Category: Contemporary fiction

An Ali Review: Merry & Bright by Joanna Chambers

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Three seasonal love stories from Joanna Chambers

Humbug

Quin Flint is unimpressed when his gorgeous colleague, Rob Paget, asks for extra time off at Christmas. As far as Quin is concerned, Christmas is a giant waste of time. Quin’s on the fast track to partnership, and the season of goodwill is just getting in the way of his next big project. But when Quin’s boss, Marley, confiscates his phone and makes him take an unscheduled day off, Quin finds himself being forced to confront his regrets, past and present, and think about the sort of future he really wants…and who he wants it with.
Mr Perfect’s Christmas

Sam Warren’s new job hasn’t been going so well so the last thing he’s in the mood for is the obligatory office Christmas party, particularly since Nick Foster’s going to be there. Nick–the guy whose shoes Sam has been trying to fill–seems to take very opportunity to point out where Sam’s going wrong. But when Sam receives an unexpected Secret Santa gift at the party, he’s forced to question his assumptions about his rival. Could it be that he’s been misinterpreting Nick’s actions all along? And is it possible that his reluctant attraction to Nick is reciprocated?

Rest and Be Thankful 

Things haven’t been going well for Cam McMorrow since he moved to Inverbechie. His business is failing, his cottage is falling apart and following his very public argument with café owner Rob Armstrong, he’s become a social outcast. Cam needs to get away from his troubles and when his sister buys him a ticket to the biggest Hogmanay party in Glasgow, he can’t leave Inverbechie quick enough. But when events conspire to strand him in the middle of nowhere in a snowstorm, not only is he liable to miss the party, he’ll also have to ask his nemesis, Rob, for help.
I really enjoyed this trio of holiday stories.  They were all very different and all of the characters were unique and they stood out from each other.  
Humbug is a modern take on the Scrooge story but uses modern elements rather than magic.  I thought the author did this very creatively.  The author may have made Quin a little too Ebenezer Scrooge for me liking through because I really struggled to like Quin.  I realize I wasn’t supposed to like him at the beginning but I had a hard time accepting that he had changed.  I enjoyed Rob though and the while this was my least favorite of the three stories in this book, I did still enjoy it.
Mr. Perfect was a sweet story about starting over and trying to be thankful for what you have in your life.  I felt bad for Sam and I think we’ve all had at least one time in our lives where weren’t in the holiday spirit and had to be brought in to it kicking and screaming.  I didn’t actually blame Sam for not wanting to go to that work party.  His co-workers were the worst and as someone who isn’t a fan of work parties anyways I cringed in a couple of places and silently encouraged Sam to make a run for it.  It all works out for him in the end and he and Sam were lovely together.
Rest and Be Thankful was a bit more serious of a story.  Things are going really poorly for Cam and he’s lonely and isolated in the small town he’s moved to.  His new business isn’t taking off and he’s financially struggling.  In addition, the rest of the small town treats him as an outsider and Cam is particularly worried about Rob after they get off to an especially poor start.  Through the course of the story both men realize neither are the person they thought they were and they begin to open up to each other.  This was a quite, almost melancholy story, but it ended up being my favorite in the book.  
As usual this author provides well written and entertaining stories.  Since there are three stories that are all unique I think this book will have something for everyone’s taste and I highly recommend this book if you’re in the mood for Christmas stories.
Cover art by Natasha Snow:  I think this is a great cover and it fits the stories well.  

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | KOBO | Barnes & Noble

Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 203 pages
Published November 23rd 2017 by Joanna Chambers Books
ASINB0776R441X

Review Tour and Giveaway – Joanna Chambers’ Merry & Bright

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | KOBO | Barnes & Noble
 
Length: 59,000 words approx. 
 
Cover Design: Natasha Snow
 
Blurb
 

Humbug


Quin Flint is unimpressed when his gorgeous colleague, Rob Paget, asks for extra time off at Christmas. As far as Quin is concerned, Christmas is a giant waste of time. Quin’s on the fast track to partnership, and the season of goodwill is just getting in the way of his next big project. But when Quin’s boss, Marley, confiscates his phone and makes him take an unscheduled day off, Quin finds himself being forced to confront his regrets, past and present, and think about the sort of future he really wants…and who he wants it with.


Mr Perfect’s Christmas


Sam Warren’s new job hasn’t been going so well so the last thing he’s in the mood for is the obligatory office Christmas party, particularly since Nick Foster’s going to be there. Nick–the guy whose shoes Sam has been trying to fill–seems to take very opportunity to point out where Sam’s going wrong. But when Sam receives an unexpected Secret Santa gift at the party, he’s forced to question his assumptions about his rival. Could it be that he’s been misinterpreting Nick’s actions all along? And is it possible that his reluctant attraction to Nick is reciprocated?


Rest and Be Thankful


Things haven’t been going well for Cam McMorrow since he moved to Inverbechie. His business is failing, his cottage is falling apart and following his very public argument with café owner Rob Armstrong, he’s become a social outcast. Cam needs to get away from his troubles and when his sister buys him a ticket to the biggest Hogmanay party in Glasgow, he can’t leave Inverbechie quick enough. But when events conspire to strand him in the middle of nowhere in a snowstorm, not only is he liable to miss the party, he’ll also have to ask his nemesis, Rob, for help.

 



December 1 – Valerie Ullmer, Inglorious Bitches, Gay Book Reviews
December 4 – Drops Of Ink, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, OMG Reads, Wicked Faerie’s Tales & Reviews
December 6 – Lelyana’s Book Blog
December 8 – Unquietly Me, Mirrigold: Mutterings & Musings, Bayou Book Junkie, Padme’s Library, Hearts On Fire Reviews, Au Boudoir Ecarlate

Author Bio

Joanna Chambers always wanted to write. She spent over 20 years staring at blank sheets of paper and despairing of ever writing a single word. In between staring at blank sheets of paper, she studied law, met her husband and had two children. Whilst nursing her first child, she rediscovered her love of romance and found her muse. Joanna lives in Scotland with her family and finds time to write by eschewing sleep and popular culture.

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Audiobook Tour for Dyeing to be Loved by Aimee Nicole Walker and Narrator: Joel Leslie (excerpt and giveaway)

Dyeing to be Loved Audio Banner

DYEING TO BE LOVED

CURL UP AND DYE MYSTERIES SERIES, BOOK 1

AIMEE NICOLE WALKER

M/M ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

RELEASE DATE: 11.08.16

AUDIO RELEASE: 11.07.17

Dyeing to be Loved Audio Cover 

 

PHOTOGRAPHER: Wander Aguiar

COVER ARTIST:  Jay Aheer/Simply Defined Art

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Listening Length: 8 hours and 49 minutes

BLURB 

Gabriel Wyatt is a big city Detective living in a small Ohio town. He expects a peaceful existence once he moves from Miami, Florida, but that’s the last thing he finds. Instead, Gabe discovers murder, mayhem, and one smart-mouthed stylist he can’t get out of his head.

Josh “Jazz” Roman is a small-town business owner with big dreams and an attitude to match. He finds himself in the middle of a case that brings the dreamy detective to the front door of his Curl Up and Dye Salon. Josh learns that the biggest threat to him isn’t a killer; it’s a man who wants something from him that he vowed to never give again – his heart.

Both men deny that there’s something between them, even though they’re drawn together like magnets. Can Gabe convince Josh to let down his guard or will Josh let past hurts destroy his chance at a happy future?

AMAZON US:  http://amzn.to/2BmNBOn

AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/2jZfqbz

 

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EXCERPT

 My ringing phone woke me up. I was disoriented because it had grown dark while I napped on the couch with Diva and I momentarily forgot what day it was. I looked at the caller ID and was shocked to see who was calling me. I debated on letting it go to voicemail for about two seconds before I answered it.

“Hello?”

“How are you doing?” Gabe’s deep voice warmed parts of me that no amount of purring from a cat could affect.

“I’m doing okay,” I replied. Was I?

“You feel like having company?” I heard the slight hesitation in his voice, as if he wasn’t sure how well his question would be received.

I knew what happened almost every single time that we were alone together. Was that what I wanted right then? “Yes,” I said answering both of our questions.

“Good,” he said, his voice deepening because he also knew what would happen. “Come down and let me in.”

“You’re here now?” I stood up and ran my free hand through my hair in an attempt to smooth it into place.

“Yes. Come down here and let me in. I’m freezing my nuts off,” he groused.

“Give me a few minutes,” I said and then hung up. I flipped on a few lights on my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I rushed through my routine so that I didn’t keep him waiting long. It was freezing outside and I didn’t want his balls to freeze. I was pretty fond of them, even if I was unsure of the man they were attached to.

“It’s about time,” he said when I opened the door to him. “What the hell took so long?”

I grabbed him by the coat and pulled him into me, pressing my lips against his. Gabe parted his cold lips and I slid my tongue inside to explore his warm mouth in a languid kiss. For once, I didn’t want to rush him into bed. I wanted to take my time and get to know his body better. Hell, I hadn’t even wrapped my lips around his big cock yet; a mistake I planned to rectify immediately.

“Minty fresh,” Gabe said, when our kiss ended. “You’re forgiven for making me wait.”

“Come upstairs with me and I’ll show you other things I can do with my minty fresh mouth.” I laughed when Gabe growled playfully. I needed to be careful or else I’d start liking the detective and the things he made me feel. 

Aimee Logo

I am a wife and mother to three kids, three dogs, and a cat. When I’m not dreaming up stories, I like to lose myself in a good book, cook or bake. I’m a girly tomboy

who paints her fingernails while watching sports and yelling at the referees.

I will always choose the book over the movie. I believe in happily-ever-after. Love inspires everything that I do. Music keeps me sane.

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A Lila Release Day Review: Thiago by Romeo Preminger

Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

A hot encounter with a security guard afterhours plunges uptight, Wall Street broker Nate Dennis into obsession and possibly something more.

Nate Dennis made corporate VP at thirty-one, won’t spend a dime for a taxi or laundry, and is socking away enough money to retire at forty-five and live large. He’s arranged his life to not make his mom’s mistake of falling in love with a guy who’s going to leave him broken. Besides, any relationship he’s tried has been a helpless puzzle. He’s better at hooking up, no strings attached, and in New York City, there’s no shortage of hot guys with sick bodies who are interested in the same thing.

Then an afterhours encounter in the office with a new security guard Thiago has him questioning everything.

Thiago is a hard book to rate. The ideas, some of the scenes, and the characterization are interesting and make you keep reading. At the same time, the first person POV, the violence in the relationship, and some of the language are cringe worthy.

The story has a raw appeal that gives it a sense of reality many books lack. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to get over some of the descriptions and events in the story. The way they react to each other is more volatile than sensual. This is more erotica than romance.

If you’re looking for a more down and dirty story, bordering into an abusive relationship, this may be your story. Just be ready for a loose plot, many sex scenes, and two main characters that can be better apart than together.

The cover by Inkspiral Design is very generic, but the model fits the book’s descriptions.

Sale Links: Amazon | Smashwords |NOOK

ebook, 200 pages
Published: December 3, 2017, by Romeo Preminger
ISBN: 9780692948613
Edition Language: English

In the New Release Spotlight: Thiago by Romeo Preminger

Thiago by Romeo Preminger

From newcomer Romeo Preminger, a hot, début erotic romance

Available everywhere December 3, 2017

A hot encounter with a security guard afterhours plunges uptight, Wall Street broker Nate Dennis into obsession and possibly something more.

Nate Dennis made corporate VP at thirty-one, won’t spend a dime for a taxi or laundry, and is socking away enough money to retire at forty-five and live large. He’s arranged his life to not make his mom’s mistake of falling in love with a guy who’s going to leave him broken. Besides, any relationship he’s tried has been a helpless puzzle. He’s better at hooking up, no strings attached, and in New York City, there’s no shortage of hot guys with sick bodies who are interested in the same thing.

Then an afterhours encounter in the office with a new security guard Thiago has him questioning everything.

From the author: I’m so happy to announce the release of Thiago, which is my first gay, erotic romance. It’s the story of an office sex encounter between two guys that blows up into a high drama, sexually charged affair.

The book was a lot of fun to write. I got to write lots of sex on the page while exploring the complexities of a relationship between a well-off, financial executive and a temp security guard who has a past in sex work. Their attraction is huge, but they quickly confront their differences in social status, culture, background, and legal status—all things that could get in the way of a relationship they both need badly.

My hope is that Thiago gives readers a nice balance of fantasy and reality. I mainly wrote the story as a fast-paced romance that people will enjoy. Though along the way, it portrays a lot of contemporary issues I think gay guys confront. The story will appeal to fans of MM authors L.A. Witt, Devon McCormack, and Santino Hassell.

The book is a stand-alone and HEA. ☺

About the author:   Romeo Preminger is the pen name for an author who sometimes likes writing gay romantic smut without losing his day job. He’s married to a great guy and believes in happily-ever-after. Thiago is his first erotic romance.  For more about Romeo, visit: http://romeopreminger.wordpress.com

Buy links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075CRHTJ6

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/746565

BN.com: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thiago-romeo-preminger/1127062185

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/thiago-2

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36184110-thiago

Publisher Loose Id is Closing

Publisher Loose Id is Closing

An announcement came out yesterday on Facebook from Loose Id that after 13 years, they are closing up.  It seems that like Samhain Publishing, Wilde City Press, and others before it, the cost of competition and doing business is just too high.  Such a shame to lose such another class act in our world of LGBT stories.  They will be missed.

If you have any books or want any books from authors there, make sure you get them before the May deadline.  And you might want to stop by their Facebook page and drop them a note if you feel so inclined.

This is Loose ID’s notice:

All things, it’s said, must come to an end. For Loose Id, that time has come. Rather than risk the reputation and goodwill that we have worked very hard to build, on May 7, 2018, we’ll be closing our doors for good. We want to thank all of our authors, artists, editors, employees, customers and friends for your help making this company a success.

This is not a decision made in haste, panic or financial distress. The market has changed over the past few years, and a four-person company can no longer compete effectively with the Amazon mega-store. As of this message, we are closed for submissions.

We want to assure you, our customers and friends, that authors and staff are being paid, purchases will be honored, and we will remain in constant communication throughout the closing process. We will do our best to monitor social media during this busy time, but if you have questions, email through our satisfaction@loose-id.com email will be the best channel. We will be compiling questions from that account to repost for everyone’s convenience.

Thirteen years, more than three thousand titles and four hundred authors, and uncountable smiles–it’s been a hell of a ride. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for sharing this journey.