m/m romance

Beware of Geeks Bearing Gifts by Charlie Cochet: Release Day Review

August 19, 2015 by Denise

Julian “Quinn” Quinetro, a gruff, tough Miami SWAT officer, has been injured on the job, and all he’s looking for is a little peace and quiet to recover—difficult to achieve with his large Cuban family. An adventure in picking up his prescriptions puts him in the path of his geeky, brownie-baking neighbor, Spencer Morgan. Spencer sweeps into Quinn’s life like a tropical storm of sunshine and rainbows. Not surprisingly, it’s chaos at first sight. Quinn’s in need of a little tender loving care, and Spencer decides he’s just the man for the job. Their very different lives might clash, but they might also find some common ground—and maybe more.

What can I say about this novella? First, I LOVE Charlie Cochet, and have made it my life’s goal to go back and read all of her stuff that isn’t THIRDS (and I can re-read THIRDS another few times just because). This novella had cute, sweet, sexy and hot, all mixed in. Along with that some crazy family and friends, and delicious baked goods, you really couldn’t go wrong with this one.

Quinn, injured on the job, found himself quickly cranky. Meanwhile Spencer has a crush on his neighbor and tries to help him out with all the little stuff. Spencer means well, but the chaos he brings with him could very well bring Quinn back to the ER. However, quickly he worms his way into his heart, first as baker and friend, then as lover.

I really enjoyed how free and fun Spenser was, bringing Quinn along for the ride. And when Spenser tests out his freedom and gets burned by Quinn’s friend, Quinn takes a stand to show his man how much he means to him, and that he wants him to stay with him.

These two opposites attract so easily. I remember an author telling me once that to tell a good story in a novella length can be more challenging than in a full length novel, and I believe that’s true. To make you connect with the characters, love their story, and want their HEA can’t be easy in less words, but Charlie has done a masterful job here. I loved Quinn for his heart and his bravery right from the start. Spenser, with his baking and his sweet sassy self was a hit right away with me, as well. Put them together and Charlie has built a strong fire.

I won’t lie, I wanted more. I always want more when I love the couple. I would love to see a second novella on them. That would be so much fun! (And I want that apron, just saying!)

4.5 pieces of eye candy for this one. Grab it today!

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Buchanan House by Charley Descoteaux: Book Blast, Excerpt, Giveaway

August 19, 2015 by Denise

Eric Allen, thirty-three-year-old line cook, moved in with his grandmother, Jewell, after a disastrous coming-out when he was in middle school. She raised him, and he cared for her when she fell ill. When Jewell died she left everything to Eric—angering his parents and older brother. The inheritance isn’t much, but Eric and his bestie Nathan pool their money and buy an abandoned hotel on an isolated stretch of the Central Oregon Coast. The hotel isn’t far from Lincoln City—a town with its own Pride Festival and named for a president—so they christen it Buchanan House after James Buchanan, the “confirmed bachelor” president with the close male friend.

Eric and Nathan need a handyman to help them turn Buchanan House into the gay resort of their dreams. Eric finds Tim Tate in the local listings and over the months leading to opening weekend Tim reveals himself as a skilled carpenter with many hidden talents. Eric falls hard for Tim, but before he can see a future with the gorgeous handyman he has to get over twenty years of being bullied and shamed by his birth family. It would be much easier if Eric’s brother Zach weren’t trying to grab part of the inheritance or ruin opening weekend.

Author Name: Charley Descoteaux

Book Name: Buchanan House

Release Date: August 19, 2015

Pages or Words: 45,000 words

Categories: Romance, Bisexual, Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance

Goodreads Link

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: LC Chase

Timothy Tate knocked on the front doors at eight o’clock sharp. Eric had barely been up long enough to start coffee, and Nathan had yet to emerge. They’d slept in one of the rooms on the first floor. The official reason was to avoid having to clean two rooms, but the unofficial reason was to talk into the night like they had back in middle school. Slumber parties for thirtysomethings. Somehow that didn’t make Eric feel any better about meeting this Tim person.

But opening the door sure did.

Tim Tate was as tall as Nathan, so six one, and he had curly black hair and eyes so dark you could get lost in them.

“Morning.” He wasn’t much for smiling, though.

“Good morning. Please come in. I’m Eric.”

Tim nodded and seemed to be looking at something behind Eric’s right shoulder. As soon as Eric remembered to step aside, Tim came in. “You bought this place?”

“Yes. Isn’t it lovely? The inspector said the bones are solid, and someone did amazing work on the rooms. Right now, we need help with the kitchen and some reno on the public areas.”

“Should tear it down and start fresh.”

“I beg your pardon. That’s a horrible thing to say. You don’t discard something just because it’s not perfect. With a little love—maybe this isn’t going to work out.”

Tim shrugged and looked around the room. His face seemed to soften into… nostalgia? It held a wistful quality, of that much Eric was certain.

“Have you been in this room before?”

Tim had turned away a little, so the left side of his face pointed toward Eric.

Is that his best side?

He didn’t answer, so Eric repeated the question, a little louder.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. When I was a kid. Sometimes the local clubs would use it for summer camps. It’s been empty for over ten years.”

“Why? I mean, did something happen here?”

“No. The owners died, and their kids didn’t want to live out here. Can’t blame ’em. Entertainment isn’t easy to come by.”

Nathan chose that moment to enter, in his pink robe with the ostrich-feather trim. He spoke quickly, almost dancing through the room and toward the aroma of coffee. “Good morning. You don’t mind I borrowed your robe? And this must be Tim. Lovely to meet you, sweetheart. Coffee, then business.” He flounced into the kitchen.

Eric and Tim watched him go. The silence in his wake stretched out a little too long for Eric, mortified by the thought Tim might believe the robe belonged to him.

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Charley Descoteaux has always heard voices. She was relieved to learn they were fictional characters, and started writing when they insisted daydreaming just wasn’t good enough. In exchange, they’ve agreed to let her sleep once in a while. Charley grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during a drought, and found her true home in the soggy Pacific Northwest. She has survived earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods, but couldn’t make it through one day without stories.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charley.descoteaux.3

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharleyDescote

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/charleydescote/

Blog: http://cdescoteauxwrites.com/blog/

Tour Dates & Stops: August 19, 2015

Parker Williams, Havan Fellows, Bayou Book Junkie, Bike Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Inked Rainbow Reads, BFD Book Blog, Elin Gregory, Christy Loves 2 Read, Prism Book Alliance, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Molly Lolly, Amanda C. Stone, Dawn’s Reading Nook, MM Good Book Reviews, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Velvet Panic, Tara Lain, Full Moon Dreaming, The Blogger Girls, Michael Mandrake, It’s Raining Men

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Definitely, Maybe, Yours by Lissa Reed: Blog Tour, Interview, and Giveaway

August 18, 2015 by Denise

Seattle-based baker Craig Oliver leads a life that is happily routine: baking cupcakes for an enormous family reunion, managing Sucre Coeur for its frequently absent owner, and closing out his day with a pint at the local pub. He has a kind heart, a knack for pastry, and a weakness for damaged people.

Habitual playboy Alex Scheff is looking to drown his sorrows, but instead discovers that he may have a weakness for Englishmen who carry cookies in their pockets. Can a seemingly incompatible pair find the recipe for love in a relationship they claim is casual?

Author Name: Lissa Reed

Book Name: Definitely, Maybe, Yours

Release Date: August 11, 2015

Pages or Words: 296 pages

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Publisher: Interlude Press

Cover Artist:
Cover photography by LaToya Conward
Cover design by Buckeyegrrl Designs

Goodreads Link

With a wink, Craig pulls a ten-dollar bill out of his left coat pocket and a carefully bagged almond and raspberry-lemon croissant, Katie’s all-time favorite baked good, out of the right. He passes them across the bar as if he’s James Bond—a very cheeky and cheery sort of 007. “You know I’ll always look out for you. Keep the change.”

Katie squeals and flops across the bar to squeeze him breathless, and her ponytail slaps him in the nose. She bounces off with her treat in hand and Craig shakes his head and pulls long black and red hairs from his face, as he does every time this happens. Katie really is his favorite bartender at The Order of the Garter, hell, his favorite bartender in Seattle and maybe even the world. Much too good to be working at a grotty little pub, fending off unsavory advances and spilled drinks four nights a week; that’s why Craig will bring her any bakery treat she wants, anytime she wants it, until she finally wises up and gets the hell out of this place.

Time for another sip of this excellent, excellent stout: Craig reaches forward. It’s a good Thursday.

Of course, that’s when it takes quite the sharp turn, leaving every Seattle-pub-Thursday Craig’s ever known in the dust. Banner300x250

“Well, aren’t you a hit with the ladies,” comes a surly drawl from his left, startling Craig just as he’s got his fingers around his glass. “Was that a croissant in your pocket, or were you actually happy to see her?”

“Both,” Craig replies, shifting around to lean on his elbow and survey the formerly silent pile of misery hunched over two stools down, the limp guy at the end of the bar Craig had spotted on his way in. He is not unconscious after all, much to Craig’s surprise; judging by the row of empty shot glasses upside down in front of him and the distinct aroma of tequila emanating a good four-foot radius from his person, he should be. Craig winces and turns away as the fumes burn his nose.

“Baked goods. That’s a new one. Never saw anyone use baking to hit on the ladies before.” Mr. Misery sways his head upright, pushes a wild flop of brown hair out of his eyes and swings around until he locates Craig. He blinks. “Does it work?”

Surprised by the color of the eyes meeting his—an unusual shade, gray, not blue-gray or blue, but the gray of a sky covered in early storm clouds—Craig answers without thinking. “I wouldn’t know. I don’t hit on girls. Katie’s my friend, not my type.”

Author Interview:

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Lissa Reed, author of Definitely, Maybe, Yours.

Hi Lissa, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

Hello, and thank you so much for having me here! I’m a writer, banking software encyclopedia (almost, but not quite, my actual day job title), cooking enthusiast and dubious gardener living in north Texas. It’s me and my cats and my laptop and my many, many books all living in cozy, if hazardous harmony. Definitely, Maybe, Yours is my first novel. It tells the story of Craig the English baker-slash-freelance writer and how he met Alex, the slightly neurotic and freshly broken-hearted advertising creative with a hidden love of photography.

Tell us something about your character’s friends.

Craig is the kind of fellow who is friends with everyone he meets! He’s still close friends with his college ex-boyfriend, Nate, who is a bit of a sci-fi geek and wants to write a screenplay one day. Nate is now dating Samantha, and Craig has befriended her as well. She’s a newly minted elementary schoolteacher who loves vintage pinup fashion and indulges herself with shopping trips and eBay binges frequently. Nate and Samantha are a pair of little firecrackers who gleefully meddle in the lives of the people they love and they are disturbingly well suited to each other.

Alex’s best friend since he was a kid is Connor – they met when Alex went to Connor’s father’s shop to buy his very first camera of his own. Connor does photography and now he owns his father’s shop, but he’s also a former boxer, and he’s very blunt and grounded. His presence in Alex’s life gives Alex a touchstone when things might not be going as well as he can cope with, and he never shies away from telling Alex the truth.

What is your character’s favorite meal? Favorite dessert? Favorite snack food?

Craig loves Indian food – well, the English version of it! He loves a good curry. Alex is a fan of Chinese food. Both of them like the S’mores Brownie Pie that Craig makes. Alex isn’t a snacker, but Craig likes kettle-cooked potato chips.

What activity does your character absolutely hate?

Craig detests jogging. He’ll engage in pretty much any other form of fitness but jogging.

Alex cannot stand getting into arguments of any kind. He tried to join the debate team in high school at his father’s request. It ended very badly. Interjecting “Shut up, you’re wrong!” is not an acceptable practice, he found out.

What other author’s book do you think your character would be good in?

I think Craig would have a lot of fun in the Dirty Job universe by Christopher Moore. He can be pragmatic when he wants to be, so what would be the big deal about living in San Francisco, surrounded by supernatural creatures and the living incarnation of Death as a tiny schoolgirl? He’d probably end up as one of the Death Merchants strictly through his desire to help everyone, everywhere.

Alex…maybe in the Girl With A Dragon Tattoo series by Stieg Larsson. Yes, he would have to get used to living in Sweden, and languages have never been his strong suit, but I can see him getting hired as a freelance backup photographer for Millennium, and then Lisbeth Salander grabs him to help her with an investigation because he’s new and nobody knows who he is like they do the regular staff photographer, and he’s freaked out but also kind of a danger junkie deep down, and he’d just go with it once he gets past the part where he has an anxiety attack just thinking about what he’s working on.

What’s your favorite decade and why?

I was a teenager in the 90’s, and lord help me, I still love it. I still listen to so much 90’s music, and I still love boots and jeans and flannels, and I cannot tell you how excited I am that Clearly Canadian is making a comeback. My love for my home decade is hopeless, but let me tell you, I will never go back – I would miss my iPhone too much, and you can’t make me put up with dialup internet again.

Interlude Press

Smashwords: (For some reason, this isn’t showing. It should. I’ll check it out and send you the link)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Nw89ne

Our books are also available for order from the Apple iBookstore, Book Depository and Indiebound.

Lissa Reed is a writer of fiction, blogs and bawdy Renaissance song parodies. She traces her first interest in becoming a writer to the fourth grade, when her teacher gave her the gift of her first composition book. A former newspaper editor, Reed shifted her focus to romance and literary fiction early in her writing career. She lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is currently working on her new novel, Certainly, Possibly, You—the sequel to Definitely, Maybe, Yours.

Where to find the author:
Connect with Lissa Reed at lissareed.com;

Tumblr at http://lissareedbooks.tumblr.com/;

Twitter @LissaReedBooks

Goodreads at http://goodreads.com/LissaReedBooks

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorlissareed
Goodreads Link: Goodreads.com/LissaReedBooks

Blog Tours
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Happily Ever Chapter

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Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

12-Aug

Prism Book Alliance

MM Good Book Reviews

Mikky’s World of Books

13-Aug

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14-Aug

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Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

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17-Aug

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18-Aug

Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy

19-Aug

Because Two Men Are Better Than One

20-Aug

Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My

21-Aug

24-Aug

Rafflecopter Prize: Grand Prize: $25 Interlude Press gift card. Second prize: One of five e-copies of ‘Definitely, Maybe, Yours

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Beyond The Surface by Felice Stevens: Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

August 18, 2015 by Denise

Title: Beyond the Surface

Series: The Breakfast Club #1

Author: Felice Stevens

Genre: M/M Romance

Release Date: August 17, 2015

On 9/11, firefighter Nick Fletcher’s world changed forever. He’s unable to rid himself of survivor’s guilt, made worse by the secret he hides from his family and co-workers. Nick’s life is centered around helping burn victims, until he is reunited with the man he’d once loved but pushed away. Now he has a second chance at a love he thought lost forever.

For fashion designer Julian Cornell, appearances mean everything. His love affairs are strictly casual, and the only thing he cares about is making his clothing line a success. A chance encounter with the man he loved long ago has Julian thinking for the first time in years there may be more to life than being seen at the best parties and what designer labels to wear.

When Julian’s world takes an unexpected turn, it’s Nick who helps him regain perspective on what matters most in life. Julian, in turn, helps Nick accept who he is and understand he isn’t responsible for tragedies he couldn’t prevent. Lost love found can be even sweeter the second time around and after all the years apart, both men learn to look beyond the surface to find the men they are inside.

I read this book with my heart in my throat for much of it. Like most American’s who lived through and experienced 9/11, spending days watching the after effects on TV, seeing the flag raised on the rubble, it still breaks my heart whenever my mind is drawn back to those days. However, that being said, I didn’t live it, see the effects for days, months, years beyond what the national news portrayed. I didn’t know anyone who was there that day. Reading it through Felice’s eyes, being from NYC, having lived through the horrors that befell that beautiful city and its people, caused me to have such strong emotions for Nick.

Nick, a firefighter who lost many of his teammates that day, was not living 14 years later, he was existing. He had healed physically, but not emotionally, and certainly not psychologically. He was still stagnant in his love life, not having come out, and not ever having more than a casual hookup after his time in high school with Julian. As a reader, your heart broke for a man who so many years later, after such a devastating incident didn’t care enough about himself to even complete the simplest of tasks to help himself to a better life. Allowing his guilt to override any ideas that he had about having a happy life, he just went through the motions of life, not ever really living in it.

Julian coming back into his life turned it upside and allowed Nick the chance to heal and change, move forward. The emotions Julian brought back up in Nick were palpable. You could feel how much Nick felt it was worth it to want to make Julian happy, to want to come out to the world, to make himself happy, but just struggled with how best to do it.

I did struggle with Julian somewhat. I felt like his patience with Nick was thin, considering how much time they had spent apart, and how much Nick was moving forward with. However, as I thought on that, I also considered real life. In real life, many people would feel that way, and express that in the form of an ultimatum of sorts. Remembering, again, that Julian was not in NYC for 9/11, he didn’t experience, or go through everything that Nick had gone through, so his impatience with Nick in many ways made sense from his perspective. Also realistically, Nick’s family should have seen how little Nick was truly moving forward in his life, and take steps to intervene. But again, in real life, we often “let sleeping dogs lie” and that could easily happen in the closest of families. In the end, these two men came together and found their second chance at love, despite everything.

I felt like this was Felice’s best work yet. Felice is known to have lots of sweet moments in her books, which I love, and this one certainly did. However, it had lots of bite as well, really scratching at those raw emotions that can hit you hard when you think about an event such as 9/11, and all the effects and angst that go along with it, even after so many years. My heart broke for Nick, and again for all the families and friends of an event that will forever be stuck in so many people’s minds as “9/11”.

My final determination on this book is 4.5 strong pieces of eye candy, and a future re-read for me. Looking forward to sweet Zach’s story next, as this new series got off to a great start.

I just love Felice. Beyond the Surface was just as good as I expected. Full of every type of emotion, this story did not disappoint.

Julian and Nick have a bumpy road ahead of them. Nick is living with some serious emotional and physical issues due to 9/11. Julian is a fashion designer trying hard to stay ahead of his competition and design the next best collection. Julian is very out and proud. Nick, being a firefighter, is living in the closet and is terrified of his friends and family finding out he is gay. These two have a lot to overcome if they want to have a relationship and their story is told beautifully. This book has so much raw emotion and will bring tears for a lot of people. These two grow so much throughout the story and they really are the perfect match. They are exactly what the other needs.

This is a very well written story and one of my favorites from Felice. This is a great start to a new series and I can not wait for the next. 5 pieces of eye candy from me.

Julian was in the kitchen, sitting on one of the stools by the counter. He had a glass in front of him filled with what Nick presumed was vodka, having spied the Grey Goose bottle.

“Would you like a drink? I have beer, wine…anything you’d like.”

Nick shook his head, regret piercing his heart as he watched the hope drain from Julian’s eyes.

“I don’t think so. I’m going to head home. I want you to know how much I appreciate what you did for Jamal tonight.”

Julian stood abruptly, kicking the stool away from his feet.

“Don’t treat me like I’m some fucking stranger, Nicky. You owe me. It’s been eighteen years; you think I’m going to let you walk out on me again like you did before? After what just happened between us? After you fell apart? No fucking way. I’m not that same person and neither are you, obviously.”

Taken aback by Julian’s anger, Nick remained mute.

“What the hell is going on with you? One minute you’re tongue fucking me into the next century and the next you’re freaking out. I know I’m a damn good kisser, but this isn’t about us, is it? It has nothing to do with our past and everything to do with you and the shit that’s floating around in your head.”

Julian stepped closer to him and Nick, who normally couldn’t stand people near him, was rooted to the floor, unable to move.

“Talk to me, Nicky. Tell me what happened to you.”

He was so tired of holding himself together, feeling like at any moment he’d shatter into a million tiny pieces, leaving nothing behind but a pile of dust.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

The words poured out of him, flowing unchecked this time. “It should’ve been me. We all went to the Towers to save them. It was my day off, but I went anyway. I heard and couldn’t stay home; I had a duty to help, you know? But I lived and they all died. Why, Julian? Why did I live and they didn’t?”

“Oh, Nick.” Julian held him close. “I don’t have the answers for you. No one does. But I’m going to be completely selfish and say I’m so thankful you did make it and we’re here together after all these years.”

Unflinching green eyes gazed back at him. Clever, beautiful eyes that Nick could never stop dreaming of. Eyes that at one time had held the promise of forever, until Nick ruined everything with his cowardice and shame. Unable to maintain Julian’s scrutiny, Nick broke away and ran to the elevator, his chest heaving, eyes stinging with tears.

“Let me out. I need to leave here. NOW.”

I have always been a romantic at heart. I believe that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending just around the corner. I started reading traditional historical romances when I was a teenager, then life and law school got in the way. It wasn’t until I picked up a copy of Bertrice Small and became swept away to Queen Elizabeth’s court that my interest in romance novels became renewed.

But somewhere along the way, my tastes shifted. While I still enjoys a juicy Historical romance, I began experimenting with newer, more cutting edge genres and discovered the world of Male/Male romance. Once I picked up her first, I became so enamored of the authors, the character-driven stories and the overwhelming emotion of the books, I knew I wanted to write my own.

I live in New York City with my husband and two children and hopefully soon a cat of my own. My day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. I practice law but daydream of a time when I can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there is bound to be angst along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.

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Building Bonds (Kiss of Leather) by Morticia Knight: Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

August 11, 2015 by Denise

Kyle’s a natural sub who builds dungeon furniture, yet has no interest in BDSM. It takes a hunky Dom to show him just what he’s been missing.

After Kyle’s partner of five years leaves him for another man on the night of their housewarming party, the shy early thirties carpenter needs to do a serious reassessment of his life in addition to raising some serious cash. With no one else to help him pay the lease on his Los Angeles condo, he worries how he’ll survive. His best friend sets up a meeting with one of the Doms and partners at Kiss of Leather, a gay BDSM Club being built as a premiere destination for those who want the best of the best.

Master Gavin not only wants the best – he demands it. When he meets Kyle, he assumes that part of the builder’s reticence to share anything personal with him must be due to his experiences with an abusive former Master. Not one to back down from a challenge, Gavin determines to break through the walls surrounding the beautiful man he can’t get out of his mind. He’s certain that once he convinces Kyle to sign an initial contract, Kyle might be the first sub to open up his heart.

Misunderstandings and accusations almost destroy everything between them before it has a chance to begin. However, the true obstacle becomes not only whether Kyle will embrace BDSM as a lifestyle, but whether he can handle a fulltime D/s relationship with a big bad scary Dom who’s as sexy as hell.

Author Name: Morticia Knight

Book Name: Building Bonds (Kiss of Leather 1)

Release Date: August 26, 2015

Pages or Words: 173 pages

Categories: BDSM, M/M Romance, Romance

Goodreads Author Page

“I don’t have to be naked, right? You’re sure I won’t have to be naked?” Kyle sucked in a gulp of air. “Of course, if everyone else is and I’m not…Oh God, they’ll all be staring at me. Maybe I should be naked.”

Gavin stepped from the shower and the sight of his stunning frame with his semi-erect cock swaying, rivulets of water trailing down his beautiful skin over his rock hard abs – it made him want to…

“Kyle. Did you hear what I said?”

“Huh?”

Gavin chuckled then advanced on him. He grabbed Kyle by his nape then pulled him in for a deep kiss. He broke their connection, except he kept his hand circled around Kyle’s neck, holding him there, safe.

“No one expects you to be naked, least of all me. You have a wonderful body that I hope you’ll someday allow others to see, but tonight isn’t about pushing your boundaries.”

“Are you kidding me? They’re not being pushed, they’re being trampled.”

“Kyle. Now would be a good time to remember that you need to address me properly at all times.”

“Oh. Sorry. Are you kidding me, Master?”

Gavin narrowed his eyes at him. “We’ll revisit the tone of your voice later. I don’t want to be late.”

Kyle’s eyes widened. He was such a mass of jangled nerves about going to the dungeon owned and run by Gavin’s friend, he hadn’t noticed how his words might’ve come across.

“I am sorry. I’m just a little freaked out, that’s all.”

Gavin placed another light kiss on his lips. “All right. I’ll let it go this time. I’ll also acknowledge that I might be on the verge of trampling your boundaries. But I think you can handle it and I believe you’ll do very, very well. Focus on your desire to make me proud and let everything else fall away.” Gavin stroked Kyle’s cheek with the back of his hand. “Your safewords always apply, no matter where we are, boy.”

Kyle took in another deep breath. “Okay. Thank you. That helped. I just don’t want to, I mean, of course I want to make you proud, but won’t people be expecting you to have someone more, uh, not only experienced, but either super pretty and twinky or hot and-“

“Stop it. Don’t say another word or there will be a punishment and it’ll involve the cock cage with the penis plug I showed you.”

Oh shit.

“Please. Not that.”

“Then remember how stunning I think you are and how angry it makes me that you would denigrate my beautiful boy.” Gavin pulled him close, nuzzling him behind his ear, placing soft kisses on his skin. “I want only you.”

I had not read a Morticia Knight book before. It had definitely been on my to-do list. However, meeting her and hanging out in Tampa at Rainbow Con made it even more of a “must do” item. So, when I was given the opportunity to read Building Bonds, I was nervous, as well as looking forward to it. I was nervous because when you actually meet and know these people, you want to make sure you love their work for the work, not for the friendship. At the same time, reading the blurb, I could not wait to get my hands on it. So much so that I put down another book that I should have been reading just so I could read this one.

I am so glad I had not a thing to worry about! 🙂

I just adored Kyle from the beginning. As a “natural sub”, who didn’t know he was a sub at all, he really climbed into your heart immediately. He was sweet, shy and only wanted to please all the people in his life. After being trampled over by his previous boyfriend, to say Kyle was nervous about getting into a relationship, especially a D/s one, would be understating it immensely. Kyle was looking forward to finding his way out of the debt his former boyfriend had stuck him with, and not become a full-time submissive to Master Gavin.

Master Gavin, however, had very different plans. Immediately upon meeting Kyle, his thoughts were on taking him on as his submissive, despite not being aware of his lack of training for that role. Master Gavin was able to be patient and understanding as they both worked through Kyle’s shyness, accessed his natural tendency for pleasing others, and conquered Kyle’s self-confidence issues. Master Gavin was the ever-patient Dom to his natural sub.

Finding a good m/m BDSM book can be a challenge sometimes. Some authors might give up the BDSM side for the connection side. While others may want to keep the connection light, and show their knowledge of BDSM. This book hit the high notes of both. The connection between Master Gavin and Kyle was immediate, and Master Gavin continued to build Kyle up, and worked on allowing that connection to grow by pushing Kyle’s boundaries. Meanwhile, the BDSM element was strong, much more from the emotional side, but also from the physical side. It was very obvious during the entire book that Morticia’s knowledge of BDSM is more than what you can get from reading a few good m/m BDSM romance books. Kyle building custom BDSM furniture, the CBT described in detail, use of c*ck cage, etc.

I really enjoyed this book, on many levels, and have already recommended it out. I’m excited to see where this series leads to, and how Morticia will continue on with it. Fantastic job! Four and a half pieces of eye candy.

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Author Morticia Knight spends most of her nights writing about men loving men forever after. If there happens to be some friendly bondage or floggings involved, she doesn’t begrudge her characters whatever their filthy little heart’s desire. Even though she’s been crafting her naughty tales for more years than she’d like to share – her adventures as a published author began in 2011. Once upon a time she was the lead singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She currently resides on the northern Oregon coast and when she’s not fantasizing about hot men she takes walks along the ocean and annoys the local Karaoke bar patrons.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormorticiaknight?fref=nf

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorticiaKnight

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25829779-building-bonds

Publisher: Pride Publishing

Cover Artist: Posh Gosh

Tour Dates & Stops: August 11 – 17, 2015

11-Aug Decadent Delights, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, LeAnn’s Book Reviews

12-Aug BFD Book Blog, V’s Reads, My Fiction Nook, Divine Magazine

13-Aug Amanda C. Stone, Jessie G. Books, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Mikky’s World of Books, Charley Descoteaux

14-Aug Molly Lolly, Velvet Panic, Parker Williams, TTC Books and More, Love Bytes

17-Aug Prism Book Alliance, Happily Ever Chapter, Rainbow Gold Reviews, 3 Chicks After Dark, Wake Up Your Wild Side, The Jena Wade
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Curve Ball by Sloan Johnson: Blog Tour

August 5, 2015 by Denise

Title: Curve Ball

Series: Homeruns #2

Author: Sloan Johnson

Genre: MM Sports Romance

Published: July 29, 2015

Jason Klein’s living with the fallout from a decision he knew was the right one at the time. He never told anyone about the love of his life, which left him to mourn alone when he found out the man he gave his heart to had been killed in combat. Now, his heart has had time to heal, but he’s not sure he’s ready to let himself move on. Until he meets Cam Morgan…Without a job lined up following graduation, Cam Morgan took his best friend up on his offer to move to Milwaukee and stay with him until he could get on his feet. The last thing he wanted to do the day after getting to town was go to a party filled with a bunch of jocks. Sure, they were “professional athletes” but Cam was convinced that bigger bank accounts didn’t make them any more accepting of people like him. He certainly didn’t expect to meet Jason, the Mavericks’ catcher who broke every stereotype he’d had.What started out as one hot, sweaty night together quickly grows into something deeper. Jason welcomes Cam into his home and his life, but now he has to teach the younger man that it’s not a sign of weakness to let people help you.

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“If you have something to say to me, just say it.” I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel to keep from shaking Drew. He was one of the youngest guys on the team, and right now, his immaturity showed through brightly. It was about time someone knocked some sense into him, before he wound up earning a bad reputation, both on the field and off. “I won’t apologize, because I haven’t done a damn thing to offend you.”

“Really? I shouldn’t be pissed off that I had no clue you were gay?” Drew seethed, his brown eyes narrow slits as he glared at me. “And I should be totally cool with you loading up my friend in the middle of the night to take him back to your place, right?”

“Yeah, actually you should,” I quipped, twisting the wheel tighter. “Cam is a grown man, and if you truly care about him, you should be fucking ecstatic that he’s getting out there to meet people.”

Drew muttered something to himself as he went back to staring out the window. His shoulders slumped forward and he seemed to shrink in his seat. I knew that look. It wasn’t one worn by a concerned or pissed off friend, it was the look of a man who felt the love of his life slipping away from him.

“How long have you felt this way about him?” I asked. My chest tightened, knowing that I wouldn’t stand between them. Drew and I might not be close, but I liked to think of him as a friend, a brother on the team.

“Doesn’t matter.” The response was so quiet I could barely hear the words. As I pulled up to the stoplight, I placed my hand on Drew’s shoulder, unsurprised when he jerked away.

“It does,” I assured him. “And you have to know I wouldn’t have done anything with him if I’d known.”

“Don’t say that. I’ve known for a long time that he’d never feel for me what I do for him.” I suddenly missed the anger Drew showed earlier. “If the way he looked this morning is any indication, you’re exactly what he needs in his life. And if I put my own feelings aside, you’re more than that. You’re what he’s always wanted.”

That was not how I expected this conversation to go. It started exactly as I’d seen it in my mind, but I hadn’t expected Drew to step aside. Maybe I was wrong in thinking that he was immature and selfish.

“Drew, if you say the word, I’ll back off. I’m not willing to destroy two friendships just for a few nights of fun.”

“The only way I’d ask you to do that is if that’s all this is for you.” I pulled up in front of the grocery store, but neither of us moved to open our doors. “Cam is one of the best guys I know. He’s got a big heart, but sometimes, he’s a little too open with it. If you’re only in this for a couple of hot nights, then yeah you should walk away from him.”

I felt backed into a corner. Sure, I’d thought about what it’d be like to explore something more with Cam, but I wasn’t in a place to do that. It had nothing to do with being on the road most of the year and everything to do with my own inability to be open with those around me. I’d grown accustomed to never letting anyone get too close, and Cam had already seen more than people I’d known for years. There was no way I’d be able to hold back if last night and tonight turned into something more.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” It was the most I could promise him.

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Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.