Category: LGBTQ Book Reviews

A MelanieM Review: Blind Hearts (King of Hearts 4) by Havan Fellows

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Blind Hearts coverIn a world where supernatural creatures openly exist, who can blame them for coalescing in one of the most fascinating and erotic places on earth? Welcome to New Orleans.

Emotions are a human flaw, certainly nothing he’s familiar with…

Yet when Laurant looks at his mysterious lover, something happens deep within him. He’s a sex demon who has eyes for only one man. Man? When did he stop referring to his lover as a meal? And when did he turn into a green-eyed demon? Perhaps when family came calling, requesting help. No one wants their lover surrounded by sex demons. If Laurant can’t get a grip on his newly found emotions, humans and supernaturals alike will be in danger.

He lost his one chance of finding out who he is, what he is…

Gun’s been hunting down the witch that pilfered his memories and issued him false ones to no avail. It’s like she disappeared off the face of the earth. Unfortunately, that scenario is quite plausible. It leaves Gun with a major dead end and a mind that is no longer his friend. Memories of a false love with a beautiful woman hinder his present unexplainable need for a certain incubus. But does he truly belong here…with a lover who can’t feel love, a city that isn’t his home, and a ragtag group of poker players that now call him friend? It’s time for Gun to forget the past and create a future for himself. At least the forgetting part is simple.

They both have personal issues to conquer, if they could just stop trying to conquer each other first.

Havan Fellow’s round four story, Blind Hearts is so very aptly named.  You couldn’t find two characters with bigger blinders on their hearts than Gun and Laurant.  Gun is in the dark about his identity, right down to the type of being he is, except that its definitely not human.  Not a comforting fact to be in possession of.  Laurant seems to have so many people messing with his future, including his father.  The fuddy duddies of the Incubus world aren’t happy that Laurant goes the male route instead of the approved female one when feeding. And one top of that?  That Laurant is feeding from another supe, supernatural that is?  As against the laws as they come.  Plus there is a very big evil in town and…. now they are discovering they have feelings for each other to deal with? Nope, they would rather keep their focus straight ahead rather than have to look inside at what’ their hearts are telling them.  Self imposed blindness indeed.

Fellows has created a merrily as sin, deliciously sexy as, well hell, demon, Laurant,  and paired him up with an enigma of power, Gun. That the enigma is comes in the wrapping of a gorgeous hunk is all that Laurant needs to be hooked, not that he is ready admit it.  The author has let the layers built up around Laurant at the beginning of the story fall away book by book, revealing a complex individual underneath the flamboyant persona Laurant shows to the world (all dimensions of the world).

Its been a wonderful show, one I have reveled in.  Gun on the other hand, has had to be built up from nothing, added to layer by layer, book by book, a balancing act that’s been sort of mesmerizing to read about.  Each character’s truth being revealed by adding or subtracting layers, scene by emotional scene.  And still each is blind to the other man’s feelings about the other.

Blind Hearts takes off the blinder’s.  At the end, of course.  And does so with a kick to the heart and the head.  But never with any definite knowledge of what it all means, if anything.  It could still be all smoke and mirrors.  Or not. Maybe its something far worse.  A cliffhanger that will break your heart.

We will have to wait for book five to find out.  I’ve heard  tell I should be sharpening my pitchfork because of the events that are coming.  Hmmmm.  I can’t wait.  I love the anticipation.  Bring it on!

Cover art by Laura Harner.  I can see Laurant in this model.  He’s sobering up a bit, who wouldn’t under the circumstances.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 53 pages
Published August 31st 2015 by Appleton Publishing Avenue
ASINB014RDYY52
edition languageEnglish
seriesKing of Hearts #4, Pulp Friction 2015 #14

 

 

☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠

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 (Jack of Spades: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blind Stud (King of Hearts: 1) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs: 1) by Parker Williams
Diamonds and Dust (Ace of Diamonds: 1) by Laura Harner

Round Two:
Dead Blind (Jack of Spades: 2) by Lee Brazil
Stud Player (King of Hearts: 2) by Havan Fellow
Up the Ante (Four of Clubs: 2 ) by Parker Williams
Diamond Draw (Ace of Diamonds: 2) by Laura Harner

Round Three:

Dead Button (Jack of Spades #3) by Lee Brazil
Blind Man’s Bluff (King of Hearts #3) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Playground (Four of Clubs #3) by Parker Williams
Diamonds Edge (Ace of Diamonds #3) by Laura Harner

Round Four:

Dead Man’s Hand (Jack of Spades 4) by Lee Brazil
Blind Heart (King of Hearts 4) by Havan Fellows
High Stakes (Four of Clubs 4) by Parker Williams
Diamond Flush (Ace of Diamonds 4) by Laura Harner

A BJ Review: Love Starved by Kate Fierro

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

Love Starved coverAt twenty-seven, Micah Geller has more money than he needs, a job he loves, a debut book coming out and a brilliant career in information security before him. What he doesn’t have is a partner to share it with—a fact that he’s never allowed to bother him much. Until Daphne, a close friend, gives him the card of a high-class escort she highly recommends. Micah has no intention of contacting the man, but a moment of drunken weakness unleashes the longing romantic in him and Micah wakes to find that he’s made a ‘date’ with the man… a date for which he’s paid over a thousand dollars in advance and tasked Angel to: “Show me what it’s like to feel loved.”

A well-written story with intriguing main characters. It’s written entirely from Micah’s point of view, and I’m coming to find more and more that single POV isn’t my favorite. So often it leaves me wanting to be more in touch with the other character. Being on the outside and seeing only through Micah’s eyes, we get a very one-sided view of Angel for quite a long while. There are hints that things are going on beyond what we see, which was fine at first but I did began to get frustrated when Micah either didn’t pick up on things or got sidetracked from them so easily.

Micah is successful and a bit of a nerd/geek. Due to being hurt by his first and only boyfriend Brian, he’s leery of relationships. Brian, his ex, is portrayed in such a negative manner that it rather left me wondering what Micah had ever seen in him that had caused him to be so very much in love that his breakup with him would cause him such pain and disillusionment. I’d have loved to see more nuance to Brian in his memories, the good along with the bad.

Angel is bi-sexual and a larger percentage of his clients are female than are male. After the initial fantasy date, due to being seen by someone close to him, Micah chooses to rehire Angel to be his pretend boyfriend a few times rather than admitting to having hired an escort.

The relationship between these two is slow to build, often one step forward and two steps back, and I enjoyed that. Micah continued servicing his clients for some time after they met, and Micah didn’t once attempt to sway him away from doing so. Also while Micah easily could have taken advantage of fulfilling his sexual fantasies with Angel, for the most part he didn’t, even after he paid him for a sexual date. He’s a very sweet guy, and I loved that about him. Loved the slow burn of their romance.

Even after we get to the point of seeing a bit more about what is going on with Angel, things still moved slowly. A few things bugged me about Angel/Aiden’s motivations for doing the things he did, they were a bit over the top of the whore with the heart of gold theme for me. The info given on his background didn’t make me buy into him having enough motivation to prompt him into doing what he did for the reason he did. And Micah’s family were all way too sweet and accepting of a situation that might well have caused at least a smidge of concern. A minor annoyance I found jumping out at me quite early was how often both of the characters winked, it started to feel contrived after a while.

Overall though, I very much enjoyed reading this exploration of two men slowly learning to trust in each other after both have had trust issues in the past. There were many poignant and sweet moments that kept me fully enthralled. The sexual tension was high, and the romance was at times deeply touching.

The cover sparkled. It stood out from the others and called to me with its art and the bright, warm sparkly colors.

Sales Links:  Interlude Press |  Amazon | Buy It Here


Book Details:  

ebook, 304 pages
Published April 21st 2014 by Interlude Press
ISBN139781941530306
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://katefierro.com/books/
settingMinneapolis, Minnesota (United State

A Stella Review: To Love a Traitor by J.L. Merrow

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Wounds of the heart take the longest to heal.

To Love A Traitor coverWhen solicitor’s clerk George Johnson moves into a rented London room in the winter of 1920, it’s with a secret goal: to find out if his fellow lodger, Matthew Connaught, is the wartime traitor who cost George’s adored older brother his life.

Yet as he gets to know Matthew—an irrepressibly cheerful ad man whose missing arm hasn’t dimmed his smile—George begins to lose sight of his mission.

As Matthew’s advances become ever harder to resist, George tries to convince himself his brother’s death was just the luck of the draw, and to forget he’s hiding a secret of his own. His true identity—and an act of conscience that shamed his family.

But as their mutual attraction grows, so does George’s desperation to know the truth about what happened that day in Ypres. If only to prove Matthew innocent—even if it means losing the man he’s come to love.

I don’t know if To Love A Traitor is the first historical story written by JL Merrow, but it was my first by the author. I’m  not a huge fan of historicals but I’m a huge JL’s fan, so I had to read it at all costs. I’m so happy I did cause this book was really good. I love the author’s style, I grew comfortable with it each new book I read and every time it’s a beautiful journey.

Contrary to expectations, one of the things I most enjoyed was just the historical part, it was detailed and really well done, in a couple of things informative to me and never boring. It made the story real and not shallow. With a plot that could be considered almost nothing special, the author was able to give it a meaningful depth, making the perfect choices in setting and development of characters. And the dialogues were so good, engaging and funny! I also liked the characters, almost all of them (not George parents, they disowned his own son cause he  was a conscientious objector), especially Matthew. He was sweet, loveable and so brave.

This was a slow burn story, nothing really happens between MCs until a little before the ending, nonetheless  I could feel the chemistry from the start, even in their friendship. And while I usually love my books to be hot and steamy almost from the start, I didn’t get this need in To Love a Traitor. It was light but at the same time very emotional, easy to read since it was so well written. I particularly enjoyed how the story solved at the end, it left me with a smile on the face. I needed a HEA and she gave it to me.

If you love historicals, especially the ones well researched, interesting and full of feelings, To Love a Traitor will be surely a winner. Highly recommended!

Cover Art by Kanaxa. I like it, of coure it’s beautiful and well done, but I prefer another style for historicals. To me the cover needs to fit the story and the first time I saw this one , I was sure I was going to read a contemporary book. It was misleading to me.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 167 pages
Expected publication: September 15th 2015 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ASIN B00YX4QGV6
Edition Language English

Coffee Sip and Book Break with Lee Brazil’s Keeping House (Truth or Dare #1) (excerpt and giveaway)

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Keeping House (Truth or Dare #1) by Lee Brazil
Release Date: August 31, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Lime Time Press
Cover Artist: Laura Harner

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Buy the book: Amazon  | ARE  | Smashwords

Blurb

Mischa knows his brothers are up to something. He doesn’t realize it will lead him to Donovan Holloway and change his carefree lifestyle forever.

Having grown up in a free-love hippie commune taking care of the parents who should have been taking care of him, Donovan Holloway, advertising executive, newly made vice president of the company where he’s worked for twenty years, has come a long way. He’s worked hard to put himself through school and achieve the American dream. All he’s ever wanted is a normal family life—house in the suburbs, two cars, two kids, a shaggy dog. A family to come home to, to care for, to care for him has been his dream since he was a small boy.

Green-eyed, liberally pierced, black-haired, Mohawk-wearing spoiled youngest son of a Hollywood producer and his actress wife, Mischa Blake has made a terrible mistake. In a fit of childish pique, he’s accepted a dare from his older brothers. The dare? Live on his own, supporting himself completely, for a year without accessing his trust fund. No problem. Except Mischa has never worked a day in his life, hasn’t finished college, and has absolutely no skills to bring to the table.

When he sees Donovan’s ad for a housekeeper/gardener, he has nothing to lose by applying, because really…how hard can it be?

Pages or Words: 28,000 words
Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, Romance

Excerpt

Donovan Holloway flung the heavy oak front door of his new dream home open with a thud. He peered out at the extremely tardy final interviewee for the position of housekeeper and groaned inwardly. The person on the other side of the door was not the one he’d been expecting.

“Yes?” He didn’t have time for neighborhood boys selling magazines, cookies, or candy bars, even if they were sexy as hell. The person at the door might, might, have been seventeen. He should just shut the door and hope the kid went away. On second glance, shutting the door on temptation incarnate seemed like a damn good idea.

Wearing a tight black T-shirt, black skinny jeans, and black skate shoes, his visitor carried a skateboard under one arm and a black backpack hung off the other. His head was shaved on both sides leaving a strip down the center that was ink-black and, despite the rain, stood in four-inch porcupine spikes. He was pale, eyes red-rimmed, and literally drenched. Damn. That wet look sure was effective. Pervert! He snarled at himself. Note to self— get out of the office and get laid this weekend.

Donovan stepped back, prepared to slam the door, but something sad in those green eyes gave him pause. “Hey, are you all right? Do you need help?” He scanned the quiet neighborhood, looking for a reason the kid might be knocking on his door, envisioning gangs of hoodlums stalking the as yet silent boy through upscale neighborhoods.

He shuddered and then swallowed audibly before speaking. “I’m Mischa Blake.”

Donovan stared uncomprehending.

“Mikhail?” Deep green eyes stared at Donovan expectantly. When no response was forthcoming, he added, “Michael? Blake? I have an interview?”

Donovan shoved his hand into the pocket of his trousers and pulled out a pink phone slip from his secretary. M. Blake was his sixth scheduled interview for the position of housekeeper/cook/gardener.

The first applicant, a beady-eyed battle-axe, had taken one look around his yard and at the clutter in his house yet to be unpacked and announced that she most emphatically did not work for pigs.

He knew the place was a mess. He’d found his ranch style house on the market at the right price and decided to celebrate his recent promotion to vice president of the advertising agency where he’d worked for the past twenty years by moving out of the tiny apartment he’d lived in for years and into a real home. It was the house he’d imagined so often as a kid, boasting a large yard, open floor plan, huge kitchen, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, gorgeous picture windows, and vaulted ceilings.

Of course, in his childhood fantasies, the house had been occupied by him, and a beautiful wife—a golden-haired, blue-eyed, petite Florence Henderson look-alike—and a bevy of beautiful, intelligent children. He’d suffered a minor setback at seventeen when he discovered he was gay, but after due consideration, he’d replaced Florence with Phillip Henderson and been instantly back in business.

The housekeeping candidate hadn’t cared about his dream-turned-nightmare. She’d flounced out before he could even give her the job description. The second applicant had sat sipping coffee in his office, murmuring noncommittally in response to his job description for several moments. He nurtured high hopes for the middle-aged lady, until she abruptly interrupted him to demand, “Are you one of them? Because I’m looking at you, and I’m guessing, Myrtle, he’s one of them. You’re a gay man, aren’t you?”

He’d sat in stunned silence, mouth hanging open a bit too long as she began to spout fire and brimstone and call upon God to wreak his vengeance on all sodomites. She’d still been spewing vitriol as he clasped her elbow and hustled her the few feet from his home office to the front door and out onto the sidewalk.

“I’m looking for someone to cook a few meals and scrub the toilets, not validate my existence!” he called after her as he slammed the door.

The third applicant hadn’t spoken a word of English, and since he had zero chance of learning to speak Hmong, he’d nodded, shaken his head and hustled her out the door as quickly as he could as well. The fourth applicant had been a no-show. It was depressing. He’d really screwed up his chances of fulfilling his lifelong dream by purchasing the house before he’d found the Phillip Henderson to manage it!

Hiring a housekeeper to manage his home life much as his secretary managed his business life was a brilliant option. The housekeeper could handle the dream house that had become a nightmare, and he could concentrate on finding that Phillip Henderson after he got his work life sorted out again.

Instead, the only candidate he would even consider hiring had been the fifth. She’d been a perfectly wonderful grandmotherly type who’d labeled him adorable and patted him on the cheek like he was a six-year-old boy instead of a forty-year-old businessman. He’d fallen more than a little in love with her right at the moment her soft wrinkled hand patted his cheek so sweetly. Unfortunately, she looked to be about ninety-six, and delicate—as though her spun sugar white hair would melt in the rain. He’d have felt guilty as hell asking her to clean up after him. He’d kept her number, just in case he could come up with a reason to invite her back over after his house was in order. She’d be the perfect grandmother figure for the children he had yet to adopt. Phillip Henderson, where are you?

Sighing, he looked up from the scrap of paper. “You’re applying to be my housekeeper?”

About the Author

Meet Lee Brazil:

Somewhere in a small town in up-state New York are a librarian and a second grade teacher to whom I owe my life. That might be a touch dramatic, but it’s nevertheless one hundred percent true.

Because they taught me the joy of reading, of escaping into worlds crafted of words.

Have you ever been nine years old and sure of nothing so much as that you don’t belong? Looked at the world from behind glasses, and wondered why you don’t fit?

Someone hands you a book, and then you turn the page and see… There you are, running from Injun Joe in a dark graveyard; there you are fencing with Athos; there you are…beneath the deep blue sea- marveling at exotic creatures with Captain Nemo.

I found myself between the pages of books, and that is why I write now. It’s why I taught English and literature for so many years, and it’s why my house contains more pounds of books than furniture.

If I’d had my way, I’d have been a fencer…or a starship captain, or a lawyer, or a detective solving crimes. But instead, I am a writer, and I’ve come to realize that’s the best thing in the world to be, because as a writer, I can be all those things and more.

If I hadn’t learned to value the stories between the pages, who knows what would have happened? Certainly not college…teaching…or writing.

Where to find Lee Brazil:


RCTour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Havan Fellows, Kimi-Chan, Christy Loves 2 Read, Charley Descoteaux, Inked Rainbow Reads, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, BFD Book Blog, The Jena Wade, Carly’s Book Reviews, Bayou Book Junkie, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Happily Ever Chapter, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Multitasking Mommas, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Mikky’s World of Books, Molly Lolly, Three Books Over The Rainbow, Dawn’s Reading Nook

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $5.00 ARe gift card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prize(s) provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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It Time for Sloan Johnson’s Triple Play Cover Reveal! (contest)

TriplePlayReveal

Triple Play
by Sloan Johnson
Homeruns #3
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, M/M, Romance, Sports

ClutchPlay

Drew Jackson seemed to have it all. He has a family who loves and supports him, a tight circle of friends, and is a rising star with the Milwaukee Mavericks. Then, it all begins to unravel. Cam, the only man he’s ever loved, falls head over heels for Drew’s teammate. He makes a critical mistake in the playoffs that he’s not sure he’ll be able to recover from. And then, his world really crashes around him…

Eric Sapp may no longer play for the Mavericks, but he’s still one of the guys. No one could have imagined how much his life would change when he agreed to help his former teammates mourn the end of their run for the pennant. After stopping a brutal attack, Eric is forced to face the feelings that’ve been growing for his roommate, Drew. That’d be much easier if Drew wasn’t hell-bent on pushing everyone away as he recovers.

Neither of them were counting on Bryce Shaw. He and Drew enjoyed the one night they spent together, but knew it was unlikely they’d be anything more since they lived in different parts of the country. After Bryce is relocated to help a failing LGBT homeless outreach, he wants to explore something more with the Mavericks’ short stop.

As much as Eric wishes he could be the one to help his friend, he knows Bryce holds the key to Drew’s recovery. Will pushing the two back together be the biggest mistake of his life or will they all learn there is strength in numbers?

Add to GoodreadsClutchPlay

Also in the Series

Wild PitchAmazon

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

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

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

Curve Ball by Sloan Johnson

Amazon

Jason Klein’s living with the fallout from a decision he knew was the right one at the time. He never told anyone about the love of his life, which left him to mourn alone when he found out the man he gave his heart to had been killed in combat. Now, his heart has had time to heal, but he’s not sure he’s ready to let himself move on. Until he meets Cam Morgan…

Without a job lined up following graduation, Cam Morgan took his best friend up on his offer to move to Milwaukee and stay with him until he could get on his feet. The last thing he wanted to do the day after getting to town was go to a party filled with a bunch of jocks. Sure, they were “professional athletes” but Cam was convinced that bigger bank accounts didn’t make them any more accepting of people like him. He certainly didn’t expect to meet Jason, the Mavericks’ catcher who broke every stereotype he’d had.

What started out as one hot, sweaty night together quickly grows into something deeper. Jason welcomes Cam into his home and his life, but now he has to teach the younger man that it’s not a sign of weakness to let people help you.

About Sloan Johnson

Sloan Johnson

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

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

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

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

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Tumblr

Giveaway

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the link provided by IndieSage PR to enter.

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Box Set Bonanza! The Brazen Boys Series by Daryl Banner (Books 1-4) (excerpt and contest)

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The Brazen Boys Series Box Set – Books 1-4 by Daryl Banner
Release Date: September 6, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Frozenfyre Publishing
Cover Artist: Daryl Banner (design) with Nick Duffy (model)

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Buy the book: Amazon

Blurb(s)

Enjoy the first four books in the Brazen Boys series in this discounted box set collection. The Brazen Boys are standalone M/M romance novellas. They can be read in any order.
*** Contains: male/male sexuality, and adult language ***

INCLUDED IN THIS BRAZEN BOYS BOX SET:
#1 : “Dorm Game (The Brazen Boys)”
#2 : “On The Edge (The Brazen Boys)”
#3 : “Owned By The Freshman (The Brazen Boys)”
#4 : “Dog Tags (The Brazen Boys)”

DORM GAME (Book 1)

Andrew is the muscular dream boy from Intro to Psych. Michael is the lonely kid desperate for a new roommate. When a class project – and one very reckless decision – forces them together, an unstoppable game of teasing, torment, and pleasure begins. Michael will soon learn that Andrew’s sexual interests are far from ordinary …

ON THE EDGE (Book 2)

It is Derek’s birthday and there’s nothing he wants more than the mysterious, musclebound boy from the website who goes by the name Edge. When an accidental keystroke brings the dream boy to Derek’s house – in the flesh – Derek soon learns he’s in for a lot more than he would ever bargain for in a surprise birthday gift .
..
OWNED BY THE FRESHMAN (Book 3)

Thomas Kozlowski, the not-so-easily impressed acting professor, can’t get his hot new college freshman Justin Brady out of his head. Sexy bod, killer smile and a taste for taking charge, this cocky nineteen-year-old is Thom’s forbidden fantasy. The professor wants a lesson in getting owned, and the strapping young freshman is all too eager to give it.

DOG TAGS (Book 4)

Growing up, Jesse was lonely, bullied, and misunderstood. Brandon was the scary, messed-up boy next door. When Jesse hears that Brandon is home on leave from the military, he discovers his childhood neighbor’s Army training has turned him into a hard-bodied beast. Jesse can’t keep his eyes off of him. They are no longer children. They have different needs. The summer just became full of possibilities.

Pages or Words: 491 pages, approximately 77,600 words
Categories: BDSM, Contemporary, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, New Adult, Romance

Excerpt

Dorm Game (Book 1) excerpt:

His eyes narrow. Andrew looks so sexy when his eyes narrow. Especially wearing nothing but those loose, acid-washed jeans sagged just enough to show the black waistband of his boxers, the brand printed in giant green block letters across it. With a voice as hard and unforgiving as iron, he repeats the question patiently to me. He knows how deeply I’m breathing without even listening. I’d swear he even knows my heart rate, my thoughts. He knows the answer in my jagged sighs and can tell whether it’s reward or punishment I crave. His strong jaw working to produce the words of the question, I’m distracted by the beauty of this boy I’ve let into my life, this boy who drips sexuality. He sweats and I’m horny. He rubs a spot on his shoulder and I’m hard in an instant. I’ve wanted Andrew for so long and now I have him. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say, he has me. Fastened to a bed, at his total mercy, it’s pretty fucking clear I’m not going anywhere.

On The Edge (Book 2) excerpt:

I’m distracted so horribly when he raises his arms to throw open my cabinets, his shirt lifting up and giving me an intoxicating peek at his lower back, all the thick muscles curving and pointing and directing and flexing, leading their way toward the obvious piece of fucking Leonardo Da Vinci-caliber art that is his ass.

Owned By The Freshman (Book 3) excerpt:

He’s such a cocky fucker.
You know the type. He’s hot shit and he knows it. Overconfident. Strutting to class, he’s surrounded by his bros. His snug, hot shit clothes show off all the best parts of his body, which is perfectly proportionate and an obvious result of daily trips to the gym—or he’s got perfect genes, which is somehow just as likely. He kicks up his feet in my classroom, sporting his bright red-and-white high tops. Carefree and above it all, this tool. Even his hair’s cocky, swept up into a proud little tuft in the front.
What a cocky shit.

Dog Tags (Book 4) excerpt:

The first channel I come by shows a bunch of shirtless military boys marching through the rain. It’s a movie or a comedy or something, can’t say what it is and, to put it bluntly, I don’t care; the boys are hot and that’s all I seem to notice.
Their muscles firm, their bodies jogging in perfect unison—like they were part of one machine, synchronized, unyielding—I watch as their dog tags bounce on their proud chests.
And each of their faces is Brandon’s face.

BannerTemplate

About The Author

Meet Daryl Banner:

Daryl Banner is a writer and composer who graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Theatre and Psychology.

He does not write in any single genre, as his stories tend to span several. He is most inspired by the smart and unlikely hero, but urges you (the reader) not to fall in love with them; they may deceive you with their innocence. He is thrilled by putting his characters in terrible situations where they must face choices and challenges that seem impossible to overcome.

Daryl Banner writes science fiction / urban fantasy, M/M romance, and post-apocalyptic fantasy. He cannot wait to hear what you think about his stories and welcomes (and responds to!) all feedback.

Follow him on Facebook here:
http://www.facebook.com/DarylBannerWriter

Interesting tidbits: Daryl is also an obsessive piano player, video game enthusiast, and occasional actor. He’s been remixing video game music for over fifteen years, and is a passionate Final Fantasy fan. You can feed your ears with many of his remixes (as well as his original music) on his YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/DarylBanner . He also composes original soundtracks that accompany some of his books. You can listen to and download them here: http://darylbanner.bandcamp.com

Where to find Daryl Banner:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darylbannerwriter
Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/darylbannerwriter
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/darylbanner
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/darylbanner
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/darylbanner
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/darylbanner
Bandcamp: http://darylbanner.bandcamp.com

RC

Tour Dates & Stops:
Parker Williams, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, MM Good Book Reviews, Molly Lolly, Bayou Book Junkie, BFD Book Blog, Havan Fellows, Inked Rainbow Reads, Jessie G. Books, Happily Ever Chapter, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Divine Magazine, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Three Books Over The Rainbow, Ogitchida Book Blog

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: 2 separate (US ONLY) winners of a signed paperback of any Brazen Boy of their choice. 2 separate $5 Amazon gift cards (4 winners total).  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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A MelanieM Review: No Place Left to Run by Zarah Detand

Rating:  2.75 stars out of 5

No Place Left To RunAfter a lengthy world tour, pop star Samuel Gibbs is looking forward to a nice, quiet break—sleep in, write a bit of music, do his own cooking for a change. He doesn’t want his time spoiled by the constant presence of bodyguards, and he is certainly not willing to have someone tail him each time he so much as goes to the shops. No way, no how. It’s a good thing, then, that his head of security relents on the matter—or so he leads Samuel to believe.

The break is starting to look even better when Samuel runs into his new neighbor. Ryan Halston is smart and hot and, quite possibly, everything Samuel wants. However, he doesn’t know that Ryan is part of the rejected security detail, tasked with protecting him from the dangerous attentions of an unknown stalker.

No Place Left To Run by Zarah Detand  had a promising plot but I found the author’s  characters and lack of continuity kept her story from coming close to achieving the potential it promised.

You can forgive a story many things if you believe in its characters and that’s a hard thing to do here, starting with Ryan.  Ryan Halston, age 24,  is supposed to be an accomplished bodyguard, nerves of steel, best in the business. etc. The author spends time framing out the man’s character and background and then uses the rest of the book to ignore everything they established.  Ryan is acts one way on one page and then can appear to have an entire different persona on another.  And Ryan’s lack of a solid characterization extends to others.  From Gary to the bodyguard Mike, the author spends time and many descriptions “telling” the reader how responsible and remarkable they are at their jobs, then proceeds the demonstrate just the opposite in the events that occur.  Mike seems to act more like a smitten kitten and Gary?  His actions felt the very antithesis of someone trying to protect this client.  One after the other, Detand’s characterizations were so flexible that they became unrecognizable as real or believable.  And don’t get me started on their timelines.  If ever there was an author in need of a storyboard, it is this one.  Ryan is 24, Sam is 20, Ryan said he lost his  parents when he was 13 in the  early 90’s, but the time frame of this story is now.  See the problem?  You can delve further into the dates but it just gets worse.

Samuel Gibbs is a rocker but that aspect of the story is missing.  We get little of the reason Sam is a rock star, his love of music, what drives him. We do get his exhaustion, his age (20), his friends like Sumi.  But again, it all feels as though we are left needing more of his character.

The resolution and the reveal is possibly the worst thing about the story.   Not just the person, but the way it happens and the aftermath.  It finishes off what little is left of several characterizations here, and continues on with an Epilogue which is really just another chapter.  Does the author not understand what an epilogue is?

This is the first story that I’ve read by this author, so I will see what else they have on their shelf.  I try not to judge on one book alone.  I only wish I had liked the story as much as I had liked the synopsis and the cover.

Cover artist Paul Richmond.  I like the cover. It contains an element of the story.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 210 pages
Published March 25th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632165404
edition language English

A Stella Review: Speedy Rewards (Working Class #1) by Jeff Erno

Rating 4 stars out of 5   ★★★★

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

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

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

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

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

As is Brandon, the local cop…

And Mark, the homophobic boss…

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

When I started Speedy Rewards I couldn’t believe this was going to be my first book by Jeff Erno. It’s a well known author and I’m pretty sure at least one of his book was translated in Italian. Still, I missed him and his talent.

What first lured me into reading this book was the cover, I found it funny and cute and different from the usual ones with naked man on them. And different can totally be the key word for my review.

Speedy Rewards was so different from all the m/m I read daily, like a breath of fresh air, I couldn’t help but like it so much.

The particularity was that in almost every new chapter the author gave me a new character, not making it part of the MCs’ like but making it a true MC, with its own personal story.  Justine, the OCD casher; Ezra, the tattoo guy; Vince, the a*****e guy; and so many more. And if you’re are thinking it could be confusing, it wasn’t at all. I couldn’t have requested a book with better defined characters. It was like reading different stories but tightly woven to each other and set in a conventional store, managed by Phil. Jeff Erno was able to put so many occurrences in just a few days. He gave a rhythm to the story that kept me coming back to the book at every free minute I had during the day. A sequence of events never boring. And I was so caught in all the stories that at some point when I was already plenty halfway through the reading, I asked myself who was supposed to be the other MC in the apparent “main couple”. If it wasn’t for the cover, I wouldn’t have never guessed with whom the supposed by the blurb MC would have ended.

I want to highly recommend Speedy Rewards to all of you who is looking for something different but well written, detailed and engaging. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out. Meanwhile I’m browsing through the other books by this author.

Cover art by Jay Aheer. Lately I came across a lot of her works and I’m liking them more and more *adding Jay to my favorite cover artist*

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

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 250 pages
Published June 5th 2015 by Wayward Ink Publishing
ISBN13 9781925222449
Edition Language English
Series Working Class #1