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Rocking the Cowboy by Skylar M. Cates: Exclusive Guest Post and Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Opposites who go together like country and rock ’n’ roll.

Long before he was a superstar, Remy Sean had a secret crush on Jed Riley. But Jed sees Remy as a spoiled pop rocker and an extension of his father’s control. Still, Jed is willing to let Remy hide from the press on his ranch—but only as a way to get his father out of his life and business for good.

Used to being admired and fawned over, Remy keenly feels the sting of Jed’s dismissal. Can he make Jed see him as more than a pain in the ass? Or is Jed too tangled up in his ranch to see past his old hurt?

Jed doesn’t believe someone desired by so many fans could want him, a simple cowboy. But Remy is determined to change Jed’s mind and steal his heart….

Title: Rocking the Cowboy
Author: Skylar M. Cates
Release Date: August 21, 2018
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 222

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Hello! Skylar, here. Thanks for hosting me!

I’m excited to share my thoughts on cowboys, my writing news, and a giveaway for you. I’m thrilled about the August release of Rocking the Cowboy. Who said a pop star and a cowboy can’t find HEA? Not me! I love Jed and Remy for their chemistry together as well as their generous hearts.

My writing news:

I’ll be self-publishing a Christmas book in December 2018. It’s about two neighbors who feud over a Christmas lights competition (look for it on Amazon)!

Finally, my newsletter is releasing in late August/early September with some great giveaways and exclusive content. If interested, you can sign up for it here:

http://eepurl.com/cxODzT

Jed and Remy had some swoon worthy moments in Rocking the Cowboy. Remy is a total flirt, but he is vulnerable underneath it, whereas Jed is not used to flirting (or even conversation, lol). Here is an early scene from the book. Enjoy!

He fixed Remy his dessert of grilled pineapple and melted dark chocolate, with fresh whipped cream on top.

Remy groaned. “You’re right. If there is a dessert on earth better, I sure as hell don’t know what it is. Thanks. For bringing me here….”

“Welcome.” Remy could see the curve of Jed’s lips in the firelight.

“Is this a date?” Remy teased with a wink.

Jed looked away. “This is us just getting to know each other.”

“I’m calling it a date. Fuck, I like being out here, and I like sharing this delicious concoction. Man, you could have been a chef.”

Jed shook his head. “No such thing as a bonfire chef.”

“You’d be the first, then. An original.”

“I’m just a rancher. That’s all I am.”

“Why do you keep doing that?” Remy asked.

“Doing what?”

“Dismissing yourself. I’m a simple guy. I’m a rancher. As if those things aren’t valuable, when they are. Don’t sell yourself short. You have a lot to offer the world. You made this whole night possible, and you were really kind about my songwriting thing a minute ago.”

“Anybody would do that—”

“No, they wouldn’t. People aren’t always kind. They’re assholes mostly. And I think you’re a lot more than you let on.”

Jed’s eyes met his. The soft expression suddenly made Remy uncomfortable before Jed looked away, a slight flush on his cheeks.

I want him.

God, how Remy did. He was drowning in all the want. He wanted Jed to pin him down, climb on top of him, and kiss him senseless.

Jed stood up and brushed off some dirt. “We should go back. It’s getting late.”

“Sure.” Remy couldn’t read him. Just a second ago, he had been sure that Jed was about to kiss him…. Fuck, maybe he was wrong. He was a mess these days. Was he only seeing what he wanted?

SOME THOUGHTS ON COWBOYS

These two men were a ton of fun to write, especially Jed. I love cowboys. Maybe it’s because I spent my childhood on the Jersey Shore, where cowboys were a total mystery, but I always found cowboys sexy.

In my twenties, I moved out to Arizona, and I frequented the cowboy bars. Those guys, however, were more like city wannabe-cowboys. When I created Jed in Rocking the Cowboy, I wanted my guy to truly love his land, animals, and the quiet. A loud city would never be for Jed.

Some of my favorite cowboy crushes have been from the movies or television. Here are four movies at the top of my list:

 

  1. Legends of the Fall

Besides the beautiful scenery of Brad Pitt, this film also boasted beautiful scenery of the river.  It is the saga of three brothers. My favorite part was actually Aiden Quinn’s storyline because he was so sad and unable to get the girl.

 

  1. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

I loved this film so hard! A young Paul Newman and Robert Redford? Swoon! In the film, the two leads go on the run. Along the way, they share their fears and dreams. It’s a total bromance. The girl? What girl?

 

  1. Giant

If you never saw this saga about Texas oilmen, rent it. James Dean is so tortured, you want to cry for him even as he does all the wrong actions, and Rock Hudson is stunning and very alpha. My favorite scene, however, is when Rock’s character finally changes his world view and defends his grandbaby. It always makes me cry and gives me hope that we can all change and grow.

 

  1. Brokeback Mountain:

Do I really need to explain it? Heath and Jake = perfection

Who doesn’t love a good opposites attract romance? This one fits the bill nicely, with a cowboy who spends his time on his ranch, not seeing anyone else for days, and a rock star who is beloved by people young and old.

As Remy finally has to give in and allow himself to overcome the trauma he suffered while touring, he returns to a positive place from his teenage years, one that got him through a different painful period in his past. Meanwhile, Jed’s reasons for allowing Remy to stay at the ranch are convoluted to say the least, but come back to “Daddy issues”. Jed’s father abandoned his family which led to a huge hole in his life, and layers and layers of anger.

However, what I really loved about the story is it wasn’t a huge part of their romance or falling in love. Yes, Buddy is who brought them together (both times as it happens), but it just isn’t part of their day to day life on the ranch. They learn to love each other outside the trappings of the wealth and circumstance of Remy, and the strong personality and angst that Buddy brings into Jed’s life.

They were opposites who found that they wanted many of the same things in life, and discovered how to work their way to their HEA, with passion as well as compassion. Both Jed and Remy showed such compassion for others, but especially for each other. Both had to live with traumas that changed their lives, and finding what the right path for that was, wasn’t each. Yet they walked through that together.

A good solid HEA, and a low angst book. Recommended.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Skylar M. Cates loves a good romance, especially ones that are both steamy and emotionally satisfying. She is quite happy to drink coffee, curl up with a good book, and not move all day. Her best-selling novels feature strong, passionate men. Skylar loves to craft stories where realistic men are challenged with emotional situations. Skylar’s character-driven series will often feature close-knit families, animals, and loyal friendships being tested.

Skylar dreams about spending her days writing novels, walking along the beach, and listening to good live music. She also dreams of eating dessert without weight gain and robots cleaning her house. But she knows she can’t have it all… yet. Although lately the laundry room is the farthest place she has visited, Skylar still loves to chat with people from all around the globe.

 What is your favorite cowboy from a movie or from a television show? One lucky commenter will get a $15 dollar credit at Dreamspinner.

Tempt Me by Remmy Duchene: Exclusive Guest Post and Release Day Review

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Officer Gabe Ford knows finding love could be a tad problematic—especially since he hasn’t come out to his partner of six years yet. But what’s a guy to do when his body wants what his brain is saying he can’t have?

A year and a half after a breakup, Jason Tomlinson isn’t actively looking for a relationship. Hell, he can do bad all by himself. But Gabe Ford is just too damn yummy to resist. Just as things are beginning to pick up, one bullet may end it all before it even begins.

Title: Tempt Me
Author: Remmy Duchene
Release Date: August 17, 2018
Category: Erotic, Contemporary
Pages: 85

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Hey Everyone,

My name is Remmy Duchene and today—well, today is release day! TEMPT ME sprang from a watching a soap-opera – One Life to Live. Why is this story so different than anything I’ve written so far in my over ten year writing career? Well, it is not interracial. For the first time (rather the second time) I have written something, not multicultural. That was how my muse brought me the tale and I obeyed.

 

The idea for TEMPT ME came from watching cuts of KISH on youtube. For those who have no idea who they are, KISH consists of Kyle Lewis and Oliver Fish from One Life to Live. They were, I believe the first gay couple on daytime television in a soap opera.

Actually, to be completely honest, one scene alone inspired this short. Kyle and Oliver meet in a park the morning after they finally planned a date for later that evening. Kyle was on his way to the hospital (where he was a resident working to become Dr. Lewis) and Oliver was gearing up to keep the crowd in line at the majors swearing in. They talked, showed us why we loved KISH so desperately, were adorably awkward and just as Kyle was about to walk away, Oliver stopped him and bravely kissed his cheek.

*swoon*

Sure, it wasn’t a huge deal for most but if you watch this storyline, you would understand. That scene did my heart so well because that one moment, that one kiss on the cheek, in a public place, showed how far Oliver had come.

I used that scene to inspire Gabe and Jason. Sure, Jason isn’t a doctor but it’s the same sentiments. I had fun (some might say a little too much) writing these two and I really do hope you enjoy them.

This is my first read by this author and I know I can be kind of judgey, but this one was good!
Jason owns his own bar/grill; two of them actually, but one of them is a frequent stop for emergency responders. EMT’s, firefighters and most especially, cops. That’s where he meets Gabe, who’s not out to his partner, so when Jason gives him his number, he isn’t sure about calling him.

Luckily, his partner is really cool and I was glad he was so accepting. Not the most friendly bunch, cops. But, Malik, I suspected might even have his own little secret. Maybe not, but it was the vibe I got. So, with Malik’s encouragement, he calls Jason and sets up a date. I really liked how confident and sure Jason was. He didn’t play coy or beat around the bush. He thought Gabe was hot, so he just threw it out there and Gabe picked it up.

Now, there were a few things that came out of left field for me, like Jason’s ex… There was no indication that he was kind of crazy enough to shoot someone, especially just after one phone call two years after they’d broken up and he just started dating someone else. Was just weird to me. Then, while they were taking each other to pound town, and let me tell you how I have a really good imagination, so I use it…. A lot, while getting the good times with two hot dudes… Ain’t no shame in my game….but, anyway the semantics a time or two, I was like…. How did he do that? Are his arms on backwards? Whoa, just bust out with a “daddy”, no warning whatsoever and only once. I could’ve gotten on board with that… but it was only the once …

Other than that, these guys knew what they wanted… in a bigger picture and from each other; so there was no back and forth, no drama or ups and down. Only the slight trouble with the ex, and even that was resolved quickly, so… it was a light read with one minor blip. Short and sweet, I reckon.

I’d be curious to see what happens with Malik.

4 pieces of eye candy from me!

Remmy Duchene now lives in Canada where she works for lawyers during the day and write like the wind at nights. She loves movies, books, pretending to be a photographer and spending time with family.

Website: https://remmyduchene.wix.com/remmyducheneromance

Twitter: https://twitter.com/remmyduchene

Facebook: Remmy Duchene

IG: @manluvlikeaboss

Sky Full Of Mysteries by Rick R Reed: Exclusive Excerpt, Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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What if your first love was abducted and presumed dead—but returned twenty years later?

That’s the dilemma Cole Weston faces. Now happily married to Tommy D’Amico, he’s suddenly thrown into a surreal world when his first love, Rory Schneidmiller, unexpectedly reappears.

Where has Rory been all this time? What happened to him two decades ago, when a strange mass appeared in the night sky and lifted him into the heavens? Rory has no memory of those years. For him, it’s as though only a day or two has passed.

Rory still loves Cole with the passion unique to young first love. Cole has never forgotten Rory, yet Tommy has been his rock, by his side since Rory disappeared.

Cole is forced to choose between an idealized and passionate first love and the comfort of a long-term marriage. How can he decide? Who faces this kind of quandary, anyway? The answers might lie among the stars….

Amazon
Dreamspinner Press paperback
Dreamspinner Press ebook

 

SKY FULL OF MYSTERIES: “Abduction,” An Exclusive Excerpt from my alien abduction gay romance

A Guest Post by Rick R. Reed

Sky Full of Mysteries is, in the end, all about love, yet alien abduction is what propels the plot. Here, come along with our main character, Rory, as he leaves this earth. He will be gone for about twenty years, although, to him, the passage of time will feel much, much briefer.

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

Rory made his way a little to the west and found the perfect alley. The streetlight had burned out, and there was a large dumpster for additional cover. High-rise apartment buildings rose up all around him for protective cover. Hand on his fly, Rory wanted to laugh with relief. The quiet and dark little spot appeared as an oasis, the perfect solution to an embarrassing problem.

Rory stood next to the dumpster, unzipped his fly, and then, hand on the brick wall and leaning his weight into it, let go.

The relief caused a deep sigh to issue from his lips. The release was so pleasurable it was a slice of heaven. His sigh approached a growl of contentment, almost sexual. He closed his eyes with delight.

And then, from even the cover of his closed eyelids, he saw it. Bright light.

Shit was the first thought that sprang to mind. The cops was the second. Rory opened his eyes, trying to make his stream go faster, to finish up, because there was no way he could stop himself now. He wanted to bark out some giddy, hysterical laughter, even as he imagined calling Cole from a police precinct to bail him out on a charge of indecent exposure.

All this went through Rory’s head in a millisecond. When he finished—because he had to finish, it didn’t matter who was watching— he looked around.

Sigh. There was no police car at the mouth of the alley, no beat cop shining a flashlight on him in all his unzipped glory.

No, the light, Rory realized, was coming from above. He quickly shook off and stuffed his dick back in his shorts. He raised his head, shielding his eyes from the brilliant light and squinting into it at the same time, but even those measures were feeble against the blinding illumination. The light was so bright it ignited a shooting pain in his head, made him fear scorching his retinas.

There was a grinding sound too. It took him a moment to notice that, because he was so stunned by the hovering light of a thousand suns above him. It was like the mechanical drumbeat of machinery going about its business. Boom, boom. Boom, boom—like the beating of a clockwork heart.

Rory was too stunned to be afraid. He turned and leaned back against the wall, a little breathless, and closed his eyes to witness myriad suns, orange and red, pulsating on his inner eyelids.

When he opened his eyes again, careful to keep them cast down on the bricks of the alley, he noticed how the shining illuminated everything at his feet—the crushed Old Style beer can, the used condom, the coffee grounds, and the oil stains. He took this in dully, like he was observing these mundane castoffs as someone who was studying them, but for whom they were foreign. Like an archeologist peering down at relics from an ancient civilization.

For a jarring moment, he couldn’t, for the life of him, recall where he was.

Maybe this way of occupying his mind was a defense, he realized at last. A defense against horror and recognition.

Because, with a certainty that approached 100 percent, Rory knew what was issuing the bright light above him, knew without having to go to the trouble to peer into its blinding white light once more. The realization made him shiver, despite his racing heart and the light sheen of sweat that covered his face.

It was it. The membrane, the cloud, the ship. It was not in the distance, as before, but directly above.

The cold seized his limbs, paralyzing, like the very blood in his veins was slowing, freezing.

And then he felt nothing at all, save for a few vague physical sensations—a pulling at the top of his head, so hard he could feel his hair rise, strand by strand, then faster, until all of it stood straight up. His limbs followed, arms stretching up above his head, but not of their own accord.

And then, with a terror so acute it made him not scream but laugh hysterically, his feet lost contact with the ground as he rose slowly into the light.

 

Rick R. Reed wrote this amazing book, and still hours later, I really have no idea what to say about it. Go read it! Give it a chance, even if “sci-fi isn’t my thing” is a mantra for you! There, my work here is done. Okay, since I am guessing that will not work as a review, I will try to put my feelings into words about this book, but it will not be easy. I am not a sci-fi person either…ever. And I really try never to do books that will make me cry like a baby, or are extremely antsy…but since it was Rick, well, here I am.

First, I will say, that I really only give 5 pieces of eye candy, if I will read a book again, which I can’t…not that I won’t…but I can’t…because that much crying is hard on me! But those 4.5 pieces of eye candy should really be 4.99999 pieces. This book had so much emotion in it. I cried…not a little, but I bawled, and I normally avoid those types of books, because I am not an angsty read kind of girl. But Rick writes so well, with so much emotion, that I can’t NOT read something he wrote, so bawling it will be. 🙂

More than the first half of the book is Cole and Rory, the aftermath of Rory’s appearance and Cole meeting and connecting, more than once with Tommy. It takes place in 1997. And the heartbreak that Cole goes through is unfathomable to me. He finds the love of his life, they move in together, and just weeks later, he disappears without a trace. When Rory disappeared, he took Cole’s light, not just the light of his life, but his own light. It was difficult to read how angry, despondent and closed off from everyone that Cole became, as a result.

Rory’s disappearance had no effect on his life…that he knew of. He had no memory of his time away, just brief flashes. Meanwhile, his disappearance destroyed three lives beyond any impact anyone could understand. His reappearance, 20 years later, changed his entire life in an instant, even as everyone had moved on as best they could.

Tommy could not have been more loving to Cole, even when Cole deserved nothing but anger and disappointment. Meanwhile, at times it was hard to love Cole, yet you couldn’t help it because it was so obvious to the reader how torn he was. The author did an amazing job of creating a character in Cole that really had a difficult time with the choices in front of him, for his entire life. The reader felt awful for Cole, and then when Rory reappeared in his life? Another choice to be made.

At that point, I was completely in awe how Rick was able to make me want a happy ending for all three of the men, knowing there was no chance of that happening (yes, I am crying again as I type this…that is how much this book affected me). Small spoiler: all three get a happy ending, but not in any way that you would think they would.

How Rick made all these characters so believable in their reactions, in their realization of their needs and wants, and their emotions is beyond me, but he conveyed them so well in his portrayal of them. And Rory’s mom…my heart still hurts for her pain…(Yep, still crying! Dang you Rick R. Reed!) Few books have ever left me with book hangovers…I believe prior to Sky Full of Mysteries, the total was two. I’m up to three now. And looking up, it appears I was able to find a few words to say about it. 🙂

Please read this book! It truly is about a love across time and space.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

 

Real Men. True Love.

Rick R. Reed draws inspiration from the lives of gay men to craft stories that quicken the heartbeat, engage emotions, and keep the pages turning. Although he dabbles in horror, dark suspense, and comedy, his attention always returns to the power of love. He’s the award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifty works of published fiction and is forever at work on yet another book. Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…” You can find him at www.rickrreed.com or www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA with his beloved husband.

FIND RICK ONLINE

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/rickrreedbooks

Twitter: www.twitter.com/rickrreed

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RickReedWRITER

Blog: http://rickrreedreality.blogspot.com/

Website: www.rickrreed.com

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rick-r-reed

Email: rickrreedbooks@gmail.com

 

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Shoulder Season by Jackie North: Exclusive Guest Post and Excerpt, Release Day Review

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Two young men from two different countries find a common language as they recover from broken hearts and broken bones. Can they rebuild their lives together?

Ben’s boyfriend has not only dumped him, he’s also cancelled their mutual travel plans. Since Ben has the time off and the money saved up, he decides to travel anyway, and based on a last-minute, very inexpensive red-eye airline fare, ends up in Reykjavik, Iceland.

He’s ill-prepared for the weather and knows nothing about the country, so he considers flying home the next day. Except his new neighbor, Solvin, a local Icelander who is currently on leave from work due to a car accident, shows up with a cane and shoulder sling and literally falls into Ben’s apartment. It’s the beginning of an adventure that might show Ben how good life can be… and that coming home sometimes means traveling halfway around the world.

World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

Title: Shoulder Season
Author: Jackie North
Release Date: August 10, 2018
Category: Contemporary, World of Love
Pages: 84

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Hello and thank you Two Chicks Obsessed for letting me guest post on your blog today! I’m here to promote my soon-to-be released book from Dreamspinner, which is Shoulder Season. But also, I’m here to talk about Iceland, where the book takes place.

Iceland to me has always seemed a faraway, rather exotic place that I would never be able to travel to. The location always seemed too remote, too obscure, too cold, and thus impossible. I’d always heard that Greenland was named Greenland to entice visitors and settlers and that Iceland was named Iceland to keep people from going there. Whether or not that’s true, it certainly worked on me! Iceland was foreboding, far away, and very, very cold.

As I grew older, of course, my opinion changed. I began to see the appeal of any Nordic country, be it Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Greenland, and, yes, last but not least, Iceland. Travel videos and blog posts, as well as the images, the stories about equality among the citizens, the low crime rate, the clean, healthy lifestyle, made me realize that yes, I’d like to go to a Nordic country. But which one? Well, because Iceland was an island, not to mention all those geologic wonders contained in this little country, it won my heart.

If I were to travel there, I’d like to go by boat around the island, stopping off to see all the sites and scenery. I want to bask in the waters of the Blue Lagoon, I want to see the geysers, view the northern lights, and pet sweet-faced Icelandic ponies. I want to eat fermented shark and homemade skyr, the famous Icelandic yogurt. I want to visit all the waterfalls and stand behind as many as will let me, especially Seljalandsfoss, which to me is the prettiest. I want to dance at the edge of the famous (and dangerous) sneaker waves at Black Beach. I want to do everything!

Top of my list is to visit a sculpture called the Sun Voyager. In Icelandic, it’s called Solfar. The sculpture is in the shape of a ship built of bones, and sits at the south end of XYZ bay. It faces the water, and the blue air sweeps over the edges of the sculpture. What I’d love to do is stand there with the Icelandic wind in my hair while the setting sunlight gleams on the metal and, as the sculpture is intended to do, be carried off on thoughts of hope and anticipation as to what the future will bring.

I thought I would share a little excerpt from Shoulder Season:

“What’s the sculpture called again?” asked Ben as he opened the door for Solvin. Solvin gave him a smile as he clambered in. When Ben was settled beside him, Solvin asked a question in Icelandic, and the taxi driver answered, and off they went, down the placid streets of Reykjavik.

“It’s called the Sun Voyager, the boat of dreams,” said Solvin, and he looked at Ben as he said it. “It represents hope and new beginnings.”

New beginnings seemed to be what Iceland had become for Ben, a country where he could start as he meant to go on and where every conversation didn’t end in an argument, and cups of coffee could be drunk in a casual way, with no need to rush off afterward. He settled back in his seat, and when his hand touched Solvin’s thigh, he left it in place and brushed the backs of his fingers along the material of Solvin’s jeans. Not only did Solvin not move away or push Ben’s hand off, he dipped his head and smiled at Ben as though they shared a secret the taxi driver didn’t need to know about.

All the way through town, Ben left his hand there, looked at the blush on Solvin’s cheeks, and thought about new beginnings.

This is a new to me author and I was drawn to it because I am, quite honestly, fascinated with Iceland. Like top of my bucket list fascinated. And this story gave me a nice look into the country.

Ben heads off to Iceland on a spur of the moment trip after being unceremoniously dumped by his boyfriend and their joint vacation cancelled. He got a cheap flight and what seems like an Air BnB apartment to rent but no other plans. Until he meets his neighbor Solvin who is off of work for 6 weeks while recovering from a car accident.

A friendship and very sweet little romance blossoms. They didn’t jump right into bed together. There was no frantic kissing and groping up against a wall. Instead, Solvin takes Ben out sight seeing around Iceland. Everyday they get closer. They were both shy and timid and adorable together.

There was a bit of repetition in the book as far as Ben dwelling on his very recent ex boyfriend and I honestly skimmed over a bit of that as I didn’t think it was necessary to move the story forward.

There is a HEA which is fairly implausible, but hey- why not. We read romances for the HEA’s, not the plausibility.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Jackie North has been writing stories since grade school and spent years absorbing the mainstream romances that she found at her local grocery store. Her dream was to someday leave her corporate day job behind and travel the world. She also wanted to put her English degree to good use and write romance novels, because for years she’s had a never-ending movie of made-up love stories in her head that simply wouldn’t leave her alone.

As fate would have it, she discovered m/m romance and decided that men falling in love with other men was exactly what she wanted to write books about. In this dazzling new world, she turned her grocery-store romance ideas around and is now putting them to paper as fast as her fingers can type. She creates characters who are a bit flawed and broken, who find themselves on the edge of society, and maybe a few who are a little bit lost, but who all deserve a happily ever after. (And she makes sure they get it!)

She likes long walks on the beach, the smell of lavender and rainstorms, and enjoys sleeping in on snowy mornings. She is especially fond of pizza and beer and, when time allows, long road trips with soda fountain drinks and rock and roll music. In her heart, there is peace to be found everywhere, but since in the real world this isn’t always true, Jackie writes for love.

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/JackieNorthAuthor/

Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/jackienorthMM

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackieNorthMM

Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/jackienorthauthor/

Website: https://www.jackienorth.com

Email: jackie@jackienorth.com

 

Iceland Images zip contains copyright-free images from Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/

*** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. ***

The Missing Ingredient by Brian Lancaster: EXCLUSIVE Excerpt, Release Day Review

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It can take losing everything to realize what you had all along.

Up-and-coming London chef Marcus Vine is poised on the edge of success, but the only men courting him are investors. That leaves Marcus with some free time—which is fortunate, because his godchildren need him.

A year ago, a horrible accident killed Marcus’s best friend, Raine, leaving her children without a mother and her husband, Tom, without a partner. Consumed by grief, Tom has been going it alone, refusing help, but when Marcus sees him out with the children, it’s obvious that Tom and his two daughters need someone. His persistent caring finally wears Tom down, allowing him to accept the comfort Marcus offers. Soon Marcus is up to his elbows in homework, home-cooked meals, and after-school activities. Over time he helps them rebuild their world, until soon their lives are approaching normal.
Then the unexpected happens: Tom confesses he has romantic feelings for Marcus, and nothing can ever be the same.

Title: The Missing Ingredient
Author: Brian Lancaster
Release Date: August 7, 2018
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 211

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Ten minutes later Marcus heard Tom’s soft footfalls on the stairs.

“You want a beer?” said Marcus, twisting around and yanking open the fridge door as Tom hit the bottom step. “Got a couple of cold ones in here.”

“Actually, another reason I came back is because—” said Tom, hesitating momentarily before going on. “Because I wanted a chat with you.”

“Oh, shit,” Marcus hissed, two bottles of Asahi in one hand, and quietly closed the fridge door shut, his face falling. “What have I done now?”

Tom appeared genuinely mystified.

“Sorry?” he said, taken aback. “What do you mean?”

“Whenever you want to chat with me, it usually means you’re either going to tell me to fuck off or back off.”

“No, I—” said Tom, his eyebrows scrunched up in confusion, before he deflated with a sigh and gently shook his head. “Is that what you think? Hell, have I really been that much of a dick? After everything you’ve done for us, for me?”

“You’re not a dick, Tom. But you can be bloody stubborn at times. Beer?”

Tom ambled over and took the proffered beer bottle, twisted the lid, and took a long draft. Afterward, visibly relaxing, he perched on the barstool. Marcus went and joined him, leaving a sizable distance between them.

“What I meant was, I don’t get to hang out with you anymore. And I know that’s what I asked for, but in all honesty, I miss it, I miss our little chats.”

“Yes, well, whose fault is that?”

“I know, I know. I already claimed the dick card, remember?”

Marcus relaxed too, then leaned forward to clink the neck of his bottle with Tom’s. “Well, if it’s any consolation, Tom, I miss our grown-up time together too.”

And it suddenly dawned on Marcus how much he really had missed just chatting to Tom. If only he could master his infatuation. Maybe now would be a good time to win some points in the friends stakes, tell Tom about Damian Stone, tell him what they had found out. But while the thoughts swirled around in his head, Tom had started talking.

“I really do like that shirt on you, Marcus. Is it cotton?”

“Egyptian cotton,” said Marcus absently.

“Looks comfortable. Mind if I…?” Tom held a hand out as if waiting for permission to touch the material.

“Sure. Knock yourself out.”

Tom reached across the distance and pinched the material beneath Marcus’s collar between his thumb and forefinger.

“This Indian tailor round the back of Edgware Road makes them for me. Has done for a couple of years. If you want, I can—”

When Marcus raised his eyes to meet Tom’s, all thoughts left him, the dark heat in that gaze blistering. A sudden memory came back, of Tom sitting on the garden rug, staring angrily at him. Except it had not been anger at all but lust. Instinctively he inhaled a deep breath as Tom fisted the shirt and pulled Marcus out of his chair toward him. Even as Tom brought their mouths together, Marcus hesitated, fully expecting him to recoil, to reevaluate in disgust what he had initiated. But the moment never came. Closemouthed lips pressed onto Marcus’s own—firm, urgent, yet still a little unsure. And then, a second later, the essence of Tom Bradford hit Marcus hard, spicy aftershave mixed with Tom’s natural body scent and heat, so masculine, intoxicating and addictive. Instinctively Marcus’s arms found their way around Tom’s neck and he stepped into the man’s body, molding himself into the embrace. When he pushed his tongue between Tom’s lips, forcing them to part, Marcus took control of the kiss, touching, stroking, exploring, snaking his own tongue around Tom’s. In response, Tom shuddered and released a deep moan, before lifting Marcus off the floor and walking him backward until he had him pinned up against the fridge door. Breathless, Marcus pulled his mouth away.

“Well. That’s one mystery solved,” whispered Tom as he lowered Marcus back to earth, his lips tickling Marcus’s ear.

“What do you mean?”

“I wondered if my attraction to you was all in my head” came Tom’s husky voice before he thrust his substantial rock-hard groin into Marcus’s own arousal.

“Apparently not.”

I haven’t read Brian Lancaster’s previous book, Uninvited Guest, so I really had nothing to go on, other than the blurb and that it was in the Dreamspun Desires category romance. I really liked to story premise, a widower falling in love with his deceased wife’s best friend, who comes to his aid with regards to the care of his children. (Warning, could be small spoilers ahead)

There were a few things that I didn’t quite understand with the story. The first, which never really resolved to my satisfaction, was Tom just turning Marcus away after Raine’s death, as if Marcus wasn’t grieving as well. This might have worked better in my mind if Tom felt confusion about his feelings for Marcus, but that wasn’t the case. He had no romantic feelings towards Marcus until after Marcus came back into their life.

The other issue I had was the search into the circumstances around Raine’s death. This bothered me simply because there really wasn’t a reason to look into it. It ended up causing hurt feelings and anger, and although the resolution-including the epilogue-was well done, I just thought it might have been unnecessary at that stage.

So, those were my issues. Now, what I loved about the book. J

First, and foremost, I loved the widower and kids situation, as I said earlier, with Marcus coming in to help at a later time. There was already a bond in place between Marcus and the children. And although I felt like Tom was a bit difficult to love at first, simply because he held back so much, it was obvious that part of the reason Marcus had stayed away was because of his inappropriate feelings toward Tom from the day they met.

I also really liked that Marcus did not allow himself to be walked all over. He was a proud man, confident in his business and himself, and he was able to stick up for himself when Tom was being difficult with him. He also continued to expand his business, even with all his new responsibilities, moving forward with a life that wasn’t wrapped around Tom and his family.

Once Tom and Marcus began a relationship, I like how they conducted themselves. They kept it discreet, in response to the children, yet were respectful of each other, and their separate lives.

In the end, definitely a book worth grabbing and spending an afternoon reading. Enjoy!

BRIAN LANCASTER is an author of gay romantic fiction in multiple genres, including contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, crime, mystery, and anything else his muse provides. Born in the sleepy South of England, the setting of many of his stories, he moved to Southeast Asia in 1998, where he shares a home with his longtime partner and two of the laziest cats on the planet.

Brian Lancaster once believed that writing gay romantic fiction would be easy and cathartic. He also believed in Santa Claus and the Jolly Green Giant. At least he still has fantasies about those two.

Born in the rural South of England in a town with its own clock tower and cricket pitch, he moved to Hong Kong in 1998. Life went from calm and curious to fast and furious. On the upside, the people he has since met provide inspiration for a whole new cast of characters in his stories. He also has his long-term, long-suffering partner and two cats to keep him grounded.

After winning two short story competitions in 2006 and being published in a compendium, he decided to dive into writing full- length novels. Diving proved to be easy; the challenge has been in treading water and trying to remain afloat. Cynical enough to be classed a curable romantic, he is not seeking an antidote. When not working or writing, he enjoys acting in community theater productions, composing music, hosting pub quizzes, and any socializing that involves Chardonnay. And for the record, he would like to remind all those self-righteous white wine drinkers that White Burgundy, Chablis, and Champagne are still essentially Chardonnays.

Be Still My Heart (Four Kings Security Book 2) by Charlie Cochet: EXCLUSIVE Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

Former Special Forces medical sergeant Russell “Red” McKinley knows a thing or two about wounds, like the fact some can take a lifetime to heal, if they heal at all. The scars Red carry run deep, and living with PTSD often means battling the memories of his past. Injuries he received while working an executive protection case with fellow Kings and co-owners of Four Kings Security, have once again forced past heartaches to the surface, but Red is determined not to let it derail his blossoming romance with sweet and sexy fashion photographer Lazarus Galanos.

Laz can’t deny there’s something special developing between him and Red, but Laz has wounds of his own. He’s hesitant to jump into a new relationship after his recent explosive breakup. Experience has taught Laz to doubt his judgement when it comes to men. Guys who seem too good to be true, usually are, and no one appears more perfect than Red.
When an attempt is made on Laz’s life, Red is determined to keep him safe. Laz may not be a client, and Red is still off duty, but Laz is one of their own, and nothing means more to the Kings than family. While an investigation is underway, Red and Laz are growing closer, but can they find a way to help each other heal and take a chance on love, or will their fears and insecurities cost them more than their future together?

BE STILL MY HEART

FOUR KINGS SECURITY #2

CHARLIE COCHET

M/M ROMANTIC SUSPENSE/CONTEMPORARY

RELEASE DATE: 07.28.18

COVER DESIGN: REESE DANTE

 

Amazon

“You send your security officers to train in Miami?” Mason looked horrified, making Red laugh. Despite having lived in Florida for years now, Mason continued to be baffled by its residents. He was convinced something was in the water. That or the humidity was affecting people’s oxygen intake. Ace loved to poke and prod Mason just to hear him rant. It was highly entertaining.

“I’m sorry, but have you tried making a left turn in Miami during rush hour?”

“Nope. Too busy trying to figure out which of the ten cars driving with their hazard lights on during a thunderstorm actually has an emergency. I’ll give you a hint, none, because they’re not using the damn thing like they’re supposed to.”

“Well, we do live in the state of shoplifting turkeys,” Ace said with a grin.

“Someone shoplifted turkeys?” Laz asked, confused. He was so damned adorable.

“No, someone dressed like a turkey was arrested for shoplifting.”

Laz opened his mouth to reply, then closed it. He shook his head. “I got nothing.” The wind blew his hair into his face, the soft dark curls calling to Red, and he couldn’t help reaching out to tuck a lock of hair behind Laz’s ear, earning him a sweet smile. “Thanks.”

Red returned his smile and shoved his hands into his pockets, the urge to touch Laz overwhelming. Laz was a good half foot or so shorter than Red, which meant he had to look up to meet Red’s gaze, and for some reason Red found that endearing. He wasn’t sure why. At six-foot-three, most people had to look up when talking to him. Maybe because he liked how Laz felt tucked against his body. How well they fit together. One thing he did know was that the more time he spent around Laz, the more he wanted to bring him into his arms and kiss him.

“Well, hello, Officer Cooper.” Lucky swaggered over, blatantly checking Mason out like he always did, and like every other time, Mason ignored him. “You are looking particularly fine today.”

“Lucky,” Mason grumbled by way of greeting, folding his beefy arms over his chest, his bulging biceps straining against the shirt sleeves of his uniform, drawing Lucky’s hungry gaze. Red stifled a laugh and exchanged glances with Ace, who waggled his eyebrows. Mason had no idea how much he flexed when Lucky was around. For all his bitching about Lucky’s “manwhore” ways, he preened an awful lot around the guy. “When are you gonna get rid of that death machine?”

“Why? Are you worried about me?”

Mason let out a snort. “Yeah, I ain’t touchin’ that.”

“You should. Who knows. You might like it.” Lucky winked at him, and Mason rolled his eyes.

“How did you know we were here?” Red asked Lucky. It’s like his friend had an internal radar. Wherever a group of young beautiful people were gathered, Lucky was bound to be there.

Lucky held up his phone, his grin wide. “You uploaded the video to the cloud by mistake. I would have been here sooner, but I had to pull over because I couldn’t see from the tears, I was laughing so hard.”

Oh shit. Red cringed. “Oops.”

“Oops?” Ace punched Red in the arm. “Thanks a lot, asshole. You know what’s going to happen now, right?”

“I’m sorry.” He was. He really was. He wouldn’t wish what was about to happen on anyone, not even Ace. Okay, maybe sometimes he did wish it on Ace because… well, it was Ace, so he probably did something to deserve it, but this was on Red.

Ace’s phone rang, and when he answered, he didn’t bother with a greeting. “Fuck you. The both of you.”

Wow, that was quicker than expected.

Ace put his phone on speaker, Jack and Joker’s loud peals of laughter filling the air. Jabbing a finger at his phone, Ace hung up and glared at Red. “This is your doing. I hope you’re happy.”

He wasn’t. Not really. Okay, maybe a little.

“I can’t wait to see what Jack does with the video,” Lucky said, rubbing his hands together in glee. “Ooh, this means another training video.”

Ace spun to thrust a finger in King’s face. “Stop putting me in training videos!”

“What’s he talking about?” Laz whispered at Red.

Red leaned in to reply quietly so Ace wouldn’t hear him and give him another reason to yell. “Anytime someone catches Ace doing something like today and records it, King puts it in a training video on how to not do that thing.”

“I’ll stop putting you in training videos when you stop expertly demonstrating all the wrong ways to diffuse a situation,” King growled, swatting Ace’s finger away from his face. “Do that again and you’re going to be featured in a new video on broken fingers and how not to get them broken.”

Ace opened his mouth to reply, but King narrowed his eyes, his jaw muscles working, and his expression daring Ace to mouth off.

“So,” Ace said, pivoting toward Mason, “Tell ’em your good news.”

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I am a BIG BIG fan of Charlie Cochet’s THIRDS series. So much that I was apprehensive to start this new series. What if it isn’t as good? What if it is *gasp* better? But still, I had to read them because of course I did.

And I really, really liked book 1. There was a little tiny bit of Dex (THIRDS) in Ace (Four Kings book 1), but not a ton. I think just because they were wise cracking guys. So eyes wide open with book 2. Again- I really, really liked it.

Red and Laz started flirting in book 1, so we knew what was coming. And the ride getting there was fun. This book picks up a few months after the last and it has been a few months since Red and Laz have seen each other. But neither forgot. And then they do see each other with some meddling by Ace.

But then someone is trying to kill Laz. Like, who would do that? He is the nicest guy with no enemies except his vapid ex boyfriend and that is just too obvious. So while The Kings assign themselves bodyguards to Laz, Red assigns himself to personally guard Laz’s body.

I LOVED Laz in this book. He is a different guy in the bedroom with Red, you really see how he cares so much for his friends and he is wanting to make a name for himself in the fashion photography business without connections.

Red is still recovering from a gun shot wound even though the doctor cleared him. But he is also still dealing with PTSD from his time in the military. And because his last partner couldn’t deal with the PTSD and left, Red thinks Laz might do the same.

So (attempted) murder mystery, PTSD, new relationship…. a fast paced story with the feels and the romance and the sexy times. Ace provides a lot of comic relief, but doesn’t take over the story at all. I actually thought all 4 of the main guys were equally well represented- with Red and Laz getting the most page time obviously.

At the end of book 2 we find out the couple for book 3. Which we figured out already. So now I am totally shifting 2 characters in my head hoping they are book 4.

And a big shoutout to the author for calling out piracy in her own way. ART IS NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE FREE!!!

4 pieces of eye candy

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

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

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