A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Shelter from the Storm by Kate Sherwood

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

This was an unexpectedly interesting story that was fun to read—the perfect enemies to lovers story with a touch of humor and a historical twist.

Grif is a mercenary traveling through the mountains in winter. Even he knows it’s a stupid idea but he needed to leave the last town he stopped in and he really doesn’t care if he makes it through winter or not.

Kiernan is a sweet, innocent young man who thinks the mission his lover, the son of the ruler of his country, sent him on is of utmost importance and he won’t give up until he makes it through the snow-covered mountain pass. When a body unexpectedly tumbles from the cliff above him, he drags the unconscious but still-alive man back to the makeshift shelter he erected for the night.

Little does he know it’s the best move he ever made because, though the gruff mercenary treats him like dirt and steals his supplies, he ultimately also teaches Kiernan how to survive in the winter. He also disabuses him of the notion that he’s going to make it through the pass before spring. And then the worst insult – he opens the highly important message Kiernan is carrying so Kiernan can see what his life is worth to his former lover.

I enjoyed the banter between the characters so much! It was lively, sometimes humorous, always honest, and often painful for Kiernan to hear. Ultimately, Kiernan accepts Grif’s offer to tag along with him and take shelter in a cave until spring. That, of course, lends a lot of time for Grif to teach him how to survive and for Kiernan to teach Grif the meaning of friendship and love.

The story was like an unexpected gem, and I highly recommend it to those who love a good enemies-to-lovers romance and those who like stories set in medieval times.

The cover by Kanaxa features a man dressed in a medieval warrior outfit holding a sword and a shield and in the background a smaller man is looking back over his shoulder. The background is dark gray and close-up readers can see that it’s actually mountains. The whole collage is the perfect representation of Kieran and Giles and their snowbound adventure in the mountains.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 154 pages
Published August 20th 2018 by Riptide Publishing
Original Title Shelter from the Storm
ISBN 1626497788 (ISBN13: 9781626497788)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Audio Review Tour and Giveaway – Changing Lines (Harrisburg Railers #1) by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey/Sean Crisden (Narrator)

Buy Links: Audible US | Audible UK

Length: 5hrs 10mins

Narrated By: Sean Crisden

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Blurb

Can Tennant show Jared that age is just a number and that love is all that matters?

The Rowe brothers are famous hockey hotshots, but as the youngest of the trio, Tennant has always had to play against his brothers’ reputations. To get out of their shadows, and against their advice, he accepts a trade to the Harrisburg Railers, where he runs into Jared Madsen. Mads is an old family friend and his brother’s one-time teammate. Mads is Tennant’s new coach. And Mads is the sexiest thing on which he’s ever laid eyes.

Jared Madsen’s hockey career was cut short by a fault in his heart, but coaching keeps him close to the game. When Ten is traded to the team, his carefully organized world is thrown into chaos. Nine years his junior and his best friend’s brother, he knows Ten is strictly off-limits, but as soon as he sees Ten’s moves, on and off the ice, he knows his heart could get him into trouble again.

August 22 – My Timeout Book Blog, Mainely Stories, Gay Media Reviews, OMG Reads, Xtreme Delusions, BJ’s Book Blog, Urban Smoothie Read, We Three Queens, The Blogger Girls, Katie’s Book Corner, Bookaholic & Kindle, Making It Happen, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, August 24 – MM Good Book Reviews, August 27 – Min & Her Books, August 29 – Drops Of Ink, Padme’s Library, August 31 – Dog-Eared Daydreams, Valerie Ullmer, Bayou Book Junkie, Pants Off Reviews, Wicked Reads, Lillian Francis

RJ’s goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.RJ is the author of the over one hundred novels and discovered romance in books at a very young age. She realized that if there wasn’t romance on the page, she could create it in her head, and is a lifelong writer.

She lives and works out of her home in the beautiful English countryside, spends her spare time reading, watching films, and enjoying time with her family.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit and has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the following links below:

Email RJ (rj@rjscott.co.uk)

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, Dr. Who, Torchwood, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, two Jersey steers and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.

When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions

Blog Tour Circle of Trust by Aimee Nicole Walker & Nicolas Bella (excerpt and giveaway)

CIRCLE OF TRUST

NICHOLAS BELLA & AIMEE NICOLE WALKER

M/M PARANORMAL ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 08.07.18

COVER DESIGN: JAY AHEER/ Simply Defined Art

http://mybook.to/Circle_Of_Trust

BLURB

Lorcán Kennedy is a take-no-prisoner vampire whose grit is tested when slain vampires start showing up in his sector. His investigation reveals a blessed weapon was used in the slayings, which leads him to a rogue hunter with a grudge against vampires.

Christian Wolfe is a no-nonsense hunter who believes the only good vampire is a dead one, but his code of honor keeps his hatred in check. When his integrity is questioned, he will do anything to defend it, including work with his enemy.

Vampire and hunter unite to solve the case, although for very different reasons. Lorcán wants to prove he is worthy of his Regent title once and for all. Christian wants to uncover who is framing him for the vampire deaths. It sounds easy enough, but neither are prepared for the desire that arcs between them when their eyes meet for the first time. When longing glances give way to passionate kisses and scorching touches, these powerful beings will learn that their bond goes beyond mere attraction. It is fate.

Sparks and fangs fly in this second installment of the Genesis Circle, a paranormal romance series written by Nicholas Bella and Aimee Nicole Walker. This book contains explicit material and is intended for adults 18 and older.

Cirlce of Trust Teaser 3

Circle of Trust Teaser 4

EXCERPT

The knock on my door let me know Christian was waiting on the other side. I stood in front of the door and took a deep, calming breath. Jesus Christ, why was I so nervous? I’m over a century old, why was I acting like some schoolboy meeting his first crush? It was ridiculous. I silently chastised myself for being a dolt and opened the door. Ahhh, there he stood in all his handsome glory. He was looking at me with eyes that held desire and curiosity. There was also a bit of agitation in his expression. Well, let’s see if I could get rid of it and help him focus more on the desire and curiosity he was harboring.

“Come in,” I said, opening the door wider.

He stepped inside, and I closed the door, locking it.

“Okay, I’m here, what did you need to show me that you couldn’t send over the phone?” he asked, getting right to business. Okay, here was the dilemma. Do I show him what I know and risk killing the mood I was setting up, or do I just pounce on him, rock his world, and then show him what I’d discovered? Hmmmm, decisions, decisions.

I decided to make my move. I walked over to him and pushed him into the chair. He fell into it, legs flying up from the impact. I didn’t give him a chance to recover before I was climbing into his lap. I grabbed him by the back of his head and kissed those lips I’d been thinking about all night. I thought he would push me back, but he didn’t… at least not right away. He was kissing me again, giving me that same fire he burned me with in the alley, and I was melting in response.

I felt his arms embrace me as he kissed me harder, more passionately, as if he couldn’t help himself. I caressed his bearded cheek as I relished his tongue in my mouth. Even the taste of him was intoxicating. I wanted him. Just when it was getting extra hot, he must have found the wherewithal to hit the brakes. Like we needed him to do that.

He pushed me off him, and I landed with a hard thud on my ass. His muscular chest heaved as he sucked in deep breaths of air, attempting to gather his senses. He was staring at me now, his gorgeous blue eyes clouded with lust. It was what we both needed, and I wasn’t about to let his hatred of vampires ruin the moment I knew we both wanted.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked.

“What we both want,” I said then climbed back into his lap and pressed my lips to his again. That time, he didn’t try to push me away. Instead, he began ripping off my shirt, sending buttons flying in every direction. Sure, it was a designer garment, but I was willing to sacrifice it to get Christian in my bed. I helped him take my shirt off me then I leaned back just enough to snatch his jacket and shirt from his body.

Oh yes, sweet baby Jesus, yes! His chest was covered in dark, black hair. Not too thick, but perfect for running my fingers through. That’s just what I did, too. I started from the trail leading to his treasure trove and worked my way up to his nipples, letting my fingers glide through his silky hair and over his smooth skin. I hadn’t been this aroused in I don’t know how long. I sought his lips again because they tasted so damn good. While I was lost in the pleasure of his mouth, I kept my hands firmly on those muscular pecs I’d been wanting to touch since I first saw him.

His hands were all over me, stroking my back until they reached my ass, and he gripped both cheeks, giving them a nice squeeze. I moaned as I broke the kiss and started sucking and licking his neck, making my mark. He was moaning too, and if I didn’t know any better, it would seem he was trying to seduce me to bite him. He turned his head, exposing his neck to me, and his natural scent floated up my nostrils, calling to my hunger. There was something special about the blood of the Institute hunters. The scent of it was more intoxicating than any other being I’d ever smelled. I always wanted to know what it tasted like, and my mouth began to salivate at the possibility.

I wanted to bite him, to taste his essence, the fluid that made his heart beat and his cock hard. I wanted his blood to flow into me just as his semen flowed into me. Soon, my love. I held my fangs in check and only sucked gently at the tender flesh of his neck, just below his beard. I rubbed my cheek against his, enjoying the rough hairs lightly scrubbing my face. In that moment, everything that had been bothering me seemed to disappear, and all that mattered was Christian.

I had to have more of him. I moved down, kissing and licking his chest, sucking his perky nipples. I didn’t stop there, we both raced to undo his pants and pulled them down and off. Finally, I got to see him fully naked, and what a beautiful sight he was. I let my eyes trail over him slowly, and they widened when I got to his erection. He was huge, bigger than any man I’d ever been with. Great holy moly, I should have done some squats and stretches before he came over to prepare for this beast.

Aimee 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.

About me? Hmmm, I’m just a person with a wild imagination and a love for words who was sitting around the house one day and said, “Why hasn’t anyone written a book like this before?”. As with every storyteller, I wanted to share mine with the world. I like my erotica dark, gritty, sexy… and even a little raunchy. I’m not afraid to go there and I hope you aren’t afraid to go there with me. When I’m not writing, I love watching movies and TV shows, clubbing, biking, and hanging out with family and friends. I love life.

I’d love to hear from you, feel free to send me a shout out!

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Vibrant Promotions Logo

In the Spotlight Tour and Giveaway for Shelter from the Storm by Kate Sherwood

Shelter from the Storm by Kate Sherwood
Riptide Publishing

Cover Art: Kanaxa

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing

About Shelter from the Storm

A healer and a warrior fight to survive the winter . . . and each other.

Grif is tired of life as a mercenary—tired of life, period. So he heads off into the mountains, not much caring whether he lives or dies. But when his indifference leaves him unconscious in a snowbank, a stranger finds him and insists on dragging him back from death.

Kiernan doesn’t really have time to nurse a stranger back to health; he’s on an important mission. He doesn’t know why the message he’s carrying is significant, but he’s determined to deliver it, even if it means risking his life in the winter mountains. Still, he can’t just walk away from a fellow traveler in need.

Grif didn’t want to be saved, and he sure as hell doesn’t want to be stuck with an annoying, naïve do-gooder. But since when do the mountains give men what they want? The snow is too deep to travel. Food is scarce. Grif and Kiernan learn to depend on each other, and eventually to care about each other. Neither of them wanted it to happen. But sometimes the mountains don’t give men what they want; sometimes, the mountains give men what they need.

About Kate Sherwood

Kate Sherwood started writing about the same time she got back on a horse after almost twenty years away from riding. She’d like to think she was too young for it to be a midlife crisis, but apparently she was ready for some changes!

Kate grew up near Toronto, Ontario (Canada) and went to school in Montreal, then Vancouver. But for the last decade or so she’s been a country girl. Sure, she misses some of the conveniences of the city, but living close to nature makes up for those lacks. She’s living in Ontario’s “cottage country”–other people save up their time and come to spend their vacations in her neighborhood, but she gets to live there all year round!

Since her first book was published in 2010, she’s kept herself busy with novels, novellas, and short stories in almost all the sub-genres of m/m romance. Contemporary, suspense, scifi or fantasy–the settings are just the backdrop for her characters to answer the important questions. How much can they share, and what do they need to keep? Can they bring themselves to trust someone, after being disappointed so many times? Are they brave enough to take a chance on love?

Kate’s books balance drama with humor, angst with optimism. They feature strong, damaged men who fight themselves harder than they fight anyone else. And, wherever possible, there are animals: horses, dogs, cats ferrets, squirrels… sometimes it’s easier to bond with a non-human, and most of Kate’s men need all the help they can get.

After five years of writing, Kate is still learning, still stretching herself, and still enjoying what she does. She’s looking forward to sharing a lot more stories in the future.

Connect with Kate:

Website: http://katesherwoodbooks.com/
Twitter: @kate_sherwood

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Shelter from the Storm, Kate is giving away a $10 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on August 26, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Cover Reveal for Heart of a Redneck by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga

Heart of a Redneck by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga

Release Date: November 13, 2018
Preorder Sales Link: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza, http://www.seeingstatic.com/

Blurb:

Colby McBride is a blue-collar cowboy trying to make ends meet laying tile in Colorado. A loner by choice, Colby works hard with his hands and finds his peace camping in the mountains outside Boulder. Gordon James is a white-collar restaurateur who owns not one, but two successful establishments in downtown Boulder. He’s a sophisticated urbanite who is devoted to his work and is accustomed to getting what he wants.

The men are friends, but sparks fly when Colby falls in love and decides to show Gordon how much fun a good old boy can be. They’re just beginning to explore their relationship when Gordon’s sister’s suicide leaves him with custody of his five-year-old niece.

Colby comes from a huge family and is eager to help with the girl and to prove his worth to Gordon. But neither of them is ready for the tremendous changes to their already busy lives, or for how this new relationship with Olivia challenges them, complicating the way they interact with each other.

They say opposites attract, but can these two very different men work together to join their disparate lives and form a strong, if highly unlikely, family?

Category: Contemporary

Pages: 234 (ebook), 240 (paperback)

About the Authors

Jodi Payne spent too many years in New York and San Francisco stage-managing classical plays, edgy fringe work, and the occasional musical. She therefore is overdramatic, takes herself way too seriously, and has been known to randomly break out in song. Her men are imperfect but genuine, stubborn but likeable, often kinky, and frequently their own worst enemies. They are characters you can’t help but fall in love with while they stumble along the path to their happily ever after.

For those looking to get on her good side, Jodi’s addictions include nonfat lattes, Malbec, and tequila however you pour it. She’s also obsessed with Shakespeare and Broadway musicals. She can be found wearing sock monkey gloves while typing when it’s cold, and on the beach enjoying the sun and the ocean when it’s hot. When she’s not writing and/or vacuuming sand out of her laptop, Jodi mentors queer youth and will drop everything for live music. Jodi lives near New York City with her beautiful wife, and together they are mothers of dragons (cleverly disguised as children) and slaves to an enormous polydactyl cat.

Website: http://www.jodipayne.net
Email: jodipaynewrites@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/payne.jodi
FB Author Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/jodisgents
Twitter: @JodiPayne
Instagram: @jodipayne1800
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/267617.Jodi_Payne

BA Tortuga, Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting, and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery ménages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeonholed by anyone but the voices in her head.

Website: http://www.batortuga.com
Blog: batortuga.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/batortuga
Twitter: ,

A Jeri Release Day Review: Rocking the Cowboy by Skylar M. Cates

Rating: 3 Stars out of 5

This was a cute, what I like to call, a throw away read. It kept me fairly entertained, there was no big angst, the sex was fairly hot and the romance tried. But overall I wasn’t emotionally connected to the characters and it left me wanting a little more.

Jed is running the family ranch and has since his father took off to become an entertainment manager in LA. Specifically the manager of Remy Sean, up and coming Disney star. But as the years pass and Remy becomes more and more popular until he is mobbed at a concert. Overwhelmed with anxiety, he goes off to hide at the ranch. With Jed, who barely remembers Remy but who Remy couldn’t forget.

So, that was part of my issue. How could Jed hardly remember Remy when it was Remy’s career that his father left for. Jed just sees this as a means to an end. His father gets to send his biggest client to the ranch to relax and Jed will get his father to sign over the other half of the ranch and guarantee his father’s presence at his sister’s wedding.

Overall Jed was so blah. He didn’t even really perk up when he and Remy got together. He really was a wet blanket.

I get that Remy needed the time on the ranch, but it seemed to dull his sparkle. There was so much there that could have been used to make the story more interesting. More playing, more banter, more longing looks. Just more.

I won’t remember this story in a week, but it was ok.

Cover art: Aaron Anderson. The cover is eye-catching and splashy! A perfect combination of cowboy and rockstar.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 228 pages
Published August 21st 2018 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleRocking the Cowboy
ISBN139781640804449
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Lucy Release Day Review: Wanted Bad Boyfriend by TA Moore

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Nathan Moffatt is a 37-year-old wedding planner who loves his mother, Ally, and his best friend, Max. What he doesn’t love is how they are constantly at him about finding someone of his own. Despite his protests, they (and seems like everyone else on the island) are always trying to set him up. In desperation he decides to enlist the help of Flynn Delaney, the local bad boy who everyone gossips about and no one seems to like. If he can show off Flynn as a boyfriend, everyone will be relieved when they break up. What could go wrong?

Nate is the wedding planner at the Granshire, “… one of the top ten destination-wedding locations in the UK. Wedding parties arrived from around the world.” It’s not the easiest place to get to but people believe it’s worth it. It is Nate’s job to make sure the couples get what they want and their weddings go off smoothly. We get some wedding planning details, particularly of Katie and Bradley, a TV star who is going to be married at the Granshire if things stop happening to complicate matters.

Flynn is the owner of the local garage, bequeathed from his dad, and is also a rescue worker. When Nate asks for the favor of being his fake boyfriend, he immediately says no. But Nate works on him a little. “He could resist anything but pettiness and pretty men. Now there they both were in one well-dressed package.” Even if Nate presents it badly, “So I thought I’d get one- a really bad one, or at least the worst one I can find at short notice on the island.” “And you immediately thought of me,” Flynn said.”

So they begin this whole fool the locals drama and the problem is that Flynn is not a bad boyfriend. There is one time he acts “badly” and I thought he had good reason to. It’s more of Nate being a bad boyfriend than anything.

Secondary characters are interesting. I absolutely loved Ally. She is recovering from cancer and doesn’t want people treating her like she is about to die. Flynn doesn’t do that, although he is embarrassed when she observes, “So you’re the one that gave my son a hickey”. She also doesn’t treat Flynn like he is the island pariah, even when Max is incredibly rude about him. That brings us to Max, the best friend who needs to get a life and grow up, facing his father. Max acts badly way more than Flynn ever does. There is also Teddy, Max’s father and Nate’s boss, who is an a**hole of the highest order.

I am a big fan of the fake boyfriend trope so I was excited for this. There are things that didn’t add up for me, or maybe I should say things that I wanted explained. Flynn is the island a**hole, most people treat him badly and they have all sorts of nasty stories about why he left the island in the first place and why he came back, but it is never really explained why they all feel that way. There is no defining event in the past that caused this thinking, other than him not returning for his father’s funeral, by which time he was already the island’s lead jerk. . Another point was, Nate just shows up at Flynn’s lighthouse (which he has been hounding Flynn to let as AirBnB for the weddings) and clumsily and insultingly puts forth his proposal for fake boyfriend. Did they know each other before? I know Flynn knew of Max but it is never mentioned that Nate and Flynn were friends. Nate had a crush on the older man (by five years) but that didn’t explain they seem to know each other now.

I liked that each chapter begins with either gossip or an attempt by someone to hook Nate up. It made me both sad at the nasty things said and smile at the obvious attempts (I think you’ll have so much in common. You’re both gay, after all).

The rumors that fly about Flynn are seriously horrible at times. “Is it true that Delany was a whore you and Max used when you are in London?” I kept thinking, why does he stay here? And when his reason came out, it made me want to hug him. Go into this knowing that the whole worst boyfriend isn’t really Flynn and it’s a fluffy, easy read.

Cover art by Reece Notley is interesting but not really relevant to the story. There is a man I assume to be Nate reading a newspaper with the wanted add circled and that isn’t what this was at all. So cute cover but misleading.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 218 pages
Expected publication: August 21st 2018 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781640802605
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Lila Release Day Review: Art House (Buchanan House #6) by Charley Descoteaux

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Chase Holland spends his days painting Portland scenes to hang in local businesses, neglecting his own surrealist style. After twenty-five years as a full-time artist, he’s frustrated that his career has stalled, but churning out the equivalent of corporate art is better than getting a day job. Chase and Garrett have been together—off and on, but mostly on—for a decade. If asked, they would both say the source of their trouble is the seventeen-year age gap. The truth is less clear-cut. Life would be so much easier if Chase could make a living with his own art, or if Garrett held less conventional ideas about relationships.

Garrett Frisch has been watching their friends get married for the past two years, and it’s taking an emotional toll. When he proposes as a way to keep them together permanently, he thinks he’s being responsible, but Chase is ambivalent and hurt and can’t hide it. It doesn’t help that Garrett’s anxiety is out of control and he’s dealing with insecurities about his own art career. They will have to do their least favorite thing—talk about something more important than which food cart to visit—if they are to get the happy ending they both want.

Art House is the last book in the Buchanan House series and it delivers a lovely new story. Plus, it gives us a last hurrah with the rest of the couples. We get to see a little more of their journeys and how their love and friendships have developed over time. It’s nice to be part of their family.

As for this particular book, I have to be honest, it’s not one of my favorites but it’s the most real of them all. It is very depressing, but not because of the content. It’s because the reader becomes one with Chase and Garrett. Their troubles are palpable and the reader has no other option but to share the burden with them.

Don’t get me wrong, the book is interesting and hard to put down. The love and passion between the MCs are breathtaking and the extremes they go to keep each other from falling apart are incredible. Their relationship takes place within ten years but is not until the very end that they turned a new page and commit to their future. It’s not easy but it is exactly what they needed.

Everyone in this story plays an important part in Chase’s and Garrett’s happy ending. They are the bumpers that kept them from losing themselves in the darkness that followed them. Their actions, words, and encouragement are intense and hopeful. This was definitely the right couple to wrap-up this series.

The book has another perfect cover by L.C. Chase. It’s not only beautiful but it goes perfectly with the story and the covers for the rest of the series.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | iBooks

Book Details:

ebook, 254 pages
Published: August 21, 2018, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 9781640805668
Edition Language: English

Series: Buchanan House
Book #1: Buchanan House
Book #2: Pride Weekend
Book #3: Tiny House
Book #4: Safe House
Book #5: Holiday Weekend
Book #6: Art House

An Ali Release Day Review: Hex and Candy (Strange Bedfellows #1) by Ashlyn Kane

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

True love’s kiss can break the curse. But then what?

Cole Alpin runs a small-town candy store. He visits his grandmother twice a week. And sometimes he breaks curses.

Leo Ericson’s curse is obvious right away, spiderwebbing across his very nice body. Though something about it worries Cole, he agrees to help—with little idea of what he’s getting into.

Leo is a serial monogamist, but his vampire ex has taken dating off the table with his nasty spell, and Leo needs Cole’s companionship as much as his help. When the hex proves to be only the beginning of his problems, Leo seeks refuge at Cole’s place. Too bad magic prevents him from finding refuge in Cole’s arms.

Cole’s never had a boyfriend, so how can he recognize true love? And there’s still the matter of the one responsible for their troubles in the first place….

I really enjoyed this story. Cole wants to help Leo but at the same time is sure that he can’t be the one to do it. Leo doesn’t realize how hollow his life and relationships have been until he doesn’t have them anymore.

Cole has given up on finding love and even though he doesn’t want to fight this pull to Leo he is afraid to give in and get hurt. Leo is struggling with his new reality but it is also giving him a chance to reflect on his life and how he may want it to change.

I really liked both of these characters. I could understand how Cole kept the way to break the kiss from Leo but once they gave in and the curse seemed to go away there never really a talk about how that happened. We can see Leo struggle to understand everything about this new paranormal world he is living in but he does pretty well for the most part and really doesn’t want to walk away from it either. I look forward to more stories in this universe and hope it will follow someone we met in this book.

The cover art by Aaron Anderson is great and I love all the visuals that it gives for the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 214 pages

Published: August 21, 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 978-1-64080-739-6

Edition Language: English

Series: Dreamspun Beyond, Strange Bedfellows #1

SERIES REVIEW TOUR for Directions by Jena Wade (giveaway)

SERIES REVIEW TOUR

BOOK 1

Book Title: Up to Code

Author: Jena Wade

Publisher: Self-published

Genre/s: m/m romance mpreg

Length: 28 000 words

Add on Goodreads

Blurb

Aiden was an Omega who needed a job doing what he loved. He never imagined he’d meet his fated mate during the interview. He was ready to bond right away, but something stopped his Alpha from claiming him. Aiden’s patience held strong, but being near his mate every day without bonding threatened to drive him insane.
Brandon owned a successful company, and he wanted to share that success with his mate and their child. But the continued thefts troubled him and the last thing he wanted to do was drag his new mate into any danger.
Danger found them anyway.

This is a 28K non-shifter mpreg novella featuring a sweet romance, a HEA, and no cliffhanger

Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Excerpt

With one deep breath and a quick step I crossed the threshold and came face to face with pure sex dressed as a six-foot grown man with broad shoulders, slim hips, dirty blond hair and piercing green eyes.

Holy hell.

Mate, my mind screamed.

Blood roared in my ears as I took in his scent. Oh my God. I’d always wondered how a person knew when they’d met their fated mate. “You’ll just know” was all I was ever told by my Omega dad.

I knew, all right. I could feel it in every part of my body. I belonged to him and he belonged to me already and I hadn’t even heard him speak. All he had to do was give the word and I’d bare my neck, ready to bond.

I couldn’t form words. I never was good with people, least of all people I was attracted to. Though, that hadn’t happened in a long time. I would have to leave the house in order to meet someone and I didn’t do that very often, unless it was for work. In those cases, I kept it professional.

I didn’t feel very professional right now.

BOOK 2

Book Title: Down to Earth

Author: Jena Wade

Publisher: Self-published

Genre/s: m/m romance mpreg

Length: 26 000 words

Add on Goodreads

Blurb

Everett Surlin longed for the day that his Fated mate finally recognized him. It’d been eight years since he’d first met Matt Jenkins, he’d never imagined it take this long for his mate to realize their connection.

Matt Jenkins had done his best to put his past behind him. The abuse he’d endured as a child stayed locked away inside him, never to be shared with anyone. He’d assumed that as a result of his upbringing, he was broken and he would never have a mate. That didn’t stop him from desiring Everett and wishing that they could be together.

When tragedy strikes, Matt stays at Everett’s side, which just might be the push he needs to discover what had been there all along and a future he never dreamed would be possible.

This is a 26K non-shifter mpreg novella featuring a sweet romance, a HEA, and no cliffhanger.
This is the second book in the Directions series, but can be read as a standalone.

Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Excerpt

I twirled the wedding band around in my hand, running my fingers over the smooth, silver metal. The ring had once belonged to my father, and hopefully someday it would belong to my mate.

Matt.

My body heated at the thought of my mate, as it often did. I’d known for almost a decade now that Matt was my mate.

Matt remained oblivious.

My fists clenched instinctively. I couldn’t help but feel angry at Fate for showing me my mate before he was ready. I often wondered if he would ever be ready. Usually, it was a magical moment full of marvel and enlightenment. Eyes met, fireworks burst, and nature took its course. A mate bond was established, and the couple lived happily ever after. I’d never heard an Alpha recognizing his mate before their Omega.

BOOK 3

Book Title: Back to You

Author: Jena Wade

Publisher: Self-published

Genre/s: m/m romance mpreg

Length: 25 000 words

Add on Goodreads

Blurb

Victor Docimo loved his mate more than anything, and he’s worked hard to provide Charles with the life that he deserved. He’s strived to be the Alpha that his own Father was not.

Charles spent the last twenty-six years mated to his perfect Alpha. He raised their son and managed their home. He’s tried to provide his Alpha with a family, despite the fact that he can’t have more children. After seeing Victor with another Omega, he begins to wonder if he’s enough.

Now, the two of them must face their greatest challenge yet, something that shouldn’t be possible: a broken bond.

This is a 25K non-shifter mpreg novella featuring a sweet romance, a HEA, and no cliffhanger.
This is the third book in the Directions series, but can be read as a standalone.

Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Excerpt

I was about to tell my roommate I was heading home, when the air in the room shifted. I became hyper aware of everything around me and, as silly as it sounds, time stood completely still. I searched around the room, looking for what had changed, what was causing this awareness in me that made my skin tingle. Then, I locked eyes with him.

Victor.

Something in the back of my mind whispered his name to me. I knew him. Though I had only seen him one time and spoken to him for less than a minute. He made his way over to me, the crowd parted for him as he moved through the room. I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t move. I didn’t want to look away.

When he finally reached me, he smiled. There was kindness in his eyes, but also a heat and arousal that set my body on fire, and we hadn’t even touched yet.

“Charles, right?” he said.

“Mate.” My hand flew to my mouth. I couldn’t believe I’d said that aloud. I realized that it was the truth. The man, Victor, standing before me right now was my mate.

He chuckled. “I was hoping you’d notice this time.”

About the Author

Jena began writing in January of 2013 as a New Year’s Resolution—and so far she has stuck to it!

She lives in Michigan. By day she works as a web developer, and at night she writes. Born and raised on a farm, she spends most of her free time outdoors, playing in the garden, or riding her horses. She also helps run the family dairy farm.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website

Facebook

Twitter

Giveaway

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a choice of ebook from Jena’s backlist.

a Rafflecopter giveaway