Category: LGBTQ Book Reviews

New Release Blitz for 2230: The Perfect Year by CM Corett (excerpt and giveaway)

Title: 2230: The Perfect Year

Author: CM Corett

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: August 6, 2018

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 30600

Genre: Science Fiction, time travel, research lab, scientist, aliens, fated mates

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Synopsis

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.

Excerpt

2230: The Perfect Year
CM Corett © 2018
All Rights Reserved

Chapter One
Alex Coulson’s sports shoes made a loud squawk on the polished floor. His step faltered. Had anyone heard? He scanned the cavernous office foyer. With gray marble floors and clusters of expensive couches, it looked nothing like a scientific research center and more like an exclusive hotel. An empty hotel. Of course it was empty; only the truly dedicated work on Sunday. Actually, the dedicated and people like him—sad, pathetic losers without a life. He shook his head.

Okay, Alex, quit the self-pity party. No one likes a whiner.

After another quick glance around the foyer, he strode forward and headed down the long corridor lined with identical doors. The small panes of glass in each one allowed him a glimpse inside the research labs—all empty. He appeared to be the sole, sad, pathetic person here today. At the end of the corridor, he stopped in front of the door labeled “Authorized Personnel Only.”

One wave of his security pass over the sensor and the lab door slid open. The sharp smell of smoke and plastic invaded his senses. His nose twitched. Crap! Electrical fire! No doubt about it. As the wire’s plastic coating melted, it gave off a distinct smell. He scanned the room, searching for the source, but everything appeared normal. He dashed through the main room and into the smaller lab.

Like an early morning fog, a veil of smoke hovered near the far wall, centered over the control panel. In seconds, his heart rate hit full throttle. “Crap! Crap! Crap!” The Accelerator control panel! His focus flicked to the partition wall protecting the experimental machine from prying eyes. Good. No sign of smoke there. That would be bad. Very bad. He dashed into the thickening cloud of smoke and headed toward its source.

With short, gasping breaths, he swallowed and choked on the thick acrid air. What about the fire alarm? Why hadn’t it triggered yet? He slammed his hand onto the control-panel power button and then stepped back. No shutdown. Nothing. Like ocean buoy lights viewed through the fog, the faint glow of backlit buttons and switches remained. He blinked rapidly as his tear ducts reacted to the invasive smoke, creating a torrent of tears. From beneath the watery veil, he focused on the computer screen embedded in the wall. What the hell? Why was the program running? Had he forgotten to close it the previous night? His boss would have his—

A flame erupted behind the control panel.

“Oh, God!” Coughing, he stumbled backward. What should he do? Brave the flames and try to turn off the program? Call the fire department? Fire extinguisher?

Yes! Fire extinguisher.

He spun around and grabbed the red cylinder hanging on the wall. Maybe he could put the fire out before it caused too much damage. Maybe it wouldn’t even come to the attention of management. He ripped off the safety guard thingy, pointed, and pulled the trigger. The white substance spewed out toward the flames, dousing them in a cozy blanket of white powder. “Ahhh, yes. Against all expectations, Alex Coulson saves the day!”

His boss would be pleased with him. Okay, not pleased exactly because he had most likely left the Accelerator program running, but pleased because a major fire would have brought their unauthorized work to the attention of management. “And that would be bad.”

With a few short blasts of the fire extinguisher, he completed the blanket of white over the control board. He frowned and contemplated the scene. A little more wouldn’t hurt. Better to be safe than sorry. Crouching down, he directed the nozzle under the desk and pulled the trigger. Just in case.

He stood up and surveyed the room. Okay, it could have been worse. The whole lab could have gone up in flames, destroying countless hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment. Not to mention the oh-so-secret data his boss guarded as if it held the answers to the universe. Yes, it could have been much worse.

He drew in a deep breath…and doubled over with the force of a violent coughing fit.

Crap. Smoke. Not a good idea to take deep breaths.

Fire extinguisher still in hand, he stumbled back to the main lab. His breath rasped in his throat, forcing its way past raw, inflamed flesh. At least the air in the main lab remained relatively smoke-free. In a few minutes, he would re-enter the inner lab and clean up the mess. With a bit of luck, the damage would be minimal. Maybe he could fix it himself. Clean up the fire retardant, replace a few wires, and—hey presto! Good as new with no evidence of the program he left running—no cause to fire him.

The shrieking of an alarm pierced the air, assaulting his eardrums with shrill vibrations. He closed his eyes and mouth, scrunching and squeezing his face as if trying to block the sound from entering any other orifice. A millisecond later, a deluge of water erupted from the ceiling sprinklers like an unexpected shower of summer rain. The muscles in his jaw slackened, and his mouth fell open.

Oh, crap!

Water drummed on his head and shoulders, seeping under the collar of his jacket. Mini rivers flowed across computers and desks before cascading to the shallow lake forming on the floor. The fire extinguisher hit the ground beside his foot with a waterlogged clunk.

I’m a dead man. Not to mention fired!

His shoulders slumped. Could his life get any worse?

The floor shook, sending vibrations up his legs and into his queasy stomach. Oh shit. Rule number one: never ask if it could get any worse. What the hell? An earthquake? Light exploded from the inner lab, propelling bright sparks through the doorway like tiny shooting stars. Water sloshed around his feet as he stumbled backward. The Accelerator! “Oh, shit, shit, shit!”

So. Not. Good.

A loud humming joined the vibrations. It pulsed through his body, loud enough to be heard over the sprinklers and fire alarm, shaking him to the core. Paralyzed, he stood transfixed. The inner lab glowed with a pulsating green light, matching its beat in harmony with the tremors running through the building and his body.

The vibrations were so intense he couldn’t move his legs. His head hurt and numbness crept over his face. He clutched his head and squeezed his eyes shut. Vibrating, pulsating, and humming. Could his brain explode? Would they find his gray matter splattered all over the lab and floating in the newly formed lake?

As he opened his eyes, a fresh shower of sparks shot toward him. Burning! His arm burned, stinging like the devil at a precise spot on his forearm. He slapped the sleeve of his jacket like a maniac until the pain receded to a dull ache.

Okay, time to run.

In his mind, he stumbled toward the door, but his body refused to cooperate. He looked down. His legs were—

What the hell? His body appeared pixelated and a few sections were…missing? Whoa! There was some weird, scary shit happening.

The humming intensified, sending a wave of nausea through his stomach. He couldn’t feel his legs. Were they still attached to his body? The world tipped and then faded around the edges. No, no, no! He’d seen the experiments, and he had no way to stop the Accelerator from frying him—like those rats.

So. Not. Pretty.

At least no one would miss him.

Oh, God, that’s a sad and pathetic fact.

Searing hot pain exploded in his head like a—

“Ahhhhh!”

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet the Author

CM Corett is an Australian author of M/M romance who has given up on trying to limit herself to one sub-genre. She writes contemporary, historical, sci-fi, and time travel… and she may have a few paranormal drafts hidden under the bed! An avid writer and reader of love between men, she has lived in the USA and traveled the world gathering inspiration for her stories. She loves movies, superheroes, and video games with awesome graphics. She hates housework and anyone who expects her to notice (or care about) the dust on top of the fridge.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Series Recap Blitz and Giveaway for the Montana Series by RJ Scott

 

Montana Series now Available in Kindle Unlimited

 

Book #1 – Crooked Tree Ranch – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #2 – The Rancher’s Son – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #3 – A Cowboy’s Home – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #4 – Snow In Montana – Amazon US – Amazon UK

Book #5 – Second Chance Ranch – Out August 28 – All Info Here. 



Crooked Tree Ranch (Montana #1)

The Cowboy and the City Slicker.

On the spur of the moment, with his life collapsing around him, Jay Sullivan answers an ad for a business manager with an expertise in marketing, on a dude ranch in Montana.

With his sister, Ashley, niece, Kirsten and nephew, Josh, in tow, he moves lock stock and barrel from New York to Montana to start a new life on Crooked Tree Ranch.

Foreman and part owner of the ranch, ex rodeo star Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Todd has been running the dude ranch, for five years ever since his mentor Marcus Allen became ill.

His brothers convince him that he needs to get an expert in to help the business grow. He knows things have to change and but when the new guy turns up, with a troubled family in tow – he just isn’t prepared for how much.


 
 
The Rancher’s Son (Montana #2)
 

A man without memories, and the cop who never gave up hope.

When he wakes up in the hospital, the victim of a brutal beating, John Doe has no memories of who he is or who hurt him. The cops can find nothing to identify him and he can’t remember anything to help… except the name Ethan and one recurring place from his dreams. Two words, and they’re not much, but it’s a start: Crooked Tree.

Detective Ethan Allens has never stopped searching for the two boys who vanished. When a report lands on Ethan’s desk that may give new leads, he jumps at the chance to follow them up. The man he finds isn’t his brother, but it’s someone who could maybe help him discover what happened twelve years ago.

What neither man can know is that facing the very real demons of the past could destroy any kind of future they may have together.

 
 
 
A Cowboy’s Home (Montana #3)
 

One burned and broken man finds his way home. Can he find peace in the arms of a man easy to love?Justin made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, battling domestic terrorism, never the man he really was, using hate to avenge the death of his best friend. The friend he’d killed.

What he doesn’t count on is getting shot, and if he’s going to die he wants it to be on Crooked Tree soil. Home.

Sam is as much a part of Crooked Tree as any of the families, and the offer to buy into the ranch is a dream come true. But falling for a hidden, secretive, injured man isn’t the way to keep his head in the game.

 
 
Snow In Montana (Montana #4)

An actor in the closet, a sheriff in love, and memories that won’t stay hidden.

Jordan Darby is known as the King of Christmas. The star of eight made-for-TV Christmas movies, the leading man who always gets his girl. Filming at Crooked Tree Ranch in Montana, in the ice and snow, Jordan is fighting to make a go of his new company and dealing with fears of exposure over one huge secret. After all, who the hell would buy into him being a romantic straight lead if rumors about him being gay were proven to be true?

Sheriff Ryan Carter is advising on the new movie being made at Crooked Tree. He hoped this would be one day of work and nothing more. Until, that is, he meets the hero. But while Jordan is sexy, he’s also very much stuck in the closet—everything that Ryan doesn’t need in his life. And then lust becomes part of the equation, and Ryan’s quiet life is thrown into turmoil.

Their story unfolds against the chaos that overtakes the ranch, with Adam regaining memories that terrify him and make him look at Justin differently, and Justin leaving the ranch to make things right. Only through trusting in love and friendship can Justin and Adam learn to look to the future instead of letting the past destroy everything. But will they ever see clearly enough to do that?

RJ’s goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.

RJ is the author of the over one hundred novels and discovered romance in books at a very young age. She realized that if there wasn’t romance on the page, she could create it in her head, and is a lifelong writer.

She lives and works out of her home in the beautiful English countryside, spends her spare time reading, watching films, and enjoying time with her family.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit and has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the following links below:

Email RJ (rj@rjscott.co.uk)

 

 

 

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A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review : Truth & Betrayal by KC Wells

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

When I began to read this story in the morning, little did I know I would not be able to put it down until the last page—and that was somewhere past midnight. This story was so interesting, so riveting, and so beautifully written that I kept reading throughout the day to the exclusion of everything else in my life.

Character-driven, this emotional tale takes us from the time Jake learns his older brother Caleb has died in a traffic accident through the next year as Jake discovers that he’s not the only one with a Caleb-sized hole in his life. Through Caleb’s death, he learns more about his brother as he meets both his partner and his friends who lead Jake on a journey that reveals details of the last seven years of Caleb’s life. Some details are sweet, and some are shocking, but they help to bring him closure. They also give him the willingness to accept who he is and move forward with a new strength to his convictions. He falters and stumbles along the way but ultimately with support of his new friends, he discovers the love of his life, a man who can be both friend and companion, supporting him, loving him, and giving him hope for a bright future together—that man is Liam, Caleb’s former lover.

Without giving away spoilers, it’s tough to describe the full scope of what takes place, but I must say one of the things that stood out clearly to me was the fact that the story wasn’t rushed. Details weren’t glossed over. Situations were realistic. And the pace was unhurried. This story literally unfolded, page by page, and each page was filled with dialogue. To me, an author who “shows” the action rather than “tells” the action can engage the reader and pull them into the story more easily. Allowing the characters to come to life with words and thoughts through dialogue, text messages, and email conveys what’s actually happening at the time and adds to the overall enjoyment.

Ms. Wells also covers sensitive topics throughout the story. Liam is black and gay and Caleb and Jake come from a rural, predominately white Southern town. Several gay couples Jake meets while visiting Caleb’s friends in Atlanta have an open relationship. He learns intimate details of Caleb’s relationship with Liam that shock him. And he learns the pros and cons of PrEP and bareback sex for men in a committed relationship. The author brings a sensitive approach to these topics but is clear and concise in explaining a variety of views.

I believe this story is the best KC Wells has written, to date. I have my favorites as I’ve read almost all of her work, but this touched my heart in a special way. I don’t recall being so captivated by a story in a long time. It’s the love that shines through here—love for a brother, a lover, a parent, a family, a friend, and more. I suppose I could go on and on, and I could go into detail about Jake’s discovery of love and Liam’s discovery of the kind of love that lasts a lifetime, but it’s best if I leave the details for the next reader. And I hope there are many. This is a story that deserves to be shared. And it’s most definitely going on my Best of 2018 list. I very highly recommend it to all lovers of MM romance.

The cover by Meredith Russell perfectly depicts both MCs, exactly as described in the story.

Sales Links:  Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 403 pages
Published August 3rd 2018
ASINB07G1BWKXF
Edition LanguageEnglish

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Mammoth! (Repeating History #3) by Dakota Chase

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

In what might be their most dangerous adventure so far, Grant and Ash are sent back in time ten thousand years to recover a mammoth talisman for their teacher, Merlin. Life is a struggle in the Stone Age, and if they want to eat, they’ll have to learn to use spears, track animals, and build fires without the benefit of matches.

Most importantly, they must recover the artifact so they can get back to their own time, but it won’t be easy. They’ll need to reunite two warring tribes, help a boy around their age prove his worth, and demonstrate their own courage on a deadly mammoth hunt. In this harsh and unforgiving world, hate and suspicion are as prevalent as they are in modern times, but understanding and acceptance can also be found if they know where to look.

Well, this series just keeps getting better and better.  This time Merlin sends the boys, Grant and Ash, back 10,000 years in pursuit of a bone carving worn around the neck.  This time the boys face the most dangerous challenges of their lives and just find out how resourceful they can really be when their lives depend upon it.

Dakota Chase just absolutely amazed me here.  The author took meticulous research about the Ice Age, cultures, flora and fauna and these resilient young men and turned it into a heartwarming, sometimes hair-raising adventure that truly belongs up on the big screen.

From the moment Ash and Grant tumbled onto the sandy beach in Virginia and realized belatedly that their outfits belonged  not in cosplay or a carnival but in an era where the passing giant sloth lived, we were off on an incredible adventure into the past.  Chase brings Ice Age Virginia, the tribes that lived there, their daily lives as the author imagines it (beautifully and vividly) to life.  You walk with Rabbit, Ash, and “Grass” through every aspect of the Bison Tribes lives. You see how precarious it is and yet how real it feels.

Like the boys who get caught up in the Tribe’s politics, drama, and need for survival which includes a rivalry with another tribe and  a hunt for the mighty mammoths, a big element in the storyline.  This was a story I couldn’t put down.  Told from Ash’s pov, again the author’s stays perfectly within Ash’s age and yes, character.  He’s far from  perfect.  Stubborn, argumentative, sticking his foot in his mouth, and blurting out the wrong thing at the very worst time happens far too often.  And Ash knows it.  And isn’t happy that’s a trait of his.  Lack of self control is something he’s working on.  Both boys have their issues but together they make quite the team.

That’s the other thing.  Each of them show personal growth, they support and communicate with each other, and even find time for an occasional stolen kiss.

This story, this series and these two young men have me totally hooked.  I can’t wait to see where Merlin send them next.

Cover Artist: Tiferet Design.  Once again, an excellent job.  Recreates the feel of the old time covers of the old adventure books and pulls you in with the design and feel of the graphics.  love it.

Sales Links:   Harmony Ink Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 180 pages

Expected publication: August 7th 2018 by Harmony Ink Press
ISBN139781640806719
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series Repeating History :

An Alisa Review: Step Into Love (Taboo Love #2) by Lili Draguer

Rating:  3 stars out of 5

Colton Johnson has successfully buried the crazy attraction he feels for his younger stepbrother for so long, he can pretend he’s not attracted to Asher at all. Graduating and dealing with the daily chore that is his bipolar disorder are the only two things on his mind. Then Colton makes the impulsive decision to accept his stepmother’s invitation to visit. What Colton doesn’t know is that Asher has been making plans.

With boundless enthusiasm, good looks, and endless amounts of persistence Asher Miller usually gets what he wants. The one plan that hasn’t worked out for him is falling in love. He never thought his off limits, damaged, hot-as-sin stepbrother would be the one to catch his heart. For years Asher has squashed down his forbidden desire but now he’s eighteen, he’s following Colton’s footsteps to college…and all bets are off. It’s time to take the steps that will seduce Colton into love.

I enjoyed this story and liked that they gave a glimpse of what a relationship can be life with someone who is bi-polar.  As my spouse is it hits close to home for me, there are times that they can never think anything positive and it can be a struggle.  Colton has worked hard to keep his hand off his step brother and when Asher starts to come onto him it sends him running.  Asher knows what he wants and isn’t scared to go for it, even if he has to push a little bit.

I liked both of these characters.  Asher is quite mature for his age and the openness he has with his mom helps the situation also.  Colton has to deal with a jerk of a father while trying to succeed at school, when Asher stands up to his father it gives him the chance to see that there is someone who would want to be with him.  We get to see how both of them feel and their reactions to what the other does.

The cover art by Latricia Waters is cute and gives a nice visual of the characters.

Sales Links: Extasy Books | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 102 pages

Published: June 29, 2018 by Extasy Books

Edition Language: English

Series: Taboo Love #2

In the Spotlight: Brave For You by Crystal Lacy (author guest blog, excerpt, and giveaway)

 

What is the hardest thing about writing? What was the hardest thing about writing Brave For You?

The hardest thing about writing is finding the time and the headspace for it. Since Brave for You is my first book and I’m kind of a new no-name author, I still have to work a day job. I’m lucky enough to have my own business that I’m able to do from home, but I also have an almost-two-year-old who makes life tiring and difficult, as much as I love him. It’s tough juggling everything else and making time. I often have to make do with super quick writing sprints throughout the day. While these can be great, drafting so quickly can make it difficult for me during the editing stages.

The hardest thing about writing Brave for You in particularly was finding a way to make all the characters sympathetic. I think it’s easy to make your antagonists clear-cut villains, but I tend not to like doing that. It doesn’t always work in romance anyway. It was difficult to balance the writing so I created adversity for the characters while portraying the antagonists in a way that allowed them to be real people, with motivations that aren’t necessarily evil or bad. It was a challenge, but hopefully the extra fiddling around with my writing paid off.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Length: 86,000 words approx.
 
Cover Design: Natasha Snow
 
Blurb
 

Less than a year after moving to Hawaii, construction foreman Nate Ellison’s wife leaves him and their infant son for another man. Months into single-fatherhood, Nate meets Andrew “An” Hoang and is slowly drawn into An’s life. Through An’s friendship, he finds himself finally enjoying his new home in paradise.


An Hoang hasn’t had a real relationship in years. With his pediatrics practice and a niece to care for on his days off, he doesn’t have the headspace for more than a simple roll in the sack. But when he meets Nate—who just happens to be the gorgeous construction worker he encountered in the lobby of his apartment building—something about Nate makes it impossible for him not to care. When Nate needs An’s help with his son, An doesn’t refuse.


What happens when Nate’s past and An’s old-fashioned parents interfere just as the two men begin to fall for each other? Will they find the means to be brave and give their love a chance to flourish?

 
Excerpt

They were on their fifth or sixth round when the subject of Andrew’s love life came up. Nate had finished telling Andrew about how he’d met Olivia his freshman year of college and they’d had a long courtship followed by three or four years of a happy marriage.

“After that it all got a little… stale, I guess? We loved each other, but we didn’t spend as much time together. Then we got pregnant, and things were even crazier. Now she’s gone.

“But let’s not talk about me and my depressing shit, man. Tell me about you. Got anyone in your life? A girlfriend or something?”

The doctor was tapping his fingers against his half-empty beer bottle. He had a glazed-over expression in his eyes, as if he was feeling the alcohol more than Nate was. He smiled, but it was a self-deprecating one. “No, no girlfriend. I’m not really a girlfriend kind of guy.”

“Oh, not into commitment?”

Andrew shook his head. “That’s not quite it. Although most of my relationships have been fleeting. I’d love to be able to commit. With work and my family, it would be difficult, but it would be nice to have the chance. It’s just that I’d have to have that conversation with Dai. Coming out to my parents wasn’t a great experience. I guess I’m afraid of what will happen.” I don’t want to lose her, he didn’t say, but Nate got the idea.

“It must be tough, having parents who care about that kind of thing. My sister came out when she was in middle school and my parents just made her watch a video on safe lesbian sex.”

This startled a laugh out of Andrew. “I would give anything for parents like yours.” He seemed to think more about it, and revised his statement: “No, I guess not anything. Not Dai.” He met Nate’s eyes and smiled. “Thank you for being so kind. Some guys I know would balk at the thought of having drinks with a gay man. And you left your son with me, too.”

“Well, I didn’t know you were gay at the time,” Nate said jokingly, nudging the back of Andrew’s arm with the tip of his beer bottle. He hadn’t known, but Amy suspected, hadn’t she? And he still invited Andrew to stay for dinner, despite all of Amy’s jokes about Andrew’s staring at him. ‘Like he wanted to melt you down and drink you up like a martini.’

“You know now,” Andrew said. “I hope it doesn’t change anything between us.”

“Why would it?” Something about Andrew was so comfortable. Nate didn’t know why, and he didn’t really need to. “It’s not like I’m all that straight, y’know?”

He didn’t realize what he’d disclosed until Andrew stopped tapping on the glass of his beer bottle and instead tilted his head so he could peer right into Nate’s eyes. “Oh?”

“Well, yeah. There’s Amy, for one thing.”

“Ah, I see.” Amusement crinkled the corners of Andrew’s eyes, but he was still looking at Nate in that unnerving way, as if he could see right through to Nate’s core. “You do realize that doesn’t count?”

Nate laughed, to ease the sudden tension tightening his chest. He had told no one other than Amy about this, and since they shared a roof as teenagers and Amy was his bisexual sister it was almost unavoidable. “No, there was a thing, too, with this guy when I was in high school.”

“Oh?” Andrew repeated. Nate thought he would say something else, or maybe even drop the subject now that he’d confirmed he wasn’t the typical homophobic straight-guy. But Andrew looked like he expected Nate to tell him more. And it must have been the alcohol, or just that it was Friday night and he was drinking with someone other than Amy for once, but he continued.

“His name was Colin Ingles, and we were in the hiking club together. There was this big year-end camping trip, and I had a big tent, so Colin asked if we could share. We were pretty good friends, y’know? Real close. Used to talk for hours on the phone and we’d spend all the breaks in-between periods hanging out.

“So of course we shared a tent, and stayed up late talking, and then before we were about to fall asleep he turned over and asked me if I wanted to jack each other off. Well, his words were, I think, something along the lines of, ‘Let’s help each other out, yeah?’”

Andrew’s voice was a little weird, low and thick, when he cut in. “And did you? Help each other out?”

Nate nodded. He remembered the way Colin’s hand had felt, slipping under the elastic of his waistband and closing around his dick. How they’d pressed closer to one another, skin slipping against sweaty skin, and Colin had placed his mouth on Nate’s neck when he came. “It was just the one time. The next day he refused to talk about it, and he gradually stopped hanging out with me. We went off to different colleges and never saw each other again.”

He realized he was flushed, could feel the heat on his face and neck. Shit, what a lightweight he’d become, to let all of this stuff slip after only a few beers. He rubbed at his face for a second, closing his eyes to let himself process all this stuff he’d half-forgotten. It had hurt a little, that abandonment. He’d thought they were friends, and could have been more. But then he’d met Olivia his freshman year, and it’d helped him forget that brief interlude with Colin Ingles.

Well, that sure turned out well.

When Nate looked up, Andrew was still staring at him, his eyes glittering like dark pools of water that had been recently disturbed. “I wish you hadn’t told me that,” Andrew murmured, so soft Nate almost couldn’t make out the words.

“What?” He felt unsettled by Andrew’s gaze, but also oddly entranced. He attempted a smile. “Too pathetic of a story, right?”

“No,” Andrew said, still in that strange, low voice, like he was gritting his teeth. “Not a pathetic story. But it does make me want to touch you, the way this Colin was allowed to. I wonder if you blushed this prettily for him, too.”

“Oh,” it was Nate’s turn to say. And it should have put up red flags in Nate’s mind when Andrew leaned in closer, should have put him on the defensive, but Nate was distracted by the heat of Andrew’s tone, and before he realized it was happening, they were kissing.

July 27 – Au Boudior Ecarlate, Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, Valerie Ullmer, Nicole’s Book Musings, July 28 – MM Good Book Reviews, July 30 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, July 31 – Love Bytes, August 1 – Gay Media Reviews, August 2 – Gay Book Reviews, August 3 – Katie’s Book Corner, Wicked Faerie’s Tales & Reviews, Abbey’s Fully Booked, Jim’s Reading Room, Making It Happen, Wicked Reads, August 4 – My Fiction Nook, August 6 – Drops Of Ink, The Geekery Book Review, August 7 – Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, August 8 – Mirrigold, Engaging Secrets, Reading In Sarah’s Corner, Bonkers About Books, Bayou Book Junkie

Crystal Lacy lives with her loving family in Hawaii, where it is always either drizzling or sunny and never snows—which is a shame, because she prefers being cold to being damp and hot unless it’s for Very Good Reasons. She writes queer romance, mainly M/M, but also some F/F. She has aspirations to one day write a YA novel about cats.


Crystal is a long-time fangirl and writes slash fanfiction for the Harry Potter and NBC Hannibal fandoms. She has a deep love for fandom culture, and can be frequently spotted on Twitter and Tumblr reblogging pretty fan art.


Join Crystal’s readers group on FB for sneak peeks, bonus content, and ARC opportunities or subscribe her newsletter for monthly book giveaways, recs, news, and more! You can also follow Crystal on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. 

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A MelanieM Review: Hard to Hold (Haven’s Cove #3) by Jaclyn Quinn

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Perfect, happy, “Jonah the Savior”, that’s how most people see Jonah Taylor. What they don’t always see is how incredibly overwhelmed he is with his new business or how lonely he is. When a painfully shy man enters his wellness center, all Jonah wants to do is help break him out of his shell. The problem is, the attraction he feels to the nervous, timid man is undeniable.

Cameron Vaughn has let most of his life be decided for him. A traumatic event from his past has caused him to doubt every decision he makes. When he’s forced into a new, anxiety-ridden situation, his first instinct is to run. So, what is it about the owner of the wellness center that has him questioning everything he’s ever been told?

Can one man convince the other he’s worth saving? Can the other realize he’s strong enough to save himself? Together, can they prove that what they’ve found is worth holding on to?

Hard to Hold  by Jaclyn Quinn is another heartwarming contemporary romance in the Haven’s Cove series.  The third story centers around Jonah Taylor and Cameron Vaughn. Jonah has been in the first two stories.  He was Owen’s fiance’, although they were breaking up on good terms when Brody returned to town. And he was instrumental in helping Gabe and Nate find their HEA, hence the title “Jonah the Savior”.  But while all his friends around him are finding their partners and HEA, where is Jonah’s?

With  Gabe’s financial help, he has finally opened the health and fitness center of his dreams, now he would like a personal life.  And a certain shy man has caught his attention.  Unfortunately, that man has a load of demons he’s been carrying around for years.

Cameron Vaughn is a man in hiding.  Fearful and indecisive, he’s withdrawn from life into his house, leaving only for work, visits to his parents and his brother’s family. Plus the occasional visit to his therapist.  The only thing he’s admitting that he has done for himself is to lose most of the weight he gained overeating hoping to ignore his issues. Cameron is friendless and in stasis.  The pressure from his parents to be someone he’s not is killing him and continuing the nightmares from his past.  Something has to change but how? He has no idea until his brother and sister in law gift him with a gym membership to Jonah’s club for his birthday.

Cameron is really an amazing character. His full past which won’t be revealed here, alone with his parent’s troubling reaction to it and the decade long consequences are horrifying. I think Quinn handled it all with sensitivity, although I would have loved for Dr. Rivers to have gotten the legal ramifications so deserved here. Ah well.

This is a long, complicated romance with many aspects to it that slow it down for Cameron.  And Jonah. His confusion over his sexuality for one.  There is a side romance with a young woman named Ali pushed on him by his parents, one he has to work his way through.

There are so many emotionally tangled aspects to this story, especially the parental ones.  The mother especially in her desire to protect her son from life’s pain has inflicted far worse on him and intends to continue in her blindness in thinking she knows best.  Truly terrifying.  And the author makes her and her human, not monsters.

All the other couples, their families are a strong support here in this novel.  I love that and all of them.  We have gotten to know them over the course of three stories now and they feel like old friends.  We’ve seen each meet their HEA and now another pair is getting married and another getting engaged.

Who will be next?

I can’t wait and if you love contemporary romance, here is a series full of love, laughter, tears, and romance…three books full. At the moment.

 

Cover art works for the pairing and the series. I like it.

Sales Links:

US: https://amazon.com/dp/B07FTCRFZZ/
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FTCRFZZ/
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07FTCRFZZ/
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07FTCRFZZ/

 

Book Details:

ebook, 281 pages
Published July 24th 2018 by self-published (first published July 23rd 2018)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesHaven’s Cove #3