Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

new release

Grounded by Teodora Kostova: New Release Review

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A chance encounter.
A passionate night.
An intense connection.

When medical student Shane Sanford and RAF pilot Greg Becker meet the air between them sizzles with mutual attraction. There’s nothing holding them back as they give in to their desire. But once their paths lead them into a different direction, neither of them can forget the intense connection they’d shared.
When fate brings them together again a year later, they have a choice to make: try and make a long-distance relationship work or let this be a one-night stand again.With war, tragedy and fear standing in their way, can Shane and Greg overcome the challenges life keeps throwing their way?
Is their bond strong enough to survive?
Is love enough?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

It’s been a while since Cookies (the precursor to Grounded) came out. Like almost 3 years a while. I had been waiting and it did not disappoint.

There are tons of military books out there. I don’t know if I have missed them or what, but it seems most are US military. This is set in England with Greg being an RAF pilot. He meets Shane at a bar and then again by chance a few weeks later.

What was so different about this book was that we witness this couple go through deployment and visits home, etc. So we get the highs of them reuniting and the lows of the separations. And with those, all of the emotions and feelings that go with them.

We also see the effects of PTSD while someone was still in the situation causing PTSD. War is destroying Greg. Following orders to bomb various places without regard to civilian casualties. His everyday job is giving him PTSD and he has to continue doing his job.

And even though this is the follow up to Cookies, there are parts that happened before, during and after Cookies took place. Again, it was different. And I like wandering from the beaten path.

All of these things together kept me really engaged with the story and the characters. The only thing I was missing was real closure with Greg and his parents.

Excellent book, you don’t have to read Cookies before this but you will want to because it is so good as well.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

* Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. *

Noble Hops by Layla Reyne: Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Layla Reyne stopped by today with the final book in her Trouble Brewing series, Noble Hops. She brought an exclusive excerpt only for TCO readers, and a fantastic book and swag bag giveaway. Make sure you check it out! Noble Hops is available in ebook and audiobook now, so pick it up here!

 

Everything Dominic Price has worked hard to uphold is about to come crashing down on everything he holds dear.

So much for the quiet life. Just as assistant US attorney and brewery owner Dominic Price is settling into a comfy new chapter with his partner, FBI agent Cameron Byrne, the sudden death of Nic’s father puts their happily-ever-after in jeopardy. Nic immediately suspects foul play, his prime suspect a notorious gangster his father was indebted to—only now the loan shark is out for blood.

Cam has been longing for Nic to finally let him in on this very personal case. But when Nic’s belief that he’s the sole Price heir is upended, the line between personal and professional starts to blur, leaving Cam unsure of where he stands.

Nic is depending on Cam’s kidnap and rescue expertise to save his recently discovered family member before it’s too late. But with a dangerous threat closing in, the ghosts from Nic’s past cast long shadows. Any relationship could crack under the pressure, but for Nic, finding his family might mean losing the love of his life.

Noble Hops (Trouble Brewing #3) by Layla Reyne

Publisher: Carina Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): Ebook/Audio: February 11, 2019; Print: February 26, 2019

Length (Print & Ebook): 320 pages

Subgenre: M/M Romantic Suspense

 

Layla Reyne says: Nic and Cam have to fight for their lives and their happily ever after in this exciting, action-packed conclusion to the Trouble Brewing series.

“Well-matched protagonists fueled by love and purpose risk everything to bring a slick gangster down in a thriller both hot and sweet, wrapping up a well-done M/M series in style.”

— Library Journal

“I adore this series, and I can’t wait for more Nic and Cam!”

— Author of The Fall, May Archer, on Craft Brew (Trouble Brewing #2)

 

Amazon

Audible

Thanks for having me on the blog today to celebrate the release of NOBLE HOPS, the final book of the Trouble Brewing series. The Whiskey Verse gang is all back together – and indulging in Cam’s favorite treat – in this exclusive excerpt. Enjoy!

Cam entered the conference room with a pink, brown and orange box on each hand, skirting past Nic who held the door open for him. “We come bearing doughnuts.”

Despite his vow in Boston to never eat Dunkin’ Donuts again, once Cam had learned there was a new one on their way from the house to the office, all bets were off. His colleagues had reaped the rewards ever since, as Lauren did today, looking up from her computer with a tired smile.

“My heroes.” She took one of the boxes from Cam and dug right in.

“You’re lucky he didn’t eat them all on the way here,” Nic said, as Cam slid the other box onto the table.

With his free hand, Cam shot Nic the bird. “Well, if someone hadn’t kept me up all night.”

Lauren clapped her hands over her ears. “Earmuffs!”

Cam laughed around a bite of blueberry-glazed doughnut.

“It was nothing that fun,” Nic said, headed for the coffeemaker. “He pretended to be Vaughn, and I grilled him for hours.”

“Waste of a night. You’re ready.” Cam reached for a second doughnut, and Nic shoved a cup of coffee in his hand instead.

“That’s four already, and as for last night, I want to be prepared.”

“I think I can help with that,” Lauren said, losing the battle with a powdered one, her navy blazer from yesterday taking a sugar beating.

“You cracked Harris’s computer?” Cam asked.

The slim MacBook had been locked away in a wall safe, hidden behind the framed alphabet poster in the nursery. When Lauren had carried it out last night, Vaughn’s eyes had flashed with what looked like fear, the first crack Cam had seen in his shiny, too-cool veneer.

“I did.”

“Then what am I here for?” came a familiar voice behind them, the drawl unmistakably Southern.

Cam twisted to see his best friend entering the conference room ahead of Aidan. He was half out of his chair when Jamie pulled him the rest of the way up and into a back-slapping hug. “Brother,” Cam said, feeling like the missing piece of the team, of his support system, was back where it belonged.

Jamie drew Nic into a hug next. “Whatever you need.”

“Thank you,” Nic replied.

This is the final book of Cam and Nic’s story. The guys are pretty much settled into their relationship and how they feel about each other. But Nic is still waiting for the other shoe to drop as he tries building a case against his father’s — and now his — arch enemy. As Nic’s reeling from a family tragedy, a stunning secret is revealed to him that will change everything.

This book felt very much like a wrap up. We know where the guys stand with each other, and there are a few bumps but they come through for each other — no surprises there. Nic confronts parts of his past and reveals things he’s been keeping from Cam which serves to bring them closer while giving the reader some closure. And the theme of family, both blood and who you choose for yourself, is woven throughout and always gives me warm and fuzzies.

I’ll miss these guys for sure, but with new characters introduced, it won’t surprise me to see them show up again sometime.

3 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.

Connect with Layla:

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

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

IG: https://www.instagram.com/laylareyne/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laylareyne

Newsletter: https://www.laylareyne.com/signup

AMZ: https://www.amazon.com/author/LaylaReyne

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/layla-reyne

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/laylareyne/

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

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#Burn (Fever Falls Book 2) by Devon McCormack: New Release Review

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DAX:

My job is putting out fires–PR fires, that is. Partner in one of the most prestigious PR firms in Hollywood, I’ve lived most of my life helping others stay in the spotlight but keeping as far away from it myself as humanly possible.

Enter Jace Kruse.

#HottieFirefighter is the hashtag everyone is using for the overnight Insta-star who made headlines when a pic of him with a pooch he saved from a runaway vehicle went viral. Doesn’t have anything to do with my life until a major potential client shows interest in an endorsement deal with the internet sensation, and Jace becomes my ticket to stomping the ass of one of my company’s fiercest competitors.

Problem is: Jace isn’t swayed by dreams of fame and fortune. He prefers his down-to-earth life in Fever Falls and has turned down every company who’s approached him to leech off his recently acquired celebrity status.

But where others have failed, I’m confident I can succeed. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s persuading. And after a few encounters with Jace, the easy-go-lucky, ever-charming, sexy-as-hell, and surprisingly #topcurious firefighter has me persuading him about more than signing on for an endorsement deal.

He may be good at putting out fires, but Jace sure knows how to start them in the bedroom…and then in my heart. However, between his rising star power and the intensity of my feelings, I know where this inferno is leading, and if we don’t put it out soon, someone’s gonna get burned.

#BURN is part of the Fever Falls series but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

#Burn is the second book in the series Fever Falls. Book 1 was written by Riley Hart. The two authors have previously co-written books, but this is the first time that they authored their own books but set them in the same world. It was kind of cool.

With the co-authored books I couldn’t tell who wrote what parts. These books definitely show the author’s different voices and made them their own.

Back to THIS book though. It was fun, sexy, hot and a bit different. Firstly, Jace has no problem admitting a man is sexy and that he is attracted to him even though he always identified as gay. There was very little internal struggle with him and “omg I am attracted to a MAN!”. I think this is really indicative of how the next generation will be. Not totally, but yanno.

Dax was cool with Jace being a gay virgin as well. It didn’t freak him out. He didn’t think of it as this massive responsibility. They just had fun together.

And what fun they had. OH MAH GAH. I thought my kindle might catch fire. This author can write a sex scene without penetration like nobody’s business.

Both guys are damaged, but Dax is pretty good at keeping it concealed and Jace really doesn’t acknowledge his damage. Orphan till 10, no big whoop. Adopted father dies 6 years later, he’ll deal with it. It isn’t until toward the end that Jace’s mother makes him see what she does. And then who cries? Everyone. That’s who.

There were a few kind of cheesy lines and if I never read the word “girth” again I will be happy. But this was a really good read.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Eye of the Dragon by BA Tortuga: Exclusive Cover Reveal

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BA Tortuga is stopping by today for an exclusive cover reveal of Eye of the Dragon. Check out the lovely cover below, and make sure to preorder it so it’s ready to go when it comes out in May!

Graduate student Cameron is on the trail of an ancient Chinese artifact, a ruby with a history. When he meets adventurer Poe in Mexico, he spills the beans on his quest, and Poe sees dollar signs as well as the hottest professor he’s ever met.

They head off to the salt flats and mountains of Utah, searching for a lost wagon train from the eighteen hundreds. What they find is danger beyond normal comprehension and a stone that drives men to insanity.

Soon Poe’s only concern is saving Cam, but to do that, he’ll need help from some old friends and a few new ones. When it becomes too late to turn away from their quest, Poe and Cam put themselves and their friends in deadly peril. It will take every bit of their talents and courage to make it through and survive the Dragon’s Eye.

First Edition published by Torquere Press, June 2008.

Title: Eye of the Dragon

Series: The Wildcatters: Book 2

Author: BA Tortuga

Release Date: May 19, 2019

Category: Contemporary

Pages: 142

Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza, http://www.seeingstatic.com/

 

Dreamspinner Press eBook

 

BA Tortuga, Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting, and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery ménages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeonholed by anyone but the voices in her head.

Website: www.batortuga.com

Blog: batortuga.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/batortuga

Twitter: @batortuga

 

First Strike by A.G. Carothers: Exclusive Cover Reveal, Excerpt and Giveaway

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A.G. Carothers stopped by today to bring an exclusive cover reveal and excerpt along with a giveaway! Check out this beautiful cover by AngstyG, and don’t forget to enter! First Strike is now up for preorder, so grab it now. 

Previously on Dragon War Chronicles, our heroes recovered and were preparing to take the fight to a still unknown enemy. Meanwhile, startling breeding experiments were revealed.

Three sites are discovered in Russia that could hold all the answers they’ve been looking for. Three strike teams are assembled led by Xander, Kollin, and Tyler. Three simultaneous attacks are combined to make one devastating first strike against their hidden enemies.

What horrors will they discover? What plans will be revealed? Why is a member of the Dragon Council showing up on Danica’s doorstep with ultimatums?

Find out in the next exciting installment of Dragon War Chronicles.

Warning: This book contains explicit sexual contact between consenting adults. There are romantic, BDSM, and purely sexual relations shown that are MM and MF. There is also high sexual tension and alpha male posturing that will make you laugh and roll your eyes along with plenty of snark and definite teasing of dwarf-like dragons.

First Strike

Dragon War Chronicles, Book 3

A.G. Carothers

Release Date: 03.08.19

LGBTQ Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

COVER DESIGN: AngstyG/ https://www.facebook.com/Angstyg/

Amazon

 It was times like these Kollin wished he could breathe fire since it was flashy, but he settled on letting a great fog of icy air out then flew through it, ice crystals forming on his wings that broke off with each beat. He pulled up to the very peak of the mountain and landed. Taking in a huge breath, he reared up, stretching his neck out as far as possible letting loose a mighty roar that shook the mountain.

Danica swooped around and landed by his side, letting out her own slightly higher pitched roar that complimented his deep one perfectly. Kollin felt the vibrations of it through his body. Their roars continued even after they stopped as it echoed across the mountain range for miles all around them. Danica swung her head around looking at the sight before her. Kollin watched her closely as her eyes took in their surroundings.

It was absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking. The ocean was in the distance and she could see bits of floating ice in it. It was cold up here and despite their higher temperature she shivered a bit from the cold and the exertion of the flight. Kollin moved closer putting a wing over top of her, sharing his warmth with her. Danica nuzzled her snout up his neck in appreciation.

Danica leaned her head out, something had her attention. Kollin followed her line of sight and chuffed. Down in the valley was a lake and on one side was a small village. He breathed out a sheet of ice before them and took a talon to it.

“Our Wolves.” He scratched out.

Danica nodded in understanding. She leaned into him more heavily as her fatigue obviously started to overcome her. Before she could collapse, Kollin nudged her towards forward. She took the hint and launched off. She spiraled slowly down into the valley. Kollin launched himself into the air and followed after her.

 

 

A. G. Carothers is actually a dragon very cleverly disguised as a human. They are a non-binary author of LGBTQIA Urban/Paranormal Fantasy, who enjoys writing original and entertaining stories. They are very excited to share the worlds they’ve created with you.

A.G. currently lives in Tennessee with their platonic life partner, who is not a dragon. They yearn to live back in Europe and will someday. In their spare time they are addicted to losing themselves in the lovely worlds created by other authors.

A.G. is committed to writing the stories they see in their head without restrictions. Love is blind and doesn’t see gender, race, or sexuality.

Website: https://www.agcarothers.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AGCarothersAuthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ag_carothers

 

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Educating the Professor by Sean Michael: Exclusive Guest Post and Excerpt

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TCO is happy to have Sean Michael stopping by with a guest post about finding the unexpected when writing a new book, and an excerpt that’s quirky while setting up the story nicely. Educating the Professor looks like it has all the sexy of a Sean Michael BDSM book, and a bit of intrigue to round out the romance. Can’t wait! Thanks for stopping by Sean!

Kenneth Brannigan is a small-town history professor. He’s happy with his life, loves the classes he teaches, and lives in a tiny apartment in a converted house with his best friend, Tim, next door. He’s still recovering from a bad breakup and is content to stick to his comfortable routine. It’s Tim who insists he come to the Queer Alliance’s Rainbow Mixer.

At the mixer, Kenn meets David Burgundy, a new-to-town TA who is working on his masters. Dave is drawn immediately to Kenn and is thrilled when Kenn offers to show him the best pizza place in town. One meal leads to two, which leads to Dave and Kenn spending most of their free time together… and Kenn loosening his self-imposed rules regarding dating and sex for some kinky fun.

Kenn’s ex isn’t going to just let Kenn be, though, and the happier Kenn is with Dave, the less the ex likes it. Will Kenn continue to run away from his past, or will his relationship with Dave help him face it head-on?

Title: Educating the Professor
Author: Sean Michael
Release Date: February 5, 2019
Category: Contemporary, BDSM
Pages: 193

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Thank you to Two Chicks Obsessed for hosting me today!

I love it when a book surprises me as I write it, and Educating the Professor is one such book. I had no idea Kenn’s ex was going to be involved. I knew that Kenn was a sub, but one who was reluctant, who hadn’t done a whole lot. And I knew Dave was his one and only and would be a great Dom for him. They were made for each other.

Then, when I thought the book was about Kenn learning about the lifestyle he’s so fascinated by (online at any rate), his ex showed up and suddenly there’s a very good reason why Kenn hasn’t ever done anything in the lifestyle, why he doesn’t even ever talk about it with anyone. It was a good surprise for sur and I’m glad there was more to the story than I thought.

My characters are good at that – they all come with their own baggage and stories and let me know it on a regular basis!

I hope you enjoy Kenn and Dave’s story; they’re sweet and kinky boys and I had a blast writing them.

Sean Michael

smut fixes everything

Dave grabbed his beer and took a sip before wandering away from the bar. He had to give it to the Queer Alliance—they really knew how to decorate for a Rainbow Mixer. It totally looked like a unicorn had barfed all over the place.

His newly self-appointed best friend, Anita, sidled up next to him. “Looks great, doesn’t it?”

Given that she was on the event committee, he knew she’d had a hand in the decorations.

“Very colorful,” he told her, hoping she didn’t press him. He didn’t like lying, but he didn’t want to hurt her feelings either. He was generally more of a black leather and silver buckle sort of man, but this was… impossible to ignore.

She was happy with his answer, bouncing and kissing his cheek.

He was new to the campus, coming to the university to do his masters, and had found a room with five other TAs who lived in a great big old house—frat style, really. And honestly, he was grateful Anita had latched on to him. She knew everyone and everything about the school. She’d been the one to insist that the mixer was the best way to meet people.

It was certainly well-attended—undergrads and graduate students, along with professors, some of whom had the confident joviality of tenured faculty while others appeared more anxious to please. Impressive.

Anita took hold of his arm and began dragging him around, introducing him to everyone. It was a good thing he had a knack for putting together self-reminders for names and faces because he must have met a hundred people in less than an hour. His beer was long gone, and Anita seemed determined to ensure he met absolutely everyone before letting him go get another.

“Have you met Drs. Brannigan and Parker? They’re from the history department.”

“My first history profs,” he joked. He shook their hands, giving the slender blond a longer smile. Pretty. Very pretty.

“I’m Tim, this is Kenneth.” The redhead was bouncy, all kinetic energy. “Anita, you have outdone yourself.”

Dave wondered for one brief moment what it would take to tame that vivacity. A little bondage? No, a lot of bondage. But most of his attention remained on the much quieter Kenneth. With this man the trick would be to make him lose control. It could be a delicious challenge.

“Thank you, Dr. Parker,” Anita said. “I appreciate it. Do you mind if I leave David here with you? I have to check on the snacks.”

“Of course. We’ll make sure he doesn’t get lost.” Tim had a quick smile. “Oh look, Kenn! There’s a reporter. Let’s go talk to him.”

“Go ahead, Tim. I’m not interested in publicity, huh?”

“Oh. Right. I got it. I’ll just go and see what’s what.”

Dave chuckled as the redhead bebopped his way over to the reporter. “If we could bottle that energy….”

“Yes indeed. We all say that twelve times a day.”

Best-selling author Sean Michael is a maple leaf–loving Canadian who spends hours hiding out in used book stores. With far more ideas than time, Sean keeps several documents open at all times. From romance to fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi, Sean is limited only by the need for sleep—and the periodic Beaver Tail.

Sean fantasizes about one day retiring on a secluded island populated entirely by horseshoe crabs after inventing a brain-to-computer dictation system. Until then, Sean will continue to write the old-fashioned way.

Sean Michael on the web:

WEBSITE: http://www.seanmichaelwrites.com

BLOG: http://seanmichaelwrites.blogspot.ca

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites/

TWITTER: seanmichael09

INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/seanmichaelpics/