Category: M/M Contemporary Fiction

An Ali Review: Sunset on Turtle Lake by Carol Lynne

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
sunset-on-turtle-lake-by-carol-lynneWinter isn’t the only chill in the air on Turtle Lake.

When Sam Burgman’s mother, Gloria, nears the end of her battle with cancer, Sam makes the hard decision to leave his job as a corporate lawyer in Miami to take his mom home to Turtle Lake, Minnesota.

Ian Mendoza takes his job as Gloria’s caregiver very seriously, but unlike the assignments he’s taken in the past, Ian fails to maintain a professional distance when it comes to Sam. Unfortunately for Ian, Sam refuses to open his heart despite their mutual attraction.

Born and raised in Miami, Ian isn’t prepared for the frozen landscape that is Minnesota in the winter, but the chill he wants to erase is the one coming from Sam.
This was a short, low angst story about two men who find love while dealing with the impending death of a woman they both care for.  The story threw me off a bit at first because when it starts the men have known each other for some time and have already fallen for each other.  I felt at first that I had been thrown in to the middle of a story (which I had been) and I was scrambling to catch up.  Once they head back to Minnesota though the store flowed better for me.  I enjoyed the interactions with Gloria and felt they were reasonably realistic.  (I work in the medical field and I am super picky about how death/dying issues are portrayed.)  I liked both Sam and Ian and I enjoyed their journey to a happily ever after.
The writing was well done and it was a unique plot with interesting characters.  My only complaint was that it was so short.  I liked what was here but I would have rather read a longer book so we could have seen the two men falling for each other.  As previously stated it was all a little abrupt and I had to take a lot of things on faith.  Overall though I enjoyed this and I would recommend it as a short story.
Cover:  I love the cover.  I think it is really lovely cover that is both nice to look at and a great representation of the story.
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Book Details:
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Published October 25th 2016 by Pride Publishing
ISBN139781786515155
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Stella Review: Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles by Eli Easton

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

merry-christmas-mr-migglesToby Kincaid loves being the junior librarian in his hometown of Sandy Lake, Ohio. He spends his days surrounded by books and chatting with the library patrons. He especially adores the head librarian, Mr. Miggles, who is kind, witty, knowlegable about everything, and hopelessly addicted to Christmas. Sean Miggles is also pretty cute—especially for an older guy who wears ties and suit pants every day.

But Sean keeps himself at a distance, and there’s a sadness about him that Toby can’t figure out. When Sean is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he gives up without a fight. Toby realizes that he alone can save the library—and their head librarian.

Toby will need to uncover the darkness in Sean’s past and prove to him that he deserves a second chance at life and at love too. And while Christmas miracles are being handed out, maybe Toby will get his own dearest wish—to love and be loved by Mr. Miggles.

I have no words to say how much I loved this new release by Eli Easton. It shouldn’t have been a surprise cause I already knew how well the author can writes and engage me with his books.

I finished Merry Christmas, Mr Miggles in one night, it caught my attention from the start and I couldn’t stop reading about Toby and Sean, who work together at the Sandy Lake Library, Toby as a junior librarian and Sean as the head librarian. Two great men with so much passion and two hearts bigger than an house.

I fell in love with both of them, Toby is young and full of enthusiasm, with his smart mouth and his  new love for Sean, the man who has no family and gifts Christmas presents to all the people who frequent the library without them knowing. There is a well done plot, a real story, things happen, need to be resolved and while Sean is almost resigned, Toby is fierce and resolute to prove Sean innocence and the necessity of a library like their own for  all the amazing people who support both of them. Truly beautiful people, Toby’s parents too.

I love the atmosphere, I felt and smelled the library, I felt the strong sense of community. I got to know not just the MCs stories, but a glimpse of what was going on in the secondary characters lives too. Plus, sex in the library!

Merry Christmas, Mr Miggles is a sweet book, it lifted my spirit and put me in a good mood. If you’re looking for a romantic reading, with some sad moment and a lot of love, this one is for you. Don’t miss it.

The cover art by Reese Dante is cute like the book.

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Book Details:

Publication Date: November 23, 2016 by Pinkerton Road LLC

ASIN B01MQIX7MD

Edition Language English

In the Spotlight: The Bucket List: Lots of Love, Low Angst M/M Romance (LoLLA Book 1) by Tricia Owens (excerpt)

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The Bucket List: Lots of Love, Low Angst M/M Romance (LoLLA Book 1)

 by Tricia Owens

Release Date: November 10, 2016
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The Bucket List Blurb:

When Quinn nearly dies in a skydiving incident, his life flashes before his eyes…and it’s pretty boring. Though he’s moved to Las Vegas to rebel against his strict Mormon upbringing, he still hasn’t done much to liven up his life. He’s far too comfortable with his boring routine. After the accident, however, he vows to change this. He draws up a bucket list with all the best intentions, yet somehow nothing changes. Quinn worries that he really is a dud, until a gorgeous man walks up to him and suggests an indecent proposal.

Gabriel has had a lot of sex. He’s fantastic at it and he’s good-looking, so he never lacks for people willing to jump into bed with him. But after a rough break-up, he’s determined to make hooking up a secondary priority. It’s too bad that when he first sees Quinn and his heart goes pitter-patter, Gabriel’s first instinct is to make a bet with Quinn involving sex.

With one spin of the roulette wheel, Gabriel and Quinn embark on a series of sexually adventurous dares, each more exciting than the last. But what happens when one of them pushes for something more? LoLLA books are standalone novellas with lots of love/sex, low angst, and a Happily Ever After ending for a quick dose of happiness.

The Bucket List excerpt

“What’s the big deal, Quinn?” Gabriel was watching him intently, in a way no one had ever watched him. Like a wolf would, maybe. “There are thirty-eight numbers. What’s the chance you’ll hit mine? Live a little.”

Quinn didn’t like that Gabriel had automatically assumed he was gay. Quinn played it pretty straight out of a lifelong habit of concealing himself. It bothered him that this stranger had read him with ease.

But that’s just smoke and mirrors. What you’re really afraid of is finally doing something to spice up your life. When did you become such a chickenshit? When did you decide that this was the best your life could be?

“It wouldn’t be so bad to lose,” Gabriel continued. The corner of his mouth curled. “You’ve been staring at me since I walked up. I know it’s not me you have a problem with.”

Quinn felt heat in his cheeks, but told himself he was flushed from anger. Gabriel might be the most attractive man that Quinn had ever seen, but that didn’t mean he would automatically fall all over the guy. Quinn had too much practice controlling and suppressing his urges.

And that’s the problem, genius.

“You’re not afraid you’ll lose, are you?” Gabriel pressed, as insistent as a terrier. Quinn recognized that under different circumstances his persistence would have been sexy, but at the moment, Quinn only found Gabriel annoying.

He thought furiously. Thirty-eight to one were bad odds, especially when Quinn had the ability to pick and choose which number he did—or didn’t—hit. He relaxed slightly as he realized he could choose how this story ended.

But isn’t this about living a little? Isn’t this about having a story to recall the next time you’re falling out of the sky?

He reached into the wheel well for the ball.

“Agree to the bet before you spin it.”

Quinn didn’t bother hiding his glare at the order. Gabriel merely continued smiling. “Be a good sport, Quinn. You’ve got nothing to lose.”

Nothing to lose but the status quo which was safe. Which would have kept him away from a failing parachute.

After another glance at his supervisor, Quinn finally said, “Fine. It’s a bet.”

The Bucket Info:

M/M Contemporary Romance

Book one of LoLLA series, but each are standalones

High heat level

33k words

Tricia Owens Bio:

Tricia writes m/m romance, ménage, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance. An avid traveler, she has visited over 80 countries and now makes her home in Las Vegas.

  • Twitter: @Juxtaposefantsy

In the Spotlight: The Bucket List: Lots of Love, Low Angst M/M Romance (LoLLA #1) by Tricia Owens (excerpt)

the-bucket-list

The Bucket List: Lots of Love, Low Angst M/M Romance (LoLLA #1)

by Tricia Owens

Pre-order available at Amazon

The Bucket List Blurb:

When Quinn nearly dies in a skydiving incident, his life flashes before his eyes…and it’s pretty boring. Though he’s moved to Las Vegas to rebel against his strict Mormon upbringing, he still hasn’t done much to liven up his life. He’s far too comfortable with his boring routine. After the accident, however, he vows to change this. He draws up a bucket list with all the best intentions, yet somehow nothing changes. Quinn worries that he really is a dud, until a gorgeous man walks up to him and suggests an indecent proposal.

Gabriel has had a lot of sex. He’s fantastic at it and he’s good-looking, so he never lacks for people willing to jump into bed with him. But after a rough break-up, he’s determined to make hooking up a secondary priority. It’s too bad that when he first sees Quinn and his heart goes pitter-patter, Gabriel’s first instinct is to make a bet with Quinn involving sex.

With one spin of the roulette wheel, Gabriel and Quinn embark on a series of sexually adventurous dares, each more exciting than the last. But what happens when one of them pushes for something more? LoLLA books are standalone novellas with lots of love/sex, low angst, and a Happily Ever After ending for a quick dose of happiness.

The Bucket List excerpt

“What’s the big deal, Quinn?” Gabriel was watching him intently, in a way no one had ever watched him. Like a wolf would, maybe. “There are thirty-eight numbers. What’s the chance you’ll hit mine? Live a little.”

Quinn didn’t like that Gabriel had automatically assumed he was gay. Quinn played it pretty straight out of a lifelong habit of concealing himself. It bothered him that this stranger had read him with ease.

But that’s just smoke and mirrors. What you’re really afraid of is finally doing something to spice up your life. When did you become such a chickenshit? When did you decide that this was the best your life could be?

“It wouldn’t be so bad to lose,” Gabriel continued. The corner of his mouth curled. “You’ve been staring at me since I walked up. I know it’s not me you have a problem with.”

Quinn felt heat in his cheeks, but told himself he was flushed from anger. Gabriel might be the most attractive man that Quinn had ever seen, but that didn’t mean he would automatically fall all over the guy. Quinn had too much practice controlling and suppressing his urges.

And that’s the problem, genius.

“You’re not afraid you’ll lose, are you?” Gabriel pressed, as insistent as a terrier. Quinn recognized that under different circumstances his persistence would have been sexy, but at the moment, Quinn only found Gabriel annoying.

He thought furiously. Thirty-eight to one were bad odds, especially when Quinn had the ability to pick and choose which number he did—or didn’t—hit. He relaxed slightly as he realized he could choose how this story ended.

But isn’t this about living a little? Isn’t this about having a story to recall the next time you’re falling out of the sky?

He reached into the wheel well for the ball.

“Agree to the bet before you spin it.”

Quinn didn’t bother hiding his glare at the order. Gabriel merely continued smiling. “Be a good sport, Quinn. You’ve got nothing to lose.”

Nothing to lose but the status quo which was safe. Which would have kept him away from a failing parachute.

After another glance at his supervisor, Quinn finally said, “Fine. It’s a bet.”

The Bucket Info:

M/M Contemporary Romance

Book one of LoLLA series, but each are standalones

High heat level

33k words

Release date November 10th, currently available for pre-order: http://amzn.to/2erxGSc Will be available on Amazon, iBooks, Nook, Kobo, and Are.

Tricia Owens Bio:

Tricia writes m/m romance, ménage, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance. An avid traveler, she has visited over 80 countries and now makes her home in Las Vegas.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tricia-Owens/348774068467200

Website:

http://www.triciaowensbooks.com

Twitter:

@Juxtaposefantsy

A MelanieM Review: Ghost Ship (Mahu #10) by Neil S. Plakcy

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

ghost-shipNew fathers investigate the death of a young family.

When a sailboat carrying four bodies washes up on the Leeward Coast of O’ahu, openly gay Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka, on loan to the FBI, must discover what sent this young family and their deadly cargo on a dangerous trans-Pacific voyage. Leaving behind his partner and their infant twins, Kimo must work with his police cohort Ray Donne to unravel the forces that led this family to their deaths.

From Hawaii’s sunny beaches to a chilly island in Japan to the Pacific Northwest, Kimo and Ray step far out of their comfort zones to confront an evil much greater than any they’ve investigated before.

I have been such a fan of this series and author and that continues with Ghost Ship.  Over the series of nine novels, readers have watched Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka be outed to his family and the HPD, come to terms with that,  meet and date, lose and reunite with Mike, his now life partner.  They’ve fathered twins with their friends a lesbian couple they’re co parenting with, and have a foster son now attending college.  Its been a long and tumultuous ride that eventually saw Kimo and Ray leaving the Honolulu PD for temporary assignment with the FBI.  That’s where we find them now on a  life changing case for both Kimo, his family and Ray, his work partner and friend.

This is one of the worst cases in all the series, a sailboat washes ashore with a dead family on board, father, mother and twin babies.  It immediately hits home for Kimo and Mike with their twins but the emotional impact carries over to the reader through the descriptions and later in the captains diary the father kept.  Its heartbreaking and you quickly understand the drive to solve this case and the web of intrigue behind the cargo and deaths.

Plakcy has woven one of the most involved and layered cases of the series here.  Its threads go from Hawaii to Japan to mainland US and back again and those travels will stretch thin the ties that bind  Kimo to Mike and his family just when they need him the most and  Kimo is aware of it.  The same will go for Ray.  Its the job versus family again and never has it been made more painful or obvious that a choice will have to be made, then here in this story.  Parts of Kimo’s carefully crafted life are falling to pieces and yet he still must pursue this case with Ray because of the deadly consequences if he doesn’t.   Ray also is having similar issues within his own family.  Two men torn by job obligations and family love and loyalty on the most important case of their lives.

This is a thrilling read, and a heartbreaking one.   Plakcy doesn’t deliver all the answers to all the issues and problems he raised here.  And I think that’s about right.  For somethings there aren’t any.  For some personal ones, there are only more questions and things to work out.  That’s what book 11 is for.  Kimo and Mike and family are still on a journey.  I hope Kimo does decide to return to the Honolulu PD, even with all the problems that entails. Its where the series and Kimo started.  And if its winding down, that where he should end up.

If you haven’t found this series yet,  please don’t start here.  You’ve such a treat in store for you.  Run, don’t walk to the beginning Mahu (Mahu #1) and meet Kimo and see how it all starts.  Plakcy is a master of the vernacular, you’ll get a feel for the island culture and people.  Trust me you’ll be addicted in no time.  Then you’ll have so many wonderful books ahead of you.

If you are already a fan like me, then settle in for a wonderful read.  I highly recommend it.

 

Cover art is amazing and works perfectly for the novel and series.

Sales Links

MLR Press

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Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 205 pages
Published September 30th 2016 by MLR Press
ASINB01LYP0GC2
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesMahu #10

A Paul B Review: Beautiful Goodbyes (The Connelly Chronicles #2) by N.J. Nielsen

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

beautiful-goodbyesRay Connelly and Christopher “Viv” Vivvens Connelly are living their life with their extended blended family.  Ranging from Ray’s grandmother Catherine down to the toddlers, life is full for the two men.  However, they wish that they could have one day without some stress invading their lives.  From finding Viv’s brother Declan to the custody fight over Jaime’s boyfriend Bear, life has been chaotic the last several months.  All told, taking care of ten “children” along with balancing work and school takes a lot of work for the two men.

Ray and Viv are most worried about their adult “children” who are really siblings that they are responsible for.  Girly is having relationship problems with Dan, who happens to be interested in Girly’s brother Nate.  When Girly breaks things off with Dan, Dan runs to the family retreat to have time to think.  Declan was found with Nate in a house where the “landlord” decides to take rent out on the young men living there by having sex with them.  This prompts the family to establish a safe house for young men who have nowhere else to turn.  Viv meanwhile has turned the running of his club over to the older children while he concentrates on running the Connelly business and going to university to further his education.  Ray contents himself in managing the household with five youngsters, one of which seems to never be able to shake off ear infections.  The men must also deal with someone from the past who has not learned his lesson yet that he and alcohol do not mix. 

This wonderful family story is the second in the Connelly Chronicles series.  With such a large, blended family, I will admit I was a little lost at times having not read the first book in the series, which is now on my to be read list.  I had a bit of a difficult time figuring out exactly which character belonged to which branch of the family for a bit.  But in the end it really did not matter as it is never a case of yours or mine but our family.  While Ray and Viv form the center of this extended family, its heart and soul is Catherine.  Always seemingly one step ahead of things, she is always there with sage advice, even if the recipient does not want it.  Ray and Viv obviously love each other and their large family and are learning how to deal the different personalities within it.  They feel that if life could just let them breathe for a day or two without the seemingly constant drama, things would be just a bit better.  But they keep marching on, trying to make their family as happy as possible given the relationship dynamics in the family.

The cover art by Posh Gosh has our two protagonists above superimposed above a view of an Australian coast.  It is a fitting cover for the book.

Sales Links

Pride Publishing

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Book Details

EBook, 237 pages

Edition Language:  English

Published:  October 2016 by Pride Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-78651-485-1

Series:  Connelly Chronicles

  • Family Connections (Connelly Chronicles #1)
  • Beautiful Goodbyes (Connelly Chronicles #2)

Need a New Series to Love? Check out ‘Just Drive (Anchor Point #1)’ by L.A. Witt (giveaway). Its Just Beginning.

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Just Drive (Anchor Point #1) by L.A. Witt
Riptide Publishing
Cover art by L.C. Chase

Release Date: November 21, 2016

Read an Excerpt/Buy it Here

About Just Drive

For Sean Wright, driving a cab in the tiny Navy town of Anchor Point isn’t an exciting job . . . until he picks up just-dumped Paul Richards. A drive turns into a walk on the pier, which turns into the hottest hookup Sean’s had in ages.

After a long overdue breakup, Paul can’t believe his luck. Of all the drivers, he’s picked up by the gorgeous, gay, and very willing Sean. Younger guys aren’t usually his thing, but Paul can’t resist.

One taste and neither man can get enough . . . right up until they realize that Paul is Sean’s father’s commanding officer and the last man Sean should be involved with.

With two careers on the line, their only option is to back off. It’s not easy, though; the sex and the emotional connection are exactly what both men have been craving for a long time. But Paul has devoted twenty-four years to his career and his dream of making admiral. If he’s caught with Sean, that’s all over. He has to choose—stay the course, or trade it all for the man who drove off with his heart.

Just Drive is now available from Riptide Publishing! http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/just-drive

About L.A. Witt

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut . . .

Connect with L.A.:

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Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Just Drive, one lucky winner will receive their choice of two eBooks off L.A. Witt’s backlist (excluding Just Drive and Afraid to Fly) and a $10 Riptide Publishing credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on November 26, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!