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Twelve Days of Murder by Jason Wrench: RB, Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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The holidays are hard enough for widowed NYC detective Frank Schultt without the gifts of a Christmas serial killer and a handsome FBI criminalist.

On the first day of Christmas, a serial killer gave to me, twelve holiday murders…

A killer is on the loose in New York City during the Christmas holidays and it’s up to NYC Detective Frank Schultt and his partner to figure out who the killer is and put a stop to it.

Five years before, during the Christmas season, the widowed detective had found his husband shot dead in a liquor store robbery. He’s finally on the mend and trying to get his life and career back on track, but this case might prove too much for his recovery.

A mysterious FBI criminalist named Aaron Massey is assigned to help him solve the crimes, but the witty and attractive profiler raises feelings in Frank that he doesn’t know how to handle.

Can Aaron help Frank break through his emotional walls fast enough to stop the killings, solve the case and fall in love before Christmas?

Reader advisory: This book contains vivid descriptions of crime scenes and body parts, plus a hostage scene with a shooting, references to drug addiction, trafficking and implied sexual abuse of children.

Amazon

First for Romance

Goodreads

Mornings were never something Frank looked forward to. His usual routine consisted of waking up at around six a.m. and heading over to Club H, a couple of blocks from his walkup apartment in Hell’s Kitchen. Club H had all the trappings of a top-notch gay bar—pumping rhythms commonly heard at circuit parties, guys cruising each other left and right, hot, fit men as far as the eye could see. But Frank wasn’t interested in any of those. Frank came to Club H for its intended purpose—to work out. This particular morning would have to be cut short, as Frank was meeting his best friend Logan for breakfast before heading over to the precinct.

Frank arrived at the gym and stored his stuff in an available locker, noting the locker number in his head. 101… That shouldn’t be too hard to remember. He grabbed his iPhone, found the first free treadmill and started jogging. Frank found the early morning ritual a great way to clear his head. He increased the speed and incline, losing himself in his workout. He looked around at some of the younger guys in the gym. Many were over in the free-weight section, lifting weights with partners in an erotic exchange of muscle and steel. Frank had long ago realized that being ripped was less important than being healthy.

When Frank had been in the academy, one of his classmates—a tall, brutish guy named Theo—had stood out because of his bulging muscles and neck thicker than a Christmas ham. Unfortunately, the guy had ended up having a heart attack during his second week, due to having no cardiovascular ability at all. Sure, he may have made the Incredible Hulk a little jealous, but, as a cop, Frank had become aware that brawn didn’t get anyone very far if it wasn’t equally matched with stamina.

Frank looked around the room and nodded politely to some guys he’d known over the years. Jerry was over in the corner with his new boyfriend, Seth. Frank had met Jerry about three years ago in a back room at The Eagle, an NYC bar that catered to people looking for edgier sexual experiences. After Adam had been murdered in the liquor-store burglary almost five years earlier, Frank had tried to find solace in a range of sexual fetishes. As each one failed to make him feel whole, he’d moved on to something even edgier. He’d also started doing some light drugs and graduated to crystal meth, fearing each day he’d be randomly drug tested. He was good at keeping up appearances at work and never did drugs that required a needle.

His wake-up call had happened while sitting in a trailer getting ready for a porn shoot he’d impulsively agreed to do. He’d caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and just hadn’t liked what was looking back. His body, while still in shape, had just looked worn down. His eyes were sunken into his head and his cheekbones were visible. He’d looked like a slightly healthier version of an Egyptian mummy. In that one glimpse, he’d seen more than his physical appearance. He’d seen his future. The one porn shoot could easily get him censured or thrown out of the NYPD altogether. Frank had grabbed his duffle bag and headed home. He’d told no one he was leaving. He’d just left.

He’d gone right from the porn set to his Chief’s office and admitted he had a problem with drugs. Since Frank had come in voluntarily, the NYPD had allowed him to enter rehab and he’d never been disciplined. Still, he’d been required to receive random drug tests regularly for a year to ensure he wasn’t relapsing. That had been a year and a half ago, and Frank had thrown himself into getting straightened out physically.

After finishing his six-mile run, he grabbed his towel and iPhone and hit the showers. Although showers in most gyms took on a certain homoerotic quality, Club H’s were notorious for hookups. Frank had learned long ago to just go in, shower and pay no attention to anyone around him. He toweled off and got dressed, throwing his dirty gym clothes into his duffle bag. As he was leaving, he heard two guys having sex in the steam room. He thought about warning them that Club H was a public space and that sex was technically illegal there but decided it wasn’t worth his time.

As Frank exited Club H, the cold morning air hit his warm face like a thousand little icicles. Frank pulled out his cell phone and dialed Logan’s number. “You up and at ‘em yet?”

“As a matter of fact, I’m already at the Midtown Diner.”

“Great. I just got out of the gym, so I should be there in ten minutes. Order me the usual.”

“Sure thing.”

Frank hung up his cell phone, putting his AirPods in his ears. “Siri, check messages.” A female electronic voice informed him that he had zero new messages. Frank had Siri play his favorite podcast as he continued trekking down East Forty-Third Street, crossing Broadway and heading toward Central Park. Frank liked it when he was by himself, alone in his head, taking in the early morning rush that was Midtown at eight a.m. Midtown had more foot traffic by that time than most cities did in an entire day.

Ahead, Frank recognized the yellow-and-purple awning, the entryway to the Midtown Diner. Frank and Logan often met there for breakfast, as it was near both Frank’s precinct and Logan’s law office. Logan and Frank had been friends at the Leysin American School in Switzerland. It was a boarding high school. Frank’s parents owned Schultt Pharmaceuticals and had sent Frank there since both of them had been too busy with their own lives to worry about their son. When he’d graduated from high school, Frank had come back to the States and gone to Yale, where he’d majored in business, the heir apparent to the Schultt empire. Instead, Frank had come out right after graduation and his family had disowned him. The blowup had happened when Frank had told his father he was gay. Those had been the last words Frank had ever spoken to his folks. He’d dropped off the map for a while, moved to New York, got a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from New York University, joined the academy and the rest was history.

Frank took off his coat and hung it on a peg inside the door as he entered the diner. He looked around and found Logan sitting at a table reading The New York Times.

“How’s my favorite useless attorney?”

“I’m not useless. Real-estate law is an important branch of law in this town, mister.”

“Oh yes, helping all those fat cats who own this city get richer and richer while the lower and middle classes end up committing crimes just to make it by.”

“Dear God, what a sob story. Just because you think everything is a matter of who’s getting screwed and who’s screwing, don’t bring my job into it.” Logan looked at Frank and smiled, likely knowing full well that this would hardly be the last time this little conversation would occur. “So, any hot guys at the gym today?”

“Remember Jerry?”

“The leather dude?”

“That’s the one. Well, he was there with his newest ‘thing’.” Frank always told Logan everything that was going on in his life, even the seedier parts. Unlike most people, Logan never outwardly judged. Frank could tell when Logan wasn’t happy with him, and Frank never wanted to hurt or disappoint him. So, when he did, he knew he’d screwed up royally.

The waitress arrived at the table and put a plate with two pieces of bacon, two eggs and two sausage links in front of Frank. She came back a minute later and freshened Logan’s cup of coffee.

“So, Frank, how are you doing? I know you don’t want to talk about it, but dammit, I’m your best friend and have the right to be concerned.”

“Logan, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“Well, we’re creeping up on the fifth anniv—”

“I know, so drop it.” Ever since Adam’s murder, Frank had kept that part of his past bottled inside, refusing to release it. Once or twice a year, Logan would check in and see if Frank was ready to open up, but he never was.

“Oh, I was watching It’s a Wonderful Life last night with Ben. He says ‘hi’, by the way.”

“How’s that new show of his going?”

“Well, the soap is officially canceled. Apparently, America wasn’t ready for a daytime science-fiction soap opera.”

“Even hearing you talk about it sounds like a bad idea.”

“I know… Tell me about it. But Ben was so proud of being on another soap. Anyway, he has been cast in the off-Broadway revival of Arthur Bicknell’s Moose Murders.”

“Now, I’m not exactly a Broadway aficionado, but what the hell is that?”

“Yeah, that was my response. Apparently, it was some play from the 1990s that was a huge flop. I googled it. The story sucks and should never have been revived, but I’ve got to be supportive, nonetheless.”

Frank laughed and choked on his coffee. “So, why’d you bring up It’s a Wonderful Life?”

“Oh, Ben and I always watch it a couple of times each Christmas season and again on Christmas…” He realized what he’d just said to Frank. “Oh God, I’m so sorry. I totally forgot for a moment…”

“It’s okay. I hate that film. It’s so fucking sappy. Every time a bell rings an angel has its wings ripped off and is bludgeoned to death.”

“Well, hello, Scrooge McScrooge. Talk about jaded.”

Frank was about to make a comeback when his pants pocket vibrated. He pulled out his phone. “I’ve got to get this,” he told Logan. “Detective Schultt… Oh, hey, Jasika… There’s a what? At FAO Schwarz? Okay, I’ll be there in about ten minutes, depending on how many tourists get in my way.”

“What was that about?” questioned Logan.

“They’ve found a body part over at FAO Schwarz, hung like a Christmas ornament. You call me jaded. I may hate this fucking holiday, but at least I’m not hiding body parts in a toy store.” Frank took out his wallet and threw down enough cash to cover his meal and coffee. “I’ll talk to you later.” With that, Frank turned and headed toward the door, grabbing his coat as he walked back outside into the December cold.

Sometimes you are just in the mood for a murder mystery with a side of romance. Twelve Days of Murder will definitely fit that bill. A new to fiction author, with a really good mystery behind it, that will have you asking for a bit more of this.

The mystery in this was good, if a bit gore-y at times. If detailed descriptions of body parts, murder scenes and victims is a no-go for you, you’ll want to skip this one. But if you don’t mind those kind of details (or can gloss over them a little), then you might want to pick this up. However, I caution you on glossing over some of those, if you want a chance to figure out how the mystery plays out. There are definitely quite a few clues along the way.

The romance in this is definitely more of a secondary story. Nothing much more than kissing, and a date, but it’s easy to see that they grow closer, even as they can’t help but screw it up with their lack of communication. Frank was still grieving the murder of his husband from 5 years ago, having not dealt with the death at all. I would have preferred a little more in the romance portion, but with the rest of the book, it might have been a bit difficult to believe. The epilogue answers the question on how these men are doing, but leaves a few pieces out that I would have liked answered. While we don’t see a lot of growth in Frank, due to the short timeframe of the book, we do see some realizations and breakthrough moments as he dealt with his grief and guilt over Adam.

There was a bit too much wordiness in this book. Full descriptions of non-events (going to the coffee shop and back), etc that I felt could have easily been edited out, as they did not add to the story. However, the rest of it was detailed and helped draw the reader into the story.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Jason Wrench is a professor in the Department of Communication at SUNY New Paltz and has authored/edited 15+ books and over 35 academic research articles. He is also an avid reader and regularly reviews books for publishers in a wide number of genres. This book marks his first full-length work of fiction.

Find out more about Jason at his website – https://www.jasonwrench.com/a Rafflecopter giveaway

A No-Strings Noel by Annabelle Jacobs: Release Day Review and Giveaway

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A week of no-strings fun in a winter wonderland setting. No consequences, no expectations, no hurt feelings. Right?

Henry:

Finding his boyfriend in a compromising position leaves him with a week off work and no holiday to go on.
A night of vodka, ice cream, and his sister’s sympathetic ear is the only way to deal with it.
It’s also how he finds himself on holiday alone a few weeks later, at an English holiday village in the countryside, surrounded by Christmas cheer and happy families.

He’s expecting a week of relaxing days and early nights, doing his own thing, and taking some time for himself. And hopefully finding some festive spirit along the way, because it’s sorely lacking at the moment.

What he’s not expecting is Dom.

Dom:

Coming to somewhere so familiar soothes his broken heart after yet another failed attempt at finding someone to settle down with. He’s ready. They never are.

Seeing a lost-looking stranger on the first day of his holiday triggers his protective instincts, so he steps in to give him some helpful advice.
Who knew that advice would mean they end up spending the day and then the whole week together? But he figures a holiday fling is exactly what he needs to get through this slump: no expectations, no misunderstandings, no heartbreak.
Or that was the plan.
He knows Henry wants more, but he doesn’t trust himself where his heart’s concerned.
He doesn’t trust Henry not to break it.

A Christmas MM romance featuring a meet-cute, a sexy holiday fling, a meddling but awesome sister, a teeny bit of angst, and a festive HEA.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

This was a cute, happy story.

After catching his boyfriend cheating, Henry’s sister sends him to a theme park sort of thing? But you can have your own villa to sleep in, cook if you’d like, etc. I didn’t totally understand that whole situation, but I am sure there are things in the US that British readers don’t understand either. So, imagination.

Almost as soon as he got there he meets Dom, an old hat at this kind of vacation and a great help because Henry was so overwhelmed. But as two hot blooded, single gay men are wont to do, they end up in bed rather quickly.

Having a great time they decide to just have fun together for the week. Henry even broke out of his comfort zone. They were super cute together, Henry often scandalizing other visitors with his language, Dom just laughing it off and refusing to apologize. Even the way they held hands so often was swoony.

But when the week was over I was mad at the way they ended it. But apparently so were their friends and family. Even with awkward texts between them, neither seemed willing to take the risk.

Serendipity steps in… and so they can have their happily ever after.

I actually would have liked MORE Christmas in the story, but it was fine. The epilogue was super sweet and left me smiling.

This is a story that will help you get in the spirit.

4 pieces of eye candy

Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They’re usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end. 

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AJacobs_fiction 
Website – www.annabellejacobs.com 
Email – ajacobsfiction@gmail.com 
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ajacobsfiction a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Best Gift by Eli Easton: RB, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

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With help from a Christmas miracle, two bruised hearts find joy again.

Greg Cabot is the third generation to run Cabot’s Christmas Wonderland and tree farm in rural Vermont. But this year will be his last. Since the death of his son, Sam, in Afghanistan, Greg no longer has the heart to run a business based on holiday cheer. When he picks up a hitchhiking soldier on a snowy night, he finds the help he needs to get his farm through the holidays—and maybe much more.

Sergeant Robbie Sparks doesn’t have much to be thankful for this holiday season. Badly wounded in Afghanistan, he’s spent the last eight months in recovery and was discharged after ten years of service. When fate lands him at Cabot’s tree farm, he feels like he’s fallen into a snow globe reality. Friendly people, gorgeous trees, lots of Christmas kitsch… and Greg Cabot.

Greg believes he’s too heartbroken for romance, but those we love never truly leave us. A little nudge from heaven may help build a bridge for these two men trying to heal. If only they are willing to take that first step.

This stand-alone, long novella is a small town, Christmas cornucopia, May-December, hurt/comfort , ex-military romance stuffed full of family and holiday feels.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

The sleigh and horses were put away, Jim was paid, and we began the walk home. The country lane was cast in blues and grays thanks to a full moon, which was a blessing since I hadn’t brought a flashlight. But it was all the more surprising when fat flakes began to fall.

I stopped and looked up at the sky. What had been a completely clear sky no more than an hour past was now leaden with gray. But the full moon glowed in an empty patch in the clouds like an all-seeing eye. It reminded me of how, in the summertime, it can rain even while the sun is shining.

“Vermont!” I shook my head. “Snow wasn’t—”

“—in the forecast.” Robbie broke in. “You have childlike faith in the weather report, tree man.”

I snorted. “Weather determines how many customers I’ll have on any given day. So, yeah, I count on it to be accurate more often than not.”

“It is pretty,” Robbie commented as we started walking again.

He meant the snow, I figured, and it was. The moonlight turned the slow, fat clusters into falling crystals that glinted in the light now and then, like frozen fireflies.

We walked on. I kept my pace slow, mindful of Robbie’s limp, which seemed to be getting worse.

“You had a long work day today,” I noted again. “Sorry about that.”

“Nahsir. I was on the baler most of the day. I think I’m just stiff from riding the sl—” Robbie slipped on an icy spot and flailed for a moment, cursing.

I grabbed his arm, steadying him. And when Robbie’s feet were stable again, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world for me to slide my hand down Robbie’s arm and take his hand.

“Okay?” I asked, though whether I meant to ask if he was okay after almost slipping or okay with holding hands, I couldn’t have said.

“A-yup.” Robbie gripped my hand firmly, and we kept walking.

The crunch of our boots on the groomed snow, and the distant hoot of an owl, were the only sounds in the silent night. I wanted to chitchat, just to ease the tension that was growing in my gut. But my throat had closed up and my mind had gone utterly blank. I could only stare out at the bucolic scene in front of me, steal glances at the handsome young man beside me, and marvel over the feeling of Robbie’s hand in mine, attuned to it with every fiber of my being.

We were both wearing gloves, but even so, Robbie’s hand was large and strong and warm. And he was okay with holding hands. He wanted to hold my hand. And a man like Robbie wouldn’t do that just to keep from falling. He’d probably parachute out an airplane rather than touch someone he didn’t want to. I was simultaneously elated and terrified by that certainty.

How long had it been since I’d touched any man? At least three years. After Sam left, I was too busy picking up his slack and doing my own work at Cabot’s to even get on an app. Besides, that sort of sneaking around had lost its appeal long ago. Since Sam’s death, I’d barely been alive myself. It had probably been the summer before Sam’s senior year, when Sam and Roseanne had taken a mother-son road trip for three weeks down to Virginia. I’d hooked up with a man from upstate New York I’d chatted with on Hinge. I’d hoped it might lead to something, but when we’d gotten together for a date, there’d been no real connection, no sparks. The man was nice enough, but not attractive to me at all.

Jaysus. That felt like a lifetime ago.

And now this young man had fallen into my life like… like a gift. Hard-working. Polite. Kind to the families and kids who came to Cabot’s and to Roscoe and Lucy and Tori, which meant a lot to me. He had that occasional devil-may-care humor, which I wanted to see a lot more of. He was respectful and thoughtful, always trying to figure out what else he could do to lighten my load. Determined to power through his injuries and not looking for any sympathy, but tugging on my heartstrings all the more because of that.

Sexy as fuck.

Knock it off, I told myself sternly.

We turned onto the lane that would lead to the Cabot property. Up ahead a quarter mile or so, crop fields turned into a dark bank of Christmas trees. A stream gurgled to the right of the road….

Wait. I stopped.

“What?” Robbie asked, still holding my hand.

“That should be iced over.” I took a step toward the ditch, and Robbie followed.

We looked at the ribbon of ice in the ditch, which had cracks and openings through which we could see water run.

“Huh,” I said. “That’s normally completely frozen up this time of year. It shouldn’t be like this ’til April.”

“Global warming?” Robbie offered.

I frowned. It hadn’t been that warm lately. There shouldn’t be enough melt-off to create a stream here.

Robbie drew in a sharp breath. “Look.”

I glanced at him and then followed his gaze. Yes, by any standards, the landscape was breathtaking. A blanket of snow cloaked the fields on either side of the road, glistening in the moonlight that was still shining right along with the snow that fell. Down the road, the wide, long bank of neatly planted green trees looked like a medieval forest from a fairy tale. The stream gurgled. An owl hooted on a nearby fence post, its eyes flashing. Fat goose-feather snowflakes danced and glinted in the air.

He pointed toward the ditch. It took a moment, but I saw it—an all-white bunny sat by the stream, raised up on its hind legs, front paws held in front of its breast in a cute pose, nose twitching as it watched us. The whole scene was so Disney romantic, with the wildlife and gurgling brook, it suddenly seemed absurd.

I burst out laughing and Robbie followed. We looked at each other in disbelief.

“If I told someone about this, they’d never believe me,” Robbie grinned.

“Right? Someone’s put a lot of effort into setting this stage,” I agreed, shaking my head in amused wonder.

“Well. It’d be a shame to waste it.” Robbie’s smile faded.

And before I knew what was coming, Robbie tugged on my hand, stepped closer, and pressed our lips together.

I might have liked to think I’d nobly resist such an overture but, no. I was instantly lost. A red-hot flame of need and longing burst inside me the moment Robbie’s lips touched mine. I could only reach out blindly to wrap my arms around the man and pull him closer.

Robbie placed a hand firmly on the back of my neck and kissed me soundly, his tongue shockingly warm and sweet as he sucked at my mouth. The kiss went to my head like a shot of whiskey, or maybe two, and I realized, embarrassingly, that my knees were weak, and I might not even be able to stand without Robbie holding me up. Dear God, I was a forty-three-year-old man, not a teen.

Coming from a background in computer game design, Eli has written over 50 books in m/m romance since 2013. The Mating of Michael (2014) and A Second Harvest (2016) both won The William Neale Award for Best Gay Contemporary Romance, and Eli’s books have won many awards from the Goodreads M/M Romance Group’s Reader’s Choice Awards. She is best known for her Christmas romances, the Howl at the Moon series of rom coms featuring dog shifters, and the Nerds Vs Jocks series, co-written with Tara Lain.

Connect with Eli:
www.elieaston.com
Facebook: Eli Easton
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/164054884188096
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The Christmas Tenor (Laurel Holidays #3) by V.L. Locey: New Release Review and Giveaway

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A trip that he thought would bring him only pain is about to present him with the greatest gift of all.

For three years now, Cabriolet Vermat has put off, wiggled out of, and outright lied to get out of making this dreaded trip east. The owner of Cabriolet Chauffeur Services in Los Angeles has avoided the yearly invitation to the small town of White Bridge, New York, to speak at their alumni winter gathering but this year they’ve outfoxed him. They’re throwing a dinner to honor his late partner’s dedication to his alma mater and have asked Cab to speak. This time he has to go no matter how much pain it will stir up. Arriving in the picturesque small town beside one of the Finger Lakes, Cab is treated to a special performance of holiday songs and there he sees Julian Gabriel Baez for the first time.

The young singer captivates him immediately, and he finds himself seeking out the much younger man after the performance. The pull he feels toward Jules is unlike anything he’s felt since he met his partner years ago. Confusion and desire war within him, but the outgoing young tenor wins him over with his engaging smile and kind heart. A two-day trip soon turns into an extended holiday vacation. Cab worries that the magic of Christmas will quickly fizzle out and he’ll be alone once more. Or will this festive season bestow a blessing of the heart upon a man who thought he would never love again?

The Christmas Tenor is a standalone small-town gay Christmas romance with a beautiful May-December relationship, a lonely widower, a rising opera star, loving families, and plenty of holiday joy.

Amazon

This book had several captivating dynamics. A very large age-gap, with the younger man being the more dominant of the two, not allowing Cab to pull back even when all of his natural instincts were to stay away from Julian. A widower who still very much missed his husband, feeling some guilt about trying again. A young opera singer about to break open his career…once he graduated from college. And of course, the magic of the holidays.

The age gap was quite large, so that led me to question how moving forward would work in their particular situation…fortunately a beautiful epilogue gives the reader a peek in what that looks like. Julian definitely knew what he wanted, and wasn’t afraid to go for it, while Cab was hesitant, as someone in his situation would be, of course.

I loved how supportive Julian’s family was of him. They cheered him on in all his endeavors, and were encouraging in his new relationship. Cab’s twin brother was also just as supportive of him, wanting only the best for him, even if it meant he wouldn’t be seeing as much of him. It was clear how much they adored each other.

It was an good book, hitting all the Christmas highs. I think, for me, the large age gap seemed to be too much for these two men to find much in common after just a few years together, so I struggled with feeling like the HEA was there for Cab and Julian.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

USA Today Bestselling Author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Dr. Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

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Night Prince by Felice Stevens: RB, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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From Lambda Literary Award winning author Felice Stevens comes a sexy paranormal stand-alone romance.

A vampire who’s lost everything meets a man who has nothing to lose.

For centuries, Massimo D’Alba, banished prince of the Fold, has wandered through life frozen in darkness and pain. Betrayed by his younger, power-hungry brother, he’s existed for centuries but not lived. A rain-soaked night brings smart-mouthed New Yorker, Damion Avery, to his doorstep and suddenly he’s riding spin bikes, shopping for yoga pants, eating ice cream…and falling in love.

Damion Avery can’t figure out why Prince Tall, Dark, and Incredibly Sexy wants him as his personal assistant, but he’s not going to second-guess his good luck. Even though he has to work all night and sleep during the day, the job is too good to be true. But where does Massimo sneak off to in the dead of night? Is he a spy, an assassin, or something else? And what’s with those glowing purple eyes? Damion knows he shouldn’t fall for his boss. But Damion was never one to follow the rules.

When duty calls him home, Massimo must return to save his kingdom, forcing a life-changing decision: leave Damion behind forever, or reveal his deepest, darkest secret to the man who has become his everything, who owns a part of Massimo he’d thought gone forever…his heart.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Massimo glanced up from reading the newspaper as Damion bounded down the stairs.

“Where are you off to? You look like you’re on a mission.”

“I’m going across town to Macy’s. They’re open late tonight—until nine-thirty, and I need some new clothes.” He pointed at his ripped jeans. “I only have one other pair, and I need some shirts and stuff, especially now that you want me to sit in on your video conferences with you and not remain in the background. It’s my dinner hour, so I won’t be taking time from work.”

Massimo set the paper down, frowning. “First of all, you should not worry about doing personal things during your free time. I do not own you, Damion. You work for me. Second of all, I think that is a good idea. Are you sure they will have what you need?”

Damion snorted. “They’re only the biggest store in the world. I think I’ll find something.” His blue eyes twinkled, and Massimo fought that internal war that made him want to grab Damion and kiss him, while knowing it was wrong. It was exhausting to fight this attraction, and instead of it waning as he’d hoped, it was gaining strength.

Damion snapped his fingers. “Hey. I have an idea. Why don’t you come with me? You can help me pick out stuff and tell me what looks good. I’m hopeless like that, and you have a great sense of style.”

Massimo was hesitant. “You want me to go clothes shopping? I’ve never done that before. I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Damion’s eyes bugged out, and he stood mute for a moment. “You’re kidding. You’ve never been in a department store?”

Massimo shrugged. “Why would I? I have a tailor come and make my suits and shirts. Anything else I need, Claudio orders for me. Stores are crowded with people.” He made a face. “Why would I want to go?”

“Because you can try stuff on you might not know you even want. I love impulse-buying. Please? Come with me?”

It was pointless to try and resist those big blue eyes. And that was how Massimo D’Alba, prince of the Fold and one of the most powerful vampires in the world, found himself in a dressing room in Macy’s, wearing a hot-pink T-shirt that said: Yoga is my superpower, and an indecently tight pair of gray sweat pants.

“I think not.” He exited the dressing room to show Damion, who stood in front of the three-way mirror in a tank top the color of his eyes and biker shorts.

When their eyes met, Damion’s jaw dropped, and he spun around.

Massimo shifted under his heated stare, and his cock hardened. Mortified, he took a step away, praying Damion hadn’t noticed. “I can’t believe you made me try this on.”

“Oh, loosen up. Lots of guys wear this when they exercise.” Damion cocked his head. “You look good. Really good.”

“I look as ridiculous as I feel. I’ll stick to what I have, thank you. And we came here for you, not me.”

Damion turned to his own mirror, and Massimo’s gaze fixed on his perfect ass, hugged by the second-skin material of the biker shorts. Massimo had enough trouble with the damn spin bike; did he need to be tortured by Damion wearing next to nothing while they exercised? Having a hard-on while spinning was a singularly painful experience he tried to avoid.

For an author who is a contemporary writer, this was a fun read. Delving into the world of vampires hundreds of years ago and then a time jump to today’s world. Great world building that didn’t rely on stereotypes (except the whole sun thing. ouch). They lived in secret, ensconced within their own boundaries. There were several factions and royalty ruled. They even had a spiritual figure that they respected.

Massimo, first born son and heir to the throne is banished from The Fold for a seemingly minor transgression. While everyone, including himself, thought he would die, he in fact ended up thriving. Building various business empires so that he never had to worry about money.

Damion is the complete opposite. An orphan who had a very difficult childhood with a religious foster family until he ran away, living on the streets of NYC until finally going back to school to get his GED. Where he met his best friend. Even though Damion had a few friends, got his GED, went to college, his life was still a mess. He lost a good job, lost his apartment and then lost his best friend who was moving to another country for his boyfriend’s job. Serendipity brings him to Massimo’s brownstone.

Massimo offers Damion a job as his personal assistant and a room to live in. Being that Massimo is nocturnal and does all of his work at night, having Damion there makes more sense.

They were, of course, immediately attracted to each other. But Massimo held back because, yanno, vampire, and Damion held back because that is why he lost his job- getting seduced by his boss who then turned on him.

But they settled into a fun working relationship. Damion getting Massimo to work out with him on Peleton bikes was hilarious. Massimo’s butler (also a vampire) was such a perfect side character. I actually really hope he gets his own happily ever after.

Massimo finds it harder and harder to resist Damion AND to keep his secret. But he is being called back to The Fold to oust his brother and right the wrongs that have been done. His brother was a horrible person who is destroying everyone and everything in the town.

I won’t tell you more, but they way that Massimo returned, having Damion with him, hundreds of others willing to fight with him, it made for a great story. You could feel that they were just meant for each other. They never used the words mate or soul mate or anything like that. They didn’t HAVE to tell us that they were soul mates. We could tell. It was obvious. Just their immediate connection. They always wanted to be with each other, well before it became a sexual relationship.

The author even made sure there were no loose ends for when Damion was going to return to The Fold with Massimo. Little details that make Type A me so happy.

Even if vampires aren’t really your thing, this isn’t super vampire-y. It felt more paranormal than that. But it was a good story and I would definitely read a second book.

4 pieces of eye candy

Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. She believes that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner. Her characters have to work for it, because just like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love.

Felice is the 2020 Lambda Literary Award winning author in best Gay Romance. She lives in New York City and has way too much black in her wardrobe. If she’s not writing, you’ll probably find her watching reality TV or procrastinating on FB in her reader group, Felice’s Breakfast Club.

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A Veiled & Hallowed Eve (Soulbound Book 7) by Hailey Turner: New Release Review

by

Death is the last lover you will ever know.

SOA Special Agent Patrick Collins has lived a life full of lies, and it has finally caught up with him. There’s no denying his past any longer, not after giving up the truth to save himself from a murder charge. But truth alone can’t set Patrick free, and time is running out to stop the Dominion Sect from turning his father into a god.

Jonothon de Vere knows survival isn’t a guarantee, but he’s desperate to keep Patrick safe, even as hope slips through his fingers. With the future unknown, Jono will follow Patrick wherever he goes, even to Salem, where a family reunion reveals a bitter secret that was never going to stay buried.

With New York City under control of their god pack, Patrick and Jono must fall back on every alliance they’ve brokered to fill the front lines of a war coming directly to the city streets. The veil is always thinnest on Samhain, and what awaits them on the other side is the stuff of nightmares. For when it tears, all hell will break loose, and the gods will be summoned to face a reckoning the world isn’t ready for.

The stakes have never been higher, failure has never been so deadly, and the Fates have never been kind to heroes. Patrick knows that better than anyone—because everything has a price, every debt always comes due, and it’s finally time for Patrick to pay his.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Audible

You need to read this entire series, or listen to it. Either way, don’t miss a single book in this series. This is not a stand alone. While the author does reference and explain things as the book goes along, you really want to make sure you read or listen to the first six books in the series. But it is not in any way, shape or form, time wasted. This is a fantastic series, from beginning to end. Hailey Turner takes world building to a new level with this series, and with the conclusion to the series, it is no less amazing. If you want to visualize the setting your MC’s are in, this author is who you want to read.

This was seriously an epic conclusion to this series. I was on the edge of my seat for most of it, as it twisted and turned through the streets of NYC, and a bit of time spent in Salem, MA.

I’m not gonna lie…Patrick leaving…well that just broke my heart. But Jono, Wade (who was the sweetest in his devotion to Patrick) and their pack did not give up any hope, knowing he would be back. They continued on in their lives, knowing he would be back home.

Patrick finally pays his soul debt, in, of course, one of the most heart breaking ways, yet absolutely how it needed to happen. I honestly would not have been surprised if the author had not planned that particular portion of the story since the conception of the series.

I do not want to give any more away, but this book, this ending…perfect conclusion to what has been an incredible series.

Also, if you get a chance, I highly recommend the audiobooks of this series, narrated by Gary Furlong. So very well done. As a good narrator can do, he enhances what is already a fantastic storyline with the varying voices, inflections and character changes.

4.5 pieces of eye candy