m/m romance

Handle with Care by Cari Z.: Exclusive Author Guest Post and Release Day Review

October 16, 2018 by Denise

A fragile heart needs extra care.

Burned-out social worker Aaron McCoy is on vacation for the first time in years—boss’s orders. Road-tripping to his brother’s wedding with his best friend, Tyler, seems a fun way to spend the mandatory two-week leave, and they set out for Kansas—and a difficult homecoming.

Aaron’s mother was a drug addict, and his adorable younger brother was quickly adopted, while Aaron spent his childhood in foster care. As Aaron mends fences, Tyler hopes to show him that this time, he won’t be left behind to face his problems alone.

Aaron’s opening up to how right it feels to be with Tyler and to the possibility of taking the leap from friends to lovers. But along with the wedding celebration comes a painful reminder of the past. Aaron’s heart is still breakable. Can he put it in Tyler’s hands?

Title: Handle with Care
Author: Cari Z.
Release Date: October 16, 2018
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 190

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Barnes and Noble

Is it kind of weird that I don’t want to let this book go?

I mean, ha, I’ve already let it go in the big ways. It’s been written, edited, published. It’s out there for people to read and enjoy. It’s done. That part’s over. But there’s more to writing a book than just setting it free in the world. I think writers have to let it go with their minds and hearts too, so they can move on to the next thing. And that part, well…that’s not coming so easily this time around.

Normally I’m good at multitasking, good at the act of releasing one thing and reconnecting with something else. When I wrote Handle With Care, I was working on two or three other novels all while being pregnant. I was working full time. I was busy. I finished the rough draft, polished it up, submitted it and went on my merry way. Since then, though…

I thought I was busy before. HA! Now I have a baby. Now I have to earn money in other ways, mostly by writing and editing during the hours when said baby sleeps. Very little of that writing is on my own, original work. In fact, the last book I finished on my own, for myself, is…

*crickets*

Yeah, Handle With Care. No wonder I don’t want to let it go. If I do, I face the fact that I’ve got nothing new in the hopper. The next big thing isn’t done yet—I don’t know when it will be done. I kind of feel like Aaron, one of the main characters in Handle With Care, as he contemplates the fact that with his job, he’s never “done.” I kind of feel the same way. I really enjoyed writing this book, and despite the fact that it was produced during what I thought of as a chaotic time, right now I’d love to have those kinds of uninterrupted hours to devote to writing. I wouldn’t trade what I’ve got now for anything, but dang. I was spoiled.

I’m still learning how to adapt to my new status, and my options are a little different than Aaron’s. But I have no doubt that like him, and with a little help, I’ll figure it out.

PS—his way involves the St. Louis Arch, uncharted emotional territory, and a strip club. Could be fun 😉

Cari Z. moved far away from her normal, gritty, work to write Handle With Care, and I loved it as much as some of that gritty work! This Dreamspun Desires category romance was friends to lovers, with a road trip, and a small appetizer of angst all rolled into one. Just the right amount of “I’m gonna need a tissue right here” along with two MC’s who clearly have supported and adored each other most of their adult lives.

What I loved about Aaron was seeing his growth in just the short time that he and Tyler were on this road trip. He didn’t just grow in his relationship with the man he’d loved his entire life, but he grew into a more well rounded man, by allowing himself to enjoy his vacation, letting go of the stress of his job, and what he was leaving behind for others to care for. He was able to enjoy his time with Tyler, but also able to learn to re-engage with family that he had felt disconnected from (for very good reasons).

The reader was able to connect with Tyler, through Aaron, and through small glimpses into his past. However, the strongest connection was in how he clearly felt about Aaron. He made it his goal to ensure Aaron was safe and happy, had fun, and lived. And not just during the book, but even in those moments we glimpsed from their past. To bring this man into his family home, when they were both teenagers, connect him with his own family, and not let him go after it was only the two of them in the area, showed his commitment to Aaron on a day to day basis. It was heart warming, because the reader knew that this was about his deep love for Aaron, as a friend, as a brother, but definitely as the man he wanted to love the rest of his life.

These books are all about the HEA, and Tyler and Aaron definitely got their HEA, but also found a joy with their newly found family, which was so much what Aaron’s journey through this book was about. I enjoyed the road trip, the fun they found along the way to the wedding. But even more so, I loved that they found more than that, they found love in many forms, and embraced it.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Cari Z. is a Colorado girl who loves snow and sunshine. She has a wonderful relationship with her husband, a complex relationship with the characters in her head and a sadomasochistic relationship with her exercise routine. She hopes that you enjoy reading what she’s put out there as much as she enjoyed writing it in the first place.

Social media: Twitter: @author_cariz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008212125132

Craft Brew (Trouble Brewing #2) by Layla Reyne: Blog Tour, New Release Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

October 14, 2018 by Denise

Assistant US attorney Dominic Price is staring down the barrel of his father’s debts. The bull’s-eye on his back makes him a threat to everyone he cares about, so when his lover wants to go public with their relationship, he bolts. Not because he isn’t in love—he can’t stomach the thought of putting Cam in danger.

Kidnap and rescue expert Cameron Byrne is determined to figure out what trouble Nic is running from, but devastating news from home brings him back to Boston and to the cold case that has haunted his family for two decades. Shoving aside his pride, he calls Nic for help.

Together they search for answers, navigating the minefield of Cam’s past. But when they get too close to the truth, Cam must use every skill in his arsenal to save the man he loves…before it’s too late.

Genre: M/M Romantic Suspense

Release Date: E-Book and Audio – October 8;

Paperback – October 30

Publisher: Carina Press

Tropes and Themes: Workplace romance, forced proximity, friends-to-lovers, coming out

Amazon

Carina

He waited for Cam to finish wiping off, then took the rag and tossed it aside. He stretched an arm over him, planting it in the mattress on the other side of his hip, icy blues staring down at him. “I’m not running.”

“You tell me your rental is getting demo’d and you’re getting kicked out, which thank fuck because that place should have been torn down ages ago.” Aside from its proximity to the brewery Nic co-owned, the run-down duplex made no sense for Dominic Price, federal prosecutor and son of a real estate mogul. “Seeing as you’ve been here every night for four months, I made the logical suggestion that you move in.” He flung an arm toward the door. “And then you bolted like the sheets were on fire.”

“I’m leaving for San Diego.”

Shock propelled Cam up to seated again. “You’re what?”

Nic leaned back just in time to avoid a head-on collision. He folded his arms, lean muscles taut as they bisected the myriad of tattoos painting his torso. “The US Attorney down there is taking paternity leave. They need someone to cover.”

“And you volunteered?”

“No, they asked me.”

Cam scooted back against the headboard, letting it hold him up as his world spun faster than he was equipped to handle at this hour.

It was a great opportunity for San Francisco’s best Assistant US Attorney—getting out from under his asshole boss here and taking the reins of an entire operation there. Major problem for Cam, who after a year in the Bay Area had only recently begun to feel at home, in no small part due to the man beside him.

Anger and hurt bested professional goodwill. “Bullshit you’re not running.”

Nic inched closer, laying a hand on his thigh. “You’ll be safer if I’m not here.”

“This is about your father,” Cam surmised.

Cam and Nic are back and we see them taking the next steps in the relationship. But Cam is called home to Boston for a family emergency while Nic stays behind. Clearly they each want Nic to be in Boston but it’s still early stages, and meeting the family while Cam isn’t even out to them is out of the question. Nic meanwhile still isn’t sure he should be with Cam as the bad business with Nic’s father puts Nic and anyone he cares about in danger. An unacceptable risk, but Nic can’t seem to let Cam go for good.

I like Cam and Nic together and the rest of the Whiskey and Irish crew, who show up here and pitch in to help. The ending is satisfying but the guys’ story isn’t done yet. While Cam found resolution to a decades’ long mystery, Nic still has to confront the situation surrounding his father’s bad business dealings that have Nic being chased by hit men. But by his side will be the new family who will go all in to protect him.

It always warms my heart when characters who have no family of their own, for whatever reason, are received by someone else’s with open arms. Nic gets that with Cam, so I couldn’t be happier. Waiting for the next installment to see how they resolve their relationship and the danger facing Nic!

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Author Layla Reyne was raised in North Carolina and now calls San Francisco home. She enjoys weaving her bi-coastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline-fueled suspense and heart pounding romance. When she’s not writing stories to excite her readers, she downloads too many books, watches too much television, and cooks too much food with her scientist husband, much to the delight of their smushed-face, leftover-loving dogs. Layla is a member of Romance Writers of America and its Kiss of Death and Rainbow Romance Writers chapters. She was a 2016 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist in Romantic Suspense.

Author Links:

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216903272072959/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/layla-reyne

Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/laylareyne

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/laylareyne

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Honey from the Lion by Jackie North: New Release Review

October 13, 2018 by Denise

Soulmates across time. A love that was meant to be.

In present day, Laurie, tired of corporate life, takes a much-needed vacation at Farthingdale Dude Ranch.

The very first night a freak blizzard combined with a powerful meteor shower takes Laurie back to the year 1891. When he wakes up in a snowbank, his only refuge is an isolated cabin inhabited by the gruff, grouchy John Henton, who only wants to be left alone. His sense of duty prevails, however, and he takes Laurie under his care, teaching him how to survive on the wild frontier.

As winter approaches, Laurie’s normal fun-loving manner make it difficult for him to connect with John, but in spite of John’s old-fashioned ways, the chemistry between them grows.

Sparks fly as the blizzard rages outside the cabin. Can two men from different worlds and different times find happiness together?

A male/male time travel romance, complete with hurt/comfort, true confessions, a shared bed, fireplace kisses, the angst of separation, and true love across time.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Honey from the Lion is a time travel that follows modern day Laurie, a guy who needs a break from his fast paced life that has him burned out. Laurie falls back in time to 1891 and meets rugged mountain loner John. Being a modern guy, Laurie has no idea how to fend for himself in the Colorado mountains and at first John is grumpy with this unexpected nuisance who’s shown up at his cabin’s door. But Laurie coaxes John into teaching him what he needs to live in the wilderness and the two soon fall for each other. Being snowed in is wonderful, but 19th century Colorado isn’t going to be kind to two men who are in love. Will the two be able to make a life this way? Or can Laurie get back to his own time? Will he even want to get back to his own time now that’s he’s found love?

This is a sweet story. I liked how Laurie knew how to navigate John’s grumpy self to uncover an excellent frontiersman willing to share his knowledge. It hurts me how John suffers from PTSD from his time during the Indian wars and that he has had to fight his attraction to men all his life. I love that they find peace, love and comfort with each other. I found the writing style a little bland; where that, and then this, and then that happened. But it seems this will be a series, and I might give the rest a try. The author has left a few areas that could be explored and I want to see how our heroes fare in the future.

3 pieces of eye candy

For the Love of Luke by David C. Dawson: Exclusive Guest Post and Giveaway

October 12, 2018 by Denise

A handsome naked man. Unconscious on a bathroom floor.

He’s lost his memory, and someone’s out to kill him.

Who is the mysterious Luke?

British TV anchor and journalist Rupert Pendley-Evans doesn’t do long-term relationships. Nor does he do waifs and strays. But Luke is different. Luke is a talented American artist with a dark secret in his life.

When Rupert discovers Luke, he’s intrigued, and before he can stop himself, he’s in love. The aristocratic Rupert is an ambitious TV reporter with a nose for a story and a talent for uncovering the truth. As he falls deeper in love with Luke, he discovers the reason for Luke’s amnesia. And the explanation puts them both in mortal danger.

Title: For the Love of Luke
Author: David C. Dawson
Release Date: October 9, 2018
Category: Mystery/Suspense
Pages: 196

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Universal buy link

Thank you so much to Two Chicks Obsessed for letting me stop by!

For the Love of Luke is a story of love, and has been a work of love for me. Not just the wonderful heroes Rupert and Luke, but also the British locations they visit in the book.

One of them is Adie’s All Day Breakfast Bar in Little Portland Street in London. Now I have a confession to make. Little Portland Street is indeed a narrow street just down the road from the BBC’s headquarters. And there is a café on the street called Little Portland Café.

But Adie’s All Day Breakfast Bar? It’s a fabrication. I created it so that I could introduce the name Adrian Such into the book. He’s the guy who runs the breakfast bar. Adrian is a real person. He’s from Australia originally, and was very keen to appear in one of my books.

In real life Adrian doesn’t run a breakfast, or any kind of restaurant. He’s a very clever digital media expert. But he loves the idea of running an all day breakfast bar in London! These kinds of small restaurants are numerous across the city, and I often go to eat there. The very best ones are usually family-run, noisy, bustling, and serving excellent comfort food. Whenever you visit London, find your nearest all day breakfast bar. You won’t be disappointed!

The leathers Rupert brought for Luke were a snug fit. They clung tight to almost every part of his body. Luke admired himself in the full-length mirror. He turned side on. They felt good. He had to admit it. They looked damn good. Tight, black leather jeans enhanced the bulk of his thighs and the narrowness of his waist. They sagged a bit in the ass, but Rupert explained that was necessary to allow Luke to sit comfortably on the motorbike. Luke turned up the collar of the black leather jacket and closed the zips on both sleeves. Kevlar protective panels in the back, sleeves, and shoulders of the jacket filled out the upper part of his torso, adding bulk to his hours of work in the gym. He crossed to the bed and sat to pull on the reinforced bike boots, fasten their zips and Velcro covers.

Luke smoothed his hands across the surface of the leather stretched tight across his thighs and grinned at a stirring in his groin. The sensation both surprised and pleased him. He stood, and the rigid shape of the boots forced him to lean forward, like a skier about to descend a black run. He attempted to stand straight, the upper part of his body compensating for the enforced bend in his knees. The jeans pulled tight against his crotch, and his cock rose to the stimulation of the leather hugging his body.

“Sexy man.” Rupert’s voice came from the doorway. Luke turned. Rupert wore a one-piece racing suit made of red leather. White leather panels stitched into it enhanced the shape of his torso and legs. He crossed the bedroom to stand behind Luke at the mirror and placed his hands on Luke’s thighs. “I’ve not worn those leathers for a long time.” He studied Luke’s reflection in the mirror with an admiring grin. “They fit you really well. How do they feel?”

Luke took Rupert’s hands in his and pulled them to wrap around his waist. “They’re making me horny,” replied Luke. “I was getting a hard-on just standing here, even before you came in.”

Rupert slipped his hand down and caressed the front of Luke’s leathers. “And now you’re rapidly outgrowing those jeans. By the second, it feels like.”

He placed both hands on Luke’s shoulders and pulled him gently forward. He bent his head and kissed the side of Luke’s neck, slowly and tenderly, his tongue warm and moist against Luke’s skin. “I want you right now, the way you look and feel,” breathed Rupert. “But we’ve got to get moving. It should take us only an hour and a half to get there. Come on.”

David C. Dawson writes contemporary thrillers featuring gay heroes in love. His debut novel The Necessary Deaths is published by DSP Publications and was described as “a real page turner”. It won Bronze for Best Mystery & Suspense in the FAPA awards. Rainbow Reviews called it “an exciting read with complex characters”.

The Deadly Lies is the second book in the series and came out last December.

For the Love of Luke is David’s third book. His fourth comes out in 2019.

David lives near Oxford in the UK, with his ageing Triumph motorbike and two cats.

Website: www.davidcdawson.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.c.dawson.5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/david_c_dawson

Answer this simple question and you’ll have the chance to win a digital copy of For the Love of Luke! Email your answer with your name to: david@davidcdawson.co.uk. Competition closes on midnight October 19, 2018.

Question: In For the Love of Luke, what’s the name of the man who runs the breakfast bar in Little Portland Street?

Take It All – Steamy Encounters Collection by Quin Perin: Release Day Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

October 11, 2018 by Denise

From the bestselling authors’ of Meik&Sebastian – Obsessed come three steamy encounters of twisted, forbidden lust…

What do lust-driven men do when they think no one is watching? Find out now. Be a fly on the wall in a seedy motel room, a gym shower and the heart of suburbia, where three torrid pairings nurture the beasts inside of them.

Featuring three short stories:

Carter&Dave – The one with Daddy

Gordon&Jett – The one with the Politician

Josh&Graham – The one with the Jock

They can hardly handle it, can you?

Book Title: Take It All – Steamy Encounters Collection

Author: Quin Perin

Publisher: Self-Published

Cover Artist:X Potion Designs

Genre/s: Gay Erotica

Length: 15 000 words/65-70 pages – three short stories

Release Date: October 11, 2018

Add on Goodreads

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Blue eyes narrowed, and when Graham was about to push him again, Josh’s hands darted out, fingers wrapping around his wrists. When he shoved, Graham stumbled back, landing against the hard wall of the shower. “Lemme go.” He huffed, twisting under Josh’s grasp.

“Only if you stop being an ass,” Josh shot back. His fingers flexed, tightening as he took a step closer. Eyes fixed on Graham.

“Pot meet fucking kettle,” Graham ground out dryly.

“God, you’re so frustrating.”

Mere inches apart now, Josh’s breath warm as blue and grey eyes connected. Tense silence crackled, electrifying the air between them. Josh’s eyes dropped to trembling lips. Graham took a breath but before he could tell Josh to not even think about it, Josh did it. He slammed forward, clashing their lips together. Graham’s wrists were still grasped in Josh’s strong fingers; hips forced back against the wall by the jock’s.

Graham bucked forward, trying to throw Josh off of him. He jerked his head back from the kiss. “Don’t.” He hated how breathy his voice sounded. Hated the way his cock started to stiffen. Hated how much he wanted Josh.

Soft lips brushed over his throat, warm breath tickling across his Adam’s apple. The kiss was far better than the last—and the first—time they’d kissed. Though he supposed they both had more experience now than when they were sixteen. “You want this.” Josh’s voice vibrated against his heated skin.

“N-No.” God, he did want it.

Josh chuckled low, husky. “Liar,” he murmured, dropping Graham’s wrists. He pulled back, a smug smirk spreading across his cheeks, exposing those too perfect dimples that made Josh want to punch him.

Graham didn’t move. Water soaked the back of his shirt, weighing down his pants. Blood rushed through his ears, heart pounding like a bird’s wings against his ribs, desperate to escape. The air between them was too thick to inhale, too loaded with testosterone that Graham held his breath, gaze skipping lower. A faint flush spread over the center of Josh’s chest, and a bulge, large and obvious, rose beneath his damp towel. “You are the biggest fucking asshole.”

Words barely managed to form before Graham launched towards Josh and reunited their lips in a smoldering kiss. Colliding desperately and with burning fervor, Graham’s hands scrambled to yank the towel down so he could grab both of the jock’s tight ass cheeks. Josh’s palm slapped against the wall next to Graham’s head, deepening the kiss. Reckless and oh, so fucking stupid.

If you go into this with the thought that you would be reading a romance, you clearly didn’t read the blurb. 😉 The blurb tells you what it is. It is steamy, forbidden, hot encounters. These men are not falling in love, they are having sex, plain and simple. And if that is what you are looking for, dang, you will get a damn bit of hotness here!

Very detailed, and well written, you might want to not read this on a bus, or in the doctor’s office. But you can definitely spend time enjoying it. 🙂

3 pieces of eye candy

This is Quin&Perin. We are a team of Sultry Gay Romance writers who focus on detailed, toe-curling, and realistic smut scenes with a fair share of dirty talking (Oh, boy). Unlike other authors in the genre, we write without the goal of publishing anything. Publishing is just the cherry on top of a cream-covered bubble butt.

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Lone Wolf by Anna Martin: Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

October 9, 2018 by Denise

Jackson Lewis isn’t a typical werewolf. He isolates himself in a small town outside Spokane and dedicates himself to making his business—Lone Wolf Brewery—a success. If it leaves him little time for romance, he’s okay with that. His soul mate could be out there somewhere, but he isn’t actively looking.

So he’s in for quite the shock when he literally bumps into his soul mate—Leo Gallagher—an adorable, nerdy, vibrant music therapist who’s Jackson’s polar opposite.

But he’s human. And a man.

Jackson is straight—or at least he’s always assumed so. Though he can’t deny his attraction to Leo, it’s a lot for both of them to deal with.

While Jackson and Leo figure out what their future might hold, they face prejudice from both the human and werewolf communities—including a group of fanatics willing to kill to show humans and werewolves don’t belong together.

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

I didn’t love this story, but I didn’t hate it either. The storyline is promising but I think it could use a little development. I was left wanting more when the story ended.

Jackson loves a solitary life. He owns a brewery and lives on the outskirts of town alone. As a werewolf he is surprised when he runs into his mate and he turns out to be a human male.

Leo is a human and a musical therapist. He’s openly gay and a little concerned that his mate is struggling with his sexuality and the fact that he’s human. He hopes giving Jackson time will help him come to terms with the life fate has handed him.

The story was interesting, but I don’t feel like Jackson’s struggle with his sexuality and his human mate were resolved as well as they could be. One second it was a struggle and the next he was ok with it. It wasn’t very realistic.

The characters were relatable and interesting. I could easily see a second book with Jackson’s brother or Leo’s roommate. The story just needs so beefing up.

3 pieces of eye candy

Anna Martin is from a picturesque seaside village in the southwest of England and now lives in the Bristol, a city that embraces her love for the arts. After spending most of her childhood making up stories, she studied English literature at university before attempting to turn her hand as a professional writer.

Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, Anna is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theater (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), going to visit friends in other countries, and reading anything thatís put under her nose.

Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, prereading, and creative ass kicking provided by her best friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept responsibility for anything Anna has written.

https://www.annamartin-fiction.com/

http://www.facebook.com/annamartinfiction

http://www.pinterest.com/annamartinficti/

http://instagram.com/missannamartin

http://www.twitter.com/missannamartin

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October 9 – Joyfully Jay, OMG Reads, Valerie Ullmer, Urban Smoothie Read, Archaeolibrarian, The Blogger Girls, BooksLaidBareBoys, Two Chicks Obsessed, MM Midnight Cafe, Lelyana’s Reviews, Xtreme Delusions, October 11 – The Novel Approach, October 12 – Momma Says: To Read Or Not To Read, Bonkers About Books, Megan’s Media Melange, Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Mikku-chan, October 15 – Diverse Reader, October 16 – Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Making It Happen, MM Good Book Reviews, October 17 – Gay Book Reviews, October 18 – Book Lovers 4Ever, Drops of Ink, October 19 – Love Bytes, October 20 – Mirrigold, Bayou Book Junkie, Lillian Francis, Nerdy Dirty & Flirty, Wicked Faerie’s Tales & Reviews, Book Review By Virginia Lee