Category: M/M Contemporary Fiction

A MelanieM Review : Love’s Glory (Revolutionary Heart #3) by Janice Jarrell

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

In October of 2017 cocky, alpha-male Irishman, Colin Campbell, Sergeant in Charge of the Special Assault Unit of the University of Virginia Campus Police Force, dove in front of a bullet meant for a University of Virginia student. The bullet shattered his thigh and severed his femoral artery, a wound which nearly took Colin’s life and left him temporarily disabled. His infirmities robbed him of the strength and athletic prowess which had been his for most of his life leaving him humiliated and bereft.

His partner, Joshua Abrams, a Doctor of Psychology at the Rainier Clinic in Charlottesville, never once left his injured lover’s side. He poured every ounce of strength and love he possessed into healing the magical Irishman whom he adored and was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude when Colin was taken off the critical list. Thinking that they had survived their trial, he took Colin home, believing that their happiness was now assured.

But like many injured police officers, Colin subsequently withdrew from his partner. Overwhelmed by feelings of shame and embarrassment, he devoted himself almost obsessively to the physical therapy with which he hoped to rebuild his strength and reclaim the life he had lost. Unable to share his pain and feelings of inadequacy, he shut Joshua out, leaving him to cope alone with the post-traumatic stress he suffered as a result of Colin’s shooting.

In the following months Colin and Joshua fought to keep their relationship alive. Although deeply in love, they felt powerless to cope with the after-effects of Colin’s injuries both to his body and to his pride as a man, and to heal the emotionally devastating PTSD with which Joshua suffered.

Love’s Trials tells the story of this painful and challenging time in Colin and Joshua’s life. As we join them now, Colin is still walking with a cane and still suffering the physical after effects of his injuries. But he and Joshua are both in therapy and are now dealing positively with the emotional and psychological damage they both endured.

They face their future side by side, determined to stand or fall together, as soul mates and lovers. This book follows them on their journey as they move toward the happy future they both long to share. They have moments of anxiety and intense emotion, but you can count on a happy ending. In fact, you can count on a happy read. In this book, Colin and his beloved Joshua have left their trials behind and now revel in Love’s Glory.

Love’s Glory is the third installment in Janice Jarrell’s Revolutionary Heart series and while it reads like the end of the story for Colin and Joshua’s main romance, it also opens op the next stage in their relationship and for a new couple’s story to begin.  This is definitely not a standalone novel as it rests firmly on the foundation of the previous stories,Love’s Magic and Love’s Trials which tell the story of Joshua and Colin’s initial meeting, rocky romance, their solid relationship and the traumatic events referred to in this story.  All remarkable tales and great reads.

And all culminating in this book and this stage in their relationship.  In a way, Love’s Glory is Janice Jarrell’s gift to her reader’s and this couple who have been through so much angst and pain and have now mostly emerged through the other side, entact and ready to move forward to the next stage in their lives.

Since it is not mentioned in the blurb, I will not give it away here in the review but there is a major feature of this novel and oh, my….it is the most wonderful, glorious thing to read in every way.  So many elements of this aspect of the story just shine.  From the families to the cultural aspects included to the religious.  I will tell you right now to bring your tissues! because you will be breaking them out.

Per usual, there is still some emotional and psychological hurdles to move through for this couple. Colin is still in rehab and Kathy’s death (his sister) remains a deep loss he’s never gotten recovered from. Joshua too has his own struggles to deal with.  The author beautifully and realistically (as always) shows Colin and Joshua communicating and (in an adult manner) working together to resolve as a couple the issues each is struggling with.  These characters are nuanced and believable, although Colin does have a bit of an Irish “glow” about him, so brightly does he shine at home and in Ireland.

Yes, we go to Killarney too (one of my favorite places), and home of the Campbells.  What a treat that turns out to be.  I could wish that Jarrell writes an entire series about the Campbell clan in Killarney because I grew to love them all so.  Here’s hoping she’s listening.

Love’s Glory (Revolutionary Heart #3) by Janice Jarrell is beautifully written, full of memorable characters on a journey of love you won’t forget.   I highly recommend this story and all the ones that preceded it.  I have listed them below.  Pick them all up and read them in the order they were written in order to get the most out of the stories and the couple’s journey.

Cover art: Robin Vulcich.  The couple on the cover is cute but not anywhere near the ages of Colin or Joshua who are in their 30’s, nor do I think they look like them.  So cute but definitely for another story.

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Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 228 pages
Published June 24th 2019
ASINB07TJ1VKK1
Edition Language English
Series Revolutionary Heart #3

Revolutionary Heart Series (Goodreads Links)

5 primary works • 5 total works
Love’s Magic

Release Blitz Love’s Glory by Janice Jarrell (excerpt)

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Love’s Glory (Revolutionary Heart series)

Author: Janice Jarrell

Cover Artist: Robin Vuchnich / mycustombookcover.com

Release Date: June 29, 2019

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Heat Rating:  4 flames

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They did it all for the glory of love.

Blurb

In October of 2017 cocky, alpha-male Irishman, Colin Campbell, Sergeant in Charge of the Special Assault Unit of the University of Virginia Campus Police Force, dove in front of a bullet meant for a University of Virginia student. The bullet shattered his thigh and severed his femoral artery, a wound which nearly took Colin’s life and left him temporarily disabled. His infirmities robbed him of the strength and athletic prowess which had been his for most of his life leaving him humiliated and bereft.

When Colin was shot, his partner, Joshua Abrams, a Doctor of Psychology at the Rainier Clinic in Charlottesville, never once left his side. He poured every ounce of strength and love he possessed into healing the magical Irishman whom he adored and was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude when Colin was taken off the critical list. Thinking that they had survived their trial, he took Colin home, believing that their happiness was now assured.

But like many injured police officers, Colin subsequently withdrew from his partner. Overwhelmed by feelings of shame and embarrassment, he devoted himself almost obsessively to the physical therapy with which he hoped to rebuild his strength and reclaim the life he had lost. Unable to share his pain and feelings of inadequacy, he shut Joshua out, leaving him to cope alone with the post-traumatic stress he suffered as a result of Colin’s shooting.

In the following months Colin and Joshua fought to keep their relationship alive. Although deeply in love, they felt powerless to cope with the after-effects of Colin’s injuries both to his body and to his pride as a man, and to heal the emotionally devastating PTSD with which Joshua suffered.

Love’s Trials tells the story of this painful and challenging time in Colin and Joshua’s life. As we join them now, Colin is still walking with a cane and still suffering the physical after effects of his injuries. But he and Joshua are both in therapy and are now dealing positively with the emotional and psychological damage they both endured.

They face their future side by side, determined to stand or fall together, as soul mates and lovers. This book follows them on their journey as they move toward the happy future they both long to share. You can count on a happy ending. In fact, you can count on a happy read. In this book, Colin and his beloved Joshua have left their trials behind and now revel in Love’s Glory.

 

Excerpt

“I can change, Josh.”

“I’m sure you can.”

“In fact, I’m changing already.”

“I’m fully aware of that.”

“Does it worry you?”

“Well, of course, it worries me.”

“Why?”

Joshua sighed. He scooted higher then dipped his head to kiss Colin’s chest. “Because maybe the new Colin won’t…,” he faltered, “won’t likeme.”

“Different Colin. Not new.”

“Still.” Joshua pressed his face to Colin’s body, his warm breath caressing the solid muscles beneath his lips.

Colin’s hand cupped his chin and lifted it. “Josh, right now I’m a kite in the wind flip-flopping all over the sky. The only thing keeping me sane is that I know you’re holding the string.”

Joshua bowed his head, his lips pressed to Colin’s skin. The breath he drew in trembled in his throat. “Glad to hear it,” he murmured. “Real glad.”

“You’re my bedrock, Josh. My oak.”

Joshua met his eyes and stared into their honeyed-green depths. The frown had disappeared from Colin’s face, replaced by an expression of profound love. He smiled down at Joshua, then bent and hooked one powerful arm around him, lifting him until his body was sprawled on top of Colin’s, molded to him down their entire length.

“You worry too much,” Colin murmured then dragged his tongue across the crook of Joshua’s neck.

“It’s an ethnic problem,” Joshua replied, and felt Colin quiver with laughter.

“I’m not buying that, ” Colin said, still chuckling. “I’ve seen you eat pork. You’re a piss-poor Jew.”

Joshua lifted his head and grinned at his partner. “I’m not a piss-poor Jew,” he protested. “I’m a genetic Jew who doesn’t keep kosher.”

“Semantics,” Colin muttered, pulling Joshua down into his kiss.

Joshua moaned as their mouths molded together in a passionate echo of their bodys’ intimacy. He felt the shape of Colin’s mouth pressed softly against his and his breath caught in his throat. His lover’s kiss was filled with tenderness, and within the fervor of that kiss Joshua felt Colin’s desire that he feel secure in the love of his magical Irishman.

When their mouths parted, Joshua slid his lips to Colin’s ear. “You know,” he whispered, “you should never mistake my momentary bouts of insecurity as a sign that I don’t believe in us.” He lifted his head and, again, his eyes met Colin’s. “Because I do.”

“You’d better,” Colin muttered. “Or you’re gonna feel pretty damned silly fifty years from now.”

Joshua nodded, his face against his lover’s shoulder, his body nestled against Colin’s as they lay pressed together, filling in Colin’s every muscular ridge with the planes and contours of his own physique. “My god,” he whispered, “you feel so fucking good.”

“So do you,” Colin replied. He slid his fingers into Joshua’s dark curls and tugged, lifting his face until their eyes were inches apart. “I chose you,” he murmured, his voice rough-edged. “Don’t ever forget that, Joshua. I could have had any guy I wanted… all of the gays and quite a few of the straights, far as that goes. But I chose you.”

Joshua smiled. “I know. Seeing you sitting at my dining room table that day was the biggest shock of my life.”

“And I had no intention of leaving until you agreed to come back to Virginia with me.” Colin’s fingers moved to Joshua’s cheek, tracing the angles of his face. “I would have been back, pounding on your door, every single day until you said ‘yes’.” He relaxed onto his pillow. “I went to Glencoe to get you and I wasn’t leaving ’til I hadyou.”

Joshua laughed. “It’s not like you had to struggle much. I caved pretty quickly.”

“Yeah. A real time-saver, that, because, believe me, I wasn’t going anywhere.”

 

About the Author

 

 My name is Janice Jarrell. I am a retired grandmother who lives in Seattle, WA.  I have two children and three grandsons. I’ve been writing gay romance since I was twelve years old, only back then it wasn’t called ‘gay romance’. In fact, it had no name at all. It was the fifty’s, and it was worth your life to admit to being gay, let alone confess to being a girl who constantly fantasized about relationships between gay men. Hell, I didn’t even know what a homosexual was. I lived on a farm out in the sticks in a tiny Michigan village and I’d never, to my knowledge, even heard the word. I just knew I loved the thought of boy on boy romance. I just knew that there was something hot going on between Tom Corbett and his Space Cadets and all those guys on ‘Combat’.

I wrote slash fanfiction for 30 years, writing over 337 stories, some as short as 100 words (a drabble) some as long as a series which was over 119,012 words. I enjoy writing my stories. I enjoyed the feedback I received from my readers. It was a creative release I’d been searching for my entire life and I blessed the Internet for leading me to this artistic oasis for my spirit.

Love’s Magic was my very first step into writing my own characters. I will always be grateful the slash fanfiction community for nurturing the budding author until she was ready to blossom into a fully realized novelist. It’s been an amazing thing to watch the gay community’s growth over these past twenty years. My own journey has echoed theirs in many ways, and I’m grateful to all those gay activists who fought to give the gay community the rights and privileges they always deserved.

My second contemporary gay romance novel, Love’s Trials followed Colin and Joshua on their journey as men and as a couple. The readers who fell in love with them in Love’s Magic were thrilled to see their romance continue to grow and blossom, but were forced to watch our beloved boys go through some pretty traumatic trials in this book, trials which nearly shattered their relationship. But their love proved stronger than any troubles in the end and they now move forward into the happiness they know they deserve.

In Love’s Glory, my newest release, Colin and Joshua bask in the happiness that eluded them in Love’s Trials. If you’re looking for a book filled with anger, fear, and anxiety… look elsewhere. Love’s Glory is about just that… the glory of love and the continued growth of these two extraordinary men and the amazing friends who are a large part of their lives.

I’m also grateful to the gay romance community, readers, authors, publishers and promoters, who are making these, my retirement years, the most creative ones of my life. When I’m not writing, I’m traveling, walking, hiking, knitting, crocheting, and weaving, and enjoying my life here in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.

 

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LOVE’S MAGIC – the first book in the Revolutionary Heart Series – will be FREE from July 1 – 5

LOVE’S MAGIC is also available to listen on audio.

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Release Blitz for Bernard’s Diary by S. L. Danielson (excerpt)

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Bernard’s Diary

Author: S. L. Danielson

Publisher: Self-Published

Cover Artist: Diana TC (triumphcovers.com)

Release Date: June 28, 2019

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Themes: Coming out, suicide attempt, forgiveness

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 44 000 words/142 pages

Add on Goodreads

Universal Buy Link

 

Can a suicidal bellhop find true love?

Blurb

Bernard Covington, suicidal and not the most-handsome man in the world would be happy to leave the world behind altogether. That is until he meets Dr. Jack Larson. The physician takes his wounded heart and soul and patches them back together, but is he Mr.Perfect?

Bernard and Jack develop a romance, but soon the tide begins to shift as Jack’s past is revealed and it becomes a game-changer for the couple to deal with.

Will Bernard and Jack have a happy ending or will he succumb to his desire to end it all or will dealing with Jack’s phantoms keep him going? Only Bernard’s diary knows what secrets lurk in his soul…

Excerpt

Prologue

Bernard sat on his bed after another long day at the hotel just a few miles away. He was a bellhop.

Not the most glamorous profession, but the only one he could get years ago when his life plans changed drastically. He raked his fingers through his thick salt-n-pepper hair and yawned wide. He reached down and opened up his nightstand drawer and pulled out his journal. He flipped to an open page and plucked off the pen that was attached to the outside and clicked the point down.

I can’t hold this in much longer. Jeremy makes me want to explode every time I get near that incredible body of his! He’s such a good customer, tips well, and never has much luggage. I love bringing up room service to him…I wish it were me that was staying behind in the room with him. I have to tell him how I feel; he must suspect something by now. I’d give anything to have a real man in my life for once, just once! Something’s gotta change in a big way or…shit. I’ve just, I’ve got to do this before I fall apart and die a 46-yr-old virgin. Wishing myself luck!

Chapter 1: Fateful Night

August 8th. 10 p.m. The blinding red and blue strobing from the ambulance lights lit up the dark street. It’d been a silent evening until its arrival. Two paramedics rushed up the concrete steps to the midnight blue steel entry door on the far side of the long, rectangular apartment building. The lights from the ambulance painted a brilliant hue onto the otherwise dull, gray brick building. Even the trim was gray and all of it was rusted and falling apart.

Another medic followed after, steering a gurney down the steps. Their patient was out cold and

stripped from the waist up. He had all kinds of medical apparatus on him; IVs, a breathing mask,

and a defibrillator on standby. Finally, the two medics maneuvered their patient down and into the waiting ambulance.

“Ok, what’ve we got?” barked the voice over the radio.

“Heart attack and attempted suicide,” the medic replied in a professional, matter-of-fact tone.

“Any defib?”

“Shocked him twice. 46-year-old male, obese, two bad wrist lacerations, and ingestion of pills.”

“10-4, we’ll be ready.”

The ambulance pulled into the emergency department at Adams County hospital. It wasn’t a fully-equipped center, but it would have to do. The patient was near death. The doors on the ambulance flew open and the stat team ran out to greet them. In charge was a tall, handsome young doctor named Jack Larson. They ran with the gurney inside and to a treatment room. There were four people working on him at once, but Jack kept order to the chaos.

“Nurse, type and cross-match his blood and start him on Narcan.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“What’re his vitals?” he demanded.

“BP is 90 over 50, pulse 135,” the lead nurse replied.“Damn, too high. What’s our patient’s name?”

“Bernard Covington.” The other nurse read it from the report.

He touched the patient’s shoulder and leaned over him. “Mr. Covington? Can you hear me?” He pulled out his exam flashlight and pulled up the man’s eyelids one at a time to check the dilation.

“He’s out cold, doc. Cops said they found him like this, pills were right next to him.” One of the medics chimed in.

“How many and what kind?” Dr. Larson asked.

“Effexor, 50 mg. Had 30 pills filled, only 20 were found, and it was just filled.” The nurse drew the necessary blood and labeled it for the lab.

The doctor groaned. He hated seeing suicide cases. “All right, let’s pump his stomach, suture these wrists too. They’re pretty deep.”

“Yes, sir.” The nurse prepared the needle, cleansed the wounds, and very skillfully sewed up the wounds. He wrapped them in a thick, cushy layer of gauze and laid them at the patient’s side.

“Good job, Higgins.” Dr. Larson nodded at him.

“Damn, Dr. Jack; that’s the worst I’ve seen. Cops found a butcher knife with blood on it.”

Jack looked at the nurse in surprise. “A butcher knife? Damn, Bernard, you’d cut your hand off.”

He pursed his lips and shook his head.

“He’s stabilizing, Dr. Larson,” the nurse reported.

“Alright, go prep him and pump his stomach. Keep him on constant watch.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

About the Author

S. L. (Stephanie) Danielson began writing at the tender age of five. She knew it was her calling from the moment she put pen to paper. In her teens she began writing alternative works and the genre stuck. She created ever more elaborate tales and finally in her early 20’s years began to create works with her new love; male/male romance. She has since written more than 30 works both solo and collaborations).

Stephanie is classically trained in business, accounting, and HR/training, possessing both an undergrad and graduate degree. She also owned and operated Romance First Publishing where the ultimate goal was to help other unknown, as well as known authors get their start in the publishing world.

Beyond writing, her other hobbies include: painting, gaming, and spending time with her husband and two cherished cats.

Her blog is www.sldanielsoncom.wordpress.com and email is ladyauthorsld@gmail.com

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A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Ledgers and Rent Boys (Ore 5 #2) by Meraki P. Lyhne

 Rating: 4 stars out of 5 

This is book two in a series and they would be best read in order as this starts the day after the last book ends and has an overarching plotline. The bump in their relationship has passed with Ethan deciding to stay instead of returning to Earth. Although Ethan and Ryder are now a couple, with Ethan’s insecurities, he convinces Ryder not to let people know he’s off the market, saying it would hurt his business. They are now working together, neighbors, and lovers. The inventory issues, theft, and prostitution issues have gotten even more involved than they thought. It will take Ryder’s connections and Ethan’s accounting skills to save them from a hostile takeover by the Eastern European mob back on Terra.

For an erotic romance, I actually like the plot. I’d like to see more of it. I rarely say this, but I’d like less hot sex and sweet romance, and more of the politics and alien life featured. With the addition of some new characters, like the rentboy Hayden and Ryder’s friends from outside the club, this is starting to round out nicely. Hayden is integral to the story moving forward; I’m glad he’ll be in the next book as I became attached to him. Brutus, the bouncer, is more than he seemed, so I expect his character to continue to be expanded, but this was an unseen plot twist. I am left wondering if I missed some foreshadowing from the first book.

My favorite parts about this book are the same as in the first book: Ryder dancing, the discussions of the rule of law on Ore 5, the likeable secondary characters, and Ethan and Ryder together. My criticisms are the same also. What is with the Scyphoes–poisonous sea-life-like creatures? It is obvious Ethan is going to get stung at some point. This isn’t even a spoiler, just a foregone conclusion. But, is that the only reason for this alien lifeform to exist on this planet in this story? Because that is such a missed opportunity. The first book seemed like more of a complete story, while this is a go between…with a huge cliffhanger. That made me want to stab things. The author keeps throwing in plot twists and my concern is that this will turn into a longer soap opera than I personally have patience for. I’ll give book three a try because I want to see the conclusion of this story arc.

This cover art is by Angela Waters. I love all three of the covers (so far) in this series. They match, show key characters how I pictured them, and show a science fiction background. The colors remind me of cities at night or Las Vegas–places you expect neon signs to flash, which is very fitting for the setting.

Sales Links: eXtasy Books Inc  | Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 242 pages
Published June 22nd 2018 by eXtasy Books Inc (first published June 15th 2018)
ASINB07DTBHCYL
Edition Language English
SeriesOre 5 #2

A Lucy Prerelease Review: Eyeliner and Lace by Ruby Moone

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The day Ryan Fulton realizes he’s in love with Jamie Holt is the day he knows he’s losing him. With blue-tinted white blond hair, eyeliner, and a personality to match, Ryan knows he’s a bit much. But can he change? Can he tone it down and, if he does, can he live like that? He’d never suspect Jamie of cheating, but maybe his closeted boyfriend decided flamboyant Ryan wasn’t worth the effort.

But Ryan isn’t going to take it lying down. Determined to win Jamie back, Ryan even decides to get rid of the black and blue lace undies he just bought.

Then Jamie comes home and says they need to talk.

This is a short story (211 locations on Kindle) detailing a scary moment for Ryan in his relationship with Jamie.  Jamie is the epitome of professional and, in Ryan’s words, “Jamie was all but in the closet, Ryan was…out there.”  Jamie wears suits, Ryan wears tight pants, eyeliner and dyes his hair white and blue.  They live together and are happy.  At least Ryan thought so until Jamie starts to act suspicious.  Text messages and calls from “no one”; leaving home or coming home late with no real explanation of where he’s been, changing passwords and general evasiveness.  Ryan knows he can be “a bit much” and wants to tone it down, do whatever he can to keep Jamie.  Or, woo him back.  “Woo him…” Aiden’s face was a picture.  “What are you? Some kind of fricking Victorian mill owner?”  Aiden is Ryan’s best friend and he’s lovely.  He’s also convinced Ryan has lost his mind about Jamie, as he knows Jamie adores Ryan.  But the evidence is against him.

Because the story is so short, this is really just a scene from their lives.  I thought it was well written and the misunderstanding completely understandable.  I would have loved more, because I wanted to know – how did they meet? What did Jamie’s family think of Ryan? Why is Jamie closeted?  Their history and backstory, because I liked them very much. 

It is a cute, sweet short for a super quick read.

The cover is the generic JMS cover for the recent shorts so really has no connection to this book.

Sales Links:  JMS Books LLC | Amazon | Kobo

Book Details:

Kindle Edition
Expected publication: June 29th 2019 by JMS Books LLC
ASIN 07RQHN4BG
Edition Language English

Like a Little Kink to Spice Up Your Romance? Check out the Blog Tour for Waited So Long by JM Dabney (excerpt and giveaway)

Waited So Long Tour Banner

Waited So Long

J.M. Dabney

Genre: MM Daddy Kink/Light Age Play/Domestic Discipline Romance

Release Date: 06.18.19

Waited So Long Cover

Cover Art by J.M. Dabney

Cover Image – Golden Czermak/Furious Fotog

Cover Model – Caylan Hughes

Blurb

What happens when your best friend’s son comes home and he’s all grown up?

Devon Hoffman has a secret. He’s wanted a Daddy all his own, but when you’re pushing fifty, you’re completely over the hill. Newly divorced and trying to be single again after an almost thirty-year relationship, he’s lost and needs someone to ground him. Except he’s anxious and his depression intensifies until Bern returns after leaving the service and the younger man suddenly takes an interest. Can he let his guard down and risk losing his best friend or should he do whatever is needed to keep his secret safe?

Universal Link: books2read.com/u/49owYw

EXCERPT

I locked myself in my house and went to take care of emails and study my itinerary. I could retire, but what would I do with myself? At least work kept me busy. It distracted me from the loneliness. I worked because I had nothing left.

I took a seat at my drafting table as I worked on the new design for my client. His steel monstrosity would clash with everything around the building. It was a showpiece that had no more value than broadcasting his wealth. Once again, my brain went back to wondering if it was time to retire, maybe working for myself, but I felt I was too old to start over. All I felt was doubt and insecurity.

When I was younger, I’d felt confident and fearless. Every day was ripe with possibility, and now I weighed everything by what was expected of me. I felt as if my life was over with; I wasn’t even fifty and hopelessness weighted me down. When I looked in the mirror, I could only see what I was and not what I could be. That, out of all the recent events, was the hardest reality to accept. I viewed myself through a skewed lens Lawrence had shaped.

My fantasies were still a cause of shame just as they were for the past thirty years. I’d forbidden myself from demanding what I wanted because what would people think when they knew the real me. The person who existed beneath the façade. The respectable architect in a small suburb who was just a shadow of his former self.

I was a middle-aged man with silver-streaked hair and a belly, who dreamed of the impossible. I tossed my pencil aside and got up. My mind wasn’t in it, so a shower and early to bed. Tomorrow was a new day.

JM logo

J.M. Dabney is a multi-genre author who writes mainly LGBT romance and fiction. They live with a constant diverse cast of characters in their head. No matter their size, shape, race, etc. J.M. lives for one purpose alone, and that’s to make sure they do them justice and give them the happily ever after they deserve. J.M. is dysfunction at its finest and they makes sure their characters are a beautiful kaleidoscope of crazy. There is nothing more they want from telling their stories than to show that no matter the package the characters come in or the damage their pasts have done, that love is love. That normal is never normal and sometimes the so-called broken can still be amazing.

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Release Blitz and Giveaway for Recipe For Romance by Ari McKay

 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link
 

Blurb


Four couples, four different stories — and one spicy Recipe for Romance from author Ari McKay!


Welcome to Montgomery House, Charleston’s finest restaurant. When you walk in the front doors of the stately former mansion, you’ll be surrounded by true Southern charm. Owner Rhys Montgomery will personally welcome you, while the tantalizing scents of Executive Chef Stephen Pierce’s latest culinary masterpiece linger in the air. Enjoy a walk in the gardens or an elegant meal in the dining room, as you watch the love stories play out around you…


Bay Leaves and Bachelors — Clay Turner’s heart was broken by a wealthy man who said he was boring. When rich, outgoing restaurateur Rhys Montgomery sets his sights on the quiet academic, drawn in by Clay’s intelligence and sex appeal, he finds he has an uphill battle to win Clay’s trust. Can Rhys burrow his way into Clay’s heart, or will Clay’s insecurity become a wall between them that not even true love can break down?


Fennel and Forgiveness — Seven years ago, Max Boyd broke Darius Cooper’s heart. Darius wanted a commitment, and Max wanted to focus on his career in Georgia’s television industry. Their ten year difference in age and experience tore them apart, but fate throws them back together when Max arrives at the Montgomery House, where Darius now works. Will Southern Wedding Belles bring them a second chance for love or is Darius’s trust too shattered for Max to heal?


Ginger and Gentlemen — Ian Pierce has lived in his older brother Stephen’s shadow his entire life, always feeling second best. His best friend, Matt Davis, is the only person he trusts to be on his side. Despite being in dire financial straits, Ian wants to refuse Stephen’s request to film an episode of Mouth of the South at Ian’s restaurant, but the bonus money offered in the contract is too much to resist. He accepts without knowing the hefty bonus comes from Matt, not the production company. Will Ian feel betrayed by the one person he trusts above all others when he finds out, or will Matt’s desire to help Ian succeed even at his own financial risk take them from friends to lovers at last?


Cinnamon and Seduction — Chef Stephen Pierce has talent and a determination to succeed that is matched only by his fierce temper and prickly personality. Yet his long-suffering personal assistant, Robert Logan, has carried a torch for Stephen since the day they met. Everyone around Montgomery House knows Robert is in love with Stephen — everyone, that is, except Stephen himself. Can Rhys, Clay, Darius, Max, Ian, and Matt find a way to make Stephen see that Robert is the perfect man for him, or will even Robert’s legendary talent for matchmaking fail to win him the man he loves?

Ari McKay is the professional pseudonym for Arionrhod and McKay, who have been writing together for over a decade. Their collaborations encompass a wide variety of romance genres, including contemporary, fantasy, science fiction, gothic, and action/adventure. Their work includes the Blood Bathory series of paranormal novels, the Herc’s Mercs series, as well as two historical Westerns: Heart of Stone and Finding Forgiveness. When not writing, they can often be found scheming over costume designs or binge watching TV shows together.


Arionrhod is a systems engineer by day who is eagerly looking forward to (hopefully) becoming a full time writer in the not-too-distant future. Now that she is an empty-nester, she has turned her attentions to finding the perfect piece of land to build a fortress in preparation for the zombie apocalypse, and baking (and eating) far too many cakes.


McKay is an English teacher who has been writing for one reason or another most of her life. She also enjoys knitting, reading, cooking, and playing video games. She has been known to knit in public. Given she has the survival skills of a gnat, she’s relying on Arionrhod to help her survive the zombie apocalypse.


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A MelanieM Review: Another Dance by LA Ashton

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Kaito Watanabe has finally nabbed an interview with his idol, Cristian Alvarez. Kaito is a journalist who’s spent his entire life looking up to the figure-skating champion. Cristian’s passion on the ice unearthed a love of dance in Kaito and made him believe in the power of artistic expression.

Now Kaito is face-to-face with the man he’s always admired. He believes himself insignificant and ordinary, a moth drawn to the light Alvarez casts. He can’t allow himself to believe Cristian’s flirtations are anything but natural charm—but Cristian has other plans. The tension pitches higher, legs and fingers intertwine, and Kaito begins to wonder if his fantasies have a shot at becoming reality.

Another Dance by L.A. Ashton is a sweet contemporary romance that charts the beginning of a love story between journalist Kaito Watanabe and his long held crush, champion ice skater Cristian Alvarez.  The characters are very well drawn here.  Kaito is downright adorable.  Awkward in his crush, hiding behind his bangs, humble and yet surprising in so many other ways.  I wish Ashton had explored his love of ballroom dancing more.  This element , along with it’s intersection with Cristian’s backhistory could have propelled this story further.  It’s already swoonworthy, this could have taken it to another level had it been explored past one scene.

Cristian on ice.  Cristian the professional skater is well represented here.  From the interview to the pitfalls and the highs of being a pro skater.  I regret we get to see Cristian “dance” across the ice in the story only once because Ashton’s descriptions are so vivid that the author makes us see why Kaito and everyone else loves him so. The person is also present and layered, from his love of Luna his elderly cat to his appreciation of Kaito’s writing in all its styles and what it reveals, this is a character who you can love and relate to.

Ashton also brings in interesting details about the world of the professional skater, such as most have poor eyesight due to continued exposure to the harsh glare of the ice and the use of composers for the music the skaters use and train too (the composers too have their own followers).  And the international politics of voting.  Fascinating!

All this mixed up in a short path to a new love and romance.  For me I wish there was so much more.  This could really be just the first quarter of a lovely novel instead of a novelette. That’s the frustrating part.  You are just loving them as a couple and the story is over.

The story ends with the acknowledgement that, even with all the difficulties of their professions and locations,  they want to get to know each other and go forward.  So it’s definitely a HFN.  Hey, we all knew they would end up together so that’s not exactly a spoiler.

Ah well.  Perhaps, another story will follow and we will get to see this couple at another stage in their relationship.  I can always hope for this is an interesting world and I’d love to see Ashton return to it and them.  If you love contemporary romance, check out Another Dance by L.A. Ashton and see what I mean.  I think you will be captivated by this couple.  I certainly was.

Cover art: Natasha Snow.  Just lovely with the entwined legs.  Perfect.

 

Sales Links:  NineStar Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: July 8th 2019 by Ninestar Press
Edition Language English