A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Finding Alexander by Pandora Pine

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Cairo Vanderbilt, the eldest twin son of famed archeologist Gordon Vanderbilt was born to carry on his family treasure hunting legacy—whether he liked it or not. When his father is killed on a dig as he’s trying to find the burial site of Alexander the Great, both the shame and the blame fall to Cairo’s shoulders. He has no choice other than to head a new expedition to find the lost king.

But now that the decisions are his, he’s going to go about the search his own way and he agrees to take history blogger Dillinger DeCosta with him. Dillinger has never visited the Middle East, nor any historically interesting place, for that matter. He’s only written about the past on his Absentee Historian blog. He convinces Cairo to take him with the group so he can finally be on the front lines of history-in-the-making. They agree to him documenting the trip in words, photos, and videos.

Along with Cairo’s twin brother, Memphis, and their best friend, Magnus, the group sets out to find Alexander, but Cairo and Dillinger find each other along the way. There’s ups and downs in their personal relationship in the story, but there’s also underhanded dealings by a competing archeologist and a big reveal about Dillinger’s past that may make finding their way to each other more impossible than finding Alexander.

This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed the pacing and the intriguing storyline. However, the main characters were a bit too “damsel in distress” for my taste. Some of their behaviors were very old-school romance novel. In fact, I could picture them more as heroines of an archeological dig dime novel than heroes in modern-day MM romance.

I’d recommend this book to those who like a sweet romance between two men who’ve lived their lives under their fathers’ thumbs and have found each other’s company compatible both on a friend level and a sexual level. There are sexy times in this story and there’s a Big Reveal that tears them apart and, eventually, good stuff that brings them back together. Personally, I wouldn’t have forgiven Cairothe big drama queen who ranted and raged and slammed the door in anger at Dillingerbut Dillinger was much more understanding and was a sweetheart that Cairo didn’t deserve. The story ends on a happy note with their future together set. So win-win for readers who love that sort of story.

The cover is a photo of a handsome man set against a golden background with a distant view of the pyramids. It’s definitely attention-grabbing. 

Sales Link: Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 260 pages
Published June 11th 2019
ASINB07S7MXNPN

An Alisa Audio Review: Nothing Serious by Jay Northcote and Michael Pauley (Narrator)

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

What happens when “nothing serious” turns into something more complicated?

Mark O’Brien is finally being honest with himself. His relationship with Rachel is over, and he’s moving out of the home they’ve shared for six years. They get along, but he can’t fix a relationship when the person he’s with is the wrong gender.

Jamie Robertson, one of the removal men, is huge and ridiculously gorgeous, and Mark is smitten at first sight. When a cardboard box splits, revealing items of a personal nature that Mark never wanted anybody to see, he’s mortified. But it sparks the start of a beautiful friendship with benefits.

As Jamie initiates Mark into the joys of gay sex, the two men get increasingly close and “nothingserious” turns into something rather important to both of them. But communication isn’t their strong point. Will either man ever find the courage to be honest about his feelings?

This is a story I read years ago and enjoyed it and I always love listening to the audiobooks of those stories.  Mark and Jamie are adorable together form the very beginning.  I loved the instant connection they had which is what caused their non-relationship actual develop into a real relationship.  Though as always I hate when it takes till the very end of the story for the characters to see the truth.

I always love Michael Pauley’s narration and this story was no different.  The voices for the most part the different voices he used help keep track of the story.  I felt connected to these characters and loved the sex scenes.

Cover art by Anna Sikorska is nice and I like the visual of Jamie.

Sales Links:  Audible | Amazon |  iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 4hrs 3mins
Published: April 4, 2019 by Dreamspinner Press
Edition Language: English

Andrew Grey on His Favorite Flowers and new novel On Shaky Ground (author guest blog)

 

Title: On Shaky Ground

Author: Andrew Grey

Series: Standalone Novella

Genre:M/M Contemporary Romance/ Gay Romance/ LGTBQA 

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Release Date: June 14 2019

Book Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Dreamspinner Press

 

Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print (2nd Edition {1st Edition Can Be Found in the Boundless Love Anthology})

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Andrew Grey here today on tour with his latest novel, On Shaky Ground. Welcome, Andrew.

✒︎

I thought I would tell you a little bit about myself  One of the things I love to do is spend time in the garden.  So I thought I would tell you my favorite flowers.
1)  Day lillies.  I have at least 12 different varieties and colors in the yard.
2)  Iris.  Oh my goodness, there are 2 dozen colors and when they are in bloom, its magical.
3)  Dragon’s tongue – mine are red and they look tropical even though they grow in PA
4)  Asiatic lilies, They put on quite a show.
5)  Rose of Sharon – my bushes are about 12 feet tall and they are covered in purple blooms in August.

Blurb/Synopsis:

Martin Graham built his business from the ground up with hard work and intuition. Due to a degenerative eye disease, he’s learned to rely on his other senses to feel out the competition. To realize his dream, he just needs to broker one last deal… and finally secure an assistant.

Brock Littleton is desperate for money—desperate enough take the job no one else wants: assistant to demanding, fussy, intensely private Mr. Graham.

Everything about Brock gets under Martin’s skin in ways he never expected, making him realize a successful business isn’t the only component to a happy future. But as Martin’s deal comes together, one of the prices could be the relationship with Brock that Martin is just starting to believe could be real.

Excerpt 

Edna seemed to relax a little. “You would keep Mr. Graham’s calendar, as well as manage his appointments and conference calls.” She paused, seemingly on unfamiliar ground. “Are you truly interested in the position?”

Brock found himself nodding. He’d grown up in a rough neighborhood and had learned to be scrappy. In truth, there wasn’t a great deal that was going to put him off. He could be Mr. Graham’s assistant while he looked for another job. At least he’d have a paycheck coming in. “Yes.”

“Good.” She leaned across the desk. “In addition to screening calls and managing his calendar, you would be in charge of making sure his office is exactly as he wants it. He’s fastidious about the way his desk is kept, as well as the placement of furniture there and on the entire floor. You might need to drive him to appointments and assist with a number of other duties. Mr. Graham will explain those to you himself.”

Brock tilted his head to the side. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?” His entire spine tingled, and not in a particularly good way.

“Yes. You see, Mr. Graham is effectively blind. He can see only to a point. He wears glasses, and they just keep him from being declared legally blind, but only just. I can tell you that he is fussy and demanding, in part because he has to be in order to navigate a sighted world, and in part because the man is a real pain in the ass sometimes.” She actually smiled. “I know that seems unprofessional, but you need to understand what you’re getting yourself in for.”

“Is that all?” Brock asked with a sigh. “The way you talked, I thought there was something really seriously wrong with the guy.” He could handle that; Brock was sure of it. Being picky about his surroundings made a lot of sense to Brock, and he could figure out the rest.

“All right,” Edna said, finally leaning back in her chair as though she was satisfied. “I have a few more questions for you. Can you travel?”

“Certainly.”

“This job could involve long days. Mr. Graham is usually the first person in the office and often one of the last to leave. Is that something you can accommodate?”

Brock shrugged. “I don’t see why not. I worked hard in school and spent a lot of long hours in labs and behind computer screens. I don’t have a family at home.” And going back to his shitty, tiny apartment wasn’t exactly something that filled him with joy. “If we can come to an agreement, then I’ll be prepared to work.”

“Wonderful. Can you drive? You do have a license?” Edna seemed to be ticking off boxes now, at least in her mind.

“Yes. I have a car.” He didn’t tell her that it spent most of its time parked with a cover over it because he couldn’t really afford to take it out. The parking space was the one and only perk that came with the shitty apartment and part of the reason he’d taken the rathole.

“Excellent. If you’d like to step out, I’ll verify your references.” She stood and walked around the desk, and Brock stood as well. Edna opened the door. “Carol, please get Mr. Littleton a cup of coffee.” Edna motioned him to a seat. “I won’t be long.”

About the Author

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.

Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing)He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Author Links

Amazon Author Page

Barnes and Noble Page

Dreamspinner Press

Facebook

Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey

Goodreads

Twitter@andrewgreybooks

Website

For Other Works by Andrew Grey

(Please Be Sure To Stop by His Website to See All of His Works)

Release Blitz Tour for Nothing Special by Jay Northcote

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link
 
Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design
 
Blurb



When Noah’s insecurity threatens their fledgling relationship, can Sol convince Noah that he’s enough?


Noah thinks he’s nothing special. Average height, a bit on the skinny side, and cute but rather geeky, he’s relentlessly ordinary. He certainly doesn’t expect to be noticed by Sol, the gorgeous dark-haired stranger Noah usually sees on his commute home.


When a friend persuades Noah to take a big risk in a bid to get Sol’s attention, things turn out better than Noah dared to hope. But Noah doesn’t believe he’s interesting or sexy enough to hold Sol’s attention.


As Sol tries to get closer, Noah tries to protect his heart by pulling away. If their relationship is going to survive, Noah needs to accept that Sol sees him very differently to how Noah sees himself. Because to Sol, Noah is something very special indeed.

 

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. He has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Website
Twitter
Facebook profile
Facebook author page
Facebook author group
Newsletter
Jay’s books

Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions

 

A Stella Review: Melting For You (Neighborhood Shindig #1) by A.M. Arthur

RATING 4,5 out of 5 stars

After his father’s heart attack, Isaiah Morrell gave up cooking in his own high-end Atlanta restaurant to return home to Reynolds, North Carolina, in order to help his father Thomas heal and to keep an eye on his business Neighborhood Shindig. A collection of food trucks and other small businesses, Shindig is a popular destination in this college town, but Isaiah longs for the fast pace of a big-city kitchen. Until he meets Joel…

Joel Fisher has been out of commission from a serious illness for the better part of a year, but now he’s ready to reclaim his life—except his apartment has been sublet, his partner is missing, and their shared food truck is stripped of everything not attached. In short, Joel has nothing. After an uncomfortable night sleeping on the food truck floor, Isaiah and Thomas Morrell give Joel an offer he can’t refuse: a rented room in their house, as well as their help creating a new food truck concept. Joel hates accepting charity, but he’s hit rock bottom and has nowhere to go but up.

Working with seemingly uptight Isaiah is actually pretty fun, and the pair bonds over a challenge to create a unique grilled cheese sandwich. Light flirting melts into a deeper connection neither man expects, but Isaiah isn’t in Reynolds for much longer, and Joel can’t get attached to the gorgeous professional chef. As Isaiah’s feelings for Joel strengthen and grow, he entertains the idea of staying in Neighborhood Shindig for good—but Joel hasn’t asked him to…

Welcome to Neighborhood Shindig, a friendly place where you can snack on a lamb kebab while getting your hair done, pick up your favorite herbal tea blend, and then go listen to live music under the pavilion. We’re happy to have you.

It has been some time since I’ve read a story by this author, I almost forgot how good she is. This new novella, the beginning of a new series called Neighborhood Shindind, was a true gem, a joy to read. Sometimes I really need books like this one, so well done, with no drama or too angst. Just a sweet love story between two young men. What conquered me was how real the whole story felt to me. Joel and Isaiah were the sons, friends and lovers everyone should have. Full of heart and ready to sacrifice his own life to help his father recover from an heart attack, Isaiah was willing to run his father business and then come back to his chef career. He didn’t consider his meeting for Joel. Joel, who stole my heart,how brave and strong he was, although his illness. He fought to return to the job of his dreams, unaware of the betrayal from his partner. Still, he found in Isaiah and his dad a huge support and probably a HEA with a great man.

I feel to recommend Melting For You by A.M. Arthur if you’re looking for a quick and sweet reading, well written and engaging, with a different plot and some amazing characters.

The cover art by Sloan J Designs is not so eye catching, I think the book so deserved something better.

SALE LINKS  Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 137 pages

Published June 13th 2019 by Briggs-King Books

ASIN B07SQK3BBG

Edition Language English

Series  Neighborhood Shindind #1

A MelanieM Review: Nine Small Sips (A Tales Of Bryant Wedding) by V.L. Locey

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Life for Isamu Taylor is now a Cinderella story that includes a Manhattan loft, a new position in the hottest LGBT film production company in New York City, and an upcoming wedding in Bryant Park to his very own handsome prince.

He’s come a long way from that struggling film student with ratty sneakers and shaggy hair. Isamu is now living an urbanite’s fairy tale with that happily ever after just around a bustling city street corner.

But as all wedding planners know, even the best laid plans seem to go awry, and Isamu and Brian’s wedding is no exception. But love – both old and new – is in the air, so nothing can go too badly, right?

Nine Small Sips (A Tales Of Bryant Wedding) by V.L. Locey is such a wonderful joy of a story to read.  The wedding story followup to Tales of Bryant this is exactly the story we not only want to read but need to read.  It has depth where we (and the characters)need it too, banter and straight up giggles in all the right and some of the very hysterically wrong places! And two of the most beloved and quite delightful “worried chins” I’ve every read about!

Those chins would belong to Isamu’s mother and very old grandmother just in from Japan with her ancient Saki set.  Why say anything when you have the most expressive chins to do it for you?  Ok, my face is beginning to hurt again.

Add to that an over the top wedding planner with a lorgnette, an ever tightening schedule, grooms fraying over the details, while still managing sex and to reaffirm their deep love for each other.  Yes, it’s a grand romp, high romance, and family time in Manhattan all rolled into a story to remember.

And they even gave a new couple a launching pad into the  next story which I cannot wait to read.

How Im loving this couple and new series!  It’s a shiny new light in contemporary romance, not too angsty, but filled with warmth, love, and HEA.  Perfect!

And yes, I’m definitely recommending it

Cover Design: Sloan J Designs. Love this cover with the simple and elegant but all important saki set on it.

 

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 108 pages
Published June 10th 2019
ASINB07SYPFXZB
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesTales Of Bryant #2

Tales of Bryant – Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Nine Small Sips (A Tales Of Bryant Wedding)

Adore Those Second Chance at Love Stories? Check Out the Release Blitz for Who We Used to Be (Do-Over #1) by Dara Nelson

Book Title:  Who We Used to Be (Do-Over Series, Book 1)

Author: Dara Nelson

Publisher: Dare Publishing

Cover Artist: Dara Nelson

Cover Photo: Dan Skinner/DWS Photography

Release Date: June 15, 2019

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: Second-chance love

Themes: Forgiveness

Heat Rating: 5 flames

Length: 51 356 words/280  pages

Add on Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited  

Amazon US

Amazon UK

 

Do-over, Second-Chance

 

Blurb

Ten years ago Zeke Malloy had everything:

A happy childhood, a shot at a state championship wrestling title, a best friend, a boyfriend (albeit a secret one but that was okay because, once they graduated, that would change).  

He had love, happiness……a heart.

All of that changed in the blink of an eye.

One moment he was deliriously happy, looking forward to a future with Digger Brandt, building a life, a home, a forever, with him.

And then it was gone, disappearing like the tears that flowed down Zeke’s cheeks as he watched from the back of the church as Digger married Lisa – with his father sitting proudly in the front pew.  Those tears were still flowing when he walked out of that church and went directly to the nearest recruiting office.  Because he didn’t just lose the love of his life that day, he lost his hopes, his dreams, he lost…..himself.

For the next ten years he was a machine – the best Marine, the best friend, but like a machine, he did it all without a beating heart.  His was dead…..or was it?

Was ten years too long?

Was a broken heart too much?

Zeke didn’t know.  Hell, he wasn’t even sure he wanted to know.

From the moment Digger walked up behind him and said in that smooth, sexy voice that used to light Zeke up six ways from Sunday, “The man I knew never had a problem with it,”, the only thing Zeke knew now was that he was about to find out.

 

Excerpt

Zeke stared at the amber colored liquid in his glass while trying to figure out what he was feeling.  That was just the thing. He wasn’t feeling anything.

He was numb.

If he really allowed himself to think about it, he’d been numb for a decade.  Since the day he’d opened his front door and had seen that invitation sticking out from under his doormat.  That was the last day he’d felt anything at all. And what he’d felt then was total, utter devastation as he collapsed onto the porch swing as those words penetrated his brain.  Such a profound sense of not only sadness, but the devastating knowledge that life as he knew it was over.

Everything he thought he knew was shattered.

How could he do this?

Everything he thought he could have was gone.

Did he know her?  Had he been cheating the whole time?

And anger – god there was so much anger.

The cowardly fucker didn’t even have the balls to look him in the eye when he destroyed him.

He swore he could feel his heart shattering into a million pieces.  It was also the day that he lost all hope of finding his happily ever after.

It was the day he was forced to come to terms with the fact that he and Digger were not meant to be.

Shit.  Every time one of Zeke’s crappy relationships ended, he always thought of Digger.

Digger Brandt.  The first boy he’d kissed.  The first boy he’d touched. The first…and only…. boy he’d ever loved.  

Digger Brandt.  The man who had destroyed Zeke Malloy.  Ruined him for all others.

“Fuck,” he mumbled as he scrubbed a hand over his face.  He really needed to stop doing this.

He had to find a way to get over Digger Brandt once and for all.

But how?

As he brought his glass up until it touched his lips, he felt a presence behind him, the heat of someone close, someone big, someone strong, someone that Zeke might be able to get lost in.

“I don’t bottom,” he said, getting that shit outta the way right quick.

A deep chuckle rumbled out of the man’s chest.  It was so sexy it made Zeke’s balls tingle.

“The man I knew never had a problem with it.”

Zeke’s eyes squeezed shut.  

He knew that voice.

He’d felt that voice.

He’d swallowed that voice into his body when the man came, dozens of times.

He still heard that voice every time he jacked off, despite trying to fight it with everything he had.

If he allowed himself to, he could easily get lost in that voice again.

He shook his head.

No.  Not again.  Never again.

“The boy you knew doesn’t exist anymore,” he growled and then he tipped back his glass, welcoming the burn as the liquid slid down his throat.

He felt the change in the man behind him, knew without looking that he’d gone from self-assured, cocky even, to unsteady, remorseful…..guilty.

Good.

“Zeke, I….”
“Don’t, Digger.  Just fucking don’t.  Go back to your perfect house, your white picket fence, your beautiful wife, your two point five kids.  Go back to whatever fake little happy life you built and leave me the fuck alone.”

God.  Ten fucking years of trying to forget him erased in sixty seconds.

He signaled to Joe, the bartender, for another and tried to ignore the fact that he could still feel Digger behind him.

When Digger slid onto the empty stool next to Zeke, he wanted to turn and walk out.

But he couldn’t.

He felt like he was anchored to his spot with a one-ton boulder.

To be honest, he was anchored, but not by a boulder; by a six-foot-one heart-breaking asshole named Douglas Digger Brandt.

Zeke refused to turn and look at the man.

Truth be told, he was afraid to look.

Afraid that he just might drop to his knees and beg the man to love him, to really love him, the way Zeke thought he had all those years ago, the way Zeke had loved him, the way a still fucking loved him.

 Hell, he’d probably even offer to be his dirty little secret if Digger asked him to.

Just anything to get the man to touch him one more time.

Nobody had ever touched Zeke the way that Digger had, like he was trying to fuse them together, like he was pulling whatever it was that made Zeke, Zeke, into himself. He didn’t even have to touch Zeke’s dick, although that was amazing too. Just the tips of his fingers on Zeke’s skin or the brush of his lips on his neck made Zeke feel like he was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Everything that was Digger slid effortlessly together with Zeke like the pieces of a perfect puzzle.

A puzzle whose pieces Digger had scattered to the wind the moment he had walked away.

Maybe nobody had ever touched Zeke like that since because he’d never allowed it, because he’d never let someone get that close.  

Never again.

A heartbreak like that was something you never forgot – it changed you.

 

About the Author

I did not choose to write…..writing chose me

Kendel Duncan is the pen name for Dara Nelson. Why a pen name? I first chose it because I was initially writing in two different genres (M/F Paranormal and Gay Romance).  I’ve since transitioned into a strictly gay romance author – writing romance, action, suspense and second chance romances.

I’ve tackled subjects that I’m very proud of, including losing a spouse, living with HIV, among other things.

I was born and raised in the Bay Area of Northern California but have made my home in the Pacific Northwest for more than two decades.  My husband & I live on a small farm surrounded by chickens, goats, 5 dogs, and a cat, in the shadow of stunning Mt Rainier.

With my grown children and grandchildren nearby, my life is always busy, happy and full of laughter.

I am an active Blogger, having created Love Unchained Book Reviews out of my love for all things reading – mostly MM books.

Owner of Dare Publishing & Design – Offering quality, affordable services for indie authors, including:

Editing, Publishing, Book Cover Design and more!

When I’m not on the phone with my best friend (which is at least once every day) – I am an avid, addicted reader.  It is my passion, my escape, my joy
And I am most definitely a writer.  The characters in my head are constantly demanding that their story be told.
But above all that – I am a human being. My passion for people is unparalleled, my firm belief in Love is Love unwavering, my hope that all can be accepted, undying. I do not write because I want to, I do it because I have to.  I write because these voices, these beautiful men, have chosen me to tell their stories – and how damn lucky am I for that?

As an author, I write under both my name and my pen name (Kendel Duncan), with total transparency and honesty.

Dara Nelson is the author of:

Author of the successful ‘Healing Hearts’ series (Love in the Aftermath, Love After Chaos, Love Worth Fighting For – and more to come soon)

“5 stars5 stars  Amazing!!”

“Highly recommended”

“This is not your average romance story. It is so much more. A book that touched my heart.”

“OMG!!! This was probably one of the best books I’ve ever read.”

“This is the first time I’ve read anything from Dara Nelson, but it won’t be the last. I need more of her writing!”

Under the pen name Kendel Duncan:                                                                                         

Author of the popular & critically acclaimed ‘Black Ops Heroes’ series and the new top-selling ‘Doyle Global Securities’ series

“I can’t recommend Kendel Duncan or Black Ops Heroes ENOUGH!!!! OMG, everyone who likes strong vulnerable men will love these stories!!!”

“I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND THIS AMAZING SERIES!!!!!”

“I love how you keep the story going and keep all the characters interesting. Can’t wait for the next book!”

“The emotions are so raw and just I don’t have the right words to express how amazing the books are. You have to read them to understand. I can’t wait for the next installment!!”

 

Author Links

Blog/Website

Twitter:  @daranel

Facebook

Instagram: @daranel1

Newsletter Sign-up

Pinterest

 

 

RELEASE BLITZ SCHEDULE

 

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

➜Sign up to become a tour host here

 

Review Tour and Giveaway for Nine Small Sips (A Tales Of Bryant Wedding) by V.L. Locey

 

 
 
Cover Design: Sloan J Designs
 
Tales of Bryant – Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link
 
Blurb
 

Life for Isamu Taylor is now a Cinderella story that includes a Manhattan loft, a new position in the hottest LGBT film production company in New York City, and an upcoming wedding in Bryant Park to his very own handsome prince.


He’s come a long way from that struggling film student with ratty sneakers and shaggy hair. Isamu is now living an urbanite’s fairy tale with that happily ever after just around a bustling city street corner.


But as all wedding planners know, even the best laid plans seem to go awry, and Isamu and Brian’s wedding is no exception. But love – both old and new – is in the air, so nothing can go too badly, right?

 

 

USA Today Bestselling Author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.


V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Dr. Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two steers.


When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

Giveaway

Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions

 

A MelanieM Review: NoX by Adrienne Wilder

Rating:: 4.5 stars out of 5

One is a dying man.
The other is a man who died to live.

A nude man invades Luca Suarez’s home and protects him from creatures who cannot exist.
Creatures hunting him.

The stranger can’t tell Luca why. He can’t even tell Luca his name.
He remembers nothing until the moment he sees Luca.

The only hint Luca has to the stranger’s identity is a tattoo on his wrist: N o X

Nox doesn’t know who he is, but he’s sure of three things, his memory loss is temporary, the monsters chasing Luca are called Anubis, and his Alpha, Koda, sent Nox to protect him.

There’s just one problem… Koda is Luca’s brother who was murdered five years ago.

With each passing hour, Nox fills in the pieces painting an impossible truth. And with each passing hour, both men find themselves unexplainably attracted to each other.

Something Luca is willing to embrace because he has nothing left to lose.
And one Nox can’t let happen because it could get Luca killed.

Nox is a HEA m/m paranormal, science-fiction romance.
But be warned, these are NOT the shifters you are used to reading about.

NoX by Adrienne Wilder is a HFN LGBT science fiction novel that ends with new elements added and the author opening up her universe and characters for a sequel that may never be written. Which given the snippets revealed in the author’s notes at the end would be a shame because NoX is a complex, twisty blend of Egyptian mythology, cosmology, shifters, genetics, mad scientists, action adventure, government conspiracy, and , oh yes, hot sex and romance.  Maybe a few more thrown in for good measure.

NoX is a totally engrossing tale from the moment you open the story and meet the ailing Luca, alone in his house on the stormy dark night.   A bang, a flahs, a barking dog, the reader’s pulse starts to race and you become totally involved in this fragile young man’s world and the terror that is about to overtake him.  The writing is terrific, the descriptions are vivid, and the characterization are layered and give these people depth and authenticity.  We believe in them, care for them, and often despair for them.

That is especially true for NoX, the person who begins the story without memory.  That slowly returns in bits and pieces, and as it  does so does his part of the story and back history.  About that I will say no more.

But NoX is told from multiple points of view and it absolutely works,  It flips effortlessly from one person to the next, moving the story and suspense/action forward, while creating angst and a great deal of knots in the reader’s stomach.  Trust me on that last one.

Wilder’s twist on shifter culture pulls from many different areas and genres.  The author brings in Egyptian mythology with Anubis, creationism and origin legends and science, plus sheer old science fiction beings/creature of unknown background now set loose.  There is also plenty of talk of genetics and molecular science.  Except…and here is where it get’s weak…and the author takes the easy way out of a complex explanation or creating one..

“There isn’t enough time for me to explain, and even if there was, you don’t have the education to understand it.”

I read that  to be the author saying that wrote themselves into a scientific corner and that was their solution.  That happens a couple of times here where the intricacies overwhelm the narrative.

There are several major twists to this story, all well woven and one a real stunner that stopped me reading in amazement.  The action is so swift, the information coming at you at such a fast clip that it takes time for the reader to take it all in.  It took me a while to realize that the relationship between NoX and Luca is actually very primal at first, anything resembling something romanic doesn’t appear until later in the story.  So in that respect, you might say this is actually a slow burn romance as well.

It is also violent, graphic, and very sexual which is how the Anubis bonds.  But again that is also such a complex matter, although it appears primal, that it is best left for the storyline.

However, while the blurb states this as a HEA that just isn’t the case.  It would indicate that if it weren’t for that epilogue and the author’s notes.  During the epilogue, more information and new elements are introduced which opens up an entirely new path, characters, and possibilities.  None of which is suggestive of HEA.  The author’s notes are further indication of a sequel in the works as snippets, which are given for the readers to look over.  With Wilder’s note saying it’s dependant on whether or not this does well.

Funny, I always thought you wrote a story because it wanted to be written or you had the passion or need to write it. Huh.

Anyway.  This story stands on it own merits.  It deserves this rating because it’s entertaining, well done, imaginative, and I loved reading it.  Aside from that author’s note of course. Which as you can tell struck me the wrong way.

If you love science fiction that combines a wonderful blend of elements, I think NoX by Adrienne Wilder might be just your thing!  I’m definitely recommending it.

Cover art Adrienne Wilder.  Great cover as it also contains several important elements from the story while being dramatic.

Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US    |  Amazon UK 

 

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 463 pages
Published April 2nd 2019
ASINB07QD2Q4VD
Edition Language English

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Fake Dating the Prince by Ashlyn Kane

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

A royal deception. An accidental romance.

 

When fast-living flight attendant Brayden Wood agrees to accompany a first-class passenger to a swanky charity ball, he discovers his date—“Call me Flip”—is actually His Royal Highness Prince Antoine-Philipe. And he wants Brayden to pretend to be his boyfriend.

 

Being Europe’s only prince of Indian descent—and its only openly gay one—has led Flip to select “appropriate” men first and worry about attraction later. Still, flirty, irreverent Brayden captivates him right away, and Flip needs a date to survive the ball without being match-made.

 

Before Flip can pursue Brayden in earnest, the paparazzi forces his hand, and the charade is extended for the remainder of Brayden’s vacation.

 

Posh, gorgeous, thoughtful Prince Flip is way out of Brayden’s league. If Brayden survives three weeks of platonically sharing a bed with him during the romantic holiday season, going home afterward might break his heart….

Sometimes a story and a reader just mesh.  The romance has just the right combination of sweet comedy, heady falling in love, and deeper relationship  issues to make it all work and bring it alive.  Your face grins continually and your heart feels warm.

That’s what Fake Dating the Prince by Ashlyn Kane is to me.  It’s that sparkling, sweet romance you remember and will reread when you need a lift.  The characters that actually dance across a ballroom and into your heart! With parents you love to boor!

l adore it when a story exceeds your expectations.  I always enjoy the Dreamspun Desires line from Dreamspinner Press.  One that started out giving a M/M twist to the older romance tropes we typically read about.  Fake marriages, fake boyfriends, mistaken identities, you name the trope and the authors give it a fresh new LGBT twist.

Here of course, it’s the fake boyfriend and fiance.  From the small European country no one has ever heard of .  Considering the novels and movies where that occurs, must be a zillion of them. The country, the family, and everything about this story made me grin like mad!  Made my heart happy and everything outside their road to happiness and HEA a blank .

And isn’t that what a light-hearted romance is supposed to do?  There’s no real angst here, no great problems.  Just two lovely men looking for love and finding it in each other. In a small place no one has ever heard of.  Plus we get two, not one but two great families.  Really, I could have had much more of them both.If the author is listening.  we need a sequel and a wedding.

If you love contemporary romance and are looking for your next sweet story?  Here is one I highly recommend.  I just adore it.

Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza.  Great cover, that is the personification of Flip!

Sales Links:   Amazon, Dreamspinner, Barnes & Noble, Indigo Books, Target

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, Dreamspun Desires #84, 212 pages
Expected publication: June 18th 2019 by Dreamspinner Press
ASINB07QYT5Y4V
Edition Language English