Category: eBooks

Release Blitz – Promises by Ruby Moone (excerpt and giveaway)

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | JMS Books
 
Length: 32,000 words approx.
 
Publisher: JMS Books
 
Blurb
 

Captain Charles Hawkins has returned from the Napoleonic wars desperate for solitude. When the man who saved his life asks a favour, he feels honour bound to agree, but the request fills him with horror.


Sebastian Farrah knows the only useful thing he can do with his life is join Wellington’s army. He has tried everything else and failed. He agrees to his brother’s ridiculous request to spend a month in the country because it is the only way his brother will agree to purchase him a commission.


Charles and Sebastian clash but quickly form a bond that deepens into much more. However, they are running out of time. Charles begs Sebastian to stay, but Sebastian knows to do so he will be forced to reveal what it is that stopped him from succeeding in everything. The shameful secret he carries from the schoolroom.

 
Excerpt
 

Another week passed, and Farrah had become an integral part of the household. He was everywhere. Working in the garden, eating with him, accompanying him when he left the house to tour around the estate, working with him with the shipping company, although he was still curiously resistant about that. Charles watched him apply himself to his evening meal with gusto. The man ate like a horse but hadn’t a spare inch on his frame. All the physical work meant that he had arrived in reasonable shape for someone who did nothing but gamble and drink, but now, now he was bursting with good health, humour, and a physique that made Charles want to weep with envy as he thought about his own skeletal frame. There was a warmth to his companionship that made getting up in a morning easier. He realised just how much he was enjoying having him in the house. As they talked, he hoped that he was helping Farrah to see that there were options open to him that didn’t involve him risking his life on the continent. To see that there were a whole host of things that he was good at. Farrah’s comment about the army being all he was good for had stayed with him and it surprised him how annoyed it made him that his family had allowed him to feel that way, and constantly surprised that Farrah seemed to believe it.


Coulson arrived with the tea tray and Charles smiled as he realised Farrah had lost that slightly frantic look he’d had on realising there was no port or brandy on his arrival. When Coulson had retreated, Charles raised his cup in a toast.


“Congratulations on another sterling week Mr Farrah.”


Farrah laughed and raised his cup in response. “Congratulations on putting up with me for another week. You deserve a medal, Captain Hawkins.”


“Nonsense. No medals required.”


Farrah tilted his head on one side and observed him. “You really are the best of men. I know I’m not easy to have around. Too loud, too … much.” He laughed again.


And there he went again. He really seemed to believe that his company would not be valued. That he would be some sort of burden. Charles was stunned when he realised that in that moment he wanted nothing more than to take him in his arms and tell him in no uncertain terms that having him in the house was no hardship, and not only that, he discovered he wanted to hunt down the people who had told him that he was a burden, or a nuisance, and hurt them. It was a disconcerting.


He had to fight to retain his composure and answer in kind. “Piffle. You’ve brightened the place up no end. Once you’d sobered up, that is.” He kept his tone light, but his heart was thumping.


“Really?”


For a big, handsome, seemingly confident man sometimes there was a hint of such wistfulness about him, and it was there full force in that softly spoken word. It was filled with such fragile hope it hurt something inside Charles.


“Really.” Charles spoke softly and something in Farrah brightened. “Now, stop fishing for compliments and tell me what the plan for tomorrow is.” He had to resume his usual brisk tone because if he didn’t, he would have … Charles’ heart stopped in his chest. Oh God. Oh God.


He wanted to kiss him.

 

My name is Ruby Moone and I love books. All kinds of books. My weakness is for romance, and that can be any kind, but I am particularly fond of historical and paranormal. I decided to write gay romance after reading some fantastic books and falling in love with the genre, so am really thrilled to have my work published here. The day job takes up a lot of my time, but every other spare moment finds me writing or reading. I live in the north west of England with my husband who thinks that I live in two worlds. The real world and in the world in my head…he probably has a point!


Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/RubyMoone/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter – @RubyMooneWriter
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rubymoone/

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Release Blitz and Giveaway – Burning Fall (Hot Seasons #1) by EJ Smyth

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 31,443 words.

Cover: EJ Smyth

Blurb

Opposites attract, but can they ever work together?

Damien is an ambitious young lawyer. After moving to Germany, he doesn’t expect to feel quite so out of his element. Apart from hating his job, a rumor spreads that he is a homophobe.

To redeem himself, he is put in charge of the firm’s signature event Burning Fall. He has no choice but to hire Yannik, a gorgeous yet unconventional event manager.

But from their first disastrous meeting, everything possible goes wrong.

Can the two men find a way to work together, or will Damien’s career, Yannik’s future, and the most important client event of the year go down in flames?

Find out in this steamy and fun short novel, the first book in Frankfurt Hot Seasons.

Author Bio

Hi there! My name is EJ Smyth, I live in Frankfurt, Germany and I’m passionate about romance. Not luffy-duffy romance, but stories with other elements mixed in. Paranormal romance, romantic thrillers, gay romance, if it’s got two difficult characters finding each other, I’m on board!

I write at my living room table, usually covered with folded laundry because I couldn’t be bothered to tidy before sitting down. And my kids are teenagers, so not much help there either <eye roll>. I do love having them around and I’ve gotten used to writing with a background noise of Grand Theft Auto and teenage histrionics. Maybe that’s why I prefer writing action scenes over descriptive settings! Except for the 18+ scenes which I have to write in a separate room, because, well, embarrassing…

I’m currently working on a series of short stories Keith is Awesome about a young man exploring his sexuality. Not something I’ve ever written before but the research alone was quite a bit of fun Check out my Pinterest account to see my inspiration. I love to talk to my readers, online and offline, so please feel free to drop me a line!

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An Alisa Review: Down to Earth (Directions #2) by Jena Wade

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Everett Surlin longed for the day that his Fated mate finally recognized him. It’d been eight years since he’d first met Matt Jenkins, he’d never imagined it take this long for his mate to realize their connection.

Matt Jenkins had done his best to put his past behind him. The abuse he’d endured as a child stayed locked away inside him, never to be shared with anyone. He’d assumed that as a result of his upbringing, he was broken and he would never have a mate. That didn’t stop him from desiring Everett and wishing that they could be together.

When tragedy strikes, Matt stays at Everett’s side, which just might be the push he needs to discover what had been there all along and a future he never dreamed would be possible.

I enjoyed seeing Matt and Everett build their relationship.  Everett has tried to give Matt the space to hopefully realize what they are to each other but with every passing day it gets harder and harder.  While Everett helps Matt when he is put out of his home, Matt helps him when he loses someone important.

There was a chunk of the book where these two were not together and were pretty much distant “friends” since Everett is so gruff but I could see how he was trying to protect himself if Matt never realized who they were to each other.  Truthfully, I don’t think Matt even realized it until he claimed Everett and then there was explaining to do but they quickly meld their lives together.  I thought this story had bit more depth than the last in the series and they had multiple conflicts to resolve they did it together.

The cover art by Silver Heart Design Studio is nice and follows the style from the previous book

Sales Links: Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 127 pages

Published: June 23, 2018

Edition Language: English

Series: Directions #2

Release Blitz and Giveaway for Heavens Aground (Treble and the Lost Boys #2) by G.R. Lyons

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Length: 100,000 words approx.
 
Cover Design: Designs by Dana
 
Treble and the Lost Boys Series
 
Book #1 – Ice On Fire – Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Blurb
 

Ryley Skye can’t take anything seriously. Not the murder scenes he investigates, nor the fact that he’s cheating on his boyfriend. Not the bloody nightmares he gets every other night, and especially not Vic’s ridiculous theory that Ryley might be a mage.


Magic? Him? There’s just no way.


When Vic decides he’s had enough of Ryley’s cheating and breaks things off, it couldn’t come at a worse time. They’ve just been handed a case that will require them to work closely together, whether they like it or not. But Ryley plays along. He has to. He can’t afford any kind of confrontation. Things happen when he gets angry or aroused. Weird things. Bad things. He has to stay bottled up and in control at all times.


Then he meets Asher Arden, and indulges in what he thinks is a little rebound fling. But when Ryley loses control and puts Asher’s life at risk, he realizes two things: He loves Asher more than anything else in the world…


And Vic just might have been right all along.


(Note: This story takes place in a fictional world, the same as in the Shifting Isles Series. There are multiple gods, different names for the days of the week, etc. A glossary is included.)

 
 

August 24 – Gay Book Reviews, OMG Reads, August 29 – Drops of Ink, Cupcakes & Bookshelves, August 31 – Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, RAM PA Group, September 3 – Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, Book Review By Virginia Lee


Author Bio


While daylighting as office manager for the family auto repair business, G.R. Lyons can often be found working on one of multiple manuscripts or desperately trying to keep up with the TBR pile.


Anarcho-capitalist, quietly ‘out’ trans guy, former belly dancer, coffee guzzler, highly-sensitive introvert, CrossFit enthusiast, and lover of m/m romantic fiction.


Email: grlyons@grlyonsauthor.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/grlyonsauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/grlyonsauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/grlyonsauthor
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/doumteksonata/
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/author/grlyons

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Release Tour – Drifting Sands (The Warfield Mysteries #1) by CJ Baty

 

 

 Amazon US | Amazon UK
Available for the first time in Kindle Unlimited

 
Length: 211 Pages
 
Blurb
 

As he approaches his fortieth birthday, Justin Warfield feels alone, drifting like the sand that blows along the beach near his family’s hotel. He has done exactly as his father wanted. Married the right girl and carried on the family tradition of running the Warfield Hotel. On paper things seem perfect, but happiness hasn’t been a part of his life for a very long time.


Marcus Drummond once spent a summer with his best friend Peter at the Warfield Hotel and fell hard for Peter’s much older brother. Five years later he’s back, and this time he hopes that Justin will see him as more than his kid brother’s friend.


Sparks fly when the two meet again, but there are a few things standing in their way. The closet that Justin has himself buried in and someone on a killing spree, dumping bodies on the Warfield beach . . . victims that indicate Justin may be involved in some way.


Author Bio


C. J. Baty lives in southwest Ohio. Her heart, however, lives in the mountains of Tennessee where she hopes to retire some day. The mountains have always provided her with inspiration and a soothing balm to the stresses of everyday life.


The dream of writing her own stories started in high school but was left on the back burner of life until her son introduced her to fan fiction and encouraged her to give it a try. She found that her passion for telling a story was still there and writing them down to share with others was much more thrilling than she had ever expected.


She has a loving and supportive family who don’t mind fixing their own meals when she is in the middle of a story, and a network of friends who have encouraged and cheered her on in her quest of being an author.


One thing she has learned from life and she is often heard to say is: “You are never too old to follow your dream!”


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New Release Book Blitz for Looking Forward by Michael Bailey (excerpt and giveaway)

 Looking Forward RDB Banner

Looking Forward

Michael Bailey

Gay Fiction

258 Pages

Release Date: 08.22.18

Looking Forward Cover 

 

Cover Design: Jay Aheer

Looking Forward Graphic

BLURB:

Owen Hannity was nineteen when he lost almost everyone he thought he could trust. Each loss more painful than the last.

With the unwavering support of his best friend, Andy, Owen put the pieces of his life back together. Now, more than two decades later, Owen owns and operates a successful comic shop. Despite his modicum of success, he still feels like a shell of a man, carrying the emotional scars from his past.

Without warning, Owen’s past returns. Secrets come to light. Secrets that could either destroy Owen or finally give him the strength to re-evaluate everything he thought he knew about Andy, himself, and the way in which he views the world.

To see that he is truly worthy of loving himself and finally begin…

…Looking Forward.

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Mwajgw

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2PA2FPM

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2w8oyhc

Looking Forward Teaser 1

Looking Forward Teaser 2 

EXCERPT

I extended my hand for him to shake.  He gave it an odd look, like he wasn’t understanding what I was doing.  He gently batted it away. He laid his hands on my shoulders, and looked at me, almost like he was asking for permission.  I shivered, either from the cold or the look he gave, I couldn’t tell.  He pulled me to him, wrapped his arms around me, and held me tight.  On instinct, I did the same.

My head was spinning with questions, but I pushed them away.  There would be plenty of time for questions later, much later.  Now was about being held, feeling his arms around me and memorizing as many details as possible.

I don’t know how long we stood like that, wrapped in each other’s arms with my drunk friend and his sister passed out in the car.  Time seemed to stand still, and I found myself living in that moment, in that bubble, and in his arms.  I don’t know if he realized at the time, but I breathed him in, studying the scent that I somehow knew to be uniquely his, vanilla and pine.

He loosened his hold and kissed the top of my head again, and for a moment I wondered why.  There was no one around to impress, no one he had to demonstrate to that I was his.  That kiss sent a warmth radiating through me, deeper than the one in the bar.

He pulled away slightly and looked down as if he were studying me.  I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was doing the same.  Maybe I would see him before he left, and maybe I wouldn’t, I didn’t know.  I did know, however, that something like this had never happened to me before, and I was determined to remember every detail.

Finally, he cleared his throat.  “I should go.”

No! my brain screamed.  Stay!

“Yeah.  Okay.  You should.”

He pulled away.  “I hope to see you before I go.”

My brain was still playing catch-up.  My throat felt constricted, and it was suddenly hard to breathe. “Me too.”

For the same reasons?  I couldn’t be sure.  I wasn’t sure about anything anymore.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’m the oldest of three, from the Glass Capital of the world, Toledo Ohio.

Don’t laugh too hard.

I’ve dreamed of writing since I was eleven years old when I wrote a truly awful Choose-Your-Own-Adventure. It sold exactly zero copies. I think my mother may have a copy lying around somewhere. Mothers keep that kind of thing.

Through junior high and high school, I wrote a number of short stories, one actually published in the first (and only) issue of his high school’s literary magazine.

Life took control shortly thereafter, as it often does, and the dream of writing was put on hold. Then, in November of 2016, I took a leap of faith, and began writing my first novel as part of the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) competition. The goal of the competition is to write a 50,000-word novel in a thirty-day period.

I failed.

However, on the advice of a friend, I “pushed through”. And so, in September of 2017, my first novel was published.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015119775212

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6949227-michael

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mikel71670/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Mikel701

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A MelanieM Review: Pretty Man by Ryan Field

Rating:  2 stars out of  5

Roland Marcus, still not over the fact that his twenty year relationship has ended, accidentally bumps into a hot young guy in a used book store…a strapping male hustler whom he decides to hire for one week to accompany him to charity events while he’s in New York. He offers him five thousand dollars, with no strings attached, to just stand by his side and look pretty.

Josh Holden, a young guy who is helping to support his son and saving money to buy a business with his best friend and ex-wife, is only too happy to escort Roland anywhere he wants to go that week. And he’s not doing it just for the money…

Unlike most stories, where the rich and powerful husband dumps the hard working, devoted life partner for someone younger, this one takes a turn in the opposite direction when the rich husband is the one to get dumped. But with young Josh’s help, Roland learns in less than a week’s time that his future can still hold both earth-shattering sex and a love of real substance.

I admit it. I love the movie Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.  I can visualize scenes based on a laugh and a clap of a jewelry box.  The sight of a outside escape ladder on a building will immediately call up memories of that ending where he heads up the ladder and she tells him that the fair maiden rescue’s the Knight right back.  Swoon!  Because of course, that’s the point.  She rescued him just as much as he did her.  There was an odd vulnerability on both parts and a toughness.  A relationship we could give our hearts too.

All of which is what’s missing here.

Ryan Field says in his introduction that he wants to write happy gay romances because there was none in the 20th century for him to read.  And while I may quibble about his timeline, I get his point.  Field goes on to say that’s why he writes today, to insure that there’s happy romances for others like him to read and enjoy.  Again, terrific.  But he seems to be making a career of rewriting  classic romantic movies with  M/M roles (An Officer and His Gentleman, When Harry Met Sal, Sleepless In San Francisco).  It seems like a cute idea but if Pretty Man is any indication he’s missing the point of (at least) why these movies are so popular.

In Pretty Man, he left out most of the elements that made the movie so wonderful and the characters so likable. If in fact you are going  to emulate a dearly loved movie, than at least know why that movie worked. Understand the chemistry between the characters, the difference in stations and why that romance sticks with people no matter the decade.  I’ll give you a clue.  It wasn’t because the power was one sided.  As it is here all the way to the end.  Roland rescues, and rescues, and rescues.  Josh continually needs saving.  Plus there was an actual relationship there.

In fact, most of the book has so many sex scenes that any relationship development is all but forgotten.  Why does  Roland go after Josh?  Well, Field makes it sound like it’s because Josh is a pretty good looking man and the sex is great, torn jeans and all.  There’s no “rescuing back” here.  No give and take.  That’s completely lost.   In fact all the characters have little depth, even the storyline seems so light as to have been constructed of cotton candy.

So, no Pretty Man didn’t do it for me.  I think I be honest I’ll have to see what other things this author has written that aren’t associated with movies but perhaps are based more on original concepts and see how that goes.  In my opinion this was a cute idea but just didn’t work out in an actual story.

Cover art is cute but doesn’t accurately portray both characters as Roland is much older than Josh

Sales Links:  Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 2nd edition, 169 pages
Published August 10th 2018 by Riverdale Avenue Books (first published 2009)
Original TitlePretty man
ASINB07GCVBY1S
Edition LanguageEnglish
CharactersJosh Holden, Roland Marcus settingUnited States of America

An Alisa Review: Up to Code (Directions #1) by Jena Wade

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Aiden was an Omega who needed a job doing what he loved. He never imagined he’d meet his fated mate during the interview. He was ready to bond right away, but something stopped his Alpha from claiming him. Aiden’s patience held strong, but being near his mate every day without bonding threatened to drive him insane.

Brandon owned a successful company, and he wanted to share that success with his mate and their child. But the continued thefts troubled him and the last thing he wanted to do was drag his new mate into any danger.

Danger found them anyway.

I always enjoy a good mpreg story so I jumped at the chance to read this series.  Aiden works hard to show his alpha that he is worthy but still Brandon delays them bonding.  Brandon thinks he is protecting Aiden when in reality he is just driving them both crazy.  The danger wasn’t really all that much when it actually came about and was cleared up pretty easily.

These two characters work well together once they get the chance to.  I liked both of them and was able to understand them for the most part since the story is told through both of their eyes.  There just seemed to be a few times where the characters seemed to have the same conversation and both act like they have never talked about it before.  That is one of those things that really bug me, if they had just been revisiting a conversation that would be different but having pretty much the same conversation twice, umm no.

The cover art by Silver Heart Design Studio is nice gives visuals of the characters.

Sales Links: Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 136 pages

Published: May 26, 2018

Edition Language: English

Series: Directions #1

An Alisa Review: 2230: The Perfect Year by CM Corett

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

Alex Coulson spends his days as a lowly laboratory assistant. At night, he watches movies in his lonely apartment and dreams of exciting adventures and handsome leading men.

When an electrical fire breaks out in the lab, an experimental machine malfunctions and Alex is caught in the explosion. He awakens, injured and confused, to learn he has traveled two hundred years into the future—to the year 2230. Under the care of the gorgeous Doctor Baylin Davies (a definite contender for a leading man) Alex recovers quickly, and his feelings for Baylin deepen each day. Baylin is handsome, sexy, caring, and a verified genius—everything Alex could ever dream of. Add in the whole concept of living in the future, and Alex soon decides the year 2230 is the perfect year to begin his new life.

But then there’s the major…

Whenever the intimidating military man, Major Marcais, is near, a strange power overcomes Alex’s senses, clouding his mind and weakening his desire to be with Baylin.

When the major reveals he is an alien and declares Alex to be his life mate, Alex must find the strength to resist him. And while fighting for the man he truly desires, Alex just might discover he’s the leading man in his own adventure.

Accidental time travel, not something I usually read about but this sounded interesting and I went for it because I have enjoyed the author.  I liked how this wasn’t overly sci-fi but just enough to keep it interesting.  Alex and Baylin feel an instant attraction to each other and both try to navigate how a relationship would work especially if the High Order want to send Alex back to his time.  And Major, he is basically a jerk, he comes around just enough to make Alex off balance.

We get to see both Alex and Baylin struggle with their feelings and how they think they should approach them with each other.  I loved how adorable Alex is and is awkwardness is made to be just a cute quirk since he is so different than those around him.  Baylin still struggles with his confidence based on how some others treat him but Alex is determined to show him differently and he will need it to fight for what he wants.  I was very happy that Alex had the ability to stand up for what he wanted and didn’t have to go along with what the Major said.

Cover art by Natasha Snow is nice though doesn’t scream futuristic to me.

Sales Links: Nine Star Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 30,600 words

Published: August 6, 2018 by Nine Star Press

ISBN: 978-1-949340-37-2

Edition Language: English