A MelanieM Release Day Review: Second Level by Drew Marvin Frayne

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

The path to true love is never easy, especially when you are on opposite sides of the world’s greatest theological debate.

It’s Halloween, and the Demon of Masturbation—Dom, for short—has come to Earth to collect sins and souls for his boss. But a representative from the Interfering Angel Network—Ian—has been sent to put a crimp in his plans. Frankly, though, the two seem less interested in sins and souls than in the three bottles of tequila they down during the night. Alcohol can lower the inhibitions, but it also impacts judgment, and Dom and Ian soon find themselves in the world’s most awkward threesome with a young mortal virgin.

Forget battling for his soul—their real passion seems to be for each other. But Halloween night is waning fast, and the veil between the worlds is only lifted for one night. How can two beings from opposite sides come together when they know they are destined to forever be apart?

Second Level by Drew Marvin Frayne has to be one of my favorites simply because I laughed so much.  And it had such a neat twist at the end.  But mostly because of the humor and the wonderful characters.  Dom the Demon of Masturbation is priceless, especially when he’s musing on how beauty and body image has changed over the centuries.  What’s a short, chunky demon to do?

However, it’s in the swing towards poignancy towards the end where the depth of the story really kicks in and pulls at your heart, surprisingly so after sort of labeling the story a comedy.  No there’s more to this little gem than just that.  Read it and find out for yourself why I highly recommend it.

Cover art by Natasha Snow is again just perfect.

Sales Links:

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: October 23rd 2017 by NineStar Press
ISBN139781947904101
Edition LanguageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Deacon’s Law (Heroes #3) by RJ Scott

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Undercover cop Deacon Shepherd lost everything trying to maintain his cover – the man he loved and the future he craved. He walked away and never looked back because it was the only way to keep Rafe alive.

The last thing he needs is to be dragged back in that world, but an attempt on Rafe’s life is enough to make him risk his heart again.

Rafael ‘Rafe’ Martinez wakes up in hospital, the victim of a hit and run. He’s stunned when the first face he sees is that of the man who betrayed him and left him for dead three years before. Witness protection had stripped Rafe of his name and now it seems someone from his past wants him dead. The only way he can stay alive is to trust the man who tried to kill him and then broke his heart. But how can he ever trust Deacon, and how can Deacon protect Rafe without falling in love all over again?

Deacon’s Law is the third in the Heroes series by RJ Scott and it has everything you’ve come to expect from this series and author.  It has a suspense filled story,  multiple murders and a couple at odds with each other although they’ve fallen in love and an villain after them, whether it’s a person or organization.  In this case, a bit of both.

I love this series and the first two stories totally did it for me, as did their couples.  Deacon Shepherd?  Hot, hot, hot!  A undercover cop who went too deep inside an operation that was  bad in every way; drugs, murder, and, child trafficking, Deacon ended up getting emotionally involved in his last case, and has been paying for it ever since.  R.J. Scott gets us inside this complicated man.  She gives him layers, the hardness necessary to do the job he does as well as the pain and regret for the things he does and the life he feels he cannot have.  He’s one of those “let me be your bandage” men that readers always  connect with immediately.

Then there’s Rafe Martinez, who honestly keeps doing so many irresponsible things throughout this story I can’t even remember what his “new” name is under the Witness Protection program is.  He’s my problem here.  I liked everything else. I liked the storyline.  The crazed nutcase from the past, the suspense and the heart-stopping chases that RJ Scott does so  well.  All great!  But Rafe who goes after his uncle by himself to begin with, then disobeys WITSEC commands endangering everyone around him, and then continues to do so.  I won’t even go into his stubbornness about his protection detail because I get that.  No, I don’t get him withholding information on the location to look for said nutcase because it might affect deceased dad’s reputation (there are kidnapped children potentially involved here) or the way he escaped after being hit by a car, even with a heavy cast and wounded.   I just wanted to shake him myself.   So yes, there’s that.

Luckily, the story’s rocketing suspense pulled me in as did Deacon that I sort of went along with the romance.  Hey, we have know those couples where we only like one half of them right? Plus I got Kayden from the Sanctuary series which remains one of my all time favorite RJ Scott series, which is always a delight.  There is a happy ending that ties up all the loose plot threads in such a way that I wondered if this wasn’t the end for Heroes.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Can you read this as a stand alone?  I guess so but having the other books as a foundation certainly helps.  And not everyone will find they have the problems with Rafe that I did.  Others will absolutely adore him.  I found Deacon’s Law a fun, suspenseful read and a neat third installment to the Heroes series.  Yes, I recommend it as I do all the books in the series.

Cover art by Meredith Russell works for the characters and story, as well as branding the series.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | KOBO | iTunes

Book Details:

ebook
Published October 18th 2017 by Love Lane Books Limited
Edition Language English

Series Heroes :

Heroes Series

A Reason To Stay (Book #1) – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Last Marine Standing (Book #2) – Amazon US | Amazon UK

A Lila Review: His Convenient Husband (Love and Sports #1) by Robin Covington

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

NFL football player Isaiah Blackwell lost his husband three years ago and is raising their teen son alone. He lives his life as quietly as his job allows, playing ball to support his family but trying not to draw unwanted attention. His quiet life is shaken up when a mutual friend introduces him to Victor, a visiting principal ballet dancer who is everything Isaiah is not.

Brash and loud, Victor Aleksandrov has applied for political asylum to avoid returning to Russia, where gay men are targeted and persecuted. He’s been outspoken about gay rights in his home country, and if he doesn’t get asylum, going back to Russia is a death sentence.

Their one-night stand turns into a tentative friendship, a relationship they both agree is temporary…until Victor’s denied asylum. Isaiah can’t offer Victor a happily ever after, but he can propose something that’ll keep Victor in the US and safe…marriage. He just doesn’t expect his new husband to dance away with his heart.

His Convenient Husband is an interesting take on the classic “arranged marriage for legal status” troupe. In most books, only the couple is privy to this information, but in this case, Isaiah’s and Victor’s families and close friends knew the truth; which I like better. They didn’t have to fake their relationship and it grew organically.

Since they were attracted to each other since the beginning it was easy to see where their story would end. How much they tried to keep their feelings out of their friendship and how much of a surprise it was for them to fall for each other. Both men lived very independent lives, and love wasn’t in their plans.

Even when this is an NFL story, it takes place offseason. So there’s no game or football jargon to follow. Most of the story concentrates on Victor’s and Isaiah’s inner tumult and how they avoid anything more than a friendship. We do get to see Victor’s practices and performances, though.

The only thing I wasn’t a fan was the large gaps of time in the story. I wanted to learn more about how they became a family and their interaction with Isaiah’s son, but most of those happened off-page. The moments we did read about were very sweet. As well as the rest of the characters.

The cover by Erin Dameron-Hill shows a handsome Isiah and it highlights his aloof attitude. The rest is a bit simplistic.

Sale Links: Google| Amazon | Nook

Book Details:

ebook, 202 pages
Published: October 9, 2017, by Entangled Publishing
ISBN: 9781640633681
Edition Language: English

Series:  Love and Sports
Book #1: His Convenient Husband

Review Tour and Giveaway for Deacon’s Law (Heroes #3) by RJ Scott (excerpt)

 
 
Cover Design: Meredith Russell
 
Length: 50,000 words approx.
 
Heroes Series
 
A Reason To Stay (Book #1) – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Last Marine Standing (Book #2) – Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Blurb
 

How can you trust the man who tried to kill you?


Undercover cop Deacon Shepherd lost everything trying to maintain his cover – the man he loved and the future he craved. He walked away and never looked back because it was the only way to keep Rafael alive.


The last thing he needs is to be dragged back in that world, but an attempt on Rafael’s life is enough to make him risk his heart again.


Rafael ‘Rafe’ Ramirez wakes up in the hospital, the victim of a hit and run. He’s horrified when the first face he sees is that of the man who betrayed him and left him for dead three years before. Witness protection had stripped Rafe of his family and friends, and now it seems his sacrifice to bring his Uncle to justice was for nothing.


Someone wants Rafe dead, and the only way he can stay alive is to go with the murdering drug dealer who broke his heart. But how can he ever trust Deacon, and how can Deacon protect Rafe without falling in love all over again?


 

Excerpt
 

Rafe opened his eyes, attempting to focus on the ceiling above him. He tried to lift his hand, but it felt as if there was lead in his veins, everything heavy and he couldn’t move. They’d told him he was getting better, so what the hell had happened? Had he relapsed? Why was he convinced that they’d taken him somewhere in an ambulance? That he’d leaned against a leather jacket that smelled of sunshine and soap? He blinked until the ceiling finally coalesced into the tiles he was familiar with.


Only there were no tiles.


Instead, the ceiling was a smooth white, and there were no strip lights, just a lampshade in a curious shade of blue. He blinked again. This didn’t make sense. 


But when he opened his eyes, nothing had changed. The ceiling was still white, the lampshade blue, and the drapes at the window matched the shade. The drapes. There were drapes at the window. Confusion morphed into panic and he turned his head to the right to get a better feel for where he was and he saw…him.


Sprawled awkwardly in the chair, his head back, long limbs this way and that, clearly too big for the chair, was a specter from a past that wouldn’t leave him alone.


Deacon.


Intense fear sliced into Rafe.


They’d found him, had him strapped to a bed…was it Deacon who’d tracked him down and driven a car at him? He was paralyzed with a fear that made it hard to breathe, and he yanked at his hand, hoping to escape his restraints, only he wasn’t tied down, there was no rope. Instead his hand came up fast and he rolled sideways. Catching himself and coming off the bed, forgetting the fact that his leg was in a cast and toppling sideways, falling with a crash into a cabinet. He flailed but couldn’t stop himself falling, and he knew this was it – this time he was really going to die.


Deacon was up and at his side in an instant, and Rafe wanted to shut his eyes, wanted to block out seeing Deacon’s face again as he died, but he had to watch. He wanted Deacon to see his fear, and maybe that would stop him; maybe he could make Deacon stop and think.


“Shit, Rafe— Craig,” Deacon said, and reached for him, grasping his arms.


Terror became ice inside him, and Rafe stopped fighting; like a deer caught in headlights, he froze.


“What happened?” A second man stood in the doorway, someone Rafe didn’t know – tall, dark and dangerous-looking. Maybe this new arrival could stop Deacon?


“Help me,” Rafe forced out, looking past Deacon, scrambling to stand as the ice melted and he pushed himself to move.


“He woke up, saw me, and fell out of bed,” Deacon said, and the other man came right in. There were two of them, and there was little Rafe could do to get away. There and then, he screwed his eyes shut; nothing was going to save him now.


But there was no pain, no bullet. Instead, the two men helped him to stand, and then he felt the bed at the back of his thighs and they sat him down.


“Are you okay?” Deacon asked. Even with his eyes shut, Rafe recognized his voice. He would never forget the tone of it, or the coldness of the man who’d tried to kill him. He said nothing.


“Open your eyes,” the other man asked.


No.


“Craig? Rafe? My name is Mac. We’re here to help you.”


But fear was choking him and he couldn’t breathe. “No,” he managed between attempts to inhale enough oxygen not to pass out.


“He’s panicking. What the hell did you do, D?”


“Tried to fucking kill him three years ago, remember?”

Author Bio

RJ Scott is the bestselling romance author of over 100 romance books. She writes emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men and women who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.


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



mailto:rj@rjscott.co.uk
www.rjscott.co.uk/
www.facebook.com/author.rjscott?ref=ts&fref=ts
www.goodreads.com/author/show/3432558.R_J_Scott
twitter.com/Rjscott_author
www.librarything.com/author/scottrj

Giveaway

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

Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions

 

Men of Crooked Bend Series (My Choice, My Chance) by Taylor Rylan Book Blast (excerpt)

My Choice My Change Banner

MY CHOICE, MY CHANCE

MEN OF CROOKED BEND SERIES, BOOK 2

TAYLOR RYLAN

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 08.19.17

My Choice My Chance Cover

COVER DESIGN: Jay Aheer/Simply Defined Art

BUY LINK: mybook.to/MCMCebook

BLURB

After a disastrous relationship in college, Jasper Welsh swore he’d never let anyone that close to him again. But after watching his twin fall in love with the man of his dreams, Jasper starts to realize that maybe there’s more to life than meaningless hook ups. After all, it’s been almost a decade since he’s taken a chance on someone again.

When a brutal ex almost kills Liam Campbell, he runs away with his best friend to Wyoming for Christmas with Rhett’s family. Little does he know, that even though he’s still broken and bruised, Liam’s life is about to be completely turned upside down when he meets Rhett’s brother, Jasper. But there’s no way Jasper could be interested in someone like him, right?

When Liam’s ex finds him in Wyoming and one of their family members almost pays the ultimate price, will the Welsh family forgive him for bringing danger to their family? Or will they fight for the battered young man and accept him with open arms?

Choices are made, and chances are taken when Jasper and Liam realize that their attraction for one another can’t be denied and must be explored. But with a wedding in the planning stages and an unforgettable bachelor party in Vegas, does the new couple really want to steal the grooms’ thunder?

My Choice, My Chance is the second book in the Men of Crooked Bend series. Each book in the series will focus on a different couple but will be better enjoyed as a series as the couples all make appearances in each book. Each book contains sexually explicit material between two men and is intended for adults over 18.

My Choice My Chance Teaser 1

My Choice My Chance Teaser 2

EXCERPT

I finally made it to our new house with everything. I wanted to cry when I pulled into the driveway and saw Jasper’s truck there. How in the hell was I going to set everything up for my romantic picnic surprise if he was already there?

Admitting defeat and coming to the conclusion that tonight was not going to be the night to tell Jasper that I loved him, I got out of Baloo and walked up to the house to search for Jasper.

I was floored when I walked into the house. Jasper made a trail of lit candles. They started at the front door inviting me to continue inward. I followed the small flames, making my way to the living room. The sight before me made me gasp and start to cry. There, in the middle of the living room, surrounded by candles, and with a blanket and several pillows laid out on the floor was Jasper. It seems my man had the exact same idea as me! He obviously came straight here from the Realtor’s office instead of going to his office in Jackson like he’d told me.

I didn’t move at first. I noticed Jasper started to look uncomfortable so I slowly made my way toward him and the little picnic he had put together for us.

“Jasper, what…”

“Liam, just give me a minute here, alright?”

I had no idea what Jasper planned but I knew that there was absolutely no way I was going to let him go another night without telling him exactly how I felt. With as wonderful and sweet as this all was, this was my plan. Did I talk in my sleep? Nobody ever mentioned me talking in my sleep before so probably not. How was it that Jasper came up with the exact same idea as me? I took a big breath and did my best to calm myself and stepped into the room. I didn’t stop there. Nope! In true Liam fashion I walked right up to Jasper and hauled off and whacked him on the shoulder. Not the most romantic move ever.

“Liam! What the hell?”

“How dare you, Jasper!”

“How dare I what? You’re mad I try to be romantic for you? What? You want me to be an asshole or something?”

“No! I love it when you’re romantic. I love it when you plan trips and dinners and send me flowers and candy and stuff. It’s an amazing feeling knowing that you care enough about me to do all of those things for me.”

“Then why in the hell did you just hit me?”

“Because! You ruined my surprise!”

“How did I ruin your surprise? I haven’t even told you your surprise yet!”

We were both upset and started raising our voices, shouting at each other by that point. Not one of our best moments.

“What do you mean you haven’t given me my surprise yet? I had everything all planned and you beat me to it! I was going to come in and set up a romantic dinner for you, but you beat me to it, Jasper!” I was openly bawling by then. It was not a pretty sight. I know, I’ve seen me when I cried in the past. My face gets red and splotchy when I cry.

“Liam, I haven’t given you your surprise yet because the dinner isn’t your surprise. I wanted to give you a perfect romantic dinner so I could tell you just how much you mean to me.

Taylor Logo

After several years of daydreaming about sexy men in her head, Taylor decided to finally start writing about them! That’s where the Men of Crooked Bend came from, although at the time, she had no idea as to what she would name the town, nor what state it would be even be in. She quickly learned that even though she had ideas in her head, it was her characters that ultimately decided what would happen in each story. She goes into each adventure with a set plan but already knows that in the end, things will change and that her characters are going to get their way.

When she’s not writing about sexy men, she loves to read about them. Even if, her reading time has become less frequent since she started writing, she still tries to find time to read at least once a week.

She is a busy mom of three and one kitten named Lucky. If she’s not writing or reading about sexy men, she’s either running to some band function or another or is busy cheering from the stands at basketball games or marital arts functions.

Her Men of Crooked Bend Series is her first series but she already has two spin-off series planned!

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100016810573958

Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/TaylorRylanOfficial/?pnref=lhc

Amazon Page:

https://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Rylan/e/B072NG73VR/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/TaylorRylan1

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/author_taylor_rylan/

Email:

AuthorTaylorRylan@gmail.com

Newsletter:

http://eepurl.com/cSFNnH

A Followup on LGBT History Month Recommendations and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

A Follow up on LGBT History Month Recommendations

 

So as a follow up to last week’s post on the fact that October is LGBT History Month, we had a wonderful comment from Purple Reader with some great recommendations that I wanted to share with everyone:

Purple Reader:

I’m so excited about this post. I’m a history buff, and love combining that with my lgbtq interests. So many to rec; so I’ll have to whittle it down. I’ll start with one my gay book group is reading based on my rec in honor of this month:
– “Flagrant Conduct: the Story of Lawrence v. Texas” by Dale Carpenter, about what I think is the more major Supreme Court decision, which invalidated sodomy laws and led 10 years later to the marriage equality decisions. Some great, moving twists of fate in that.
– Speaking of which, this is good too: Love Wins: “The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality” by Debbie Cenziper, Jim Obergefell
– Many good bios, including this multiple award winner: “Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin” by John D’Emilio
– And of course one about authors, another award winner: “Eminent Outlaws: The Gay Writers Who Changed America” by Christopher Bram

Btw, in Chicago’s Boystown there’s a Legacy Walk up & down Halsted with plaques honoring some you mention (as well as writers Baldwin, Wilde, Whitman & Audre Lorde). Check it out if you’re in town.

Purple Reader’s comment on The Legacy Walk intrigued me, so I did a little digging.  Wow.  I’m so sorry I missed this when I was in Chicago for GRL.  Its now on my must visit list when I return.  Check this out!

The Legacy Project

Turns out there are also LGBT walking tours in other cities as well.

LGBT History Walking Tours for Every City | HuffPost

More coming up.  And for Purple Reader a special $10 gift card for history month recognition coming your way!

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

 

Sunday, October 22:

  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, October 23:

  • Hula Dancers and Hauntings, Second Level, The Reunion, Half Breeds Tour and Giveaway
  • Men of Crooked Bend Series (My Choice, My Chance) by Taylor Rylan Book Blast
  • Review Tour and Giveaway for Deacon’s Law (Heroes #3) by RJ Scott
  • A Jeri Review :Love By Number by DJ Jamison
  • A Lila Review: His Convenient Husband (Love and Sports #1) by Robin Covington
  • A MelanieM Review: Deacon’s Law (Heroes #3) by RJ Scott
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review:Hula Dancers and Hauntings by JC Long, Second Level, The Reunion, Half Breeds

Tuesday, October 24:

  • Dreamspinner Promo Ava Hayden on Highballer
  • Dreamspinner Promo Amy Lane on Familiar Angel
  • RIPTIDE TOUR and Giveaway: Changing Colors (Seasons of Love #4) by Elyse Springer
  • A MelanieM Review: Count the Shells (Porthkennack #6) by Charlie Cochrane
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Leaning Into Touch (Leaning Into Stories #3) by Lane Hayes
  • An Ali Audiobook Review: The Palisade (Lavender Shores #1) by Rosalind Abel and Kirt Graves (Narrator)

Wednesday, October 25:

  • Dreamspinner Promo Eli Easton on Tender Mercies
  • GUEST POST Myths, Moons & Mayhem (Gay Paranormal Menage and MMM Erotic Romance anthology
  • RIPTIDE TOUR Kill Game by Cordelia Kingsbridge
  • A MelanieM Review: Jackalopes & Woofen-Poofs (Offbeat Crimes #5) by Angel Martinez
  • An Alisa Release Day Review: The Librarian’s Rake by Z Allora
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: Highballer (World of Love) by Ava Hayden

Thursday, October 26:

  • Dreamspinner Promo Julia Talbot on To Hell You Ride
  • Release Blitz – Shane Morton’s The Year Of The Cock
  • Release Blitz – Anna Martin’s Whiskey Kisses
  • A Stella Review :​ Eggplant Highlights and Mustard Yellow Jeans by  Sarah Hadley Brook
  • A VVivacious Review: Sightlines by Santino Hassell
  • An Alisa Review: Dish of the Day by Clare London

Friday, October 27:

  • BOOK BLAST – Blackbird Fly Home by Kendel Duncan
  • Dreamspinner Promo Z. Allora
  • Review Tour and Giveaway for VL Locey’s Improper Fraction
  • Review for Improper Fraction by V.L. Locey
  • A Julia Review: Ardulum: First Don (Ardulum) by J.S. Fields
  • An Ali Release Day Review: Tender Mercies (Men of Lancaster County #2) by Eli Easton

Saturday, October 28:

  • Release Blitz for Holographic Havoc by L.M. Brown
  • A MelanieM Review: Whiskey Kisses by Anna Martin
  • A MelanieM Review:  Dragon Lesson by Mell Eight

A MelanieM Review: Last Marine Standing (Heroes #2) by R.J. Scott

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Former Marine Recon, Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Jackson has secrets. The things he did for his country, the things he saw, must never be spoken about. Until, that is, his team is targeted.

A shift in political alliances means one particular mission undertaken by Mac and his Fire Team needs to be wiped from the history books. Starting with the team itself.

Forest Ranger Samuel Larson wants to find the Marines who saved his life. He just wants to say thank you. What he can’t know is that he’s walking into a firestorm of betrayal and murder.

When Samuel arrives at Mac’s place he throws Mac’s plans for hiding out of the window. Abruptly Mac has to protect a man who threatens his heart, only this time he can’t be sure he will succeed in keeping Sam alive.

When the people you trusted turn on you, when you are the last one standing, should you take your secrets to the grave? Or make the murderers pay?

Heroes is turning out to be an incredible series.  A spinoff from the amazing Sanctuary stories,A Reason To Stay hooked me in with RJ Scott delivering romance, murder mystery along with  her hardened SEAL on leave and his second chance at love police officer.  Last Maine Standing though kicks it all into high gear.  There’s an absolutely horrific mission in the past that starts the story.    I’ll say no more about that.

But these two men haunt each other and the reader with their combined pasts.

On top of that, RJ Scott has thrown a conspiracy of deceit and murder against our heroes.  It’s heinous, it’s murky, and the suspicions and suspense of everyone drives this story, sometimes pushing the romance aspect to a secondary element.   Still, RJ Scott is so great with it comes to interpersonal dynamics that even when suspense and espionage is driving a certain portion of the story, she gets to work in the magnetic attraction and heat that brings these two men together and makes their relationship work.   You certainly understand by Sam needs to find Mac after all these years and you can see Mac’s need as well.  The balance works.

Really, I thought this story had it all.  Action, drama, hot men, sex and yes, romance.  I loved this story.  Heroes is a wonderful series and Last Marine Standing is the prime example why.  I highly recommend both.

Cover art by Meredith Russell is terrific.

Sales Links:  RJ Scott Books | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 211 pages
Published October 8th 2014 by Love Lane Books (first published October 6th 2014)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesHeroes #2

 

A MelanieM Review: Bitten by Desire (Regent’s Park Pack #3) by Annabelle Jacobs

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Two lovers from rival packs. Have they come together only to be forced apart? 

Alec Knight, a beta in the Regent’s Park pack, guards his heart carefully. Ghosts from his past keep him alone and angry, any hope of a relationship impossible while guilt from the pack wars still haunts him. With the anniversary drawing near, Alec needs a distraction.

As a lowly member of the Primrose Hill pack, Mark Appleton isn’t used to having his alpha’s attention. Lately he’s had more than his fair share, and not for the right reasons. Despite growing suspicions that all is not well, Mark tries hard to do better, but constant criticism leaves him desperate for a stress outlet.

Sex is a good way for shifters to let off steam, and while their packs attack each other with accusations and lies, Alec and Mark work out their frustrations in bed. Pillow talk and shared secrets lead to a closeness neither was expecting, but when pack relations reach an all-time low, any future for them seems out of the question.

If they want to be together, they’ll have to go against their alphas’ wishes—except Alec won’t and Mark can’t.

Bitten by Desire, the third in the Regent’s Park Pack by Annabelle Jacobs, is my favorite by far.  That’s saying a lot because I’ve loved them all.  But these two shifters, Alec Knight of the R Pack and Mark Appleton of the PR Pack really got to me.

First, there’s the Romeo and Juliet aspect of their situation or in this case Romeo and Jules as their two packs are at war.  Mark has already been a victim of his Alpha’s heinous behavior and need to win at any cost, putting Mark at forefront of a Council investigation into both pack’s recent actions. It also brought him to Alec’s attention as part of the storyline in Bitten By Design (Regent’s Park Pack, #2).  In Bitten by Desire, the pull Mark and Alec feel towards each other intensifies as Alec is unable to stay away from Mark, no matter the consequences.

Jacobs gives us both shifter’s perspectives, letting us feel the danger of the situation and the inevitability that drives them forward…yes, it’s the mate bond already forming.  It’s primal, sexual, and so very hot!  Alec also has an angst filled past that’s haunting him, keeping him in an unsettled state, along with his uncertain feelings for Mark and the stress of the Council’s investigation.  The author’s writing drops us into the hearts and minds of these men, letting us feel the push/pull of the mating bond as it strengthens…and it’s every bit as sexy and wild as it sounds.

Plus yes, there’s the fact that Mark’s Alpha is plotting against the R Pack.  Annabeth Jacobs continually ramps up the suspense and the danger around Mark and those around him the entire story, keeping the readers right on the edge.  This was a successful element here and my only disappointment was the sentences doled out at the end.  For me, I thought the Council was too light handed considering what Howell and his Betas had done.  But perhaps that was just me. Or maybe there’s more to come.  I hope so.  I love this series and for me Bitten By Desire is one of the best.  The writing is excellent, the romance primal, hot and shifter perfect,  and the storyline full of suspense and happy endings!   For the fullest reading pleasure, start with the first story, Bitten By Mistake and work your way to Bitten By Desire!  I highly recommend them all.

Cover Design: Natasha Snow is nice and hot.  But I’d like a little more detail.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book Details:

Kindle Edition
Published October 12th 2017
Edition Language English

Bitten By Mistake (Book #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK

Bitten By Design (Book #2) Amazon US | Amazon UK

Bitten By Desire (Book #3)

An Ali Review: We Met In Death by KA Merikan

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
 
“This is not the night you die.”

After years of working for a loan shark, Robert is done with blood and violence. All he has to show for it is a bag of money and a lifetime of regrets. There’s no other way out of his line of work than in a body bag.

So Robert decides to die.

But on the night he chooses to seal his own fate, destiny offers him a chance at redemption. When Robert saves a handsome young escort from a terrible death, he has no idea he is setting in motion much more than one last attempt at proving that inside the hardened shell, he is a decent human being. 

Charming, quick-witted, and full of smiles, Nathan is all Robert could dream of. He’s also ready to fall into the arms of his gruff protector. Robert, on the other hand, has never been with a man and will first need to fight his own demons if he is to accept that his whole being wants to make Nathan his.

With his former boss hunting them both, time is ticking, and Robert might just not get the chance to decide before it’s too late. More importantly though, Robert will stop at nothing to protect the man who’s made him feel alive again, the man who is the only thing between him and the abyss.
“I never had to think much about death before, but I did yesterday. I thought I would die. In a hole. Covered with dirt. Suffocate underground. 
But then you saved me.”

This book was a wild ride from the very first page till the end.  I love that I never know what I’m going to get with these authors but I always know that it’s going to be unique and outside the box.  I was really looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint.

Both Robert and Nathan are a bit lax when it comes to morals (especially Robert) but that didn’t effect my enjoyment of the story or them as main characters.  Robert was a bit difficult to like at the beginning and he doesn’t treat Nathan well overall. He was harsh and mean at times.  He has the glimpses of sweetness though that keep both the reader and Nathan interested in more. It was worth the initial struggle because when Robert finally opens up and falls, he falls hard.  I liked Nathan from the start.  He was spunky and funny and he rolled with both the metaphorical and literal punches.  These two had great chemistry and the sex scenes were scorching hot. 
Since the two men are part of the criminal world parts of the story are pretty gritty.  There’s some death and some destruction along the way but I was rooting for them the entire way.  I didn’t think it was very dark but I can’t always be trusted with that because my tolerance is pretty high.  If you are on the more sensitive side you should note the tags for the book. 
I really liked this and thought it was well done.  I enjoyed both the overall plot and the romance.  I thought the entire thing was wildly entertaining and I had a hard time putting it down once I had started it.
Cover Design: Natasha Snow:  I think the cover is perfect for the book.  It has the same dark, gritty vibe the books does.  I like it a lot.

Buy Links:

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 274 pages
Published October 10th 2017 by Acerbi & Villani ltd
ASINB0764CK6TZ
Edition LanguageEnglish
CharactersRobert Zidane (We Met In Death), Nathan Edwards (We Met In Death)

A Lila Audiobook Review: Out of the Shadows by K.C. Wells and Finn Sterling (Narrator)

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Can he step out of the shadows and into love’s light?

Eight years ago, Christian Hernandez moved to Jamaica Plain in southern Boston, took refuge in his apartment, and cut himself off from the outside world. And that’s how he’d like it to stay.

Josh Wendell has heard his coworkers gossip about the occupant of apartment #1. No one sees the mystery man, and Josh loves a mystery. So when he is hired to refurbish the apartment’s kitchen and bathrooms, Josh is eager to discover the truth behind the rumors.

When he comes face-to-face with Christian, Josh understands why Christian hides from prying eyes. As the two men bond, Josh sees past his exterior to the man within, and he likes what he sees. But can Christian find the courage to emerge from the darkness of his lonely existence for the man who has claimed his heart?

Out of the Shadows is a slow burn romance between a recluse Christian and an extrovert Josh. I like how they communicated when Josh started working at Christian’s apartment and would have loved to see more of it.  It allowed them to get comfortable with each other, creating a foundation for their relationship.

This is a very sweet and fluffy story but those aspects worked with the Dreamspun series. I wanted a slower transition for Christian to adjust to his new reality but in this case, love cured it all. Their attraction was immediate as well as Christian’s acceptance of Josh’s plans for him.

Overall, this story has nice characters, and interesting instigating event, and the potential for so much more. Unfortunately, I never connected with the main couple. Their bromance was stronger than their romance. In the end, it was an okay story.

The narration by Finn Sterling was a fifty-fifty for me. I enjoyed all the characters but Josh. And since he’s one of the main characters, it took from my enjoyment of the story. I think he tried, too hard, to create a distinctive voice for Josh, but ended with a cartoonish version of a young man instead. Everything else saved his performance.

The cover by Bree Archer is a bit theatrical. Perhaps a hoodie would have worked better. The model doesn’t reflect Christian’s description, either.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Finn Sterling
Length: 6 hours 6 minutes
Published: September 13, 2017 (Audio Edition) by Dreamspinner Press
ASIN: B075KNQDCT
Edition Language: English