Book Reviews

Jesse’s Diner by Cardeno C. : Pre-release Review

September 28, 2015 by Denise

Two men with a shared history and a mutual attraction must be honest with themselves and each other so both their dreams come true.
Quiet, unassuming Tanner Sellers spends his time running a diner in Hope, Arizona. Not particularly social, twenty-two-year-old Tanner keeps to himself and enjoys his simple life, but he longs for someone to call his own. In his most secret fantasy, that someone is sexy Steve Faus. But Steve is his friend’s father and mentor’s widower and therefore off-limits.
Despite some challenges, thirty-nine-year-old Steve Faus has had a good life. He’s extremely successful at work, has a great relationship with his college-age son, and lives in a wonderful town. Eighteen months after losing his partner, the one thing Steve lacks is someone to share his life. If Steve is honest with himself, that someone is the young man he has known and cared about for years. Steve and Tanner want one another, all they need is a little push in the right direction to make both their dreams come true.

For a heartwarming read you can’t go wrong with this story. Tanner has had a crush on his friend Mike’s dad, Steve, for years. Tanner’s inner monologue whenever he is around Steve and trying to control his reactions was hilarious. I really enjoyed the way Steve was with Tanner and how he handled Tanner’s cluelessness. I liked the deveopment of the relationship and how everything built in the story. The whole story flowed really well. This book is perfect for those times when you just need a feel good love story.

Four pieces of eye candy.

**click on cover for Amazon Buy Link**

Thomas Elkin Series by N.R. Walker : Series Review

September 28, 2015 by Denise

Elements of Retrofit (Thomas Elkin Book 1)

Apparently I have been way behind on reading some fantastic books! After several recommendations to read this series I figured I have a go at it. Dear God – why did I wait so long? I have read a few of N.R. Walkers books and absolutely loved them so of course this wasn’t any different. The one thing I will say is this was my first May/December read (hangs head in shame). I was always skeptical in reading books of any genre with the big age gap. I was always afraid that the younger MC would come off as childish or annoying and the older MC wouldn’t appeal to me. I must say, I was completely wrong in every stereotype I had of this subgenre.

Tom was sexy & serious. Cooper (also very sexy) was fun & ambitious. The constant banter between the two was witty & entertaining. Walker did an excellent job in creating such likeable characters you couldn’t help but fall in love with them. Coop was the light that Tom needed to let go and really enjoy life. I was thrilled to see that Walker made Tom doubt his actions. To be afraid of what consequences would happen for being involved with someone very young. How she handled the situations is what great writers are made of.

I am soooo excited that I took the plunge and read my first May/December Romance. I am diving into book 2 now so I’ll let you know how it goes

5 Pieces of Eye Candy

Reviewed for Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

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Elements of Retrofit Amazon Link

Clarity of Lines (Thomas Elkin Book 2)

Have I said how much I heart Tom & Coop? Clarity of Lines picks up where book 1 ended. Obviously I am thrilled that their story continues. Walker does a phenomenal job in making us love Tom & Coop so much more than before. They are starting to come out as a couple and due to the obvious age gap there are those who are not too happy about it.

Walker flawlessly wrote a story that is realistic. I think bypassing this phase of the relationship would have made the book feel unreal. Everyone struggles with family/friends accepting each others partners, but when there is a 20+ yr age gap I would expect it to not be hearts & flowers. My heart just about broke for Coop and how his family was against them but once again Walker delivered and eventually everyone came to an understanding.

I could read them banter back forth for ever. The way Tom just doesn’t get why Cooper will not move in with him and how Cooper makes Tom work for it……freaking genius.

Heading off to read book 3 – Can’t wait to see what shenanigans they will get into.

5 Pieces of Eye Candy

Reviewed for Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

Clarity of Lines Amazon Link

Sense of Place (Thomas Elkin Book 3)

WOW……I love this series, and for some, wish they would continue forever. Tom & Cooper hold a special place in my heart. Sense of Place is the final installment of the Thomas Elkins Series. Walker made sure that we would remember Tom & Cooper for many, many years. I am sure they will be at the top of everyone’s Book Boyfriend List for a very long time.

Both Tom & Cooper are having issues at work but for very different reasons. Tom is having issues with a homophobic co-worker and Cooper is working with a rich brat who gets whatever he wants – AND he wants Cooper. Luckily Cooper is madly & completely in love with Tom, but Tom has doubts. Is he good enough for Cooper? Why would Coop want him when he can have a man the same age? I was wishing upon a star that Tom would knock said rich boy’s lights out….lol….Maybe he did, but you’ll have to read it to find out!

If you are looking for a fun, sexy, realistic series with some fine A$$ MCs than you need to pick The Thomas Elkins Series. Definitely will be in my top favorite series.

Thank you NR Walker for giving such a fantastic series to lose ourselves in. I am forever a fan.

5 Pieces of Eye Candy

Reviewed for Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

Sense of Place Amazon Link

Violated by Jamie Fessenden : Review

September 23, 2015 by Webby McGee

Derek Sawyer thinks he has it all—a high-salaried position, a boyfriend, a dog, even a new cabin on the lake—until a business trip with his manager and best friend, Victor, shatters his world.

One night of drunken horsing around in their hotel room leads to the most intensely personal violation Derek has ever endured. As if the humiliation of working under his attacker every day isn’t enough, Victor reports Derek for sexual harassment. Now he’s without a job, without a boyfriend, and the mortgage on the cabin is due.

Officer Russ Thomas has worked with rape victims before, and it doesn’t take him long to sort out the truth in Derek’s tale. With his support, Derek finally reports the crime, months after it happened. But restraining orders and lawyers further Victor’s anger toward him, and even though a relationship develops between Derek and the policeman, Russ can’t be there to protect him all the time. denise review

I will admit to being a little afraid of reading this book. I am always concerned about how a rape scene, especially one that is actually written into the book, will be handled. Will it be graphic? Will it be handled well or just glossed over? Can I handle it? So, honestly, even though I was excited to read this, I had to wait until I had “gathered my courage”, before I could sit down and read it.

However, I have to commend Jamie on the handling of this book, from beginning to end. The rape scene was handled so well. I expected to cry (because I am a crier!), but I did not, although I felt rage, and so many raw emotions as I read it. I also really felt that the entire aftermath was handled so expertly. Women report rape very rarely, and men report it even more rarely than that. The stigma that goes along with rape, by victims, often can be that they allowed it, or did not express “NO” clearly enough, and Jamie really wrote that into Derek’s character.

Derek was a man who was physically fit, lifted weights, confident. And yet, on one drunken evening was raped. He lost so much from that night, his job, his virginity and his self confidence. Yet, what was a fascinating part of his character is that before he was raped, he had had the mindset that bottoming was something a manly man did not do, adding yet another layer to how difficult it was for him to find a method of recovering from such a brutal assault.

Meeting Russ, being attracted to him, and even spending some time with him, all before the rape, was critical to Derek finding a level of trust with Russ. What was so key, though, was Jamie portrayed how slow this was. This could have been handled with almost an insta-love feel, but that was not true to the character or the situation. Just a peck on the lips took months. Sleeping in the same bed, with clothes on, and a pillow between them, was a standard mode for a long time. So true to the characters, and to Derek’s recovery. Trust would not come easy to someone who’s trust had been so completely broken. Trust in others, but also in himself, having been friends with his rapist for 20 years.

This book was heart-wrenching, but handled so truthfully, so accurately, to how I believe a man who was raped would have dealt with such a crushing event, even down to how he saw himself. And seeing how Derek was able to slowly recover, finding his way back to himself, back to being able to have a loving relationship was just incredible. So well done.

A beautiful story! 4.5 pieces of eye candy.

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Cronin’s Key 3 by NR Walker : Blog Tour, Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

September 18, 2015 by Denise

History isn’t always what it seems…

Twelve months after his change, Alec MacAidan is still getting used to his many vampire talents. While most vampires would give anything to have more than one supernatural power, Alec craves nothing more than peace and time alone with Cronin. But when Alec meets entities from outside this realm, he’s left powerless in their presence.

Zoan are half-lycan, half-dragon creatures that have slipped through time and reality, seemingly undetected by man and vampire. Or have they? They bear an uncanny resemblance to gargoyles, leaving Alec’s view on all things weird to get a whole lot weirder.

This new quest leads Alec, Cronin, and their band of friends to Paris, Rome, and Moscow, where they learn that gargoyles aren’t simply statues on walls. In the underground pits beneath churches all over the world, Alec discovers the Key’s true destiny. Facing the Zoan might take every talent he has. And he may need help from the dead to get them all out alive.

Author Name: N.R. Walker

Book Name: Cronin’s Key III

Series: Cronin’s Key

Book: Three

Release Date: September 18

Pages or Words: 58,800 words

Categories: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Goodreads Link

Publisher: BlueHeart Press

Cover Artist: Sara York

CHAPTER ONE

Alec sat back in the chair and held in a sigh, feeling every bit the lab rat he’d become. Since he’d become a vampire a year ago, he’d been put through test after test, so each and every one of his unending list of talents could be explored and documented.

He’d agreed to this, and he knew it was the right thing to do, but in that very moment, he wished to be doing anything else.

And with talents for making errant thoughts an instant reality—like setting fire to sofas and making Xbox controllers explode in Eiji’s hand because he’d somehow won—it wasn’t a good frame of mind to be in.

He loved Jodis. He really did. She had become one of his best friends. But she’d also taken it upon herself to document his talents, and he’d just about had enough for one day. If replicating wasn’t a talent so frowned upon in the vampire world, he’d make a copy of himself to endure Jodis’ tests while he and Cronin hid out in their bedroom. He’d replicated himself a few times, experimentally of course, and found it too taxing on himself anyway.

“Can you do it again?” she asked, notepad and pen in hand.

Alec had found a certain talent he’d dubbed the chameleon, for obvious reasons, because he could make things change color. It was absurd, really, and probably of no better use than a party trick. But he could, if he concentrated, turn a red pen blue or a white shirt black. The talent could only manifest by touch, and it lasted only a few minutes before returning to its original color, but Jodis was rather intrigued.

Alec, on the other hand, had passed bored like it was standing still and was well on his way to irate. “Jodis, I’ve kinda had enough of this today.”

“Last one, I promise.”

For Alec, it wasn’t so much as reining in a temper anymore, where the most damage done was a cutting remark. Now it was keeping a lid on a few dozen talents that reacted poorly to anger. He only had to get really pissed off and a rage would barrel out of him like nuclear fallout, literally knocking humans and vampires off their feet. Or he could burst eardrums with a furious roar, or maybe he could turn them to stone, or dust. Or maybe, just maybe, he could rip an earthquake through the apartment so he didn’t have to do any more of these stupid fucking tests.

“Alec,” Eleanor cautioned from the next room.

“I wasn’t actually going to do that,” he replied petulantly. He knew Eleanor, with the gift of foresight, saw possible outcomes of decisions made, and that did nothing to quell his frustration. “Jesus, now my thoughts aren’t even my own.” Standing up, he snatched the purple notebook off the desk, holding it for half a second and slamming it back down. It was now black, as was every page inside it, and it was smoldering as though it almost caught fire.

Cronin was suddenly in front of him, a hand cupped to his face. “He’s had enough,” he said to Jodis, and they disappeared.

* * * *

As soon as Alec’s feet hit the soft earth, he took a deep breath of fresh air and reveled in the silence.

His life hadn’t exactly been quiet in the last twelve months.

He felt the warmth of Cronin’s hand in his, smelled the sweet aromas of heath and moss from both the vampire beside him and the cool air of the long-abandoned battlefield, and Alec exhaled loudly.

Cronin had somehow learned to quiet his mind a little and it gave Alec the silence he so desperately needed. In the last twelve months, Cronin had taken Alec on more time-outs than he could count. Knowing when he’d had enough and was reaching breaking point, Cronin would simply remove Alec from the situation, leaping him somewhere quiet where his mind could have some much needed solitude. But with a gentle squeeze of his hand, Cronin reassured him he was there.

“I’m sorry,” Alec said.

“Don’t apologize,” Cronin said adamantly. “I can’t begin to imagine your frustrations.”

“Jodis is only trying to help. I behaved badly.” He could very well speak words directly into Jodis’ mind and tell her privately that he was sorry. But he’d prefer not invade the thoughts of others, preferring to apologize in person.

“She understands,” Cronin said, trying to pacify him.

Alec sighed loudly and allowed the quiet to envelope him. “I love it here,” he said eventually.

The field at Dunadd, Scotland, had become a sanctuary for Alec. No voices in his head, no city of millions with flurrying thoughts unbidden through his mind, no politics of vampire councils, no meetings, no one hovering.

Just Cronin.

“It affords you a great privacy,” Cronin said. His Scottish accent and formal tone still made Alec smile. “Your talents as a vampire are a burdensome gift.”

Alec had learned very early on to block out the voices and thoughts of those around him, but living in a city of millions made it a constant effort, and his display of anger at Jodis just minutes ago bothered him. “These talents are a pain in my ass.”

Cronin laughed quietly. “Your control over them still astounds us all.”

“The control you keep talking about is a talent in itself. It’s like casting a net over a thousand different fish.” Alec sighed loudly. “I’ve told you that before.”

“I know. Though it amazes me still.” Cronin squeezed Alec’s hand again and looked out across the field of long grass to the line of trees that fronted the river. “Lie down with me.”

Cronin simply lay flat on his back in the middle of the field and when Alec lay down next to him, Cronin snatched up Alec’s hand again. And together in the mind-clearing silence, they watched the blanket of stars glide across the sky.

It was a clear autumn night in Scotland, cold and dark. Neither of those things impeded a vampire of course, and Alec would never tire of the simple changes he’d gone through when he became a vampire. It was the complex changes he was beginning to struggle with. The talents he’d been given made him unique: the only vampire ever to have all vampire talents, some he was still discovering a year after his change. It was these talents that made his life hectic, his obligations as the key to the vampire world that gave him a great responsibility, and as Cronin had said, it was becoming a great burden.

Alec loved that Cronin would leap them to the very field where his human life had ended. The old battlefield in Scotland was also where they’d first made love, where they came to talk, to be by themselves. Like now.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” Alec whispered, his anger and frustration from before almost gone. “I feel like I can breathe here.”

“Is that not what husbands do?” Cronin asked with a smile. “Save the other from the myriad of madness?”

“Husbands,” Alec said, bringing Cronin’s knuckles up to his lips and kissing them softly. “Now that is something I’ll never tire of.”

Amazon

There was a time, not that long ago, when I swore I didn’t read anything paranormal. I don’t typically enjoy vampires. Which is, perhaps, the best endorsement I can give NR Walker for Cronin’s Key III. Actually, for the entire series. I will say these aren’t your normal paranormal romances. They make you think about history and question what you thought you knew. Yes, it’s fiction, but could it be possible that those slightly scary gargoyles are demons of centuries past turned to stone?

With Alec now one of the most powerful vampires who’s ever lived, you know going in that it’s going to be one hell of a ride. You name a power, he has it. Luckily, becoming immortal didn’t do anything to squash the sarcasm and sense of humor we’ve come to rely on in the previous two books.

You’d think life would be roses now that Alec and Cronin aren’t faced with Alec’s mortality, but that’s not the case. It seems that the very act of turning him to a vampire has stirred some nefarious, mysterious creatures than they don’t try to hide the fact that they are Alec’s enemy. Through the rest of the book, you follow everyone as they try to figure out not only what’s going on, but how to win this time around.

I don’t read paranormal. I’m not a fan of vampires. And yet, I wasn’t ready for the beautiful end of this trilogy!

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

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

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

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

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

She’s been writing ever since…

Where to find the author:

Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Just Love Romance, Divine Magazine, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, My Fiction Nook, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Full Moon Dreaming, Bayou Book Junkie, MM Good Book Reviews, SA McAuley, The Blogger Girls, V’s Reads, The Jena Wade, BFD Book Blog, Carly’s Book Reviews, Reviews by Jessewave, Nephylim, Inked Rainbow Reads, Jessie G. Books, Iyana Jenna, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Molly Lolly, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Mikky’s World of Books, Amanda C. Stone, Prism Book Alliance, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Kimi-chan, Up All Night, Read All Day, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Charley Descoteaux, Multitasking Mommas, Ogitchida Book Blog, The Novel Approach, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Velvet Panic

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Valor on the Move by Keira Andrews : Release Day Review and Giveaway

September 9, 2015 by Denise

He’d give his life to protect the president’s son. But he never expected to risk his heart.

Growing up gay in the White House hasn’t been easy for Rafael Castillo. Codenamed “Valor” by the Secret Service, Rafa feels anything but brave as he hides in the closet and tries to stay below the radar in his last year of college. His father’s presidency is almost over, and he just needs to stick to his carefully crafted plan. Once his family’s out of the spotlight, he can be honest with his conservative parents about his sexuality and his dream of being a chef.

It’s definitely not part of Rafa’s plan to get a new Secret Service agent who’s a walking wet dream, but he’s made it this long keeping his desires to himself. Besides, it’s not like Shane Kendrick would even look at him twice if it wasn’t his job.

Shane’s worked his way up through the Secret Service ranks, and while protecting the president’s shy, boring son isn’t his dream White House assignment, it’s an easy enough task since no one pays Rafa much attention. He discovers there’s a vibrant young man beneath the timid public shell, and while he knows Rafa has a crush on him, he assures himself it’s harmless. Shane’s never had room for romance in his life, and he’d certainly never cross that line with a protectee. Keeping Rafa safe at any cost is Shane’s mission.

But as Rafa gets under his skin, will they both put their hearts on the line?

Amazon

Getting the chance to read a Keira Andrews book early, well, that was a yes, please and thank you immediately. She has easily become one of my favorite authors, not just for her characters, and her great love stories. But also, because she writes stories that you just don’t see anywhere else. An Amish Gay Romance? Sure, she can do that! Zombie apocalypse, shifters? Why not? Book about the POTUS’s gay son, when she’s a Canadian? Absolutely! This author can really use her imagination and creativity to bring a story to life (or in the case of Kick at the Darkness, zombie-life) with a fresh and engaging take on it.

I was truly interested to see how someone who great up in Canada could put a different spin on a story that, in my mind would be hard for even Americans to understand all the intricacies with which families of POTUS deal with. So much of that is kept in the dark, not talked about, for obvious security reasons, but also because there is a real mystery to the highest office in the United States. I need not have worried, in Ms. Andrews’ hands, the story was safe for democracy. 🙂

I’m not sure how much of the book had creative license or how much was research that she was able to gather, but amazing job. The mental images of what the White House looks like inside, how the spaces are divided and utilized, and what may or may not be inside are fantastic. I had a fantastic vision of Rafa’s third floor sanctuary, his private kitchen, along with all the little extras on the other floors. Ms. Andrews created a world for me to live in with her characters.

Rafa (code name: Valor) and Shane could not have been further apart in their lives. Rafa, a young man, just beginning his life, planning on moving to Australia to live and afraid to come out to his parents. Meanwhile Shane has worked for years to become a part of the Secret Service’s ultimate calling, guarding POTUS. By guarding his son, he knows he is one step away from that. With this being a May-December romance (the characters are about 18 years apart), and their life experiences being so very different, their coming together was slow. Rafa knew what he wanted, but not sure how to get it, romanced Shane slowly, with food. It was so sweet to see how he could win Shane over by moving quietly.

When Rafa is in danger, Shane is there to keep him safe, save his life, even at the possible expense of his own. Yet he was powerless to resist Rafa’s charms, even without his delicious food.

This story had a little of everything, a closeted young man, a cynical older man, chemistry galore, intrigue from unexpected sources and of course, my required HEA. And I could not have enjoyed it more.

I prefer to save five pieces of eye candy ratings for books that I am SURE I will re-read, and this one fits the bill. This one will be heading to the top of my TBR again, very soon.

**One random commenter on this post will win a copy of any of Keira Andrews book, including Valor on the Move.

FRET by Sandrine Gasq-Dion : Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

September 9, 2015 by Denise

Title: Fret

Series: The Rock Series #1

Author: Sandrine Gasq-Dion

Genre: M/M Romance

Published: August 31, 2015
Approx 170 Pages

WARNING: This book contains homosexual relations and crude language. A sneak peek at book 2 follows the ending!

Former Navy SEAL Axel Blaze lives a solitary life. He doesn’t do emotions, and he doesn’t do babysitting. Used to being on his own, his job consists of Wetwork (a charming term coined by the KGB) for his former Master Chief, Mac. When an out-of-the-ordinary job lands on his doorstep, Axel heads down a path that includes a famous heavy metal rock band and one quiet, vulnerable, guitar-shredding virtuoso named Gareth Wolf.

Gareth Wolf’s life changed in an instant when a car he was a passenger in crashed, hurting his brother’s best friend and the band’s lead guitarist. They created the band, Skull Blasters, as kids. Gareth had always been happy in the background, playing roadie. With the lead guitarist’s injury, Gareth is suddenly thrust into the limelight and into a frenzied life he never imagined for himself. Finally fed up with living a lie, Gareth comes out as gay in a newspaper interview and finds himself in the bulls-eye of a crazed stalker. Somebody wants Gareth hurt – or worse – and Mac has been hired to be sure that doesn’t happen. Babysitting duty is NOT Axel’s strong suit, but Mac won’t be budged.

Enter Axel Blaze.

Against his better judgment, the big man takes the job to protect the shy musician. The more time he spends with Gareth Wolf, the more he admires the man. Where’s a simple assassination when you need one? The situation becomes more volatile for each man as the attempts on Gareth escalate just as Axel finds himself falling for the quiet lead guitarist.

Strong, funny, smart-ass — and kinda sweet Axel is everything Gareth has ever wanted in a man. Too bad he’s off limits. As the stalker grows bolder, Gareth and Axel move closer emotionally – but is it too late? All Axel knows is that they don’t stand a chance if he can’t find the maniac trying to kill the man he’s come to care about. A lot.

Everyone knows that relationships that begin in pressured or volatile situations eventually fizzle out.

Or do they?

I have always loved Sandrine’s books so I was really excited about this new series. The story held my attention and I didn’t want it to end but I did feel like it was a bit rushed towards the last few chapters. That being said, I think this is a really great start to her new series. It’s interesting to see how the relationship between Axel and Gareth develops since they have such different personalities and are the complete opposite of one another. Gareth is a loving person, sweet and somewhat shy when he isn’t on stage. Axel is exactly what I would expect for a former SEAL. Rough, rugged, and someone who has seen more in life than anyone should ever have too. He’s a really good person down deep and a good match for Gareth.

We get to visit with some of the characters from Ann Lister’s Rock Gods series here as well. That’s pretty awesome. I love how Ann and Sandy have shared and meshed a little of their worlds with each other. It’s fun to see who will pop up where.

We got to see a little sneak peek of the next book in the series and I can’t wait for the next release. The rest of the band members were pretty badass and it’s going to be a ride getting to know each one.

4.5 pieces of eye candy from me. 🙂

Thumping music was shaking the walls of the Dome as I headed for my designated spot. I guess I’m meeting Paul, the band’s manager.

I took mental notes as I passed through the crowd of screaming, jumping people. The band was rocking it out and I sought out Gareth Wolf. There were two guitarists, but I found him right away. Black hair touched his shoulders and his lean body moved with his guitar.

He was in his element.

The song was wrapping up and the floor was shaking from the bass drum. The floor-to-ceiling speakers pumped out the last notes of the song. The crowd immediately went wild as Ransom Fox leaned over the stage.

“Let’s hear it for the best lead guitarist on the planet!” he shouted.

Gareth shook his hair back and bowed with one hand out. Again, the crowd screamed, shouted and whistled. Ransom went on to give some love to the other members of the group.

I rolled my eyes and pushed my way through the crowd toward the side of the stage. A large man eyed me and then nodded as I walked by. Again, I could have been wearing a ‘Hello, I’m God’ tag and security wouldn’t have batted an eyelash. As it was, my tag faced backwards; he couldn’t even see my name or credentials.

Security for the Skull Blaster band was sorely lacking.

I sat through another hour of bone-jarring hardcore metal before the band finally left the stage. I scanned the area for their manager, but no luck.

I walked right behind the curtain and fell into step with the band members as they trudged toward their dressing rooms. They didn’t even notice me — and I’m really hard to miss.

They stepped into the dressing room; I followed and slammed the door shut behind me. Ransom turned and his eyes widened.

“Who the fuck are you?!”

“Nice of you to finally notice me,” I pointed out.

“Paul!” Ransom thundered. He immediately moved in front of Gareth, shielding him.

“Oh for fucks sake.” I rolled my eyes.

The door behind me opened and a startled man looked me over from head to toe. He flipped my name badge over and sighed audibly, clearly relieved.

“It’s cool, Ransom. This is the guy I was telling you about.”

“You could have mentioned he was a semi-truck.” Ransom’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you,” Paul apologized to me. “I ran into some media and couldn’t get away.”

“Not that this isn’t fun — because, oh so much fun — but I’m here to do a job. So I need to speak to whoever is in charge of ‘security.’ Now.” I leaned very slightly — but effectively — in to Paul’s face.

“Why?”

I turned to see Gareth peeking out from behind his brother’s broad shoulders. His eyes were a shade of green I’d never seen before, and with his pale complexion and dark hair? The guy was a looker and then some.

“Because band security royally sucks. I walked right on back here with them and not one person noticed or stopped me. That is not acceptable.”

“Who are you?” Gareth gaped.

I pinned him with a hard look. “I’m your bodyguard.”

Ransom chuckled.

“What the actual fuck?” Gareth stepped in front of his brother. “Is this a joke?”

“Nope.” Ransom shook his head.

“Jinx, Harley, Rebel. Give us a few, eh?” Paul opened the door and tilted his head toward the hallway.

“Sure thing, boss.” Rebel tipped his hat and winked at me.

I leaned against the wall as the members walked out. I overheard one of them, not sure which, talking to another.

“Did you see the size of that guy?”

“How could you miss him?” another one answered.

Paul shut the door and turned to Gareth with an apologetic smile.

“I knew what you’d say if we told you beforehand,” he admitted.

“Oh, did you now? You had to get me Conan the Destroyer? Jesus Christ!”

“Gareth,” Ransom warned.

“What? This is stupid! I don’t need a human shield!”

“You’re going to play nice and allow this man to watch your back, Gareth!” Ransom shouted. “You’re getting threats since you came out! I insist you be kept safe!”

“Gareth, why don’t you go clean up? Then you and Mr. Blaze can get acquainted.”

“Seriously? Blaze?” Gareth snorted.

I narrowed my eyes at the kid. Well, to me he was a kid, after everything I’d seen in my life. Gareth was almost twenty-three and I was pushing thirty. We locked eyes for a few seconds before he turned away.

Best selling author, Sandrine (Sandy) was born in Inglewood, California. Raised by “Old School” French parents, she later moved to Tucson, AZ. It was there that writing became a hobby. Always told she had a great imagination, Sandy wrote short stories for her friends in High School. In college, she took more writing classes while working on her Criminal Justice degree, but it wasn’t until a soap opera caught her eye that she got involved in male on male romances. On the advice of a friend, Sandy dipped her toes into the world of M/M Romance. Sandy takes the writing seriously and has had countless conversations with gay men as well as hours of research. She’s been involved with the military in one way or another for over twenty years, and has a great deal of respect for our men in uniform. She’s traveled the world, but has finally returned to Arizona.

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