both worlds, right?

In my new book, A Full Plate, the main characters face the basic question of where to live. Tully is a corporate attorney, born in Manhattan and now living in a Portland high-rise. Sage, however, is from the tiny central Oregon town of Hair Shaker—one of those places where everyone knows everyone else’s business. He aspires to nothing fancier than being a good cook, but he must temporarily live in the city in order to support his family.

So there we have it: a classic conflict. How can these two very different men ever find happiness together?

Where would you prefer to live, in the city or in the country?

Here’s a nice country-inspired recipe from my childhood.

Fruit Coffee Cake

Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 ½ tsp grated orange peel

½ cup butter

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

3 ½ cups fresh fruit of your choice, washed, pitted or hulled, and cut into bite-size pieces

Topping:

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

¼ cup flour

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp butter

½ cup chopped nuts (optional)

Make cake: In a bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and orange peel. With pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles cornmeal.

In another bowl, beat eggs lightly, then stir in milk and vanilla. Make a well in center of flour mixture and pour in egg mixture; stir just until moistened. Spoon batter into well-greased 7 ½ by 11 ½ pan and arrange fruit evenly on top, pressing in lightly.

Make topping: Combine sugar, flour, and cinnamon. With fingers, work in butter. Stir in nuts.

Squeeze together handfuls of topping, then break into chunks and scatter over fruit.

Bake at 350F until pick comes out clean, about 60 minutes. Cool 20 minutes on wire rack.

Sigh. I just love a happy ending. Not just when it ends on a good note, but when we get to see the characters in their new lives, enjoying each moment. It’s one of the reasons I love the Dreamspun Desires series. That happy ending is never far away.

I really enjoyed this one by Kim Fielding. A Full Plate gave me all the good feels. Sage was happiest right where he felt at home, in the kitchen, make those around him happy with his food. Okay, there was that one time with Tully, but it led to happy, so easily forgiven. J

What I loved most was Tully though, and not simply because the book was written from his POV. Tully grew up rich in Manhattan, going to private schools, having the best of everything, until he came out. That kind of childhood could have led to him being a snob, and looking down on Sage for “only wanting to be a cook”. Yet he didn’t, he told people with pride what Sage did. He treated him with respect and care, not caring that Sage didn’t have a college degree, or that he didn’t work for a Michelin starred restaurant. Tully was a person of great integrity-although I think he should have given Eddy hell for destroying wetlands-and treated everyone respectfully.

Tully and Sage were so compatible deep down, that it seemed odd that it took them so long to make that connection. But they did, and all cylinders seemed to fire from there. Love was inevitable.

I would love to see them pop up again somewhere else, just to get more of a glimpse into how their lives have evolved.

4 pieces of eye candy

Kim Fielding is the bestselling author of numerous m/m romance novels, novellas, and short stories. Like Kim herself, her work is eclectic, spanning genres such as contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and historical. Her stories are set in alternate worlds, in 15th century Bosnia, in modern-day Oregon. Her heroes are hipster architect werewolves, housekeepers, maimed giants, and conflicted graduate students. They’re usually flawed, they often encounter terrible obstacles, but they always find love.

After having migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States, Kim calls the boring part of California home. She lives there with her husband, her two daughters, and her day job as a university professor, but escapes as often as possible via car, train, plane, or boat. This may explain why her characters often seem to be in transit as well. She dreams of traveling and writing full-time.

Follow Kim:

Website: http://www.kfieldingwrites.com/

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Twitter: @KFieldingWrites

Email: Kim@KFieldingWrites.com

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A complete list of Kim’s books: http://www.kfieldingwrites.com/kim-fieldings-books/