The Rivalry (The Riptide) Kindle Editionby Beth Bolden

LGBTQ2+ Sports Romance

Rating: 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

Romance amongst the men of the LA Riptide Football team! How sexy, endearing, and just outright wonderful it is.

The first in a series, The Rivalry is typical Beth Bolden. Beautifully written, characters of charm and depth, and a story with many layers that grip you from start to finish.

It’s also typical in that along with a love story that engages your heart, the author explores more serious issues of child abuse, parental alcoholism and child abandonment. That’s for starters. But it’s never with a heavy narrative hand but as elements that are revealed through one man’s struggles to achieve happiness and love.

Realistic, painful, and eventually so rewarding to watch as Heath battles through both his emotional and physical trauma. And Sam , there with his own path to tread, needing support in his own battle with insecurity and new position and team.

What a story! What men and couple!

You find yourself cheering, laughing, and crying a bit for both men as they fight their way towards their happy ending. And what a delightful one it is. I could spend books upon books with the Riptide men.

Consider this a fantastic starting point and one I highly recommend.

Books In This Series (2 Books)- both highly recommended

The Rivalry

Rough Contact

by Beth Bolden

https://www.goodreads.com › showWeb resultsThe Rivalry by Beth Bolden – Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com › showWeb resultsRough Contact by Beth Bolden – Goodreads

Review: Top Shelf (Boston Rebels #1) by RJ Scott and VL Locey

Rating: 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

Top Shelf (Boston Rebels #1) by RJ Scott and VL Locey is the first book is a new hockey romance series by two of my must read authors

Long and eagerly awaited, as is any new LGBTQ2+ hockey romance tale, Top Shelf more than delivers

As you all know hockey is my jam! And Rainbow 🌈 hockey love stories? Well, be still my heart šŸ’œ! There are many excellent authors in this genre and the writers RJ Scott and VL Locey are at the top of my list among them.

Why? Because like the others, they are passionate about the sport of hockey, it’s players and teams. They know the sport and it’s translates into excellence in fast, accurate action on ice scenes that gets the reader going and engaged with the team and it’s season while still threading through the storylines, full of romance, rocky paths and heartwarming emotions.

That’s all presented here as we meet a team in need of rebuilding. That’s a highly volatile situation for all involved. It means saying goodbye to older players not yet ready to go and learning to accept new younger players stepping into holes in teams not ready for them to be filled.

Add in several players admission of LGBTQ2+ identification when one player comes officially out? And for everyone the team becomes a new uncertain future for all, especially management.

This is the universe we are meeting throughout this story. Various players, a team and people in transition

First it’s the tight friendship, on and off the ice, of Xander and Eli. Brothers in all but name and Railers, they’ve had a third tagging along most of their lives. Mason, Eli’s younger brother

Mason, never much interested in hockey past the fact that Eli and his forever crush Xander played, is now grown. And determined to make Xander see him in a new light.

Xander has recently come out after hiding his sexuality. Here the authors excelled at showing Xander’s confusion and fragility over how exactly he becomes a truth he’s never allowed himself to have or be. He’s raw, more than a little depressed, and no one is picking up on his uncertain emotional state.

The team’s turmoil is adding stress all around to major players and again the elements and reactions feel so realistic. Our own emotions fall readily into the storylines filling out before us. We not only want more of these teammates histories but we need to know

That’s on top of Xander and Mason’s romance which has its own tensions with Mason’s new business (that remains unresolved in my mind) and Xander’s future

I honestly thought the realism here, all the various issues raised as well as the feeling that the relationship needs more work and communication was wonderful. After all, it’s new. Both men have so many new elements to deal with as well as making their relationship work that leaving this a HFN, a work in progress to return to makes sense

It’s great and leaves me wanting to bribe the authors for much much more. Not just the next couple in the series which is coming in Back Check- see below.

So yes, I loved my story, the new series, and team

So yes, I loved my story, the new series and team.

Top Shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56990636-top-shelf

Back Check:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57875135-back-check

Review: Top Shelf (Boston Rebels #1) by RJ Scott and VL Locey

Rating: 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

Top Shelf (Boston Rebels #1) by RJ Scott and VL Locey is the first book is a new hockey romance series by two of my must read authors

Long and eagerly awaited, as is any new LGBTQ2+ hockey romance tale, Top Shelf more than delivers

As you all know hockey is my jam! And Rainbow 🌈 hockey love stories? Well, be still my heart šŸ’œ! There are many excellent authors in this genre and the writers RJ Scott and VL Locey are at the top of my list among them

Why? Because like the others, they are passionate about the sport of hockey, it’s players and teams. They know the sport and it’s translates into excellence in fast, accurate action on ice scenes that gets the reader going and engaged with the team and it’s season while still threading through the storylines, full of romance, rocky paths and heartwarming emotions.

That’s all presented here as we meet a team in need of rebuilding. That’s a highly volatile situation for all involved. It means saying goodbye to older players not yet ready to go and learning to accept new younger players stepping into holes in teams not ready for them to be filled.

Add in several players admission of LGBTQ2+ identification when one player comes officially out? And for everyone the team becomes a new uncertain future for all, especially management

This is the universe we are meeting throughout this story. Various players, a team and people in transition

First it’s the tight friendship, on and off the ice, of Xander and Eli. Brothers in all but name and Railers, they’ve had a third tagging along most of their lives. Mason, Eli’s younger brother

Mason, never much interested in hockey past the fact that Eli and his forever crush Xander played, is now grown. And determined to make Xander see him in a new light.

Xander has recently come out after hiding his sexuality. Here the authors excelled at showing Xander’s confusion and fragility over how exactly he becomes a truth he’s never allowed himself to have or be. He’s raw, more than a little depressed, and no one is picking up on his uncertain emotional state.

The team’s turmoil is adding stress all around to major players and again the elements and reactions feel so realistic. Our own emotions fall readily into the storylines filling out before us. We not only want more of these teammates histories but we need to know

That’s on top of Xander and Mason’s romance which has its own tensions with Mason’s new business (that remains unresolved in my mind) and Xander’s future

I honestly thought the realism here, all the various issues raised as well as the feeling that the relationship needs more work and communication was wonderful. After all, it’s new. Both men have so many new elements to deal with as well as making their relationship work that leaving this a HFN, a work in progress to return to makes sense

It’s great and leaves me wanting to bribe the authors for much much more. Not just the next couple in the series which is coming in Back Check- see below.

So yes, I loved my story, the new series, and team

Bring it On! Highly recommended!

Top Shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56990636-top-shelf

Back Check:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57875135-back-check

Review: Family According to Liam (According to Liam #5) by V.L. Locey

Rating:🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

According to Liam is a series I never want to end. Each story merely enriches this already warm, fabulous universe of the Kneller-Mettler family that we’ve watched grow through many great stories.

From the fretful, loving beginning of Michael and his adorable nephew,Liam,and their meeting with the goalie Bryn Mettler ,of the Pittsburgh Ravens, all through their courtship,their wedding,and now adoption of their daughter. We’ve been there with them as they’ve stumbled, soared, loved, cried, and become an amazing couple and family.

Each story has brought me closer to this family, their tight circle of friends and family, and made me love them all the more. I dove into each new installment with all the anticipation and joy of seeing old friends again and getting caught up.

This story is a wonderful example of why I love these men and by extension the people around them as well as why I hope Locey will continue to bring more tales and journeys to their series far into the future.

The realism of the stresses of adoption, from both perspectives, both of the parents and that of the child, feels poignant and tender. I ached and cried for everyone in parts, rejoiced for the family in others.

The same could be said for the other transphobia experienced by Michael’s close friend and co worker here daily. Threaded in along homophobia in the workplace, the author carefully brought home how hurtful it is to deal constantly with such ignorance and outright abuse through a character we have come to care deeply about.

Well written, memorable characters, and a terrific plot and series I keep returning to , this story and series has it all.

Highly recommended.

Family According to Liam (According To Liam #4)

A MelanieM Review:Tough Guy (Game Changers #3) by Rachel Reid

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

They have nothing in common—so why does Ryan feel most like himself whenever he’s with Fabian?

Pro hockey star Ryan Price may be an enforcer, but off the ice he struggles with anxiety. Recently traded to the Toronto Guardians, he’s determined to make a fresh start in the city’s dynamic LGBTQ Village. The last thing he expects to stumble upon in his new neighborhood is a blast from his past in the fabulous form of Fabian Salah.

Aspiring musician Fabian loathes hockey. But that doesn’t stop him from being attracted to a certain burly, ginger-bearded defenseman. He hasn’t forgotten the kiss they almost shared back in high school, and it’s clear the chemistry between them has only intensified.

Fabian is more than happy to be Ryan’s guide to the gay scene in Toronto. Between dance clubs and art exhibits—and the most amazing sex—Ryan’s starting to feel something he hasn’t experienced in a long time: joy. But playing the role of the heavy on the ice has taken its toll on his body and mind, and a future with Fabian may mean hanging up his skates for good.

I discovered Rachel Reid through this blog’s recommendations for M/M Hockey Recommendations.Ā  All it took was one story to know I had a new author for my auto buy list.Ā  Luckily for me , the author also loves to write M/M hockey romances so I’m absolutely overjoyed twice over.

Game Changers is one of her fabulous series that I just impatiently wait for that next story to fall.Ā  Tough Guy is the third installment and , again, just another outstanding tale of romance intertwined with the game of ice hockey and its players.Ā  It’s a game I’m fanatic about and deeply appreciate those authors that share my love as well as have the ability to not only understand the complexities of the game but of the players and their careers.Ā  It is a far cry from football, much closer in passion and spirit to baseball in what it takes sometimes to continue on because of the love of the sport.

In Tough Guy (Game Changers #3) by Rachel Reid, the author also writes about what happens when that passion begins to fade, what’s next.Ā  Ā  Something that can cut deepĀ  emotionally and mentally.Ā  Reid’s characterizations have been a major draw of her stories.Ā  They are layered portraits of real people, flawed, human, pained, and lovely.Ā  So easyĀ  to connect with, as you do here with both hockey star Ryan Price and musician Fabian Salah.

They have a complex back history, together and apart but when they mesh and reconnect, they are so endearing, so open, so, well perfect for each other, that the story just flew by as I was so engaged by their relationship and their path towards love.

By the end (as I feel with all the stories in this series) I was loathe to leave the couple behind.Ā  I had fallen for them and wanted to linger a bit longer.

Oh well, now to wait for the next story in the series.Ā  I hope Rachel Reid won’t make me wait too long.

I highly recommend this story and the entire series.Ā  And this author.Ā  What a splendid time you will have getting acquainted!

Cover art by Carina Press is just ok but doesn’t really relate to the storyline or character.Ā  Meh.

Sales Links:Ā  Carina Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Details:

ebook
Published January 13th 2020 by Carina Press
ISBNĀ 1488068917 (ISBN13: 9781488068911)
Edition LanguageĀ English

Join Us for the Blog Tour for Loose Ends (Badlands #4) by Morgan Brice (excerpt and giveaway)

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: Loose Ends (Badlands Book 4)

Author: Morgan Brice

Cover Artist: Natania Barron

Release Date: December 30, 2019Ā 

Genre/s: Urban Fantasy, MM paranormal romance

Trope/s: Spooky supernatural suspense, hurt/comfort, dark magic.

Themes: Trust, loyalty, commitment, partnership

Heat Rating: 4 flames

It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone and

features an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels.

Intended for readers 18 years of age and older.

Length: 62 000 words/ 220 pages

Add on GoodreadsĀ 

 

 

As a deadly trap closes around them, can Simon and Vic tie up the loose ends to stop the threat, or will they become the newest ghosts of the Grand Strand?Ā 

 

BlurbĀ 

Cold cases, old enemies, ex-lovers, and vengeful spirits are making life dangerous for psychic medium Simon Kincaide and his boyfriend, homicide detective Vic D’Amato.Ā 

The ghosts of Myrtle Beach are restless, trapped by love, secrets, scandals, and spells, keeping Simon busy protecting the living from the unhappy dead. Someone from Vic’s past is out to destroy him and everyone he holds dear, and the high-profile trial of the first case Simon and Vic worked together puts them in the spotlight—and put a target on their backs. As a deadly trap closes around them, can Simon and Vic tie up the loose ends to stop the threat, or will they become the newest ghosts of the Grand Strand?Ā 

Loose Ends is an urban fantasy MM paranormal romance with spooky supernatural suspense, hot sex, hurt/comfort, feisty friends, found family, ghosts galore, and dark magic. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone and features an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels. Intended for readers 18 years of age and older.

 

Buy Links

Amazon US Ā | Ā Ā Amazon UK Ā | Ā Ā Kobo Ā | Ā Ā Nook

 

Excerpt

ā€œI’ve been poking around on the Buccaneer story since the place shut down,ā€ Josh said. ā€œMy team’s visited probably a dozen times. Plus, I knew people who worked on the construction and dismantling, and who ran the rides when it was open.ā€ He leaned forward, dropping his voice. ā€œThey won’t talk on the record, or to the police, but I’ve heard all their stories. And the rumors that got out? They’re just a fraction of how fucked up that place was.ā€

Simon sat back in his chair, settling his lanky body and long legs as best he could. He warmed his hands on the hot paper cup and tucked a strand of long chestnut hair behind one ear. ā€œTell me.ā€

ā€œOne of my sources was a crane operator when they were installing the Riptide Roll steel coaster,ā€ Josh confided. ā€œHe saw one of the workmen fall from the top of the first hill when they were assembling the ride. Says the guy died on impact. The company paid to hush it up. Same thing happened when another worker was crushed to death. A load of steel pipe shifted, and he ended up underneath it.ā€

ā€œJesus.ā€

ā€œThat’s not all of it. The place was only open for barely two seasons, but the ride operators had stories that would curl your hair. Riders got whiplash, one girl lost a couple of fingers, and a kid died from head injuries when his ride car came loose and crashed. Not to mention the operator who got electrocuted when he had to run his ride in the rain.ā€

ā€œIf the owners had to cover all that up, no wonder they went bankrupt,ā€ Simon said, shaking his head. ā€œI can’t believe they didn’t get shut down.ā€

ā€œTheir rides continued to pass inspections from the state office—or maybe someone got paid off. Still, they closed suddenly before the end of their last season,ā€ Josh said. ā€œWhistleblowers went to the media. The situation was going to be ugly. But then it turned out to be even worse.ā€

Simon remembered the end of the story. Investors clamored for their money back when the park abruptly shut down, only to find out that the accounts were empty, the books had been cooked, and the profits were never real. Before it could turn into a media circus and authorities asked for serious jail time, Ellington killed himself, and Stevens skipped town.

ā€œAny clue about who’s haunting the place?ā€

Josh chewed on his lip and looked at Simon. ā€œI was hoping you’d come over with us this afternoon and help me figure that out. I’m doing my best to learn, but my skills aren’t as powerful as yours, and I don’t know how to really use them. I can sense when spirits are nearby, and I see them better than the average person, but having a conversation is beyond what I can do.ā€

 

About the AuthorĀ 

Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Characters from her Gail books make frequent appearances in secondary roles in her Morgan books, and vice versa.

On the rare occasions Morgan isn’t writing, she’s either reading, cooking, or spoiling two very pampered dogs.

Series include Witchbane, Badlands, and Treasure Trail. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!

Read a copy of my Badlands short story Restless Nights here for free

 

 

Social Media LinksĀ 

Facebook GroupĀ  | Ā Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail) Ā | Ā Twitter: @MorganBriceBookĀ  Ā 

Sign up for my newsletter and never miss a new releaseĀ Ā 

Ā Follow me on BookBub Ā | Ā Instagram

 

 

Giveaway

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

one of three ebook copies of any book in the Badlands series

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

 

 

Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts and reviews here

Join Us for the Release Blitz with Excerpt for Say It (Fascination #1) by Sky McCoy

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Say It (Fascination Series Book 1)

Author: Sky McCoy

Publisher: Self-Published

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow

Release Date: January 30, 2020

Genre/s: Gay M/M Romance

Trope/s: Help me heal, enemies to lovers, billionaire bad boy,

straight to gay, friends to lovers, single fatherĀ 

Themes: Coming out

Heat Rating:Ā  5 flames Ā Ā 

Length: 65 000 words/ 216 pages

Add on Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available on Kindle UnlimitedĀ 

Amazon US Ā | Ā Ā Amazon UK Ā | Ā Ā Amazon CA Ā |Ā Ā  Ā Amazon AUĀ  Ā  Ā 

 

BlurbĀ Ā 

ā€œIf Jeremy thinks I will ever go away and leave him to himself to destroy what I want and need from him, then he will have to—say it.ā€Ā 

ā€œI like who I am. It took years to create this persona, and I’ll be damn if I allow a brash, gorgeous, hot young twink like Dorian make me into someone I’m not.ā€

When a straight man meets an openly gay man, sparks fly in a good and bad way. Jeremy Westbrook is running from commitment, and Dorian Hart is looking for the love of his life after being ditched by his partner. If their lives aren’t complicated enough, a man shows up at Jeremy’s door and will turn his life upside down.Ā 

 

ExcerptĀ 

Chapter 1

Jeremy

ā€œNo fucking way?ā€ I murmured into the empty silence, just as I’d planned to pour myself a drink of Scotch on the rocks after I stepped out of the shower and dried off. I needed something strong. I placed the bottle down after pouring a slug. I closed my eyes for a moment, then I collected my thoughts. I wasn’t about to reach for a robe. If whoever had the nerve to show up at my door, they’d get what they were looking for—a naked ass with a hard cock.Ā Ā Ā 

Ā After a quick sip, I placed the much-needed drink on the table, and sauntered over to the intercom to call security. Where the fuck was security and what the fuck were they doing? Giving each other a blowjob? I questioned.Ā Ā Ā 

Wasn’t it their job to scrutinize my guests and at least ask if I wanted to be bothered tonight? Or tell them I’m not here. Which wouldn’t be a lie. I glanced over at the clock. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was supposed to be dressing so I could go over to that fucking country club. This was the third ring.Ā 

ā€œI explicitly left orders for security to say that I’m out for the fucking evening,ā€ I huffed, raising my finger to hit the button. Then came a loud knock.Ā 

Now I wanted to see just who had the balls to knock on my door.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 

Ā I enjoyed my privacy. Everyone who knew me knew I didn’t want any company, especially since I’d been home for only a few days. Everyone except Max Gold that was. He didn’t respect my boundaries when he wanted something. I looked down at my watch sitting on a table with my keys, and saw it was later than I thought. ā€œFucking jet lag has my body all screwed up.ā€Ā Ā 

Ā I didn’t expect anyone today, must be a package, I rationalized. I inadvertently turned the lock, opening the door without looking through the peephole.

ā€œWhat the fuck do you want?ā€ I barked. I peered at the man in black with wide eyes and open mouth. Now I was shocked. My eyes locked on the six-foot, blue-eyed, black sheep of the Westbrook family. There’s always one in the family, and Jack Westbrook my twin brother was the one who now carried that title. Once it had been me, when my family wondered if I’d ever get married. I’d been postponing that for far too long, and everyone—especially my brothers and their wives —had started gossiping about me behind my back.

Ā I’d been suspect of being gay, and my older brothers with their wives had questioned me at every turn.Ā 

ā€œWhen are you going to marry Annalisa?ā€ They’d corralled me at a family gathering in front of her, just to ask that question, hoping to get me to commit to something.Ā 

I did—my freedom.Ā 

They’d asked me too many times, and I’d forgotten what my excuses were. I’d finally given them different answers until even I became nauseated at the sound and thought of my voice, and the idea of marriage. The only one who didn’t appear to care had been my youngest brother, Carter, and Jack.Ā Ā Ā 

However, Thomas and Jarrett were wearing me down to the point that I was willing to give up my freedom, say, ā€œfuck it,ā€ and do the right thing—whatever that was.

Jack, nevertheless, had the balls to admit that he was gay and owned it. With me I couldn’t. I couldn’t admit that I loved men, wanted to be with one, wanted to spend the rest of my life with a man whom I loved, and turned me on in the worst way. That was my one and only desire—to find a man I could hold in my arms, look him in the eyes and say that I loved him.Ā 

I wanted to spend the rest of my life inside his hard body once I found him, go to sleep at night with my cock inside his hole. That was a dream of course, but it would never come true, because I had yet to meet anyone that incredible, who would hold my attention for more than a minute, and would make me want him the way I’d envisioned.Ā 

Besides, I was supposed to be straight and I couldn’t see starting over and having to endure what Jack had suffered by our family. A family of five fucking men, all straight and one gay. I’d say that was a good ratio. Out of five boys only one was gay—if you took me out of the equation.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 

ā€œAren’t you going to invite me in, big brother? How long do you expect me to stand out here while you gawk at me as if you’ve never seen me before?ā€ Jack questioned as his glance wandered to his right and left, and then over my shoulder. ā€œDon’t tell me you have company because I know you better than that, Jeremy.ā€ Jack uttered with a weak voice. I reached for my robe on the hallstand and shrugged my arms through the sleeves, then tied the belt as I watched Jack, and I wondered what it could be this time.Ā Ā 

ā€œSince you know me so well, then why are you invading my privacy?ā€Ā 

Jack’s eyes met mine and then he pushed past me. I turned to see him march over to my glass and bottle on the table, reach for the bottle, then pour Scotch into my glass after emptying the ice into the butler’s sink, then filling the short glass to the brim, he guzzled down my expensive liquor.Ā 

ā€œWhat the fuck is it this time?ā€ I asked, standing behind him. ā€œWho are you running from?ā€ I met his glare as he turned, his brow furrowed making a V. Then his closed mouth curled up to the right into a tight smile.Ā 

ā€œNo one. Can’t I show up at my brother’s apartment without insinuations about my past?ā€ Jack poured himself another drink, which fed my suspicions about him. There was something he wasn’t telling me. Someone or something had him on the run.Ā 

ā€œYou know why I asked you, Jack.ā€ I sat and observed his body language. Maybe that would tell me something. ā€œYou’re my twin and whatever the fuck you’ve gotten yourself into now, I need to know about it.ā€Ā 

Jack slid down heavily on the sofa across from me as if he’d been up for days, and by the looks of him, dark circles around his eyes, and his soiled clothes with coffee stains, that left only one question in my mind.Ā Ā 

ā€œWhat is it this time? A disgruntled lover or two, the Russian mob, or both?ā€Ā 

 

 

About the AuthorĀ 

Sky McCoy writes HEA M/M Romance and erotica books of men who enjoy being gay, hot, sexy and in love. Love is the theme of Sky’s M/M books where you find drama, hot men, hot sex where the sex never cools, even if the drama does.Ā 

When Sky isn’t writing, you can check the interstate, because you may discover Sky driving west after living in New York for years. You can reach Sky here skymccoy0@gmail.com anytime you want to chat.Ā Ā 

 

Social Media Links

Blog/Website Ā | Ā  Ā Newsletter Sign-up Ā | Ā Ā Pinterest Ā | Ā Ā EmailĀ 

 

 

 

GiveawayĀ 

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

aĀ $10 gift card from Amazon, 1 signed copy of Boys with Toys book 1 from back list and a signed copy of Say It.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

 

Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts here

Love a Paranormal Romance? Check Out the Release Blitz for Fight For This by Suki Fleet (excerpt and giveaway)

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Fight For This

Author: Suki Fleet

Publisher: Suki Fleet

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow

Release Date: January 31, 2020

Genre/s: M/M Paranormal Romance (fairies)

Trope/s: Friends to lovers

Themes: Admitting feelings, in denial, saving the world (sort of)

Heat Rating: 3 – 4 flames

Length: 60 000 words

Add on Goodreads

 

Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US Ā | Ā Ā Amazon UKĀ 

 

 

A fairy who can’t control his glamour, and the growly Guardian who adores him, must stop the Veil that protects all fairy-kind from being detected in the human world from being destroyed.

 

Blurb

Grey and Si have been dancing around one another for months.Ā 

Grey’s helpless attraction to fairies (and one fairy in particular) is a source of endless frustration—but as his energy can damage a fairy’s glamour, he can’t let himself get close.Ā 

Si is different to other fairies and he’s wearing down Grey’s defences. When Si discovers the Veil is thinning around the school where they both work—putting the students and teachers there at risk from detection—he needs Grey’s help to fix it.Ā 

Problem is, Si isn’t a true fairy, he’s just a magical mistake. For as long as he can remember all his glamour has done is messed up and broken stuff. Though Grey maybe older and wiser about a lot of things in the human world, he’s pretty clueless about all things magical. He doesn’t even know the Veil exists until Si knocks himself unconscious trying to save Grey’s reputation after a night out.Ā 

But it’s funny how mistakes work out. Even funnier how trusting one another can help even the most impossible events turn out all right.Ā 

Ā 

ExcerptĀ 

Barely supressing a shiver, Si let the full rush of his glamour flood through him. Nothing else felt like this, the giddy flare of it as exhilarating as diving off a high rocky outcrop into a breathtakingly cold sea. Admittedly, he was probably a little addicted to the rush—magic in all its forms was notorious addictive. But more than that, for a brief second, Si was connected to everything—plugged into exactly the right place—powerful enough to affect change in the world, and unlike every other second in his life, he felt like he knew just what to do.Ā 

This was the good bit, the bit that convinced him that this time it wouldn’t go so horribly wrong.

Opening his eyes, he scrunched his toes against the soft threadbare strands of carpet and steadied himself.Ā 

Grey’s presence hummed comfortingly near. When fairies were in love, they could share their glamour, heal one another with it, share energy and connect with each another in a way that sounded so similar to the mating Grey longed for that Si wondered if it wasn’t the same thing. And the sex when you were connected was supposed to be fucking mind-blowing.Ā 

Si shook the thoughts from his head. He needed to focus.Ā 

Across the room, Greene’s eyes began to widen comically. Probably he could feel the ripple of Si’s magic as it charged the air around him, but Si didn’t care; there was nothing in his contract that said what he could or couldn’t do. And unless Greene transported him from the room somehow, there was nothing he could do to stop him either.

The urge to dramatically clap his hands together was strong. But good magic didn’t announce itself, as Levi, his mentor, used to say.Ā 

Si took a deep breath, then murmured as softly and as clearly as possible, ā€œLet the truth be known.ā€Ā 

For an instant, the air shimmered, filled with the scent of dying leaves, oranges, freshly brewed black tea.Ā 

The world seemed to expand. Details became richer.Ā 

The truth was known. Si was certain of it, even if the details of how it was known eluded him.

A giddy, joyous feeling that whatever he’d done had worked danced in his chest, a feeling so at odds with the shocked expressions of everyone in the room. But it didn’t matter how they were staring at him. It had worked. He had worked. His glamour wasn’t some cosmic joke for other fairies to laugh at. It was useful. He was useful.Ā 

So why was all the air being sucked from his lungs? Why was the happy feeling disintegrating? Why was the world beginning to blur? But before he could come up with any answers that made sense, Grey’s carpet tilted towards him with the unexpected speed of a rollercoaster, and all the warm light suddenly drained from the room.

 

About the AuthorĀ 

Suki Fleet is an award-winning author, a prolific Reader (though less prolific than they’d like), and a lover of angst, romance and unexpected love stories.They write lyrical stories about memorable characters and believe everyone should have a chance at a happy ending.
Their first novel This is Not a Love Story won Best Gay Debut in the 2014 Rainbow Awards, and was a finalist in the 2015 Lambda Awards. Their novel Foxes won Best Gay Young Adult in the 2016 Rainbow Awards.

Social Media Links

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A Free Dreamer Review: Loose Ends (Badlands #4) by Morgan Brice

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Cold cases, old enemies, ex-lovers, and vengeful spirits are making life dangerous for psychic medium Simon Kincaide and his boyfriend, homicide detective Vic D’Amato.

The ghosts of Myrtle Beach are restless, trapped by love, secrets, scandals, and spells, keeping Simon busy protecting the living from the unhappy dead. Someone from Vic’s past is out to destroy him and everyone he holds dear, and the high-profile trial of the first case Simon and Vic worked together puts them in the spotlight—and put a target on their backs. As a deadly trap closes around them, can Simon and Vic tie up the loose ends to stop the threat, or will they become the newest ghosts of the Grand Strand?

Loose Ends is an urban fantasy MM paranormal romance with spooky supernatural suspense, hot sex, hurt/comfort, feisty friends, found family, ghosts galore, and dark magic. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone and features an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels. Intended for readers 18 years of age and older.

I love a good ghost story, so there was no way I could have resisted ā€œLoose Endsā€. And it turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Like the blurb says, this works perfectly fine as a standalone. I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series and while it’s obvious these two guys have a past together, all the important bits are explained.

I really liked the fantasy aspects of this story. There’s a bunch of different ghosts and quite a bit of magic as well. I just wasn’t too fond of coupling of magic and religion, tbh. It all felt a little bit one-sided. There’s angels and saints and the like and it made me wonder if that really is the only way to banish a ghost. What about a Hindu ghost? Can you banish that one with Christian beliefs too? But I did enjoy how the magic was rooted in the traditions of different cultures, though.

We meet a few different ghosts throughout the story and they’re all very different and Simon had a different solution for each of them. It was actually interesting to see how he dealt with them and came up with individual ways how best to help the spirits.

Vic and Simon are in a comfortably established relationship and I often prefer that to a blossoming relationship. It leaves more room for the important parts of the plot. Here, the romance was still very strong and the two of them worked really well together. I really enjoyed how they interacted with each other.

There’s quite a bit of action and suspense going on as well. It takes our protagonists a while to figure out what’s going on and then it gets really dramatic toward the end. There was, of course, a happy end, which I never doubted for a second.

Overall, this was a good, solid book. Nothing spectacular, but still thoroughly enjoyable. If urban fantasy and ghosts are you thing, it’s definitely worth a try.

I’m not a huge fan of the cover. It’s just our two protagonists in front of a pretty landscape. I’ve seen hundreds of covers that look very similar and it’s not very memorable.

Buy Links

Amazon US Ā | Ā Ā Amazon UK Ā | Ā Ā Kobo Ā | Ā Ā Nook

Book details:

Kindle Edition
Published December 29th 2019 by Darkwind Press
ASINĀ B0839PTFL6
Edition LanguageĀ English
SeriesĀ Badlands #3

A Dan Review: Love on the Spectrum by Alec Nortan

Rating: 2 stars out of 5

 

 

HervĆ© has Asperger’s, a specific kind of autism that makes him unable to interact with other people.

 

Luc has been severely scarred by fire and flees human presence to avert the way people glare and frown when they see him.

 

It was impossible for them to meet, but life sometimes likes to cheat the odds. Is it just a trick or a way to bring together two men who could be each other’s lifeline?

 

 

 

I gave this book two stars because the author’s blurb at the end of the book states that he had recently been diagnosed with Asperger’s. If a neurotypical person had written this book, I would give it one star.

 

Everyone experiences their autism differently. That’s the very nature of a spectrum disorder. People on the spectrum have different stims, different vocal and verbal abilities, different special interests, different skills and strengths, different triggers and anxieties. I know a lot of people with autism who span the spectrum, in real life and as part of the ASD community on the internet who are all impacted by autism in different ways, and I certainly don’t speak for all people with autism, but in all my years, I have never met a person who experiences with world with the same level of misery as HervĆ©.Ā 

 

He is overwhelmingly joyless, which I sincerely hope don’t reflect the author’s experiences. I understand completely that the world is an overwhelming sensory experience and that people can redouble that, but even Hervé’s stims and special interests don’t bring him happiness, even when we have full access to his internal states. He constantly refers to his autism in terms of ā€˜difficulties’. There are flashbacks to hateful teachers and mentors, which took me out of the narrative and only served to reinforce that I didn’t like this book. There are portions in which people react to Luc’s facial scarring as if he’s a literal monster, instead of a human man with scars, and outloud declaring that he’s too hideous to be in public, which seems extreme.

 

Sometimes, the words didn’t flow exactly right, which given that English isn’t the author’s first language, makes sense. I hope this use of language also accounts for some of the way in which the author describes HervĆ© and his experiences. This book has an uncomfortable reference to cure narratives as well, in which Luc, the love interest, and HervĆ© manage to ā€˜cure’ each other’s disabilities in a way.Ā 

 

As a love story, it’s cute and relatively unproblematic, the story of two men navigating each other’s boundaries. It has a happy ending and has no homophobia, even interalized, always a bonus for a gay story. There are some tricks to navigating the world on the spectrum that the author captures honestly, like looking near someone’s eyes instead of at them. The plot itself is lighthearted, and some parts of it feel unfinished and too easy, and I’d really like to see this story reworked with as much love, ease, and acceptance for the ASD community as it has for the gay community.

Sales Links:Ā  NineStar Press | Amazon \ Barnes&Noble

Book Details:

 

37900 words

Ninestar pressĀ 

January 6, 2020

Contemporary romance

gay/cisĀ