Blog Tours

Counterpoint (Twisted Wishes #2) by Anna Zabo: Exclusive Excerpt, Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

September 24, 2018 by Denise

Twisted Wishes lead guitarist Dominic “Domino” Bradley is an animal onstage. But behind his tight leather pants and skull-crusher boots lies a different man entirely, one who needs his stage persona not only to perform, but to have the anonymity he craves. A self-imposed exile makes it impossible to get close to anyone outside the band, so he’s forced to get his sexual fix through a few hot nights with a stranger.

When computer programmer Adrian Doran meets Dominic, he’s drawn to the other man’s quiet voice and shy smile. But after a few dirty, demanding nights exploring Dominic’s need to be dominated, Adrian wants more than a casual distraction. He has no idea he’s fallen for Domino Grinder—the outlandish, larger-than-life rock god.

Dominic is reluctant to trust Adrian with his true identity. But when the truth is revealed prematurely, Dominic is forced to reevaluate both his need for Adrian and everything he believes about himself.

Release Date: September 24, 2018

Publisher: Carina Press

Genre: m/m contemporary rockstar romance (with a bit of kink)

Quirks and Warnings: Contains D/s and bondage. Also discusses anxiety and depicts a panic attack.

Tropes and Themes: Secret identity. Geeks in love. hurt/comfort. Finding yourself behind the mask you wear for others.

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“Dominic, you are amazing.” Another push. “Bedroom. Now.”

So he moved and entered, and it was all the colors he loved. Soft blue walls, like the color of the ocean. Green accents with pops of gold. Rich brown furniture. The hues were so Adrian, too. Dom made it halfway into the room when he spotted something hanging from the solid wood bedframe. “Are those manacles on your bed?”

Adrian gave him a less subtle shove toward said bed. “They’re leather cuffs. And yes, they’re used for exactly what you think they’re there for.”

“Tying guys up.”

“Tying people up.”

Dom turned to meet Adrian’s gaze. “You’re bi?”

Not even a blink. “Pansexual. Is that an issue?”

“No, it’s just—” He saw the flicker of hurt and annoyance in Adrian’s face. “No. It’s not an issue at all.”

Confusion lay in Adrian, and he crossed his arms.

Shit, shit. His big clunky mouth when he was out of it. “You’ve been entirely focused on me,” Dom said. “Like, completely. Whenever I’ve been with someone else, they notice other people. But you—”

Adrian bore down on Dom, his smile back in part, but the lines on his face so fucking intense. “You need better lovers, Dominic Bradley.”

Dom’s thighs hit the bed, and his ass a moment later. A second after that, Adrian’s mouth was on his neck, and Dom’s back was pressed against the mattress. A hand skimmed his thigh, as that masterful tongue and mouth moved over Dom’s jaw before claiming his mouth.

His mind was a reeling pile of mush when Adrian drew back. “How could anyone look anywhere else when you’re in the room?”

“You’re such a fucking flatterer,” Dom said, “I’m nothing special.”

“Mmm. I’m gonna disagree with you there.” Adrian took his mouth again, and under Dom went until Adrian finally relented and stood. “I need out of the fucking suit.”

“Yeah, you do,” Dom said.

Adrian grunted. “Don’t give me lip.”

“And this is probably where I shouldn’t say ‘yes, Daddy.’”

That got Dom a huge laugh. “Fuck, you’re mouthy. Ever been gagged, Dominic? Because I can totally give your mouth something other than my cock or pie to suck on.” There was just a hint of warning in those words, though.

Dom shivered from the weight of Adrian’s gaze. “Never been gagged.” He paused. “I’ll be good.” But then the other thought crossed his mind. “Wouldn’t mind trying being gagged.”

Adrian let out a huff of air and worked at his tie. “Of course you wouldn’t. But for now, lie back and watch.”

Dom did. Adrian didn’t put on a show or anything, but watching him undress was something else. The tie went first, and it landed on a nearby chair. Stained suit jacket followed, with the casual ease of someone who’d been wearing them for years. Cufflinks—pretty silver ones that flashed in the light—came next, and Adrian turned to put them on his dresser.

His ass was spectacular, and Dom let out a grunt. The leer Adrian threw over his shoulder burned straight through Dom, and despite his instant orgasm earlier, his cock hardened at the sight.

Adrian turned as he unbuttoned his shirt, opening it to reveal what looked suspiciously like really well-defined abs, and when he shrugged it off, Dom murmured his appreciation.

Not just abs. Adrian was built. Not in a bulky way, but his frame was covered in lean, chiseled muscles and dusted with the same red-brown hair that graced his head. A thicker trail led from his stomach down into his semen-spotted dress slacks.

“You’ve already seen my cock,” Adrian said.

Dom shook his head. “Just swallowed it. Didn’t get to admire the look.”

So, this is a first for me with this author, and I’m not usually a fan of celebrities of any kind….like, at all…but, something about Dominic’s nerdy, bow-tie wearing submissive self, had me curious about him and his story. I didn’t originally know this was book 2 in a series, but it read as a standalone, and I didn’t feel I missed anything from the previous story….

Now, Dominic, is the guitarist in a high-school band with his friends- gone famous. He was incredibly shy and reserved….until he transformed himself into Domino…the sexy guitarist in Twisted Wishes. Now… I’m not sure, I’ve never needed to have a different persona, so I’m not sure quite how that would work, being in two different headspaces enough to be two different people. I know that Domino seemed like kind of a slut though, and it just didn’t seem like Dominic…. That’s the point though I guess, but it just didn’t feel genuine for me.

Then, Adrian, I forget what he does….but he’s the office type, a little bit older than Dominic, and he seemed a little pretentious when they met at the little bar that they both frequent when Dominic has down time. Now, what I didn’t care for, is just like Dominic was two different people, Adrian seemed like two different people to me too. He was flirty and kind of sweet, wanting a date and to get to know more about Dominic, but then next scene, when he was at the gym with Jackson, his trainer/friend/friends with benny’s that occasionally had threesomes with I guess… I dunno, I actually thought he was a different peron altogether. I just didn’t like how he acted then. Why are all the guys so easy and whorey and promiscuous? Gross. (yes, I can slut shame… I think it’s gross)…. Once I got to know Adrian a little more, it didn’t bother me, but it put me off at the beginning.

Now, because Dominic seemed he could be two different people when he needed to be; he was able to do things without being recognized… again, I don’t see how, but whatever… but, Adrian didn’t know anything about Domino…. Now, I didn’t mind this, because they’d only just met and Dominic wanted to keep his anonymity. Not to mention, he was able to let himself go, and let Adrian give him what he needed. In saying that, I’ll also say that I’m not a fan of BDSM…. Light stuff is kind of hot, but flogging and the whole pain scene just isn’t for me. I liked this though, it was light, there was no flogging or canning and I thought it was actually kind of beautiful how Dominic needed Adrian, and the ways in which Adrian helped him let go.

Of course, anytime a relationship starts out with a big secret (like Dominic being a megastar)…. It’s absolutely going to come out eventually, and when it does, you’re going to look like the dishonest one and feelings are going to be hurt and the whole time, you’re going to be wishing that you just told the truth from the beginning when it started becoming more than just a hookup. I mean, they were telling each other they loved each other, and Adrian still didn’t know, so of course that’s exactly what happened.

Fortunately, Adrian was sweet and patient and understanding, and it was over as quickly as it came on. What I also didn’t like, was I really wanted Adrian to get some karmic justice from that awful man that he worked with. It seemed like a sideline problem, just mentioned for something to mention, but I would’ve loved to have seen him get put in his place, or at least if Adrian would’ve quit and his boss and William flounder a bit…. Didn’t happen though, oh well. It was just another snibbit that irked me.

Overall, I probably wouldn’t read anymore in this series, but I was happy with cute way it ended and as always, I’m a sucker for a happy ending.

3 pieces of eye candy from me

Anna Zabo writes contemporary and paranormal romance for all colors of the rainbow. They live and work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which isn’t nearly as boring as most people think.

Anna grew up in the wilds of suburban Philadelphia before returning to their ancestral homelands in Western Pennsylvania. As a child they were heartily disappointed to discover that they couldn’t grow up to be what they wanted (a boy, a cat, a dragon), so they settled on being themself whenever possible, which may be a combination of a boy, a cat, and a dragon. Or perhaps a girl, a knight, and a writer. Depends on whom you ask. They do have a penchant for colorful ties and may be hording a small collection of cufflinks.They can be easily plied with coffee.

Anna has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, where they fell in with a roving band of romance writers and never looked back. They also have a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Anna uses they/them pronouns and prefers Mx. Zabo as an honorific.

Author Links:
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Buyers Remorse by DJ Jamison: Exclusive Excerpt, RDB and Giveaway

September 20, 2018 by Denise

Will love persevere when the truth comes out?

Lee

I changed my name, but I can’t change what I did. My brothers died, and I spent three years in witness protection. Returning to Fields, where I once hid out, feels right. Seeing Miguel again feels even better. But when a dead body interrupts my tour of a building for sale, my start isn’t as fresh as I’d like.

Miguel

I’ve been trying to curb my habit of leaping into bad relationships, but when Lee comes back to town, he’s hard to resist. Kids are dying, and life’s too short to shy away from a good thing. But will Lee’s mysterious past come back to bite me?

Between police questioning and trials of trust, it’s far from smooth sailing. If we don’t figure out who’s selling synthetic drugs and convince the police Lee is not their man, we may all have a severe case of buyer’s remorse.

Buyer’s Remorse includes hurt/comfort, second-chance romance, and mystery themes.

80k words approx.

Cover Design: Jay Aheer @ Simply Defined Art

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LEE

Miguel looked exactly as I remembered him. His dark hair was thick and wavy, just brushing his collar. His lips were full, and long lashes framed his dark eyes. He was dressed down in jeans and a black T-shirt, which exposed a nice pair of biceps. Miguel was taller than me, but not by much.

My brain synapses were only half-firing as we spoke. While I was less surprised than Miguel, given that I knew he lived in Fields and had seen his picture on the real estate sign in the window, I still wasn’t prepared to meet him so suddenly. I’d come downtown to make a note of buildings for sale now that my financing was in place to move forward. I’d intended to ask Camden to show me property when he was ready, but with Miguel in front of me, I’d impulsively reached for a reason to spend time with him.

“The building’s been vandalized,” Miguel continued. “It’s in no shape for a potential buyer.”

“Well, that’s a shame,” I said. “I was looking forward to seeing more of it.”

Looking forward to seeing more of Miguel too.

I licked my lips, noticing his eyes follow the action. Heat uncurled in my groin. I still wanted this man. I had a type — dark and sensual — and I could trace that type directly back to Miguel Castillo, a man I’d wanted badly three years ago but could never pursue.

Obstacle after obstacle had stood in my way.

I was hiding in Fields as Reid’s “boyfriend.” Making a move on Miguel would have been a risk to my cover and my life. Beyond that, Miguel had his own boyfriend. Even once Reid had revealed the truth to Camden because he’d raised too many questions, I couldn’t tell Miguel. The more people who knew the truth, the greater the risk to me.

So, I left Fields and Miguel behind when I went to testify against the gang members who wanted me dead, but I’d never managed to leave my attraction behind. Now, perhaps I had another chance with the man who’d inspired so many fantasies. If I was making a new start, finally tasting Miguel wouldn’t be a bad appetizer.

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DJ Jamison is the author of more than a dozen m/m romances, including the Ashe Sentinel series and the Hearts and Health series. She writes a variety of queer characters, from gay to bisexual to asexual, with a focus on telling love stories that are more about common ground than lust at first sight. DJ grew up in the Midwest in a working-class family, and those influences can be found in her writing through characters coping with real-life problems: money troubles, workplace drama, family conflicts and, of course, falling in love. DJ spent more than a decade in the newspaper industry before chasing her first dream to write fiction. She spent a lifetime reading before that, and continues to avidly devour her fellow authors’ books each night. She lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, two fish and, regrettably, one snake.

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Love Spell by Mia Kerick: Blog Tour, New Release Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

September 19, 2018 by Denise

Chance César is fabulously gay, but his gender identity—or, as he phrases it, “being stuck in the gray area between girl and boy”—remains confusing. Nonetheless, he struts his stuff on the catwalk in black patent leather pumps and a snug-in-all-the-right (wrong)-places orange tuxedo as the winner of this year’s Miss (ter) Harvest Moon Festival. He rules supreme at the local Beans and Greens Farm’s annual fall celebration, serenaded by the enthusiastic catcalls of his BFF, Emily Benson.

Although he refuses to visually fade into the background of his rural New Hampshire town, Chance is socially invisible—except when being tormented by familiar bullies. But sparks fly when Chance, Pumpkin Pageant Queen, meets Jasper (Jazz) Donahue, winner of the Pumpkin Carving King contest. Chance wants to be noticed and admired and romantically embraced by Jazz, in all of his neon-orange-haired glory.

And so at a sleepover, Chance and Emily conduct intense, late-night research, and find an online article: “Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love With You.” Along with a bonus love spell thrown in for good measure, it becomes the basis of their strategy to capture Jazz’s heart.

But will this “no-fail” plan work? Can Chance and Jazz fall under the fickle spell of love?

Title: Love Spell

Author: Mia Kerick

Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC

Release Date: September 17, 2018

Heat Level: 1 – No Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 43300

Genre: Contemporary YA, contemporary, YA, non-binary, bullying, homophobia, coming-of-age, humorous

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Just call me brazen.

It occurs to me that brazen—unabashedly bold and without an inkling of shame—is the perfectly appropriate word to describe moi right about now. It is, however, the only perfectly appropriate part of this evening. Which is perfectly appropriate, in my humble opinion. So get over it.

I lift my chin just enough to stop the stiff orange spikes of glitter-gelled hair from flopping forward onto my forehead. Who can blame me? These spikes are razor sharp—best they stay upright on my head where they belong. And gravity can only do so much to that end.

Okaaaayyyy…sidetracked much? Forces rebellious thoughts on business at hand.

Chance César is a brazen B.

I stare ’em down, but only after I pop the collar of the blinding “Orange Crush” tuxedo I’m rockin’ and shrug my shoulders in a sort of what-the-fuck fashion. Rule of thumb in this queen’s life—first things must always come first.

Pop, shrug, and only then is it kosher to stare. I clear my throat.

“Eat your ginger-haired heart out, Ed Sheeran.”

Based on the buzz of scandalized chatter blowing about in the crisp evening breeze, I’m reasonably certain that nobody in the crowd heard me speak. And although several of the girls currently gawking at me may do double backflips over my red-haired counterpart across the pond, they don’t give a rat’s ass about Chance César. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion that they view my atomic tangerine locks as more reminiscent of Bozo the Clown than of the smexy singer-songwriter.

They are, however, completely unaware that this carrot top is going to make Harvest Moon Festival history tonight.

Refusing to succumb to the impulse to duck my head, I take a single shaky step forward onto the stage that’s been set up on the dusty ground beside a vast—by New England standards—cornfield. The stage doesn’t wobble, but my knees sure as shit do. Okay, I’m an honest diva and I tell it like it is. And I’m what you might call a freaking wreck.

Nonetheless, this brazen B takes a deep breath, blows it out in a single gush, and starts to strut. This boy’s werkin’ it.

Smi-zeee!! Yeah, my smile is painted on, just like my trousers.

Chance, you are by far the edgiest Miss Harvest Moon this ramshackle town has ever had the good fortune to gaze upon. I am a major fan of positive self-talk.

Using the feigned British accent I’ve perfected—thanks to long hours of tedious practice in my bathroom—I dish out my next thought aloud. “I wish I’d put in a tad more practice walking in these bloody heels before going public in ’em.” And despite one slight stumble—a close call to be sure—the clicking sound my pumps make is crisp and confident. I saunter out onto the catwalk.

#TrueConfessions: Faking foreign accents is a hobby of mine. I can yammer it up in improvised French, German, Mexican, Russian, and plenty more accents, but I don’t mimic Asian languages, as it seems too close to ridicule. My plan for the rest of the night is to continue vocalizing my abundant thoughts in Standard British, with a hint of Cockney thrown in for charm. After all, New Hampshire is the “Live Free or Die” state, and I’ll do what I laaaa-like. Yaaasss!

First: Teenagers are ridiculous.
Second: It makes me feel incredibly old to say that.
Third: Chance is exhausting but in the cutest ways

Chance is voted Miss something or other in his towns Miss Something or other pageant, cuz kids are mean, and they thought it would be funny for the boy to be queen… didn’t they realize he’d own it?! If they didn’t, they got schooled….cuz he owned it.

I couldn’t imagine being an openly gay, genderfluid teenager, confused about his gender identity and having to navigate high school in today’s world. People are so intolerant, and ignorant, that it had my heart hurting for the things that he had to put up with. And if we know anything about my rants, its when people get away with being terrible, and those A-holes made high school hard for him, and I hated reading that… Thankfully, Chance has his bestie Emily, and she’s more than just a bestie, she’s the family he doesn’t have. His parents are awful too…. They’re not abusive in any typical sense of the word, but there’s no love there, and that made me sad for him too.

Now, at the miss whatever pageant (it was a cute and clever name, I just don’t remember what it was called), he meets Jasper, who he aptly nicknames Jazz… Jazz is sweet and shy and about fifteen kinds of adorable. His mom works any spare second she can, and Jasper is left juggling school, a job and helping raise his little sister…. Is that not just the cutest?! Chance is quite smitten with him at first site, even though they’ve been going to the same school together, forever.

Unfortunately, two things happen…. One, Jazz already likes Chance but doesn’t just come out and tell him…and two… Chance and Emily come up with the most ridiculous list of ways to make Jazz fall in love with him. Now, some of these were downright stupid, and I couldn’t believe that they A. believed it would work, or B. attempted to try them. No wonder Jazz got the wrong idea, the suggestions were terrible and terribly executed lol though it was entertaining (at times) (other times, exhausting)

So, when the list is almost finished, the only two things left are the only suggestions that he’d have needed all along, it was too late…. Or was it? There are a couple really good lessons in this story, and it would be one I’d let my newly “out” thirteen year old read…. If he could understand the lingo… I’ll admit, there were a couple times I had to be like…what in the world does that mean?!…. You’ll get there though.

If you enjoy YA, overly dramatic, sarcastic and sassy, gender-confused and charming…..or the quiet and shy, simple boy…. Give this one a chance, <wink wink>

4 pieces of eye candy from me

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—one in law school, another at a dance conservatory, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She has published more than twenty books of LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-five years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young people and their relationships. She has a great affinity for the tortured hero in literature, and as a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of tortured heroes and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to NineStar Press for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.

Her books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine, and have won Rainbow Awards for Best Transgender Contemporary Romance and Best YA Lesbian Fiction, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards.

Mia Kerick is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology. Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com or visit at www.miakerickya.com to see what is going on in Mia’s world.

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The Heights by Amy Aislin: Exclusive Guest Post, Blog Tour and Giveaway

September 19, 2018 by Denise

Twenty-one years ago, a four-year old child was kidnapped from his front yard. He was never found. Until now.

All Nat Walker wants is to make his late father’s dream of running a father/son woodworking shop come true. And he had the perfect building in mind—until the new guy in town came in and bought the place right out from under him. The fact that the new guy is adorable means nothing. For all Nat cares, he can take his new dance studio and waltz back to New York City.

Professional dancer Quinn Carroll couldn’t be happier that he made the move to the small town of Lakeshore, Oregon. Sure, it’s not New York, but now he’ll be living closer to his adoptive brother. And since his studio will be the only one in the area, he should get enough business to keep him busy. Besides, there’s something about this place that seems familiar…

He doesn’t expect to fall hard for the local, grumpy woodworker who won’t even smile at him.

Or find out that his entire life is a lie.

The Heights by Amy Aislin

Series: Lakeshore #1

Publisher: self-published

Release Date (Print & Ebook): September 20, 2018

Length (Print & Ebook): approx. 75,000 words, or 320 pages

Subgenre: m/m contemporary romance

Reader warnings: one of the main characters suffers from panic attacks

Cover artist: Stacey Blake @ Champagne Book Design

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Thank you for joining me to celebrate the release of my newest m/m contemporary romance, The Heights, and thank you to Two Chicks Obsessed for having me! Today I’m sharing a sexy excerpt. Check it out below!

Yes.

Yes, yes, yes.

Had Quinn known that all he needed to do was bait Nat into kissing him, he would’ve done it weeks ago.

This was no soft, tentative first kiss. Nat’s mouth was hard on his. Demanding. Combative even, daring Quinn on.

Oh, it was on.

The music changed from Thirty Seconds to Mars to “Sail” by AWOLNATION. It thrummed in his veins, made his pulse beat as he attempted to climb Nat’s body. Nat cupped his butt and hoisted him up to sit on the counter. Their eyes met, briefly, heat and lust and anger clashing before their mouths met again.

Bad idea. This was such a bad idea. It’d no doubt fuck up their friendship, especially since Quinn was sure Nat was only doing this out of pity or maybe out of some protective need to stop Quinn from having a one-night stand. Whatever the reason, things would end badly between them.

But Nat’s tongue was in his mouth and Nat’s hands were yanking Quinn’s shirt up, bunching it under Quinn’s armpits. Quinn’s legs tightened around Nat’s hips, hands up the back of Nat’s sweater to trail over warm, naked skin.

Yeah, Quinn didn’t particularly give a shit about good idea versus bad. Only that this was happening, it was happening now, and the only way he’d put a stop to it was if a bomb went off.

And maybe not even then.

Pity fuck or not, he was all in.

He gave Nat a push, sending him into the fridge behind him. Fridge magnets fell, clattering onto the floor. Nat’s mouth quirked up on one side and he stripped out of his sweater, eyes locked on Quinn. After the sweater came the T-shirt. Quinn ran his gaze over Nat’s bared chest as Nat took a step back. Another.

Quinn slid off the counter and followed, breathing hard, blood rushing south. He wanted his hands on all that skin and reached out for Nat’s cock, outlined by Nat’s jeans. But Nat kept his pace steady, heading for the bedroom, Quinn shadowing him step for step less than two feet behind. He tore his own shirt off, dropping it onto the floor.

In the bedroom, they came together with a crash, teeth clacking and biting, hands fighting for dominance. Nat picked him up and threw him on the bed, coming down on top of him in the next instant.

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek of The Heights. The Heights comes out tomorrow, September 20, and is available for pre-order at Amazon, iBooks, B&N, and Kobo.

Amy started writing on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class was forced to stay inside for recess. Tales of adventures with her classmates quickly morphed into tales of adventures with the characters in her head. Based in the suburbs of Toronto, Amy is a marketer/fundraiser at a large environmental non-profit in Toronto by day, and a writer by night. Book enthusiast, animal lover and (very) amateur photographer, her interests are many and varied, including travelling, astronomy, ecology, and baking. She binge watches too much anime, and loves musical theater, Julie Andrews, the Backstreet Boys, and her hometown of Oakville, Ontario.

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Win a fantastic The Heights prize pack: signed paperback, one of a kind art print, and a set of wooden star ornaments.

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Professor Adorkable by Edie Danford: Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

September 18, 2018 by Denise

What happens when a star-gazing professor falls for his hot young housekeeper? One heck of an earthy explosion…

Professor Marek Janos’s genius at analyzing stellar explosions doesn’t apply to his own disordered world. Forgetting to eat, sleep, and leave his lab has triggered some epic personal disasters. When his family insists he hire live-in help, he discovers home life has awesome benefits. His new housekeeper’s smile sparks more energy than a supernova. And the way he moves? It rocks Marek’s galaxy.

Pete Schulz took a tough fall from his high-flying life in Hollywood. But how does a guy whose best skill is getting dirty clean up his act? His new gig with Domesticated Inc seems like a great first step. Keeping house for a nerdy young astrophysics professor is exactly the low-key, no-chance-for-trouble job he needs, right?

Living together is surprisingly easy for both men. And fun. And more than a little hot. It’s when they’re faced with the idea of living apart that the truly messy work begins…

Title: Professor Adorkable

Series: Domesticated Inc, Book One

Author: Edie Danford

Publisher: Edie Danford

Release Date: September 18, 2018

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 90,000 words

Genre: Romance, Boss, Housekeeper, Best Friends, Nerd

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“I made the mess,” I tell my housekeeper. “So I will clean it up.”

“Yeah, I know you can clean it up if given several hours,” Pete responds, his smile crooked. There are no signs of exasperation on his face or in his tone. No signs that he’s upset I’ve woken him up with the sound of breaking glass, and that his once-pristine kitchen floor is now covered with a mess I could have easily avoided if I’d been paying attention. “But it’s my job. Tomorrow morning your job is to go teach a class. You’ll sleep until eight, eat a good breakfast, and then be off.”

I raise my eyebrows. “That is exactly how it will happen?”

“I’ll make sure of it.”

“What if I want to negotiate?”

“Negotiate?”

“Yes. Things can be negotiated in a democratic household, yes?”

“Democratic?”

I smile. “We have no dictators here. Or kings or queens.”

“Well.” He snorts. “There is that matter of your uncle signing my paycheck. But I get what you’re saying, I guess. What were you interested in negotiating?”

“Tonight I feel…antsy? Unable to relax.” I move my shoulders up and down to show him all this tension I’m experiencing. “I’ll go upstairs and sleep, but first I would like company. To hang out with you. For a while.”

His mouth droops as he folds his arms across his bare chest and stares at me. “So you’re saying you’ll let me do my job. But only if I give up my free time for you?”

“Um.” It’s cool in the kitchen, but my face suddenly becomes steam-burn hot.

Damn. I’m incredibly bad at talking to him—or any guy—I find attractive. Doesn’t matter where I am—Prague, Pasadena, Chicago. My language barrier isn’t about Czech versus English. It’s about my head versus my tongue.

What I want with Pete is complicated, not simple. But, as usual, I’ve said words that could be construed as—

God, I don’t even know what.

“You suck at negotiating, Marek.” He says it with a kind note in his voice.

“Yes.” I clear my throat. “I do.”

He sighs and runs his hand over his short hair—hair I want so fucking badly to touch. Is it bristly, soft? Would it sift through my fingers easily, or would it be like my hair and cling to my skin?

“I suppose we could listen to one Harry Potter chapter,” he says, lacking his usual enthusiasm for the idea. “But just one. And if you fall asleep or if I fall asleep or if we both fall asleep, it will be your job to wake up and go back to bed. No sleepovers. That’s a rule that’s not allowed to change.”

I swallow. Ordinarily I would give him shit about the unreasonableness of his request—if we’re asleep, how will we know we’re asleep and thus breaking his rules?

But I keep quiet tonight. I know I’m pushing him. I know he’s beginning to figure out I want more than just his company. So much more.

If this were a work-related matter, I would get my way with a few basic words. Logic applies in my lab. When it comes to my personal life, however, logic rarely applies. Basic words never seem to work.

If I tell Pete what I really want—to take him into his room, to put him on his comfortable bed, to kiss his clever mouth over and over and over, to blow him until his sweet hotness spills down my throat, to hold him tightly and use friction to excellent effect (inside or outside our bodies, I don’t care) until we both come—then he would say “no” quickly and firmly, and quietly shut that detestable door in my face. And I’ll be lucky if he’s still around in the morning.

The situation between us is confusing. I hope this is more than just his workplace. We are friends. He’s my best friend, actually. And he’s the one who makes this place a home.

Occasionally, I have a hard time understanding…what had my language tutor called it? Nuance. Nuanced meanings. Pete and I have a lot of nuances happening between us.

“One chapter would be good,” I tell him. “Chapter Twelve. ‘The Tri-wizard Tournament.’ I need to know all about it.”

He nods and tips his head toward the open door to his suite. “I’ll meet you in there.”

My heart bounces around in my chest—more zaps from that ionizer—but my head doesn’t like the take-care-of-business look on Pete’s face. No smile, no teasing, no dancing notes to the way his boots clap against the tile floor. He checks the locks and the deadbolts on the back door and walks toward his room.

He glances at his doorway and then me, his eyebrows rising. He looks as though he’s holding his breath, maybe holding back a sigh.

Maybe it would be better to give him space tonight. Better for me to be apart from what I want so much, but can’t have. I should walk away, go back to my room without bothering Pete.

My damp toes stick to the cold floor. I want to be more than a job for him. I want to be more than some guy he feels sorry for, some guy who can’t even say what he wants.

I walk over to the sink and retrieve a glass from the nearby cabinet. I fill the glass half full at the tap and then drink. I set it down carefully. The water is cold, but my skin feels hot. I can feel Pete watching me, waiting.

My eyes shift to the hallway. But my feet carry me toward Pete.

Sigh……

This book was adorable. I’m was so charmed by both characters, I’m not sure which one I adored more. See, Professor Marek, simply put…. Is a genius. His mind is a beautiful thing, as are the things that come out of his mouth. He might be a little socially awkward, being that he speaks facts, because that’s just the way his mega brain works. He may seem enept in other ways, socially especially, but it’s the most charming thing about him, I feel like. He’s just so…. adorable. He’s the kind of guy you want to put in your pocket and just hug him whenever you think about how precious he is…

Having achieved so much in his short life, he’s got everything a person could need, but no need for it…. As a new professor, and studier of the astrophysics, it takes up a lot of his time; all of it really, that is, until his uncle hires him a housekeeper named Pete… Pete keeps him alive in every way. He takes care of him, but not just in the way he was hired to, but in all the ways that Marek needed.

Unfortunately, Pete is hiding his past, not only from Marek, but from everyone, even himself. He was complex in the way that, he cared about Marek, but didn’t want to. He wanted to take care of him, no matter how hard he tried to keep things professional, he couldn’t stop his feelings in check, but honestly…. You’d love him too! And in the way that he tried to put rules in place so that the past wouldn’t repeat itself for him. I’ll admit, he hadn’t made the best decisions in his previous line of work… but honestly, he was young….and when you’re young is the time for making mistakes. He learned from them, I truly believe that he did; he just wouldn’t let himself recognize that. He was a better person, he didn’t have to try, he just was. The way he was with Marek was proof of that.

Of course, with every happily ever after, there has to be bumps in the road; and their was…and there was a time when both men needed to prove that they could stand on their own two feet, but together, Marek had said that they could fix anything, as long as they did it together…. I loved that. He knew he loved Pete and he never stopped fighting for him, even when it hurt him to step back and give Pete his space to work things out for himself.

Other than Marek’s uncle…. I loved the secondary character’s and all of the friends and family. I love the family that’s unwaveringly supportive, and the friends, even the unlikely seventeen year old girl that taught them some amazeballs new words… they were all just so sweet. I’m definitely going back to read about Josh and Nick. I hope to see more of these two in the future as well….

Sigh….. did I do that already? It was just cute. Perfectly adorkable. I loved it. Great ending <3

5 stars from me.

Edie lives in Vermont with her husband, two sons, and random creatures that might or might not be pets. She loves libraries (where she’s found play, work, and love since she was a kid), long walks (unless ice is involved), lewd language (in the right context), luscious romance (of any variety), and alliteration.

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The Mystery of the Moving Image (Snow & Winter 3) by C.S. Poe: Exclusive Guest Post (#3 in series), Release Day Review and Giveaway

September 12, 2018 by Denise

It’s summer in New York City, and antique shop owner Sebastian Snow is taking the next big step in his relationship with NYPD homicide detective, Calvin Winter: they’re moving in together. What should have been a wonderful week of playing house and celebrating Calvin’s birthday comes to an abrupt end when a mysterious package arrives at the Emporium.

Inside is a Thomas Edison Kinetoscope, a movie viewer from the nineteenth century, invented by the grandfather of modern cinema, W. K. L. Dickson. And along with it, footage of a murder that took place over a hundred years ago.

Sebastian resists the urge to start sleuthing, even if the culprit is long dead and there’s no apparent danger. But break-ins at the Emporium, a robbery, and dead bodies aren’t as easy to ignore, and Sebastian soon realizes that the century-old murder will lead him to a modern-day killer.

However, even with Sebastian’s vast knowledge of Victorian America and his unrelenting perseverance in the face of danger, this may be the one mystery he won’t survive.

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Hello again, friends! I’m C.S. Poe, and this is the third stop of The Mystery of the Moving Image blog tour. This is Book Three in the mystery-romance series, Snow & Winter. My post is a continuation of an exclusive coda, following Sebastian and Calvin’s adventure in apartment hunting in the East Village of New York City!

There is also a giveaway I hope you will enter. I have Sebastian and Calvin acrylic keychains that are super adorable, and signed character artwork.

Enjoy Part 3 of my coda.

C.S. Poe

I got out of the passenger seat of Calvin’s car the next morning, shut the door, and looked up at the classical architecture of a small residential building we were checking out with a new Realtor. “Not bad,” I murmured.

“Mr. Snow!”

I turned toward the building’s front door and a big man with a big smile, dressed in a bigger suit, came at me with his hand outstretched. “Ah, yeah. That’s me,” I said, reluctantly shaking his hand.

“Timothy Thomas, licensed real estate agent. It’s a real pleasure!” He just about dislocated my arm.

All right, Starry-Eyed, Steve. It is eight in the damn morning and I’ve only had one cup of coffee.

Luckily, Calvin stepped onto the sidewalk before I had the chance to tell Boy Scout Bill to calm down.

“And you must be Mr. Winter,” Timothy said, shaking hands with a man who could handle that ridiculous, meathead grip. “Are we excited to see our dream home today?” he asked next.

“I’ll reserve my judgement until I’m holding the keys,” I answered.

Calvin nudged my arm. “We haven’t had the best of luck so far,” he said more tactfully.

Timothy made a grand gesture with his hands. “I understand. I understand perfectly. But I’ve just the place. It’s huge, spacious—great for a family.”

“We only have a dog,” I added quickly.

Timothy smiled his big smile again. “And this apartment could easily fit a Great Dane. Come on.” He motioned for us to follow, walked to a small gate, and started down the steps to a basement dwelling.

“Uh. Hang on,” I called, rushing after. “Tim? No first floor apartments. That was my biggest no-no.”

Timothy glanced back at me while pushing open the door. “This is a basement apartment.”

“If I didn’t want the first floor, what on Earth makes you think—”

“Just go look,” Calvin whispered in my ear, coming up behind me.

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered. I walked down the steps like a chastised child, following Timothy into the darkness.

“What’d I say?” Timothy asked. “Huge! Am I right?”

“Yeah. A real cave,” I replied, deadpan. I mean, I admit it was nice on my eyes, but there were no windows. Even I needed a bit of sunlight now and then.

I heard a heavy thud and turned around. Calvin was wincing and rubbing the top of his head while it was awkwardly cocked to one side. “Did you…hit your head on the ceiling?” I looked back to Timothy. “We’re going to need a taller place.”

The hunt really went downhill from there. And it wasn’t even due to my pickiness. I mean, it’s like Timothy had gathered up every short, dank, weird little shithole he’d been absolutely unable to get off the market and said, here you cranky sonofabitch! This is all you get to pick from!

“This apartment isn’t wide enough, Tim,” Calvin said.

“I know it’s a strange design, but you don’t actually lose that much floorplan!” He turned and pointed down the long, awkward setup with both hands, and motioned like he was aiding an oversized truck backing up. “See how far it goes?”

I did see how far it went.

Calvin stepped around us into what I guessed was the bedroom, a room with no door that seamlessly rolled into the room even further in behind it. “I don’t think a bed can fit in here.”

“Oh no, it can!” Timothy insisted.

Calvin held his arms out and put his hands on either wall. He looked at me.

I shook my head.

“What else is there?” he asked Timothy.

“Why is the shower in the kitchen, Tim?” I asked.

“They’re remodeling.”

“Where is it going after they’re done?”

“Ah….”

“The bedroom is in a loft,” Timothy explained.

I pointed at the ladder and shook my head. “No.”

“No?” he echoed.

I raised my hand and ticked the points off on each finger. “Legally blind. Mornings. No coffee. I’m going to kill myself.”

“I’m going to have to say no too,” Calvin murmured while staring up at the loft. “I’d really like a place where I can stand up straight when I get out of bed.”

I’ve got a great place in Midtown.”

“What?”

“Just a block away from Times Square.”

“Tim, I think we’re done.”

Another action packed Snow and Winter book! I have been absolutely loving this series–yes, a big part is that I identify with the extreme snark of Seb, but also because the author weaves in so many different aspects seamlessly. Murder, snark, mystery, snark, ex-lovers times two, even more snark, and friends that continue to be there for Seb through thick and thin. (C’mon, Max had to be one of the truest friends ever to deal with all he’s dealt with and keep coming back for me…maybe someday we get to see his story?).

This book really highlighted the vulnerabilities of both Seb and Calvin, and it both touched my heart, and broke it. Calvin crying on Seb’s shoulder? For a detective who does everything he can to hide even the barest hint of vulnerability, that he can let go and not only show it to Seb, but allow Seb to carry him through that moment was such a beautiful moment. Meanwhile, Seb, trying NOT to show his vulnerabilities, still finds himself mired in a lack of confidence…even in the bedroom, how often do you ever read that in any time of romance? Yet, he knows that Calvin is always there for him, and trusts him completely.

I would have loved to see a bit more of Seb’s dad…because Seb learned that snark from one person! 🙂 I also really liked that we got to see more of Neil, and how he deals with the way his world has changed.

On top of all of that, Poe, weaves a mystery in here that has some dead bodies, but takes more than half the book to even find out what the mystery to solve is. Loved it!

Oh, and I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…these covers are fantastic. I love them, and they fit this series, and Seb, so perfectly.

Recommended, as I seem to do with all of C.S. Poe’s books. This series is not only worth picking up, but binge reading. And I was just wishing that this series was out on audio, and I see that The Mystery of Nevermore and The Mystery of the Curiosities, and they are both narrated by Derrick McClain, and so I need to go now, because I will be listening for hours. (HOW did I not know these were there???)

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Tour:

09/10/18 – Gay Book Reviews

09/11/18 – Love Bytes Reviews

09/12/18 – Two Chicks Obsessed

09/13/18 – It’s About the Book

09/14/18 – Boy Meets Boy

C.S. Poe is a Lambda Literary and EPIC award finalist author of gay mystery, romance, and paranormal books.

She is a reluctant mover and has called many places home in her lifetime. C.S. has lived in New York City, Key West, and Ibaraki, Japan, to name a few. She misses the cleanliness, convenience, and limited-edition gachapon of Japan, but she was never very good at riding bikes to get around.

She has an affinity for all things cute and colorful and a major weakness for toys. C.S. is an avid fan of coffee, reading, and cats. She’s rescued two cats—Milo and Kasper do their best on a daily basis to sidetrack her from work.

C.S. is a member of the International Thriller Writers organization.

Her debut novel, The Mystery of Nevermore, was published by DSP Publications, 2016.

| C.S. Poe’s Curious & Mysterious |Acrylic Sebastian and Calvin keychains and signed character art.

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Rules & Regulations:

Giveaway ends 10/19/18

One winner will be randomly chosen by C.S. Poe

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