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Gabriel and the Devil by Robert P. Rowe: Exclusive Guest Post and Release Day Review

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Flirting with the devil can lead to a helluva good time.

Gabriel is a regular angel. The former altar boy plans to graduate from college, become an accountant, get a good job, find a wife, and live a faithful Catholic life.

But one Halloween night, the devil pops in out of nowhere, challenges everything he believes, and heats up Gabriel’s lonely life.

Marcello is full of the devil. He’s lusted after Gabriel forever, but what he really wants is Gabriel’s eternal soul. Still, his mischievous sense of humor, along with his tricks and jokes, leads to a misunderstanding that could condemn him to hell on Earth. Only the truth will let these souls find true love and happiness.

Title: Gabriel and the Devil
Author: Robert P. Rowe
Release Date: January 4, 2019
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 104

 

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Dreamspinner Press

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Guest Post by Robert P. Rowe

Spirituality:

It’s pretty hard to write about the devil without including more than a few nuggets of spirituality. I’m a recovering Catholic who has embraced a healthy dose of New Age philosophy. I’ve even included some reading resources in the back matter of this novella for those curious about the topic.

New Age philosophies can help one to understand gay romance. Reincarnation is a big part of the philosophy along with learning various lessons in each and every life. In one life one might be slave master and in the next life a lowly slave. This allows us all to see the world from multiple points of view. And we don’t always come back with the same gender. Often men are expected to experience a power roll in life while women are expected to be more subservient. Yet we’ve all met that alpha woman who dominates all around her, sometimes by size and sometimes by shear force of presence. Perhaps she has spent most of her previous lifetimes as a man and has come back to experience life as a woman?

In the same way a gay man may enter this world in search of that soul mate who just so happens to be gay too. Our souls are much more fluid and free than our mortal bodies.

Dreamspinner Press has one of the most amazing editorial departments. Each author is assigned a senior editor and then three more editors will also review the manuscript. I pay close attention to these experts, especially when one doesn’t quite understand something I’ve written.

That was the case with my use of the term soul mates. For many New Age thinkers soul mates are understood to be anyone whom we share a close spiritual tie to here on Earth. We likely share the same tie on the other side. But one editor believed that soul mates were exclusively romantic love interests. Because she questioned the term I realized that others might too. That gave me a chance to further develop my characters with the question while educating my readers with the answer.

My sister is one of my soul mates here on Earth. We can simply think to hard about the other and the phone will ring. But she’s not alone. I’ve shared that same psychic connection with a number of my friends and exes. A therapist once told me about a patient who didn’t believe in ghosts, yet felt he’d had a close encounter with one. The therapist explained that you don’t have to believe the unexplainable, you just have to accept it.

I’m sure that Alexander Graham Bell would find today’s mobile phones unbelievable, but who among us doesn’t simply accept them?

It’s the same with faith. Faith is a belief in something that cannot be proven. My characters have faith. They follow their hearts to do what they feel is right. Hopefully they can share their faith with you and maybe even can capture your heart.

Well, I’m not going to lie, I didn’t see that coming. 🙂 Which is to say I was pleasantly surprised at the turn of events with Gabe and Marcello.

Gabriel had a lot of learning and growing to do, and although Marcello helped him to understand more about himself, and who he loved, I think Father Christopher had an even bigger impact. I was so surprised and fascinated with the turn that Father Christopher took, and helped to bring Gabriel back around.

This love story started one way, and completely turned on me, and I couldn’t have been happier. I was disappointed with Gabriel, and his mental method of closing off that side of him, and yet Gabriel, and later Father Christopher helped him to open up his mind, and his heart even more.

I can’t say anything more, because honestly you need to read it to understand…plus no spoilers here…but taking a story that starts lighthearted and fun, and turning it into a spiritual journey, and still touching the reader…that was not an easily task Robert P. Rowe set for himself, but he came through on it.

4 pieces of eye candy

Robert P. Rowe has spent his entire career as a storyteller making an incredible leap from Disneyland ride operator to show-designer and art director at Walt Disney Imagineering. Immersive storytelling presents a distinctive challenge unlike that of live theater, film, radio, or print media. He is currently on staff as an art director for Universal Orlando. His many other works can be found around the world, primarily in Disney and Universal Studios parks.

His “real” job takes up much of his time, but his active imagination can’t stop dreaming up new stories. Whenever time permits, he’s writing about new characters off on their own incredible journeys.

Additionally, his outside interests include all aspects of architecture, with a specific fascination for the theatrical design of homes from midcentury movies and television. He has a keen enthusiasm for midcentury science fiction.

Website: www.robertprowe.com

A Whole Latte Sass by Marguerite Labbe: Exclusive Guest Post and Excerpt, Release Day Review

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It’s no secret cosplayer Felipe Suero is looking for his happily ever after—in his love life as well as his career. He’s getting his degree so he can quit his miserable job and start his own costume business. Now he just needs to land the sexiest silver fox to ever attend a con.

Trask Briscoe’s life revolves around staying clean and sober, running the Magick Den, and attending local cons. His rules haven’t left much room for romance. But he can’t deny Felipe has caught his complete attention. He’s just not sure what he can offer a man so full of joy and sass.

When Trask finally accepts Felipe’s offer for a cup of coffee, he soon finds himself on a second date and a third. Between cosplay projects and roleplaying games, they discover a deeper connection than either of them expected. And Trask realizes that sometimes rules are made to be broken.

Now Felipe just has to convince his family—and Trask—that Trask has more love to offer than he ever dreamed.

Title: A Whole Latte Sass
Series: Geek Life: Book 2
Author: Marguerite Labbe
Release Date: January 1, 2019
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 284

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Dreamspinner Press

A Whole Latte Sass and Holiday Traditions

Happy New Year’s everyone. Thank you for coming out to check on my release for A Whole Latte Sass. I love this time of year. As Felipe says it’s a non-stop party from Halloween to New Year’s Day. When I was younger, I thought of New Year’s Day as that sleepy holiday where nothing happened when you recovered from being up too late the night before. You couldn’t go anywhere because everything was closed. Little did I know that New Year’s Day would change my life. Sixteen years ago today, my son was born. So now we have a whole new set of traditions that mostly revolve around him and I can say it’s never boring.

A Whole Latte Sass takes us through the holidays. Felipe’s family is like mine. It’s a sprawling, noisy, multigenerational affair. Every day after Christmas we drive down to Charleston and stay until after Christian’s birthday. The whole family is there. For Felipe, his home is the gathering place, all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins come and join him and his immediate family including his grandparents. For Thanksgiving they start with the Macy’s Day Parade and ends with some kind of family board game. Trask’s holidays are more low-key. Growing up he didn’t have a happy home life and all of his good memories come from his grandmother. Once he got clean, he often spends his holidays with a friend from Narcotics Anonymous.

When families merge you have the opportunity to mingle traditions and create your own. One tradition my husband picked up from my family is the la benediction paternelle, where the head of the household blesses each member individually on New Year’s Day. One tradition we picked up from him was setting out a couple presents from Santa unwrapped under the tree after midnight. That was a whole lot of fun when our son was little.

Trask is a vegetarian and a bachelor loner, so for the holidays he orders the special from Marie’s Diner down the street, but with extra mac-n-cheese and apple pie instead of turkey. He’s a man who shows his caring through deeds instead of words. He takes his holiday time and uses it to make things for others whether it’s helping to winterize Old Joe’s home or rehabbing a crafting table for Felipe. For him that’s a celebration and he doesn’t feel like he’s missing out. He’s more worried about feeling like he’s intruding on other families.

For Felipe family is everything, even when they piss him off he’s home for holidays and he can’t let anger linger through that time even if that anger is sometimes justified. And he’s determined to show Trask that having a family doesn’t mean it has to be dysfunctional, even when you’re not getting along. On Christmas Eve, he returns home to surprise his family by lighting up the tree and setting out the post-Mass snacks and finds his grandfather thinking along the same lines and they have a long overdue heart-to-heart. Sometimes the person you butt heads with the most is the one you’re most like.

I’d like to share a little holiday excerpt and then please, drop me a note and tell me about some of your holiday traditions.

“Oh yes, Abby. The girl who stole your crayon.” Lola’s husky voice enveloped Felipe in a thousand comforting memories.

Felipe cracked a smile at her oh-so-serious tone that meant she was gently teasing him. All around them their family buzzed, talking over each other in cheerful chaos, the way they did at every family holiday. The little ones ran all over the living room, tumbling over each other and squabbling. The teenagers sat in their little spheres of isolation, their faces over their phones, except Mariana, who flitted from one group to another, like she hadn’t seen anyone in decades when they’d all gotten together just on Labor Day and they’d see each other again at Christmas and New Year’s. Felipe’s family was never far away.

“That would be the one,” Felipe admitted.

“The same Abby who dated the gentleman you were pining for in tenth grade.” Lola’s memory was as sharp as ever.

He wished Trask had come. Mariana had asked about Trask’s whereabouts more than once, much to his parents’ discomfort. Felipe pulled out his phone and curled in closer to his grandmother. “Smile, Lola. I need to send a picture to a friend of mine.” He snapped a photo and admired the image before sending it to Trask. Thinking of you. Happy Thanksgiving.

“The young man you were telling me about?”

“He’s not that young, Lola.” Felipe felt that he had to point that out. Not that Trask was as ancient as everyone else complained about either.

She laughed her warm, rich laugh. “At my age everyone is young.”

His phone dinged, and Felipe pulled up the picture of Trask with Sophie, curled up on the floor of his apartment. Miss you too, imp. Felipe’s heart panged. He really wished he was with the aloof twerp. He had so many emotions where Trask was concerned, deep emotions that he’d once longed for but now wasn’t sure what do with. He wanted to talk about it with his grandmother, but he couldn’t with the bedlam surrounding them.

Lola took the phone from Felipe and examined Trask’s picture through her bifocals. “He considers you an imp?” She gave Felipe a fond glance. “I think that name just might serve.”

Felipe loved the way Trask said imp. There was a warmth and affection in his tone when he did, as if he didn’t wish Felipe to be any other way. “Yeah, I’m his imp, and he’s my Tin Man.”

“He has kind eyes.” She handed the phone back to Felipe. “The eyes don’t lie, Felipe.”

The title of this book, A Whole Latte Sass, could not be more perfect for the main character, Felipe. That man has sass going on! And the calming influence of Trask was the perfect foil for Felipe’s high energy personality.

This was a May December romance, which highlighted their differences very well. I really loved their very distinct personalities. Felipe was a confident young man who knew what he wanted, and worked to get it, no matter what it was he wanted.

Trask meanwhile was a bit set in his ways. Running his business, not allowing anyone new in his life, whether canine or human. Then Felipe comes into his life, and turns his life on end, simply by making sure Trask knew he was wanted, and encouraging him to give him a chance.

I thought the book was a bit longer than it needed to be, incorporating things that maybe could have been cut, or used as additional scenes. Overall though, an enjoyable read!

3.5 pieces of eye candy

 

His Cursed Prince by Ryan Loveless: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt and Release Day Review

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TCO is mad excited to have Ryan Loveless here discussing His Cursed Prince, her latest novella. From the synopsis on, you know you are in for a wild ride with this one, and I just love that Ryan gives us a little touch of what happened the day before these two connect. I hope you guys enjoy this!

Three facts about Tuckington Belle:

1. Given the choice between illegally scaling the royal castle’s walls to steal flowers for a client at his family’s dress shop or going on a date with a girl his brother set him up with (“He’s fertile, and he can sew!”), Tuck will scale the wall like a spider after a fly.

2. If, upon knocking himself unconscious when he falls off the wall, Tuck wakes up bruised, blindfolded, and inside the castle, where—based on the unearthly wails heard nightly—the prince no one has seen in ten years is probably a ghost, Tuck would still choose this over a date with a girl.

3. Tuck thinks it’s time to admit he’s gay.

Three facts about Prince Frederick George Deor (Read and approved with great reluctance by Lord “Protocol is Protocol. Stop Being a Pain About It” Todd):

1. He brought a curse upon himself and now bears the skin of a snake.

2. He can’t take his eyes off the injured thief recovering in the castle.

3. Friendships born from lying and insisting the other person wears a blindfold can blossom into true love—which he needs to break the curse.

Title: His Cursed Prince
Author: Ryan Loveless
Release Date: December 28, 2018
Category: Fantasy
Pages: 98

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

I love plotting and writing exercises. Before I start a story, I spend weeks or more filling out worksheets on various and sundry. I even made a special Scrivener file for it that incorporates worksheets from different writing books that I’ve read. (That’s another thing, I love books on writing.) A favorite writing exercise of mine is to write out what each of the characters was doing the day before the story begins. It helps me find a jumping off point for where my story should start. Let me share with you now what Tuck and Frederick did on The Day Before.

 

Tuckington: Tuck stared dejectedly at the empty till. “This won’t keep the shop open past the holidays.”

“The money’s in your hand, doofus,” his brother said.

“Including that. We have to do something special to get the customers in. A gala or a ball–”

“Or a royal wedding. If Prince Jasper were engaged–,” their mother interjected.

“If he were, he wouldn’t get married in the castle here, not with all the banshee-wailing that goes on. People who live near say it keeps them awake all night.” Daniel eyed Tuck. “No, we need a wedding closer to home. A fine young lady of the town matched with an enterprising young lad. A shop owner. She’ll want all the finery for herself and her maids of honor, which we will provide at a reasonable, but profitable, rate.”

Tuck put the money into a bank envelope and closed the till. He avoided looking at Daniel.

Daniel settled his hand on Tuck’s shoulder and squeezed. “And I’ve got just the lad. What do you say, Tuck?”

 

Frederick: Frederick lay in the center of his bed. Although it was large enough for six of him, he curled tight, trying to be as small as possible. It shouldn’t matter. It’s just an animal. Like me. He clutched his dark cloak, pulling it tighter. The hood covered his face.

“Your Highness? KitKat is sorry. You just surprised him is all.” Gracie sounded plaintive on the other side of the door. “Can we come in?”

She was probably holding the cat. It had been sitting pleasantly in Gracie’s lap, but when Frederick approached to pet it, the thing hissed and reared up. Frederick had taken off in one direction, the cat in another.

“I wish to be alone,” he shouted.

“But–”

“Leave me!” He rose up to roar, then collapsed back down, intending to stay there until he died.

“I’ll leave your dinner out here,” Gracie said after a moment. Frederick laid still, sulking, until the door opened, this time without a knock. Lord Todd entered and moved around the room, doing whatever he did while Frederick ignored him. Frederick hid beneath his hood and wished himself away.

“George has invited me back this evening,” Tuck said after working up the courage. (Sir Michael did not invite comfortable chatter, and they were nearly stopped before Tuck found his nerve.)

“Did he, now?” Sir Michael said. Tuck couldn’t tell if he was disinterested or annoyed. “Going on inviting thieves back, is he? Not giving us a chance to screen them and all, is he?”

Tuck judged that this addendum was not meant for his ears and remained quiet. He did need to clear up one thing, though. “Is he a servant or…. I don’t wish to get him into trouble. If I’m not to return, please tell me.”

When Sir Michael turned in his saddle to look at him, his face was such a mask of power that Tuck gripped his saddle horn a little tighter to distract himself from the need to cower. “George is no servant,” Sir Michael said. “He is held in especial affection by His Royal Highness Prince Frederick. You will consider a request from George as an order from your prince. What time did he request you this evening?”

The information Sir Michael poured on him was enough to make Tuck overlook the concluding question. “Prince Frederick is alive?” He was certain his eyes were bugging out, but there was nothing to be done about it.

“He is.” Sir Michael said nothing more. Tuck had it on the tip of his tongue to tell him about the rumors, what people said outside the castle grounds, but one look at the tightness around Sir Michael’s eyes quelled him into silence. Almost before he knew it, they arrived at the wall and the door that Prince Frederick had once closed on him. Then Tuck was on the cobblestone walkway outside the grounds, flowers in hand, with directions to return to the same door exactly two hours after sunset. The heavy latch had closed before Tuck realized he wanted to ask where the prince was, even though he was certain Sir Michael would not answer.

Tuck turned away and hurried down the hill. Prince Frederick was alive. He swallowed this truth down and hid it away in a place safe in his belly. Sir Michael hadn’t forbidden him from telling it, but something told Tuck that he should keep it to himself and never even hint at this knowledge.

 

Thank you all for reading. I hope you will buy His Cursed Prince and if you do, let me know what you think!

I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Grab this! Even if you aren’t into fantasy (I’m normally not!), even if you don’t like historical (which this has pieces of, but there’s still things like cell phones, so go figure), and even if the idea of a crying prince makes you want to cry yourself, grab this!

I completely enjoyed this. It was sweet, with some genuinely funny parts. And I loved that Tuck really just didn’t care, even knowing what he knew when his blindfold came off, he still only cared about the prince. Meanwhile, the prince needed to learn to care about himself.

On top of it, there is a twist on the curse, that I didn’t see coming, that I absolutely loved even more! So, once again, I will say…GRAB THIS! 🙂

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Ryan Loveless is the author of numerous M/M romance novels and short stories. She is honored to be recognized as a Rainbow Book Award winner (several titles), Epic eBook Award finalist (In Me an Invincible Summer), and a Florida Author and Publisher Association Awards bronze medalist (Ethan). She lives in New York with her family, a sentence that brings her great joy to write.

Twitter: @ryanloveless

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ryanlovelessbooks/

Something About Jace (Pineapple Grove Book 1) by Drake & Elliott: RDB, Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Gallery owner Jace Townsend loves his tiny hometown of Pineapple Grove, deep in South Florida. His life is filled with sunshine, blue skies, jogging on the beach with his dog, and the greatest friends a guy could want. What more could he ask for?

Love would be a great start. After his last relationship fell apart, Jace has begun to wonder if he’s ever going to find someone who would fit into his quiet life.

Of course, the last person who would fit into his life is a major movie star.

Trent Elrige is drowning. He’s constantly on the go from one movie obligation to the next. And after the last stalker got a little too close for comfort, Trent decides it’s time to take a step back and figure out what he’s doing with his life.

Pineapple Grove seemed the perfect spot to hide for six months and figure out his future. He just wasn’t expecting to be tackled by love so quickly.

But now that he’s found Jace, is he willing to risk everything he’s worked so hard for? And is Jace willing to walk away from his precious Pineapple Grove to be with Trent?

Title:  Something About Jace

Series: Pineapple Grove #1

Author: Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott

Publisher: Drake & Elliott, LLC

Release Date: December 28, 2018

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 63k

Genre: Romance

Add to Goodreads

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

 

 

As they continued down the block, Trent kept his head down as the random car passed them, so no one could clearly see his face in the splash of headlights. It hit him then—that he was fooling himself. He wanted a normal life with quiet nights, but could he have that? He’d traded privacy for fame when he’d been a teenager. Yeah, too young to realize what he was giving up, but he couldn’t fool himself into thinking he hadn’t entirely known what he was getting into.

And he did love his life—loved acting and all the travel. But he also was ready to have a real home. Was that even possible?

The thought made him tired all of a sudden. Tired of having to watch every little thing he did. He glanced at Jace often as they kept to the shadows and made their way back to his house, his heart achingly heavy. Even Ripley seemed to get that they were trying to escape notice as she trotted along quietly ahead of them, her head up and alert for new people.

Before they reached his back patio, Jace stopped him with a hand on his lower back. “You worried they’re going to figure out where you live?”

“No, I think we lost them.”

“You got quiet on me. If you’re worried that was the sort of thing to chase me off, don’t. I…like you. And I’m not ready for whatever this is to stop. We’ve had dinner only twice, and I really think we should continue to give kissing a try.”

He stared at him for several moments, realizing he hadn’t even been thinking of what kind of hardship anyone who tried having a life with him would experience. Of course, he’d thought of it before, but his thoughts had been a little more on the selfish side tonight. He just had so much to work through.

As he stared at this gorgeous man with his brown eyes, he realized nothing had to be figured out just then, and his morose mood faded away. “Good, because I’m not either.” He grabbed Jace’s hand and tugged him into the house. Ripley trotted in after them and lay down on the rug between the living and dining rooms.

Since the place had about a million windows, Trent flipped off the light as the door slammed behind them. Jace’s laughter pulled him in so hard and fast, he grabbed the man and slanted his mouth over his. He licked along his bottom lip until Jace opened for him with a low growl in the back of his throat. They kissed for long, slow moments before pulling back, their gazes catching in the moonlight and locking as heat flared.

Something passed between them then, something that had Trent catching his breath and Jace’s eyes widening. It made Trent feel like he had butterflies in his chest.

Before he could take another deep breath, they went back at each other like they were starving, tongues stroking in a way that had all Trent’s blood flowing south.

Can we just take a moment of silence for the hot guy on the cover? Just maybe to appreciate him, and objectify him a little bit.

K, thanks for that.

So, I am undeniably a fan of these two authors, as well as their Unbreakable Bond & Ward Security series’. In this one though, we have Trent, who you may remember from one of said series’, but I’m going to be honest, I don’t remember which one. That’s okay though, you don’t need to, as it isn’t really a spin-off, but instead an awesome start to a new series.

So, Trent is a movie star, and now… if you’re like me… the movie star, rock star, billionaire- oh-powerful person meeting the quirky nobody from small town USA isn’t usually my thing. It’s just so unrealistic to me.. I like blue-collar, everyday, real-world problems kinda guys.

However, I adored Trent. Taking six months off to figure out what he wants in life…he goes to Pineapple Grove and rents a house on the beach, knowing that no one would suspect him there. He’d have privacy and time to decide his next move. He’s lonely with his busy schedule and nobody to come home to, but he’s also struggling with the fact that he’s bisexual and what that could mean to his career. It hasn’t been an issue until now, because in a very Hallmark movie kinda way, he meets Jace.

Jace who owns his own art studio where he sells local art, as well as his sister’s, was running on the beach with his dog…. (Of course, there’s a dog) who literally runs right into Trent. Not knowing who he is, the two start chatting and there are sparks and flirty smiles and a cute puppy… SCORE! So, one asks the other out, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Getting to know one another was cute, that part was realistic in the fact that as you would expect, they have to keep their dating a secret, not only because no one knows that Trent is bi, but because he honestly wants to protect the anonymity of Jace as well. With someone targeting his sister’s artwork and defacing her murals from around town, he’s got enough on his plate than having to worry about paparazzi and everything that comes with dating Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor. So, I appreciated that and it only made Trent more charming. You could tell the situation wasn’t ideal, and it never felt like he was trying to keep Jace a secret or using him in any way… he genuinely cared for him and he was stuck between a rock and a hard place too. (

Through it all though, Jace has such great friends and family… They were all so accepting and supportive of Jace and eventually Trent, that even when they were being pushy and nosy, you could tell they loved him and just wanted him happy. , and of course I wasn’t disappointed in that ending… ALL the feels!! I hope we get to see so much more from them….All of them, actually, I’m so excited for Wesley!

I will say that I was a little surprised that this one wasn’t as action-packed and life-threatening as the other two series I mentioned before. There are no dangerous situations where someone could get killed, though the troublemaker was easily figured out the second they popped up on page. I wasn’t disappointed at all. It was a nice change of pace and I enjoyed the slow pace and genuineness of it. Can’t wait for more!

4 Pieces of Candy

Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott have teamed up to combine their evil genius to create intense gay romantic suspense stories that have car chases, shoot outs, explosions, scorching hot love scenes, and tender, tear-jerking moments. Their first joint books are in the Unbreakable Bonds series.

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Christmas Prince (The Christmas Angel Book 7) by RJ Scott: Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

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Prince Raphael, the youngest son of the Montaunoit royal family, is the custodian of his country’s history. At a Sotheby’s auction, he outbids Marc on an item he doesn’t even want. Just because he can.

Meeting the museum curator turns Raphael’s world upside down, and when lust turns to love he knows he has to change.

Can Marc be the one to show Raphael that he doesn’t have to stay the lonely prince forever, and that love is always an option?

* * * * *

This story is one of seven stories which can all be read and enjoyed 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), the turn-of-the-century (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

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

 

 

Ahhh, Christmas!

I love Christmas reads so close to Christmas, and with the first snowfall of the season this weekend, it just seemed like the perfect time to tuck into this series, different author novella’s to get a tiny dose of the holiday spirit.

I started with this one, maybe because I’m not a fan of the royalty trope, or millionaires, or billionaires, or famous people… I like regular ol’ joe’s, blue collar, everyday people, the ones that make love stories realistic. In saying that… I’m so glad I read this one! It was sweet and romantic, and that Prince, he was really charming…

So, Prince Raphael, is the youngest son of the Montaunoit royal family. He meets Marc at n auction where he bids against him, just because he thought it fun, and was intrigued by Marc and his gray eyes… Nevermind that it meant everything to Marc, maybe even his job… especially because his boss seemed to have it out for him. He was a real jerk. Thankfully, he has little page time and he’s never mentioned again, once Marc is hired to be head curator to a museum that the prince wants to throw together… either to really teach the history of his country, or to spend more time with Marc….each is a win/win, right?

Unfortunately, Marc is wary… excited at the opportunity, for sure, but wary as well. He doesn’t trust the charming prince at first, and rightly so. Used to getting his way with nothing standing in his way… he wants to get to know Marc better….

I loved Raphael because even though he had money to buy anything his big ol heart desired, what he really wanted was love…

 

Sigh… it was an interesting read for something so short, we get to know both men, find a long lost, covered up love story from centuries ago, and a sweet, get to know the real you, love story…

It was a perfect start to a bundle of Christmas reads that I can’t wait to jump into… even if I do read them all out of order. Very cute!

 

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

USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott writes stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, a happily ever after.

RJ Scott is the author of over one hundred romance books, writing emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the links below:

Email RJ rj@rjscott.co.uk
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Little Harbour by Sophia Soames: Blog Tour, Excerpt and Review

by

This is a story about life and death. Because there has never been anyone else for Jens. He had been with Sofie almost all his life, from the day they met at school when they were fifteen, until the day she took her final breath against his chest. She was always everything to him. As he was to her. He never doubted that. Not for a minute.

This is a story of hope, where Axel Kleve keeps himself too busy to even stop and think. Work, sleep, eat, repeat. He loves his job as a Midwife at Oslo’s University Hospital, He’s good at lecturing and training, and now he has somehow been pushed into running “Ask Axel,” a midwifery blog on PNN.no, the parenting-site everyone in Norway trusts.

This is a tale of second chances. Jens, he doesn’t let himself think of Axel. He doesn’t think of Axel at all. And Axel needs to stop longing for that one crush he’s never been able to leave behind. It’s just plain ridiculous. He should have got over Jens Sommerfeldt years ago.

A song about family and love and happiness found in small doses. Of trying to parent when you don’t know how. Of finding love where you always knew it lived.

This is the story of a little harbour. The place in your heart you didn’t know was there.

Little Harbour by Sophia Soames from December 17 – 21.

Genre/s: M/M, contemporary romance

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 135 377 words/468 pages

It is a standalone story and is the first book in series of stories set in Scandinavia.

A story of love and grief, second chances, and family life. An M/M GFY-ish romance, featuring a hoard of feral children, a stolen pram, a Midwifery blog and an ill advised stint on TV. Oh yes and a Man who has lost hope and another who never gave it up.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

“Can I have a hug? Please?” Axel asks. He can’t help it. He needs one. He needs to know that Jens is still Jens. His Jens. The one who hugged him every time they met up all those years ago. Jens always hugged him to say hello. Always hugged him goodbye. Always. He needs Jens to still be Jens.

Jens doesn’t hug him. Jens body slams him, so hard Axel thinks he might fall over. Stumbling backwards while Jens’ arms are squeezing him, so hard he can’t breathe, and there is hot breath against Axel’s  neck and it is so Jens. All-consumingly Jens. Allhim.

“I fucking missed you so much.” Jens whispers, his voice hoarse and quiet.

I’m all yours.” Axel whispers back. “I always was.”

Where to start…..

I guess, first, hey hot cover! Second…we have Jens, who we meet about a year after losing his wife. He’s left with 4 kids varying in ages, 16 to 2 and he’s having a hard time doing it on his own. All of that though, takes a backseat when he runs into a blog/forum on where to get his 2 year old fitted for new shoes.

Now, Axel is a midwife, never settled down because he’s always loved Jens and starts a blog right when he gets reintroduced to his long lost friend, Jens. I was confused, because I thought it was supposed to be a mommy blog sort of thing, or like, a midwife kind of blog, but it’s really just a journal entry about his relationship with Jens. The whole thing reads like one big journal entry… and boy is it looooong.

So, after knowing each other in school and separating because they were falling for one another and Jens had a girlfriend who later became his wife… 20 years go by before they meet again. Jens has a family and Axel never moved on, so they jump right back into this relationship that seemed to have been on pause for Axel for the last 20 years. That didn’t seem fair to me and I hated that for him.

I also didn’t like the wall of attitude he got from Jens oldest daughter, though I completely understood why she’d be huffy about it… it was just exhausting…. She’d spout off and be hateful one second and then the very next line, they were having a normal conversation…then she’d be hateful again and he’d spout something and then friendly again. I was exhausted by 15% and I wanted to slap the attitude out of her and wash her and Mortens mouth out with soap. Let my 12 or even 16 year old tell me to F off, they’d both be sporting matching fat lips. And there is texting…. Soooo….much….texting…..

I didn’t like the dialogue. Third person is hard for me. I can go a lifetime without saying someone’s name while speaking to them.. and this was like… Jens thinks Axel is tired. Axel whispers yes, Jens knows. Or, Hey, Axel, come here Axel, I need to ask you a question Axel…. Like, really? Did you need to say his name three times in one sentence? It just irks me. Maybe I’m being too picky, but it was hard for me to get over.

However…. If you can get over it, which I did, because come on… hot dad, lots of kids, second chance.. this is my kryptonite…. And it’s actually a beautiful story of second-chance romance between two men who loved each other so much, a family who needed what Axel gave to them, and a man who’d gone twenty years loving a man he thought he’d never have.

It was long and sometimes messy, but.. such is life. I kind of lost it at the end, if you read the bonus scenes, you deal with unimaginable loss and I’m hearing people react terribly about that, and normally, I’d be one of those people… but, come on… they had the rest of their lives together, forty more years together, that’s a whole lifetime to some. There’s a trigger warning, and heed that people who don’t like it, because I was left gutted. Ugly cry, for sure… but still… death happens and in my overinvested mind they met again and got to live out eternity together. Here’s to hoping at least.

If you like second chance romance with a rowdy, crazy family and two hot dads…. Don’t pass this one up… It’s long, but worth it in the end.

4 pieces of eye candy

Sophia Soames should be old enough to know better but has barely grown up. She has been known to fangirl over tv-shows, has fallen in and out of love with more popstars than she dares to remember, and has a ridiculously high-flying (un-) glamourous real-life job.

Her long-suffering husband just laughs at her antics. Their children are feral. The AuPair just sighs. She lives in a creaky old house in rural London, although her heart is still in Scandinavia.

Discovering that the stories in her head make sense when written down has been part of the most hilarious midlife crisis ever and she hopes it may long continue.

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