Category: M/M Paranormal Fiction

An Alisa Review: Pushing Phillip (Common Powers #4) by Lynn Lorenz

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

Jobless, homeless and alone at Christmas—can his new friends keep him from running?

 

When the guys decide to spend Christmas together at the ranch, it’s going to be a time for catching up with each couple. Rush and Brian are hosting, Edward and Jack will be there and Mitchell and Sammi are coming in from Houston.

 

When Brian and Rush take Phillip, a newly outed gay man, under their wings, they discover he’s got a power. But this power is one that makes all of them uncomfortable, along with the young man himself as issues of trust arise.

 

Phillip finds himself jobless, homeless and alone for the holiday, and he’s run out of options. Just when he’s ready to move on, he finds new friends who are ready to give him a second chance at his dreams. Along with a second chance at love.

 

This book gave us the chance to see into the relationships of those in the previous books and to also learn about Phillip and Estaban. Phillip has just been surviving for as long as he can remember, being used by his mom for his powers and then on his own after he ran away and just as he is settling in somewhere it starts fall apart around him.  Luckily for him he had met Brian and their motley crew quickly adopt him into the fold.

 

I loved seeing the flourishing relationships of those from the previous books.  Sammi is really started to grow up more though he still needs to be taken care of but that is what Mitchell longs to do.  Edward still likes to throw Jack for a loop but he has started to take more in stride.  Brian and Rush have continued to be strong partners even as Rush worries.

 

Phillip is delighted when Rush given him the chance to learn and try to be a cowboy.  I could feel his desperation and hopelessness when he was sure that he would have to start out somewhere new.  We didn’t really see all that much of Estaban, more from Phillips side, which made it a little harder to connect with him.  I didn’t like how he made such quick judgements though and was glad to see Sammi put him in his place a bit.

 

The cover art by Posh Gosh is a wonderful picture and continues the pattern for the series.

 

Sales Links: Pride Publishing | Amazon | B&N

 

Book Details:

ebook, 209 pages

Publication: December 19, 2017 by Pride Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-78651-622-0

Edition Language: English

Series: Common Powers #4

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Wet Heat by RD Hero and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

Most omega werewolves want a mate and pups, but Lee Aung prefers an unconventional party-boy lifestyle. Yet at forty-two, he’s stopped going into heat, which means he’s expired goods—no longer a fertile, young omega that alpha wolves drool over. So Lee uses Wet Heat, a synthetic pheromone, to reel in the alpha hookups.

 

After losing his job at the bank, Lee can’t afford to keep up his Wet Heat habit. His solution: scam free samples by pretending to be a happily mated test subject at Wet Heat headquarters. There, Lee spends two years being interviewed by the reserved alpha scientist, Cain, who at thirty-two is unmated and—up until this point—content with that.

 

Cain never really felt his alpha instincts, nor took part in the usual alpha/beta/omega social dynamics. But after discovering that Lee has been lying about his unmated status for two years, Cain finally admits that for the first time, he wants to court an omega. Unfortunately, he’s picked the one omega who doesn’t want to be courted.

 

I really enjoyed this story.  Lee is the complete opposite of what others think an omega should be and he refuses to be shamed by this.  Cain has spent the last two years wanting a mated omega and when he finds out that he isn’t actually mated he is determined to make him his.

 

I really liked both of these characters.  Lee says he doesn’t want to be tied down but to his surprise loves Cain’s displays of alphaness and encourages it.  Cain is confused with his instincts but Lee is more than willing to help him adapt.  At the end they are playing a game of tag with their mating but I can picture them having a HEA.

 

Nick J Russo did a wonderful job narrating this story.  I could just feel the characters’ emotions happy and sad while listening.  I loved the different voices he used for the characters and it helped to keep track of the story.

 

I really like the cover art by LC Chase and it works well for this story.

 

Sales Links:  Audible | Amazon | iTunes

 

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 2 hrs 41 min
Published: January 2, 2018 (ebook first published June 20, 2016) by Riptide
Edition Language: English

A MelanieM Review: Velvet Claw by L.J. Hamlin

Rating:  3 stars out of 5

Researching and finding cures for illnesses is what Dr. Evan Kidd does best. When he’s asked to help determine what’s making the children of Felis Forest sick, he can’t say no. Evan accepts, and even understands, why Rene has to follow him around town. It’s not every day a human is allowed in the “cat people only” town. But being attracted to someone who doesn’t trust him, much less like him, brings back painful reminders of his past.

Rene has plenty of his own baggage and having to shadow a human—who happens to be a doctor—isn’t helping. Evan challenges all Rene’s preconceived notions about humans and about himself. If they can survive all the obstacles while uncovering the truth, they might just discover they aren’t so different after all.

Velvet Claw by L.J. Hamlin was a  new supernatural thriller for me by a new author and I thought it had a lot going for it.   First off was the premise, a human doctor brought in to find the cure for a mystery disease afflicting the children of a Felidae race.  Combine that with a interspecies romance and mystery and I’m there.

However the execution and actual exposition stopped short of 4 stars.  The world building for example, Hamlin give us a prologue in the human/ Felis history but it doesn’t explain why with all the strengths, superior might etc. it doesn’t turn out that the Felis come out on top instead of the humans.  More was definitely needed there. Just didn’t make sense to go from God to the persecuted and hunted.

I liked the characters here, from Evan to Rene and several of the other people of the cast.  However the author cant seem to decide if the story is told third person, first person or what point of view is to be used.  I can see her wanting to have all the viewpoints out there but the flows just gets disrupted instead of being able to carry the story in a more even natural way.

Finally, when the mystery is solved, the motive is never revealed, a flaw here that bothers me.   It may not bother others, but it certainly did me.  It felt that the story lacked closure, especially since the author then threw in an entirely different mystery altogether that felt unnecessary.

So much promise here and that’s why I gave it 3 stars, not because of the actual execution.

Cover art is simplistic.  Not a fan.

Sales Links:  Less Than Three Press | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 160 pages
Published January 10th 2017 by Less Than Three Press, LLC
ASINB078WYM64N
Edition LanguageEnglish

Release Blitz for Love Times Five by Lily G. Blunt (excerpt)

RELEASE BLITZ – LOVE TIMES FIVE

Title: Love Times Five

Author: Lily G. Blunt

Cover Art: Jay Aheer at Simply Defined Art

Release Date: January 19, 2018

Genre/s:  paranormal, gay romance, contemporary, polyamory

Length: 77, 000 words

Add on Goodreads

Blurb

There’s safety in numbers and plenty of love to go around.

When Colin searches for his missing colleague and buddy in the hills of northern England, his life is changed forever. Not only does he find Shaun living in a cabin with the mysterious and undeniably gorgeous Zach, but he also discovers the reason Shaun went AWOL in the first place. Colin wants to draw his friend away to safety, but Zach soon mesmerises him, and he’s happy to stay in his company, for now.

Passing hikers, Wes and Dane, need some assistance, and the three men are willing to oblige. Thus begins a friendship that develops into much more.

The five men each have their own secrets. Some are shared, others are kept hidden. It’s only a matter of time before they are exposed and the consequences could change everything for them all.

 

Buy Links

Amazon US  

Amazon UK  

Smashwords

 PayHip  

  

 

Read Excerpt #1 HERE

Excerpt #2 from Chapter 1

Colin yelped and stumbled back. The penknife fell from his grip as he connected with the solid ground and landed on his arse.

“What the fuck?” Colin gaped at the wild beast in front of him, not five feet away, and apparently protecting Zach, who stroked the wolf’s back as if he were petting a huge dog.

Colin blinked, hoping to clear his vision. Had he knocked his head? Was he dreaming? Had he been drugged too?

The wolf sniffed the air and pawed the grass, its tongue now lolling to the side of its mouth. Teeth, sharp and white and scary, distracted Colin from the animal’s other features. The scent of damp fur and woodland soil filled his nostrils, and warm panting breath ghosted over his face.

The wolf was real enough. No vision. No dream.

“What the fuck?” Colin said, keeping his eyes fixed on the animal as it slunk away to the trees. His heart pounded and his mind was a whirl of confused thoughts. He tried to swallow around a thick lump in his parched throat. “What the fuck just happened?”

Zach said nothing but offered a hand to Colin, which after a few seconds pause, Colin grasped. Between the two of them, they easily hauled his bulky frame to standing. He scanned the grass for his knife, relief racing in his veins when he spotted it nestled among two nearby clumps of greenery.

Colin glanced away from the knife in the direction the wolf had headed. Could it really be Shaun? “I don’t understand.”

“Of course, you don’t.” Zach’s mouth curved into a warm, genuine smile. His eyes glimmered, and some of the tension lifted from Colin’s shoulders. “You must be Colin. Shaun’s sexy boss. He’s told me all about you.”

“What?” Colin’s pulse still pounded, and confusion turned his thoughts to sludge, but his heart fluttered at the hope those words kindled. What the hell was happening? What was this arsehole saying? Shaun had never tried anything on with Colin, not even when they’d been drunk. And had Shaun really… turned into a… what the actual fuck?

“You didn’t think he was interested in you?” Zach arched an eyebrow, and his eyes sparkled. Again.

Before Colin could commit himself to an answer or ask any questions about the precarious state of his sanity, there was movement to his side.

Shaun stood naked, his hands cupped over his groin, a little unsteady on his feet. “Chuck us your T-shirt, Zach,” he rasped, not making eye contact with Colin, his cheeks scarlet.

Without hesitation, Zach shed his top and threw it at Shaun, leaving his own fine torso on display. Smooth, defined, firm—perfect. No wonder Shaun had hooked up with him. Colin wouldn’t stand a chance with this guy in the picture, even if Shaun had liked him once upon a time.

Why was he even thinking about such things right now? He’d just seen Shaun turn into a wolf, and now he was back again as himself. And shortly before that, this ridiculously handsome man had been sucking on his neck and was now acting as if he knew things about Shaun that Colin didn’t even know. Was he losing his mind?

Colin dragged his gaze back to Shaun, his chest and nakedness now hidden from view by the oversized T-shirt. He staggered closer to Colin, his legs unsteady as if he were drunk. Shaun collapsed into Colin’s arms, maybe a deliberate move rather than an uncontrolled stumble. As much as Colin wanted to hug him to his chest, he needed answers. Anger bubbled to the surface and exploded. Colin gripped Shaun by his biceps and held him back at arm’s-length.

“What the fuck is going on? What did I just see?” It took all of Colin’s willpower not to shake the answer out of Shaun. “And what’s this fucking guy been doing to you?”

Shaun trembled beneath his touch, and his voice was hoarse and uneven, not its usual sweet timbre. “It’s okay, Col. I promise you, I’m okay now.” He placed his palm on Colin’s shoulder. “I know it’s a lot for you to take in all at once. I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to explain before.”

His words didn’t tell Colin anything. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me you were leaving and where you were going? I’d have listened… and helped you.” What the fuck could Colin have done to help if Shaun was a—?

Zach cleared his throat, distracting them both. He moved closer, running his long fingers down those taut abs of his until they came to rest on the waistband of his perfectly clinging jeans.

Shaun gazed at Zach, over his body, the renewed flush of arousal evident in his eyes. Colin’s heart sank but gave a hopeful flip when Shaun looked back at him with that same darkened expression. “Hey, how about we go inside? I can get dressed, and then explain what’s been going on with me.”

For a moment, Colin feared he might be overpowered or drugged or something like that once they got him inside the cabin, perhaps in the same way Shaun might have been. He eyed his knife lying on the ground, tempted to bend down and scoop it up for some protection.

Zach chuckled, and in a smooth yet swift motion slid past Colin. “I think you dropped this.” His mouth nestled close to Colin’s ear, his voice deep, his breath cool. A curl of interest coiled its way around Colin’s groin at the closeness of the man. Zach gripped Colin’s hand, turning his palm face-up, and placed the missing knife softly against his skin.

Colin couldn’t help but let out a gasp. He hadn’t witnessed the knife being retrieved from the ground. Whoever this man was, he was fast. He would probably dodge any knife or fist that Colin hurled his way. No way was Colin walking from this meadow without finding out who this man was. He pocketed the knife, despite his doubts about its usefulness now.

Zach glided away, entwined his fingers around Shaun’s hand, and pulled him towards the cabin. With an encouraging look over his shoulder, Shaun waved his free hand behind him. “Come on. We need to talk.”

Colin really had no choice, so he followed them. He needed to find out what had happened to Shaun and what the hell was going on between him and Zach.

About the Author

Lily G. Blunt enjoys writing contemporary gay romance and paranormal stories. She loves to explore the relationship between two or more men and the intensity of their physical and emotional attraction. Angst often features in her stories as she feels this demonstrates the depth of feelings between them. Lily is often inspired by the lyrics to songs and is forever writing imaginary scenes and plots in her head. Only a few of these ever make their way to the page.

Lily reviews for several blogs and has recently launched Gay Book Promotions, an online book promotion service for authors of LGBT+ romance and fiction. She loves to hear from readers and other authors.

Contact and Social Media Information

Amazon | Amazon UK | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Gay Book Promotions

 

RELEASE BLITZ SCHEDULE

January 19

Tangents and Tissues, 

Blazing Zane Book Blog REVIEW

Noteworthy Book Reviews  REVIEW

Millsy Loves Books

Gay Media Reviews 

Sur l’étagère, derrière la sirène en plastique  REVIEW

Book Reviews Virginia Lee  REVIEW

Stories That Make You Smile

Dawn’s Reading Nook    

Angels With Attitude Book Reviews

Gay Book Reviews   

January 20

MM Midnight Cafe 

LM Somerton 

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents    

Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author  

T.N. Nova – Author  REVIEW

Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read   REVIEW

January 21

Love Unchained Book Reviews  REVIEW

Nerdy Dirty & Flirty

MJ’s Book Blog and Reviews

The Blogger Girls  

Abibliophobia Anonymous Book Reviews

January 22

Books Laid Bare Boys  REVIEW

Louise Lyons 

Mary Winter’s Blog 

Drops of Ink 

Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter   

Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews   REVIEW

January 25

Mirrigold: Mutterings & Musings REVIEW

January 26

Land of the Book Fairies  REVIEW

The Way She Reads  REVIEW

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words  

Jazzy Book Reviews  

January 27

Bayou Book Junkie

BFD Book Blog REVIEW

A Book Lover’s Dream Book Blog  REVIEW

Alpha Book Club  REVIEW

From Top to Bottom Reviews

~

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

 

A MelanieM Review: The Case of the Man Eater (Kanaan & Tilney #2) by Jenna Rose and Katey Hawthorne

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Wolf-Beast and ex-cop Lowell Kanaan recently brought his boyfriend, Elementalist and mystery author John Tilney, into the PI business with him. They’ve been solving cases for Boston’s varied praeternatural communities ever since. So when a young Terran feels that the brutal murder of his Beast boyfriend isn’t being treated seriously enough by the police, he brings the case to Kanaan & Tilney for a second opinion.

Similarly defiled corpses pop up around Boston as they race to find the killer. All the victims are packless Beasts, like Lowell, and the vicious nature of the killings stir up old prejudices in the praeternatural community, Beast and otherwise. Throw a personal vendetta and some ugly family history for Lowell in the mix, and the trails are as muddy as ever.

This case will test Kanaan & Tilney’s strength, both as a PI team and a couple. It’ll take all they have to keep each other alive—and stop a serial killer.

Private investigators Lowell Kanaan and boyfriend John Tilney are back with another heartbreaking case of murder that hits close to home.  This time they are called in to investigate the murder of a packless lion, torn and cut up in an alleyway, parts of him missing.  That the lion-beast was packless like Lowell was enough for them to take the case…then more are killed, and it looks like Lowell could be a target.

In this story more of Lowell’s history and the nature of the pack organization/culture comes to light, and not in a good one. Those that are packless are looked down upon by others, said that their state will make them feral without the structure of the pack.  Their “second class citizenship” is made evident through their self help groups and troubled lives within the stories.  Easy prey for a murderer.

While investigating the crimes, the authors dive into the evolving relationship of Kanaan and Tilney, progressing as work partners as well as  romantic ones.  I loved them as both and enjoyed the dynamics between them, hot, sexy, and in one instance, where they impersonated tourists, very funny.

I wish there had been more about the actual murderer.  That seemed a bit fuzzy at best.  The action was swift and suspenseful but the actual person behind it and who they were?  That needed more groundwork and a better foundation here.  That actually would be the only thing that people coming at this story new would find fault with.  It’s not a stand alone.  You need to read the first story and then come here.  I loved the coroner and look forward to more investigations where he and other continuing characters resume their roles.

Cover art by Dar Albert.  I like the intense cover.  The old typewriter font and the story elements,  Nice!

Sales Links:  Loose id  | Amazon

Book Details:

Published December 26th 2017 by Loose Id
Edition LanguageEnglish
URL http://kanaanandtilneyinvestigations.com/
SeriesKanaan & Tilney #2