Category: M/M Romance

A Stella Review: Accidentally On Purpose by JM Snyder

RATING 3,75 out of 5 stars

One morning before work, Alan Travers accidentally bumps into Detective Jim Garrison at a cafe where both men stop for coffee. The handsome younger man interests Alan, but he misses his chance to get to know the detective better and wonders if he’ll get another. 

With the help of his nephew Bryce, Alan concocts a plan to try and get Jim’s attention “accidentally on purpose.” It works, but as things heat up between them, Alan worries what Jim will think if he finds out their getting together was no accident. 

Then Bryce goes missing, and Alan’s going to have to come clean. But is he the only one not being truthful?

I picked Accidentally On Purpose by JM Snyder cause I’m a huge fan of grown up main characters and the blurb sounded really interesting and funny. I wasn’t disappointed, this story was hilarious and sweet, but totally believable. Who of us has never tried to catch the attention of another person using silly jokes or stupid behaviours? Well, Alan and his nephew Bryce are the kings of the “accidentally on purpose” game and the results were well deserved, although sometimes a little too over the top.

I have to say I easily fell into these guys romance, I couldn’t wait to know how everything started and would develop. They fought for their happy ending, they took their time getting to know each other. And after some scary moments, they were ready to begin their life together.

I feel to recommend this novel, it is well done and written, it’s funny, cute and real, I read it in one night cause I was too curious.

The cover art is very fitting and nice.

Sales Links:  JMS Books LLC | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 173 pages

Expected publication: November 24th 2018 by JMS Books LLC

ASIN B07JMGFC8L

Edition Language English

An Ashlez Review : Walking In A Winter Wonderland by Claire Castle

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Colton Dawson is miserable this holiday season. Those he’d loved the most are no longer in his life. With one disappointment after another, how can he possibly get into the Christmas spirit? Maybe a change of scenery—a new place to put down roots—is just what he needs for a second chance to find some happiness.

Winterbourne Vale is only too happy to help his much-loved aunt and uncle run their café in Canada while on his short December break—even if it means leaving his home in the United Kingdom. After a defeated-looking Colton walks into the café, Winter is determined to lift his spirits.

Can Colton and Winter’s Christmas happiness continue long after the gifts are unwrapped and the decorations are stowed away?

Walking in a Winter Wonderland is holiday treat filled with special ornaments and glistening snow, hot tea and cold-weather kisses, along with some sexy shenanigans and plenty of holiday cheer.

Overall the book was cute, it started off promising, but I found that the intimate moments were extremely lackluster, I can’t hold it fully against the book even though that’s a part of it, because I did like Colton & Winter.
There were a few other annoying moments in the book, I’m all for a sensitive man but this went above and beyond what I would consider “sensitive”.  Given the circumstances anyway.  and there was no real “climax”, normally there’s a moment in a book where you think, oh, it’s not going to end well, this one didn’t really give me that moment.
Winter’s hobby was amazing though, and I wish I could put into words how I picture what he does for a living, because it’s magical, and I need that in my life.
Overall, though, it was a cute Christmas story.
Cover by Claire Castle:  Fitting photo, I can see either of the men in the book fitting on the cover and it works.
Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 136 pages
Published November 15th 2018
ASINB07JC7FXSH

An Alisa Audio Review: Alpha Heat (Heat of Love #2) by Leta Blake and Michael Ferraiuolo (Narrator)

Rating:  4.25 stars out of 5

 

A desperate young alpha. An older alpha with a hero complex. A forbidden love that can’t be denied.

 

Young Xan Heelies knows he can never have what he truly wants: a passionate romance and happy-ever-after with another alpha. It’s not only forbidden by the prevailing faith of the land, but such acts are illegal.

 

Urho Chase is a middle-aged alpha with a heartbreaking past. Careful, controlled, and steadfast, his friends dub him old-fashioned and staid. When Urho discovers a dangerous side to Xan’s life that he never imagined, his world is rocked and he’s consumed by desire. The carefully sewn seams that held him together after the loss of his omega and son come apart—and so does he.

 

But to love each other and make a life together, Xan and Urho risk utter ruin. With the acceptance and support of Caleb, Xan’s asexual and aromantic omega and dear friend, they must find the strength to embrace danger and build the family they deserve.

 

Another great book in this series.  I felt for Xan in the first book and to see how he has struggled the last few years made my heart break.  Urho finds out about Xan in the worst possible way but what he thinks is a straight forward plan to help quickly becomes more complicated.

 

I loved both Xan and Urho and could easily see their struggles to accept themselves and how their lives would be but how wonderful it was once all the walls were broken down.  I also adored Xan’s omega, Caleb, he is so accepting of Xan and Urho; it’s his unconditional support that helped them the most.  Their support for each other and family in the end was great and the fact that they were pretty much giving societal standards the finger was nice.

 

Michael Ferraiuolo did another great job narrating this story.  I was easily able to connect with the characters feel their emotions as he used different voices for the characters.  I have to just say again he does speak quite slowly and with increasing the speed it was made better, which also shortens how long the book takes to listen to, if that deters anyone.

 

Cover art by Dar Albert is great, I love the visual of the characters together and that it follows the same style as Slow Heat.

 

Sales Link:  Audible | Amazon | iTunes

 

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 15 hrs 22 min
Published: October 22, 2018 by Leta Blake
Edition Language: English

Series: Heat of Love #2

A Lucy Review: His Christmas Sweater by CM Valencourt

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Owen loves Christmas.  From November 1st to New Year’s Eve, his world is nothing but ugly sweaters, peppermint mochas, and Mariah Carey holiday singles. 

Jacob is a bit of a Grinch.  Since he’s gotten older, Christmas has never really been what he imagined.  The closest he usually gets to festivities is an occasional bottle of peppermint schnapps.

When Owen’s journey to his parents’ house for their famous Christmas celebration gets cut short by the worst blizzard central Colorado has seen in years, he finds himself seeking shelter at the small roadside inn that Jacob manages.  With Christmas rapidly approaching, Owen sets out to bring some holiday cheer to the hotel and its grumpy manager.  Will Jacob be able to let Owen in before roads clear and Owen drives away forever?

I was so excited to read this book as this author, C.M. Valencourt, wrote my favorite book of 2019, From the Ashes.  This one is different, holiday themed and not as deep.   This starts with Owen heading back through a storm to get to his family Christmas celebration.  They are a very close family who never had much money and all the traditions are very important to Owen.  When the snow storm forces closure of the roads Owen has to very reluctantly admit that he’s going to miss at least part of it for the first time ever.  He ends up at an inn managed by Jacob, the Grinch, which isn’t even decorated for the holidays.  Since there are other guest unhappily stranded as well, Owen pitches in to try to make things better.

The inn does not provide meals, so first off Jacob has to hit the grocery to get things for these stranded holiday travelers.  There are only two people running the inn apparently, Jacob and Mandy, the seasonal housekeeper.  Owen spearheads a “make it Christmasy” campaign that includes Christmas caroling with hot cocoa, decorating the inn and the rooms, making cookies and whipping up Christmas dinner.

This is something that made me roll my eyes because when Jacob goes to the grocery store it is mentioned that “The kitchen in Elk Terrace wasn’t designed with room service in mind.”  There is a single fridge and home range and Jacob got what was there, “…various cans, boxes and the few fresh things…”   Jacob “…was more of a frozen dinner and coldcut sandwiches kind of guy, himself.”   Despite this Owen was able to do miracles.  “They made enough cookie dough to feed an army: two batches of sugar cookie, one snickerdoodle, and one chocolate chip…”  They were also able to whip up the special Gramma’s hot cocoa recipe and a huge dinner including more cookies, three whole pies, etc. 

A small pet peeve – the use of the term “hungry hole” when having sex.

This is a sweet, suspend belief Christmas story with some insta-love happening. Jacob’s family situation is so different from Owen’s, you get to understand why, for him, Christmas is just another day.  Maybe a time to drink some peppermint Schnapps, but otherwise another day.  Similarly, you see the love and care that Owen’s family has and why it is so important to him. 

I loved the whole wrapping paper idea because that seemed so Jacob.

Cover art, showing Owen and Jacob and a ridiculous Christmas Sweater, fits the theme very well although I wish Owen was smiling because that’s kind of his thing!

Sales Links:  Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 77 pages
Published November 10th 2018
ASIN B07KDYT48F
Edition Language English
setting Colorado (United States)

Review Tour and Giveaway for Alpha Heat by Leta Blake

 

Buy Links: Audible US | Audible UK
 
Narrated By: Michael Ferraiuolo
 
Length: 15hrs 22 mins
 
Heat of Love Series
 
Book #1 – Slow Heat – Audible US | Audible UK
 
Blurb



A desperate young alpha. An older alpha with a hero complex. A forbidden love that can’t be denied.


Young Xan Heelies knows he can never have what he truly wants: a passionate romance and happy ever after with another alpha. It’s not only forbidden by the prevailing faith of the land, but such acts are illegal.


Urho Chase is a middle-aged alpha with a heartbreaking past. Careful, controlled, and steadfast, his friends dub him old-fashioned and staid. When Urho discovers a dangerous side to Xan’s life that he never imagined, his world is rocked, and he’s consumed by desire. The carefully sewn seams that held him together after the loss of his omega and son come apart – and so does he.


But to love each other and make a life together, Xan and Urho risk utter ruin. With the acceptance and support of Caleb, Xan’s asexual and aromantic omega and dear friend, they must find the strength to embrace danger and build the family they deserve.


This gay-romance novel by Leta Blake is the second in the Slow Heat universe. It has a strong, happy ending and a well-crafted non-shifter omegaverse. It features alphas, betas, omegas, male pregnancy, heat, and knotting. No cheating. Content warning for brief sexual violence.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/293826951

Alpha Heat Sample 1 from Leta Blake on Vimeo.

 Read Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words review here.

Author Bio


Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.

 

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Blog Tour for Broken Halos (Queen City Rogues #1) by Aimee Nicole Walker (excerpt and giveaway)

Broken Halos Tour Banner

 

BROKEN HALOS

Queen City Rogues, Book 1

AIMEE NICOLE WALKER

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 11.07.18

Broken Halos Cover  

PHOTOGRAPHER: Wander Aguiar

COVER ARTIST:  Jay Aheer/Simply Defined Art

MODEL: Bijan

http://mybook.to/BrokenHalos 

BLURB

Oliver Knight’s past is shrouded by sorrow and tragedy, but instead of hiding from it, Ollie owns his truth and uses his experiences to uplift others. As an out and proud pastor, he provides a safe place for LGBTQ Christians to gather and worship, and as a recovering addict, he counsels those pursuing sobriety. Ollie’s life is fulfilling but also a little lonely. He may not have a hard time meeting men, but he does have a hard time getting them to stick around once they discover his vocation.

Archie White is a former drag queen who hung up his stilettos to start an HIV transition home in the memory of someone he held near and dear to his heart. All work and no play has made Archie a very dull man, but he thinks his luck is about to change when a friend introduces him to a dark-eyed stranger. That is until he learns the man is a pastor. Archie detests anything to do with religion, and for very good reasons.

Archie’s gut tells him to run, and Ollie’s heart tells him to pursue. What can a pastor and a sometimes-queen possibly have in common? A desire to find unconditional love with someone who truly sees them. What happens next is the poignant, sweet, and sexy journey for two resilient hearts. Ollie and Archie’s halos might be battered and a little tarnished, but they’re definitely not broken.

Broken Halos is a charming story with heart, heat, and humor. Warning: these characters and their quirky sidekicks may take up permanent residence in your heart, so proceed with caution. Each book in the Queen City Rogues series can be read as part of the series or as a standalone novel. This book contains sexually explicit material and colorful language intended for adults 18 and older.

Broken Halos Teaser 2

Broken Halos Teaser 3

 EXCERPT

It wasn’t my first time walking into a bowling alley, but it was the first time I showed up on a league night. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t what I found when I strolled through the alley looking for Ollie’s team. There was trash talking going on between the lanes, and each team wore customized shirts with their team name embroidered on the back with a logo and their first names stitched on the front. The color and style of shirts varied from bold and brash to ugly and boring.

Ollie’s team was easy to spot due to Andy’s enormous height. Their shirts were a silky black button-up with the name Broken Halos embroidered on the back in gold with a crooked halo hanging over the “o”in halo. I had no doubt Ollie came up with the team name and design. I had to admit it was adorable, but not more adorable than the pastor who filled it out so nicely. The silk shirt draped over his shoulders and caressed his pecs. The hem of it ended above the curve of his denim-covered ass. I should’ve turned around and left as soon as my mouth started watering, except Ollie turned just then and spotted me. The smile spreading across his face was equal parts welcoming and wolfish and too fucking hard to resist.

“Don’t get the wrong idea, Golden Boy,”I said in greeting. “I’m just here to offer Milo cuddles when he makes a fool of himself.”

The remark got a snort out of Ollie, an eye roll from Andy, and knee-slapping laughs out of the Frat Boys, as Milo called them. Milo himself just looked at me with disappointment for a few seconds before he crooked his finger for me to follow him. He only went far enough to get us out of earshot which wasn’t hard to do since there was more noise inside this bowling alley than the last Pride parade I attended in NYC.

“What are you doing here?”Milo asked firmly. “Don’t give me any bullshit about supporting me and my pitiful bowling because I’m most likely the best bowler in this building.”

“Milo, come now,”I said, smiling sweetly at him. “I love your confidence, but there are times it’s misplaced.”

“I guess you’ll watch and see won’t you,”he said cheekily. “Don’t fuck Ollie over, Archie. He’s missed you like fucking crazy this past month, but he’d eventually get over his attraction to you.”

Aimee Nicole Walker Logo

I am a wife and mother to three kids, three dogs, and a cat. When I’m not dreaming up stories, I like to lose myself in a good book, cook or bake. I’m a girly tomboy

who paints her fingernails while watching sports and yelling at the referees.

I will always choose the book over the movie. I believe in happily-ever-after. Love inspires everything that I do. Music keeps me sane.

FACEBOOK

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Release Blitz and Giveaway for Mr Winterbourne’s Christmas (Winterbourne’s #2) by Joanna Chambers

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | KOBO | Barnes & Noble 
 
Length: 30,000 words approx.
 
Cover Design: Natasha Snow
 
Winterbourne Series
 
Volume #1 – Introducing Mr. Winterbourne – CURRENTLY FREE – Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Blurb
 

Lysander Winterbourne has been living happily at Edgeley Park for the last eighteen months. By day he is Adam Freeman’s estate manager, by night, his lover…but Adam never speaks of his feelings and Lysander has no idea whether their relationship is any more than a convenient arrangement for Adam.

When the two men are invited to Winterbourne Abbey for a family Christmas, matters quickly come to a head. Snowed in at the Abbey with a house full of guests, Lysander has to face up to shocking revelations, long-held secrets and a choice he never expected to have to make…



Author Bio


Joanna Chambers always wanted to write. She spent over 20 years staring at blank sheets of paper and despairing of ever writing a single word. In between staring at blank sheets of paper, she studied law, met her husband and had two children. Whilst nursing her first child, she rediscovered her love of romance and found her muse. Joanna lives in Scotland with her family and finds time to write by eschewing sleep and popular culture.

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Release Blitz and Giveaway – Crossroads (Skins #4) by Garrett Leigh

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK – Exclusive to Amazon and Available to borrow in Kindle Unlimited.
 
Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design
 
Skins Series
 
Book #1 – Dream – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #2 – Whisper – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #3 – Believe – Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Blurb
 

Angelo Giordano and Dylan Hart are more in love than ever, but their reality is far from ideal. With Dylan working in London, and Angelo recovering from chronic illness in Cornwall, they rarely spend more than few nights under the same sky.


Dylan is struggling. Being apart from Angelo is killing him, and he’s at the end of his rope. Angelo can’t live in London anymore, but can Dylan give up his whole life and move to a place that often feels like the end of the world?


As the end of a tough year approaches, they reach a crossroads. Dylan returns to Cornwall for Christmas and Angelo can’t imagine watching him leave again. Can the love that surrounds them on Whisper Farm show them the way home?

 

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Fox Love Press.

Garrett’s debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.

Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with photographer Dan Burgess.

Website: http://www.garrettleigh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh

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A MelanieM Review: The Burning Magus (Blue Unicorn #3) by Don Allmon

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

JT was a perfectly happy orc building cars in the Arizona desert until his old friend and sometimes lover Austin showed up and talked him into one last crime. Now “one last crime” has snowballed. With a new team of thieves—a supersoldier, a hacker, a driver, a graffiti artist, and a seafaring wizard—JT and Austin are determined to free an artificial intelligence from the dungeon of the Burning Magus.

For JT, this job is more than a prison break; it’s a do-over of The Job That Went Bad two years ago, the catastrophe in which JT lost his closest friend and then chose to abandon everything, even Austin. Maybe this time no one will die. Maybe this time JT can return to Arizona and bury his old life for good.

Except Austin won’t be buried. After two years alone, Austin knows he wants JT—not just as a partner in crime, but as the lover he always should have been. Maybe this time they won’t make the same mistakes, especially when it comes to each other.

With The Burning Magus, Don Allmon brings The Blue Unicorn trilogy to a close and does so in a manner  I’ve come to expect from this wildly imaginative author.

I’ve loved and been intrigued by the warped, bleak landscape of the universe that is the setting for this series.  The land and people contorted, twisted, and transformed into “otherness”…orcs, trolls, elves, and more.  History become fabricated, molded, and then worshiped along various lines as was self created religions.  Techno driven cultures, implants, wastelands of the environments and of the soul….nothing that Don Allmon forgot or left uncreated.

That included a trilogy arc of incredible cruelty, betrayal, revenge, loyalty, and love.  All done amidst cars, trucks, gadgetry,magic, and carnage.

Oh, and sex, lots and lots of sex.

All that continues here.

At the end I had to think.  It was as if the author, in his plotting of the final book, started picking up the proverbial narrative grab bag.  “I want that over there, and that, and that.”  You, there, honking big thing!,  I want you!”  And Allmon goes for the gusto with every nutso item the writer gets his hand on.  And then brings order to it    There’s an skillfully written suspenseful breakin scene!  Talk about action adventure right down to the techno spider thingy.  And a mad getaway.  Heroes in peril multiple times.  Bike chases, stolen cars, boats, AI’s who might be alive, and even Godzilla!

Did I mention tentacle sex? And dragons?

And for all this wonderful wild weirdness, Don Allmon doesn’t forget that what we as readers crave is the connectivity.  One character to another, the reader to the characters.  It’s all about the  emotions, the heart, the love.  That we also get.  Just when we need it the most.

If, at the end of the book, we’re left a little spent, exhausted.  Well, that’s to be expected.   Look at the path we’ve trodden together.  We’ve been shot at, abducted, lied to, wounded, lost our hope and found it again.  Along with love.  That’s a trip well spent.  A journey well taken and one I highly recommend.

Cover By: Simoné.  I love these covers by Simoné, they remain some of my favorite.  Perfect for the characters and storyline.  Fantastic!

Sales Links:  Riptide Publishing | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 219 pages
Published November 19th 2018 by Riptide Publishing
Original Title The Burning Magus
ISBN 139781626497559
Edition Language English
Series Blue Unicorn

The Glamour Thieves

Apocalypse Alley

The Burning Magus