new release

How To Live by Susan Hawke: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

March 8, 2021 by Denise

Take one clueless, spoiled guy with notoriously bad luck…

When Derek Leigh is diagnosed with breast cancer at twenty-four, it’s the final straw in a lifetime of bad luck. If he’s going to die, it’ll be on his terms… with one helluva party that packs a lifetime’s worth of fun into whatever time he has left. To make this happen, Derek blows up his life: dumps the long-term boyfriend in the worst way possible, borrows money he can’t repay from a loan shark, and heads to Atlantic City… where his luck unexpectedly changes, giving him fresh hope.

Add one easygoing tattoo artist with a big, open heart…

Asher Matthews has dealt with a lot in his thirty-five years: he and his twin were born addicted to heroin and abandoned at birth… until Mama Maisie added them to her brood of lost boys. ADHD and dyslexia didn’t keep him from following his dream of opening his own tattoo shop, especially with his family’s support. With all that he’s been given in life, Asher makes a point of giving back where he can.

To equal two men who instantly connect in all the best ways.

Derek is shocked to not only survive his cancer treatment, but to come to the end of it in great health. Too bad he’s blown through all his money, lost his car, and has nowhere to turn. On a whim, he goes for a free tattoo. Asher takes one look at the sexy twink who’s down on his luck and offers him a room, a job, and even better, a friend. If they have a little no-strings fun along the way, it’s fine. It’s not like anyone is looking to fall in love, right?

This 55k novel is the seventh book in the LOVESTRONG series about finding love and being yourself in a small town. Watch out for ridiculous amounts of money won and lost, a butler who takes everything in stride, and a scruffy dog you’ll want to cuddle. This is an mm romance full of all the fun, laughter, and sweet feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book.

Possible trigger for anyone currently fighting cancer or closely related to a breast cancer patient. The book is low angst and the experience is gently handled, but the subject matter is present.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Lovestrong series – Books 1-6

I stepped aside to allow him by, refusing myself the stolen pleasure of letting his body brush against mine. As he leaned in to see, Derek wasn’t shy. But then, neither was Marlena, a trait common among cancer survivors. I guess it was par for the course going through what they had, constantly poked and prodded and denied basic modesty because saving your life was way more important.

She showed him the surgical scars, now hidden by the tattoo. Marlena acknowledged me with a wink, complimenting my skills with both line and shading. I was just glad she liked it and couldn’t wait to see how it looked when it healed and settled in.

While they chatted, I finished cleaning my tools. Marlena left after putting on her shirt and giving me a careful but grateful hug. Derek watched her leave, his expression both stunned and excited.

After the door closed, he snapped out of it, turning to me with those vulnerable eyes again. “Can you really help me? Give me something to make me feel normal again when I’m naked?”

“Absolutely. I can give you anything you want. But first, you need to define normal because it’s relative. I’m liking your style, a little bit fem but with enough masculinity to convince me it’s part of your style but not necessarily how you identify. I only say so because my sibling-in-law is nonbinary, but feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.”

A sex kitten emerged as he batted his lashes with a sexy little smirk. “Don’t worry, honey. I identify as completely male. There’s no law against dressing up pretty, so I do what I can with what I was given.”

“Yeah, you do.” With a kick of my foot, I pushed off on my rolling stool, wheeling myself back a few feet to my computer and drawing supplies. “Sit down, cutie. Let’s get to know each other some more so I can give you the kind of tattoo you deserve. Can I see the canvas I’ll be working with?”

Biting his lip, he glanced around nervously before nodding almost shyly and immediately pulling the shirt over his head. I rolled over and took a good long look at his chest, design ideas already sparking in my head.

“I can definitely give you something to make you feel good naked. Your scar tissue hasn’t faded as much as I’d like, so it’s hard to say how invasive it might be in the future. But if I tattoo over them today and make them part of the design, you won’t need to worry. The only item of importance is creating a design you can happily live with because you’ll have it forever.”

“Isn’t that kind of the idea?” The haughty tone was back, and damned if it didn’t turn me on. “What kind of design are we talking about? I don’t exactly want to seem like I’m wearing a bra. A sexy lace cami, maybe, but I don’t want to get stuck with a color. How does anyone decide this? It seems too hard.”

Normally, I would want a new client to wait and sleep on it before putting any ink on their body. But in Derek’s case, it seemed urgent for him to find a way to connect with his body again. And if his looks were closely tied to his self-worth, as would be expected in a young, hot guy like this, ink was the obvious answer. Now it was simply a question of picking the right design.

Fortunately, I was good at my job.

“I could do a cami with cutouts displaying three-dimensional nipples incorporated in the design if you want to go with something more common. But if you trust me, I can do something freehand to represent you as a person and be totally unique without feeling like underwear. Stick to getting your clothing at the designer boutiques. Let me give you some artwork you’ll be proud to show off when you get naked.”

Derek’s eyes lit up. “Yessss, I want something unique and totally me, definitely nothing common. Does this face deserve common?”

“Definitely not, but I’m at work, so I’m not going to follow my line of thought.” Winking, I ran my tongue between my lips. “Quit distracting me, cutie. Let’s get the design done first. Once I have a plan and the basic lines put down, you’re welcome to flirt all you want. Do you have anything you absolutely do or do not want?”

He simpered before taking it seriously. “I wouldn’t mind something natural, like flowers or leaves or whatever. As long as these deep slash marks are hidden, I’m good. Wait… I don’t want anything freaky. Nothing scary, no creepy bugs or skulls. This is probably where I should warn you, I suck at making decisions, and giving me too many choices is a bad idea.”

“I hear you. You’re talking to a guy with ADHD. Too many options will have me bouncing off the walls. I can seriously lose entire days waffling if I let myself.” Grabbing an art pad and pencil, I tapped the end of the pencil against the paper while I considered how to proceed. “How about this? You said you want something natural. Close your eyes and give me the first thing that comes to your mind when I ask you these questions. No thinking. I’m seeking gut reactions.”

Derek wiggled his shoulders, giving a little clap. “Sounds fabulous. I’m totally in.” He closed his eyes, lifting his chin expectantly as if waiting for a kiss. As tempting as the idea was, I still had a job to do.

Dammit.

As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I’d care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I’ve found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that’s what I try to bring to every tale I tell.

I’m a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown “kids of my heart.” I’m more widely known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.

Connect with Susan:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/authorsusanhawke
FB: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSusanHawke
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan-hawke
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/SusanHawkeNewsletter
Audio: http://bit.ly/SusanHawkeAudio
Reader Group: www.facebook.com/groups/TheHawkesNest
Website: http://www.susihawke.com

Win one of three e-copies of How to Live.

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Bossy by N.R. Walker: New Release Review

March 8, 2021 by Denise

Michael Pietersen isn’t up for complications.

He’s one of Sydney’s fastest-moving career-focused corporate realtors, and the only thing he has time for is one-night stands with zero fuss.

Bryson Schroeder’s back home from two years overseas with plans to leave his family’s hotel empire and begin his own business ventures. Out with friends to celebrate his return, he sees a gorgeous blond man across the bar, and with merely a smile and a raised eyebrow, they leave together for a night of incredible chemistry.

The rules are clear: no names, no details, no complications.

But one night becomes one more night, and eventually the arrangement suits them both for weeks . . . until their professional and personal worlds collide. With their hearts already on the line, Michael and Bry need to decide just how complicated they want to get.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Huh. A “normal” story from NR Walker. Two guys, no one is in the closet, they aren’t looking for butterflies or serial killers, no amnesia or switched at birth or androids. What is this???

HAHAHAH! If you are a fan, you know what I mean.

It’s the hot one night stand that turns into a regular weekly thing that turns into more.

I loved that they didn’t exchange names and their names were revealed accidentally. They were wickedly hot together and they just kind of seamlessly slipped into a relationship without even knowing it. Without knowing each other’s names.

They were supportive of each other. They didn’t make any demands or ultimatums. There were supportive friends. It was all so…normal.

The only real fly in the ointment was Bryce’s father. Very business minded and cold, he wasn’t the warm fuzzy dad type. He believed focus should 100% be on business. Which is what drove Bryce’s mother away. And that is kind of an awful thing to say to your kid.

Very low angst, very hot, great chemistry. But I was waiting for some butterflies to show up.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things: a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

For more about N.R. Walker you can find her at:

Email: nrwalker@nrwalker.net

Textured, Wall, Background, Old, Wallpaper

Best Laid Plans (Garnet Run Book 2) by Roan Parrish: New Release Review * 2

March 8, 2021 by Denise

A man who’s been moving his whole life finally finds a reason to stay put.

Charlie Matheson has spent his life taking care of things. When his parents died two days before his eighteenth birthday, he took care of his younger brother, even though that meant putting his own dreams on hold. He took care of his father’s hardware store, building it into something known several towns over. He took care of the cat he found in the woods…so now he has a cat.

When a stranger with epic tattoos and a glare to match starts coming into Matheson’s Hardware, buying things seemingly at random and lugging them off in a car so beat-up Charlie feels bad for it, his instinct is to help. When the man comes in for the fifth time in a week, Charlie can’t resist intervening.

Rye Janssen has spent his life breaking things. Promises. His parents’ hearts. Leases. He isn’t used to people wanting to put things back together—not the crumbling house he just inherited, not his future and certainly not him. But the longer he stays in Garnet Run, the more he can see himself belonging there. And the more time he spends with Charlie, the more he can see himself falling asleep in Charlie’s arms…and waking up in them.

Is this what it feels like to have a home—and someone to share it with?

Amazon

Carina Press

Better Than People (Book 1)

One of the things I really love about Roan Parrish‘s books are the writing. They are just SO well written. I don’t just mean edited well or a good story- although both are undeniably true. I mean she is a master of prose and narrative. She not only paints a picture that immerses you in the story, but the natural flow of language keeps you there.

I’m kind of gushing. But I know for a fact that I will have to look up at least 5 words that she uses. But the use of these words also flows. Because it is so well written. It’s not like she pulled this 25 cent word out of a thesaurus to sound smart. The writing IS smart. Do you know how many times I read the phrase “boner killer” in books? Far, far too many. Ms. Parrish instead said “anaphrodisiac”. It just elevates the narrative.

I’ll stop now. Instead I will talk about swoony Charlie, who we met in Better Than People, and Rye, a guy with no direction in life who packs up his cat and moves from Seattle to Wyoming when he finds out a grandfather he didn’t know he had, died and left him a house.

Being that Charlie owns the town’s hardware store and the house is quite literally falling down around him, Rye and Charlie meet quickly. But Charlie’s need to help is butting up against Rye’s need to be independent.

So begins their story of finding each other, learning to accept help, learning to love yourself and 2 amazing cats in the mix.

Just read it. You won’t be disappointed. You don’t have to read the first book, Better Than People, but you should. Because it is also a treasure.

And so, I am giving this book my ever rare, but certainly deserved…

5 pieces of eye candy

Another fantastic emotional journey by Roan Parrish. Every book I read by this author, I continue to be impressed by the level of emotion that is leveled into the stories, without creating unnecessary angst. (I’m not an angsty reader…that’s Erin…I like happy and sweet and an HEA that makes me feel squishy inside.)

We met Charlie in Better Than People, as the mysterious brother who raised Jack after their parents were killed. We didn’t learn a lot about Charlie in that book, other than he clearly loved his brother, and he was kind of stand-offish. In this book, we learn how he really dealt with their parents’ death, how it changed his life forever in many ways. The scene where this is addressed…just powerful.

Rye, in his own way stand-offish, but because of past hurts and challenges. But he was such a brave soul to pick up and move (and not leave his cat behind!!!!), and even when he saw the dilapidated home he was left didn’t give up, just kept trying and moving forward. Watching him learn to accept help was touching. It wasn’t easy for him, but he knew he could only do so much on his own.

These two men really complimented each other, and were able to work together to make a challenging situation become a great situation. 🙂 I love that Rye, despite his normal cynicism, saw the good in the kids at his house, and let them stay, even though he knew Charlie would not like it. He trusted the kids, and it said so much about the person he was. And in the end, he was right…he just had to convince Charlie of that.

Side note…the cats…yes, this crazy cat lady loved every minute with those two.

So well written, and it just felt warm and sunny and I felt happy when I finished. As an aside, the cover is perfect for the book!

4.5 pieces of eye candy

An Echo in the Sorrow (Soulbound #6) by Hailey Turner: Blog Tour, Exclusive Author Interview and Excerpt

March 5, 2021 by Denise

Forgiveness is a hollow prayer you only hear in your dreams.

Patrick Collins has spent years handling cases as a special agent for the Supernatural Operations Agency, even as his secret standing in the preternatural world has changed. He should have confessed to his role as co-leader of the New York City god pack when he and Jonothon de Vere took up the mantle months ago, but he didn’t. Now that split loyalty will cost him at a time when he can least afford it.

Outmaneuvered, framed for murder, and targeted by the Dominion Sect, Patrick has to face a past full of lies to regain his freedom. Revealing the truth means he’ll need to give up the life that has defined him. Everything he’s fought to build with his pack is at stake, and losing them isn’t a price Patrick is willing to pay, but some choices aren’t his to make.

Jono knows they can’t cede any more territory if they want to win the god pack civil war spilling into the streets of New York City. But the souls of werecreatures are free for the taking when demons come to town and angels sing a warning no one can ignore. When Jono’s worst fear comes to life, and he loses the one person he can’t live without, the only option left is to fight.

Facing down the demons of their past and the ones in their present, Patrick and Jono will learn the hard way that some sins never wash away clean.

An Echo in the Sorrow is a 118k word m/m urban fantasy with a gay romantic subplot. It is a direct sequel to On the Wings of War. Reading the first book in the series would be helpful in enjoying this one.

Title and cover: An Echo in the Sorrow

Series: Soulbound 6

Publisher: Self-published

Release Date (Print & Ebook/Audio): March 1, 2021

Length (Print & Ebook/Audio): 117,943 words

Subgenre: LGBTQ Urban Fantasy

Warnings: None

Cover artist: AngstyG LLC

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Mini-interview with Hailey Turner:

Author Hailey Turner is back with book 6 in the Soulbound series, An Echo in the Sorrow! To celebrate the release, she’s joining Two Chicks Obsessed to talk: writing a series, her favorite book she’s written, and the future of the series. Welcome, Hailey!

Do you find it more challenging to write the first book in a series or to write the subsequent novels?

For me, the later books are the hardest to write. Trying to keep the momentum going without repeating myself or making things boring can be tough in a long series.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I’ve written 15 books so far. A Ferry of Bones & Gold is my favorite, because it was the start of my Soulbound adventure.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I give myself a set number of words to meet each day. On weekdays I write in the morning and evening around my day job. On Weekends, I write until I hit that number and then take the rest of the day off.

What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?

An Echo in the Sorrow is the sixth book in the Soulbound series, and there’s one more book left. I’m both looking forward and dreading writing the end.

“The only way to win is to take them out completely. That’s going to be a costly fight in terms of blood and territory,” Jono said.

“What about our alliances?” Wade asked.

Jono shook his head. “Their assistance in maintaining our borders is helpful, but we need to be the ones to push Estelle and Youssef out. This is our fight.”

“What about going the direct route and meeting them in the challenge ring?” Marek asked.

“I wouldn’t trust any fight that happens in that place,” Amelia said flatly.

Other people in the crowd echoed her statement. Patrick had never been to the challenge ring located beneath the god pack home in Hamilton Heights. The underground space was familiar to everyone else from the times all the alphas had been summoned to meetings. He’d seen the aftermath of fights held in other challenge rings to know they were bloody spaces. He agreed with Amelia though—no fight held in a space controlled by Estelle and Youssef could be handled fairly.

“I’m not sure how much help the fae will be able to provide right now. Tiarnán was summoned to Tír na nÓg today on an emergency basis. He’s been our liaison for the fae, and I don’t know when he’ll return,” Sage said.

Patrick shrugged. “His absence shouldn’t affect the alliance. We—”

A loud explosion in the bar above cut him off, magic crashing against the wards embedded in Tempest’s walls. They flashed fire bright for a split second, nearly blinding Patrick. Before the glow faded, Patrick was on his feet and racing for the stairs, Jono right on his heels. The crowd of alphas peeled away from his headlong rush forward, giving them both space.

Hailey Turner is a big city girl who spoils her cats rotten and has a demanding day job that she loves, but not as much as she loves writing. She’s been writing since she was a young child and enjoys reading almost as much as creating a new story.

Connect with Hailey Turner:

Newsletter: You can keep up with Hailey’s future projects by joining her newsletter, where you can instantly download several free short stories: http://bit.ly/HaileyTurnerNews

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haileyturnerwrites/

Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014824811406

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/hailey-turner

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

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16473068.Hailey_Turner

Website: www.haileyturner.com

Blood On Tap by Riley Long: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

March 3, 2021 by Denise

Drew
What’s a retired rockstar vamp to do in a quaint, quiet English town?
Buy the only pub, make it a vampire haven, and flirt incessantly with my one and only employee, of course.

Nova
I hate everything about my new boss.
His face. His arrogant smile.
The way he acts like he knows everything.
I hate him so much I just want to… kiss him? What the hell?

Riley Long on Goodreads

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Drew:

I shouldn’t have been surprised by his presence in such a vampire-heavy town, but a vampire serving humans was unusual to my eyes. Seeing an apex predator doing something so mundane struck me as odd. I made my way to the bar and slid onto a stool, the vinyl cracked and fraying.

“Hi there,” I murmured, my voice low. I smiled at the tall, blond bartender, whose wavy hair would have reached his shoulders if it hadn’t been tied back. He looked very much like he could have come out of a picture book about Viking times, except he wore a snug-fitting t-shirt with Blood Money’s logo emblazoned on it, and jeans that perfectly cupped his very firm ass.

“What can I—?” He ended abruptly and tilted his head to the side. His eyes narrowed as he took me in, and I ran a hand through my damp, close-cropped hair. When he spoke again, his tone was cold, closed off, and his expression was carefully neutral. “Are you—?” he shook his head. “Can I help you?”

“You work here?” I knew it was a stupid question. He was behind the bar, of course he worked there, but I couldn’t help asking. I couldn’t wrap my mind around a vampire serving humans willingly.

He nodded. “And I’m busy.” He grabbed empty glasses off the bar top and put them in a tray, then grabbed a rag and began to wipe the bar down.

“Oh, yeah, totally. I can tell.” There were no patrons asking for his attention at that moment and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

“I’ve never seen you around here.”

I laughed a little. “Don’t worry, Tex, I’m not looking to steal your territory.”

He shook his head. “No territory to steal. It’s not like that around here.”

“Then what’s it like?” I leaned forward and slid my fangs out with a smile. I wanted him to see I meant no harm.

He dropped his voice to a hiss, leaning in close. “Put your fangs away, for fuck’s sake. Nobody needs to see that.”

Riley Long is a wife and mother living a quiet life in Virginia, with her husband, son, and one goofy pit bull. She passes her evenings writing, reading, and watching bad television (or not so bad television). For fun, Riley participates in NaNoWriMo, GISH, and reads with her book club, the BAMFs. She likes things with silly acronyms. The craziest thing Riley has ever done involves whipped cream and hugs. Riley writes sweet and sexy romance, with a special place in her heart for hipsters and musicians.

Connect with Riley:
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/riley-long
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13515411.Riley_Long
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eizMGI
Twitter: https://twitter.com/writerrileylong
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Website: https://rileylongwrites.com/
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https://www.facebook.com/rileylongwrites

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Crossed Hearts (Arrowood) by JR Gray: New Release Review

March 2, 2021 by Denise

Small towns thrive on gossip, and as the owner of the local bar I consider myself keeper of those secrets. The bar is like a confessional, a place to unload. My sanctuary where my secrets stay hidden and the focus is never on me.

I keep my world orderly. None of the bad touching the good. Little dividers allow me to live with myself, which isn’t easy in Arrowood.

It worked until my one lapse in judgement showed up to bite me in the ass.

My best friend’s arrogant, moody, and persistent little brother who just won’t take no for an answer. I’ve never wanted and hated someone so much in my life. He’s determined to pull my secrets out of me—I’m determined to resist him.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Much like the previous two books in the series, I feel like we don’t get to really KNOW the characters. The story was fine, but there just was no depth.

Adam, the middle and grouchy brother who runs the bar is the focus this time. Hilarious that he is a total grump to his family, often to his friends, keeps a tally of “friend points” AND bans people from his bar for a myriad of reasons- yet he is described as the nicest guy. Mmmkay

Because he is mad at his other two brothers, he has been crashing at his best friend’s house. Until best friend’s brother shows up. And he and Adam have a very brief past. So Adam is mean to him. SHOCK.

Both of these guys have issues. But they can’t keep their hands off of each other. And they think they will keep it a secret. Riiiiigggghhhhhhhhtttttttt

Adam does seem to reconcile with his brothers, so that is nice.

But there was a lot of head scratchers in here. It’s the Colorado mountains in winter. So stopping for a wank while hiking is a good idea? As is having sex. Naked. Outside.

Time makes no sense either. I don’t know if it is days, weeks or months that have passed. And OH MY GOD Adam’s parents. They were cute and eccentric in the first two books. In this book they are just flat out crazy.

OH! And Cory (Sage’s brother, Adam’s bff) was born with a different name. Which Sage uses occasionally and no one ever mentions it!

This story could have been so much more than it was. Adam was grouchy, I would have SLAPPED Sage across the face the way he spoke to Adam’s parents and it was lacking emotion.

3 pieces of eye candy