Love a Shifter Romance? Don’t Miss Out on DC Juris’ Alpha’s Redemption Book Blitz and Giveaway

Author: DC Juris

Title: Alpha’s Redemption

Series Title and Number: Alpha/omega Verse #3

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kristin Norris

Release Date: July 27 2016

Heat Level: 5

Pairing: male/male alien

Length: 17,651

Genre:Gay Romance, Science Fiction, Alternate Universe, Aliens

Synopsis

Tondreau has spent the last four years helping raise Cadajen’s terminally ill daughter, Linea. Though not mates, they’ve carved out a happy life with each other. It all comes crashing down when Linea’s health takes a turn for the worst. Together, they must face the hardest decision of their lives. Will it tear them apart? And can Tondreau put aside his fears and be the Alpha Cadajen needs him to be? .

Excerpt

Tondreau faced him, shaking his head. “You love her, and you show her that love every day, every chance you get.” He frowned, his brow furrowed. “Do you know how many of us walk through life without love? How many of us would give almost anything for four years of love?”

Cadajen had expected the first half of the statement. But the second half… “You’re not without love.”

Tondreau’s frown deepened and he shrugged. “I didn’t mean me, specifically.”

“But you’re not. You have to know that. Linea and I both love you. You must be able to smell it on us, at least.”

The Malorcian shuffled his papers, shoved them into his bag. “Should I bring home something for dinner, or did you have a plan?”

Cadajen couldn’t help but sigh and shake his head. “It never fails to amaze me.”

“What?”

“You Alphas. You’re supposed to be so strong and brave, but the simple things throw you.”

“Love isn’t simple,” Tondreau countered.

“It’s the simplest thing in the universe. It’s all the mating and linking that complicates it, but that’s on us. We scramble it up. You shouldn’t be afraid of love.”

“I’m not,” he refuted. “The scrambling it up part concerns me, though.”

“I don’t think we’d scramble it up.”

“There are things you don’t know about me.”

“Nothing that would change how I feel.”

Red shimmered faintly at the edges of Tondreau’s irises, his Alpha instincts responding to the words.

Cadajen reached out but stopped short, frowning at the material of Tondreau’s long sleeved coat. Wasn’t that just so metaphorical? There was always a barrier between them, wasn’t there? Not physical, like the clothing — they’d been naked with each other hundreds of times. He knew Tondreau’s body as well as he knew his own. But they’d never been bare together, had they? Well, Tondreau hadn’t. There was always something. Some deep dark secret Tondreau feared to reveal and it kept him just out of Cadajen’s reach.

He looked back up. The red was receding now. Cadajen wanted nothing more than to rip his glove off and press his hand to Tondreau’s skin, chase that fleeting emotion, catch it to him and hold it close. Prove himself worthy to Tondreau. Without truly thinking it through, he stepped forward into Tondreau’s space. They were close; close enough to feel the warmth of each other’s breath, the heat of each other’s bodies, and their lips… Cadajen leaned in a tiny bit closer and stopped when Tondreau tensed. He looked up then and his heart shuddered. “Am… am I wrong?”

Seconds ticked between them, the question hung in the air, and just when Cadajen was certain he’d made a mistake, Tondreau sighed softly. “You’re not wrong.”

Cadajen reached for him.

Tondreau stepped back. “We can’t.”

“Why?” Cadajen barely recognized the voice as his own as the word forced its way out his throat. He knew he sounded like a petulant child, but he couldn’t help it. His omega instincts screamed at him to make Tondreau understand, to beg if he had to. “You said I wasn’t wrong.”

“Daj…” Tondreau sighed again, heavy this time, and raked his fingers through his hair. “You’re not…”

“Don’t you dare say I’m not worthy.” Not that. Anything but that.

Tondreau’s eyes widened and the red threatened again. “I’d never say that. That’s not… It’s me who isn’t worthy. You don’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me,” he pleaded. “We’ve known each other for seven years. You’ve helped me raise my child. We practically live together. I love you. I’m in love with you. Don’t tell me you didn’t know. And don’t tell me you don’t feel the same. Don’t lie to me like that.”

“I’d never lie to you.” He opened his mouth to continue, but the alarm on his pager interrupted him. He glanced down at it.

Cadajen recognized the alert as the ‘if you don’t leave now, you’re really, really going to be late‘ tone. They’d set it up years ago, after Tondreau had lingered too long with Linea a few mornings in a row, and the Academy had slapped his wrists for it. He laid his gloved hand on Tondreau’s arm. “Go. It’s all right. But we’re going to finish this conversation. Promise me. You owe me an explanation.”

Tondreau nodded. He stepped close quickly, pressed a chaste kiss to Cadajen’s cheek, and fled, no doubt grateful for the reprieve.

Purchase

Torquere Press

Meet the Author

Romance author, sci-fi fan club Captain, cosplayer, reigning Queen of Monkeyland, and random menace. Yep, we’re talking about DC Juris. She’s a cupcake-making, football-watching, rubber-duck-collecting, drag-show loving, full-of-fabulous-with-a-capital-F kinda gal. She’s also an ordained minister and an amateur photographer. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband, three dogs, and three cats. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her favorite chair watching Star Trek and Supernatural repeats on Netflix, or surfing the web for porn. Er…research. Surfing the web for research. She may speak softly but she lives and loves loudly. Just ask the neighbors. ::wink::

https://www.facebook.com/danielchristianjuris

www.twitter.com/dcjuris

@dcjuris on Instagram and Periscope

http://dcjuris.blogspot.com

Giveaway

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In Book Release Spotlight: Match Point (Sports of the Seasons #1) by Leigh Carman

Match Point (Sports of the Seasons #1) by Leigh Carman
Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist Catt Ford
Release Date: July 20, 2016

Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | ARe | iTunes | Barnes & Noble

BLURB

Two stubborn men.

One is a rude jerk. The other, the life of the party.

It was hate at first sight.

Pro beach volleyball players Finn Callahan and Dexter Savage have been rivals since college. While Finn always comes out on top on the court, Dexter’s carefree and fun-loving personality earns him scores of adoring men and women. And as much as Finn fights to deny it, there’s another reason for the tension he feels when Dex is around. Hate wasn’t the only thing he felt when he first laid eyes on his opponent.

When they’re forced to team up, the two men must bury their differences—on and off the court—if either of them is going to succeed professionally.

EXCERPT

Finn
“Get it. Get it. Hurry, hurry!”
I scramble for the ball while Coach yells out encouragements—or possibly reprimands. I can never be sure which. Either way I’m on top of my game today. I hustle to the net, get under the ball, and bump it with my wrists, arcing it high for Dex.
Dex waits for it to come down and lifts it using his fingertips. As the ball goes in the air, I take a running jump, curve my body so it doesn’t touch any part of the net, and smack the ball over our opponent’s head. It hits the sand.
“Yes,” Dex shouts and holds up a hand for me to high-five. Grinning, I reach out and slap my hand into his. Dex holds on to it for a brief moment. The contact is quick—less than a second—but the heat that sears through my palm leaves a lasting impression. It’s time to switch sides and it’s my turn to serve. Dex puts his hands behind his back and gives me the signal to hit it left with no spin. I toss the ball up and hit it over the net.
Beautiful. Our opponent drops to his knees and makes the save, but he can’t get to his position quickly enough to reach the ball his partner perfectly sets for him. Dex cheers and pumps his fist in the air. I grin at his enthusiasm. Watching Dexter Savage have the time of his life is mesmerizing. It infuses me with an energy I’ve never felt before. I no longer see Dex as just another charming guy. He has me spellbound and hanging on his every word.
“Nice whiff, dickhead,” I call out when he misses a dig and comes up with a mouthful of sand.
I can’t have him thinking I like him or something.
Dex laughs and spits out the sand. “Shut up, Callahan.”
By the end of the day, we should be exhausted, but we’re riding high on winning the New Orleans Open, and on the thirty-minute ride back to the hotel on the river, we both get our second wind. Dex is literally bouncing around. He’s so full of energy, he’s making me dizzy.
“Come on, Finn. Let’s go out to celebrate. This is New Orleans, The Big Easy. There’s sin on every corner and a ton of awesome clubs here.”
I roll my eyes. “I doubt your idea of an awesome club is the same as mine, Savage.”
“What?” Dex squints at me. Then his eyes widen almost comically. “Oooooohhh. You don’t think I can handle a gay club?” A slow, snarky grin spreads across his handsome face, and my breath hitches.
Hello dimple.
I shake off my dirty thoughts to get back to the subject at hand. “No. I don’t. God. I can’t even think about you going into a gay club without laughing.”
Or getting hard and groaning.
“Hmph.” Dex levels his intense hazel eyes at me and quirks one eyebrow in challenge.
“No, Dex.”
“Yes, Finn,” he sings gleefully.
“No way.”
Dex chuckles and nods his head. “Oh yes. Pull out your sparkly top, baby, because we’re hitting the gay clubs tonight.”
“Fuck you, Savage. I don’t own a sparkly top.”
“Rainbow?”
“No.”
Dex gives me a disgusted look. “What kind of gay man are you?”
“Not a very good one, I guess.”
One who crushes on his straight teammate, that’s what kind of gay man I am. A stupid one.
After five minutes of back and forth, I finally get Dex to let go of the idea of cruising gay clubs tonight, but only on the promise that I’ll take him to one when we get back to LA. I’m hoping he’ll forget by then, because seeing his gorgeous ass shaking on a dance floor while hot, sweaty guys grind on him? I’d implode before the night was over.
We change and grab a cab, and Dex directs the driver to head toward Bourbon Street. “Really, Dex? Bourbon Street? Can’t we go somewhere a little less—”
“Less fun? No, Callahan, we can’t. You’re having fun if it kills me. Tonight I’m officially removing the stick from your ass….” Dex twists his head and shoots me a scorching look that has my dick throbbing painfully in my shorts. “Even if I have to pin you down to yank it out.”
Holy fuck.
I swallow, and my mouth suddenly disconnects from my brain as every drop of blood in my body turns to lava and collects in my groin.
“Whatever, Savage,” I mumble, turn to the window, and shift my hips so Dex can’t see my now fully hard cock.
Dex laughs and shoves my shoulder. Does he not know what he’s doing to me? I sneak a glance at my teammate. He’s looking out his own window, eyes glittering, smile as wide as a kid on Christmas morning.
No. He has no clue. He’s truly excited to go out and have fun. In fact he’s practically bursting out of his skin, he’s so wound up. But then, Dexter Savage always was the life of the party. He’s comfortable in his own skin. It’s what makes him so attractive. Well, besides the tousled, just out of bed hair, the perfectly straight nose and full mouth, and the body to die for. But his outgoing personality was what had me crushing on him in college—and the reason I hated his guts. I watched him every day at practice as he charmed everyone around us, and knew he would never be available to me.
“Here it is.” Dex throws some money at the cab driver and leaps out of the car. I take a look at my surroundings and thump my head on the glass. We’re on a street thick with pedestrians clutching hurricane glasses and sipping through long straws as they mingle in the crowd. Neon signs line the business fronts on both sides of the cab, each promising a different kind of debauchery inside.
Dex leans down and sticks his head in the backseat. “What are you waiting for, Callahan? Let’s get this party started.”
Ugh. Tonight is going to be pure torture.

Heatherheadshotcolor

About the Author

Leigh Carman is the pen name for the M/M romances written by bestselling Contemporary romance writer, Heather C. Leigh.

She lives outside Atlanta with her husband, 2 kids, and French bulldog.

She is leaving explicit directions in her will for her friends to discreetly scatter her ashes around Fenway Park. Then they are to sit back, watch a game with a beer and a Fenway frank and have a wicked good time.

Social Media

Heather C. Leigh

Amazon, iTunes, and Barnes and Noble Bestselling Author of the Famous Series

Also writing M/M as Leigh Carman. You can reach me at leighcarmanauthor@gmail.com if you want to be on the M/M mailing list only.

A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: On Wings of Thunder by MD Grimm

Rating: 2 stars out of 5

On the Wings of Thunder Trystan is an unchosen angel—shunned by society, bullied, and without a future. In a hidden well, Trystan discovers a carving of a dragon, who were once the commanders of demons and now believed extinct. But Trystan learns the carving doesn’t depict an ordinary dragon. Stories tell that millennia ago, the great dragon Asagoroth and his demon army nearly conquered the three realms but was killed by the five elders. The powerful angels combined their life forces to cast a spell, sacrificing their lives.

But history is full of falsehoods. The five elders only managed to imprison the dragon, and Asagoroth had cast his own spell—one of releasement. It only needs the blood of an angel to liberate him from his cage….

Asagoroth, enemy of angels, conqueror of realms, is free. But even as the angels prepare for war, the great dragon surprises them with an ultimatum: hand over the angel who awakened him or face annihilation.

Okay, so I had several issues with this book. The general plot idea sounds good and I love dragons and demons and angels (as long as they aren’t sent by God or something), so it definitely had the potential to be great. Unfortunately, “On Wings of Thunder” mostly fell flat.

The beginning felt a little unrealistic to me. Trystan falls into an old well and discovers a gorgeous carving of a dragon at the bottom. He realizes that the blood from his cut hand does strange things with the carving. Instead of being scared or at least a little cautious, he’s fascinated and makes the cut worse to get more blood on the carving. And didn’t for a second think about the consequences. He lives in a world full of magic and doesn’t worry that blood magic and an ancient carving of an evil dragon might be a bad idea? That’s extremely naïve.

When Asagoroth is finally awakened, he essentially blackmails Trystan into joining him. He’s all, “Come with me, my love, or I will kill every last angel, destroy your entire realm and take you by force afterwards.” (Not his exact words, but the gist of them) And yet again, Trystan isn’t scared or worried at all. He seems to think that’s incredibly romantic. I was kind of uncomfortable with that premise. It didn’t feel like a very good start for a consensual relationship.

Once Trystan and Asagoroth are finally joined, self-doubt ensues on Trystan’s part. So much self-doubt it soon had me rolling my eyes. I do get that he’d be unsure about Asagoroth’s love for him, given his life as an Unchosen, but it was just too much.

One of my biggest issues was the sex scenes. With phrases along the lines of, “Trystan shuddered at the violation of his secret entrance”, it almost read like rape wrapped up in purple prose.

There wasn’t all that much plot overall. Around the 80% mark I was still looking for things to really get going. There is a big showdown at the end, but even that left me a little bored.

Essentially, “On Wings of Thunder” very much wasn’t for me. It felt a little silly and I was kind of bored for the most time. I’m sure there are people who will enjoy this, but I’m not one of them.

The cover by sin shows Trystan and Asagoroth. Just like the story itself, it isn’t really to my tastes.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book details:

ebook, 144 pages
Expected publication: July 20th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634774094 (ISBN13: 9781634774093)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Desire’s Guardian by Tempeste O’Reily ~~ Audiobook narrated by Jeff Gelder

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

desires-guardian audio Chase Manning, the BFF of James Bryant from Designs of Desire, looks and acts like a twink on the surface, but once someone gets to know the man below the surface, they are shocked at the strength of character and dominant nature they find. And that’s what Rhys Sayer, James’s bodyguard, finds out when he stops being offensive to Chase and starts to allow himself to see with his eyes and not just his prejudices.

When they first met, Rhys had just broken up with his cheating boyfriend, and when the gregarious Chase approached him, he shunned Chase’s advances. That was enough for Chase because he’s no one’s fool. The problem is that he’s still attracted to the big hunk of manhood and finds Rhys incredibly sexy. Even so, he resists the job offer made by Rhys and his partner Mark who need a good IT man. He only capitulates when they sweeten the deal with office space for his new business and after a lot of arm twisting by James, who is now friends with Rhys.

This is not just a simple love story. There’s plenty of danger and intrigue when Rhys and his police officer brother, Dal, connect the dots on a current murder case and realize most of the young victims are Chase’s former boyfriends. Unfortunately, Chase inadvertently puts himself in harm’s way.

I enjoyed this story, though not quite as much as I did the first one. On the flip side, this narrator did a better job than the one who did the first one. However when he narrates, he speaks too quickly and often sounds as if he’s reading the story to a library audience, rather than putting in the necessary drama to bring the book to life. So, as with the first book in the series, I would recommend this story to lovers of MM romance, particularly if you enjoy a story where the big, muscular guy is dominated by the smaller, more effeminate man. However, it might be best to invest in the e-book rather than the audio version.

Cover art by Reese Dante is similar to the first book with a soft, watercolor background. In this case, a man’s hand and wrist are featured with a prominent black cuff on the wrist. This has a direct link back to the story so makes the cover both beautiful and appropriate.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook
Published June 14th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press (first published June 5th 2014)
ASINB01H0HAS66
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesDesires Entwined #2 settingMilwaukee, Wisconsin (United States)

In Our Spotlight: Evasive Maneuvers by Lynn Michaels (author interview, excerpt and giveaway)

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AboutTheBook

TITLE: Evasive Maneuvers

AUTHOR: Lynn Michaels

COVER ARTIST: Jay Aheer

LENGTH: 58,500 words

RELEASE DATE: July 16, 2016

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Lynn Michaels here today to talk about the characters and writing Evasive Maneuvers. Welcome, Lynn.

How difficult is it to get into the mind of a teenager?

That’s a tough one. We remember when we were teens, but the world has changed so much. Some things never change. The same emotional and human conflict of growing up, having one foot in childhood and one in adulthood is never easy. My kids are in their 20’s now, but it wasn’t all that long ago that I watched them struggle with the same issues. Technology has changed and the world sometimes feels like an angrier place, but we still have to work through love and acceptance, being part of a group, and taking on new responsibilities in life. Those are universal things. That’s what I try to tap into, no matter what age, race, or sex the characters are.

Are you into sports? And if not, does getting into the mindset of a high school quarterback become that much more challenging?

Great question. I’ve played my share of sports. Particularly softball. But, in this case, for Evasive Maneuvers, my quarterback is out of school and trying to find his way in the world, and that’s where I made the connection. The old things that were important before are not as important. He has to take care of himself, look out for his future. He has to decide what parts to leave behind and what to take with him. He can lead, keep people together, work as a team, but he also has to understand that the game has changed.

How do you decide where your next themes come from?

Themes develop along side the plot for me. As my characters move through life, they deal with consequences of their decisions and mistakes. Themes develop from that. I think in that respect, the fiction imitates life. We deal with themes in our own lives as they come up, as we learn and grow, and as we deal with the results of our own decisions. I think this happens in the planning or plotting phases of a story, and as the themes develop, I can choose where to focus and what to develop. I think good fiction poses questions around themes, but leaves readers to make a lot of their own decisions. I hope whatever themes I deal with, that they pose questions for my readers to grapple with.

Is contemporary fiction your favorite genre to write in?

No. I like paranormal, fantasy, and urban fantasy better. I like to be able to take ordinary things and make them extraordinary. I like to see how magic can twist things and shape things. How would things be different if just one thing were magical or you had one special ability that no one else has. I like to think about things like that. I like to twist genres and write across the lines. Even in my contemporary work, you won’t see too many of my stories that stay strict to a particular trope. I think life is messier than that and that’s what I reflect in my writing, even the paranormal stuff – I hope.

How was your high school experience compared to your MCs?

Completely different than both my main characters. In Evasive Maneuvers, Campbell went to a private school and Stone went to a small town school. I was a military brat and went to high school overseas. All three of these situations are extremely different, but as I said back in the first question, we all had to deal with a lot of common themes, regardless of our background.

Favorite book to read in HS?

The Stand by Stephen King was hands down the favorite book I read in High School. Well, any Stephen King really. I love the way he tells a story. His characters become real, they come off the pages. They face strange things and deal with them in very human ways.

What advice would you give your teenage self now looking back on those years?

Write. Write more. Write often. Don’t stop. Focus more on that than anything else. I think I got sidetracked in my life many times and it took a long time to get back to the writing and to telling stories I want to tell.

What’s next for Lynn Michaels?

I have a lot more stories to tell. I think you’ll see more paranormal type stories in the future. I like to write about interesting and different circumstances and twist things around, so who knows what might end up on the page. In the near term, Holeshot 2 will be the next big release after the first of the year. The Supercross world has a lot of amazing young people doing amazing things. It’s exciting and I love that world. I also will have a novella out this Christmas that has a paranormal twist to it. Hopefully, overall, I will continue to put out fun stories that people will enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing them.

Thanks, Lynn, this was outstanding. I appreciate your sharing. Now for more about Evasive Maneuvers…

BLURB:

Campbell Fain has been rebelling against his father, refusing to grow up for so long, he’s not sure what his life really means anymore. When he meets the man that makes his heart melt, he lies to impress him. Unfortunately, facing the truth may turn out to be the least of his problems when he’s forced to come face to face with the sins of his father.

He was the quarterback in high school, all American sweetheart and solid guy, but Stone Medlock is just figuring out his life. When he meets Campbell Fain, it turns his world around and he just might be falling hard for the rebellious punk, but will he still be able to support and trust Campbell when the lies come out?

Will Campbell’s lies tear them apart before they even begin? Will they find the love behind the lies?
Excerpt

Stone pulled his jeans all the way off, dropping them to the floor along with his sexy briefs. I couldn’t help notice how manly they were; everything about Stone was manly. If I hadn’t met him at a gay club, I never would have thought he batted for my team, but every bit of me was so happy he did. It never hurt to have out jocks on the team! He smelled masculine too. Some of that could have been his products that I could smell on myself too, but some of it was just his own natural, earthy scent that I couldn’t get enough of.

As I stared at him, waiting for more, his face shifted to something a little less sexy. His brows pressed down, making him appear unhappy or concerned.

“What?”

“Campbell. Listen. I need to know what else you lied about.”

I chuckled, nervously. “What?” Why the hell did he bring this shit up now, especially when I thought we’d gotten past it?

BuyLinks

Amazon US

Amazon UK

All Romance eBooks

Smashwords

Kobo Store

Barnes & Noble

Apple iBooks

AuthorBio

Lynn Michaels lives and writes in Tampa, Florida where the sun is hot and the Sangria is cold. Lynn is the newest addition to Rubicon Fiction, and she loves reading and writing about hot men in love. She writes paranormal and contemporary MM Romance

:: Website :: Facebook Page :: Amazon Page ::

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TourSchedule

July 18: Love Bytes Reviews :: Drops of Ink

July 19: Bayou Book Junkie :: Wicked Faeries Tales & Reviews

July 20: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words :: Rick R. Reed :: Nessa’s Book Reviews

July 21: The Purple Rose Tea House :: Alpha Book Club

July 22: BFD Book Blog :: Open Skye Book Reviews :: MM Book Escape

Jump Into the Fantasy World of Love and Magic by RE Andeen (Excerpt and Giveaway)

Title: Love and Magic

Author: RE Andeen

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Release Date: 7-27-2016

Heat Level: 2

Pairing: F/F

Length:: 10,000 words

Genre: Lesbian Romance, Multi-Cultural, Fantasy

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Synopsis

Kiv never expected to see a battle, let alone fight in one. She came to the island kingdom of Escot to use her magic to help people, not to kill them, but a petty, pointless civil war has made her job as Court Wizard difficult and then impossible. When the hostilities come to a head, Kiv finds herself on the battlefield, supporting one army against another.

On the other side, there is Tallas, a wizard more dangerous than three thousand swords and a woman more intriguing that than any Kiv has ever met. The battle will end in blood and death, as battles do, but for Tallas and Kiv, the end is only the beginning.

Excerpt

Kiv woke with a start, wondering if she was dead. She cast about with her senses, both physical and magical, and decided she was alive after all. She was lying in a bed of golden wood on soft white cotton sheets under a green wool blanket. Overhead, she saw the silky blue canopy of a large tent, with the curtains on all four sides tied back to let in the morning sun, set in an open field without another structure in sight. The rain had finally stopped, though the sky was still gray.

She climbed out of bed, noticing that she was in nothing but her underthings, and looked for something to wear. Her clothes – long wool skirt, wide leather belt, white cotton blouse, and heavy wool cloak – were folded neatly on a table beside the bed, all the grime and gore of battle washed away, with her purple silk Court Wizard hood and her gnarled manzanita wand sitting next to the pile. She dressed and went looking for the kind soul who had taken care of her. Tallas – of course it was Tallas – was just outside the tent, her back to Kiv, cooking a skillet of something over a low fire that smelled amazing.

“Oh, good. You’re awake,” Tallas said, without turning around. “I trust you’re feeling alright. I checked you over myself last night, and I could find no injury or ailment beside exhaustion.”

Kiv walked over and sat on a rock next to the fire. “I’m fine,” she said. “I suppose I should thank you…”

“It was nothing,” Tallas said. “You’re a Wizard of the Guild, and we take care of our own.”

“I know,” Kiv replied, “but I’ve never had anything like yesterday happen to me before.”

“Haven’t you?” Tallas asked, looking up from the fire, and Kiv suddenly felt that those jet black eyes were boring a hole right through her. “I suppose you haven’t…”

Purchase

Torquere Press

Meet the Author

RE Andeen is a writer, software developer, Klingonist, and general nerd. After a lifetime of immersion in science and technology, he discovered writing, quite by accident, in 2014. He lives in downtown Seattle.

Facebook: Eric Andeen (https://www.facebook.com/eric.andeen)
Facebook Author Page: RE Andeen (https://www.facebook.com/reandeen/)
Twitter: @REAndeen
Other: Personal webpage/blog (http://reandeen.com/)
Amazon: Author page (http://amazon.com/author/reandeen)

Giveaway

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A Free Dreamer Review: Native Wind (Native Ingenuity: First Chronicle) by A.M. Burns

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Native Wind After his family is killed by thieves, sole survivor Trey McAlister is taken in by a nearby Comanche clan. Trey has a gift for magic and the clan’s shaman, Singing Crow, makes him an apprentice. While learning to control his powers, Trey bonds with a young warrior and shape shifter, Grey Talon. When they are sent out on a quest to find the missing daughter of a dragon, they encounter the same bandits who murdered Trey’s family, as well as a man made of copper who drives Trey to dig deeper into the magics that created him.

It doesn’t take them long to discover a rancher near Cheyenne, Wyoming is plotting to build a workforce of copper men—and has captured the dragon’s daughter they’ve been searching for. Trey and Grey Talon must draw on all their knowledge and skills to complete their quest—one that grows more complicated, and more dangerous, with each passing day.

“Native Wind” is an interesting mix of Western, Steampunk and Native American mythology. That’s definitely not a mix I’ve come across before, so I was hopeful.

Grey Talon is a very unusual shifter with his ability to turn into any animal he’s ever laid eyes on. Trey’s shaman magic was also very interesting and I loved the time Trey spent practicing it.

Both MCs were very likeable and their bond was obvious. I liked that they were a couple from the start of the book, which left more room for plot outside the romance. There was no need for explanations and flashbacks, their love for each other felt completely natural.

There were a couple of unique minor characters as well, like Copperpot, the metal construct, or Singing Crow, Trey’s shaman teacher.

The great villain, however, was needlessly evil. I don’t like it when the villains only ever do evil things and the MCs only ever do good things. I like my shades of grey. At times, it was also hard to understand certain actions of Grey Talon and Trey. They didn’t always make all that much sense.

The world building was a little lacking. While there were a lot of scenes of Trey talking about and practicing his magic, little things were left unexplained. I’m still uncertain just how Grey Talon communicated in animal form.

I would have also enjoyed a bit more Steampunk. Sure, there was Copperpot, who became a loyal companion of the two, but that’s about it. The world itself didn’t have many steam powered machines.

I’m not sure I entirely understood the part dragons play in this world. They’re definitely nothing like any dragons I’ve come across in literature before.

Overall, “Native Wind” had promise but didn’t quite live up to it. The plot didn’t really grip me. I wasn’t exactly bored, but I never quite felt the urge that I absolutely had to know what happened next. I probably won’t read the sequel.

The cover by Stef Masciandaro shows a drawing of our four heroes, with Trey shifted into a dog and a dragon looming in the background.

Sales Links: DSP Publications | Amazon

Book details:

ebook, 216 pages
Expected publication: July 19th 2016 by DSP Publications
ISBN 1634765532 (ISBN13: 9781634765534)
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Lila Review: A Dandelion for Tulip (Being(s) In Love #6) by R. Cooper

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

A Dandelion for Tulip David is in love with Tulip, a kind and unusually quiet fairy in his social circle. But everyone knows Tulip doesn’t date humans. David tells himself he is happy to be Tulip’s friend, because he doesn’t believe a fairy could love him and Tulip has never tried to “keep him”—as fairies refer to relationships with humans.

Fairies are drawn to David, describing his great “shine,” but David knows only too well how quickly fairies can forget humans, and thinks he’s destined to be alone. He can’t see his own brilliance or understand how desperately Tulip wants him, even if Tulip believes David can do better.

But exhausted and more than a little tipsy at a Christmas party, David makes his feelings too obvious for Tulip to deny any longer. Because of a past heartbreak involving a human, Tulip is convinced someone as shiny as David could never want a “silly, stupid fairy” in his life. Now, if he wants to keep David, he’ll have to be as brave as his shiny, careful human.

A Dandelion for Tulip takes fantasy to another level with the acceptance of beings as part of society. Even so, they’re mostly kept as a secondary group and this affected the humans that befriend them. There still a touch of ignorance about how they acted and associated with.

This is book six in the Being(s) in Love series but can be read as a stand-alone. I even went back and read all the blurbs to be sure I wasn’t missing anything important. I only noticed a cameo by one of the couples, which perhaps, can be considered an update on their relationship. The author did an excellent job building a believable world and beings that were easily identifiable.

I like David and Tulip individually, but basing a complete story on the MCs lack of communication didn’t work for me. If they had talked for two minutes, the story would have been done in less than fifty pages. I think I was as confused as the characters with the constant assumptions between them.

Their coming together felt forced, perhaps because the reader got the initial impression of them being friends and the unrequited love angle came out of nowhere. I understood the characters pasts and fears, but a lot happened off page as time passed by, leaving several questions unanswered.

I wanted to like this story more because it had all the elements to be great, but the long philosophical discussions were hard to appreciate when I wanted to smack David and Tulip on the back of their heads. I needed more of a connection between them to carry into their happily even after.

——–

Paul Richmond captured an important scene in the story with this cover. I’m not entirely sold on the characters’ features, but overall, it’s a good match for the story.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published: June 24, 2016, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 1634773144 (ISBN13: 9781634773140)
Edition Language: English

Series: Being(s) in Love
Book #1: Some Kind of Magic (Beings in Love, #1
Book #2: A Boy and His Dragon (Beings in Love #2)
Book #3: A Beginner’s Guide to Wooing Your Mate (Beings in Love #3)
Book #4: Little Wolf (Beings in Love, #4)
Book #5: The Firebird and Other Stories (Beings in Love Stories #5)
Book #6: A Dandelion for Tulip (Beings in Love, #6)

A BJ Audiobook Review: Dancing Lessons by R. Cooper and Narrator: Brian Schell

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

dancing-lessons audiobook Two years of living with his controlling boyfriend left Chico worn down long before that boyfriend revealed he’d been seeing someone else. With no other choice, Chico moves in above his cousin’s garage in a small town in the redwoods, where he merely goes through the motions. To get him out of the house, his cousin pushes him to volunteer at a local dance studio to help with their annual show.

He’s not expecting to end up in a dance class, or to start feeling alive again in the arms of his dance instructor. Rafael is the studio owners’ son and was once a well-known dancer in his own right, but now enjoys being a teacher. Although Chico likes him, he’s afraid of taking a chance. But Rafael is determined, and it only takes one dance for Chico to start to realize he might still have something to learn.

From the beginning, the narration on this left me cold. There was very little nuance of characters, emotions, or variations. The reading seemed flat, not like a performance to me, but like an average person reading a book out loud, which isn’t really what I hope for when buying an audio. I found it hard to get into the story and as it went on hard to keep track as the voice and inflections tended to annoy me and pulled me out of it. I found this audio very hard to listen to.

Since I also own but had not read the ebook of this, I decided to try reading a bit of it to compare the experience to listening to the audio, and can say that this is a case of the book being better than the audio delivery of it. The writing style didn’t mesh well with for me, parts read as confusing and left me trying to figure things out as they weren’t clear, just didn’t flow for me sequentially or something, especially when it came to dialogue. I had to re-read some bits a few times to figure out what was going on… it was as if there was a communication gap between the author and myself that I had a hard time breeching.

Although the story wasn’t long, it still felt really slow for me at some parts. However, there were some things I really enjoyed about the story, although at times I felt Chico was a bit over the top with things like “silly Chico,” I could relate to how someone can feel so down on themselves due to the ways others have treated them. How sometimes the relationships we live with can change us drastically, until we lose who we once were along with our confidence. And how we are surprised by the most basic decent treatment from others, by their appreciation or attraction. That part was very poignant and real to me. Except that for him to have gotten to that point, it would seem to me that it would have either taken longer or been more predominate than just how one person had treated him. I did also want to mention, that it bugged me when Chico turned around and later said “silly Raf” in a scene

Overall, this is a sweet story with lots of UST, some heat, and a few memorable moments.

I wish that I had chosen to read this entirely as an ebook rather than listen on audio. From trying it for a part that way, I am sure I would have enjoyed it more in that format. Perhaps I will indeed go back and read again once I have let some time pass. For now, I need to rate it as an audiobook though… I rate the story as a 3 star, although I might have rated it higher if it was read rather than listened to, I’m not sure. But I rate the narration as a 2, and for me that is being generous as I really did not connect at all with this narrator, and because of that, feel that I didn’t connect with the story.

I like the cover by Catt Ford and can picture a particular scene when I see it, however it doesn’t give a feel of the book as related to dancing or costume design, etc.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

5 hrs 17 mins

Published May 25^th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

Can It Really Be the End for Collars & Cuffs? Find Out in Endings and Beginnings (Collars & Cuffs #8) by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams (excerpt and giveaway)

Endings and Beginnings (Collars & Cuffs #8) by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams
This is the final book in the series, which should be read from Beginning to End. 😉
(See what we did there?)
Release Date: July 18, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond

Blurb

In all his relationships, Darren Fielding never found the level of intimacy he witnessed between Thomas Williams and his sub, Peter, the day of Peter’s “rebirth.” Not only that, he never realized such intimacy was possible. For two years, Thomas’s business card has been burning a hole in his wallet. When Darren’s lover moves on, maybe it’s finally time to see where that card takes him.

Collars & Cuffs’s new barman, JJ Taylor, is really conflicted right now. He went to the club with a very specific purpose, already convinced of what he’d find there. Except it’s not what he expected at all. He certainly didn’t anticipate finding himself drawn to the new wannabe Dom. Nor could he have guessed the direction that attraction would lead him.

Old love, new love, vows, pain, rage, moving in, moving on…. The members of Collars & Cuffs face an event that touches some of them deeply, but it will only reinforce what they already know: together they are stronger, and some bonds cannot be broken.

Pages or Words: 121,429
Categories: Contemporary, BDSM, Fiction, M/M Romance

Exclusive !

A pang hit Joe in the heart as watched as Ben led Scott to the group room. He knew that they only had eyes for each other, and that made him both happy and sad. When Leo had asked him to help remove Ben’s head from his arse, he thought it would be a lark. Something fun to pass the time. But he hadn’t counted on how the little redhead reacted toward him. He could see the fear in Scott’s eyes, and he hated it. No sub should be afraid. Not ever.

He never told anyone how it had gone. How he had come to the house with a thought in his mind about how it would go, then left with an ache he couldn’t explain. He’d never, ever mooned over a sub. He’d shared one many times, with the sub’s permission. And the sex had been phenomenal, but he noticed recently that it also left him with a pit in his stomach.

He let his gaze wander over the room, until it fell on Christian kneeling in submission. The boy seemed to be popular. Always going off with a Dom, then coming back with a smile on his beautiful face. But it didn’t really reach his eyes. Joe could see the touch of sadness there, and it tugged at his heart. He tried to tell himself that it wasn’t him. He wasn’t cut out to be with a single submissive. That playing with multiple partners made him happy. And it had. At least for a time. But seeing the men at Collars & Cuffs pairing off, finding love? That told him something had to change.

He stood and approached Christian, who seemed to be off in his own little world. As he ran a hand over Christian’s head, the boy sucked in a breath. “Good evening, Master Joe.”

Joe couldn’t believe Christian knew it was him. “How did you know?”

He could see a smile creep over Christian’s face. “You’re wearing Acqua Di Gio. I’d know you anywhere.”

Joe couldn’t believe it. “Look at me, boy.”

Christian tilted his head back, and Joe got lost in those amazingly beautiful eyes. “Would you like to play?”

“Yes, Sir. I would love to.”

Joe took him to the group room, and had him strip down, and kneel. Christian was wonderful in his submission. He wanted this boy. He craved him with every fiber of his being. When one of the other Doms came over, Joe recognized him as someone with whom he’d shared before. The broad smile on his face evaporated as Joe shook his head no. The Dom nodded, and went off looking for a partner for the evening. Joe glanced around, and he could see the lustful expressions on many faces. Everyone he’d shared a sub with, and his stomach bubbled.

“Stand up,” Joe ordered. “Get dressed.”

Christian stood and blinked. “If I’ve made you unhappy, Sir, I—“

“No, not in the least. I don’t’ want to have you here. I’d like to take you to a private room, if you’re willing.”

Christian smiled, and Joe’s heart beat faster. “Of course, Sir. Whatever you want.”

He took Christian by the hand, and led him to the bar where he grabbed a key to one of the rooms. When they entered, he closed and locked the door, before turning to Christian.

“Safe words?”

“Red for stop. Yellow for slow down. Green to continue.”

“Very well. Take off your clothes.”

He stood and watched as Christian unveiled a lithe body. He trembled as his hand reached out to stroke the smooth chest, delighting when Christian shivered. Joe loved to see the goose flesh that stood out on the pale form in front of him.

“So you would know me anywhere?” Joe asked.

“Yes, Sir. Others may wear Acqua Di Gio, but you’re unique. You smell fresh, and…”

Christian paused and glanced down.

“And what?”

“When I smell you, I get hard.”

Joe reached down and stroked the rigid shaft. “Yes, I can see that.” He laughed at the red that bloomed over Christian’s body. It was then that he made a decision.

“I’m sorry to be so indecisive, but I’d like you to put your clothes back on.” He held up a hand to forestall any queries by the young man. “No questions.”

Christian meekly said, “Yes, Sir,” and proceeded to dress again. When he was done, he stood there in a maroon T-shirt and a pair of black jeans. Joe had seen many subs wearing leather, but this look favored Christian. He wanted to touch again, but that wasn’t fitting in with his plan.

“I’m going to go to the lockers and change. I want you to sit at the bar and wait for me. Is that okay?”

“Yes, Sir.”

They left the room and headed downstairs. Christian sat at the bar, and said hello to Kenton. Joe found he didn’t really care for it. He didn’t want anyone talking with Christian, and it disturbed him. He’d never cared before. Hell, he’d been happy when the sub started talking to someone else, because it meant he didn’t need to make conversation after their scene and aftercare.

Concluded at Three Books Over The Rainbow!

Excerpt

“Honey, I’m home.”

Alex laughed and came out of the kitchen to greet his husband. “We’ve talked about this, right? You do not walk into this apartment and talk to me like I’m the little wife.”

Leo kissed him soundly on the cheek. “Aw, but you’d look great in an apron, holding a glass of beer out for your weary, hard-working hubby.” He smirked. “And besides, no one in their right mind would call you little.”

Alex quirked his eyebrows. “One, you don’t drink beer, which is why there’s a glass of chilled chardonnay on the living room table, waiting for you. Two, excuse me—weary? Hard-working? You’ve been standing around in leather chaps and a harness, watching while guys do all manner of things to each other, which probably included a lot of fucking, because, hey, it’s Saturday night, right?”

Leo sighed happily. “What can I say? I love my job.”

Buy the book: Amazon! | AllRomance! | Dreamspinner!

Meet K.C. Wells:

Born and raised in the north-west of England, K.C. WELLS always loved writing. Words were important. Full stop. However, when childhood gave way to adulthood, the writing ceased, as life got in the way. K.C. discovered erotic fiction in 2009, when the purchase of a ménage storyline led to the startling discovery that reading about men in love was damn hot. In 2012, arriving at a really low point in life led to the desperate need to do something creative. An even bigger discovery waited in the wings—writing about men in love was even hotter….

K.C. now writes full-time and is loving every minute of her new career. The laptop still has no idea of what hit it… it only knows that it wants a rest, please. And it now has to get used to the idea that where K.C goes, it goes.

And as for those men in love that she writes about? The list of stories just waiting to be written is getting longer… and longer….

Where to find K.C. Wells:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KCWells/223608907761521
Twitter: @K_C_Wells

Meet Parker Williams (or at least his voices):

Good day! We are the voices that live inside Will’s head. The ones who whisper to him constantly, beckoning him to speak of our adventures, to tell of our love, and perhaps, if we’re in a mood, kill a person or two.

We guide his hand as he tells our tales where love is the most powerful force, but must be worked for, molded, and finally, embraced. There can be no shortcuts or substitutions on the path to a happily ever after.

We hope you will join with us as Will fulfills his obligation to ensure our stories are told and, we hope, enjoyed.

Where to find Parker Williams:

Connect with Parker on: Twitter: @ParkerWAuthor