Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

Giveaways

The Alphabet of Desire by Colette Davison: Series Blog Tour, Excerpt, New Release Reviews and Giveaway

by

BOOK 1

A famous author, a new job, and a party with a difference. Are these the makings of a perfect romance?

Archie

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to end up working for my #1 favourite author. Nor did I expect him to love being called ‘Sir’. An invite to an adult party changes everything. Will Hamish order me to my knees or throw me out?

Hamish

The moment I first set eyes on Archie Morris, he becomes my secret muse.  Words I’ve been struggling to write pour out of me. He’s my PA and twenty-three years my junior, none of that matters when he shows up at my private party, ready to play. One night leads to so much more. Will Archie see beyond our differences to what I’m offering him—my heart?

A is for Aftercare is the story of two men falling in love, while they explore their desires together, which include blindfolds, sensory play, and lots of cuddles. It’s the first of three steamy, low angst novels, which follow each of the ABC triplets as they find love. You can read Blake and Corey’s stories in B is for Beg and C is for Comfort.

Amazon US – Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK – Kindle Unlimited 

Goodreads

BOOK 2

A photographer, a rope artist, and a model. Can three create a beautiful romance?

Blake

Apparently I’m a disaster—no steady job, brothers who have to help me manage my money, and I’m constantly late. When two very different men command me to be theirs, how do I pick? Or can I make them see I’ve enough love for both of them.

Gabe

Cal, my best friend and a photographer, introduces me to Blake, a model. From there all bets are off as Blake’s attraction to both of us makes me see Cal in a whole new light. But will Cal and I be able to step beyond friendship into love when we both like being in charge?

Calvin

Friends for several years, Gabe and I both like to be in control. When Blake steps in between us, my feelings are anything but rivalry. With the chance to have something amazing with these two men, I must now show Gabe with Blake’s help that friendship can lead to love.

B is for Beg is the story of three men discovering that shibari, blindfolds, sexy lingerie, and rules can change everything. It’s the second of three steamy, low angst novels, which follow each of the ABC triplets as they find love. You can read Archie and Corey’s stories in A is for Aftercare and C is for Comfort.

Amazon US – Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

BOOK 3

A single dad, a doctor, and a one-night-stand. Is there room in their lives and hearts for one another?

Corey

Stress is my middle name. I’m a single dad and a newly qualified teacher, so it’s hard to find time for myself. What I didn’t expect from an adult party is a man who allows me to relax fully. What starts as a hook-up becomes so much more, but is a ready made family a step too far for Spence?

Spence

Working crazy shifts at the hospital, I don’t have much time for romance. Meeting Corey, the beautiful boy who’s happy to call me Daddy, changes everything. Only it’s not just his heart I have to win over but his five-year-old daughter’s too. How hard can it be?

C is for Comfort the story of two men learning that life is about more than work and that cuddling can fix everything. It’s the third of three steamy, low angst novels, which follow each of the ABC triplets as they find love. You can read Archie and Blake’s stories in A is for Aftercare and B is for Beg.

Amazon US – Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads 

Series Title: The Alphabet of Desire

Book Title: A is for Aftercare, B is for Beg, C is for Comfort

Author: Colette Davison

Cover Artist: Sleepy Fox Studio

Release Dates: June 29, July 13, July 27

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: They all have age-gap relationships and BDSM elements.

Book 1 has a boss/employee relationship.

Book 2 is MMM, friends to lovers, and Daddy kink.

Book 3 is single dad and Daddy kink.

Themes: Follow your heart, sometimes it’s worth taking chances

Heat Rating: 5 flames

Excerpt from A is for Aftercare

“You’re struggling to write?” he asks.

He picks up a glass of water and drinks from it. Captivated, I admire the way his full lips curve around the rim.

“Aye.”

“It’s the book that’s due in a month?”

“Aye.” I groan. “I’ll manage it.”

“How much have you written?”

I shrug. “Not enough. I’m just not feeling the words. I’m sick of Orion. I’d put a bullet through his head if my publisher let me.” I have no clue why I’m telling him any of this.

“If it helps, I really like Orion.”

I snort. “I’m paying you to be my PA, not kiss my arse.” Not that I have any reason to disbelieve his love of my character. On the other hand, I wouldn’t be averse to his lips being pressed against that part of my body—or anywhere else for that matter. I stuff some of the avocado toast into my mouth. It tastes a bit too good.

“I’m not.” The blush across his cheeks deepens to scarlet. “I’m being honest. I know he’s a bit surly, but he’s got a kind heart, really.”

I huff. “He’s a crotchety arsehole.”

Archie laughs. The sound reverberates through my body, almost making me want to laugh along with him. Part of the reason I hate Orion is that he’s too much like me.

“But I’m stuck with him for this book and another one. At least.”

“At least?”

“My contract runs out after that, but knowing my publisher, I’m sure they’ll try to sweet talk me into signing up to write another three books about the grumpy fucker.”

Archie smothers another laugh behind his hand.

“What?” I demand.

“You don’t strike me as the kind of man who does anything he doesn’t want to.”

I narrow my eyes. What else does he think he’s figured out about me?

“I’m not, but this is different.”

Archie tilts his head. “How?”

I open and close my mouth a couple of times, which probably makes me look like a fish drowning in air. “My publisher calls the shots,” I say eventually. Self-publishing under a pen name gives me the creative freedom I crave. Not that I’m going to mention that to my sexy PA.

“Surely they’ll understand if you tell them you’ve run out of steam? Especially if you pitch them a fantastic new idea.”

I shake my head.

“I’ve read all your books, sir. You’ve written so many amazing characters. I’m sure you could come up with a concept that would blow Orion King out of the water.”

I stare at the food on my plate.

“If you could write anything, what would it be?”

Aside from hot, passionate, if unrealistic stories of men falling in love? “I don’t know.”

“You should think about it,” Archie says as if it’s as easy as calling lightning from the sky. “But right now, you need to find a way to fall back in love with Orion enough to finish this book and write another.”

“I know,” I grumble.

“Is there anything I can do to help the words flow?” Archie asks.

I jerk my head back. “What?”

That’s not even remotely part of his job description. Then again, it’s only halfway through his first day, and he’s already made more of a positive impact on me than any of his predecessors.

“Can I help?”

Be Lee Lawson’s muse. Lie naked on my bed while I write about how glorious you are.

A is for Aftercare: 

If a kinky boss/employee romance is what you’re looking for this is just the book for you.

Archie is looking for a job as a personal assistant and as fate would have it, his favorite author Hamish Cameron is in need of one. Archie can’t believe his luck, he’s been a huge fan of Hamish since his first book, but the man is as prickly as they come.

Hamish is trying to fight his attraction to his new PA, but with a new book deadline breathing down his neck he doesn’t have time for a distraction like Archie, The longer Archie stays the harder it becomes to fight it, but the words are coming quicker, almost as if Archie is his muse.

Hamish holds monthly kink parties at his house for his friends. With a little intervention from Hamish’s friends Archie and his brothers score an invite, only Archie doesn’t know it’s Hamish’s party he’s been invited to.

Once Hamish finds out that his kink isn’t going to send Archie running, all bets are off. Hamish is ready to push his fears to the side and see if this attraction burns hot enough for more than just one scene. They have to keep a delicate work/life balance while trying to navigate a new relationship and Archie’s responsibilities at home.

This is a new author to me and I have to say I’m hooked. The story was fun and entertaining while also being smoking hot.

The main character Archie has two brothers who are a large part of the story, I can’t wait to see where the author takes them. The characters that have been developed are relatable and interesting, while they are triplets they each have their own personality and backstory.

The relationship between Archie and Hamish develops almost effortlessly and was so much fun to read.

4 pieces of eye candy

B is for Beg: 

I am enjoying this series so much, but I have to say Blake has stolen my heart. The depth of his character is amazing. He’s a gorgeous, confident model with a huge heart, a ton of emotional baggage and family responsibilities.

While working as a model, Blake meets photographer Calvin for a lingerie shoot. Calvin immediately knows Blake would be a perfect model for his best friend Gabe’s shibari photos. After talking for a bit both Calvin and Gabe invite Blake to kink party over the weekend, Blake not knowing that this friend is his brother Archie’s boss.

After a big misunderstanding about why Blake was invited to the party and a little bit of groveling the sparks fly. Blake knows he wants them both, but both Calvin and Gabe are Doms and they’ve never played together.

Gabe and Calvin both know they want Blake, but Blake has made it clear the only way he sees going forward is with all three of them together. Gabe and Calvin will need to decide whether their friendship can withstand this huge change and if they are willing to take the risk.

Blake is trying to convince both men that forward together is the best way while at the same time trying to manage his family responsibilities. He will have to unpack some emotional baggage and hope his men can stand with him through it all.

I loved this book! I loved Blake! He has such emotion. His character just came alive for me and leapt right off the page. I have never felt a character more real than him. Excellent writing.

The shibari scenes were hot, but the building of their relationship was the best part for me. It was honest and real, messy and loving.

I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for Corey. This is the most excited I have been for a book series in a long time.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |   Facebook Page   |  Facebook Group: Colette’s Cosy Corner

BookBub   |   Twitter    |   Goodreads  |  Instagram: @colettedavison

Mailing List  |   Newsletter Sign-Up

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

James and Merrick by Jessica Skye Davies: RB, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

Merrick Rhys is a young Welsh transplant living in South London and working as a tailor and salesman in an upscale menswear shop. Previously supplementing his income by performing as a male stripper at parties, he quit after growing tired of the pressures and complications. He agrees to do his routine one more time for friends who are hosting a stag party and finds an intense mutual attraction with one of the guests. Unbeknownst to Merrick, that guest happens to be the groom.

James Carré is a successful, middle-aged London-based artist who is about to marry Michael, a man none of his friends think is good for him. James’s fiancé is controlling and demanding and James often finds it difficult to live up to his standards of perfection, but James feels that at his age he’s not likely to find anyone else willing to make a life with him. Certainly not someone as successful and good-looking as Michael.

When James and Merrick chance to meet the day after the stag-do, they hit it off immediately and find they have a great rapport. James questions the purity of his motives in hanging out with Merrick but also finally begins to question seriously if manipulative Michael is right for him. Merrick finds himself falling more and more for James over the course of a week, but also wants to take it slowly due to a past bad relationship. Everything comes to a head the weekend before the wedding when James finally decides he can’t in good conscience stay with Michael any longer, at just the same time Merrick reads the announcement of James and Michael’s wedding in the paper.

Title:  James and Merrick

Series: Take a Shot, Book One

Author: Jessica Skye Davies

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: 07/05/2021

Heat Level: 2 – Fade to Black Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 35100

Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, Age-gap, arts (visual), friends-to-lovers, hurt/comfort, stripper, engagement, artist, maestro, tailor, London setting, Welsh ancestry

Amazon

NineStar Press

Goodreads

As Saturday evening came around, Merrick also did his best to remind himself that a party like that wasn’t a place to meet guys, not when he was providing the entertainment. But, of course, if any of his friends’ crowd seemed nice…well, maybe there could be further conversation afterward. It had been nearly three years since his disastrous relationship with Seth, and now, as he wasn’t doing the dancing thing anymore, he thought maybe he didn’t have to adhere quite so strictly to his policy of independence. He had always been attracted to the proverbial gentlemen of a certain age, after all.

When Merrick arrived at Nigel and Theo’s place, he was pleased to find he had been correct about the type of mates Nigel and Theo had round—grown, professional-type men who mostly seemed to be getting a laugh out of the notion of having a stripper at a stag night. A rather more laid-back party than the young and perpetually randy crowd one usually encountered at such parties.

There was one guy who Merrick found himself drawn to repeatedly. He was handsome and quiet with an understated sort of masculinity and didn’t look like he was trying to impress anyone. His strong jawline was complemented by warm, observant grey eyes. His gaze followed Merrick’s movements appreciatively but almost shyly.

Merrick was taking a short break before the last half hour of the booking when Nigel asked if he’d be up for doing body shots as his last ‘act’ of the evening.

Merrick hesitated slightly; in his experience, that routine could get a bit sticky—in more ways than one. “Right, yeah, but just regular navel shots,” Merrick assented. “Not the tequila ones with the lick-salt-lime ritual, yeah?”

Nigel pulled a face. “What do we look like, mate? You know you’re the only one here under thirty, don’t you?”

“Doesn’t always feel like it,” Merrick laughed. “You clear a table; I’ll change leather pants for something easier to wash. I’ve got a pair of genuinely hideous aussieBums with cartoon bananas on that Henry sent me on my last birthday—that should go down a treat.”

“It’s cherry vodka we’re using,” Nigel said absently, as if trying to decide whether cherry would pair well with banana-printed pants.

Within a few minutes, the table was cleared and Merrick carefully arranged himself with his arms behind his head. It helped keep his abdomen taut but also elevated his head so he could give a reassuring smile and wink to the guys who seemed shy about sucking vodka out of a nearly nude stranger’s belly button. He knew they were just going along to be good sports. Then again, there were also those who stepped up to the makeshift bar grinning like Cheshire cats and usually stepped away only after an extra lick up his treasure trail. As long as it all stayed good-natured, Merrick didn’t much mind.

The last guy up was the one Merrick had been catching looks from all night. As he positioned himself beside Merrick, the rest of the guests cheered him on, but the tension between the two of them spiked. Merrick could tell the man was well buzzed, but by no means sloppy drunk. He fixed Merrick with that sexy look he’d been giving all night, only by now it was practically smouldering. Merrick knew he was returning the same look as the cold liquor was poured once again into the focus of his navel.

The man leaned in, deliberately keeping eye contact with Merrick as he put his mouth to Merrick’s abdomen and sucked up the vodka. He swallowed it down but didn’t step back straightaway, instead boldly swirling his tongue around a few times. When he looked back up at Merrick, an electric zing filled the space between them as their eyes locked. Merrick didn’t hesitate at all when the man moved from his stomach to his lips.

Merrick could taste the cherry vodka as the man pushed his tongue into Merrick’s mouth, and Merrick felt as though he was the one who had been drinking all evening. He couldn’t remember ever having been kissed quite like that, so sensuously, and he wanted more—a lot more.

Unfortunately, just as the nameless man pulled back a bit, Merrick realised that the partygoers were cheering wildly, and they’d just put on a fairly good show for them. Not that Merrick was at all shy about it, but he knew if things went any further just then, it might border on getting out of hand.

As the guy helped him up off the table with just a soft kiss of thanks to his cheek, Merrick checked the time and found he was done for the night. He thanked the guests for being a good crowd and collected the offered tips as he went to change back into normal attire. He considered Theo’s invitation to stay for the rest of the party, but he decided it was better to get home. Mixing business and pleasure was too often inadvisable, and if he stayed any longer he was rather sure he’d end up asking for that guy’s number.

Once home and in his own shower, Merrick wondered about ringing Theo and Nigel in the morning to ask about the guy. Give it a night to sleep on, he thought, and if he still found himself that interested, it might be worth enquiring. The attraction between them was plain enough, and that kiss had been downright sizzling.

His dreams that night, full of snogging handsome guys with bedroom eyes, had a rather predictable result by morning. He woke hard and aching like a randy teenager, glad he’d at least avoided a wet dream. Merrick decided he really did need to give it a few days before asking any favours about phone numbers; he wanted to put some distance between himself and this fixation. And to get a start on it, he decided to get dressed and go get some breakfast. His favourite place was just a few blocks away and would take his mind off the hot mystery man.

Okay, first, I loved the cover, even though, I will admit I’m not positive what the dragon thingie on there is meant to represent. Possibly a rugby reference. But still it made the cover fun.

I haven’t read anything by Jessica Skye Davies before, but thought I would give this novella a try, since it has one of my favorite tropes: runaway grooms. I am going to give a small spoiler alert…there is some cheating in this book…which can be a no-go with some people, often me in fact, but it was not one MC cheating ON the other MC, but one MC cheating on his intended groom. (That’s the extent of the spoilers). It did not put me off, though.

These two MC’s, with an age gap in excess of 20 years had so much in common, and seemed to have so much joy in each other, it seemed inevitable that they had to get their HEA. Often with an age gap of that range, you will read about daddy kink, etc. There was no mention of that at all. It simply was an age gap that was there, but not really an issue for either the MC’s or even their friends. I really liked that, as often much is made of that issue.

The personalities of these two men complemented each other, chill and yet loved hanging out with their friends, as well as each other. They both loved their job and had crap relationships that left to some serious self esteem issues. However, they helped each other through, even as they went slow. They were never in a hurry.

Michael was a jerk, but I really enjoyed that he got what was coming to him in the end, with a little jab from the two MC’s at the very end of the book. 🙂

Lastly, I’ve never seen what is the equivalent of 3 epilogues in a book, and I am here for it! I loved seeing where they were a year, two years and three years down the road. I could have more of that in every HEA I get, and be a very happy reader.

4 pieces of eye candy

Jessica Skye Davies has been a writer since her first works were “published” in her grandparents’ living room and written in crayon. She’s been a professionally published author since 2011. Jessica lives in Pittsburgh and is active in the community, having served with a local LGBT community center for several years and currently serving with the local Welsh society. She’s often found spending time with friends, attending the symphony, watching hockey, rugby, or soccer, and moonlighting as human pillow/concierge for her official writer’s cat, Squidge.

Author Links

Website:  http://www.jessicaskyedavies.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JessicaSkyeAuthor


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sun, Sea and Small-Town Secrets by S. J. Coles: Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

Small towns are full of secrets, some harder to keep than most.

Sebastian Conway is a professional psychologist and accomplished criminal profiler, but when one of his patients is sentenced to life in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, he simply cannot let it go. His borderline obsessive behaviour has embarrassed his boss and lover, Gerrard Wilson, and the relationship has come to a bitter end.

Seb has now grudgingly taken Gerrard’s advice and come to the small coastal town of Ruéier in the South of France to get some distance and clear his head—but he cannot sit by and do nothing.

He has started writing a book he believes will address the failings in the case, but when he gets swept up in a local investigation into suspected drug trafficking, which is led by the enigmatic and strangely enticing Antoine Damboise, the book—and Seb’s intentions to avoid active criminal cases—take a back seat.

He knows it’s a bad idea to get involved, but he can’t seem to help himself. And when it seems Damboise is tempted to make their relationship more than professional, Seb finds it easier than ever to ignore his better judgment. But when a local drug dealer is murdered and Seb is implicated, everything gets a whole lot more complicated.

Can the two men set aside their personal feelings long enough to figure out what’s really going on before Seb ends up in prison? Or worse…

Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of murder and drug use.

Sun, Sea and Small-Town Secrets by S.J. Coles

Release Date: 6th July 2021

Genres: ACTION AND ADVENTURE, CRIME, CRIME AND MYSTERY, EROTIC ROMANCE, FAKE RELATIONSHIPS, GAY, GLBTQI, MEN IN UNIFORM

Amazon

Pride Publishing

Goodreads

I turned over with a sigh. I’d thought that second bottle of red would help me sleep this time, but all I’d achieved was insomnia with a headache.

The moonlight creeping in round the edge of the blind illuminated the bold, minimalist prints on the walls and the simple, spartan furniture that was so at odds with the balmy, luscious countryside outside.

Gerrard had always liked his surroundings…controlled. Even the washing powder was the same brand he’d used in the flat at home, so the sheets smelled like him.

I pushed them back with a frustrated grumble then wandered into the living area. I stared at the open laptop on the desk, the piles of journals and drifts of paper surrounding it. I shook my head, returned to the bedroom, dressed then left the villa.

The cool night air felt good against my flushed skin. I strode along the seafront boulevard where the cafe and boulangerie shopfronts were bleached shades of grey in the moonlight. I took deep breaths, inhaling the smells of salt and dried seaweed.

I checked my phone. It was getting on for two-thirty. I rubbed my face, admitting I wasn’t feeling much better than when I’d left the villa—no better than when I’d stepped off the plane a week before, either. I sat on a bench and gazed out over the deserted beach. During the day, the sand was so light and the sea so blue that it was almost tropical. Even at night it was beautiful, all shifting shadows and pale sand under a sky so vast and crowded with stars that it was like it belonged to another world.

I’d never visited France before. Hell, I’d never ventured outside the UK, apart from that one—and best forgotten—trip to Majorca with Gerrard for our anniversary. But I had to admit that Ruéier was picture-postcard perfect—small, unspoiled, off the beaten track, so not overrun by tourists and the inevitable high-street chains that followed them. It was everything Gerrard had said it was—the perfect place to get some distance and write my book.

So why can’t I sleep?

I stood, thinking to walk the long way home and avoid analysing the question too deeply but stopped when the sound of voices rippled the easy quiet of the night. Stepping out from the shadow of a tree, I saw one of the boats in the harbour had its cabin light on. It illuminated the wide deck and a tall wheelhouse. Several figures were aboard and another on the pier, loading large bags into the hold.

I wasn’t sure what made me look closer. There had to be plenty of reasons for loading a boat at night. But something about the way they moved and the low urgency of their muttered French raised the hairs on the back of my arms.

When the figure on the pier handed over the last heavy-looking holdall, his jacket lifted and I glimpsed a gun tucked in his waistband.

I stepped back into the shadows just as the hooded face turned my way. I held my breath. The voices went quiet but then the roar of the boat’s engine tore through the silence.

I swore silently to myself. I’d come to Ruéier to get away from suspicious figures with guns. I held my breath for several more heartbeats before daring another look. The boat was heading for the harbour mouth and the figure from the pier was coming up the stairs less than five meters away. I ducked behind the tree and held still. I could hear his footsteps now, coming right for me.

He walked right past, heading south, down the boulevard toward the ferry port. His shoulders were hunched, his hands in his pockets and his head moved left to right as he scanned the shadows on either side.

I didn’t breathe again until he’d turned a corner and disappeared.

This was a novella, my first time reading this author, that had suspense, along with a dash of dead bodies, sprinkled with a bit of insta-love. 🙂

It isn’t clear initially why Seb is in France, but we find out quickly that he just can’t help himself from profiling local criminals, even when it begins to look like he may be a suspect himself. Meanwhile, he meets Antoine a local cop, with no real desire it seemed to move up the ranks, and there is an instant attraction that they don’t hide well, despite what is going on in their lives.

I really liked how Antoine made a point to listen to Seb, despite his wanting to not believe the things he said, he listened, which is something that Seb needed in his life. He needed to be heard, and acknowledged, and not pushed aside.

There’s a lot of suspense, a floater, and some great tension and sweetness between the MC’s.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

S. J. Coles is a Romance writer originally from Shropshire, UK. She has been writing stories for as long as she has been able to read them. Her biggest passion is exploring narratives through character relationships.

She finds writing LGBT/paranormal romance provides many unique and fulfilling opportunities to explore many (often neglected or under-represented) aspects of human experience, expectation, emotion and sexuality.

Among her biggest influences are LGBT Romance authors K J Charles and Josh Lanyon and Vampire Chronicles author Anne Rice.

Find S. J. Coles at her website and follow her on Instagram.

Author Links

Website: http://sjcolesromanceauthor.wordpress.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjcolesauthor/

ENTER HERE AND GET A FREE S. J. COLES ROMANCE BOOK! https://upvir.al/116756/lp116756

Notice: This competition ends on 20th July 2021 at 5pm GMT. Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group.

Sleight of Hand (The Kings: Wild Cards Book 3) by Charlie Cochet: New Release Review and Giveaway

by

Former Special Forces Green Beret, Sacha “Joker” Wilder, is well-versed on the subject of demolitions. As a silent partner of Four Kings Security, Joker spends his days working alongside his brothers-in-arms and his best boy, Chip—a bomb-sniffing Belgian Malinois with sass. Years of military and private security experience have prepared Joker for almost anything, except the explosive attraction between him and Giovanni Galanos.

When Gio returns from his travels abroad, everyone is charmed by the handsome billionaire philanthropist, but in Joker’s experience, anyone who’s too good to be true usually is. Gio is hiding something, but the more time Joker spends around Gio, the more his walls start crumbling, leaving him exposed and at risk of losing his heart, something he swore he would never do. Love is for suckers, and that’s not him.

For years Gio has dedicated his life to his charity work, helping people around the globe, but when things go horribly wrong during one particular trip, Gio decides it’s time to come home for good. The desire for family, and a certain ex-Green Beret with a chip on his shoulder, has Gio eager to restart his life Stateside. For all of Sacha’s blustering and griping, no one makes Gio feel safer. If only Sacha could see how right they are for each other.

Danger lurks in the shadows as someone sets their sights on Gio, and secrets are forced into the light. If Gio and Joker are to have any kind of future together, they’ll have to face difficult truths, because where love is concerned, it’ll take more than sleight of hand to make things work.

The Kings: Wild Cards series is a spin-off of the Four Kings Security series.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Worth the wait!

Joker, real name Sacha, and Gio have been dancing around each other for several books now. Gio hasn’t hid his attraction to Joker, but Joker decided he hated Gio from the start. Which obviously means he was also attracted.

And now they get to find their happily ever after.

It was fun watching them dance around each other. Gio was so cool about it, never pushing or being obnoxious. Just letting Joker know, without a doubt, that Gio wanted him.

What no one knew was that Gio was hiding some things. So pretty important things. So when the truth came to light, there were some upset Kings and Gio’s brother Laz.

We got more of Joker’s background, which was interesting. One of the reasons I really liked Joker is that he was short. I know, silly, right? But these big tough security guys are always like 6’4″, 250lbs of solid muscle. But Joker was short and wiry. Hella strong, but not the quintessential muscle bound dude.

And can we talk about Chip? Joker’s dog who worked with Joker at his job, but was also a well loved pet when they were off the clock. So when Chip fell hard for Gio, Joker was done for.

There was a bit of bad guy mystery, but it didn’t take over the story at all. It just added to Gio’s persona.

Of all of the King’s Security books, I believe this one can be read as a stand alone. But really, they are all fun reads.

4.5 pieces of eye candy
One commenter on this post will win an ebook of any backlist Charlie Cochet book.

The Prince’s Vow: Starian Cycle #3 by Iris Foxglove: Blog Tour, Exclusive Author Interview, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

Adrien de Guillory may be the heir to the throne of Staria, but no one in court believes that the submissive, meek-minded prince will ever be king. What they don’t know is that Adrien is hardly the meek, shy creature he pretends to be and that he has his own plans for the future. To see those plans through, Adrien embarks on a journey to Mislia, the land of his mother’s ancestors, to seek an answer to controlling his magic of foresight.

The one thing Adrien’s visions don’t predict is Isiodore de Mortain, his father’s confidante and the subject of Adrien’s long-standing, deeply embarrassing infatuation. Isiodore intercepts Adrien on his way to Mislia. But it’s too late to turn back—the two of them are now stranded on foreign soil, forced to rely on each other in order to get home in one piece. With Isiodore set on keeping Adrien safe and Adrien determined to become the most troublesome prince in Starian history, a storm is brewing over Mislia…one that will surely sweep both of them out into uncharted waters.

(The Prince’s Vow is an m/m dark fantasy novel, set in a fictional world where everyone is biologically either a dominant or a submissive and compelled to satisfy those urges. As such, the biological imperative kink in this story is pure fantasy, and not intended as a representation of real-life BDSM practices or dynamics.)

Title:  The Prince’s Vow

Series: Starian Cycle #3

Author: Iris Foxglove

Release Date: 6/22/21

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 64,000

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, BDSM, AU

(The Prince’s Vow is an m/m dark fantasy novel, set in a fictional world where everyone is biologically either a dominant or a submissive and compelled to satisfy those urges. As such, the biological imperative kink in this story is pure fantasy, and not intended as a representation of real-life BDSM practices or dynamics.)

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

When did you write your first story and what was the inspiration for it?

Foxglove: My family couldn’t afford a computer for some time, but we did have a typewriter for homework purposes. The big rule was that in order to use the typewriter, what you were writing had to be worth it. The first story of mine that was deemed worthy featured a group of fairies who caused a hurricane because they partied too hard, and a girl who told them to kindly knock it off, please. I wasn’t a big fan of hurricanes, to be fair.

Iris: I’m older than Foxglove and brought a word processor to college, LOL. But my first story was honestly very similar to Duke’s Demon — I joke that I’ve been writing some version of that story since I was twelve, but it’s true. I wrote a screenplay (I don’t know why it was a screenplay, to be honest) about a ballerina who was magically transported to an Irish castle and lived with a duke who was possessed by a demon. It was absolutely awful, but I still have it, and it makes me smile to think about how years later I published a (much better) version! I probably have had dozens of old Trapper Keepers filled with half-finished fantasy stories, but that was the first thing I ever finished in its entirety. It was called “At the Edge of Midnight” and my dad made me a cover on Print Shop on our family computer. To be honest, it would be a horrible movie but the concept was there, ha!

Where did the desire to write LGBT romance come from?

Foxglove: Well, I came out pretty young, which was rare in my conservative town, and I spent years carefully cultivating a small collection of LGBTQ fiction. It was important to me to know that there were writers out there who thought that people like me deserved love. Eventually, my room was searched and the collection was discovered—only one book remained hidden. I decided then and there that I would write my own stories to make up for the ones that were lost.

Iris: I’ve been a voracious reader all my life, especially of fantasy, and always wanted to see a story with someone like me in it. Especially because I always wanted romance in my stories, and the characters I wanted to get together were never the ones who did! I also wanted to write stories where people were accepting of all sexualities and genders, especially since so much of my love of fantasy is centered around the “found family” trope.

Briefly describe the writing process. Do you create an outline first?  Do you seek out inspirational pictures, videos or music? Do you just let the words flow and then go back and try and make some sense out it?

Foxglove: We mostly babble at each other excitedly until a plot happens. There are a lot of moments that tend to go like this:

“So what IF, bear with me, but what IF this character…”
“Yes?”
“What if they did THIS?”

“OH MY GOD YES AND WHAT IF THEY DID THIS OTHER THING?!”
“AND THEN THIS OTHER THING HAPPENS?”
“YES!!!!”

It can get a little out of hand, but our brainstorming sessions are ridiculously fun.

Iris: It’s true!! We have so many books planned it’s unreal — the world that we’ve created is so fun, and we’re apparently going to write a story for the entire population 😀 We’re pretty good about writing a scene, then saying, “Hey, do you want to jump in, here?” and switching off. Usually we each gravitate toward a character and write their POV. Sometimes we outline, but it’s normally more of a general plot idea that we tweak as we go along.

We did write one of the books in the Starian Cycle out of order — look, we really love the pairing in The King’s Mage, okay — and after we went back and wrote Exile’s Gift, had to rewrite the fifth one!! So there’s two versions of book 5 floating around our Gdocs, lol.

I write best, personally, with music or thunderstorm sounds. Background noise is essential, but it can’t be anything I’m TOO interested in or I’ll get too distracted!

If you could sequester yourself for a week somewhere and just focus on your writing, where would you go and what would the environment be like?

Foxglove: Is this a magical place where I don’t have to cook anything? Can I go there? Also, my kingdom for a comfortable desk chair! I am a creature of simple needs.

Iris: Honestly if I could go somewhere it was raining and/or snowing constantly, with me in a comfy chair with sixteen blankets and a sweater with too-long sleeves and a huge mug of Earl Grey, I would still find a way to play a mobile game and be distracted. But I have such fond memories of finishing Traitor’s Mercy — I woke up at 5 am after I couldn’t sleep due to the excitement of nearly being done, and went to my then-office in our house and watched the sun rise with tea while I wrote Laurent being dramatic in the snow with Sabre. Then, I watched in real-time as Foxglove finished the epilogue, and immediately opened a doc to start Duke’s Demon! It’s such a happy memory, that feeling of excitement when you type “The End” (which I always do) is so satisfying.

I want to say right off that this is book three in the series and I haven’t read one or two. Which might have made a lot of nuances and sub-plots in this book easier to understand. I love fantasy and this had a really good start. In and amongst a fantasy plot the book had dominant and submissive tendencies which if that’s your jam was well done.

I think the plot got lost in detail a little in the middle, but there are a wealth of characters I am interested in discovering how their story progresses.

Adrien as a character is a delight and very well balanced. Isiodore is good for him even if a little too patient sometimes. I wished I had read the previous two books first.

4 pieces of eye candy

Iris Foxglove is a shared pen name between two longtime fantasy readers who are committed to writing fun, escapist dark fantasy featuring decadent, kinky stories, intricate world building and unforgettable characters.

Author Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/irisfoxglove

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21219026.Iris_Foxglove

Email: irisfoxgloveauthor@gmail.com


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Code Red N.R. Walker: RB, Excerpt and Giveaway

by

The brighter the spotlight, the darker the shadow.

Maddox Kershaw is the main vocalist of the world’s biggest boy band. He’s at the top of every music chart, every award show, every social media platform, and every sexiest-man-alive list. He’s the bad boy, the enigma, the man everyone on the planet wants a piece of.

He’s also burned out and exhausted, isolated and lonely. Not in a good headspace at the start of a tour.

Roscoe Hall is Maddox’s personal manager. His job is high-flying, high-demand, high-profile, and he loves it. Maddox has consumed his entire life for the past four years. Roscoe knows him. He sees the real Maddox no one else gets to see.

He’s also in love with him.

When the tour and stress become too much, when the world begins to close in, Roscoe becomes Maddox’s lifeline. But as Maddox knows already, and as Roscoe is about to learn, the brighter the spotlight, the darker the shadow.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

“Roscoe Hall,” I answered my phone, out of time and patience. It didn’t dawn on me that it was Ryan’s number until after I’d said my name. It was my twentieth call this morning already.

“Just confirming ETA for 9:00 am.”

I checked my watch. It was 7:30 now and I’d already been up for far too long. It was a big day, and I could take a moment to breathe once we were all together.

“Yeah, Ryan. Will be there, thanks.”

There was a brief pause. “Is Maddox with you?”

“On my way to get him now.”

“See you there.”

I pocketed my phone and did one last check. Phone, wallet, passport, tickets, keys. I grabbed my carry-on, locked my front door, and wheeled my suitcase down to the waiting car. I hadn’t even greeted the driver when my phone rang again, and it beeped again on my way to collect Maddox.

I was organized and efficient, aggressively so.

It’s what made me good at my job. Being the personal manager for one of the world’s biggest boy bands was every minute of my life.

These boys didn’t accept second best for anything, and neither did I.

And I should clarify that while they were classified as a boy band, they were men. They might have started out as boys—they were just kids in high school when they formed their first band. But they were twenty-three now. They’d done the small local gigs, needing their parents’ permission to play in bars and clubs around LA when they were underage.

The story of how the band called Atrous made it to the big time was well-known.

The five boys came from nothing. A garage band that crossed pop with rock and rap, playing small gigs wherever they could, when a well-known radio DJ saw them and uploaded footage to his social media. Platinum Entertainment, one of America’s biggest entertainment management companies, signed them, and they’d been on the top of the world music stage for the last four years.

To the outside world, these guys were the ultimate success story.

They had no idea what went on when the lights went out.

Saying I was the personal manager of the whole band wasn’t true either. Personal assistant, handler, manager. It was all the same. But it wasn’t just me. I was one of three. Ryan Morten, Amber Seratt, and I were the personal managers of Atrous, as a whole. While the three managers looked after the five band members, I was, however, the unstated personal manager of one of them in particular.

Lead vocalist and rapper, main dancer, bad boy, Maddox Kershaw.

Ryan and Amber took care of Jeremy, Wes, Luke, and Blake. But Maddox was mine.

Well, not mine. But mine.

God, how I wished he were mine . . .

Over the last four years, Maddox and I’d just gelled. He didn’t trust easily, and for some reason he’d put his trust in me. And the truth was, he needed his own personal manager more than the other four guys.

Maddox was the face of Atrous. Unwilling, but the face, nonetheless.

He carried the weight of their reputation, their brand. He was the one they hounded, the one they chased, the one they followed, the one that made headlines every other day.

He wore black, he had a full sleeve of tattoos, perfect skin, and he had attitude to spare. His motto was to burn down the institutions, to stand tall for those who had to kneel, and to speak for those who had been silenced.

He resonated with the youth around the world.

He was also incredibly good-looking.

When I say good-looking, I mean hot. Sexy, enigmatic, ethereal, even.

His heritage had been talked about a million times. So much of his life was public. His grandmother on his mother’s side was Japanese, and his grandparents on his father’s side were Dutch. He was a second generation American, a very talented musician, and he was incredibly smart.

He sang like an angel and danced like the devil.

And he answered the door looking like a mix of both. His hair was wet from the shower, he smelled warm and clean, he wore black cargo pants, a black T-shirt, and combat boots. It was his standard attire. Seeing him like that made my heart feel far too big for my chest. “Forget your key?” he asked. He even almost smiled.

It had been so long since I’d seen him smile . . .

Yes, I had a key to his house. But that was for emergencies only. I followed him inside. “You ready? The others are meeting us there.”

He grumbled something that sounded like assent. His house was still dark, open and vast, mind-bogglingly expensive, and it felt empty. It was in Beverly Hills, worth a reported twelve million with incredible views of the canyon and the city, but Maddox had the blinds drawn.

He plucked a black hoodie off the back of his sofa and pulled it on. I ignored how his T-shirt lifted a little, exposing a sliver of pale skin above his waistband. I’d seen him shirtless a thousand times. Hell, I’d even seen him in his underwear. It was nothing new, but it still managed to warm my blood.

I grabbed his two suitcases, wheeling them toward the door. He picked up his black backpack. “Got my passport?”

“Yep,” I replied. “We’re all good. Your mom’s got her key and security numbers?”

“Yeah,” he said with a shrug.

His mother was going to come look after his place while we were gone. We’d be gone for almost seven weeks. Seven long, grueling weeks.

“Come on, I have an iced coffee waiting for you in the car.”

He pulled up his hood, but I swear there was the beginning of a smile before the shadow stole it.

My phone buzzed again, and I pulled it out of my pocket and groaned at the screen. Another message that could wait until we were in the car. I pulled the door shut behind us, made sure it was locked, and wheeled the luggage to the waiting car. I opened the car door for him, I closed the door for him, I loaded the bags into the trunk—it was my job to do these things for him—and finally I got into the back of the car with Maddox.

My phone buzzed again, and I thumbed out a quick reply. We’d been driving for about ten minutes when I realized Maddox hadn’t said a word. He’d sipped his coffee but not much else. I looked at him then, really looked at him, and underneath the killer good looks was a tired man.

“You sleep okay?” I asked.

He scoffed as his answer, then glanced pointedly at my phone. “Did you? Has your phone stopped yet?”

I didn’t need to reply because we both knew the answer.

He nodded because he knew he was right and proving his point, I replied to some more emails and messages on the drive downtown. Yes, we all lived in LA, and yes, we were staying at a hotel in LA because when the tour began, the band and the whole crew would stay together. Mostly for logistical and security reasons, but also for bonding. We were one unit from day one, regardless of location.

As the car pulled into the hotel’s underground parking lot, Maddox’s eyes trained on the people rushing about. “The guys are already here?” he asked.

“Yep. Arrived five minutes ago.”

His shoulders relaxed a little, and for that I was glad. He and his bandmates were like brothers; they’d been through everything together. He was closer to Jeremy than the others, but the bond between the five of them was clear. I was relieved that he’d be with them again. I was pretty sure he’d spent the last few days by himself, holed up in his house. I’d spoken to him on the phone, even came to see him a few times, but getting ready for a tour was a busy time for me.

Before we came to a complete stop, he was quiet and chewed on his bottom lip. I wanted to ask him if he was okay, but there wasn’t time. I doubted he’d even answer that question, or answer it honestly, anyway.

“You excited?” I asked instead. “Sellout stadium tour, twenty-three concerts. You ready for that?”

He met my gaze and didn’t look away. His smile was as brief as it was beautiful. “Yeah. Of course.”

I didn’t believe him, and it was devastating how he could look right at me with those dark, dark eyes and speak so sincerely while he lied.

I spent almost every day with him. I knew him. I knew the real Maddox Kershaw, not the Maddox he showed the world. The private one, the quiet one, the intellectual one . . .

The miserable one.

The Maddox I’d been secretly in love with for years . . . the Maddox I could never have.

“Maddox,” I said, but his door opened from the outside, and people were getting luggage from our car and giving directions, and there was no time.

The commotion had begun. These seven weeks were going to be brutal.

He lowered his head, pulled up his hood to hide his face, and got out of the car.

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…

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Bookbub


a Rafflecopter giveaway