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m/m romance

The New World by J.P. Bowie: New Release Review

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Jamie finds his life and possible destiny irrevocably intertwined with Tanaka, a Choctaw warrior and shaman, but danger lies all around in a land troubled by unrest and war.

When Jamie finally reaches the Americas, he is a changed man—one whose innocence has been replaced by a keen sense of self-preservation and a determination to survive, no matter what. That determination is challenged when he is charged with piracy and must choose between a death sentence or life as an indentured slave.

Choosing to live, he suffers the humiliation of slavery until he is rescued by Tanaka, a Choctaw warrior-shaman. Jamie joins the Choctaws against the soldiers of King George, who are trying to force them off their land. It isn’t long before Jamie and Tanaka’s admiration for each other becomes a love that will shape their destinies.

General Release Date: 27th November 2018

ISBN: 978-1-78651-691-6 Imprint: Pride Publishing
Book Length: Short Novel

Genre:

EROTIC ROMANCE
GAY
HISTORICAL

Amazon

Pride Publishing

This is the second book in what looks like a 3 part series, but it’s pretty much a stand alone if you haven’t read book 1 (I didn’t). Jamie arrives in the new world as captain of his ship and almost immediately runs afoul of British troops in the woods of Georgia. He’s arrested and sold into indentured servitude to a cruel farmer. He’s rescued by Tanaka, a young native warrior who’s lost his home and family to the same British troops Jamie has made enemies of.

Jamie and Tanaka quickly trust each other and become close friends and more. They work together with the remaining native tribe to fight off the wave of troops that have come to claim the Choctaw land in the name of England.

This was a quick story to read, and outside of the conflict between the natives and the English, there wasn’t much in the way of angst between the main characters. There’s an odd element of the supernatural as we learn Jamie and Tanaka have dreamt of each other for some time before meeting. Each “knew” the other on sight. I feel like this story should have been one larger book, with more of the characters and action fleshed out. This was just okay for me.

3 pieces of eye candy

From These Ashes (Haven Heart Book 4) by Davidson King: Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

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A product of his past, Black spends half his time saving lives and the other half taking them. Every day, a hard choice must be made and he’s the man to make it. Long ago, he vowed to never love again; one-night stands with a willing body was all he ever needed. But along came Quill, and Black’s life is irrevocably changed. He never expects something as simple as Quill’s persistence to alter the way he not only sees the world, but how he lives it.

Quill has bad taste in men and equally horrible luck. Growing up wasn’t easy, surviving is even harder. When his past and present collide, he’s convinced he’ll finally witness his own destruction. But when an unlikely antihero steps in to protect him, his life is turned on its head. He’s spent months flirting with the man of his dreams and hoping he’d take notice. But it turns out, being on Black’s radar isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and his idea of protection varies greatly from Quill’s.

Unknowingly sharing the same goal—burying their own pasts deeper than the fires of hell can reach—they’re both unaware that jumping into that fire will do more than ignite their feelings, it could lead to their own demise. Will Black and Quill be consumed by the flames, or from these ashes, will they find their own happily ever after?

FROM THESE ASHES

Haven Hart Series, Book 4

DAVIDSON KING

RELEASE DATE: 11.28.18

Cover Design: Covers by Designs by Morningstar

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Black

I parked my car as close to Joker’s Sin as I could. I took my leather jacket off the seat and quickly put it on, hit the alarm, and made my way toward the club. There was still a line after midnight. The place closed in two hours, why would people wait that long? Well, I wasn’t.

“Can I help you?” the large bouncer asked.

“No.” I barreled through him and made my way into the club. It was like dubstep nation in there and so much fucking leather.

“Hey.” I felt someone tap my shoulder. I whipped around and grabbed whomever it was by the neck. It was the bouncer from the door.

“Not today, Junior. You tell Atlas, Black is here. Now fuck off.” I pushed him away and made my way to the bar. I hadn’t been inside Joker’s Sin before, I only knew how it looked based on Mace and Bill’s description.

I liked the concept and would’ve taken more time to appreciate it if I wasn’t hell-bent on finding Quill.

“Can I help you, handsome?” I turned and looked down. A small guy with pink hair and barely-there black leather shorts had spoken.

“No. Where’s Quill?”

The small man slid his fingers down my arm. “Mmm. Quill didn’t tell me he had a God for a boyfriend. You’re better than most I see him with.” He jerked his head to the right. I followed the direction and there before me, was Quill.

He was dressed in red leather. I couldn’t see below the waist, but the vest he wore was tight against his pale skin. I knew he loved his bracelets, and he had them all on tonight. His arms were covered in red and silver glitter, making him stick out like a gorgeous disco ball. It looked like he had put all of his piercings back in, and I could see when the light shown on his face, he also had glitter on his cheeks.

“I’ll just leave you to it,” the small man said with a chuckle, and I took the few steps to where Quill stood mixing drinks.

He hadn’t noticed me yet, and I got a chance to see he had red eyes and black liner on his lids. He looked like pure sin. I was surprised when I felt my cock stiffen. Until now, I was never sexually interested in Quill. Okay, to be fair, I admired him. He was stunning, but there was a line cut somewhere between admiration and want.  Why was I feeling something now?

“Are you following me?” Quill’s voice snapped me back to attention.

“I thought you wanted me to follow you.”

Quill narrowed his eyes, but I saw how he swallowed as he took me in. He was a flirt by nature and no matter how peeved he was at me, he could never sustain that anger.

Oh yeah….King. We’ve been waiting for King to get a man. We had a feeling it would be Quill, right? But to see it played out is all the fun.

Quill is unashamed of his flirting with King. He figures he never has a chance anyway, so why not? Until Quill’s ex boyfriend puts him in the hospital and King goes all alpha on him. Hot.

And it was cute how King tried to deny his feelings for Quill. I mean, come on big guy. We all see it.

And of course they were ridiculously hot together. *fans self*

The story itself (not the romance part) was a little weak to start. It all culminated and made sense, but a little more to get me sucked in faster would have been good. I started thinking “is this really a jilted ex?”.

There were lots of other things going on in the periphery that makes me want more. Like those guys. And that one. And what about that guy? Hmmm???

The ending was a bit heavy handed but I can also see why it went down that way.

It was a mixed bag, but definitely more on the YES than the no for me.

And there’s a kitten.

4 Pieces of Candy

Davidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.

When she’s not writing you can find her blogging away on Diverse Reader, her review and promotional site. She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.

If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she’d tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you’re afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RZAUBi

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidsonKing11

Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/DiverseReader

Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/DavidsonKingAuthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidsonkingauthor/?hl=en

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DavidsonKingsCourt/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17286464.Davidson_King

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Living On Air by Susan MacNicol: Throwback Thursday Quick Review

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PIERCING THE NIGHT

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

WITH LIGHT

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

Amazon

The story had a good premise. Circus aerialist with a secret past (and present) and a photographer sent on a cushy assignment to document the circus for a coffee table book. Being that this photographer was a well respected war photographer, it seemed kind of odd but I was ok with it.

Trigger warning of self harm.

A lot of time was spent on Cary’s self harm. I mean, it was a huge part of who he was, but there were pages and pages and pages of it. How he kept it a secret from everyone else in the circus was a mystery to me. Of course he was super prickly and didn’t seem to like people, which kept them at arm’s length but still.

Rhys, the photographer, is immediately drawn to him. And even though Cary treats him like crap he keeps going back for more.

Much is said about the circus being a family, but Cary is so mean. To just about everyone. I don’t know why they all put up with it.

There are times when the dialogue is a bit to flippant for the scene. A serious, heartfelt scene comes to a screeching halt for me with silly dialogue.

It was good, not great. I didn’t feel the connection between Rhys and Cary until nearly the end of the book and needed more of an emotional connection with them. Cary was just too antagonistic.

3 Pieces of Candy

Christmas Homecoming (The Christmas Angel Book 4) by L.A. Witt: Blog Tour, New Release Review and Giveaway

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August 1939. Roger Miller and Jack O’Brien have been close since childhood. By the time they realize there’s more between them than friendship, Jack is leaving their sleepy Iowa town for college. But they console themselves knowing he’ll be home for Christmas. Right?

It is Christmas before they see each other again, but that Christmas comes six years and a world war later. Aged, beaten, and shaken by combat, they’re not the boys they were back then, but their feelings for each other are stronger than ever.

Neither know the words to say everything they’ve carried since that peacetime summer kiss, though. Even as they stand in the same room, there’s a thousand miles between them.

But maybe that’s some distance the little angel in Roger’s rucksack can cross.

This 24,000 word novella is part of the multi-author Christmas Angel series, and can be read as a standalone.

The Christmas Angel Series

In 1750, a master woodcarver poured all his unrequited love, passion, and longing into his masterpiece—a gorgeous Christmas angel for his beloved’s tree. When the man he loved tossed the angel away without a second thought, a miracle happened. The angel was found by another who brought the woodcarver True Love.

Since then, the angel has been passed down, sold, lost and found, but its magic remains. Read the romances inspired by (and perhaps nudged along by) the Christmas angel through the years. Whether it’s 1700s England (Eli Easton’s Christmas Angel), the 1880’s New York (Kim Fielding’s Summerfield’s Angel), the turn-of-the-century (Jordan L. Hawk’s Magician’s Angel), World War II (L.A. Witt’s Christmas Homecoming), Vietnam-era (N.R. Walker’s Soldier’s Wish), the 1990’s (Anyta Sunday’s Shrewd Angel), or 2018 (RJ Scott’s Christmas Prince), the Christmas angel has a way of landing on the trees of lonely men who need its blessing for a very Merry Christmas and forever HEA.

Amazon

Christmas Angel – Eli Easton – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Summerfield’s Angel – Kim Fielding –  Amazon US | Amazon UK

The Magician’s Angel – Jordan L. Hawk – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Christmas Homecoming – L.A. Witt – Amazon US | Amazon UK

A Soldier’s Wish – N.R. Walker – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Shrewd Angel – Anyta Sunday – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Christmas Prince – RJ Scott- Amazon US | Amazon UK

This one might’ve been my favorite so far in these little short stories with the magical angel.

Best friends, Jack and Roger are about to go their separate ways, one to college and one in the army. They aren’t sure where life will take them, but they promise to stay in touch. One last hurrah at the swimming hole the day before Jack is set to leave, brings a whole new light to their friendship…. They kiss…. They kiss and then realize that their feelings for each other are much deeper than friendship, and how much time they’ve lost because they didn’t realize it sooner.

My heart broke for these two… I ugly cried at two in the morning from the unfairness of it all. After being drafted and both men sent to war, they lost touch, for six years, until one is on leave and the other is honorably discharged from shell shock and they meet again in their hometown.

It’s awkward at first, because they don’t know where to go from there. They both used each other as a way to stay sane during the war, thinking of each other and dreaming of being able to be together again one day. I couldn’t even imagine what it was like for men and women back then, unable to be who they are or be with who they love. Having to hide or keep such a secret. How incredibly sad.

You can feel how much these two love each other. How each of them despaired at the thought of losing the other one to the war or because their families were hounding them to get married. They had to walk away from each other when they were just kids, and now that they’re back together, they face the same struggles…. Luckily, while on leave another time, Roger was window shopping at a junk shop and found a Christmas angel. You know what that means….

So, with a little bit of that angel’s magic and a love that even time couldn’t dull… they admitted their feelings to each other and vowed that nothing was going to separate them again. If anyone deserved a HEA, it was these two… I cried and then cried and then cried a little more. Some of it sad, but by the end, it was all happy.

What an awesome story. I can’t wait to see who the angel picks next!

5 pieces of eye candy

Dec 2 – Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, Dec 4 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Xtreme Delusions, Dec 6 – Mainely Stories, Dec 8 – Sexy Erotic Xciting, Open Skye, Megan’s Media Melange, The Secret Ko, Rainbow Book Reviews, Dec 10 – Mirrigold, Lelyana’s Reviews, Dec 12 – Making It Happen, Two Chicks Obsessed, Dec 14 – Momma Says: To Read Or Not To Read, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Lillian Francis, Wicked Reads, Dec 17 – Bonkers About Books, Bayou Book Junkie, Dec 19 – Book Corner Reviews, Dec 21 – MM Good Book Reviews

 

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut…

Website: http://www.gallagherwitt.com
E-mail: gallagherwitt@gmail.com
Twitter: @GallagherWitt
Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com

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Guess Who’s Coming to Karamu by Cy Blanca: Release Day Review

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Grant Cary, a twenty-eight-year-old grad student, has let his Kwanzaa shopping go to the very last minute. In his rush to get home, he quite literally bumps into Will Sheritan, a fortysomething software developer, in the elevator. But luck favors (or curses) the adventurous, because their elevator shuts down due to a blackout. Grant and Will learn about each other’s pasts and find more than just a casual interest.

Will has never celebrated Kwanzaa, and he’s reluctant to enter into a relationship, but exploring a new tradition—with a new friend—might brighten his lonely holiday. And if Will accepts Grant’s invitation to join his family for the Karamu feast, Grant might get his Imani gift early.

Title: Guess Who’s Coming to Karamu
Author: Cy Blanca
Category: Holiday, Advent
Pages: 25

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

I loved that this short holiday story had diverse main characters, which seldom happens. In addition, Grant’s inner dialogue was hilarious. He made me laugh. Meanwhile, it was hard to know quite where Will stood. And with such a short story, it wasn’t necessary to have an HEA, or even really an HFN. It was just a quick holiday date, and that was ok.

Also, learning about a holiday that I don’t know much about, even through the eyes of a short story was fun.

3 pieces of eye candy

The Magician’s Angel (The Christmas Angel Book 3) by Jordan L. Hawk: Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

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Vaudeville stage magician Christopher Fiend lives for the spotlight. His chance at big time stardom awaits him in Chicago, the next stop on the circuit after the little town of Twelfth Junction.

Edward Smith wants nothing to do with his family’s theater. Until Christopher catches his eye on opening night, then treats him to a very special performance during intermission.

When a dead body turns up in the middle of Christopher’s act, suspicion immediately falls on him. If Christopher and Edward can’t work together to clear his name, Christopher won’t make it to Chicago in time. Edward knows he shouldn’t get attached to a man who will be gone in two days, but his heart—and a very special angel—have other ideas.

The Christmas Angel series of holiday romances follow the travels of an angel ornament through the decades as she inspires (and sometimes nudges) lonely men to find their Happily Ever After. The Magician’s Angel is the third in series, which can be read in any order.

* * * * *

In 1750, a master woodcarver poured all his unrequited love, passion, and longing into his masterpiece—a gorgeous Christmas angel for his beloved’s tree. When the man he loved tossed the angel away without a second thought, a miracle happened. The angel was found by another who brought the woodcarver True Love.

Since then, the angel has been passed down, sold, lost and found, but its magic remains. Read the romances inspired by (and perhaps nudged along by) the Christmas Angel through the years. Whether it’s the 1880’s New York (Kim Fielding), 1910 Iowa (Jordan L. Hawk), post World War II (L.A. Witt), Vietnam-era (N.R. Walker), the 1990’s (Anyta Sunday), 2018 Europe (RJ Scott), the Christmas Angel has a way of landing on the trees of lonely men who need its blessing for a very Merry Christmas and forever HEA.

Amazon

Christmas Angel – Eli Easton – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Summerfield’s Angel – Kim Fielding –  Amazon US | Amazon UK

Christmas Homecoming – L.A. Witt – Amazon US | Amazon UK

A Soldier’s Wish – N.R. Walker – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Shrewd Angel – Anyta Sunday – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Christmas Prince – RJ Scott- Amazon US | Amazon UK

Okay, so this one was a bit different than the others in the series… whereas watching these two fall in love was more of a background story than the real story which was encased around mystery and murder… which, was different but not bad.

Edward, along with his brother are trying to make their theater successful, though Edward isn’t quiet as convinced as his brother seems to be. Still, giving him a chance to get it together for the holiday season, they take on acrobats, singing sisters and most interestingly…. Christopher, the magician!

During one of their shows, someone ends up dead and Christopher and Edward come together to try and figure it out. How it wasn’t blatantly obvious was beyond me, because it very much was… but, it gave these two a chance to come together and fall in love.

It was entertaining and though the mystery was a little less mystery to me, I still found myself rooting for these two and enjoying it anyway. And of course, alls well that ends well, justice is served and these two are free and alive to get their happily ever after!

Dec 2 – Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, Dec 4 – Cupcakes And Bookshelves, Xtreme Delusions, Dec 6 – My Fiction Nook, Open Skye, Sexy Erotic Xciting, The Secret Ko, Rainbow Book Reviews, Dec 8 – Mirrigold, Dec 10 – Making It Happen, Megan’s Media Melange, Two Chicks Obsessed, Dec 12 – Drops Of Ink, Lillian Francis, Momma Says: To Read Or Not To Read, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wicked Reads, Dec 17 – Bayou Book Junkie, Dec 19 – MM Good Book Reviews, Dec 21 – Bonkers About Books


Jordan L. Hawk is a non-binary queer author from North Carolina. Childhood tales of mountain ghosts and mysterious creatures gave them a life-long love of things that go bump in the night. When they aren’t writing, they brew their own beer and try to keep the cats from destroying the house. Their best-selling Whyborne & Griffin series (beginning with Widdershins) can be found in print, ebook, and audiobook.

Website: http://www.jordanlhawk.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jordanlhawk
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jordanlhawkauthor
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Jordan-L.-Hawk/e/B00A2336YC/

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