A Sammy Review: Closing the Loop by Jane Davitt (a Double Dipping Review)

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

“You’re attractive, somewhat needy, and emotionally bruised. Eat and get a good night’s sleep and tomorrow you can begin your holiday properly. I’ll stay out of your way and make it easy.”

“You sound like a doctor, not a lawyer. Got a broken heart? Take two pills with every meal and apply the ointment sparingly.”

Coming off a nasty breakup (and spending the past years with a guy who was not worth even a quarter of that), Lee’s determined to enjoy his vacation – even with said ex on board.

After pulling strings and getting a little lucky (or a lot), he’s able to switch rooms. He’s surprised when he gets to his cabin to find the handsome, demure Cole – the same man he had helped get on the ship in the first place. Maybe it’s a sign, but at first, Cole doesn’t seem too open to the idea of fun, which makes no sense for a cruise like this.

Even though neither of them were looking for any sort of lasting relationship, fate may just have other plans, if they can make it through the roadblocks (or icebergs) it throws in their way.

I had you for no time at all and it’s like you were always there and now you’re not and I’m not handling this well at all.

I’m sad to say that, at the moment, I’m feeling a bit underwhelmed by Closing the Loop. I went into it expecting something kind of fun and light, which isn’t necessarily something I usually go for but was kind of looking forward to, and instead, I got an odd mix of… I’m not really sure what.

There’s some heavy subjects just kind of tucked in there and while they didn’t really bother me, I can’t say I felt they added anything to the plot. It could be that I lacked a connection to the characters on the level where something like what was going on with Cole would’ve made an impact on it. Instead, it all felt so strange and out of place. Most of all, what we did get from those experiences felt like it hovered on the surface. I feel like if you’re going to throw it in, you really need to go all the way with it, and I’m not sure the author succeeded in that for me.

It’s unfortunate, too, because as I’m sitting here, I don’t feel any particular way about the characters in general. I won’t remember them come tomorrow or the next day. What I will remember though is those leather gloves. I can say for certain that I won’t be able to look at leather gloves the same way again. The sex in general was pretty delicious, though not the hottest I’ve read in recent memory. It kind of fit the theme of just okay.

The premise in general was interesting. A gay cruise? Yay. The execution and some of the choices just fell short for me personally, but it may hit for other readers.

The cover art by L.C. Chase is nice and in general fits the story, though I don’t actually recall the characters lounging lack that, and I’m not sure I’d think of Cole as the kind of man to wear bright yellow swim trunks after reading the book. So it works, but not completely.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing – All Romance (ARe) – Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 150 pages
Published May 25th 2015 by Riptide Publishing (first published May 23rd 2015)
original titleClosing the Loop
ISBN139781626492813
edition languageEnglish

A Mika Review: Kage by Maris Black

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

My name is Jamie Atwood, and I’m an addict. I never thought I’d say such a thing. Never had a problem being overly-attached to anything in my life. I came from a perfectly middle-class family, made good grades, and had a hot cheerleader girlfriend… but the truth is, nothing ever really moved me. So how did a guy like me become an addict?

I met Michael Kage.

Kage is an MMA fighter. A famous one. I like to think I helped him get that way.

He’s charming as hell, with looks to rival any movie star and talent to back it up. So why did he need to hire me as an intern Publicist? Simple. He has a darkness in him– like a black hole so deep it could swallow him, and me, and everyone we know– and that’s not good for business.

The first time I met him, I felt the pull. I think the addiction began at that very moment. And even if I’d known then what I know now, I would have fallen for him. How could I not?

For me, Kage is everything.

As much as I would like to 1 star the story, I can’t. The writing was okay, just not so much the execution. I think I would have liked the story if Jamie was not a idiot in the beginning, and then acting like a love drawn puppy later on in the story. I found Kage ridiculous. If there was ever an athlete who worked out his much, ate the right things every freaking day but turns around drinking and smoking weed. Really? Kage, you respect your body? When did Kage become a psychopath? His range of emotions went from scared closeted guy to You don’t know what I’m capable of. His behavior at the end of the story left a really bad taste in my mouth.

The story had some good parts. I do feel like Jamie was naive to certain situations. He did not see that Kage misled him from the beginning. I thought the whole uncle owning the business/mob tie situation was irrelevant, I did not get the point of this plot reference. Another huge problem to me was the sex. I’m not a man, but I’ve read countless mm books and PREPARATION is a must. For this author to do that with someone that was considered a virgin was demeaning/border like assault during that last scene.

Cover Art by: I actually liked the simplicity of this cover.

Sales Links: All Romance (ARe) – Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 226 pages
Published May 25th 2015 by Maris Black Books
ASINB00VMX9MSK
edition languageEnglish

It’s Release Day for Jeff Erno’s Speedy Rewards! (excerpt)

Speedy Rewards Banner

Synopsis

Phil Mitchell pours his heart and soul into his job as manager of Speedy Mart, a local convenience store. He loves his work and he loves his fellow employees, but when it comes to his personal life, Phil is lonely and depressed and still pining for his long-departed ex.

He embarks upon the week from hell where anything that can go wrong does. It begins with a truck crashing into his outdoor sign and only goes downhill from there.

Add an asshole homophobic boss hell bent on seeing him fired and Phil realizes he needs to put into place a plan to save himself and his job.

Speedy Rewards Jeff Erno

First step in his plan: do something about his love life.

Meanwhile, Ezra, one of Philís team members, is dealing with his own roller coaster ride of a week.

As is Brandon, the local cop.

And Mark, the homophobic boss.

Perhaps, with a little luck, the next week will be better.

Buy Links

Don’t miss the 1 Year Anniversary 40% Off Sale on Wayward Inkís Publishing’s site:

WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/speedy-rewards-by-jeff-erno/
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XV8O7G6/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00XV8O7G6/
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00XV8O7G6/
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00XV8O7G6/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/speedy-rewards-jeff-erno/1121958712?ean=9781925222449
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-speedyrewards-1814967-149.html

Book trailer

Excerpt

Phil had started out in retail back in high school, working as a bag boy at the local supermarket. He took some community college classes but did not complete his degree. It didnít matter, though. Back then, a college degree wasnít required, especially not for retail management. He rose quickly in the company, advancing to a management position.

Finally, when the company heíd worked at for ten years went belly-up, he found himself in the unemployment line. At age twenty-five, his mom had just died and he found himself completely alone, unemployed. He decided to go back to school to complete his degree. He signed up for online classes and continued with them even after he landed the job managing the convenience store. He received his diploma right around the time he met Darren online.

Looking back on his life, he realized that period, though difficult, had been perhaps the most hopeful he could remember. Though still grieving the loss of his mother, he felt like life had begun anew. He had a new career, a man he genuinely loved, and even a college degree. That was also when he began learning Spanish.

But the honeymoon stage of his relationship with Darren didnít last long, and when it became obvious Darren was far more interested in spending his free time with a bottle of booze than with Phil, they started to grow apart. Phil devoted most of his energy to the store, and when he wasnít working, he spent a good deal of time online. The relationship withered on the vine, until one day, Darren was gone.

“You work hard,” Humberto said. “You’re always working, no?”

“Sí,” Phil said, laughing. “Yes, I’m always working.”

“Every day I see you. You no have days off? You work too hard, man.”

“Well, it seems to me you work pretty hard, too, Humberto. You’re in here every day, on your way to work. Come on down to this register. I’ll ring you up.” Phil stepped over to the check stand on the far end, the one Janine had just vacated.

“Gracias,” Humberto said, stepping up to the counter with an armload of junk food. He placed the bags of chips and the Hostess snack cakes on the counter.

“What do you do?” Humberto stared at him, smiling, and Phil wondered if maybe he didn’t understand the question. “¿Cual es tu trabajo?”

“Oh… oh. Soy un manitas.”

“¿Manitas?” Phil had heard the word, but couldn’t immediately remember the meaning. “Oh, you’re a handyman. You fix things.”

“Sí, sí.”

“Wow, like, do you do plumbing work?”

“Oh yes, yes of course. Por supuesto.”

“Hm. Ya know, I need to find someone to come fix my sink. At home, I mean. At my house. Do you have a card?”

Humberto cocked his head to the side, as if thinking.

“¿Una tarjeta? A business card.”

“Oh, yes. Yes!” He reached into his shirt pocket and removed a business card, handing it to Phil. “Call me and I’ll come fix you up.” He winked, and as Phil looked into the man’s eyes, a lump formed in his throat. “I have all the right tools for the job.”

Phil quickly looked down at the touch screen on his register, trying to focus on the task of completing the transaction. “Uh, yeah. Um, do you want a bag for this?”

“Una bolsa,” Humberto said, laughing. “Sí.”

Phil placed the business card next to his register and tore off a plastic bag from the dispenser. Then he began filling it with Humberto’s items.

“I’ll let you see my big hammer,” Humberto said, lowering his voice.

About the author

JEFF ERNO began writing LGBT fiction in the late 1990s. Although an avid reader and amateur writer from a very young age, Jeff pursued a career as a retail store manager in Northern Michigan. When his first gay-themed novel was published, he was shocked that anyone would even want to read it. So far, he ís published over thirty novels. Jeff lives in Southern Michigan, where he works part time at a convenience store.

Jeffís writing credits include a variety of themes and sub-genres including male romance, Young Adult, Science Fiction, erotica, and BDSM. He is the winner of a 2012 Rainbow Award and an Honorable Mention in 2011. His style is unpretentious and focused upon emotionally-driven, character-based stories that touch the heart. Jeff is especially passionate about young adult literature and combating teen bullying and youth suicide.

Email: jeffaerno@gmail.com
Website: http://www.jefferno.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jefferno
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffErno

A Mika Review: Piece Us Back Together Collection by Raine O’Tierney. L.J. LaBarthe, and Cate Ashwood

Rating: 3.5 star out of 5 stars

A M/M Romance “Healing” Anthology

Red Runs Through by Cate Ashwood/3 stars out of 5
Carter McClintock’s life is uncomplicated. For the past five years, he’s spent so much time in hospital scrubs that one day bleeds into the next, and that’s just the way he likes it. That is, until he meets Matthew Nolan. Carter has never had a patient affect him the way Matthew does. During Matthew’s stay in the hospital, the chemistry is unmistakable, and once he is discharged, Carter asks him out.

Despite the obvious attraction between them, Matthew’s HIV status keeps him from handing Carter his heart, refusing to believe anyone could ever truly want him. When Matthew’s past comes to light, their budding relationship is threatened before it has even begun. But Carter isn’t one to give up without a fight and he will do anything to show Matthew the lengths he will go to keep them together.

I like the author for writing about a topic that we seldom see in m/m romance stories. I did not like the execution of the story with these two characters. I had a hard time believing that Carter just accepted Matthew with no reservations or anything. I do think it was too convenient for Carter to be taking medication to prevent certain illnesses. Outside of their initial meeting, I didn’t feel a connection between the two. I was kind of bored reading it honestly. I do think we ever got to see Matthew develop as a character. I found myself skimming through the story. I wish I could have seen them in another light. I did like the author’s writing.

All That Shimmers by Raine O’Tierney /Rating 3 stars out of 5
Beau Bell is a former Olympic hopeful, left paralyzed from the waist down after a car accident. He has every reason in the world to be pissed off and miserable, yet he’s training for the Paralympics Men’s 100m—S6 division. The chair? Just a part of who he is now. Beau’s attitude is golden. If only he could contend with this one little issue: errant erections and no way to relieve them!

Nikša Meríc is a lonely scientist and really bad poet living underneath the old building where he does his research. Every night he watches his neighbor through his basement window as he undresses in his wheelchair. Although there is no apparent reason for Nikša to be unhappy, he’s struggled with depression his whole life and has tried to kill himself on multiple occasions.

When Beau proposes that his “voyeur” come over and help him experiment with the erections he can’t actually feel, the relationship they build is a sexual one. But the relationship they need is one that will heal each other’s hearts as well.

I liked this more than I thought I would. I found the relationship between Beau & Niksa meaningful. I really liked Beau as a character. He was assertive, confident, and sweet. I didn’t understand his disability a lot when it came to being in the Paralympics. I found his drive really attractive. He didn’t let being paralyzed stop him from living his dream. Goodness when he yelled at Niksa through the window that it still works, I was laughing uncontrollably. He had no modesty. My faults lied with Niksa, he was such a depressed character. I felt sorry for him, he’s only 24 yrs old and so alone. I get it, I understand that need to have people around, and just have someone. My heart broke for him, but those poems literally made my skin crawl. They were so morose, and at the time I felt like Beau should have driven him to the nearest 72 hour hold facility. I’m glad he didn’t because he opened up and hopefully he’ll get better not for Beau’s sake but his own!

Swimming with Elephants by L.J. LaBarthe/ Rating 3.5 stars out of 5
After suffering a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder, Garrett believes his life is over. Depressed, bereft, in pain, and unable to return to the career he loves as an arborist, he sees no hope or future for himself. But a trip to Havelock Island in India turns his world upside down. He meets Jai, an Indian nurse, and becomes smitten with him. Near the end of his trip, while swimming with an elephant, he tells Jai how he feels.

After Garrett returns to Australia, he wonders if he can ever be healed of all his pain—physical, emotional, and mental—and fears that love and romance will never be his again. But then Jai turns up in Perth and brings with him astonishing news.

I liked this story. I thought it was very refreshing. For me, the character Jai made the story refreshing. It was such a thrill to read about a character that was just positive, spiritual and there for you.

Garrett was suffering from a tear in his rotator cuff that left him unemployed, depressed, and brokenhearted. It never fails to surprise me what people do to one another. To break up with someone after you spent 4 years with them because of a shoulder injury is outrageous. Garrett found himself travelling to India for a physical therapy resort upon going there he meets Jai a beautiful India man who is a nurse but works all over the world. I liked it alot, it was a slow burn. They were friends for 2 years before anything happened. I actually liked that they took there times. Yes Garrett annoyed me at times with his self-pity, but he eventually got over it. I liked them together, more than that I liked Jai’s sunny disposition on life. I’ve never read anything by this author, but I look forward to more.

Cover Art by Paul Richmond as are all the covers: I like this cover. I think it shows unity and love which every story covers.

Sales Links:

Dreamspinner Press (collection link):

Red Runs Through by Cate Ashwood
All That Shimmers by Raine O’Tierney
Swimming with Elephants by LJ LaBarthe

Individual Sales links are listed under the titles.

All Romance (ARe):

Red Runs Through by Cate Ashwood
Swimming with Elephants by LJ LaBarthe
All That Shimmers by Raine O’Tierney

Sales Links at Amazon:

Red Runs Through by Cate Ashwood
Swimming with Elephants by LJ LaBarthe
All That Shimmers by Raine O’Tierney

Buy Them Here

Book/Collection Details:

eBook, 260 pages, May 20, 2015 by Dreamspinner Press

Each Story Sold Separately or as a Collection:

Piece Us Back Together at Dreamspinner

Red Runs Through (Piece Us Back Together)by Cate Ashwood

ebook, 90 pages
Published May 20th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press

All That Shimmers (Piece Us Back Together)by Raine O’Tierney

book, 90 pages
Published May 6th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press

Swimming with Elephants (Piece Us Back Together) by L.J. LaBarthe

book, 95 pages
Published May 13th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC

Dive Into Love with a Side of Kink with “For Real” by Alexis Hall (giveaway)

For Real by Alexis Hall
Published by Riptide Publishing

Cover by Simone
Release Date: June 1, 2015

Sales Link: Riptide Publishing

Alexis Hall quickly became one of Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words “Must Have, Must Read” Authors with his stories Glitterland, Waiting for the Flood (both Spires universe books), and Sand, Ruin and Gold. Now comes another standalone novella in the Spires universe, For Real released June 1st.

Check out this wonderful author below and don’t forget to enter the giveaway by leaving a comment at the end. Make sure to include your email address where you can be reached if chosen.

About For Real…

Laurence Dalziel is worn down and washed up, and for him, the BDSM scene is all played out. Six years on from his last relationship, he’s pushing forty and tired of going through the motions of submission.

Then he meets Toby Finch. Nineteen years old. Fearless, fierce, and vulnerable. Everything Laurie can’t remember being.
Toby doesn’t know who he wants to be or what he wants to do. But he knows, with all the certainty of youth, that he wants Laurie. He wants him on his knees. He wants to make him hurt, he wants to make him beg, he wants to make him fall in love.
The problem is, while Laurie will surrender his body, he won’t surrender his heart. Because Toby is too young, too intense, too easy to hurt. And what they have—no matter how right it feels—can’t last. It can’t mean anything.
It can’t be real.

Book Details:

Author: Alexis Hall
eBook ISBN: 978-1-62649-279-0
eBook and print release: Jun 1, 2015
eBook Formats: pdf, mobi, html, epub
Print ISBN: 978-1-62649-280-6
Word count: 125,000,Page count: 437
This title is part of the Spires universe.
– Read an excerpt at Riptide’s For Real book page.

About Alexis Hall

Alexis Hall was born in the early 1980s and still thinks the 21st century is the future. To this day, he feels cheated that he lived through a fin de siècle but inexplicably failed to drink a single glass of absinthe, dance with a single courtesan, or stay in a single garret.

He did the Oxbridge thing sometime in the 2000s and failed to learn anything of substance. He has had many jobs, including ice cream maker, fortune teller, lab technician, and professional gambler. He was fired from most of them.

He can neither cook nor sing, but he can handle a 17th century smallsword, punts from the proper end, and knows how to hotwire a car.

He lives in southeast England, with no cats and no children, and fully intends to keep it that way.

Connect with Alexis:

Website : http://www.quicunquevult.com/
Blog: http://www.quicunquevult.com/blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/quicunquevult
Goodreads: http://http//www.goodreads.com/alexishall

Giveaway

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a $15 Riptide store credit. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on May 23. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Don’t forget to add your email so we can contact you if you win! Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Prizes provided by Riptide Publishing.

A Stella Review: Knight of Ocean Avenue (Love in Laguna #1) by Tara Lain

Rating 4 stars out of 5

How can you be twenty-five and not know you’re gay? Billy Ballew runs from that question. A high school dropout, barely able to read until he taught himself, Billy’s life is driven by his need to help support his parents as a construction worker, put his sisters through college, coach his Little League team, and not think about being a three-time loser in the engagement department. Being terrified of taking tests keeps Billy from getting the contractor’s license he so desires, and fear of his mother’s judgement blinds Billy to what could make him truly happy.

Then, in preparation for his sister’s big wedding, Billy meets Shaz—Chase Phillips—a rising star, celebrity stylist who defines the word gay. To Shaz, Billy embodies everything he’s ever wanted—stalwart, honest, brave—but even if Billy turns out to be gay, he could never endure the censure he’d get for being with a queen like Shaz. How can two men with so little in common find a way to be together? Can the Stylist of the Year end up with the Knight of Ocean Avenue?

Knight of Ocean Avenue by Tara Lain was simply a joy to read. This series started so good I can’t wait for the next one, hoping it will be sweet and light and positive like this one. If you, like me, are a sucker for flamboyant characters, gay/out for you and opposites attract, this book is definitely a must read!

The book opens with Billy being left by his girlfriend Annie. Billy, a gorgeous man and a sweet one (too sweet for Annie, let me tell you!), doesn’t have a high opinion of himself, most cause he isn’t literate, but he’s an amazing son for his parents and brother for his sisters. It’s because of his hard work in the construction area and lot of sacrifices that the girls went to college. He helps his family in any way he can. He just wanted a good girl to be by his side but each time they left him. Then he meets Shaz and things start making sense. Shaz is everything Billy isn’t: gay, flamboyant, stylish. The chemistry between them is soon explosive and evident.

“Oh God, I am gay. I am.” He wanted to laugh. He wanted to cry.
Shaz’s soft high voice sounded muffled against his chest. “Yes, dear. I think you are.”
“What does that mean?”
“We’ll find out. Don’t worry. It’s better to know.”

Talk about perfect characters! Tara created a wonderful couple, two men perfect for each other and perfect in the eye of the reader. That kind of persons you absolutely need in your life, as a brother or friend. I was soon caught in their lives, but most of all I was cheering for Billy, he so needed something beautiful like Shaz to happened to him.

“When I was a kid and other boys played baseball and rode skateboards and made fun of me, I dreamed of knights in shining armor. One knight specifically who would ride in on his great palfrey, sweep me up in his arms, and rescue me from the cruelties of being me. A hero who would look into my heart and not see a sissy who liked to sew and try out girl’s makeup, but a secret princess waiting in a tower. Waiting for him.” […]“The years passed, no knight came, and I let the cruelties make me as hard as the people who dished them out. But the day I first saw you in that coffee shop, not letting the bully get to me even though you didn’t know me at all, I saw that you were a knight. And today you stripped the cloak from your armor and revealed you were my knight.”
Billy shook his head, fighting the heat behind his eyes. “I’m no knight.”
“Kind, loyal, true, and brave. Works for me.”

I loved this book, still I didn’t give it five stars. The reason is really simply. I love angst, troubled stories and I NEED stories like Knight of Ocean Avenue in between to help me relax a little. It’s so good to read a light, lovely and simple story. But… this one was too simple. Everything went to smoothly till the end and it left me craving for just a tiny little bit more of something.

I’m waiting impatiently for the next one, I hope to get to see Shaz and Billy once again, but I have my eyes on two second characters who deserve their HEA together. Will Tara fulfill my wish?

Cover art by Reese Dante. Reese has a unique style that I’m becoming to like more with each cover I see.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press – All Romance (ARe) – Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

Published May 1st 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ebook, 254 pages
ISBN13 9781632165763
Edition Language English

In the Spotlight: Despite The Odds (Odds Are #1) by Chris T. Kat (excerpt and giveaway)

Book Name: Despite the Odds (Odds Are #1) by Chris T. Kat
Release Date: June 3, 2015

Need a new contemporary romance to read? Check out Chris T. Kat’s latest novella, Despite The Odds, the first in Kat’s new Odds Are series. We have a excerpt for you all to read and a giveaway to enter.

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press

Never judge a book by its cover.

Michael Campbell can’t hold a job for more than a few days. He’s lucky his foreman is giving him another chance with the solar panel project at a primary school in Atlantic City. When he spies a man walking strangely in front of the school, Michael laughs, assuming he’s drunk or high. Little does he realize that Joshua Stone, a teaching assistant, has cerebral palsy, and he’s having a bad muscle control day. Taking a tumble right in front of the handsome construction worker is just his luck.

When Michael learns the truth, he feels badly for his cruel behavior. He offers to give Joshua—and his tricycle, the Racing Rhonda—a lift. Joshua accepts the help, and suddenly there’s a gorgeous man breezing into his life, turning his world upside down. But Michael has more issues than his inability to hold down a job, and neither man is sure if they’ll be able to overcome their fears in order to be together.
Pages or Words: 114 pages/32,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance, Romance

Henderson bulldozed right into Michael’s personal space, surprising him with the action. “You stupid son of a bitch!”

“Hey! No calling my mother names, okay?”

Michael tried to joke. He’d never seen Henderson this angry. Neither did he care to have all this anger directed at him. Sure, he could hold his own if necessary, but he was more a run-away-if-there’s-trouble kind of guy.

“Do you know who that was?”

“A drunk who shouldn’t set foot on school property?” Michael hazarded.

Henderson’s eyes narrowed to small slits when he replied, “His name is Joshua Stone, and he isn’t drunk. He’s a teaching assistant who works here.”

“He looked drunk to me.”

Henderson closed his eyes, obviously trying to rein in his temper, before he put a bit more distance between them. “Mr. Stone is disabled, hence the way he walks. It’s not always that obvious, but he was carrying books, a lot of books, which threw off his balance. He’s a very good teaching assistant. He doesn’t deserve to be laughed at by someone like you, who can’t even take care of himself.”

That stung.

About the author:

Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there’s any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChrisTKat
Twitter: http://twitter.com/christi_kat
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/ChrisTKat
Blog: http://christikat.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Page

Tour Dates & Stops: June 3, 2015

Parker Williams, Divine Magazine, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, MM Good Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Multitasking Mommas, Full Moon Dreaming, Molly Lolly, Andrew Q. Gordon, Amanda C. Stone, 3 Chicks After Dark, Inked Rainbow Reads, Velvet Panic, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Bike Book Reviews, Cate Ashwood, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Bayou Book Junkie, Mikky’s World of Books, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, The Hat Party, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Charley Descoteaux, Chris McHart, Nephylim, Kristy’s Brain Food, Butterfly-O-Meter, Decadent Delights

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: Chris T. Kat’s Jeff Woods Mystery collection, a three-book collection. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Closing the Loop by Jane Davitt

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Just as he’s finally ready to take a romantic Valentine’s Day gay cruise, travel agent Lee Jones discovers that his partner Ryan not only wants to have sex with other men while on the cruise, he’s already done so right under Lee’s nose. It’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back, and Lee dumps him, not needing to continue to put up with Ryan’s self-centered ways.

When he finds out Ryan is still planning to go on the cruise and share their room, a room Lee paid for, it just adds insult to injury, and Lee puts out the extra bucks to get half of the only other room available—the Presidential Suite. It turns out the other half is occupied by Joseph Cole, a gorgeous lawyer who was on the wait list due to Lee’s own work. Cole had come into the office during the previous week, wanting to get a spot on a fully booked cruise so Lee put him on the waiting list. As far as Lee is concerned, this is a win:win situation. Cole is hot, virile, wealthy, and just the thing to help Lee forget Ryan.

But Cole isn’t interested in the cruise so much as he’s interested in a young man on the cruise, and Lee is continually disappointed that he’s not the center of Cole’s attention. When Cole and Lee discover they have a bit of a kink for leather and spankings, they spend a night creating memories that Lee knows he’ll never forget. But, yet again, Cole’s attention wanders to the young man the next day.

Pushed to the limit, Lee confronts Cole and finally gets the answer. The young man is Cole’s nephew and is recovering from the death of his partner. Unfortunately, over the next few days, his behaviors interfere with the budding romance between Lee and Cole, and when a near-tragedy occurs, Cole has to leave the cruise to escort the boy home, and he departs, Lee loses all hope for any future contact. What happens next is not something I’m about to detail in the review due to spoilers, but it ultimately leads to a very definitely hopeful future for these well-matched men.

I enjoyed this story very much. The author allows the characters to explore their kinky side to the point where the story might be classed as light BDSM, yet she also gives them life beyond the bedroom. Their shared enjoyment of various activities, topics of conversation, and life circumstances all combine to make their compatibility very evident, despite the mismatch in their careers and economic status. . Their personalities are well-developed; their attraction to each other is believable; and the story is interesting and fun.

If you love contemporary M/M romance, you should enjoy this. The BDSM is light, so those who normally aren’t attracted shouldn’t have any major issues with it. Those who like it will enjoy the leather and spanking kink, and those who just want to find a good book to read at the beach should look no further.

Cover Art by LC Chase depicts a birds-eye view of two men lying on deck chairs on the balcony of their cruise ship suite. It’s very bright and colorful and beautifully sums up rest and relaxation in the sun.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing – All Romance (ARe) – Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 150 pages
Published May 25th 2015 by Riptide Publishing (first published May 23rd 2015)
original titleClosing the Loop
ISBN139781626492813
edition languageEnglish

Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review : Sultry Sunset (Mangrove Stories #3) by Mary Calmes

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5:

Hutch Crowley is well-liked in the small resort town of Mangrove—he’s got friends in his new neighbors, he’s the owner of the town grocery, and he’s building a community center—but he’s still unlucky at love. Every man he’s attracted to is either taken or simply not interested, including his best friend, Mike Rojas.

When Mike came to Mangrove two years ago, Hutch gave him a job and a place to stay in his guesthouse, where Mike has remained ever since. Despite the rumors circulating about them, Hutch knows Mike is straight and looking for the right woman. But his friends disagree, and after some hints to the contrary, even Hutch finally has to admit that maybe the rest of the town sees something he’s been missing. If Hutch wants to spend each sultry sunset with the man of his dreams, it might be time to figure out what’s going on with his best friend’s heart.

This was a sweet gay-for-you story in the world of the friends we met in “Blue Days” and “Quiet Nights”. Hutch Crowley, a businessman and town leader, was the guy dating Coz in “Quiet Nights” when Kelly finally realized he had to act quickly or Coz would be gone. It’s nice to see that Hutch got his own story.

It takes Hutch a while to realize that the reason he’s so upset at seeing the parade of women tiptoeing the walk of shame away from his guest house at dawn each morning is that he’s jealous of them. His guest house is occupied by Mike Rojas, his best friend and the co-manager of Heath’s grocery store. Mike is a widower who came to Mangrove two years ago after wandering the country in a state of restlessness when his wife died.

Finally ready to move on with his life, he’s looking better, and obviously feeling better as evidenced by the increase in his dating. Heath can’t quite cope with his new feelings for Mike, but believes he’s hiding them well. However, all of their friends are just wondering when they are going to see the light. It’s obvious to them that these guys care for each other, but it isn’t until Heath lands in jail that the situation comes to a head.

This story was too short to form a deep attachment to the characters and to build up the sexual tension. However, it was sweet and a good pick-me-up for those days when you need to feel good. A few new characters were introduced in this story as well, and I’ll be surprised if we don’t see Mike’s new neighbor, Essien, in his own story someday soon.

I’d recommend this to fans of Mary Calmes, those who like a GFY short story to brighten their day, and to all lovers of M/M romance. You can never go wrong with a little Mary Calmes in your life.

Cover Art by Reese Dante is a photo of a man standing alone on a beach at sunset— a gloriously, beautiful sunset. This is one of the most attractive covers I’ve seen this year.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press – All Romance (ARe) – Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 62 pages
Published May 15th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
ISBN139781634761512
edition languageEnglish
seriesMangrove Stories #3

Mangrove Series Stories include:

Blue Days (Mangrove Stories, #1)
Quiet Nights (Mangrove Stories, #2)
Sultry Sunset (Mangrove Stories #3)

Cover Reveal Time for Sloan Johnson’s Wild Pitch -Love Among the Boys of Summer! (excerpt and giveaway)

Homeruns Series #1
Wild Pitch
by Sloan Johnson

Coming June 18, 2015

Synopsis:

There’s never been any question in Sean Tucker’s mind that he’d do whatever it took to make it to the major leagues and be one of the best pitchers of his time. The day he acknowledged to himself that he was gay was also the day he vowed to stay in the closet in order to chase his dreams. The problem is, he never counted on Mason Atley.

Sean showed rookie short stop Mason Atley the ropes, both on the field and off. The two forged a friendship which continued as both of them moved through the ranks of the farm system and into the majors. Unfortunately, there’s always been one secret Mason never felt he could share with Sean. Until now.

For seven years, Sean lived with the fact that he loved a man who would never reciprocate. When Mason admits that he’s always known he’s bisexual but has never allowed himself to pursue a relationship with a man, will Sean be able to put aside his reservations about starting a relationship with the friend he’d always assumed was straight? And more importantly, will they be able to find a way to stay together when their careers keep them apart more than they can be together?

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Excerpt:

I waited until we’d polished off the entire pizza and the dishes were rinsed in the sink before confronting Sean about what I assumed was weighing on his mind.

“So, are you still going to tell me you and Eric were just friends?” I asked, handing him a second beer. I’d switched to soda, on the off chance that he wanted to head back to the hotel. The only thing that’d make today worse was a DUI.

“We were. We are,” he protested. His gaze bounced around the room, but never in my direction.

“Bullshit. Trades are part of the game. We both know that, and yet Eric leaving managed to get into your head and throw off your game today. You can tell yourself whatever you want, but I know you better than that,” I reminded him. We’d lived together for the better part of a year, and not once was he able to pull the wool over my eyes.

“Fine,” he grumbled, taking a long draw off his beer. I thought that was the closest I’d get to an admission from him as he rubbed the back of his neck. Then he crooked a finger against the side of his chin, twisting to the left, then the right, then the left again to crack his neck. As I watched him go through his nervous routine, I regretted pushing him when he obviously wasn’t ready. Something inside of him clicked and he started to talk again. “There may have been benefits included, but really, it wasn’t more than that. Neither of us are stupid enough to get involved with a teammate, so we settled for getting cozy in the closet when the urge struck. We figured it worked pretty damn well that the two gay guys wound up in the same room. What we did was no different from the shit the rest of the guys were doing, except we didn’t have to go out and find a new trick in each town.”

“So you fucked and you were close enough that his leaving got to you, but you’re going to tell me you weren’t involved?” I shouldn’t push the issue, but I was pissed. I hated the fact that he was obviously in denial about what they meant to one another.

“Yes, Mason, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Look, just because I don’t want a relationship doesn’t mean I don’t want to get laid every once in a while,” he argued. “And not wanting a commitment doesn’t mean I want a random stranger. Eric understood that and respected it. He’s in the same boat as me and we did what needed to be done.”

“Then why the head trip? Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve sworn you’d never do anything that fucked with your game. What’s so special about him that he was worth it?” As I ranted, I thought I sounded like the scorned friend who’d never be what Sean needed. And how could I be when he had no clue that he was so much more than my just my best friend?

Sean jumped off the couch and started pacing around the room, squeezing the back of his neck. “Because other than you, he’s the only person who’s come close to understanding how much baseball means to me,” he admitted. “I knew he wasn’t cut out for no-strings sex but he was willing to settle for that for me. He’s a good guy and yeah, I’m going to miss him. There, are you happy now?”

About the Author

Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.

When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.

Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?

Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.

Connect with Sloan Online

Contest:

Enter to win a eBook of Wild Pitch. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author.

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A M/M Romance “Healing” Anthology

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For Real by Alexis Hall Published by Riptide Publishing

Cover by Simone Release Date: June 1, 2015

Sales Link: Riptide Publishing

About For Real…

About Alexis Hall

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Book Name: Despite the Odds (Odds Are #1) by Chris T. Kat Release Date: June 3, 2015

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Homeruns Series #1 Wild Pitch by Sloan Johnson

Coming June 18, 2015

Synopsis:

Excerpt:

About the Author

Connect with Sloan Online

Contest:

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For Real by Alexis Hall
Published by Riptide Publishing

Cover by Simone
Release Date: June 1, 2015

Book Name: Despite the Odds (Odds Are #1) by Chris T. Kat
Release Date: June 3, 2015

Homeruns Series #1
Wild Pitch
by Sloan Johnson