Category: Self Published

A Mika Review: How to Walk Like a Man (Howl at the Moon #2) by Eli Easton

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars 

How To Walk Like A Man coverDeputy Roman Charsguard survived Afghanistan where he lost his best friend—his K-9 handler James. Roman was a military dog until two years ago when he developed the ability to shift into a human. It’s not easy to learn how to be a man. He found a place to live in Mad Creek, a haven for the secret world of dog shifters. Finding a reason to live has been harder. That is, until a certain human walks into the Mad Creek Sheriff’s office and starts making trouble.

Matt Barclay has the worst luck. First he was shot in a SWAT drug raid, and then he was sent as DEA investigator to Mad Creek, a little town in the California Mountains. Matt’s job is to keep a lookout for illegal drug farms, but nobody in the town wants him there. And then there’s Roman, Matt’s erstwhile baby-sitter. He’s the hottest guy Matt’s ever seen, even if he is a bit peculiar. If the town doesn’t kill him, sexual frustration just might.

The town is counting on Roman to prevent Matt from learning about dog shifters, Matt’s counting on Roman to be his work partner and tell him the truth, and Roman’s trying to navigate love, sex, and a whole lot of messy human emotions. Who knew it was so complicated to walk like a man?

When I found out that we were getting another book in this series, I was so happy. Then this wonderfulness happened. I loved that Roman talked in exclamation points! He was such a happy character; it was a breath of fresh air from all the darkness that I’ve been reading. If I was Matt I would have been freaked out about certain things happening in this town.

As usual the writing is definitely at its’ best. I was happy with Matt & Roman’s relationship from start to finish. Roman is the type of character that says with you forever. He was happy, innocent, sweet, and protective. Matt was very steadfast in his beliefs. I enjoyed his relationship with Luci. I like how both of them treated each other. I’m glad to read about Mad Creek residents again. They are happy people who enjoyed putting smiles on people faces.

Everything that I love in my guys, I laughed so much throughout this book and I didn’t want it to end. Matt and Roman coming together were very sweet and innocent in the story. I feel like we really got to watch them couple as two different people. I truly liked the flashback scenes with Roman. This could have been a 5 star book for me, but I didn’t like that we got the bad person pov in the story. I would have preferred more screen time with the guys. When they are finally together the next chapter goes into the epilogue. I wanted more of Matt & Roman. It could have been everyday nuisances for me, but I wanted more them. I do hope Eli continues writing this series. I can’t wait for more.   

Cover Art by: Reese Dante, I love this cover so much. The colors are correct, the models are important. I love the depiction of Matt & Roman in the cover; it’s what drew me to the book before I noticed the name & author. One of my favorite covers this year.

Sales Links:  All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 241 pages
Published November 13th 2015 by Pinkerton Road
ASINB0176KQPH8
edition languageEnglish
seriesHowl at the Moon #2

A Free Dreamer Review: My Magical Palace by Kunal Mukherjee

Rating: 5 stars out of 5     ★★★★★

My Magical PalaceHaunted by dreams of an unforgettable loss, Rahul, a young man of thirty living in San Francisco, suddenly becomes secretive and withdraws from his partner Andrew. When Andrew discovers that Rahul is still interviewing girls sent by his parents for an arranged marriage, he gives Rahul an ultimatum-stop living a lie, or give up their relationship. In response, Rahul tells Andrew a story. About a boy who lived in a palace. A boy named Rahul. Set in San Francisco today and in India in the early 1970s, My Magical Palace is a sensitive tale about a boy’s coming of age, and the many hurdles he must cross to heal and find himself.

I’ve been fascinated by India ever since I got my hands on an old copy of “Kim” by Rudyard Kipling when I was nine or ten. So when I read the blurb of “My Magical Palace”, I just had to have it.

First of all, this is not a love story. It’s a coming of age story, with just a tiny hint of romance. Of course there’s the first love and Rahul is in a relationship when he starts telling his story, but those are just two of many important details about Rahul’s story.

Rahul, a young man who grew up in India and now lives with his boyfriend in America. He isn’t out to his parents, so when they once again send him a woman that they think would make a great wife, he asks Andrew to leave the apartment for the evening. Andrew is understandably pissed and threatens to dump Rahul, if he doesn’t come out to his parents right now. So Rahul starts telling the story of the year that changed his life. How he slowly turned from the little boy who was afraid to go upstairs, because his older sister told him there were ghosts at the top of the stairs, to the mature teenager, who has to keep his sexuality hidden and who has lost so many things in such a short time that it changed him forever.

I absolutely loved every single second of this book. The descriptions were so vivid, I felt like I’d seen the palace with my own eyes. It sounds like such a beautiful place. The author managed to describe everything in great detail, without it ever getting boring or feeling like an info-dump.

The Indian setting was incredibly well written. If you aren’t very familiar with the Indian culture, you’ll be hitting Google a lot. The author doesn’t bother to explain things like food or clothes and even though I didn’t know a lot of those things, I loved that. Explanations like that tend to pull me out of a story and I don’t mind if I don’t just what they’re eating. The author grew up in Hyderabad and it’s obvious that he really knows what he’s writing about from personal experience and not just from research.

I was so engrossed in Rahul’s world that I felt a bit of a culture shock every time I was forced to surface from his story and found myself in cold, monotonous Europe.

Rahul was immediately likeable. It was very easy to relate to him, even though his life is nothing like my own. I felt strongly for pretty much every somewhat important character in this book. I was at times deliriously happy, utterly depressed, incredibly pressured and absolutely terrified. Once or twice I was even close to tears.

The plot was addicting and unpredictable. I wasn’t sure whether Rahul and Andrew would actually manage to rescue their relationship till the very last chapter. Rahul’s childhood was full of unexpected twists and turns and it never once got boring.

But “My Magical Palace” is so much more than just a deeply enjoyable novel. It has taught me a lot about the life of gay men in India. I’ve read plenty of books about women in India, but this is the first one with a gay protagonist.  It was very educating, but it never felt like the author was trying to force me to learn something.

I do have one very tiny niggle, however. Everybody gets their resolution in the end. Everybody but Rani. We never learn what happened to the grown up Rani. I would’ve loved to know if she managed to escape the strict expectations her family and tradition put on her.

Long story short, “My Magical Palace” is a hidden gem that deserves a huge audience. Read it and I’m sure you’ll agree with me.

And now I want a story about Rahul’s neighbour Colonel Uncle and his Italian lover. Colonel Uncle was my favourite character and his story needs to be told.

Cover: I love the cover. The bottom half shows Rahul’s childhood home, the Indian palace, and the top half shows the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rahul’s home as an adult.

Sales Links:  Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 236 pages
Published November 17th 2013 by Kunal Mukherjee, Inc. (first published 2012)
ASINB00GQOM2RS
edition languageEnglish
literary awardsBest Indian debut Writer December 2012 by The Tales Pensieve (2012)

A Stella Review: Flyboy’s First Misadventure (Flyboy’s Misadventures Book 1) by Havan Fellows

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Flyboys First_1400Secrets? Oh yeah, Dean Wades has a doozy. When he goes up, he doesn’t necessarily come back down. Okay, that’s not true. Dean’s a master at falling, it’s the landing that could use improvement—a lot of improvement. After thirteen years of attempting to conquer this gravity defying mystery, he can no longer live with not knowing what he is anymore. So he heads cross-country to see the two people who just might be able to give him the answers he seeks…his folks.

Easygoing Gavin Trevor is always willing to help his family, even when they have ulterior motives…like forcing him to make up with his annoying older brother. When a simple task at his parent’s house puts him in a position of danger, he’ll need a lot more than luck to avoid a serious injury—he’ll need his very own superhero.

And the fates collide, well sort of. It may not be love at first sight—Gavin was unconscious in Dean’s arms for their initial introduction…but perhaps these two men can make it a relationship at first flight?

A threat against Gavin’s family throws a wrench in their plans, and while Dean gladly offers his amateur talent to help the mission, Gavin doesn’t want to put his rescuer’s life in jeopardy by risking exposure of the greatest secret ever.

This proves to be a rescue adventure for the books. Or is that a rescue misadventure?

Flyboy’s First Misadventure was a lovely read, a great addition to this new series. I found Havan’s writing easy and really great. I need to check out more by this author, because honestly this one was a winner.

Gavin is a tattoo artist apprentice, struggling to be accepted by his military family and always fighting with his brother. One day while helping his parents in some houseworks involving a ladder, he literally falls into Dean’s arms.

Dean is a cute superhero, he can fly (well not exactly fly, more like jump high in the air, flutter a little and then face-plant in the dirty ground!) and has an amazing best friend in Tia. They are on a trip to see Dean’s folks to come out of his hero closet and maybe learn more about his talent.

I saw the sparkles between my MCs from the start and it was a crescendo in the story, with a lot of funny moments, some sweet ones and an unexpected rescue mission, until I wasn’t sure anymore who was the real superhero. It’s a story that has a lot of potential and it needs a sequel or two. I’m so glad Havan has more to come. This was just the start.

If you’re looking for some light book, easy, fun and believable in its not real world, you have to give a chance to this one. I’m glad I did cause I enjoyed it a lot.

Flyboy’s First Misadventure is part of the Story Orgy Collection: Superhero. Four authors, Lee Brazil, Havan Fellows, Em Woods and Hank Edwards will show us some new heros to love. I can’t wait to read the next stories.

Cover art by Startled Monkeys Media. The cover caught my attention first, it’s colorful and funny. I soon liked it and wanted to know more about the story. Well done.

Sales Links:  All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 107 pages
Published October 12th 2015 by Appleton Publishing Avenue
ASINB015WXHX9U
edition languageEnglish

A Mika Review: Will & Patrick Meet the Family (Wake Up Married #2) by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00075]Meeting the family is challenging for every new couple. But for Will and Patrick, the awkward family moments only grow more hilarious—and painful—when they must hide the truth of their predicament from the people they care about most.

Throw in the sexual tension flaring between them, uncomfortable run ins with Will’s all-too-recent ex-boyfriend, an overprotective mobster father, and a mafia spy tailing them around Healing, South Dakota, and you’ve got a recipe for madcap laughs and surprisingly heartwarming feels.

I enjoyed this installment a lot. Patrick is hilarious. I loved that both guys are opening up more. We get to see a different side to each one of them. We also got to see Will’s mom. Ha, I loved the initial meeting at the house. Of course all Patrick cared about was his stomach? This man eats a lot. I like that he cares about Will and make sure his sugar never drops. For a person who was against this from the beginning he sure is doing a good job.  Patrick’s snarky comments about the residents of Healing are wonderful as well as the fact that that everywhere he went the man made a enemy out of himself.

This was a funny book. I definitely could see them growing together; they were very complimentary of each other. Outside of the whole mob situation, I like how the authors have this authenticity about Will & Patrick. Neither is perfect, they both have huge issues with their childhood. I was happy to see them open up to each other. I can’t wait for the next installment.

Cover Art by Dar Albert @ Wicked Smart Designs. I liked this cover, the horses were consistent with Will’s childhood. I really like the graphics of this series.

Sales Links:   Goodreads | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Published November 10th 2015 by Leta Blake Books
ISBN139781626227460
edition languageEnglish
seriesWake Up Married #2

Wake Up Married Series:

Coffee Sip and Book Break: Brina Brady’s ‘Make Me’ book blast and contest

CoverBK3 Make Me E-Book Cover

Make Me (Rent Me #3) by Brina Brady
Release Date: November 10, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Brina Brady
Cover Artist: Kellie Dennis at Book Cover by Design

Banner300x250

Blurb

Make Me (Rent Me Series #3)

Russian mobster Dmitri Dubrovsky and ex-rent boy Brennen are hiding out in the German woods with those closest to them, and not everyone is happy. Living in a small cabin took its toll on the married couple. Everyone’s safety is dependent on Dmitri, meaning he and Brennen don’t spend enough alone time.

Brennen with his sneaky self is finding his way back to his old tricks. The struggles that these two men go through bring out the best and the worst of each. Jealousy is still a big issue for both of them, but they manage to squeeze in some kinky and playful sex. There are some difficulties when they balance their Domestic Discipline Relationship in their marriage.

They find danger when a secret meeting in Amsterdam with a trusted source turns out to be a betrayal. A brother goes missing, leaving an additional burden on Dmitri’s shoulders.

Complications with a drug lord see them traveling to Mexico to sort the problem out, but when one problem is solved another arises when they return back home. Something that will change their lives forever. Can their marriage handle the change?

Warning:

This is a Gay adult consensual story focused on themes of corporal discipline punishment and explicit sex with light elements of BDSM between adult men over the age of eighteen.

Excerpt

Dmitri took Brennen’s hand and they walked to the outside bar, sitting right on the white sand. They each sat down on a stool. Dmitri had ordered them two fun island drinks with the cute umbrellas inside the glasses.

“It’s so nice to be alone with you, Bren. Just us. No one else.”

“Yeah, finally.”

“Do you like your drink?” Dmitri asked.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Good choice.”

“So what’s wrong then?”

“What do you mean?” Brennen stirred his drink and removed the umbrella.

“I can tell you’re pissed off about something.” Dmitri forked his shrimp and dipped it in the hot red sauce.

“Are you really ready to hear why I’m pissed?” Brennen asked.

The lively twinkle in his blue eyes only incensed Dmitri more. He knew something had been wrong since the night he had returned from Antonio’s. He probably could have taken him with him, but he just didn’t want to taint him with anything illegal.

Pages or Words: 81,000 words
 Categories: BDSM, Contemporary, Crime Fiction, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, MM Romance, Romance

 

Buy the book: Amazon

 

RC

Meet the Author

I am from Huntington Beach, Ca. I taught various subjects at a Continuation High School in Los Angeles, California for 27 years. I obtained a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in history, Secondary Social Science Credential and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Reading and Secondary Education from California State University, Long Beach. I also enrolled in some creative writing classes at UCLA. I am currently taking classes from Romance Writers of America.

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, The Hat Party, Bayou Book Junkie, Jessie G. Books, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, The Jena Wade, Happily Ever Chapter, Havan Fellows, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Charley Descoteaux, Elaine White, Iyana Jenna, Louise Lyons, MM Good Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Mikky’s World of Books, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Inked Rainbow Reads, KathyMac Reviews, Moonbeams Over Atlanta, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake, Divine Magazine, Three Books Over The Rainbow, My Fiction Nook, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-book copy of ‘Make Me’ by Brina Brady.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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A Stella Review: A Man of Unusual Talent by Lee Brazil

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Man of Unusual Talent_1400Collin Crane is a man of unusual talent. Really unusual. Too weird for the Guinness Book unusual. On the fifty-year plan to a doctoral degree in physics, and a quiet quest to understand his own oddities, Collin clings to obscurity. This superhero has learned the hard way that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Enter Mathias Giraud, football hero, local cop, and CC’s secret fantasy since high school. Mat’s a simple man with a hero complex fostered by comic books and Marvel movies. Saving the world is his fantasy, but since his roots are firmly planted in Morrisonville and reality, he’ll settle for protecting and serving. Until he clashes with CC at the local convenience store and is reminded of his own high school crush.

When marshmallows are involved, the course of true love is bound to get sticky

I haven’t read a lot by Lee Brazil (surprisingly) but A Man of Unusual Talent soon took my attention, from the start it was impossible to put down. Funny, engaging and with a story to follow, it was just the right book I needed to read. Sweet, cute and quick, with not a lot drama at all. One of that books I like to have by my side when I just want to relax a little. And the writing with my favourite double point of view was really good and smart.

After having spent years trying to control his talent, CC having achieved nothing, he’s still trying to solve the mystery his that talent is, still taking shower after shower to take away the delicious (not to him) smell of marshmallows, still crushing on Mat, the handsome cop of their conservative town with the hero complex. But CC doesn’t know Mat is attracted to him too, wanting to cherish him and his vulnerability. Who’s the hero and what are their superpowers?

The title says it all, CC has a really unique talent, I still can’t believe Lee, or better the girl who came up with the prompt, could think of something so unbelievably cute. As soon as I realized it, I was laughing my head off. I hit it off with all the characters from the first lines till the last ones(my favorite: CC whispered, “What is your superpower?” “Love.”). It was a lovely surprise to me.

I’d like to recommend this short story to anyone who is looking for a break with something unusual, funny and well written .

A Man of Unusual Talent is part of the Story Orgy Collection: Superhero. Four authors, Lee Brazil, Havan Fellows, Em Woods and Hank Edwards will show us some new heros to love. Stay tuned in the next days for my review of Flyboy’s  First Misadventure by Havan Fellows.

Cover art by Startled Monkeys Media. The cover caught my attention first, it’s colorful and funny. I soon liked it and wanted to know more about the story. Well done.

Sales Links:   All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Kindle Edition, 96 pages
Published October 12th 2015 by Smashwords Edition
ISBN139781311891150

A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Oracle / Book of Secrets – The Complete Collection (Oracle #1-2) by RJ Scott

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Oracle The Complete Collection gives readers an opportunity to own both books at a reduced price.

Oracle Collection coverBook 1 – Oracle

Love, adventure, an empath & an ancient relic that could destroy the world.

Alex Sheridan is a thief, able to steal even the hardest to reach antiquities. Luke MacKinnon is a professor of ancient languages.
When they come together to locate the Oracle, it is because both men have targets on their backs. Can love blossom when each day could be their last? And, how can they survive the evil that wants the Oracle?

Book 2 – Book of Secrets

Kidnapping, adventure, drama and the fight for eternal life.

Alex is making good on his promise to put things right; retrieving items he had stolen, and returning them to their rightful owners. It’s dangerous work, especially since he lost his most useful Oracle-given powers.

When Luke is kidnapped by a man intent on finding the secrets to eternal life, Alex has to make a bargain with the devil and break steal an item from the private library at Windsor Castle. Will Alex be too late to save the man he loves?

This book is actually two books in one: Oracle and its sequel, Book of Secrets. It’s a sweeping fantasy-paranormal-contemporary saga in which one man, Alex Sheridan, meets his soulmate, Luke MacKinnon, and together they learn that Alex is the infamous Oracle of Greek legend.

As the story opens, we meet Alex who, together with his partner Edward de Chauncey, is about to steal a priceless artifact from the British Museum. Alex and Edward own an antiquities business which specializes in placing hard-to-get items. It just so happens that Alex can get them because he has a gift which allows him to sidestep into another dimension, making him invisible to those here in the real world. Shortly after the theft, Edward is killed by a gunshot as armed men try to force their car off the road, and Alex is left alone with only Edward’s last words imploring him to go to Greece, echoing in his mind.

There he meets up with an old friend, Thanos, who alerts him to his true nature and the possibility that he is the Oracle come to life. Thanos has been holding his secret all his life, a secret passed down through generations of his family, only to be revealed when the Oracle is found. They realize that they need someone to translate the etchings and markings which cover Alex’s body—etchings which were carved into his skin when he was a child and are covered with the tattoos Alex felt he needed to hide them. Intuitively, he knows that he needs to connect with Luke MacKinnon, well-known professor and scholar and authority on ancient languages, a man he met briefly that night at the British Museum. Luke is well-known for his translations of ancient Greek, and since Alex has no memory of the first eight years of his life before Thanos found him lying on the beach half-dead, he hopes the markings on his body will give some answers.

At the time he was found, the atrocities committed on him were evident, but the boy had no memory of how they got there, so Thanos arranged for him to be adopted by friends from California, seeking to move Alex far away from any danger. Now, as an adult, Alex has come full circle back to Thanos in the hopes of solving the mystery of his scars and how that mystery connects to Edward’s murder.

What Alex and Luke uncover is a bizarre story of the second coming of the Oracle, and they also discover that the initials carved into Alek’s thigh so long ago actually spell out Luke’s name. It’s very evident that the two are destined to be together, soulmates apparently bonded centuries ago and destined to work together to carry out the prophecy of the Oracle made by the gods on Olympus.

Poor Luke is kidnapped twice in the story: once by the US Army and the next by a Serbian ex-Mafia chieftan. Everyone wants to get their hands on the Oracle for the power and the mystery as well as the possibility of eternal life and everyone seems to know that Luke is the best person to force into translating the ancient language. One of the best things to come out of Luke’s first kidnapping is his friendship with his rescuer, Chris Samuels, and Chris’s eventual romance with Griff Morgan. The two were a secondary MM couple in the story, becoming close friends of Luke and Alex and playing a prominent role in the Book of Secrets.

The first story focusing on the power of the Oracle and Alex’s abilities is very lengthy with a complex and convoluted plotline which I found a bit difficult to follow at times, however it ended dramatically in a very satisfying nail-biting adventure. It was starting to look like the fated lovers were going to become ill-fated lovers, but the surprise ending allowed for the possibility of a HFN or HEA.

In the second half of this story, originally Book of Secrets, Alex is on a quest to return all of the priceless items he and Edward had stolen. Griff and Chris, their good friends and housemates, play a pivotal role, helping to resolve Luke’s eventual kidnapping and working through possible solutions to the mystery Luke is kidnapped to translate. Alex’s powers and ability to shift into an invisible half-space are no longer with him at the beginning of the story, however one night when his back is to the wall and he’s about to be caught, he discovers remnants of his original gifts. His ability to fade and some of the “blue light” power he previously had seem to be returning, enough so he’s able to escape from a situation set up by an old nemesis, and he can make his way back home.

When Alex is then blackmailed by that nemesis to lift a document from the Queen’s chambers in Windsor Castle, he discovers that Luke has been kidnapped and it turns out that he’s being held to translate the very volume Alex lifted. It’s a document apparently originally penned by DaVinci that appears to be the key to the code for the Voynich Manuscript that has the reputation of holding the secrets to eternal life. Complex? Yes. If you put this down and walk away for a day, you will be lost. This is a story that needs to be the reader’s primary focus until complete. It’s quite creative and ingenious, entertaining, romantic, and wildly improbable. That’s pretty much why I described it as a fantasy-paranormal-contemporary story. It’s just too difficult to separate all the components and decide what to call it.

If you like epic adventures, you should like this one. It reminds this reviewer somewhat of Indiana Jones meets the Ten Commandments. There’s some reality woven in among the fantasy, and it’s set in a contemporary time period, but it’s got the gods, the sorcery, the mystery, and the romance to make it a story you won’t want to put down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cover Art by Meredith Russell features a split cover done in shades of browns and golds with Alex’s face in the forefront of a scene reminiscent of an ancient temple in the upper pane and with Luke’s face in the forefront of a scene of filled bookshelves in the lower pane, thereby representing both stories in the book.

Sales Links:  All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Goodreads Link

ebook
Published September 16th 2015 by Smashwords Edition
ISBN139781785640254
series Oracle #1-2

Love Serial Stories and Romance? Check Out Will & Patrick Meet the Family (Wake Up Married, Episode 2) by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths (excerpt and giveaway)

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00075] 

Will & Patrick Meet the Family (Wake Up Married, Episode 2)
by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

Publisher:  Leta Blake Books
Release Date: November 10, 2015

Book/Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK

Book Blurb

Follow Will & Patrick as they cope with the fallout from their Vegas wedding in this second installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!

Meeting the family is challenging for every new couple. But for Will and Patrick, the awkward family moments only grow more hilarious—and painful—when they must hide the truth of their predicament from the people they care about most.

Throw in the sexual tension flaring between them, uncomfortable run ins with Will’s all-too-recent ex-boyfriend, an overprotective mobster father, and a mafia spy tailing them around Healing, South Dakota, and you’ve got a recipe for madcap laughs and surprisingly heartwarming feels.

Episode 2 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.
Will & Patrick Wake Up Married (Wake Up Married, #1)

Excerpt

Keying open the door to their hotel room, Will tries to fake some cheer. “Honey, I’m home! And I brought dinner!” He stops and grips the bags more firmly as his cock rushes with a sudden influx of blood.

“Just put it over there.” Patrick’s ass is in the air, his hands flat on the floor, and he’s wearing nothing but his black boxer-brief underwear. “I’ll eat it when I’m done.”

Will stares as Patrick swivels, his body moving fluidly and his legs flexing in strong, limber movements.

“What are you doing?”

“This is downward dog. And this—” Patrick moves down with careful, slow strength. “Is plank position.” The muscles in his arms, back, and thighs are like bundles of wires, and Will’s mouth goes dry, remembering clearly how they felt under his hands.

“Looks hard.”

Patrick doesn’t answer. Will turns to put the food on the table, because if he keeps watching, something else is going to be hard too.

He clears his throat, glancing over his shoulder at the flexing muscles in Patrick’s back. “When we met, I wouldn’t have pegged you as a yoga kind of guy.”

Patrick grunts. He’s in a position now that Will can’t even imagine twisting himself into.

“I mean, you don’t seem like an ‘om’ type.”

“Yoga, and meditation for that matter, are legitimate, effective, and scientifically proven means to an end: physical health and reduction of mental stress. In other words, it helps keep me sane.” Patrick moves into an upright position, sweeps his arms over his head, and brings them back to a prayerful place at his chest. “Sanity is something you could stand to try. And none of that spiritual mumbo jumbo has anything to do with it.”

“So says the guy who believes in astrology.”

“Sure, be a Libra about it.”

Will feels heat in his cheeks. “The yoga doesn’t seem to hurt as far as keeping the rest of you in shape either.”

Patrick’s lips turn up into a smirk.

Will clears his throat, turning to the bags of food. He keeps his back to Patrick as he unpacks the takeout packages onto the small dining table. “So, do you want the gyros or the mac ‘n’ joes, because I can go either way.”

Patrick’s breath is tingly in Will’s ear and his body heat warm along Will’s back. “I go both ways too. It’s your call.” He reaches around and plucks up one of the Styrofoam boxes without looking inside.

Will swallows and gestures at the box still on the table. “This will be fine.”

He doesn’t know for sure which it is, but it will be fine, so long as his dick stops acting like a traitor and his mind stops supplying him with images of Patrick bent over, taking Will’s fingers into his tight, hot—God!

He shakes himself.

“Mmm, gyros,” Patrick murmurs from his perch on the bed. “So good.”

Will’s eyes flutter closed as he sits at the table and spreads a napkin over his crotch. No matter how good Patrick looks almost naked, they aren’t doing that again. It would be wrong. Because Will loves Ryan.

Who are you trying to convince?

He sighs and begins to eat. Mac ‘n’ joe is always tasty. Though at the moment it seems hard to choke down.

Genre:  Romantic Comedy M/M Romance
Tags:  gay, woke up married, tropes, rom-com, mafia, forced marriage, disabled heroes

Length: 32,000 words

About the Authorsimage

Leta Blake

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.

You can find out more about her by following her online:

Alice Griffiths

A long-time reader of romance novels, Alice Griffiths finally took the plunge into writing, teaming up with best-selling author Leta Blake for the ‘Woke up Married’ serialized comedy. A lover of tropes, Alice enjoys mining old ideas and putting a fresh, funny spin on them. Formerly working in the newspaper industry, Alice is now an art curator. She lives in Sydney, Australia.

You can find out more about her by following her online:

Meet The Family Banner

Giveaway

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Rafflecopter link and prizes  provided by the authors and Indigo Marketing. Enter to win 2 copies of Will & Patrick Meet the Family (Wake Up Married, Episode 2)

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Tour Schedule

11/9

Gay Book Reviews

http://gaybook.reviews

11/9

Unrandom Randomness

http://bronwynheeley.blogspot.com.au

11/9

World of Diversity Fiction

http://wodfreview.com

11/9

Bike Book Reviews

http://bikebookreviews.blogspot.com

11/9

V’s Reads

http://vsreads.com

11/9

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

http://ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords.com

11/9

The Novel Approach

http://thenovelapproachreviews.com

11/10

BookWinked

Www.bookwinked.com

11/10

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

http://www.scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.com

11/10

Literary Nymphs Hot List

http://literarynymphshotlist.blogspot.com/

11/10

two chicks obsessed with books and eye candy

twochicksobsessed.com

11/10

Sinfully Addicted

http://sinfullysexybooks.blogspot.co.uk/

11/10

3 Chicks After Dark

http://3chicksafterdark.com/

11/11

Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends

http://ggr-review.com/

11/11

brantley

twitter.com/celli

11/11

Inked Rainbow Reads

http://www.inkedrainbowreads.com

11/11

JP Barnaby

http://www.JPBarnaby.com

11/12

QUEERcentric Books

http://www.blog.queercentricbooks.com

11/12

JB’s Book Obsession

http://jbsbookobsession.blogspot.com/

11/13

Mikky’s World Of Books

http://mikkysworldofbooks.blogspot.fr/

11/13

Abbey’s 1-Click Book Blog

http://www.abbeys1clickblog.com

11/13

Bayou Book Junkie

http://bayoubookjunkie.blogspot.com/

11/13

Teatime and Books

http://www.teatimeandbooks76.blogspot.com

11/13

MM Good Book Reviews

https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/

11/13

Prism Book Alliance

http://www.prismbookalliance.com