Category: LGBTQ Book Reviews

A BJ Review: Chrysalis Corporation (Chrysalis Corporation #1) by T.A. Venedicktov

Rating:  3.25 stars out of 5

Chrysalis Corporation cover

Together, they can change the rules of the galaxy and the definition of humanity.

When Damion Hawk is offered an opportunity to escape the destitute life of a miner on Mars and become an elite Alpha Fighter pilot, he jumps at the chance. Within the Chrysalis Corporation, Damion must learn to work with his Core—a man with computerized implants, no human emotions—and no rights. But unlike other Fighters, Damion can’t treat Core 47 as a tool. He sees 47 as more than a machine, and he’ll take deadly risks to help 47 find the humanity inside him.

Fighters and Cores are designed to work together and enhance each other’s strengths in defense of their employer. Damion and 47 will need each other’s support as suspicions about the all-powerful Chrysalis Corporation arise. Someone wants Damion and 47 gone, and they need to find out who and why while hiding 47’s growing emotions and the love forming between them. If they can succeed, they might save not only themselves, but all Cores enslaved by the Corporation.

The fundamental storyline we’re presented with in this book is extremely intriguing as are the various characters for the most part. I adored 47 and felt absolutely awful for the life he’s been handed at the same time as I admired his steadfast determination to make something of it. Some things 47 said during this story got to me in a major way. So I’ll begin this review by saying that the writers definitely achieved the single most important thing I hope for in any story I read—to make me connect to a character. On the other side of that coin, being that I admired 47 so much, I found that the way others treated him, even Damion towards the end, thoroughly angered me.

The first half of the book kept me entertained, but as the pages slipped by, I began to have quite a few quibbles. First off, while the Fighter/Core team’s purpose is to fly their ships and defend against enemies/rebels, they really do very little of that… at least not on page. There’s a couple simulation runs, then later a reference to some off-page flights. Only at the very end do we get to see action, see the two working together in a space fight. For the length of the book and it’s set up, I’d expected more. But this book dealt more with relationships between the characters, and to be honest, it rather devolved into more sex than I felt the story warranted. Now, believe me I like the sexy bits, but I was left wanting more than that from the story, more sci-fi or action or something. Another quibble stemmed from the frequent debate/bickering between the characters, after a while that started to get wearisome.

But the single thing that bugged me the most was Damion’s treatment of 47. The Corporation creates the Cores from infants and controls their entire lives. We’re told the Cores are expensive and time-consuming to create and thus are valuable. Yet they’re not treated as if they have value but as if they are extremely disposable. The Corporation and even many of the Fighters, treat Cores as tools, not as human. Cores have no say over their own body or life–ever. It’s really very heartbreaking. Then comes Damion, and yes, he’s a better Fighter for 47 than those he’s been assigned to in the past. Yet he’s not very considerate, caring, or even smart in the things he does and says to 47. It bothered me that he (and his Fighter friend Juni) had so little concern about how what they chose to do would ultimately affect their Cores.

Given that Cores are programmed to obey their Fighters, while Damion may not have thought he was ordering 47 around, in essence, he was all along. I tried to mark this treatment and lack of empathy down to youth. However, it reached a point where Damion’s treatment of 47 really started to get to me. In the second half, he came across to me as rather selfish, inconsiderate, and unfeeling. I could see that he was frustrated, but still! He just seemed to make very little attempt to understand what 47 was going through when the Core was obviously being pulled apart inside. I didn’t feel the consideration/concern from Damion enough, which bothered me and kept me from really liking or feeling connected to him.

From a writing perspective: there were times the POVs slipped, times when the way the dialogue was handed confused me because it didn’t flow smoothly and had me sometimes looking back to try and figure out what the speaker was responding to again, and there was quite a bit of redundancy and repetition. In my opinion, the story would’ve benefitted by being tightened up, especially since it ended up quite lengthy at 350 pages.

Being that this book is from DSP, I wasn’t expecting a traditional HEA/HFN ending, however, neither was I prepared for the abrupt cliffhanger, to-be-continued ending. Do be prepared for that when you pick this story up! If you’re the type who hates waiting for the rest of a story, perhaps read this together with the rest when available.

For me, while I’m not a fan of cliffies, I will be coming back for the next book. And hoping with fingers crossed.

The cover by Anne Cain is as intriguing as the blurb, both did their job of draw me to the story admirably. But one thing that bugged me just a tiny bit is the cityscape at bottom when mostly the story revolves around spaceships.

Sales Links: DSP Publications |  Amazon | Buy It Here


Book Details:  

ebook, 350 pages
Published November 17th 2015 by DSP Publications
ISBN13 9781634761727
edition language English
series Chrysalis Corporation #1

Will & Patrick Are Back in Will & Patrick Do the Holidays by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths (contest)

  Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00075]

Will & Patrick Do the Holidays (Wake Up Married, Episode 3)
Author: Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths
Publisher:  Leta Blake Books

Release Date: November 23, 2015

Book/Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK

Book Blurb

Follow Will & Patrick as they do the holidays in this third installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!

A couple’s first holiday season is always a special time. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are magical when you’re in love. Too bad Will and Patrick’s marriage is a sham and they’re only faking their affection for each other. Or are they?

Sparks fly in this episode of the Wake Up Married serial. Will the sexual tension between Will and Patrick finally explode in a needy night of passion? Or will they continue to deny their feelings?

Episode 3 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.
Length: 117 Pages
Pairing: M/M, Heat Level: 5!!!! Super hot!!

Excerpt

“Ah, the acrid smell of insulin in the morning.” Patrick’s voice is still gravelly from sleep as he turns on the shower and pulls down his black boxer-briefs revealing his tight ass.

Will looks quickly away and back to the syringe he’s filling by the bathroom sink. “I can never get the last dose to eject from the insulin pens. I always have to pull it out with a needle.”

“After living with you, I have an entire list of ways they can improve insulin pen injectors.”

“I should have my lawyer queue up an appointment for you with the pharmaceutical company.”

“You do that, puddin’-pop, and I’ll be there with a PowerPoint presentation. It’ll consist of four words over and over. ‘Do your damn job.’ If pushed, I might throw in a ‘Don’t make me do it for you’ as a closing argument.”

Will pinches a bit of fat from his abdomen and sticks himself quickly. He’s done this for years, but he never stops hating it. Especially syringes. They’re somehow worse than the insulin pens. “I’ll ask Owen to make that happen.”

Patrick snorts from behind the curtain. Will glances over and heat floods his gut as he notices the shadow outline of Patrick’s morning wood. “Oh, um, let me just—” He hustles to deal with the used needle and ends up dropping the syringe in the sink. The scent of insulin grows stronger. “Why does it smell like Band-Aids?” Will muses as he finally gets rid of the used needle and cleans up the syringe, tossing the now-empty insulin pen.

“It’s the preservative. Meta-cresol,” Patrick says. “Mmm, so clinical. So sexy.”

“And you’re so weird.”

“Nothing like the smell of a hospital to get my motor running.”

Will glances back at Patrick’s shadow behind the shower curtain. He’s still got a half chub flopping around as he washes his hair. Will clears his throat.

“Have you considered an insulin pump?” Patrick asks.

Will tries to drag his mind from Patrick’s erection. “I don’t want one.”

“Because?”

“I don’t like the idea of having something attached to me. All the time. Something I have to rely on to do its job.”

“You trust insulin pens have the right dosage, that the dial works, that they’re—“

“I know, Patrick. But I have the right to my own preferences when it comes to my medical treatment.”

“Fair enough. So what’s the deal with your daddy?” Patrick asks sans segue.

“What are you talking about?” Will packs up his testing kit and uses a black marker he keeps in his murse to make a dot on the back of his left hand. He can’t forget to drop by the pharmacy and pick up his replacement insulin pens.

“Papa Molinaro. What’s the deal with him and the holidays? He wasn’t around for Thanksgiving. Will he be dropping down the chimney on Christmas Eve with a bag full of presents for you and a nice hard dick for your mommy? Or what?”

Will rolls his eyes. “Thanks for that image.”

“You’re welcome.”

“He spends Christmas with his daughters. Or at least he used to. I don’t keep in touch with him.”

“Ah, the half siblings you’ve never met. So, no Christmas phone call from Papa?”

“No.” Will feels the familiar hot, impatient squirm of nastiness in his gut. Conversations about his father usually bring it on.

“No Christmas card stuffed with cash?”

“No card, no text, no Skype, no email.”

“Huh.”

“What?”

“He’s obsessed enough with you to have you followed by mobster spies but he can’t pick up a phone. At best, that’s inefficient.”

“At worst?”

“At worst, Starshine, you have a deeply dysfunctional father/son relationship.”

“Wow. You really are a genius.”

Patrick barks a laugh and then begins to hum the new Madonna song he’s been singing off and on for the last two days.

“That’s still stuck in your head, huh?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Better than ‘We Three Kings’ mixed with ‘Scarborough Fair,’” Will mutters. Finished with his morning insulin rituals, he starts the water in the sink to begin his shaving routine. “Tony doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to do, and being a reliable member of our family was never something he was good at.”

“When did you last see him?”

“It’s been three years. It can be ten more for all I care.” Will pumps shaving cream into his hand and smears it on his face. “He sweeps in on a whim, wreaks havoc on our lives, and sweeps out again.”

Patrick is quiet behind the curtain and Will glances over to see that he’s rinsing out his hair.

“There’s no pattern, unless you count my mom getting serious with anyone. As soon as my dad gets wind of her being happy with someone else, he has to come to town and wreck it.”

“With his dick.”

Will sighs. “Everything’s about sex for you, isn’t it?”

“Nope. A lot of things. But not everything.” He turns off the water and throws back the curtain. Will averts his eyes quickly, but his hands are already shaking enough that he’s not sure he should be trusted to shave himself. Patrick goes on. “But it’s all about sex between your parents. The Hurting Times churns with scintillating tales of your mom inappropriately hopping on your dad’s pole.”

“Like you know anything about ‘inappropriate’.”

Patrick laughs. “Like I know about that time they banged in the bathroom at some old lady’s funeral. The Hurting Times forum had pages dedicated to that one.”

Will’s ears grow hot.

“And, hey, for the record, even I know a funeral home toilet is a bad place for sex. Public bathrooms are tourist destinations for germs.” He shudders and slings a towel around his hips, thankfully covering his dangling dick. “It’s not sanitary.”

“You are such a jerk.”

“So you tell me.” Patrick grabs a hairbrush and runs it through his wet hair. The dark auburn looks almost brown and glistens brightly in the overhead bathroom lights. “There’s evidence of a genetic component to addiction.” Patrick’s eyes go foggy as he muses, “But is it addiction or abuse? Both probably.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You, mainly. But I’m also talking about them. If The Hurting Times gossip about the two of them is even half true, they are their own kind of addicts. Addicted to each other. Addicted to sex. Addicted to falling in love. Especially your mother. But it’s possible your father uses the intense sexual connection between them as abuse.”

“I…” Will’s fingers clutch at the razor and he drags it against his skin carefully. “I didn’t think you believed in psychology mumbo-jumbo.”

“I don’t believe in spiritual mumbo-jumbo. And, yes, psychology is a lot of bull-honky, but as a neurologist, I can’t deny that thoughts and experiences have physical effects on brain tissue. Dubious and whoo-hoo as most psychological theories seem compared with hard science. What’s your dad’s sign?”

“Really?”

Patrick shrugs and sidles up next to Will at the sink, examining his own face in the mirror.

Will sighs. “Early November. So, what’s that? Scorpio?”

“Ah. And your mother’s a Scorpio too.”

“How do you know? The Hurting Times again?”

“I know because I’ve met her.”

Patrick’s arm slides against his as he reaches for the can of shaving cream. Will moves slightly to the side but Patrick just scoots closer. Will can smell soap on his skin and shampoo in his hair. He wonders what those curls would feel like slick and wet under his fingers.

Patrick rubs on shaving cream and reaches for his razor. His naked chest slides against Will’s bicep.

Will tries to concentrate on shaving, but Patrick’s reflection in the mirror is distracting. His normally pale skin is flushed from the shower and his nipples are pink and peaked. Will clears his throat and scrapes his razor over his face again.

“Addiction,” Patrick muses on. “You didn’t stumble into that on your own. You drink…and your parents screw. That’s how these genes play out. And with both of them being Scorpios…”

Patrick’s arm rubs against him, and Will clicks his tongue against his teeth. Between this touching and Patrick’s speculation about his parents’ sex life, Will can’t tell if he’s going to pop an inconvenient boner or if his balls are going to shrivel up into his body.

“Two Scorpios can burn down a barn from the heat of their mutual orgasms.”

Ball-shriveling wins out. “Okay, well, this conversation has covered everything I never wanted to think about. I’m going to be late to work.”

Patrick studies Will in the mirror.

Will wipes his face clean of cream, decides not to care that he’s got one stripe of shiny skin on an otherwise stubbly face, and, grabbing his murse, leaves the sink to Patrick.

He dresses quickly. He really is going to be late. Not that anyone at Good Works would say anything to him.

“Do you have surgery scheduled?” Will calls out as he slides his wallet into his back pocket and hitches his bag on his shoulder.

“No.”

“Meet you here tonight?”

“Will there be more Capheus?”

“Yes. And more Lito.”

“It’s a TV date with the hubby, then,” Patrick says, stepping out into the room with his sharp grin in place.

The hubby.

“First person home calls room service,” Patrick adds. “Order stuff we both like. We can share.”

“Deal.”

“Oh, and Will? For the record, you’d still be hot even if you wore an insulin pump.”

“Thanks. But I’ll stick with the pens.”

Walking out of the pharmacy twenty minutes later with his new insulin pens, Will wonders what kind of sex Libras and Aries are supposed to have. You already know the answer to that. Hot enough to burn down a barn.

“God, just stop.”

He rubs a hand over his hair and decides to focus on the day ahead. He’ll take it one step at a time. Just like AA has taught him.

Genre:  Romantic Comedy M/M Romance
Tags:  gay, woke up married, tropes, rom-com, mafia, forced marriage, disabled heroes

Wake Up Married series:

Leta Blake

About the Authors

Leta Blake

Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.

You can find out more about her by following her online:

Alice Griffiths

A long-time reader of romance novels, Alice Griffiths finally took the plunge into writing, teaming up with best-selling author Leta Blake for the ‘Woke up Married’ serialized comedy. A lover of tropes, Alice enjoys mining old ideas and putting a fresh, funny spin on them. Formerly working in the newspaper industry, Alice is now an art curator. She lives in Sydney, Australia.

You can find out more about her by following her online:

Giveaway

Enter to win 2 copies of Will & Patrick Do the Holidays (Wake Up Married, Episode 3).  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the authors. and Indigo Marketing.

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A MelanieM Review: The Devil’s Due (Pulp Friction 2015 Book 19) by Parker Williams

Rating:  5 stars out of 5   ★★★★★

The Devil's Due coverArtie Middleton and Ben Nelson have faced everything thrown at them and come out stronger individually and as a couple.

They’ve lost friends, and learned the painful lesson that nothing good comes without a price. Now, Artie’s unwitting part in an insane plan to destroy all supernatural beings has pulled him front and center into a battle for survival.

When Ben becomes a pawn in the scheme, Artie must decide what he’s willing to risk to protect his family. It’s a question that must be asked when the devil finally demands his due.

Four books have seen Artie Middleton and Ben Nelson come together in love and devastating loss, find a new family in a strange group of supernatural friends, along with their human families that remain alive.  Now everything they have, their love, their lives, everyone’s future has been threatened and they must destroy it once and for all.  Now we find out how high the cost will be.

Parker Williams has the ability to wring the emotions out of a reader by the end of a story.  It didn’t matter that the last one, High Stakes, was only 40-some odd pages, I felt limp as a dishrag from all the sobbing and loss.  This story makes it all worthwhile.  This is the grand finale and Williams makes all the heartbreak, all the angst that has gone before not only palatable but, I can’t believe I’m saying this, meaningful and right.

Wonderful, absorbing plots need equally great characters and here we have a marriage of both.  Williams has developed the characters of Artie and Ben over four books, giving each man more interesting layers and depth to him, letting the readers watch them grow together and sort of grow up as the relationship developed.  We committed to them as they committed to each other. And that made the danger and pain that happens to them far more real and heartbreaking.

Terrific characterizations extend past the main couple to stellar secondary ones such as Tempeste and even a flatulent ghost dog who hogs the bed.  There are so many here to give your heart to, including a new one at the end of the story.

No details (as much as I would love to reveal them), that wouldn’t be fair.  But the author sets Ben and Artie on the road to finally confront the demon behind all the fiendish events and deaths that have been happening all over New Orleans.  But nothing goes as planned.  With all their friends involved, strategies are hurriedly devised, and moment by moment the suspense and absolute horror is ramped up until you are sure all is to be lost…

I was tucked into my bed with the popcorn, and dogs, and yes, glass of wine and didn’t touch any of it until the book was done. What a thrilling ride of a story!  Yes, the devil got his due and then some.

And then there was that ending. How I loved this story and series.  Artie and Ben, and yes Tempeste too.  They stole my heart.  Pick up this series and let them steal yours too.

Need a new addiction?  Grab up Parker Williams’ Four of Club series (Pulp Friction 2015).  Read them all at once in one major binge read or one at a time, either way, you will find yourself hooked.  I highly recommend this book and series. Happy Reading.

Cover art is lovely and perfect for the story.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 66 pages
Published November 13th 2015
ASINB017ZBD120
edition languageEnglish

 

About Pulp Friction 2015

Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Spend a year with the creatures that go bump in the night…fighting for their rights to exist and protecting the innocents of The Big Easy. A diverse group of friends trying to find their place in a world they never had to “fit” into before.

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.

Round One:
Drawing Dead ~ Blind Stud ~ The Devil’s Bedpost ~ Diamonds and Dust

Round Two:
Dead Blind ~ Stud Player ~ Up the Ante ~ Diamond Draw

Round Three:
Dead Button ~ Blind Man’s Bluff ~ Devil’s Playground ~ Diamond Edge

Round Four:
Dead Man’s Hand ~ Blind Hearts ~ High Stakes ~ Diamond Flush

Round Five:
Dead Money ~ Under the Gun ~ Devil’s Due ~ Diamonds Down and Dirty

A Stella Review: What Happens at Christmas by Jay Northcote

Rating 4 stars out of 5

What Happens At Christmas coverWhen two friends pose as boyfriends, could what happens at Christmas turn into something more?

Justin is recently and unhappily single. Christmas is coming, and he doesn’t want to face his ex alone at their office party. So Sean—Justin’s best mate and long-time secret crush—volunteers to go with him and pretend to be his new flame.

Sean has always lusted after Justin from afar, but there’s never been a good opportunity to ask him for more than friendship. Posing as Justin’s boyfriend isn’t a chore, and if Justin wants to rebound onto him, Sean’s more than willing. At the party pretence and reality blur, and a kiss on the dance floor leads to a night of passion.

In the aftermath, they both assume it was a one-time thing until fate intervenes. Stuck together in London over the holidays, they give in to temptation again. But what happens at Christmas stays at Christmas… right?

What Happens at Christmas is a fabulous friends to lovers story by Jay Northcote. I know the blurb could almost seem too simple and maybe a cliché with the fake boyfriends theme, I admit I was a little worried but don’t let it fool you, the author did great.

Justin has just broken up with his coworker/boyfriend Andy and the office Christmas party is approaching, he doesn’t want to go alone and see the cheating Andy with his new flame. Luckly he has Sean to act as his boyfriend just for a night. Sean is Justin’s best friend since they were seven years old. Now after spending some time traveling, he’s back. Sean is exactly Justin’s type, dark, tall and handsome. They’ve both had a crush on each other since forever but the timing for them to be together always seemed to be wrong. They just need a little push to act on it. Could it be the fake boyfriends thing?  But when the pretending ends what is going to happen?

First of all I want to say that I liked the writing a lot, it was easy to read, engaging and most of all it made the story real. The plot is simple but Jay didn’t base all the story on the fake boyfriends part, because that ended at halfway. The author overcame what could have easily developed into the old cliché  with more than fifty pages focused on the birth of a possible relationship between Justin and Sean. She came up with a so good story, slow in the understanding of the evidence of something real between them, but it wasn’t a slow burn sex, in fact the chemistry and the deep feelings were really strong. I liked the characters a lot and I was happy with their HEA.

Shortly I think the author did a great Christmas story, no drama, no tears, no angst, just good feelings. Adorable. Most of all it was so believable. I enjoyed it a lot and it is already on my “to re-read” shelf. Highly recommended!

The cover art by Garrett Leigh is well done and the snowflakes in the background recall the title and the Christmas setting, I like it.

Sales Link:   Amazon only  | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 113 pages
Published November 19th 2015 by Jaybird Press
original titleWhat Happens At Christmas
ASINB017W1NZ88
edition languageEnglish

In Our Book Spotlight: Love In Uniform Anthology with authors Angora Shade, Kay C. Sulli, DC Juris, Jean Wolfe, Shannen Malone, Kassandra Lea, Dale Cameron Lowry, Louise Blaydon, and Aiden McKenna (excerpts and giveaway)

loveinuniform1400

Authors Name: Editor: Paige Prince. Authors: Angora Shade, Kay C. Sulli,
DC Juris, Jean Wolfe, Shannen Malone, Kassandra Lea, Dale
Cameron Lowry, Louise Blaydon, and Aiden McKenna

Book Name: Love in Uniform Anthology
 Release Date: November 11, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Banner300x250

 

Blurb

There’s just something about a man in uniform…whether it’s the delivery man bringing a special package to your door, the airline attendant taking care of your every need, or the cop with a set of handcuffs on his belt and a gleam in his eye, Love in Uniform provides fodder for every fantasy.

The Encounter – Hoping to escape the hot dance floor at a crowded club, a pilot finds himself wandering a dark secluded hallway. He’s pleased to see a table, but he’s startled when a shadow moves. Suddenly face to face with his ideal man candy, the pilot discovers the beauty of strangers and the thrill of sex in public places.

Wishing on the Perseid – Zach Johnson went looking for an adventure in the Rocky Mountains before settling into grad school. Little did he know Park Ranger Ryan Jenkins was exactly what he was looking for.

Special Delivery – An unexpected phone call turns Camden’s boring day off into a potential disaster when he ends up taking his cousin’s delivery shift with Axel, the tattooed hunk he dreams about. But Axel’s got a plan…and a special delivery that’ll leave Camden wanting more.

Westward Avenue Matchmaker – EMT Peter is getting tired of being called to Westward Avenue again and again for Mrs McKinney’s kitchen fires, but the chance to flirt with an attractive fireman makes it all worthwhile.

On the Wing – Traveling the world for work doesn’t leave a lot of time to find love on the ground. But maybe on the wing.

Let it Hurt – All Leo Shelton wanted to do was patch things up with his boyfriend Caleb Hart. When an accident threatens to take it all away the two realize just how much they need one another.

Loggerhead – Soon after they fall in love, Jake makes Eric a promise inspired by an old track uniform. But demanding work schedules at Jake’s four-star restaurant and Eric’s newspaper keep them from following through. Six years later, they take the honeymoon they never had, heading to the Florida coast in search of sea turtles—and rekindling their passion for each other in the process.

The Night Shift – Jonas Kelshiker works the night shift in the Evidence Room at the police depot, where the crimes have become monotonous and the policemen unremarkable – until the night Dan Harris shows up at his window.

Roadside Assistance – When Robert sees flashing lights in his rear view mirror, he doesn’t know just how wild a turn his night is going to take. With the threat of his first speeding ticket imminent, he tries to use his clever mouth to get him out of trouble. But this cop won’t let him get off that easy.

 

Pages or Words: 46,366 words
 Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt

“I like this hallway,” he says, turning back to me and placing two hands directly upon me. His fingers flex over my pecs and the tips of his short nails dig playfully into my shirt. He pushes his body square against me, the movements of his breathing mimicking my own surprised and excited rhythm. Bringing his face closer to my ear, he speaks in a teasing whisper. “I prefer my company in the dark.”

I’m a little shocked at his bold and aggressive personality, but I like it. I hate how so many men I’ve been with have played the come-chase-me game, or the, I’m-only-going-to-pretend-I’m-into-you thing. This guy is different; clear intentions. No games. No jokes.

No problem.

I’m about to introduce myself when he pushes me backward against the wall. I hit the brick with a genuine oof of both astonishment and force, and find my hands have shot out around his hard waist. His muscular abs flex under my thumbs, and I feel drowned by his intense gaze.

His breath falls warm against my face. “I think you want what I want.”

What I want… I want this man. Every inch of my body is ready to fly at him, twitching and pushing for release like the stiff nudge of my dick against my government issue boxer briefs. Screw Jay. He’s late and I’m feeling attention starved. I’m single and I don’t want to be.

He looks me up and down, licking his lips. “God, I love a man in uniform.”

-from “The Encounter” by Angora Shade

 

Buy the book: Torquere Books Amazon ~ Are ~ B&N ~ Google Play

RC

Meet the Authors:

Angora Shade: Angora Shade is an American author living in what she lovingly refers to as “Sheep Shit Nowhere” Europe. In an attempt to add some spice to her small town life, Ms. Shade began writing explicit erotica as a form of self-entertainment. Exploring the boundaries of acceptable sexual literature, she often seeks to create stories that not only entertain others, but also expose and push against the negative stigma surrounding sex in modern day society. She believes that sex in literature, art, personal thought, and physical nature, should be celebrated and expressed openly and as easily as any God-given freedom. Her favorite themes in writing include revenge, self-discovery, alternative materials for love play/BDSM, as well as anything that produces a good tingle, sizzle, or laugh. When not writing, Ms. Shade enjoys red wine, travel, dancing, classic cartoons, baking, and creating fine art.

Kay C. Sulli: Kay C. Sulli is a queer asexual writer often found scribbling in the wilderness. She writes from the heart with a passion for history, nature, and the American West.

DC Juris: 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 NY with her husband, three dogs, and two 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.

Jean Wolfe: Jean Wolfe would really rather go hide under a rock somewhere than have to fill out author bios.

Dale Cameron Lowry: Dale Cameron Lowry is a writer and editor living in the Midwest with a partner and three irritable cats. This is Dale’s second story for Torquere Press.

Shannen Malone: Shannen Malone is an Irish student studying English, in the second year of her degree. When not scaling the monolith of her required reading list, Shannen can be found in her blanket nest, writing all things queer.

Kassandra Lea: Kassandra Lea has been writing for far longer than she cares to admit. She lies in southern Wisconsin with her mother, a gang of furry little monsters, and a ghost lovingly dubbed Bob.

Louise Blaydon: Louise is an academic, editor and writer. She primarily writes m/m and f/f fiction, and has published a number of novels and novellas and many short stories. She lives in England and has too many cats.

Aiden McKenna: Aiden McKenna is a writer and editor living in the dirty south. When not bent over the writing desk, she enjoys time spent with family on her farm and relaxing on the porch with a strong drink and a good novel.

Where to find the author:

Angora Shade

Kay C Sulli

DC Juris

Jean Wolfe

Dale Cameron Lowry

Shannen Malone

No social media information available

Kassandra Lea

Louise Blaydon

Aiden McKenna


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Havan Fellows, The Hat Party, A.M. Leibowitz, BFD Book Blog, Divine Magazine, Dawn’s Reading Nook, KathyMac Reviews, Bayou Book Junkie, Jessie G. Books. Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Chris McHart, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, Book Lovers 4Ever, Velvet Panic, V’s Reads, MM Good Book Reviews

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of the anthology, must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the authors and  Pride Promotions.  

 

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WillPride

In the Spotlight: My Hero: The Olympian by Max Vos (author interview, excerpt and giveaway)

Olympian_BT_Banner

I’m happy to have Max Vos here today to talk about his latest release, My Hero, and the inspiration behind the story and series. Welcome, Max!

  • I love your idea of the Hero series.  What prompted the series?  Did it have an inspiration?

I started My Hero just after the 2012 Olympics and it was just before Football season here. I wanted a good football story. There was a player for University of Tennessee that was the inspiration for Johnny.

  • I see that the setting for this book is the 2012 London Olympics.  What a year!  Was there anything in particular, like a certain athlete that said “hmmm, a story should be told”?

I really just wanted a good football story and finish this story and that meant going back to 2012.

  • With the rugby players coming out this year, can we expect to see that in a book soon?

Probably not. I know nothing about Rugby. Sorry

  • What characters are really so close to your heart in this series?  Do you have favorites?

Johnny. I just love his goofy but determined attitude.   

  • If you could whip up a perfect Olympic Hero menu for this couple what would it be?

If it were just Rich, that would be easy. If it were for them both… It would have to be a full-on buffet to fill Johnny up. LOL

  • Do you know how many books you have planned for this series?

This was the last for My Hero.

  • Can I beg you to write a rugby book? 

You can. You can even bribe me. Doesn’t mean it’ll happen. he he he If I were to write another sports story, I think it would be about Australian Football, but that means I’d have to go back to Australia.

8 What’s next for Max Vos?

I have 5 books in the works already, probably enough to keep me busy through most of next year.

Thanks, Max.

AboutTheBook
TheOlympian_FSTITLE: My Hero: The Olympian

SERIES: My Hero Series #2

AUTHOR: Max Vos

COVER ARTIST: Alex J. Corza

LENGTH: 129,600 words approx.

RELEASE DATE: November 15, 2015

BLURB: After a romantic evening, Rich and Johnny face the light of day as a couple. Johnny’s coming out forces them to face some serious repercussions as the world of collegian jocks adjust to their first openly gay football player.

Rich is still working towards the World Diving Championships with his hopes and dreams set on the 2012 London Olympic Games, while as a couple they deal with concerns closer to home.

With the support of friends and family, the young couple grow closer together, but with prejudices and adversity at every turn will Johnny and Rich be able to tackle the world together?

No matter what, Rich will always be Johnny’s hero.

Excerpt

“No, I’m not going to and there is nothing you can say that will make me either.” Johnny crossed his arms, a defiant look on his face, his eyes narrowed slits.

“Oh come on, John, I wear them.” Rich held up the skimpy black racing briefs. “For me?”

Johnny looked away. “No. I said no and I mean no.”

Rich leaned in close to Johnny so only he could hear. “If you wear this, I can guarantee you some of the best sex in your life. If you think I get turned on by jock straps…”

Johnny glared down at Rich. “You don’t play fair.”

“Wasn’t it you who recently said that all is fair in love and war?” Rich smirked as he dangled the tiny briefs in front of Johnny.

“It better be the best ever.” Johnny let his arms drop. “Okay. But you promised.”

Again, Rich leaned in close. “Maybe even join the mile high club.”

Johnny’s eyebrows shot up and a grin blossomed on his face. “Deal.”

“Are we done here?” Dan called to the two college men. He was standing at the counter, credit card in hand.

“One more thing, Dad.” Rich hurried over to him. “This.”

Dan raised his eyebrows slightly. “Oookay then.”

Rich snickered when he saw Johnny blushing.

“I think this will be all,” Dan said to the clerk.

“I’m going to give you a discount,” the young woman said as she rang it up. “It isn’t every day that we can say an Olympian wore some of our gear.”

“I’m not an Olympian yet,” Rich commented.

“Rich Miller, I’ve known you my entire life, and if anyone is going to be an Olympian, it’s you.” Michelle Stubbon smiled at Rich as she started putting the pile of swimsuits, track suits, shorts, and other things that he and Johnny needed for London in a bag.

“Thanks, Michelle. I appreciate the confidence everyone has in me.”

“Just remember us lowly folk when you come home with Olympic gold,” she laughed as she handed Dan the receipt.

BuyLinks

Amazon US

Amazon UK

AuthorBio

Author_PicMax Vos is the bestselling author of My Hero. He is loved by his readers for his ‘inappropriate’ side, bringing hot and steamy sex to his writing. Not hemmed in by a single genre Max has the ability to woo you with sweet romance, move you with the power of his words and make you question your definition of love.

Having retired in 2011 after more than 30 years as a chef, Max turned his creativity to writing. You can always find wonderful Southern charm, well rounded and vibrant characters with a good meaty story line in a Max Vos book. Each book will give you something new and amazing to love.

::  Facebook  ::  Twitter  ::  Website  ::  Blog  ::  Google+  ::

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Winner’s Prize: E-copies of My Hero and My Hero: The Olympian

Runner Up’s Prize: E-copy of My Hero: The Olympian

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TourSchedule

November 15: Bike Book Reviews

November 16: The Purple Rose Tea House || Nic Starr

November 17: The Land of Make Believe || Rainbow Gold Reviews

November 18: Carly’s Book Reviews

November 19: Cia’s Stories || Drops of Ink

November 20: Love Bytes Reviews || Hearts on Fire

November 23: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words || Draven St. James

November 24: Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

November 25: Bayou Book Junkie

November 26: Divine Magazine

November 27: Jackie’s Book Reviews

November 30: Gale Stanley

December 1: Daydream Believer Book

December 2: Garrett Leigh || Amanda C. Stone

December 3: The Novel Approach || The Hat Party

December 4: Sue Brown || Jessie G Books

December 7: Diverse Reader

December 8: Man2ManTastic || MM Good Book Reviews

December 9: BFD Book Blog

December 10: Gay.Guy.Reading And Friends

December 11: TTC Books and More || Foxylutely Books

December 14: Louise Lyons || Gay Media Reviews

December 15: Loving Without Limits

The Case of the Purple Pearl (End Street Detective Agency #5) by Amber Kell and R.J. Scott

The Case of the Purple Pearl

The Case of the Purple Pearl (End Street Detective Agency #5)
by Amber Kell, R.J. Scott
Release Date:  November 22, 2015


Cover Artist:  Meredith Russell
Publisher:  Love Lane Books

Buy links here when available: RJScottAuthor and Goodreads link.

~

My Interview with Amber Kell and RJ Scott…

Do you have knock down, dragout fights about who gets to write first for a book? Hee hee Seriously though answer the question

RJ: Oh no, Amber always works it so it’s me that has to write the sex scenes.

Amber: I’m clever that way.

RJ: We take it in turns I think. Don’t we? (actually has no idea whatsoever)

Amber: Yes. A lot has to do with our schedules. Whoever is more available when we decide to begin the next book usually starts. We generally have a rough (extremely rough) outline at that point.

RJ: Which, given how much we both write, is the reason for delays between books! And yes, to the rough outline. We kind of know where we are going with the story, but given both Amber and I don’t plot our books generally, it works okay. Then there are moments when i will write blah blah *insert supernatural being here* and Amber adds it in.

Amber: It’s true she does do that. LOL!

RJ: I also let her write the chapter headings (although i often have to re-write them… nods)

Amber: *sigh*

RJ: Sniggers

In a cage fight, who’d win? (I’m sort of thinking Thunderdome, with bungee cords and various weapons hanging from the ceiling, except I don’t want you to hurt each other so maybe feather dusters and custard pies?)

Amber: Hmm. Tough question. We would probably end up sitting at the bottom of the cage sharing pie and demanding tea and coffee to go with it.

RJ: I have a weight advantage if i could somehow sit on her. But yes, eating the pie sounds like a good outcome.

Blurb

After failing in a quest to win the Fae Queen’s approval, Halstein is locked in a world of stone. Forced to remain a gargoyle he spends his days on Sam’s desk pining for his lost love.

Prince Idris’s lover went missing and was presumed dead. Alone, Idris lives a life away from court, starved of energy but unwilling to sleep in the room he once shared with his beloved.

Can Sam and Bob save these fated lovers before it’s too late? And will Bob’s ultimate sacrifice be enough to free Hal from his prison?

End Street Detective Agency Vol 1Volume 1 – Books 1 & 2

Book 1 – The Case of the Cupid Curse 
Book 2 – The Case of the Wicked Wolf

 

 

end street Detectives Vol 2Volume 2 – Books 3 & 4

Book 3 – The Case of the Dragon’s Dilemma 
Book 4 – The Case of the Sinful Santa

Excerpt

Chapter One 
“What are you doing?” 

Sam sighed. This was the fifth time today their visiting gargoyle had asked him that. Three weeks had passed since it had decided to stay at the house and wait for Sam to find it a master. And those three weeks had lasted a very long time.

“Taxes,” Sam muttered. The same answer he’d given every single time he’d been asked.

“I don’t like math,” the little gargoyle said. He waddled across Sam’s desk, leaving small muddy footprints on a neatly filled-in form. Sam couldn’t even muster the energy to get angry.

“Are you going to tell me your name yet?” Sam asked. He placed his pen on the desk and leaned back with a stretch, eying the small gargoyle against the hulking monstrosity that sat immobile on the corner of his desk. They were so dissimilar, in size and expression.

“You know I can only tell my master.”

“I can’t keep calling you the little gargoyle. I’m going to have to give you a name.”

The little gargoyle turned in a circle to face Sam, then squatted into a pose with his mouth open in a snarl. It looked pretty mean, and Sam edged back.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

The gargoyle’s expression changed back to the one he usually had; that of a dopey baby.

“Nothing, I was just giving you my fierce face so you can give me the right name. I’m not having you calling me Sunshine or Cutie. I want something strong like Zephariel Angel of Vengeance.”

Sam couldn’t help the snort of laughter, then immediately felt guilty when the gargoyle’s expression fell. “Sorry,” he apologized. “It’s just, uhm, that name is taken. How about Leo, like a lion, a brave, strong lion.”

The gargoyle tilted his head in contemplation, then nodded. “Leo, I like Leo. I’m done with you now. You already have a gargoyle. I’m going to find my true master.”

That decided, he jumped down off the desk and waddled over to the door, sidestepping awkwardly when Smudge slunk in with intent in every step. In a leap, Smudge was up on the desk, sitting right on the tax forms and staring straight into Sam’s face.

“What are you doing?” Smudge asked telepathically.

“Taxes,” Sam answered. He didn’t add a sigh this time.

“You should be tracking down what kind of other your uncle’s pet gargoyle is.”

Leo, the newly named visiting gargoyle, had declared that the old paperweight on Sam’s desk that looked like a gargoyle, walked like a gargoyle, and was stone like a gargoyle, wasn’t actually a gargoyle at all, but other.

“Where do you suggest I start? And why can’t you tell what it is, oh powerful familiar.” Sam couldn’t help the sarcasm. Smudge was capable of putting souls back in bodies and using heavy magic, but he couldn’t track down what kind of paranormal had been transformed into an ancient crumbling gargoyle paperweight?

“I’ll forget you said that,” Smudge said condescendingly. “I’ve been busy.”

“With what?” Sam asked. Privately he thought Smudge spent too much time cleaning himself with his paws up in the air and his tongue—

“I can hear you,” Smudge warned. “And who else do you think can keep your attic spider infestation at bay?”

Sam shuddered. He didn’t like small spiders at best, let alone the giant ones Smudge had suggested lived only a few floors up. “Good work,” Sam praised. “And as to our paperweight friend here—” Sam tapped the solid stone thing on the head with a stapler. “—I’ve put out a request to everyone I know as to who may be missing someone. I used the ParaGoogle to see if anyone knows anything. Not sure what else I can do at this stage.”

Smudge gave a feline version of a huff, deliberately washed himself on the desk for a good five minutes, then disappeared out of the room. Sam shook off the fur that had fallen on his paperwork. This needed to be done and, unless he finished it soon, he’d have the authorities fining him all over the place.

A knock on his office door jerked Sam from his sad contemplation of the bills he had to pay. Although he’d earned some money recently and he owned the building where he worked and lived, the flow of money going out far exceeded the money rushing into his pockets.

Taxes were a bitch.

Giveaway

Competition to win $15 Amazon/Are giftcard, and 2 further prizes of RJ Scott e-books – closes 6th December at 00:01 GMT (London)

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About the Authors

About RJ

RJ Scott has been writing since age six, when she was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies. She was told to write a story and two sides of paper about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born.

As an avid reader herself, she can be found reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror. However, her first real true love will always be the world of romance where she takes cowboys, bodyguards, firemen and billionaires (to name a few) and writes dramatic and romantic stories of love and passion between these men.

With over seventy titles to her name and counting, she is the author of the award winning book, The Christmas Throwaway. She is also known for the Texas series charting the lives of Riley and Jack, and the Sanctuary series following the work of the Sanctuary Foundation and the people it protects.

Her 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.

About Amber Kell:

Amber Kell is one of those quiet people they always tell you to watch out for. She lives in Dallas with her husband, two sons, and one extremely stupid dog.

A MelanieM New Adult Review: Jefferson Blythe, Esquire by Josh Lanyon

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Jefferson Blythe Esq coverIn this fast, fun and dead-sexy male/male new-adult caper from multi-award-winning author Josh Lanyon, twentysomething Jefferson Blythe gets lost, gets found, falls in love and comes out…all in the span of one wild summer

After his first relationship goes disastrously awry, Jeff Blythe uses his savings to tour Europe—the old-fashioned way. Armed with his grandfather’s 1960 copy of Esquire’s Europe in Style, Jeff sets off looking for adventure but finds much, much more than he bargained for…

In London, dodging questions from shady criminals about a mysterious package he most certainly does not have is simple. Losing the gunmen who are convinced he’s someone else is not. And when George, an old friend, offers him help—and a place to stay, and perhaps something more—things become complicated.

Is George really who he seems? And is Jeff finally ready to act on his attraction?

From Paris to Rome and back again, Jeff and George fall for each other, hard, while quite literally running for their lives. But trusting George at his word may leave Jeff vulnerable—in more ways than one.

Jefferson Blythe, Esquire is simply something new and yet totally Josh Lanyon at the same time.  A new adult story told from the point of view of Jeff Blythe, a young man fleeing across the ocean from an expected marriage he knew was wrong for both of them. With his grandfather’s heavily noted (and need we say outdated) 1960 copy of Esquire’s Europe in Style in hand, Jeff decides to tour Europe using that as his guide.  Oh, the naivete’.  And yes, it all starts going disastrously awry from the start, ala Josh Lanyon style.

One of the elements that I have always loved about Lanyon’s style is the way the author combines humor with bleak reality.  The main character is often at their lowest point and yet some small bit of humor or a slight funny line of dialog will slide into the moment, making it still real but  more human and a tad lighter.  It happens here right at the start when Jeff goes from plane, making his way laboriously to the place where he expects to  stay. Its a fight all the way and when he gets there?  More awfulness ensues…to our shock and hilarity.

But that start is our introduction to Jeff Blythe. We see the start of his learning process and the beginning of what will be an exponential tour of growth as he learns about himself, who he wants to be and who he wants to be with.  That would be George, a former friend who now lives in London and isn’t exactly who he tells Jeff, or “Jefferson” as George calls him, exactly who he seems to be.    What follows is a series of mishaps, investigations, theft, and all sorts of things criminal across Europe in increasing degrees of seriousness until Jeff is finally involved in murder.

There is a pattern here that Lanyon lays out for Jefferson and the reader.  Things start to unfold, events happen, Jefferson and George try to move forward and Jefferson leaves to another part of Europe while growing emotionally, criminals follow as do more threatening events, Jefferson grows increasingly resourceful and independent…and the story just gets better.  I won’t spoil it further.  I did find myself thinking fondly about those wonderful 60’s films with Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, superb background music, thieves playing out across Europe with their clever dialog.  But there was no self discovery in those films as there is here, no Jefferson Blythe to adore and rejoice in as he realizes he is resourceful, gay and knows exactly who it is he loves.  I want more Jefferson Blythe, I really do.

I did waver a bit about that ending. Did I love it? Wish it was longer?  Finally I decided it was the perfect way for Jefferson Blythe to end his journey.  At least for the moment.

I loved this story and hope that Josh Lanyon takes more adventures in new adult novels.  I highly recommend this story and author.

Cover art captures the essence of the character and story. Lovely.

Sales Links:  Carina Press |  Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition
Expected publication: November 16th 2015 by Carina Press
ASINB00Z726LZ4
edition language English