Category: M/M Contemporary Fiction

Love Action, Suspense & Romance? Check Out Enduring Night by John Wiltshire (author interview, excerpt and giveaway)

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Enduring Night (More Heat Than The Sun #7) by John Wiltshire
 Release Date: October 23, 2015

Goodreads Link
 Publisher: MLR Press
Cover Artist: Dana Jamroz

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Today we’re happy to have back one of our Down Under Showcase writers John Wiltshire,  author of Enduring Night, a new release in John’s  wonderful More Heat Than The Sun series.

Hi John, welcome back to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.  Tell our readers about yourself, your background, and your current book.

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  • What are your ambitions for your writing career?

Hah. Besides my books making it to a movie one day? I think it would be being able to carry on. I’ve suffered from writer’s block in the past and it’s debilitating. While I can still write I reckon I’m blessed.

  • How many published books do you have? Can you tell us something about them?

I have seven now published in the More Heat Than the Sun series. I set out with this series to deliberately write a world that builds slowly. The first book is almost like a seed. You may not even engage with the characters. It was a risk on my part to start a long series like this, because I needed people to be intrigued enough to stick with it. Fortunately many have been, and now in Book 7, and even more in Book 8, it’s become a hopefully rich and very engaging world. The two main characters, Nikolas and Ben, now have an eclectic group of friends and adopted family around them, which would seem incredible to anyone reading the introduction to the series, Book 1, Love is a Stranger.

I also have two historical novels published: A Royal Affair and its sequel Aleksey’s Kingdom. I really enjoyed writing these two books because they are written in the first person, which allows a lot of humour when you write it. Nikolai is not the most self-aware chap, and his attitudes and opinions make me laugh. I’m also a bit of a history buff, so it was fun doing the research for them. I like characters who aren’t entirely honest about who they are, and Nikolai has his pretenses and masks peeled away when he falls in love.

I have a short story published, Catch Me When I Fall, which was actually the first thing I wrote for publication. It’s about a fallen angel.

  • Your main character wants to cook something special for his love interest. What does he make?

Uh-huh. I sometimes wonder if I’m writing in the right genre. My characters don’t really interact over food, or make romantic gestures, come to that. Ben has been trying to cook a bit recently. He had to learn once to go undercover and it was a disaster. I think Nikolas once made Ben a cup of tea. Does any of that count?

  • What are you working on at the moment? What’s it about?

I’m writing a short story for a co-authoring project at MLR Press. Four authors were chosen to write a series of mystery stories based around the seasons. I’m doing autumn, but it’s autumn with a difference. I’m also writing a novel set in a small village in Devon. All my characters are members of a book club. It’s huge fun to write, because I know all these people. Fortunately, I’m eleven thousand miles away, and they can’t get me when the book comes out.

  • Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

Not at all. I write scene by scene mainly. If it’s just a tiny scene, so be it. Sometimes I go months without writing anything. I start to panic a bit if I’ve not got one whole unpublished novel still in the bag.

I’d rather write nothing at all than write something I wasn’t happy with.

Thanks, John, for stopping by.  You are always welcome here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

Now more about Enduring Night…

Blurb

You’d have thought that Ben and Nikolas would have learnt that their romantic holidays inevitably end up as disasters. A short break on the polar ice sees them trapped in a nightmare of murder and deceit. Neither of them, however, foresees the long-term impact that endless winter has on their relationship. They return with a metaphorical darkness that threatens everything they have created together. Desperate and fearing for Nikolas’s life, Ben makes a bargain with a surprising ally. For the first time, Nikolas meets an enemy more powerful than he is. But fortunately, not as sneaky…

 

Pages or Words: 80,000 words
 Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Thriller

Excerpt

Prologue

The view from the window hadn’t changed since the last time Ben had studied it—one grey, depressing wing of the building, the car park below, and some scraggly trees, still bare in January. Farther away, he could see the roofs of some houses, and perhaps, if he let his imagination run away with it, the distant hills of Bodmin moor. He didn’t speculate in the realms of fiction much these days. He brought his gaze back to the utilitarian architecture.

The seagull was back, perched on the sill, as it had been day after day. Sometimes, it tapped the window with its beak. Ben was never sure if the gull wanted in, or for him to open the window and join it outside, flying or falling. Freedom either way.

Secretly, Ben thought the gull was an albatross. It was so vast, so impressive, that it seemed inconceivable that it could be an ordinary gull blown in from Plymouth Sound and sitting on the grimy ledge. The first albatross perhaps to make it to England, tossed on ocean currents all the way from the Chatham Islands, lost, alone. If it was, then it was in good company. Ben had never felt so lost or so alone, and he had spent a fair proportion of his life being buffeted by metaphorical winds far stronger than those that prowled the vast oceans of the world.

Buy the book: MLR Books

RC

Meet the Author

John Wiltshire is English, an ex-army officer, who emigrated to New Zealand and now spends his time surfing and procrastinating on YouTube.

Where to find the author:

Giveaway

Final

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Enduring Night’ by John Wiltshire.   Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.   Link and prizes provided by the author and p

 

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Tour Dates & Stops:

23-Oct: Mikky’s World of Books, Velvet Panic, Reviews by Jessewave, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance

26-Oct: BFD Book Blog, My Fiction Nook, Happily Ever Chapter

27-Oct: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Jessie G. Books, Boy Meets Boy Reviews

28-Oct: Wake Up Your Wild Side, MM Good Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bayou Book Junkie

29-Oct: The Hat Party, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews

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Coffee Sip and Book Break with A.M. Arthur’s ‘The World As He Sees It’ (excerpt and giveaway

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The World As He Sees (Perspectives #2) by A.M. Arthur
Release Date: October 20, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Cover Artist: Lyn Taylor

Sales Links: Samhain Publishing | Amazon | ARe | B & N | Kobo | iTunes

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Blurb

Love knows no limits…but fear could keep them from seeing it.

Gabe lives a double life. As Gabriel Henson, he works multiple jobs to support his remorseless, alcoholic mother. As Tony Ryder, he does internet porn for extra cash and regular safe sex without complications.

Yet when he encounters a scared young man freaking out in a night club, he’s compelled to reach out. Ever since then, the memory of that young man has haunted him.

Tristan Lavelle lives his life thirty minutes at a time. After a traumatic brain injury three years ago, he gets through his day recording his life in spiral notebooks and sticky note reminders.

A month after Tristan’s embarrassingly public meltdown, another chance meeting with Gabe sparks a warm, emotionally fulfilling email relationship. Both men crave more, but fear of the next step stands between them.

Until Tristan gets the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial that could improve his memory—if the side effects don’t kill him. But for Tristan, the possibility of a real life with Gabe is worth any risk…

 

Pages or Words: 283 pages, 83,000 words
 Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt


The late hour didn’t diminish the sweltering August heat, and Tristan worked up a good sweat walking. Shane and Noel both looked crazy sexy in their club clothes, and even sexier walking side by side. He was happy for Noel. Happy his best friend was in love and enjoying himself.

He was also stupidly, insanely jealous.

He stuck close with his stupid, insane jealousy because the streets were teeming with people of all ages, heading into and out of the different restaurants and clubs. They turned down a quieter side street that was more like an alley. Halfway down the block a few guys hung out against a stone wall, most of them smoking cigarettes. An industrial door with no sign or markings was being guarded by a big, burly bear of a man in a black leather vest.

“Hey, Officer Carlson,” the bouncer said. He had a deep voice to match his broad body. “Nice to see you again.”

“Hi, Mr. Henson,” Noel said.

“Bear, son. Everyone calls me Bear.”

“Right. This is my friend Tristan Lavelle.”

“A right pleasure.”

Tristan shook Bear’s hand, surprised by the gentle grip. “Hi.” He glanced at Shane, who didn’t seem at all annoyed at being left out. “Um, that’s Shane. Noel’s boyfriend.”

Bear grinned. “Yeah, I know that one all right.”

“You do?” He reached for a notebook he didn’t have, then looked at Noel for answers.

“Shane dances here once a week,” Noel said. “He got the job through Bear’s son Gabe.”

“Oh.” He didn’t bother asking if he’d already been told that. Probably. Every single piece of information that was mildly important to his life had been repeated to him at least, oh, eighteen times. Minimum.

“Enjoy yourselves, boys,” Bear said. “First drinks are on the house.”

“Thank you,” Tristan replied.

Noel pulled the door, and what had been a distant bass became an impressive thumpa-thumpa in Tristan’s chest. The interior of the club was wide and deep, with a high ceiling decorated in strands of red and blue lights. Strobes and other lighting flashed around the dance floor, which seemed to make up most of the floor space. A small U-shaped bar stood to the right. In the rear were what looked like raised platforms. Two hot guys in red short-shorts were gyrating together on one of them.

This is the kind of dancing Shane does? Shit.

He was probably twenty kinds of hot up there.

Someone jostled past them, reminding Tristan to keep moving forward. Noel was hustling them straight for the bar. Tristan couldn’t drink alcohol because of his antidepressants and anxiety medications, and Noel was driving so the only person able to drink much was Shane.

Lucky bastard.

Not that Tristan was going to mourn his dry night. Men. Everywhere around him, a sea of hot men. All kinds of eye candy. Every age, height, weight, shape and body hair amount. He observed and mentally drooled over the flesh on display. The air smelled of liquor and sweat and sex, and good Lord he was starting to get lightheaded from it all.

Noel nudged them closer to the bar. A middle-aged man with gray hair and a pink sequined vest gave them all a big, toothy smile. “Noel and friends,” he said. “Richard Brightman, pleased to officially meet you, Tristan.”

“Hello,” Tristan said. Officially meet you implied they’d interacted before, but the man’s name meant nothing to him.

“I’m Bear’s husband. We own the place.”

“Oh. It’s a great place. I’m pretty sure this is my first time. I like it.”

Noel flinched.

Okay that was wrong. When was I here before?

“So what are we drinking tonight?” Richard asked. “First round on the house. Samuel Adams for you, Shane?”

“Yeah, thanks,” Shane replied.

Richard knows because Shane works here.

“I’ll have a vodka tonic,” Noel said. “Tris?”

“Virgin margarita,” Tristan said. He loved margaritas, and while a virgin wasn’t as good as one with Patrón, he couldn’t mix with his meds.

“Coming up,” Richard said.

The music changed to a faster, sharper beat. Tristan’s hips rolled in tiny motions, instinct bringing out his love of club dancing. Of getting into it with another dude, all writhing bodies and gyrating hips. Arms and legs. Sweat and heavy breathing.

Wonderful arousal stirred in his gut, heating his blood already. He might not be getting laid tonight, but damn it, he was going to have some fun.

“Hey, you guys made it,” said a sexy, sultry voice.

Tristan glanced over his shoulder to see who the voice had spoken to, only to find himself staring into a pair of kind, dark eyes. Kind, dark eyes belonging to a stunningly handsome face. Black hair. Tan skin. Tall and well-built. A walking wet dream who was smiling like they were old friends.

Holy fucking hell, he’s gorgeous.

“Hey, Gabe,” Shane said.

Gabe.

Those kind, dark eyes never broke from his, and Tristan couldn’t look away. Gabe was a stranger, and yet somehow familiar.

His eyes. The eyes I see. We’ve met.

“We’ve met,” Tristan said before he could think twice.

Gabe’s eyebrows twitched. “Yes, we have. Do you remember that?”

“I remember your eyes.”

 

RC

About the Author

A.M. Arthur was born and raised in the same kind of small town that she likes to write about, a stone’s throw from both beach resorts and generational farmland. She’s been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long, in a losing battle to make the fictional voices stop. She credits an early fascination with male friendships (bromance hadn’t been coined yet back then) with her later discovery of and subsequent love affair with m/m romance stories.

When not exorcising the voices in her head, she toils away in a retail job that tests her patience and gives her lots of story fodder. She can also be found in her kitchen, pretending she’s an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments.

Contact her at am_arthur@yahoo.com with your cooking tips (or book comments).

 

Where to find the author:

 

Giveaway

Final

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: Grand Prize Goodie Basket: 1 signed paperback of The Truth As He Knows It, 1 signed paperback of The World As He Sees it, plus a bunch of other goodies (notebooks, cute post-it’s, etc…).  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 Stella New Adult Review: Go Your Own Way by Zane Riley

Rating 4.5 stars out of 5

Go Your Own Way coverWill Osborne couldn’t wait to put the roller coaster ride of his public education behind him. Having suffered bullying and harassment since grade school, he planned a senior year that would be simple and quiet before going away to college and starting fresh. But when a reform school transfer student struts into his first class, Will realizes that the thrill ride has only just begun.

Lennox McAvoy is an avalanche. He’s crude, flirtatious, and the most insufferable, beautiful person Will’s ever met. From his ankle monitor to his dull smile, Lennox appears irredeemable. But when Will’s father falls seriously ill, Will discovers that there is more to Lennox than meets the eye.

Go Your Own Way is the new adult debut novel by the talented Zane Riley and another winner from the (new to me) Interlude Press. The book was nothing like I was expecting and really different from the usual NA (new adult) stories I read in the past. In three words, I loved it! I’m so happy when I discover new authors and I can’t believe this is Zane’s only book I have available right now.

Will and Lennox are two characters that will be in my heart for a bit. The author did an amazing work at describing them and making me like them so much. They are so cute together! I can assure you both are super interesting since the first lines, and when sparkles fly between them the fun is assured. Two boys apparently so different from each other but with lots in common.

Lennox seems a strong young man, steeled by the too hard past years. But it’s an act he absolutely needs to survive his life, made of a nasty motel room, of food stolen at the school cafeteria, of prejudices and attempts at his safety, of nights spent in the bathtub with a flashlight. He isn’t expecting someone like Will to happen to his shitty life and to get through his heart like this amazing young man does.

“I do like him,” Will confessed. “But I can’t stand him, too. It’s… complicated. I don’t want to just date for a few weeks. I don’t—I want something that’s real.”

“Why can’t a short relationship be real?” Roxanne asked. “I mean, Romeo and Juliet—”

“Were two insane, dopey teenagers whose infatuation killed a half a dozen people,” Will said. “I want maturity. Commitment. Someone to talk to about everything.”

“Sounds like a therapist to me”

Will is been bullied all his life. He can’t wait to finish his last year of high school to fly out of the strict town he’s born in. He has a beautiful stepmother and a great dad, both funny and so supportive. He always dreamed about his first love and his idea is nothing as Lennox, cheeky and rude. But Lennox, who is the biggest annoying person in Will’s world, becomes his greater distractions and helper in the hardest and hurtful event in his life so far. Lennox becomes a comfort, because he understands what Will is going through. There is still ice and fire between them but that’s exactly what makes their relationships so beautiful.

The writing is light and funny but deep and emotional too. The author uses a double point of view, perfect to make more real and detectable the MCs’ minds and feelings, especially in the hilarious dialogues, full of banters, jokes and the MCs’ smart mouths that make Go Your Own Way an engaging “enemies to lovers” book.

I gave this book only 4,5 stars cause the ending was too abrupt and it needs a sequel, there are so many things I still have to know and see, especially about Lennox. Still this is a highly recommended story.

Cover design by Buckeyegrrl Designs. The cover depicts a specific scene in the book, the first time they kiss against a chalkboard. It is really awesome and the backcover is even better. Really well done.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 326 pages
Published May 5th 2015 by Interlude Press
ASIN B00WOP7OGM
Edition Language English

A Jeri Review: Hollywood Secrets (Hollywood) by T.S. McKinney

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Hollywood Secrets coverEthan Weatherby.  Well…Vic and Grayson are smackdab in the middle of their happy-ending, loving each other with so much sugary sweet sap and disgustingly dirty sex that it’s turning my stomach…or making me green with jealously.  Magnus and I broke up months ago, making me the laughing stock of Hollywood and leaving me drowning in a big black pit of despair.  In an attempt to hide away from all the Hollywood glitz and gossip, I accompany Vic to Florence, Alabama for her latest movie.  In my messed-up mind, I tell myself that I’ll get me a little Southern Boy Nookie that will miraculously make me forget all about Magnus.  As it turns out…I get so much more than nookie.

Jeremy Michaelson.  He’s hands down the hottest, most innocently beautiful person I’ve ever seen in my entire life.  Every alpha instinct in me comes to life the first time I see him and the overwhelming desire to make him mine comes roaring to life.  After our first encounter, I’m pretty sure he feels the same way about me.

At least I thought he did…until I realize there is so much more to my Southern heartthrob than what he wants me to see.  He has secrets, potentially deadly secrets that risk putting an end to us before we even have a chance for our beginning.  The more I try to unravel his past, the harder he pushes me away.

Here’s the deal…when I want something, I don’t give up easily…and I want Jeremy Michaelson.

This is another tough one for me to review. I thought I would like it more than I did. Admittedly I haven’t read the first in the series (it’s MF and I pretty much exclusively read MM), so perhaps this is just the writing style.

Everyone in the book seemed quite over the top. But at the same time, except for the supporting character of Victoria, no one seems to really work or have a real life outside of this romance.

After hearing about Jeremy’s back story, I expected him to be a lot more worldly, more jaded. He comes across as almost virginal in the book which makes no sense as he is ready to jump into bed with Ethan straight after an injury.

Ethan is portrayed as very stereotypically gay. Tiny dog, screams like a girl, perfect hair and wardrobe, girl best friend. But when it comes to sex he turns into this super toppy alpha which just doesn’t seem to fit his personality at all.

The story just moved far too quickly for me for it to be believable. But if you like fluffy full of sex for sex sake, this is definitely the book for you.

Even the cover art seemed a bit generic for me.

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

Book Details:

ebook
Published September 3rd 2015 by Smashwords Edition
(first published September 2nd 2015)
ISBN139781944054014
seriesHollywood

A Mika Review: Keep Me Wanting by Avril Ashton

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Keep Me Wanting coverThe last thing on Damian Archer’s mind is a relationship. He’s focused on running the family business and keeping up appearances. He’s fine with the way things are, until the tattooed help at a friend’s party takes one look at him and calls him on his bull.

Fired from a brand new job, Fin Thornton is homeless and penniless. He knows men like Damian. He abhors men like Damian. Despite the wealthy man coming to his aid when he desperately needs it, Fin is hesitant to lower his guard. Yet Damian insists on being in Fin’s face, demanding things and offering help.

In spite of their differences, something keeps them wanting each other. The same connection that has Damian desperate to stake a claim on the skittish Fin. But it will take a ghost from Fin’s tragic past to show both men that what they have is worth more than money.

Okay we all know how I love Avril Ashton. Good Lord that woman can write a sex scene. Oh my goodness. I would have rather this been straight smut then the contemporary story. Damian and Fin are extremely hot together. I think I need to reiterate that. I’m never bored with that aspect of her stories. For this one though, I kind of felt like we walked into the middle of this potential couple history. From the first it was rudeness between the two and I just felt like we were missing the introduction between the two.  But it moved fast from that initial meeting.

I do like the chemistry between the two a lot. It was some sparks, then they were on fire. I mean Fin was a little spit fire from beginning to end. I like Damian, I kind of wanted to see more of him. We saw his family side, business side but nothing of just Damian. I don’t have to worry that the sexual side of the relationship is boring or dull. Goodness, I re-read a few pages this morning for scientific research purposes only. She writes those scenes extremely well. I needed to reiterate that. LOL. All in all I thought this was a cute contemporary novella. Mrs. A is never going to not have a little drama, or funk in her stories so we did get this. I can’t wait for that little prequel whenever that’s out. I see you Sullivan & Carter.

Cover Art by: Emmy Ellis, did a wonderful job. I loved the cover model and the background a lot. The model and his piercing were spot on.

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

Book Details:

eBook,  pages, October 21, 2015, 2015 by Sinner’s Haven Publishing.

Coffee Sip and Book Break with Keep Me Wanting by Avril Ashton (excerpt)

Keep Me Wanting cover

Keep Me Wanting by Avril Ashton
Publisher: Self Published
Word count: 30,951
Genre: GLBT Romance

  Buy it at Amazon | All Romance | iBooks | Kobo

Blurb

The last thing on Damian Archer’s mind is a relationship. He’s focused on running the family business and keeping up appearances. He’s fine with the way things are, until the tattooed help at a friend’s party takes one look at him and calls him on his bull.

Fired from a brand new job, Fin Thornton is homeless and penniless. He knows men like Damian. He abhors men like Damian. Despite the wealthy man coming to his aid when he desperately needs it, Fin is hesitant to lower his guard. Yet Damian insists on being in Fin’s face, demanding things and offering help.

In spite of their differences, something keeps them wanting each other. The same connection that has Damian desperate to stake a claim on the skittish Fin. But it will take a ghost from Fin’s tragic past to show both men that what they have is worth more than money.

EXCERPT

“We need to talk, Fin.” Damian opened the limo door. “Get in.”

“Fuck off.” Fin didn’t want to be near him like he’d been last night. Didn’t want to smell him. Didn’t want to want him. He walked away, speeding up, but the vehicle was right there beside him, Damian peering out the window.

“This isn’t a request, Fin. Now.”

Why did those rich fuckers always use that tone of voice? The one that hits you like whiplash and have you wanting to scurry along, to do anything to please them? Fin yanked open the car door and jumped inside. Before he got his ass on the plush leather seat, the driver was already peeling away.

He turned to a smug-looking Damian, barely managing to keep a lid on his fury. “Let me tell you something, Archer. I’m not one of your fucking lemmings, I don’t come when called. You get me?” He slid away from close proximity to Damian, all the way to the seat facing him. “Tell me what the hell you want from me so I can be on my way.”

Damian just stared at him, eyes haunting, face blank.

“Christ, I don’t…” Fin dragged his fingers through his hair. Frustration and hunger set his teeth on edge. “Just tell me what you want.”

“Why did you allow yourself to get arrested for something you didn’t do?”

Fin barked a harsh laugh. “Are you fucking serious? Allow? You think I wanted to get arrested, I wanted to spend the night in a cold cell with two other strangers?’

Damian leaned forward, hands folded on his knees. “Why didn’t you tell the truth?’

“Are you for real?” Fin flung the question at him. “Who listens to the truth when evidence to the contrary is right there for all to see? Would you have believed me if the same thing happened, if you didn’t know the story?”

A muscle ticked in Damian’s otherwise impassive face, and Fin scoffed.

“Of course not. The help ripped off the jewelry, it’s a familiar story, and no one there last night wanted to hear the truth. My truth.” He shook his head. “‘But you know what? I’d like to know what gives you the right to stick your upturned nose in my business.”

“You’re innocent.” Damian spoke the words like that should explain it all. “I had to do something.”

“No.” Fin couldn’t understand him. “No, you didn’t have to do anything except mind your own damn business. How in the fuck is that hard?” he asked.

Damian’s eyes narrowed, the first sight of any emotion in a long while. “You’d rather sit in jail for who knows how long instead of me helping you out?”

“Yes!” Now the frustrating man was getting the picture. Damian opened his mouth, but Fin cut him off. “Because then I wouldn’t be beholden to you, Mr. Archer. I wouldn’t owe you.” He sat back in his seat and folded his arms. “Because you want something, I can see it your eyes.”

Damian didn’t deny it, he simply held Fin’s gaze, unflinching. They eyed each other in silence, and Fin swore he could hear his heart beating out of his throat. As much as he hated men like Damian Archer, men with money to burn and unending power to wield, he was attracted to the older man. Attracted to the bald head, the eyes that pinned him in place, the trim goatee.

He was attracted to the very power and money that had taken everything from him and driven him out into the streets.

“Go on,” he said softly. “Tell me what you want already, you know you want to.”

Damian shifted slightly and Fin dropped his gaze, groin tightening in response to the bulge in Damian’s black slacks.

“Or do I already know?” Fin purred. He slid to the floor of the car, between Damian’s legs. He expected the other man to move, do something, but Damian held himself still, barely breathing and stared down at him.

“You want me, don’t you?” Fin placed his palm over the bulge. Fucking impressive. Hard as steel. Fin’s own cock throbbed, ached, but the anger overrode the arousal. “I bet you thought you could buy my ass by getting those charges dropped?”

He squeezed Damian and even though a pulse leapt in his throat and his eyes darkened, Damian showed no other reaction. “I bet you thought I’d be so grateful I’d spread ’em for you, fuck you until you couldn’t remember your name.” His voice turned raspy as those images played out in his mind’s eyes. Still, that bastard had to know he wouldn’t win.

Fin pushed Damian’s knees apart roughly and cupped his erection, stroking, squeezing as his balls drew up.

“Guess what?” He rose up slowly, bringing his face as close to Damian’s as he could bear without inhaling the other man’s heat and spice. “I don’t whore myself out, and no amount of your money will change that. I don’t fuck for money, never have. Never will. So keep your shit and don’t do me any favors.”

He moved to turn away, but Damian’s hand shot out, closing around his wrist, holding Fin’s hand hostage where he cupped Damian.

“Are you finished?” Damian rasped. “Because you talk a lot of shit for a man with his hand on my cock.”

About the Author

A West Indian transplant, Avril now lives in Stone Mountain, GA., with a tolerant spousal equivalent. Together they raise an eccentric daughter who loves reading and school (not so much school anymore she’s back to loving it). Avril’s earliest memories of reading revolve around discussing the plot points of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys with an equally book-minded mother.   

Always in love with the written word, Avril finally decided to do the writing in August of ’09 and never looked back. Spicy love scenes, delicious heroes, and wicked women burn up the pages of Avril’s stories, but there’ll always be a happy ending; Av remains a believer of love in all its forms.

Addicted to cake, the ID Channel and the UFC, Avril writes Gay and Erotic Romance.

A MelanieM Review: Children of Noah (Mahu #9) by Neil S. Plakcy

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Children of Noah coverA few months after the birth of his twins, openly gay Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka and begins a temporary assignment to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Kimo and his HPD partner Ray Donne are quickly thrown into an investigation into threatening letters sent to a U.S. Senator. Are these screeds about racial purity related to an escalating series of attacks against mixed-race couples and families on Oahu?

When arson at a day care center on the Windward Coast brings Kimo’s partner, fire investigator Mike Riccardi, into the case, Kimo worries about the future of his and Mike’s newborn twins on an island falling prey to hate and a cult leader bent on death and destruction.

I fell under the spell of Neil S. Plakcy and his Hawaiian detective Kimo Kanapa’aka in the very first book, Mahu, hawaiian for gay.  There a very complicated and closeted young Kimo, trying to deal with his sexuality, was outed during a horrific murder case.  Its ramifications on his career, family relationships and private life would reverberate through the following stories.  Plakcy’s ability to bring not only Kimo to life but his multicultural family history and the vibrant racial mixing pot that is Hawaii to life is amazing.  From the variety of languages spoken, the nuances of levels of Hawaiian race in your background, even the language designations for north, south, east and west are different.  Yet, here they flow off the tongues of the characters with the ease of native speakers,   Very few authors have the ability to use local colloquialisms and dialects to hone their characters personas and locations the way Plakcy does and by the ninth book, its usage is so subtle and well woven into the narrative, I hardly notice any more.

Kimo and Mike have come a long with in their partnership.  Now the coparents of twins along with a lesbian couple, Kimo takes on a case that hits at the heart of his family’s safety.  Both Mike and Kimo have families from mixed racial background, and their sons parentage is equally so when their mothers backgrounds are included as well.  When each man handles a case with similar clues, all leads start to point towards a cult bent on the worship of racial  purity.

I loved this book for so many reasons, none  of which really had anything to do with the mystery.  Kimo’s parents which have figured largely in all the stories are now frail, older figures here, especially Kimo’s dad.  Their relationship, always so strong, sees a change in position here that is so realistic and painful.  Mike’s parents, once so against the relationship, now move forward into new positive roles.  So much is changing within the family  structures for them both, including that of their foster son.  Here all the relationships strain against their bonds and come back for support once more.  Its all so remarkable in its human dynamics and believable interchanges.  Sometimes angst-filled, often humorous, it will be so easy for all the readers to relate to the relationships in flux here, whether it be brother and brother, father and son, or new fathers and new babies.  This is what made this book for me.  Its all about the changes in life that we all go through.

And its even starts at the beginning with Kimo leaving the Honolulu P.D. to join FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force along with his partner.  New beginnings even at the job level.  But that brings us to the murders and the mystery.

That was my least favorite part of the story.  I figured out early on who the murderer was and where the problem was occurring.  The author all but had a giant arrow pointing the way.  That doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty of scenes where the suspense was high, because that happened.  There was danger, and angst enough to go around, just not the usual amount of guessing I expect from this author.

However, Plakcy’s style of writing moves the story along so quickly towards the end that your mind is consumed with the safety of the main characters and the capture of the culprits.  And so much more.  I want more books.  I want to know how Dakota is doing with his new boyfriend, how Kimo’s dad’s doing, and the family in general.  They got into my heart, every single one of them.  If you give them a chance, they will get into yours too.  But why start here?   This is a fantastic series.  Go to the beginning Mahu and read your way through until you arrive here.  With each book it just gets better and better.  I highly recommend them all.

Cover art is nice but I sort of miss that primitive art work of the original covers.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 231 pages
Published August 9th 2015 by MLR Press

A Jeri Review: Deliver Me by Faith Gibson

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

Deliver Me coverTaggart Lee has it all.
Fame.
Fortune.
Everything except love.

Tag is the jaded lead singer for 7’s Mistress, the biggest rock band in the world. After fifteen years in the business, he’s drowning in it all. When tragedy strikes, he takes a break from the road and the monotony his life has become. When he meets a gorgeous man on a park bench, he sees his lifeline.

Dr. Erik Henrikson thought he’d met the one.
He had.
The wrong one.

A year after his breakup, he still has a lock on his heart. Then he meets Lee, someone whose life has just been turned upside down. When he finds out Lee’s true identity, Erik throws away the key.

Tag has two weeks to make the doctor want him. He has three months to prove he won’t hurt him.

Tragedy brings them together.

Lies and betrayal push them apart.

Is love enough to deliver them?

I loved this book! Faith Gibson is an author I had never read before. Wow am I glad I read this one.

Taggart Lee is a rock star suddenly back in his home town with a newborn girl after a tragedy. Dr Erik Henrikson is the pediatrician who comes to the rescue with a colicky baby. Erik doesn’t know Tag is famous, he knows him as Lee, a single dad doing his best. Sparks? Check. Cute baby? Check. Dog? Check. Hot rock star and hot alpha doctor? Check.

When Tag has to finish the final leg of the tour, the doctor offers to watch the baby while he is gone. Erik knows he is going to fall in love with the little girl, he doesn’t expect to fall for the man. Tag and Erik spend two weeks together without expectations knowing Tag will be leaving for a 3 month tour. In that two weeks they become a family, something Erik desperately wants and Tag never thought he wanted.

Yes, this is a pretty classic romance story. There are misunderstandings, romance and hot sex. But the characters really kept me turning the pages. I immediately liked both Tag and Erik. Tag’s bandmates (for the most part) and manager are super cute in the way they want to be in the baby’s life. Erik’s best friend breaks my heart (holy shocker batman!) Even though Tag is a rock star, he does not come off like one of those “I am so much better than you guys”. And Erik, the super sweet doctor, is quite a bit different behind closed doors. I really enjoyed watching them grow together.

Honestly, I think one of my favorite parts of the book was the epilogue! I love a good epilogue and this one absolutely wrapped everything up with a pretty bow. I closed the book with a smile on my face.

The cover art perfectly depicts Tag the rock star, but honestly in the book we get WAY more of Lee, the unexpected dad. Still a pretty hot cover.

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

Book Details:

ebook
Published October 2nd 2015 by Smashwords Edition
original title Deliver Me
ISBN13 9781311939678