Book Reviews

Ten Mile Bottom by Teodora Kostova: Release Day Review

March 21, 2018 by Denise

Hitting rock bottom is just the beginning…

I’m a son, a brother, a friend.
A writer.
An addict.
Dead.
Cardiac arrest isn’t enough to keep me dead, though. The doctors brought me back, but for what?

At twenty four I’ve already achieved what most people do in a life time. I’m a successful author, own a flat in the heart of London and drive my dream sports car.
Or at least that’s what people see.
Once the spotlight fades, I’m left alone with my overactive mind, alcohol and drugs the only way to quiet down the noise.
Until an overdose nearly kills me and drags everyone I love down with me.
With the help of my best friend, I leave London and its toxic influence behind, moving to a small town in the outskirts of Cambridge to try and put my life back together again.

If only it were that easy.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I finished this book a few days ago and had to sit and let it work in my head before I could write the review. I’ve read quite a few- maybe even most- of this author’s books. I’ve enjoyed them all. But nothing like this one.

This was, by far, her most character driven story. Finn, at the very center, broke my heart in so many ways. An addict with a toxic mother, fame that came too early and a best friend who enabled and participated in the worst of his behavior. And Ben, the forever do gooder trying to make up for one mistake he made as a kid.

Although Finn is technically on the road to recovery, he is stuck in a pattern of helplessness that he brings on himself. And although Ben sees the good, Finn can’t get past the bad. Ultimately, Finn has to face his fears, his life, his mother, in order to move forward.

Never did the author fall back on plot devices we see so often-the giant fight caused by a simple misunderstanding, running away from the other person, the big break up. Which just made the story all the stronger for me.

There were definitely scenes- even sentences- that hit me right where it hurts. But isn’t that one of the reasons to love a book? Because you can connect with it in some way on a personal level? And knowing that aspects of the story were completely personal for the author is what made it so compelling.

Without spoilers, there were small things that kept this from being a 5 POEC for me. But really, 5 POEC is ridiculously rare for me. This book was incredible.

4 1/2 Pieces of eye candy

Livingston by J.M. Dabney: Exclusive Excerpt and New Release Review

March 20, 2018 by Denise

He was the Beast without the escape clause

Francis “Liv” Livingston was a beast. No matter if he wore a perfectly tailored suit or if he was in his tactical gear, people avoided looking at him. He was always first to volunteer for the jobs only a person with a death wish wanted. Tomorrows weren’t guaranteed. His boss had come to him and told him he needed him for a job. Linus knew the jobs he liked, but when he opened the file, it all went to hell.

Beauty was only skin deep.

Fielding Haskell made his way in the world on his looks. He’d earned his first film role before he could read a script. He didn’t want the fame. He wanted to go to college. He wanted a man who didn’t look at him and see how pretty he was. Unfortunately, a so-called fan only cared how attractive he was, and it earned him a personal bodyguard and a vacation. He looked forward to the break until he met the man in charge of his safety and wondered if the danger he left was worth dealing with a sudden attraction to a man who was colder than ice.

LIVINGSTON

TRENTON SECURITY BOOK 1

J.M. DABNEY

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 03.06.18

Cover Design: RESSE DANTE

AMAZON

B&N

KOBO

He turned in a circle in the junk food aisle. Chips, cookies, and candy lined the shelves. Livingston told him before they exited his vehicle that they were there for supplies. He twined his fingers so he wouldn’t reach for anything. It had been two years since he’d had chocolate. His mother was always there to smack his hand or say something about his weight. He glanced over his shoulder to find the huge man watching him. Livingston’s face was expressionless.

The one-sided conversation he’d overheard between Livingston and Little still played in his mind. Spankings, subs, and he wasn’t so naive that he didn’t know what those meant. He didn’t know what a lifestyle like that entailed, but it had made him blush when he’d met Little and Pure, he’d barely been able to talk when he was introduced to Raul. Livingston had mentioned if he was Raul, Pure would be tied up and punished. He banished the ideas before he started blushing and drew attention to himself. His thoughts about Livingston were already more detailed than they should be and he’d only spent a week with the man.

“Did you want something?”

“What can I have?”

“I think one bag of chips, a pack of cookies, and candy will last you until we come back in a few weeks, do you believe that’s fair?”

“I can have that much?” He hadn’t dared hope for one thing, but he was allowed three different things. He glanced down at the toes of his shoes and tried to hide his excitement.

“I won’t abide you getting sick from too much, so we’ll discuss how much you can have per day.”

“Yes, sir, but could I have two bags of candy instead of the cookies. I never really liked those.”

“You may. I’ll finish shopping for what we need; then I’ll be back.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Livingston’s presence was so overwhelming that he knew the minute the man left the aisle. What was he supposed to get? What if he didn’t choose before Livingston was back and he didn’t let him get anything. He darted his gaze around, twisted his fingers until they hurt.

“Man, you okay? You look like you’re getting ready to have a panic attack.” A feminine voice came from his left, and he spun to see a black woman in coveralls watching him.

“He told me I could have chips and candy and I don’t know what to get. Maybe if I don’t choose he won’t let me have—”

“Who’s he, and why is he telling you what you can and can’t have? That’s bullshit.”

The anger radiating off the woman made him nervous. He didn’t want her to think bad of the big man.

“Livingston doesn’t want me to get sick.”

“Livingston, that explains it. Come on, little man, let’s find you junk food before your Daddy comes back. Uncle Liv can be a bit of an ass, but he’s fair. I’m Juvie.”

“Fielding.”

“Nice to meet you. You’re new in town. Liv works quick if he got you already.”

He remained silent because he didn’t know if it was safe to explain even to someone who was apparently close to Livingston enough to call him Uncle. He was curious about the big man but refrained from asking questions.

“Okay, why would junk food make you sick?”

“I haven’t had it in years.”

“No wonder you’re too skinny. Princess!” The woman’s voice boomed, and a pretty, full-figured girl ran into the aisle.

She wore a flowing hippie style dress that emphasized her curves rather than hid them. She stopped in the aisle, tilted her head to the side, and slammed her hands on her hips.

“You bellowed, Juvie?”

“My new friend Fielding here hasn’t had junk food in years. He needs help.”

“Oh, hi, I’m Princess. So, what’s our budget?”

“Oh, I—I don’t know, Livingston said I could have two bags of candy and one of chips.”

“Uncle Liv is around. Bossy bastard.”

“He’s not, he just—”

“Relax, no need to defend him,” Juvie assured him.

For the next fifteen minutes, Juvie and Princess helped him settle on chips and his candy.

“Shit.” Livingston’s voice made him spin, and Livingston was caught in a two-way hug.

It looked as if Juvie and Princess were squeezing the air out of his lungs. He barely kept from smiling, but then he frowned as Princess jumped up and wrapped her legs around Livingston to press kisses to the scarred side of the big man’s face. An odd sensation bloomed in his stomach, and he didn’t like it.

“Uncle Liv, miss you.”

“Princess, you saw me two weeks ago on our last run.”

Livingston wore a smile, a real smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. He wanted that smile for him.

“You don’t spend enough time with the Crews.” Princess pouted.

Juvie laughed as she peeled Princess off Livingston and hugged Princess around the waist.

“Hands off, Princess, you’re making his boy jealous.”

“Oh shit, sorry, Fielding. When did this happen?”

“It’s a job, Princess, nothing more.”

“Oh, so, the allowing him things, but discussing portions is just what you do with jobs now?”

“Princess…” Livingston’s tone warned the subject was off-limits.

“Fine, we helped him find things, he thought you wouldn’t let him have anything if he didn’t choose before you got back.”

He felt the weight of Livingston’s stare, and he didn’t like that it caused him to feel guilty for disappointing Livingston.

“Fielding, is this true?”

“Yes, sir.” Juvie and Princess whispered what sounded like Daddy and Livingston swatted at both of them.

“We’ll talk about this when we get home.”

Princess let out a loud sigh and laid her head back on Juvie’s shoulder. “Home, Liv, sounds so…domestic.”

This is a new series, from a spinoff of the other two series…. If you haven’t read them, it should still be okay, but I ask you, why… why haven’t you… they’re AMAZING…. You should stop what you’re doing, and go do that right now…

In this one, we have Livingston.. he’s on Linus Investigations team… And they’re even more messed u than even the twirled world AND Executioners crew, if that can be believed! It seems like all of her guys just keep getting more damaged as she goes on, and that holds so true with Livingston.

Livingston, like most of these guys, had a troubling past, so troubling in fact, this mother tried to kill him in the most unbelievably heartbreaking way when he was just 8 years old. And because of that, he wears the scars like a constant reminder why love is nothing but pain to him. He feels like he doesn’t deserve good, because other than the giant family that is all the crews, he doesn’t know any differently…

Forced to babysit a new up and coming young actor, cuz the poor kid is being stalked and threatened…he knows he’s going to hate every second of it.

Fielding has no control over his life. At 22, his parents dictate literally every single second of his life. What he eats, how much he eats, when he works out, when he sleeps, literally not one second is his own. Using him for his money is about all he’s good for to him, and their cash cow is being threatened, so they send him to Linus… who gives him to Liv to look over…. He also knows that Liv wont be able to resist him, and….good call, Linus, because despite everything… these two fall hard and quick.

My heart broke for both of them, Fielding because the kid thought he couldn’t have anything for himself… no kind of life without his parents dictating literally everything. Liv, just didn’t think the deserved anything at all.

One thing that surprised me, that I loved so much, was the way Peaches was with Liv. Now, I know she’s soused to be awesome and all that, but she gets on my nerves a lot, she’s a little TOO much, and even though she was still so extra, and kinda annoying, I loved everything she said to Liv, in all the ways she loved him and wouldn’t let him hide from it. Go Peaches!

And of course through it all, Fielding falls for Liv, and wants him to be his daddy, and you guys… Jenny did not know that shed be into all that, but let me tell you how much Im learning about myself… cuz, oh-em-gee! I like it almost as much as Liv and Fielding do, I think! It was hot… like, hot, hot! Seriously…

And then the art I didn’t like, was how set Liv was on pushing and pulling and pushing and pulling. Its like, hed push and say he couldn’t keep Fielding, but then he would, but hen hed tell Fielding he couldn’t, but then he did. Then, when I finally thought he got his head out…. He didn’t, even when Fielding begged, repeatedly. Grrrr!!!

We got there in the end though, and it was worth every second of all of it. I cannot wait to see what happens with Little, I truly hope he’s next! It just keeps getting better and better.

5, amazing pieces of eye candy from me!

J.M. Dabney is a multi-genre author who writes mainly LGBT romance and fiction. She lives with a constant diverse cast of characters in her head. No matter their size, shape, race, etc. she lives for one purpose alone, and that’s to make sure she does them justice and give them the happily ever after they deserve. J.M. is dysfunction at its finest and she makes sure her characters are a beautiful kaleidoscope of crazy. There is nothing more she wants from telling her stories than to show that no matter the package the characters come in or the damage their pasts have done, that love is love. That normal is never normal and sometimes the so-called broken can still be amazing.

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Living On Air by Susan Mac Nicol: New Release Review

March 19, 2018 by Denise

For aerialist, Cary Stilwell, aside from performing forty feet in the air, life holds little comfort until he meets Rhys McIntyre, who punctures all of Cary’s defenses.

PIERCING THE NIGHT
Cary Stilwell has been existing since he was ten years old, and each year it gets harder to find meaning in his bleak life. The only exception – his work. As a top-billed aerialist in a popular travelling circus, he enjoys accolades and applause, but little else. When notable photographer, Rhys McIntyre, joins the circus to catalogue its inner workings, Cary fights the attraction that hits him from the moment they meet. But a kind soul wrapped in a beautiful body has a way of battering all the walls Cary has built around his cold, dark heart.

WITH LIGHT
Rhys McIntyre is on his third iteration of reinventing himself. Once a hotdog financier, he embraced his passion for photography and became an eminent war photo journalist. Until one too many bullets lodged in his body, and he gave up the front lines for the softer side of chronicling life. When he accepts the assignment to record life in a circus, the last thing he expects is to find the man crush of his dreams. Except Cary Stilwell is a cold, tortured man who seems incapable of any warm emotion, never mind love. But Rhys is known for his persistence, and this time the pay-off might be more than he could have ever imagined.

This book delves into subjects some people may find disturbing. There are elements of the main characters’ pasts that include paedophilia, the dark side of religion, and the horrors of war. Aspects of the story include self-harm, depression, and suicide, and the book is set in a circus where clowns are featured.

None of these elements are gratuitous, but instead are included because they are part of the human condition, and are essential to our main characters’ journeys. I hope you join Cary and Rhys as they navigate their way to love.

Title: Living On Air

Author: Susan Mac Nicol

Released on February 22nd 2018

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Smashwords

Kobo

iTunes

Barnes and Noble

I don’t give 5 pieces of eye candy easily, or even very often. Not even if a book makes me cry (and by the way, why am I not used to this? EVERY SINGLE TIME I pick up a Susan Mac Nicol book, I don’t just cry, I cry buckets, and my heart rips out…), or laugh a ton. It has to be a book that I would read again, without hesitation–well, I do hesitate at crying over and over, but that’s a story for a different day. But Susan Mac Nicol puts so much into her books, hits the feels so hard, and tells a story that you may not think you are going to love, based on the topic, but that will make you root for the one who is hurting so very much. And once again, she does it.

Living On Air is one of those books for me. It was hard to read in many places. I just wanted to Cary up in a cuddly blank and take all his pain away. And there was so much pain! And so many reasons for it. (Small spoiler ahead) Cary harming himself was difficult to read, seeing how he felt the physical pain of cutting helped him to ease the emotional pain that he couldn’t escape from. He literally ran away to the circus to hide.

Rhys had his own pain that he brought into their relationship, but generally was able to keep a sunny personality. He also didn’t allow Cary’s pain and lashing out to make him forget the man he was. He wasn’t willing to give up the person he was, in order to allow Cary to emotionally beat him up. He wanted Cary to know that no matter what he would be there for him, whenever he called, but wouldn’t allow their relationship to be one where he was dragged down. I had so much respect for Rhys for that. That isn’t easy to do, especially when you see how much someone you care about is falling apart.

The ending was literally an HFN, and the characters even described it that way, and it was exactly as it should have been. There could be no expectations with someone who was as demon-ridden as Cary that he would be reading for an HEA after a few months. That kind of pain takes years to scab over, and likely would never fully heal. As a reader, I am always looking for the HEA, but if that was there it would have seemed shallow and unrealistic. However, as a reader, I will also beg Sue to please, please write a short at a later time with a follow up to these men, to see how they have progressed as they start a new life together (hopefully).

5 pieces of eye candy, and an entire box of tissues for Living On Air.

https://bit.ly/2ojsmHx

Susan Mac Nicol is a self-confessed bookaholic, an avid watcher of videos of sexy pole dancing men, geek and nerd and in love with her Smartphone. This little treasure is called ‘the boyfriend’ by her long suffering husband, who says if it vibrated, there’d be no need for him. Susan hasn’t had the heart to tell him there’s an app for that…

She is never happier than when sitting in the confines of her living room/study/on a cold station platform scribbling down words and making two men fall in love. She is a romantic at heart and believes that everything happens (for the most part) for a reason. She likes to think of herself as a ‘half full’ kinda gal, although sometimes that philosophy is sorely tested.

In an ideal world, Susan Mac Nicol would be Queen of England and banish all the bad people to the Never Never Lands of Wherever -Who Cares. As that’s never going to happen, she contents herself with writing her HEA stories and pretending, that just for a little while, good things happen to good people.

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Twisted and Tied by Mary Calmes: Release Day Review * 2

March 13, 2018 by Denise

Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones finally has everything he ever wanted. He’s head-over-heels in love and married to the man of his dreams, his partner Ian Doyle, he’s doing well at work, and all his friends are in good places as well. Things are all tied up nicely… until they’re not.

Change has never been easy for Miro, and when situations at work force the team he’s come to depend on to break apart, and, worst of all, when his and Ian’s individual strengths put them on two separate paths, he’s pretty certain everything just went up in smoke. But before he can even worry about the future, his past comes for a visit, shaking his world up even more. It’s hard to tell what road he should truly be on, but as he learns some paths are forged and others are discovered, it might be that where he’s going is the right course after all. If he can navigate all the twists and turns, he and Ian might just get their happily ever after.

Title: Twisted and Tied
Series: Marshals: Book Four
Author: Mary Calmes
Release Date: March 13, 2018
Category: Contemporary
Pages: TBD (Novel)

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Sigh…Ian and Miro…and a good amount of Sam Kage, which I will never ever complain about.

In this one, I started off a little disappointed because the guys were married and we didn’t get to see this big elaborate wedding that I felt like Miro would’ve wanted…. But I shouldn’t have worried, I know better than to doubt this author… everything was perfect, and when you read it, you’ll totally get it.

There’s a lot going on, as there usually is in this particular series, but it’s all art of seeing these two grow, not only as a couple, but also as characters. Things kind of get thrown up in the air, when Sam Kage shakes things up a little bit regarding his team and their new roles. It creates some tension between Miro and Ian, and I could see where they were both coming from, so it was hard for me to pick a side! Not that you have to, but….well, you’ll see.

What I loved about this one, is that in the other books in this series.. I felt like Miro was the strong one…. Not physically, that’s not what I mean… But he was confident and so sure about everything and he knew who he was and was okay with that. He didn’t struggle like Ian did, so I felt like Miro was the one with the reigns the majority of the time, keeping Ian together, reassuring him and being there for him in the ways that only Miro could. And in this one, we see Miro depending on Ian a little bit more, and Ian being the one that needed to do the reassuring. I mean, even in last books with all the Hartley and all that Miro had gone through with him… being kidnaped and tortured and all that, Miro was still the one that kept it together so Ian would be okay. Not that it was ever a problem, because, that’s just how their relationship worked… but in this one, it was nice to see the shoe on the other foot.

Speaking of Hartley…he’s back. Of course he is, that’s no secret… and while I know I’m probably a minority in this, for all the terrible things he’s done… I still found it hard to hate him in this one. Who I did hate though, was Miró’s coven sisters husband…You will too, and I wasn’t expecting that…and I don’t know how relevant it is to the story, because it was kinda just thrown in there, but…. Ugh, didn’t like that…

But, back to Hartley… I felt like Miro got some closure there, which I was relieved about. He also rooves that its true what he’s always said, nobody knows Harley like Miro and it gets proven several times in this page turner.

Side note, I was really worried about Cabot and Drake in the last one, and if you read my reviews at all, I made it very clear as to why, and I am leased to say that Im so happy with the way all that turned out…And I’m over the moon with the way Ian and Miro turned out.

I want to gush, and I’m probably uber vague and annoying because of it, but if you’ve been waiting for this book like I have, and you’re anxious to know what happens.. I promise, it’s well worth the wait, and you’re going to fall in love with these guys all over again. It’s impossible not to!!!

No surprise here, but this one was 5 very deserved pieces of eye candy from me!

So…. this is the first book in a spin-off series of A Matter of Time. I thought I couldn’t love anyone as much as I do Jory Harcourte and then Mary Calmes threw Miro Jones at me. It was love at first sight.

Sam Kage has been promoted from US Marshall to Supervisory Deputy in charge of his own team. Miro Jones and Ian Doyle have been partners for 3 years. Miro has been in love with his partner for every bit of those three years assuming his affections will never be returned because Ian is terminally straight.

Ian Doyle is as tough as they come, an Army Ranger and badass US Marshall. He never plays by the rules but knows without a doubt that Miro will always have his back. Ian has always treated Miro more like a boyfriend than a best friend or partner, just minus the sex. When Miro is hurt in the line of duty while Ian is off playing Army Ranger it causes him to rethink his position.

Just when Ian and Miro start to focus on a future together a tough witness relocation assignment has them wondering if they’ll survive long enough to see happily ever after.

I don’t know where to begin. The story was so entertaining, the plot and attention to detail was amazing. The characters were all well developed and so relatable, even the secondary characters.

Ian and Miro, what can I say. They made my top ten favorite couples of all time list. Ian is so tough on the outside but so caring with Miro at the same time. Miro has a great sense of humor and the internal dialogue was hysterical.

This series is definitely going to be reread often. If you haven’t read it yet give it a shot. You won’t be disappointed.

5 pieces of eye candy

Hard to Let Go by Jaclyn Quinn: Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

March 7, 2018 by Denise

Owen Richards lives a quiet life in his small hometown of Haven’s Cove. He has a rewarding life consisting of three very supportive—not to mention feisty—women, and a successful bakery that he owns and absolutely loves. Yet, Owen can’t seem to shake this emptiness inside or the intense feeling that something is missing. A sudden encounter with a man from his past, one he despises, turns his entire world upside down. When Owen finds himself attracted to that sexy man, he questions everything, including his sanity. After all, only an incredibly disturbed person would find that he can’t stop thinking about his high school bully.

Brody Walker never expected to return to Haven’s Cove. He’s made a life for himself in Boston where he can truly be the person he was always meant to be. But an unexpected call has Brody facing all the demons he’d left behind so long ago. Now, he’s faced with not only a difficult goodbye, but one long overdue apology to a man who is no longer that lanky kid from high school. The challenge is to convince the guy he’s changed—and also prove he’s worth taking a chance on.

When passions ignite, truths are exposed, changing beliefs these men have held on to for years. Faced with the knowledge that things aren’t always what they seem, will they choose to hold on to the incredible thing they’ve found…or is it easier to give in to the fear and let go?

HARD TO LET GO

JACLYN QUINN

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 02.19.18

Cover by Cate Ashwood Designs

Interior Design and Formatting by Flawless Touch Formatting

Amazon

Brody nodded his head and let his aunt Nora lead him down the hall. Had this hallway always been so damn long? The walls were lined with pictures. There were Brody’s school pictures, holidays, and family photos of the three of them smiling.

It was a hall full of lies.

As he crossed the threshold into the room, it was like breaking through a thick wall. His chest hurt and every muscle in his body tensed. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but it wasn’t this. A hospital bed was against the soft blue wall to his right; an IV stand with a bag hanging from a hook at the top blocked his view of his mother’s face. The room had the same beige carpet he remembered, but his father’s desk was replaced with a big reclining chair. There was another chair in the room on the far side of the bed. A small table on wheels sat next to it and on it were tissues, a pair of glasses, and the last thing he expected to see—a framed picture of him from when he was little. Next to that was an oxygen tank with tubing connected to it. The tubing led up to where it hooked around her ears to hold the small prongs in place in her nose. There were no big machines, no sounds of incessant beeping.

Then it really hit him. She wasn’t there to get better; she was there to let go. Brody stepped softly into the room, afraid to disturb her, afraid to breathe too heavily and throw off the serenity of her room.

Brody’s heart was trying to beat its way out of his chest. He felt a light touch from his aunt on his back, as if she was telling him it was going to be okay—even though they both knew it wouldn’t be. He walked to the side of the bed cautiously, praying he didn’t upset her if she didn’t want him there. As he lowered himself into the chair, his breath caught, and he looked into his mom’s eyes for the first time in too long. Oh God, was that panic in her eyes? Pain? He didn’t want to cause her either in her final days.

“Brody? Honey, is it really you?” Her voice was so soft, but there was no mistaking the words as a tear slid down her cheek, and her eyes had a sudden light.

Just like that, Brody released the breath he’d been holding and let the tears fall down his face. “Yeah, Mom. It’s me. I’m here.”

I don’t do love triangles so I was a little bit worried about this one in the beginning.

See, Owen and his boyfriend Jonah were best friends that turned into more, Jonah was there for Owen when he needed him the most and he’d always have love for him…. Unfortunately, as of lately, they both knew that things weren’t that way with them anymore. They had all the love in the world for each other, but they weren’t in love with each other. I respected how maturely they handed everything and was glad that there wasn’t a bad guy in the situation; they were both very likeable characters.

Now… on his way to work one morning, Owen runs into an old high school bully, Brody. Brody and his friends weren’t just bullies, they were BULLIES… especially the ring leader, Chuck, and it’s heartbreaking what they put Owen through…. What’s even worse though, is the heartbreaking, terrible life that Brody was hiding from. I couldn’t stomach the way his father treated him and I’m really bummed that he didn’t get the karmic justice that he deserved. Somethin akin to ripping his flesh off the bones and keeping him alive for days to be tortured…. Too much? Meh, doubtful….

Anyway, although Owen is angry at seeing Brody and very mistrusting of him, he didn’t know that Jonah had already hired him to some remodeling work at Owen’s house. It starts off terribly, but, once Owen knows why Brody is back in town and finds out the way he suffered alongside Owen all those years ago, just in a different way… things change for the pair.

I love how jealous both men get in regards to the other man while they try to hide their feelings for each other. I love Owen’s family and Brody’s best friend Gabe, I really hope he gets a story with Nate, as well as Jonah gets his happy with someone perfect. I love that Owen cared so much about Brody and was there with him every step of the way when tragedy strikes and Brody needed him.

These two had the best chemistry, and not even just during sexy times….this author done an awesome job expressing such deep feelings of confusion, lust, anger, regret, guilt, sadness and overall love. This is my first by this author, but it for sure won’t be my last!!

4 heartbreaking and hopeful pieces of eye candy from me.

I have been an artist from a very young age. From drawing cartoon characters and evolving into portraits, making jewelry, photography, and now writing. I have an amazing support system in my family and friends and couldn’t be more grateful.

I live in central New Jersey, love summers at the Jersey Shore, rock music, wine, sexy men, and laughing a lot with my amazing friends and family. Sunday dinners at my parents’ house are crazy, hysterical and you can count on a movie quote…or ten…being thrown out. Insults between siblings is how we show our love for each other!

When I’m not creating, you can find me reading books from my favorite authors. I’m a hopeless romantic, starving for passionate characters and always craving that happy ending, whether in reading or in writing my own books.

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Undone by You by Kate Meader: Exclusive R-rated Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

March 5, 2018 by Denise

USA TODAY bestselling author Kate Meader brings her signature “steamy sex scenes, colorful characters, and riveting dialogue” (RT Book Reviews) to this novella in the Chicago Rebels series, following the general manager of the Rebels as he scores with one of his players off the ice.

Dante Moretti has just landed his dream job: GM of the Chicago Rebels. And screw the haters who think there should be an asterisk next to his name because he’s the first out managing executive in pro hockey. He’s earned the right to be here and nothing will topple him off that perch—especially not an incredibly inconvenient attraction to his star defenseman, Cade “Alamo” Burnett. Cade has always been careful to keep his own desires on the down low, but his hot Italian boss proves to be a temptation he can’t resist. Sure, they both have so much to lose, but no one will ever know…

As Dante and Cade’s taboo affair heats up off the ice and their relationship gets more and more intense, they’ll have to decide: is love worth risking their careers? Or is this romance destined to be forever benched?

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They pulled up outside Cade’s condo building in Riverbrook, about a five-minute walk to Rebels HQ. Dante kept the engine running—a form of threat, perhaps?

“In you go, Burnett,” Dante said softly. “Be a good boy for the rest of the night.”

This guy was definitely mixing his signals, because if he thought Cade wasn’t going to fuck him after that little tease, he wasn’t nearly as smart as he looked. Cade turned to look at Dante. The streetlight glinted off his hair, giving it a blue-black shine, casting his face half in shadow.

“We’ve got a game in New York in a couple of days, then a weekend off.”

“And you’re reminding me of the team’s schedule why, exactly?”

Cade took a breath. “I’d suggest meeting in your hotel room in New York, but it’s risky. When we get back, I want to spend that weekend with you.”

Dante snorted his disbelief. “So now it’s an entire weekend?”

Not a no. Not a screw you. Just a timing query.

Cade smiled, waited a beat. “I’ve had time to think. You should have talked to me on the ride home but you didn’t. You kept this surly, sexy, stoic act up, and it’s only turned me on more.”

He could tell Dante was torn on how to handle this. Faced with one of his players coming out and on to him, the man was likely weighing his managerial duty to protect against his human desire to give in. Cade just had to figure out what would tip the scales.

“Cade,” Dante started, his voice gentle enough to signal how this was going to go. Gay mentor Dante? Get in the rink! “I understand that this is tough for you. Your private life has suddenly collided with your public life, and that’s a lot to process. However, navigating this confusion should not—will not—involve an inappropriate hookup with your boss.”

Now probably wasn’t the time to tell Dante that the collision between private and public wasn’t so sudden. Better to pop a finger on the scales.

“I have a list,” Cade said, as if that was the most logical response to your boss telling you a hookup was off the menu.

“A list?” Dante was probably going for bored, but Cade heard it: curiosity.

“Things I’ve fantasized about doing to you. With you.”

“Jesus.” Dante—I kid you not—actually pulled on his tie. Like the car had become hotter than the hinges of hell in the last ten seconds and that stretch of silk was a noose. Fucking adorable.

Cade might be an excellent defender, but even he knew the best defense was a wicked offense. The shot was lined up. He just had to take it. “Want to hear more about the list?”

Nostrils flaring, Dante ground out, “There are ethical implications here. It might be a game to you, but this is my fucking job.”

Dante’s New York accent was unmistakable in how he said job like jawb. Getting a little agitated there, boss? He dipped his gaze down Dante’s body, his destination obvious.

Dante’s cock was currently engaged in an ethical cage match against the zipper of his pants. Perfect.

“Considering I’m the one propositioning you, then I think we can assume an even ethical playing field. We could both make a lot of trouble for each other if this were to get out.”

“The threat of blackmail is making me hard, Burnett.”

Oh man. Cade loved the way Dante talked. That clipped, lethal cut of every word.

“What I’m trying to say is that we both have a lot to lose. It’s dangerous”—he leaned in—“taboo”—so close he could see Dante’s flared irises and the dark flush flagging his cheeks—“and sexy as hell.”

Dante placed a hand on Cade’s chest, both pushing him away and holding him in place. It was the first time Dante had touched him, and Cade’s heart went hog wild.

“Aren’t you concerned I might play favorites after?” Dante murmured. “Or worse, want to trade out evidence of my indiscretion?”

“Would you?”

“I guess it depends on how good of a fuck you are.”

Cade laughed heartily at that, enjoying Dante’s honesty and quick wit and—oh yes. The sardonic tilt to his lips that told him Dante was enjoying this just as much.

Scales. Tipped.

“Good night, Cade,” the hot Italian murmured, pushing him away gently.

Reluctantly drawing back, Cade gripped the door handle. “Think about it, Dante. No-holds-barred, pure, unadulterated pleasure. Best of all, no one will ever know.”

And then he exited that car, leaving the man wanting.

I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series, but jumped on this one when I saw it, and absolutely loved it. Cade and Dante really hit the spot for me.

Dante, being openly gay, and GM of an NHL hockey team can’t have been easy for him, but he moved forward, and didn’t let being gay define him. It didn’t define his work with the players either. It was clear he was respected, but Dante also was careful not to put anyone into a difficult situation. Not the owners, not the players, and (he tried very hard at least!) not himself.

Cade, I loved. He went after what he wanted. He walked into an exclusive gay club looking for what he wanted…Dante…and didn’t take no for an answer. He wasn’t worried about being too young for Dante, or even that he wasn’t out. He wanted the sexy GM, and was willing to step up and let him know.

This novella was sexy, seriously sexy. These two, once they found their middle ground, found themselves hitting the sheets whenever they could. However, it wasn’t just that. It was so obvious that they enjoyed each other’s company as well. Cooking together, hanging out, not just hitting the sheets. They found ways to connect that didn’t involve just sex.

The struggle to come out for Cade was heartbreaking. He knew what he was up against with choosing it, and Dante tried to impress upon him what coming out in the NHL could mean. And with Dante feeling like his job depended on not showing he was involved with a player, the feels were definitely there.

I just loved this one, and I hope that this author will continue to write m/m. She has really captured what is a difficult sometimes for authors that make the transition from m/m to capture. Keeping the strength and passion of the two men, while still showing their vulnerability. I cried a little during this one, laughed a little, and overall just wanted to read it again right after I put it down. 🙂

4.5 pieces of eye candy

I loved this book so much, I wanted to make sure someone else got a copy! So, leave a blog comment and we’ll draw a winner to receive an ebook copy of Undone by You.