review

Dom of Ages by Wells and Williams : New Release, Excerpt and Giveaway

December 21, 2015 by Denise

Eli may only be thirty, but he has had enough of pretend submissives. He wants a sub who truly knows how to submit. So when he spies Jarod in a BDSM club, everything about the man screams submission. It doesn’t matter that Jarod has to be about twenty years older than Eli. What does age matter, anyway? Not one to miss an opportunity, Eli moves fast and takes Jarod home with him, without thinking things through. All he can see is what he’s always wanted – a sub who wants to serve.

Jarod spent twenty-eight years with his Master, until Fate took Phillip from him. Four years on, and Jarod is still lost, so when a young Dom takes charge, Jarod rolls with it and finds himself serving again. But he keeps waiting for the shoe to drop. Because there’s going to come a point when Eli realizes he’s a laughing stock in the club. Who would want to be seen with a fifty-year-old sub? And when the moment of humiliation does arrive, Jarod flees. He’d be better off with Phillip.

Despite several missteps, what happens forces Eli to understand that Jarod needs him as much as he needs Jarod. But he knows in order to find happiness, they need friends who will understand. A friend keeps telling him Collars & Cuffs is what they need. Eli finally goes to visit, refusing to risk Jarod being hurt again, and finds everything he’s heard about the club is true. When he takes Jarod, he watches as his sub is met with open arms. As they settle in to their new life, Eli begins to see things differently. And he dares to think he can have it all. Until the phone call that shows him he didn’t realize what he could lose.

Author Names: K.C. Wells & Parker Williams

Book Name: Dom of Ages

Series: Collars & Cuffs

Book: Seven

Release Date: December 21, 2015

Pages or Words: 92,000 words

Categories: BDSM, Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance, May-December Romance

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27878173-dom-of-ages

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Paul Richmond

Photo Credits: Joey Flyfoto, Model: Dirk Caber

Eli gripped the bars of the multigym. It was a small workout room, but he utilized every square inch of space beautifully. He pulled the bar down slowly, inhaling as he did, then released, exhaling. I watched in awe as his muscles strained, and I could feel myself get hard. Eli glanced up and winked at me.

“Want to spot me with the barbells, pet?” He wiped his hands on a towel and walked over to where the barbell was supported on its stands, a long bench beneath it. At each end of the stand was a pile of weights.

I’d never done that, but I’d seen it on TV. “Yes, Sir.”

He smiled. “You need to learn to do this properly. Lie down on the bench and I’ll show you the basics.”

I lay down, my head at the narrow end of the bench, the stands on either side, level with my chest. Eli tugged me around until he was satisfied that I was where I needed to be. Then he stood at my head, so that I had to crane my neck to gaze up at him.

“That’s perfect, pet.” His voice was husky, and I looked up the length of his body, his chest dripping with sweat. He met my gaze. “So, I’d lie where you are, with my hands on the bar, arms bent. Your job would be to stand here, like I’m doing, and be ready to grab hold of the bar if it looks like I can’t manage to lift it back onto the stand.”

“Okay.”

“Want to give it a go?”

I smiled. “Yes, why not?” I gripped the bar, my hands at each end of its length. Eli held it in the middle, supporting its weight.

“Okay, pet, now push up, straightening your arms, and then lower the bar to your chest.”

I did as instructed, Eli’s gaze focused on me the whole time. I performed about five lifts and then placed the bar back on its stands, Eli helping.

“That was very good.” He moved closer, and the fabric of his sweat pants brushed against my forehead. “Are you comfortable, pet?”

“Yes, Sir.” I waited for him to give the signal for me to lift some more. He leaned forward a little more, and his crotch grazed my nose. I inhaled his aroma, so strong after his workout. “Please, Sir,” I moaned.

He pulled down on the top of the pants and fished out his hard cock. He slid it along my lips, chuckling when I tried to capture it in my mouth. I groaned in frustration.

“Is this what you want, Jarod? Do you want me to take you like this? In this position I can push deeper than ever before. Will you be able to take it all?”

Just the thought of deep-throating that gorgeous cock had me as hard as nails. “Yes, Sir,” I replied confidently.

Eli angled me where my head was over the edge of the bench, looking up at him and then rubbed along my lips with his dick. I could taste his precome, slightly sweet.

“You ready, pet?”

I grinned up at him. “Yes, Sir.” I cupped his full balls in my left hand, his buttock with my right.

“Open your mouth.”

I opened wide, and he slid his cock into my mouth. This angle was perfect for him to deep-fuck my throat. I heard his groans and moans as his balls slapped against my nose, the fine hairs tickling slightly.

“You’re doing so well, Jarod. I want you to stay perfectly still. Let me do the work.”

He twisted his fingers in my hair, yanking upward. The sting felt so good.

“Take me deeper, pet. All the way, if you can.”

I smiled inwardly and swallowed around his cock. I know he’d instructed otherwise, but I couldn’t help it. I put both hands on his arse, pulling him deep.

“Fucking hell,” he moaned. “Yes, pet. Just like that.”

He gripped the barbell and started thrusting into my mouth, using me for his own pleasure. Words of encouragement fell from his lips as he panted my name. “Oh hell, pet. Jarod… so good.”

His cock had me drooling, dripping down my cheeks. I swirled my tongue around the head each time he pulled back and opened my throat wide each time he pushed in. I sucked for all I was worth, trying to give him as much pleasure as possible.

“Soon, pet. Very soon. I’m going to paint you with it. Your face, your chest. You’ll be wearing me until I let you shower.”

The thought vibrated through my head. I knew that I risked a punishment, but in that moment it was worth it. He started short, quick thrusts, and I knew he was about to spill. I threw my hands around his arse and held him tight, forcing his cock to stay in my mouth as the warm, salty essence spurted onto my tongue. I kept him there as I pulled every last drop, his breathing ragged. He pulled out, his cock softening as it grazed across my face.

“Holy fuck, that was amazing,” he said quietly, rubbing his finger along my cheek. His eyes sparkled. “Still, I did tell you not to move. And don’t think I didn’t notice that you derailed my plans to paint you with come, pet. I think that calls for a punishment. After I get my legs back.” He lifted the barbell out of the way and leaned over to kiss me. I shared with him the taste of his own come, his tongue leisurely exploring my mouth. He pushed a low moan between my lips, and it made my heart sing.

My hard-on ached, but I made no move to touch myself. Eli had gotten his pleasure and that was enough for me. Later I would have to face the consequences of my action, but no matter what they were, it was truly worth it.

“I think we need a nap,” Eli said in a decisive tone.

“Sir?”

He grinned. “A nap. You know, curled up in bed, dozing. That sounds like a nice way to spend an afternoon.” He winked. “And there’s still the matter of your punishment, but we can talk about that later. After the nap.”

The penny dropped. Like I’d be able to nap, thinking about what was coming.

Part of me was asking if I still thought it was worth it. The other half was thinking maybe Eli was more evil than I’d anticipated.

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E-BOOKS 1 – 6 are on sale at Dreamspinner for $1.00 each!

K.C. Wells:

Born and raised in the north-west of England, K.C. Wells always loved writing. Words were important. Full stop. However, when childhood gave way to adulthood, the writing ceased, as life got in the way.

K.C. discovered erotic fiction in 2009, where the purchase of a ménage storyline led to the startling discovery that reading about men in love was damn hot. In 2012, arriving at a really low point in life led to the desperate need to do something creative. An even bigger discovery waited in the wings—writing about men in love was even hotter….

K.C. now writes full time and is loving every minute of her new career.

The laptop still has no idea of what hit it… it only knows that it wants a rest, please. And it now has to get used to the idea that where K.C goes, it goes.

Parker Williams:

Parker Williams began to write as a teen, but never showed his work to anyone. As he grew older, he drifted away from writing, but his love of the written word moved him to reading. A chance encounter with an author changed the course of his life as she encouraged him to never give up on a dream. With the help of some amazing friends, he rediscovered the joy of writing, thanks to a community of writers who have become his family.

Parker firmly believes in love, but is also of the opinion that anything worth having requires work and sacrifice (plus a little hurt and angst, too). The course of love is never a smooth one, and Happily Ever After always has a price tag.

Where to find the authors:

KC:

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

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KCWells/223608907761521

Twitter: @K_C_Wells

Parker:

Connect with Parker on: Twitter: @ParkerWAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parker.williams.75641

Or you can visit his website: http://www.ParkerWilliamsAuthor.com

Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bayou Book Junkie, Decadent Delights, 3 Chicks After Dark, Gay Book Reviews, Unquietly Me, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Alpha Book Club, The Hat Party, Divine Magazine, BFD Book Blog, Happily Ever Chapter, Love Bytes, Lee Brazil, Jessie G. Books, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, TTC Books and More, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Book Lovers 4Ever, My Fiction Nook, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Charley Descoteaux, Carly’s Book Reviews, Molly Lolly, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, KathyMac Reviews, Three Books Over the Rainbow, Bonkers About Books, Emotion in Motion, A.M. Leibowitz, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Velvet Panic, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews

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Sno Ho & Life in Fusion by Ethan Day : Quick Reviews

December 19, 2015 by Denise

Boone Daniels seems to have trouble finishing things. Along with the half dozen or so novels he’s started, only to abandon mid-way through, his love life could be best described as a series of drive-bys.

Boone has spent the past week staying at a ski lodge in the tiny mountain town of Summit City. He’s been using his time alone to write while waiting for his boyfriend to join him for their anniversary.

What happens to Boone when he winds up dumped on the eve of his one-year anniversary and ends up at a bar having one too many cocktails? Wade Walker.

Do you know that friend who’s absolutely amazing most of the time, but sometimes goes off on these wild tangents that make you roll your eyes, wondering why they’re trying so hard? That’s how I felt about Sno Ho by Ethan Day.

Boone is an interesting character. When he chilled out, I loved him. But when he was trying to be funny, I felt it was exactly that. He was trying. Or rather, Ethan Day was trying to craft a hilarious character and could have pulled it back a bit. At one point, the joking around when Wade was trying to be serious annoyed the hell out of me.

And Wade… oh, Wade… I spent a great deal of the book trying to figure out what his deal was. He’s obviously the golden boy of Summit City and he has a pure heart, but sometimes, I felt like he’d gone from being a big teddy bear to a bearskin rug. He was willing to call Boone out on his eating habits, and asked a few times about the inappropriate banter and inability to be serious, but I can’t imagine many people sticking around long with how Boone behaved.

The story opens with Boone waking up after a drunken one-night stand, but by the time he leaves, the only reason he knows the name of the man who left him walking funny is that he dug through his mail. Okay, cool. It happens. But honestly, I’m still not sure WHY these men were attracted to one another. It may have been the hot sex, but other than that, I’m somewhat clueless. I guess what I’m saying is I wish we had more connection and fewer antics in Sno Ho.

This was a quick read, and I’ll admit I’m getting ready to dive into Life In Fusion. My hope is that we’ll get to learn more about why Boone and Wade work when it’s more than a one week vacation rebound fling.

3.5 pieces of Eye Candy

Aspiring author, Boone Daniels, always figured love would be as easy as he was. Fresh off a whirlwind winter-vacation romance with ski-god and would-be boyfriend, Wade Walker – Boone was certain that saying goodbye would be the hardest part.

He’d survived the unconventional way in which they came together, proven himself somewhat worthy to Wade’s hometown of Summit City, and felt certain the self-imposed, six month boy-buffer would prove one thing – their fate was to be forever entwined.

Once real life settles in, Boone suffers the realization that no one ever actually said love was easy and that even after you fall, you can still break. As their two worlds collide, he begins to understand that if he can navigate the landscape of life in fusion, he just might get that happily-ever-after…after all.

Wade and Boone’s story continues from Sno Ho into Life in Fusion…

For the most part, I enjoyed Life in Fusion more than I did Sno Ho. Boone seemed to chill out a bit and wasn’t quite as immature. He still had his moments of randomness, but they didn’t feel as forced in this book.

I enjoyed seeing Wade and Boone tackle their time apart. I fell in love with them as people and was cheering for them to have their happily ever after. There were a few moments when I wanted to shake the life out of Boone and tell him to use his big boy words instead of getting pissy, but I got past them.

The friendship with Gabe, and how upset he was about Boone being with someone, confused me. At first, I thought he was worried for his friend, but the longer it went on, the more it felt like he was a jealous tool. I wound up really NOT liking him. And never understood why Chip and Wade didn’t like one another.

The only reason this book didn’t rate higher is that I found myself skimming. A lot. The background stories threatened to barge their way into Wade and Boone’s time. And I’ll admit, after reading the first part of Boone’s WIP, I skipped over the rest. I get that the author was trying to show that Boone had his mojo back, but it wasn’t the type of story that intrigued me as a reader. And there wasn’t just a paragraph here and there, it was pages at the beginning of each part of the book.

3.75 pieces of Eye Candy

Ethan Day | Author

ethan@ethanday.com w. www.ethanday.com

A Forced Silence by Cate Ashwood : Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

December 19, 2015 by Denise

For paramedic Adam Carson, his world is lights and sirens and saving lives. Pressures at work keep him firmly in the closet, and life is too busy to contend with the complications that come with dating and relationships. When a familiar face from his past turns up where he least expects it, Adam starts to question whether or not there is room in his life for those complications.

The last person forensic pathologist Sam McKenna expects to see at pub night is Adam, the guy who made his life hell in high school. The attraction is instant, but Adam isn’t gay and Sam has no interest in pursuing him. Still, the leftover animosity from their teenage years isn’t enough to extinguish the lust growing between them. After both are called to the scene of a horrific murder, Adam admits he’s not as straight as he led Sam to believe and they seek comfort and distraction in each other’s arms. One night becomes many as the murder investigation intensifies, but when Adam is faced with losing Sam, he is forced to make a choice: to break his silence, or to give up everything for the job he loves.

Author Name: Cate Ashwood

Book Name: A Forced Silence

Series: Zero Hour

Book: One

Release Date: December 11, 2015

Pages or Words: 200 pages

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

Goodreads Link

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Melody Pond

This was my first book by Cate Ashwood, and I will say that immediately after finishing A Forced Silence, I went an grabbed Tasting Notes to read that as well. It seems I have some books to catch up on to get through her library.

The story of these two men began in high school, with Sam (aka Dex) and Adam being at odds, an enemies to lovers story. Dealing with not only the murder of a young man, both the paramedic who dealt with it at the scene and the forensic pathologist who gave voice to the young man who died, had to find a way to not only co-exist, but quickly gave into their passion.

One thing that was exceptional to me was Adam being in the closet. Now, this is nothing new, quite often we read about characters struggling to get out of the closet, wondering how it will affect their family, friends, co-workers, etc. However, in the case of Adam, I loved how Sam reacted. He let it be. He didn’t try to force Adam out of the closet. He didn’t tell him he was silly for being in the closet. He respected his decision, and let him know that if and when he was ready to come out he would be there, but he wasn’t going to be the one to push him out.

Their relationship was well connected, as these were two very fleshed out characters, with not only history between them, but passion, and both with a need to help people.

I did find the ending rather abrupt. It had a little bit of a cliffhanger (not with the relationship), but it just felt slightly unfinished. There were a few questions that should have been dealt with, and its entirely possible the next book may deal with them. However, I did feel that at least one or two needed to be dealt with in this book, as it was specific to these characters, and not the overall arc of the secondary storyline.

In the end, I still found it an enjoyable read.

4 pieces of eye candy.

“Ah, here they are,” Ford said, turning his head toward two men who were making their way to the table.

“Adam, John, this is Sam. Sam, these are two of the city’s ugliest heroes, John and Adam.” Ford made the introductions as John slid into a chair across from him, lifting his head in greeting.

Sam swallowed hard, barely registering anything other than the man still standing in front of him. Adam Carson. He watched as recognition dawned in Adam’s eyes and a slow smirk appeared on his face. It was the same familiar cocky expression he wore when Sam knew him a billion years earlier.

“You sure have grown up, Dexter,” Adam said, exercising the nickname he had used for him all through school.

Sam lifted one eyebrow. “It seems you haven’t.”

“You two know each other?” Ford asked, eyebrows lifted in question.

“Oh, me and Dex go way back,” Adam supplied, never taking his eyes off Sam.

“Dex?”

Sam rolled his eyes. Ford was his friend, but that didn’t mean he wanted to rehash the shit that happened back in high school. That name was one that haunted him right through the twelfth grade. When he moved, he tucked it safely away, but tonight, it seemed, it had followed him.

“Long story,” Adam said. “It’s good to see you. It’s been a long time.”

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

ARe

Cate Ashwood wrote her very first story in a hot pink binder when she was in the second grade and found her passion for writing. Her first successful foray into romance writing came five years later when she wrote her best friend, who was experiencing a case of unrequited love, her own happily ever after.

Cate’s life has taken a number of different and adventurous roads. She now lives a stone’s throw from the ocean, just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, son, and two cats. Her life is filled with family and friends, travel, and, of course, books.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cate.ashwood

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Cate-Ashwood-Author-288329491267435/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cateashwood

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

Newsletter: http://www.cateashwood.com/contact.html (Sign-up on the right hand side of the blog)
Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Bayou Book Junkie, V’s Reads, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Cate Ashwood, KathyMac Reviews, Just Love Romance, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, The Hat Party, The Jena Wade, Carly’s Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Happily Ever Chapter, Iyana Jenna, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Molly Lolly, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, Sassygirl Books, Alpha Book Club, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Andrew Q. Gordon, Velvet Panic, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, My Fiction Nook, 3 Chicks After Dark, Kirsty Loves Books

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Moment of Silence by Karen Stivali : Release Day Review and Giveaway

December 18, 2015 by Denise

Growing up, Jason Stern led a charmed life complete with devoted sisters, a father who was one of Brooklyn’s most respected rabbis, and a mother who made the world’s best babka. He headed to NYU ready for anything—except falling for the wrong guy, coming out, and getting disowned by his once-loving family. In spite of that, Jason managed to graduate with honors. He’s got friends who treat him like family, and he’s proudly running the largest LGBTQ teen shelter in Manhattan. Life is good, but he’s still falling for the wrong men.

When charming, sexy Quinn Fitzpatrick begins work at the shelter, Jason falls hard and fast. Quinn is tall, blond, funny—damn near perfect. Only if Quinn’s gay, even he doesn’t seem to know it. If he does, he’s not telling anyone. And he’s about one ceremony away from becoming a Catholic priest.

Long hours of work turn to long nights of talking and laughter, and Jason dares to hope this time he’s falling for the right guy. But Quinn’s got a past to deal with and major decisions to make about his future. When Quinn leaves for a silent retreat, Jason knows the silence may change everything.

Author Name: Karen Stivali

Book Name: Moment of Silence

Series: Moments In Time

This book is a ‘Moments in Time Novel’. It takes place in the same world, but can be read separately.

Release Date: December 18, 2015

Pages or Words: 76,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5170527.Karen_Stivali

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Anna Sikorska

Pierogi were just what the evening required. We got two orders, potato with fried onions, and cheese doused in butter. To round things out, we added a gigantic link of kielbasa and finished it all off with blueberry blintzes. By the time we were done eating, I was so full I could barely move.

“This was awesome.” Quinn licked a purple streak of blueberry off his fork before setting it down and pushing his plate away.

I was too mesmerized by the sight of his tongue to speak right away.

The waitress stopped at our booth. “All set?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

She placed the paper check between us, and Quinn reached for it, but I grabbed it first. “I’ve got this one. Make up for the popcorn you gave away.”

“You don’t have to do that.” He pulled out his wallet and put a twenty on the table.

“You can’t let anyone do anything for you, can you?”

Quinn’s eyes bugged, then softened. “Yeah, I guess I do have a problem with that sometimes.”

“Sometimes?”

“Okay, most of the time.”

“You know what they say. The first step is admitting you have a problem. And the second is letting me pay for dinner.” I stuck the check and enough money for the meal and tip under the glass sugar shaker, then grabbed Quinn’s twenty, folded it in half, leaned over, and tucked it into his shirt pocket.

My fingers were in the pocket before I fully realized what I was doing. Then the whole universe condensed into the drag of my fingers on that two-inch-square area of his chest. His rock-solid chest that tightened the instant I made contact. My own chest froze, devoid of air. I’d forgotten how to breathe. All I could do was think about the fact that I had my hand on this man who’d consumed my waking and sleeping hours for weeks. And I had to let go. Literally.

I pulled my hand away, trying to turn the rush of breath that returned to my lungs into something resembling a laugh. “Ready to get out of here?”

Quinn nodded.

Shit. He’s silent again. Did he notice that moment of fantasy lust I just played out? What the fuck is wrong with me? Way to make him uncomfortable. Fuck—My monologue of self-criticism was interrupted by his hand on my shoulder.

His hand was probably a normal temperature, but given the heat it generated in my body, he might as well have been the Human Torch . Great. I’m not only in love with a straight priest, he’s also a superhero.

Quinn chuckled, and for a second I worried I’d said my crazy thoughts out loud. My face flushed to match the heat that coursed through the rest of me. “What?”

He handed me my keys. “You left these on the table.”

“Oh.” I took them, heat flaring through me in another rush when his fingers brushed mine as he placed the keyring in my hand. “Thanks. Geez. That would have sucked if I’d left those here.”

“Yeah.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I nearly tripped over the step as we left the restaurant. It was a text from Campbell. I laughed. “Apparently my roommate’s having an orange juice crisis, as in we’re out of orange juice. I need to stop at the bodega on the way home. I feel like we’re married sometimes. In a weird, sexless way.” Stop talking. Now.

“It’s good you get along so well.”

I gestured to the store on the next corner. “You need anything?”

“Nah. I’m too full to even think about eating or drinking anything.”

“The power of the pierogi.”

He grinned. “See you tomorrow?”

“Get some sleep. Tomorrow we’ll work on those shelves. Unless you think we need to run the math one more time.”

“Just triple-checking your skills.” The teasing sound in his voice made me want to stay on that corner and talk to him all night. Anything to keep hold of the pleasant hum that was vibrating through my body. But then he turned away, heading toward his place, hand in the air in a backward wave of sorts. “Good night.”

It was indeed. “Night.”

I’m a huge fan of the Moments in Time series. It took me a while to pick up Moment of Impact, but once I did, I couldn’t get enough. Now that Tanner and Collin are happy and in love, Karen Stivali has moved on to writing about some of their friends and family.

Moment of Silence is the story of Jason and Quinn. Those who’ve read the earlier books in the series will remember them from Moment of Truth and Moment of Clarity. Jason was the friend who was crushing on Collin when they were on Fire Island, and Quinn is Collin’s almost-priest brother.

I went into the story blind because Karen Stivali has yet to let me down with a book in this series. That may have been a bit of a hindrance, because it took me a little while to remind myself who they were. Once the puzzle pieces started to fall into place, I couldn’t get enough.

I worried about how this story would play out given the fact that there was not only Quinn’s potential priesthood, but the fact that Jason’s father is a Rabbi. That could have been a recipe for disaster because sometimes books with such strong, religious characters tend to come across preachy. Not the case here.

Quinn definitely struggled with his feelings for Jason and the future he’d been working toward for a decade. As I read, I felt for him. I wanted him to be happy. And luckily, Jason didn’t go into this relationship with any expectations of what would happen in the future. He knew the score. He knew there was a chance Quinn would walk away.

I can’t say too much more without giving away major parts of the story, but I will say this is one of the first books in a while to make me both laugh and cry. When I finished the last page, I couldn’t help but read the excerpt for Moment of Fate at the back of the book, because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this cast of characters. Karen Stivali is still firmly on my must-read list with this great new release!

4.5 pieces of Eye Candy

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Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies, and fictional British men. She’s also the multiple award-winning author of contemporary and erotic romances. She writes novels about love…like real life, only hotter.

Karen’s lifelong fascination with people has led her to careers ranging from hand-drawn animator, to party planner, to marriage and family counselor, but writing has always been her passion. Karen enjoys nothing more than following her characters on their journey toward love. Whether the couples are m/f or m/m, it’s guaranteed that Karen’s novels are filled with food, friendship, love, and smoking hot sex—all the best things in life.

When Karen isn’t writing (and often when she is), she can be found on Twitter attempting witty banter and detailing the antics of her fruit-loving cat, BadKitteh. She loves to hear from readers (and other writers), so don’t hesitate to contact/follow/like her at: [insert contact info here]

Where to find the author:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenstivali

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

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/karenstivali/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5170527.Karen_Stivali

Blog: http://karenstivali.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/KarenStivaliAuthor?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, BFD Book Blog, Bayou Book Junkie, Unquietly Me, KathyMac Reviews, 3 Chicks After Dark, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Jessie G. Books, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Elin Gregory, Inked Rainbow Reads, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, Just Love Romance, Three Books Over the Rainbow, Book Lovers 4Ever, Butterfly-O-Meter, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Charley Descoteaux, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, A.M. Leibowitz, My Fiction Nook, V’s Reads

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Snowed In by Teodora Kostova : Quick Review

December 15, 2015 by Denise

Be careful what you wish for…

Nate has been in love with Quinn, his brother’s best friend, for as long as he can remember. But when he finally gets the chance to show Quinn how he feels, his heart gets broken in the most unexpected way.

Second chances come when you least expect them…

Quinn doesn’t believe in miracles, especially not Christmas ones. When he decides to win Nate back he knows it won’t be easy. The last thing he expects is a health scare, a road trip and a vicious snow storm to work in his favor.

In the end, a cabin in the woods turns out to be not only the shelter they desperately need, but also Quinn’s very own Christmas miracle.

Sometimes, to forgive, you need to get snowed in…

*Stand alone novella, not connected to any series

Amazon

This holiday novella follows Nate and Quinn, through their very young adulthood for part one. Then again several years later for part two, as they get to their HEA.

Nate was such a sweet young man in part one, who couldn’t wait to see the man he had been in love with since they met. Quinn left town, and broke his heart, and Nate became an angry, promiscuous man, who hated Quinn upon seeing him again.

I will admit, that after Quinn broke Nate’s heart at the end of part one, I was angry myself. I couldn’t read the novella for a while after that, stewing in my anger, much the way Nate seemed to do. When Quinn came back, to win Nate over, I was hesitant at first too, not knowing why Quinn left in the first place. He tried to convince Nate that he wanted him back, that he wanted to make up for the pain he had caused.

I did have a few issues with the characterizations in this novella, though. There might be a few small spoilers ahead, so you are warned.

The brain tumor of Quinn’s roommate led the pack here. Quinn felt beholden to the roommate as he got sick, and that he needed to care for him. That was the type of person he was, wanting to take care of a man who had taken care of him. However, in all honesty, they had been roommates and friends, so why would Quinn choose to hurt a man so tremondously, that he claimed to love, because someone who was a friend was sick? Could it be because he didn’t want Nate to see him struggling to deal with it? Perhaps. Another reason might have been their ages. Making a decision like that, at that age, could very well be what someone would think was best. However, for me, it didn’t strike me as something someone who loves you would do.

In addition, remembering that Nate’s parents had taken in Quinn, much as the roommate had, why would the roommate win over Quinn’s devotion more than Nate? Was it because Nate had his brother and parents, and the roommate had no one? That is entirely possible, but again, I go back to the fact that the roommate was just a friend, and Nate could have easily been a source of support for Quinn as he helped the man die with dignity.

All that being said, I definitely felt the connection between these two. One of the issues sometimes with novellas is they are so fast, it’s hard to feel the connection that the reader wants in order to get to the HEA satisfactorily. In this case, that wasn’t an issue. Because Nate and Quinn had a connection prior to expressing their love to each other, the reader was able to feel that bond reform as they traveled towards Denver, and found themselves at the place that their previous falling out had taken place.

There was so much to love in this novella, two men who tiptoed around each other for years, then had to find a way to go from enemies to lovers, some hot sex scenes (because Teodora can definitely write some of those!), and an awesome cover, that my other issues could be put to the backburner somewhat.

I definitely enjoyed this one, and was glad I got a chance to read it. I would love to read a little more on these men. How they were able to work through some of the lingering anger and fears to solidify their relationship could be an entirely different novella!

3.75 pieces of Eye Candy for me

Hi, my name is Teodora and I live in London with my husband and my son. I’ve been writing ever since I can remember, but it became my full time job a few years ago when I decided that everything else I’ve tried bores me to death and I have to do what I’ve always wanted to do, but never had the guts to fully embrace. I’ve been a journalist, an editor, a personal assistant and an interior designer among other things, but as soon as the novelty of the new, exciting job wears off, I always go back to writing. Being twitchy, impatient, loud and hasty are not qualities that help a writer, because I have to sit alone, preferably still, and write for most of the day, but I absolutely love it. It’s the only time that I’m truly at peace and the only thing I can do for more than ten minutes at a time – my son has a bigger attention span than me.
When I’m procrastinating, I like to go to the gym, cook Italian meals (and eat them), read, listen to rock music, watch indie movies and True Blood re-runs. Or, in the worst case scenario, get beaten at every Nintendo Wii game by a kid.
Don’t be shy and get in touch – I love connecting with my readers.

Blog: www.teodorakostova.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Teodora_Kostova
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E-mail: t.t.kostova@gmail.com

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What Happens At Christmas by Jay Northcote : Quick Review

December 15, 2015 by Denise

When two friends pose as boyfriends, could what happens at Christmas turn into something more?

Justin is recently and unhappily single. Christmas is coming, and he doesn’t want to face his ex alone at their office party. So Sean—Justin’s best mate and long-time secret crush—volunteers to go with him and pretend to be his new flame.

Sean has always lusted after Justin from afar, but there’s never been a good opportunity to ask him for more than friendship. Posing as Justin’s boyfriend isn’t a chore, and if Justin wants to rebound onto him, Sean’s more than willing. At the party pretence and reality blur, and a kiss on the dance floor leads to a night of passion.

In the aftermath, they both assume it was a one-time thing until fate intervenes. Stuck together in London over the holidays, they give in to temptation again. But what happens at Christmas stays at Christmas… right?

Length: 37,000 words

Amazon

What Happens at Christmas by Jay Northcote combines two of my favorite tropes: friends to lovers and holiday magic. Justin and Sean were both written beautifully. Even though this is a novella, I felt there was plenty of time given to getting to know both characters, as well as explore their feelings for one another.

It would have been so easy for this story to take a turn into a cheesy mess, but the author never went that far. It was a perfect balance between Sean and Justin trying to play their parts in front of Justin’s ex and them trying to decide whether to hide or reveal their own feelings.

Even though it would have been plausible if they had jumped right into the sack, I appreciated that there was a bit of build up to them doing the deed. It made their connection that much stronger and believable.

I’m not typically a fan of novellas because they always leave me feeling like something’s missing, but that was NOT the case this time. I feel confident that Justin and Sean are on their way to a great new life together and will stand the test of time!

This book has already been added to my holiday collection and I can’t wait until next year when I can enjoy it all over again!

5 pieces of Eye Candy