romance

Promises by Marie Sexton: Blog Tour, Exclusive Guest Post with Giveaway

May 14, 2019 by Denise

We are so excited to have Marie Sexton with us today. Marie is re-releasing Promises (Coda: Book 1) today, and if you haven’t read it, it is a fantastic book. Love Coda, Colorado! 🙂 Check out her Guest Post about crazy things found in the woods…and honestly, her own story made me laugh out loud…I want to go camping with Marie! Leave a comment for Marie for a chance to win one of her backlist books!

Can a man who loves his small hometown trust it to love him back?

Jared Thomas has lived in the mountain town of Coda, Colorado his whole life. He can’t imagine living anywhere else. But Jared’s opportunities are limited—the only other gay man in town is twice his age, and although Jared originally planned to be a teacher, the backlash that might accompany the gig keeps him working at his family’s store instead.

Then Matt Richards moves to town.

Matt may not be into guys, but he doesn’t care that Jared is. A summer camping and mountain biking together cements their friendship, but when Matt realizes he’s attracted to Jared, he panics and withdraws, leaving Jared all too aware of what he’s missing.

Facing Matt’s affair with a local woman, his disapproving family, and harassment from Matt’s coworkers, Jared fears they’ll never find a way to be together. But for the first time, he has the courage to try… if he can only convince Matt.

Meant to Be
Jared has simple goals for his freshman year of college: make friends, lose his virginity, come out, and maybe fall in love. He doesn’t anticipate getting caught between his friend Bryan and Bryan’s flamboyant ex. Through the awkwardness, Jared learns love doesn’t always mean sex and the most meaningful connections might have nothing to do with romance.

First Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, 2010.

Title: Promises
Series: Coda: Book 1
Author: Marie Sexton
Release Date: May 14, 2019
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 224

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Crazy Things Found In the Woods

Hello, everybody! I’m Marie Sexton, and I’m here today to celebrate the re-release of my very first novel, Promises. I asked my Facebook group for blog post topics, and because Promises features geocaching, one of my readers suggested I write about the top five weirdest things I’d found while doing it.

The problem is, I’ve never actually been geocaching! It’s one of those things hubby and I used to think we’d like to do, but we never got around to it. (Having a baby really threw a wrench in our camping/4-wheeling lifestyle!) So instead, I started Googling strange things found in the woods.

As you can imagine, there are all kinds of oddball things — from landmines to dead animals arranged in odd ways to headstones and altars to dolls, teddy bears, and clowns. (Yeah. Clowns.) One of the most interesting stories I stumbled across was about a cabin in the Arcata Forest. The cabin itself was odd enough, but the really strange thing was what they found when they went to check on it later.

You can the Google the disappearing Arcata cabin, or check out this video (the link should take you to the relevant segment):

https://youtu.be/HnPcnu-I9Uk?t=288

But that made me think about the things I’ve personally encountered in the woods. Before we had our daughter, my husband and I camped ALL THE TIME. We had one particular rutted dirt road we liked to camp along — there were three or four awesome spots between it and the river. We’d even skip out of work early on Fridays so we could get up there before anybody else. But one weekend, we found something ….odd.

It was a photo of an old woman in a bed, hooked up to a respirator. It didn’t look like a real photograph, if that makes sense. It looked more like a stock photo that might be used to advertise a nursing home or respite care. I don’t really know how to explain it other than by saying the scene looked too clean and staged, with the focus being more on the respirator than the woman. It had been blown up to about 11×17 inches and professionally mounted on foamboard, and was nailed to a tree right in the center of the camping spot. In the fire pit, we found remnants of what seemed to be a luggage set, all burned up.

Mostly, I just can’t see why somebody paid to have this photo of what appeared to be a woman literally on her deathbed blown up and mounted, but then left it nailed to a tree in the woods.

The second oddest thing I ever ran across wasn’t an item. It was a man. A buck-ass naked man, actually.

We were at Lake Powell. My friend Caroline and I were canoeing in one of the little side canyons (they probably have a name, but I’m not sure what it is) when we heard music. We followed it, and ran across a rather large, elaborate campsite. It looked as if the campers had been living there for quite some time. The young woman on shore waved excitedly and invited us to join her for a beer. We figured, why not? But as we were paddling to shore, a much older man came out of the tent, completely nude. I assumed he’d be embarrassed and rush to put on some pants, but no. He brought us our beers, and chatted with us, completely calm and naked the entire time.

The really odd thing is, they somehow ended up coming to our houseboat for dinner that night. I don’t remember why in the world we invited the naked man to our boat. I think it was because the young woman with him seemed so desperate for company. Luckily, the man wore clothes that night.

Back when we camped a lot, we often had people ask us if we were afraid of bears or wolves. Honestly, we never saw either. The scariest thing we ever found in our campsite was a herd of cows, who left the place a bit messy when they left.

That’s it! Those are the craziest things I’ve found in the woods. What about you? Have you ever found anything you just couldn’t explain?

For those who are interested, you can join my private Facbook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MarieSextonFans/

That’s about the only place on social media where I hang out and talk about things other than hockey. J

Thanks very much to Two Chicks Obsessed for having me here today!

Marie Sexton is the author of over thirty published works. She’s written contemporary romance, science fiction, fantasy, dystopian fiction, historical short stories, and a few odd genre mash-ups. Marie lives in Colorado, where she recently fell head-over-heels in love with the Colorado Eagles. She’s happily married, with one teenage daughter, one adorable dog, and one very stupid cat. You can find Marie on Twitter (@mariesexton, where she mostly talks about sports), at www.MarieSexton.net, or in her private Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/MarieSextonFans/

Loved: An Omegaverse Story (Breaking Free Book 8) by A.M. Arthur: New Release Review

May 13, 2019 by Denise

Kell Iverson Cross never imagined he’d find so much joy in his life, and he doesn’t take a single moment for granted. His tireless work championing omega rights have made him a bit of a celebrity across the territory, so when his brother Braun suggests Kell be the first omega to run for public office, Kell doesn’t say no right away. It’s a huge risk to their family, though, and Kell isn’t sure the political statement is worth it. It may be more change than the traditionalist citizens of Sansbury are ready for—especially the ones who’ve already painted a target on Kell’s back.

Demir Higgs is barely staying afloat with both university exams and the upcoming medical school entrance test. Add in spending time with his younger brothers, cultivating his relationship with his two boyfriends, and winning over a grieving ten-year-old? He’s exhausted in the best way, because Demir is happy, healthy and in love with two amazing men—men he isn’t always sure truly need him in their lives.

Brandt Lars’s greatest wish came true when his missing bondmate Oliver and their son Eriq came back into his life. Eriq is still grieving the death of his beloved uncle, and he’s standoffish with Demir. But their family is trying to come together—as well as come out to more of their friends as an alpha/omega/beta triad. But when Oliver’s traditionalist parents refuse to accept Demir and threaten to take Eriq away, Demir can’t help wondering if it’s time for him to back out of their relationship for good…

Settle in for the final full-length installment of the BREAKING FREE series, where an accidental secret, a possible surprise pregnancy, a blast from the past, and an unexpected kidnapping combine to shake up the lives of everyone Kell and Demir know and love. But they’ll survive these challenges and changes the same way they always do: as a united and loving family.

NOTE: This is a non-shifter Omegaverse story with alpha/omega/beta dynamics, heats, knotting, mpreg, and MMM pairings. In this world, omegas are second-class citizens, but they are working toward gaining more civil rights and protections under the law. Series warnings for mentions of past physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. This series is best read in numerical order.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I’m really kind of sad that this series is ending. I had never read an “omegaverse” book before, but since I will read anything AM Arthur writes, I was all in from book 1. The huge arc finishes up here with book 8. And while this book didn’t technically give us a new romance, it did help solidify the romance between Demir, Brandt and Oliver as well as tie up a few loose ends.

Book 7 brought the three men together. But book 8 follows them as they navigate this relationship. Not only between themselves, but also their friends, family, jobs and conservative society they live in.

There is also a side story of Kell running for mayor as the last one was ousted due to a scandal. What is noteworthy is that Kell is a beta with very few rights- running for mayor will cause an uproar.

The first half of the book was a little slow, but it also wrapped up a bunch of story lines. We got to see the different men and where they were in their lives, knowing that they all got their happily ever afters. After that the focus is really on the “throuple”.

There is a bit of drama that comes about- which also helps bring them together AND wrap up the last little loose end in the whole arc.

The story was really satisfying without being to drawn out. I feel so invested in these guys that I am happy to know that they are all happy.

And apparently we will get to see them again- once their children start dating! Gah! I was there when they were all born! hahahahahaha

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Gideon (Finding Home Book 3) by Lily Morton: Release Day Review * 2

May 13, 2019 by Denise

Gideon Ramsay is so far in the closet he should be a talking faun.

A talented, mercurial, and often selfish man, Gideon has everything he should want in life. Fame, money, acting awards – he has it all. Everything but honesty. At the advice of his agent, Gideon has concealed his sexuality for years. But it’s starting to get harder to hide, and his increasingly wild behaviour is threatening to destroy his career.

Then he’s laid low by a serious illness and into his life comes Eli Jones. Eli is everything that Gideon can’t understand. He’s sunny tempered, friendly, and optimistic. Even worse, he’s unaffected by grumpiness and sarcasm, which forms ninety percent of Gideon’s body weight. And now Gideon is trapped with him without any recourse to the drugs and alcohol that have previously eased his way through awkward situations.

However, as Gideon gets to know the other man, he finds himself wildly attracted to his lazy smiles and warm, scruffy charm that seem to fill a hole inside Gideon that’s been empty for a long time. Will he give in to this incomprehensible attraction when it could mean the end of everything that he’s worked for?

From the bestselling author of the Mixed Messages series comes a story about a man who needs to realise that being true to yourself is really just a form of finding home.

This is the third book in the Finding Home series but it can be read as a standalone.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

These books are just so fun. All of her books are. This one wraps up this series, with the final friend/brother getting his happily ever after.

Gideon is Milo’s brother. He is also an asshole. An actor since he was 17, he is used to demanding and getting his way, treating people like crap and never forming relationships. Part of that issue is that he is gay and his manager hasn’t let him come out in the over 20 years he has been in the public eye.

And then he meets his match with the nurse hired to help him as he takes a cruise ship back home after being in the hospital with pneumonia.

Eli and Gideon together are amazing. At first Eli is kind of hesitant of Gideon because of his razor sharp tongue. Until he started giving it right back. I adore banter like that in a book. But they also didn’t rely on JUST that witty banter. Being stuck on a cruise ship for seniors, they really got to know each other and honestly became friends.

But it isn’t just his relationship with Eli that grows- but also with his brother Milo and his childhood best friends, Silas and Niall. Watching Gideon realize that people really do love him no matter how acerbic he is is just so awwww…

Gideon went from being a man child to a man confident in himself and the relationships he has with people. But he never loses that wicked tongue.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Ahhh, Gideon…

The one that was hardest to love. I can say that I hadn’t liked him at all. Selfish, self-absorbed, self-important, self-indulgent, all the selves… He was entitled and bratty and didn’t really care what he did or who he hurt, as long as it benefited him. He was disgusting and I really didn’t think I’d care to read about him.

But, I haven’t read a Lily Morton story and not loved it, so I wanted to give him a chance. Especially because I could see that he was somewhat remorseful when it came to Niall and Milo. So… I dove in. I was NOT disappointed.

As you should know by now, that Gideon is one of movies biggest actors. Like so many of them, with unlimited money and power that brings, he was spiraling down a dangerous road, not taking care of himself. Drugs, alcohol, random guys… as long as they stayed quiet about his sexuality, he didn’t care about much else but himself. So, when a night of too much of all of that, topped with a nice bout of pneumonia, he nearly dies and ends up in the hospital.

Milo isn’t having it, and takes charge of his wellbeing, especially since Gideon nor his manager seem all that concerned. And let me take a second to warn you about this manager, Frankie. You will hate him. It made me sick to my stomach to think that anyone would let ANYONE treat him the way that Frankie treated him. Gideon was so stuck up to so many people, but Gideon, he let use him, talk down to him, treats him like absolute garbage, and for what?? I didn’t understand. I literally stopped reading so many times, because I hated this Frankie business and the way it was played out. He was outwardly homophobic, outwardly abusive towards Gideon, and nobody did anything about it??? WHY???

So, with a collapsed lung, Gideon can’t fly, so Frankie hires who he thinks is a female nurse to take care of Gideon, but he turns out to be a male nurse. A gay, good-looking male nurse, and since he can’t fly back home, Milo sends them on an oldies cruise to get him back to his place. Days with Gideon and his nurse Eli…. What could go wrong?…. or what could go right?

Eli is a nurse to the stars, mainly old folks, or addicts like Gideon, but he’s often jetting around with them, taking care of them for months until their better and then he’s off to the next location and celebrity. He’s never had a problem not falling for his clients, but the surly, bratty Gideon is different. They challenge each other and it’s fun for Eli to rile Gideon up… and Gideon finds himself someone that doesn’t cater to him and become his Yes Man. He cares about his wellbeing and doesn’t let him get away with things. It’s quite entertaining. Their banter is cute.

When their time is up, they’ve both realized that they’ve got something together, though other than a few kisses, they don’t act on, because Eli is worried about Gideon’s health and wellbeing, and it wouldn’t be right as he was just his employer.

So, they take the time they need to figure things out while keeping in touch, and I liked that Eli wanted Gideon to make sure that he was sure he wanted something with him and it wasn’t out of gratitude or some sort of obligation.

I fell in love with Gideon when he fell in love with Eli. I loved that he let his walls break down and let Eli take care of him in all the ways he was used to taking care of everyone else. I loved the way he worked things out with Milo and Niall, and I loved that he finally booted the hateful manager, though I’d have treated him much worse for all the things he put him through over the years.

Overall though, I just love this series, (and the mention of Asa, from Deal Breaker)…. I loved seeing Oz and Silas, and Milo and Niall… it was such a sweet story and I felt that Gideon turned such a big corner that it was so satisfying to see him by the end.

Loved it!

4 pieces of eye candy from me!

Mud & Lace by Jay Northcote: New Release Review

May 5, 2019 by Denise

When Wicksy falls for drag queen Charlie, they discover that both sexuality and gender can be fluid.

Simon Wicks—Wicksy to his rugby teammates—has only ever been interested in women. But when he sets eyes on Lady Gogo, a drag queen who performs at Rainbow Place, he can’t stop thinking about her. He knows there’s a guy behind the fishnets and make-up, but he’s ready to explore his fantasies, and Lady Gogo is game for making them come true.

Charlie adores performing in drag. It allows him to indulge in his love of cross-dressing while earning some extra cash. Fooling around with a mostly straight guy in secret seems like a fun diversion, and gives him the chance to explore his feminine side. He feels safe wearing the mask of his confident alter ego, because the real Charlie is hidden from view.

When Wicksy sees more of the guy behind the make-up and glitter, his attraction to Charlie persists, and he realises he’s bisexual. In turn, Charlie begins to understand and accept his gender fluidity. As their mutual journey of self-discovery brings them closer, the secrecy becomes increasingly hard to deal with. If they’re going to have a future together, they both need to find the courage to show people who they really are.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I was so hoping for Lady Gogo’s story, so I was excited to jump into this one!

Sometimes I forget that these guys are young adult, and I only say that because it was more noticeable in this one. Simon Wicksy is one of the hot rugby guys that hang out at the Rainbow Palace. Allies of the LGBTQ+ community that hang out there. He seemed a bit jockish and brutey in the beginning, I flat out didn’t like him at all. Like straight boys that want to hide in the closet but reap the benefits of foolin around with the pretty boys, I didn’t like how the arrangement between him and Charlie/Ms. Gogo went. Fine to be with him in private but as long as nobody found out. It went on that way for a whiiiiile, and I can’t imagine Charlie being okay with it, except Charlie had some secrets of his own.

We meet Charlie as Lady Gogo, drag performer of RP, and she was sassy and confident and amazing, but apart from her mother knowing that she does it, no one else who knows Charlie, did. Not quite confident in dressing as a girl other times, but loving it, had her questioning her gender fluidity.

Now, here’s what I loved about this story…. Talking about the confusion and acceptance of gender identity. Charlie was trying to come to terms about what he liked and who he was, and what body he felt most comfortable in, and to him…. It wasn’t so cut and dry. He liked both. Some days he felt like Charlie, the boy, and some days he felt more femme, and I loved that. I loved that he had such a supportive parent who didn’t care either way, as long as he was happy…. I like the realistic way it was handled with her, and seeing the struggle with him, because seeing him figure himself out was beautiful. Bravo on that.

Wicksy, though I felt like was selfish in the beginning, was also fighting his own battle, because how would one feel if living their whole life one way, and then at 24 decide they were attracted to a different gender? It would be a bit to get used to, and while I didn’t like the way he used Charlie to figure it out… he sort of made up for it by the end. I was also happy that his family was supportive, though neither men had dads to worry about, and I wondered about that. It doesn’t get addressed though other than Wicksy’s parents being divorced. I only mention that because I remember the psycho dad in previous books and he was the biggest problem. Thankfully he doesn’t make an appearance in this one.

So, I liked that this story tackled such sensitive issues such as gender identity and all the facets of it’s fluidity, and sexual identities, which let me tell you, there are so many, as you will see in this book, and I love that each one is touched on and celebrated.

Overall, it was clumsy and new, it was cute and I enjoyed it. An awesome addition, and I can’t wait for more.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Covet Thy Neighbor (Tucker Springs Book 4) by LA Witt: Release Day Review

May 3, 2019 by Denise

Welcome to Tucker Springs, Colorado, where sparks fly when opposites attract—but are some obstacles too great to overcome?

When tattoo artist Seth Wheeler meets his new neighbor, it’s like a revelation. Darren Romero is everything Seth wants in a man: hot, clever, single, and interested. For a minute he seems perfect. Then Darren drops the bomb: he moved to Tucker Springs to be a pastor at the New Light Church.

As a gay man whose parents threw him out, Seth has a strict policy of keeping believers at arm’s length for self-preservation. But Darren’s perseverance and the chemistry bubbling between them steadily wear down his defenses.

In a small town like Tucker Springs, Seth can’t avoid Darren—or how much he wants him. Which means he needs to decide what’s more important: protecting himself, or his feelings for his neighbor.

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Another book I’ve read before but forgot. And it is a re-edited rerelease, so even if I did remember, some things changed.

I’m a little leary of books that have religion in them. That is my own personal prejudice. But because of that, I really felt for Seth, an atheist with a pretty deep hatred for organized religion. So of course his new across the hall neighbor is a super hot, gay, minister.

I have to say that the back and forth with the 2 guys was very respectful of each other’s views. And really, that was kind of the point of the whole thing. That they don’t have to agree to then still have a relationship. I still say a hardcore atheist and a minister is an odd combo that I don’t see lasting, but hey. This is fiction.

This was one of those quick “beach reads” as I call them. Nothing too deep or angsty. Not a ton of plot, a lot of hot sex and at least a happy for now ending.

3.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

Montana Sky by RJ Scott: Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

May 1, 2019 by Denise

When they spend time alone on a Montana mountainside will Tyler ever convince Martin that like sapphires, love is worth searching for?

Martin’s name was the very last on a kill list. The son of a murderer, he’s had no childhood; lost in a horrific holding pattern of death that turned his heart to stone. Thanks to the man who called him brave and spared his life, he no longer has to look over his shoulder, but he does have one question. Why did Justin let him live?

Tyler Colby has identified a major flaw in the seismic mapping system used to monitor earthquake activity. Sent to Crooked Tree by his employer, the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, he is tasked with adding a new remote station to the network. The installation should be his entire focus, but the lure of sapphires and his attraction to a heartbroken young man called Martin is enough to make him want more.

Length: 43,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Book #5 – Second Chance Ranch – Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

I was SOOO pumped when I heard about this one. I honestly thought this series was over after the last one..

In this one, we have Martin, who was previously known as Jamie Crane, the son of the terrorist/torturer of Justin and Adam. My heart broke for him in the little glimpses we got from him in previous books, especially Justin and Adam’s, and although I could probably guess the kind of person his father was, it didn’t hold a candle to the life that Martin had suffered at the hand of his father and his goons.

So, now that his father was dead and Martin was no longer having to hide from him, he wanted to go to Crooked Tree to ask Justin why he’d let him live. Now, if you haven’t read the others in this series, you should stop what you’re doing and go read them!! I was so insanely obsessed with Justin and Sam, but really all of their stories are amazing!

At the Crooked Tree, Justin wants to tell Martin the answer to his question, but he wants to talk to Adam first, who is away on his honeymoon…so he talks Martin into staying and helping out around the ranch. So, when seismology expert, Tyler, comes to do some research, the group, aka, Justin, sends him to work with the guy. Mostly to keep him around, I’d wager. Justin knew that Martin needed the closure, and Adam really did too. So, Martin stayed and helped, not really having a plan anyway, as to where he was going to end up or what he was going to end up doing.

I’ll admit that the earthquake stuff was interesting to learn about, but it was too much like homework for me to get sucked into it. I did skim a little bit, but I could imagine the way that Tyler had become so animated and passionate about what he was talking about. It wasn’t just a job, it was his life and it was neat to learn.

While the guys are off the range together, even though Martin is broody and hard to get to know… Tyler loved learning what he could about the man, and eventually, he’d gone and fell in love with him.

When you see Martin’s baggage and his internal turmoil, it’s easy to see why he refused so much almost the entire book, but, it somehow felt very realistic and relatable.

It made his final acceptance and letting his guard down that much more enjoyable. I just loved this story and I’m so glad to report that Martin got his HEA, even if it did take a long time to get there. I knew that he wasn’t going to be easy, but he was 100% worth it.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

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:

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