Release Blitz and Giveaway for As I Am by Melissa Collins

As I Am by Melissa Collins is LIVE!
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Chase Hansen. Broke. College drop out. Male stripper.

My life wasn’t at all what I imagined it would be. I should have been finishing up college, interning with a well-respected business, partying with my friends. But instead, I was raising my seventeen year old brother, struggling to make ends meet. Love wasn’t even on my radar. Besides, what did I have to offer? A few crumpled singles pulled from my G-string? Defeated and exhausted, I knew I had zero chance of finding someone to love me just as I am.

Noah Carpenter. Angry. Betrayed. Doctor.

Just when I thought my life was going exactly as it should, everything turned upside down. With my final rotation in medical school complete, I finally achieved my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. What I never expected was to catch the man of my dreams in our bed with the man of his. Beyond infuriated, I struggled to piece together the remnants of my life. Just when I’d decided to give up on love altogether, I found a man who loved me just as I am.

Cover design: Sommer Stein at Perfect Pear Creative Covers

Photography: Christopher John at CJC Photography

Models: Sam Wiles and Aaron Michael Bell

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Melissa Collins Author Page

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.
Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.

Website | Amazon | Facebook | FB Reader Group | BookBub | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Also, now and leading up to release day, Melissa has put On Solid Ground (http://mybook.to/osg) on sale for FREE

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Ginger Snaps (Belladonna Arms #5) by John Inman

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

 

Even with a string of earthquakes jarring the tenants of the Belladonna Arms, rattling nerves and smashing dishes, life still manages to plod along as usual. Love pollen continues to fall, romances continue to flourish, and Arthur, the grand Pooh-bah in residence, continues to plan his upcoming wedding extravaganza.

In the midst of all this drama fall Gideon Chase and Reed Kelly, two redheaded losers at love who find themselves regrouping under the auspices of the most incorrigible matchmaker in heels.

Arthur sees hope for the two right away. He leases them adjoining apartments, then continually tweaks their budding friendship in the hope it will slip into love. Just as Arthur’s plans are coming along nicely, Reed’s past shows up to toss a monkey wrench into his and Gideon’s blossoming romance.

With Arthur’s wedding ceremony nigh, and Reed and Gideon on the verge of heartache yet again, Arthur faces one inescapable conclusion.

It will take more than love pollen to sort this mess out.

There’s is absolutely nothing better than to be home again in that faded six-story apartment building called The Belladonna Arms high atop a hill overlooking the ocean, a fabulous view of the city,  and new possibilities for love for all who arrive there.  For you see, it’s full of  love pollen  as each book has proved time and again.  Love pollen and cats.  Both figure large in each story.

John Inman has written so many incredible stories in many genres from contemporary romance to humor to the supernatural and horror.  But none has so captured my heart and left me wheezing from laughter or yes, sniffly from tears as his Belladonna Arms series and the oddball family that has sprung up in each apartment on every floor.  I thank John Inman every time each one/or couple makes an appearance in his stories.  And they do. In every one because they are a family that supports each other, no matter the occasion, in this case Arthur and Tom’s wedding (omg…the wedding dress).  The earth itself is having conniption fits over Arthur’s upcoming wedding as earthquakes galore are running through the area.  Through Inman’s vivid descriptions and our in depth knowledge and love or these characters we feel every quake and shimmy as if we were there.

The author really makes us a part of this family too.

From the moment heart hurt, homeless ginger haired Gideon Chase walks to see The Belladonna Arms because Ben  has told him he can get him a room there, we know Gideon is on a special journey.  One that starts with Arthur in all his drag  splendor waiting at the entrance, shifting boobs made of quinoa bags and all,  of The Belladonna Arms.  Then we move to red-haired Reed, his marriage, his decision not to live a lie, and again his arrival at The Belladonna Arms.  Two gingers, both hurting, now side by side neighbors.  Let the love pollen flow.

Lacking the necessities, all of the couples of the apartment building gather round Gideon to help him furbish his new home.  By chapter three, I’ve wrapped this book around my heart like a favorite comforter, so happy I feel to be back in their midst.  Then Gideon opens his door to two of my favorite kleptos, married couple Charlie and Bruce,  And it happens.  I’ll say the words.  Internet ballet lessons.

Ok, now I’m starting to wheeze here and the tears are streaming down my face.  I’m laughing so  hard that typing is a fail.

Brilliance.  The humor here will just grab at you when you least expect it.    This is just the first of many such scenes.

Of course, there’s plenty of poignancy too.  Reed has some powerful issues to work through and he’s not always as successful as one would hope at  first in finding his way.  Nothing here is ever easy.  But The Belladonna Arms family comes through again and again in the most amazing ways.  Inman finds paths that lifts everyone up, not just the main characters, but the secondary ones, that in other hands might have come out looking somewhat villainous, and that would have been   such a shame as well as unnecessary.

No one leaves The Belladonna Arms feeling unloved or a Belladonna Arms story feeling less that a bit dusted by love pollen yourself. I can’t help but wonder if a certain half naked flower boy will be featured in the next story.  Here’s hoping!

But until then I’m keeping myself warm with the laughter and love I find within the pages of Ginger Snaps (Belladonna Arms #5) by John Inman.     I know I will see Reed and Gideon again so this is but a seeya later.  And I keep bursting into giggles and outright laughter over the thoughts of Gorilla tape and cowboys hats and plie’s.  Truly my stomach hurts.  But not my heart.  John Inman has left that in excellent shape.

Now to wait for my next visit.  Until then I highly recommend you take a trip  to the Belladonna Arms yourself.  Meet everyone and fall in love.  Start at the beginning and work your way here.  Join in on the family fun.

Cover art: Aaron Anderson.  Normally I love Aaron Anderson’s work but I think this is a miss.  You have a story about gingers and you cut the top off the model so you miss out on the color of the hair?  Nope.  Plus the bandana really belongs to Charlie.  Fail all around.  Except that its done in the style that brands the series.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 240 pages
Published April 24th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleGinger Snaps
ISBN139781640800311
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series The Belladonna Arms #5

A Stella Review: Out Of The Ocean by Lynn Michaels

RATING 1,5 out of 5 stars

Cal Bigsby spent his life working the fishing boats and ignoring who he really is and what he needs to be happy.

Prescott ‘Scott’ Vandenburton is being primed to take over Daddy’s company, but he craves a life of his own. His only escape is sailing his yacht.

When a freak storm hits, both are forced to think about life from a whole new perspective.

Shipwrecked, fighting for their lives, and finding unexpected love.

Let’s start this review saying I was very enthusiastic about having this new story in my hands. I am always curious to read new to me authors and I saw how well loved Lynn Michaels is, so I wanted to give her new release a chance. Plus the blurb sounded interesting and I’m a fan of characters with important age difference.

So, yes the premises were all positive and perfect, but Out of the Ocean revealed to be a huge disappointment to me. A truly disaster. Not a single element worked.

Of course having read the blurb I knew what was going to happen, I knew the MCs were going to be in the middle of the ocean on a lifeboat. I knew this but the story was so badly developed, it was a pain to me to finish it, and I did it just because I had to write a review, otherwise I would have simply DFN.

The first thing that shocked me was how the author decided the MCs should met, I was thinking they were both on the same boat when the storm hit them. It was absurd they were on different boats and later they, each on his own lifeboat, after the storm, met in the ocean. I found it so unbelievable, but it’s romance so I went on with the reading.  Should have been better if I stopped there because it was a succession of implausibilities. Starting with, how two people, alone in the middle of the ocean (I know I tell you “middle of the ocean” two thousand times but it’s the focus point), with no way of asking for help, how neither of them, not even once, showed some fear, a little bit of panic. Nothing. They were like almost dying with nothing to eat, the heat unbearable, but wait for the worst part. They had sex. How was it possible I have no clue.

From that moment, I realized how “nonsense” this book was and I just went into the motion of finish it and put an end to my suffering.

I’m sorry, I don’t feel to recommend Out of the Ocean at all.

Cover art is great with wonderful detailed look to the character.

SALE LINKS:   Amazon

 

Book Details:

ebook, 1st edition

Published March 15th 2018

ISBN13 9781386999409

Edition Language English

A Barb the Zany Old Lady audiobook Review: Changing Plans Trilogy by L.A. Witt and Charlie David (Narrator)

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

This audiobook release contains all three books in the Changing Plans series: Getting Off the Ground, Infinity Pools, and On the List.   Charlie David does a nice job on the narration, however, he did not make the two MCs voices very distinctive so one has to listen to the content to be able to determine who is speaking when there are no dialogue tags.  This makes for a bit of confusion, though the stories are each short and not terribly complex, so they are easy to follow. 

In Getting Off the Ground, Elliot Chandler meets a sexy fellow traveler as they await their flight in what seems as if it’s going to be a snowed-in airport.  Elliot is heading to Hawaii to go on his honeymoon—alone.  Having been stood up at the altar, he decides to follow-through on his vacation plans—plans being the operative word.  Elliot is a compulsive over-planner, always planning everything in his life out to the nth degree.  So when his fiancé decides not to show at the altar, Elliot is going to take advantage of all the planning he did.  Unfortunately, he didn’t plan for the snowstorm. 

When the cute guy across the aisle, clad only in a Hawaiian-print shirt and no coat, engages him in conversation, the two hit it off immediately.  By the time the flight is canceled, Elliot offers to share his hotel room with the stranger, Derek.  Of course, Elliot has a room booked. As soon as he realized the flight might be canceled, he planned ahead and booked a room.  The two fall into bed, literally and frequently, and Derek eventually convinces Elliot he should change his plans to tour Oahu and come with Derek to Maui instead.  What looked to be an impossible feat happens and we end book one and begin book two, Infinity Pools—something Derek has at his home.  Derek made his money in the dot com days and he and his partners are still involved in buying and selling IT businesses, app development, etc.   

Book two is pretty much all sex with a bit of sightseeing thrown in.  Honestly, it’s original LA Witt at her finest, but I’m pretty much past the point where sex is interesting for 75% of the book, so I was happy to see book two end, with the two lovebirds committed to each other, even though they’ve only known one another for a few weeks.   So as book three opens, we find out that their long-distance relationship is still strong, and in fact, they have plans to get married. 

The last book, On the List, involves some family-of-origin issues, mostly on Derek’s part, and the two men committing to each other no matter what life brings.  Bottom line, this is an eight-hour audiobook that has a sweet romance, a lot of sex, and some nice Hawaiian scenery.  It would be a great book to listen to while lying on a beach or passing time on any vacation, including a flight to Hawaii. 

~~~

The cover features a beach scene in the lower panel with two men holding hands, and the upper panel features an airliner in a bright blue sky.  The cover is bright and colorful and attention-getting.

Sales Links:

 
Audio Buy Links: Audible US | Audible UK

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audiobook
Listening Length: 8 hours and 2 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Lori Witt
Audible.com Release Date: November 24, 2016
Whispersync for Voice: Ready
Language: English
ASIN: B01N981306

Retro Review Tour and Giveaway – Audiobook and Ebook – Changing Plans Collection by LA Witt

 

 
Audio Buy Links: Audible US | Audible UK
 
Length: 8hrs 2mins/77,500 words approx.
 
Narrated By: Charlie David
 
Blurb
 

From EPIC Award winning author and multiple Lambda Finalist L.A. Witt comes the re-release of three hot contemporary novellas — Getting off the Ground, Infinity Pools, and On The List.


After being stood up at the altar, compulsive over-planner Elliott Chandler decides to turn his honeymoon on Oahu into a vacation for one. Fate puts a hitch in his plans, however, when the airport is snowed in and his flight is delayed.


In the terminal, the jilted groom catches the eye of another stranded traveler: the laidback and very sexy Derek Windsor. Derek breaks the ice and strikes up a conversation, and as the temperature drops outside, the heat between them rises. Pity they’re both going to different islands, but if their flight doesn’t get off the ground fast, Mr. Calm-and-Cool may just tempt Mr. Play-It-Safe into doing something reckless.


And that plane isn’t going anywhere any time soon…

April 26 – Queerly Reads, OMG Reads

About The Author


L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut…



Website: http://www.gallagherwitt.com
E-mail: gallagherwitt@gmail.com
Twitter: @GallagherWitt
Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com

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Blog Tour for Guns n’ Boys Series by K.A. Merikan (authors guest post and giveaway)

 

Guns n’ Boys Series Blog Tour

Book #1 He Is Poison
Book #2 He Is Mine
Book #3 Homicidal Instinct
Book #4 Swamp Blood
Book #5 Chokehold
Book #6 Bloodbath
Book #7 Gilded Agony

Writing a romance series about a single couple comes with a set of difficulties. Each release needs to feel both familiar and fresh, to give the readers the sense of going on an adventure with people they know well. In most genres, the plot is what delivers this kind of experience, but in romance the development of the relationship is equally important, if not more so. I have written another post for this blog tour that is all about relationship development, so this time I would like to focus on one aspect only.

When a new relationship develops, all the ‘firsts’ are unique and exciting. The characters fantasize about one another, marvel at physical and mental attributes they like in their partner, and once sex comes into the picture, the tension that has been developing throughout the length of the book is finally released. But what can an author do to keep the fire burning once the characters settle into a comfortable relationship?

I think one of the worst things that can happen within a long series is the couple settling into a routine. Partners who know one another well might want to have the most vanilla kind of sex after a hard day’s work, but while this might be wonderful in real life, most of the time it’s not very interesting to read about over and over. If the book is an erotic romance or the couple’s connection has been heavily charged with eroticism from the start, it is important that the tension doesn’t fizzle out with subsequent books.

This is relatively easy to achieve in books that have a suspense element, because danger has an arousing effect on the body. While not strictly sexual, this arousal will result in a fast heartbeat, heat, but most of all–a sense of worry that the character’s partner might be in danger. This creates a need for connection that the readers can easily empathize with. In Guns n’ Boys, the characters often go through perilous situations, and by holding their partner, the characters are reassured that everything is as it should be.

Domenico and Seth, who are the main characters of the series, are very sexual by nature, but like all couples, they go through slumps and experiment with things that don’t always end up staying in their repertoire 😉 I wouldn’t suggest using role playing scenarios and gadgets as the only tool to uphold the sexual tension in subsequent books, but it does come in handy when it fits the overall theme on some level.

The method of keeping the sexual chemistry throughout the series that I find most organic is also most difficult, because it depends on the state of the relationship itself. I already mentioned that sometimes relationships in long-running series feel stagnant. I think that is because the authors like their characters too much and don’t want to take them out of perfect “marital” bliss. This can work for some subgenres, but not for erotic romance. In case of Domenico and Seth, a lot of the in-relationship tension comes from their difficult personalities. They will go through disagreements and once they make up–they will also want to reconnect sexually. This effect can also be achieved by making sure both partners evolve as people, thus making them fascinating and fresh to their lovers as the story goes on.

And then of course there’s a lot to be said for some good old hate sex.

Giveaway Information
 
Comment on the post to win, one person from each stop in the blog tour will win their choice of a backlist ebook from K.A. Merikan.  Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for your chance to win the Grand Tour Prize. (You can enter this one daily for more chances to win!)
 

To begin your journey with Seth and Domenico you should start here, with Book One: He Is Poison.

 

— Love like butterfly knives in the stomach. —

 

Domenico Acerbi. The Villani Family’s best assassin. Ruthless. Vicious. With no patience for weakness.

Seth Villani. The Don’s son. Clueless. Stubborn. In dire need of someone to keep him in line.

Domenico Acerbi grew up ready to give his life for the Family. Ready to follow orders and exceed expectations. A proud man of honor.

The last thing he wants to deal with is training the Don’s son for his future role within the organization. Lazy, annoying, spoiled, and as hot as a Sicilian summer, Seth Villani is no mafia material. But a man who could never become a threat might just be what Domenico needs.

Seth Villani wants nothing to do with the mafia. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a say when he’s pulled back into the fold. Thrown into a den of serpents otherwise known as the Villani Family, Seth has to find a way to navigate the maze of lies. But when Domenico Acerbi, the most vicious snake of them all, sinks his fangs into Seth, letting go becomes impossible.

If Seth is doomed to follow in his father’s footsteps, he might as well enjoy himself with the most intoxicating man he’s ever met. Maybe he can even fool himself into believing that Domenico isn’t a handsome sociopath who kills for a living.


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: Enemies to lovers, mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime, forced proximityGenre: Dark, twisted M/M romance / crime thrillerLength: ~110,000 words

WARNING: Adult content. Sizzling hot scenes. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.
‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin.


K.A. Merikan are a team of writers who try not to suck at adulting, with some success. Always eager to explore the murky waters of the weird and wonderful, K.A. Merikan don’t follow fixed formulas and want each of their books to be a surprise for those who choose to hop on for the ride.

K.A. Merikan have a few sweeter M/M romances as well, but they specialize in the dark, dirty, and dangerous side of M/M, full of bikers, bad boys, mafiosi, and scorching hot romance.

FACEBOOK PROFILE
K.A. MERIKAN’S TWITTER (RUN BY KAT)
AGNES MERIKAN’S TWITTER
K.A. MERIKAN ON GOODREADS
PINTEREST
M/F ROMANCE BY MISS MERIKAN

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Release Blitz and Review Tour for Exploration (Kinky in the City #1) by Quinn Ward (giveaway)

 

 
Length: 65,000 words approx.
 
Cover Design: Marisa @ Cover Me Darling
 
Blurb
 

The reluctant manager of his family’s restaurant, Frankie attempts to live up to the legacy of his father and grandfather. Running a business that isn’t his passion and trying to do it without asking for help leaves him turning to less-than-legal means when he wants to surrender control.



Newly divorced, Calvin no longer lives in the closet, leaving him searching for what he most desires- control. So when he finds Frankie on his knees in the back room of a local bar, Calvin sees the sub he’s only ever fantasized about having.


Can Calvin find the confidence to explore his dominant side while showing his younger roommate that submission isn’t only about whips and pain?

April 24 – Mainely Stories, Two Chicks Obsessed
April 26 – Katie’s Book Corner
April 28 – Blazing Zane Book Blog
May 2 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Making It Happen, Love Unchained, The Librarian’s Corner
May 4 – Joyfully Jay
May 7 – BooksLaidBareBoys
May 9 – Au Boudoir Ecarlate
May 14 – Mirrigold, MM Midnight Cafe
May 16 – Nerdy Dirty & Flirty, Wicked Reads, My Fiction Nook
May 18 – Pants Off Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, OMG Reads
May 21 – Two Book Pushers
May 23 – Drops of Ink
May 25 – Bayou Book Junkie, Book Review By Virginia Lee

Quinn writes LGBTQ romance with a kick. Their stories center around the relationship building between the characters, but also shows how compatible they are in the bedroom (or wherever else the urge strikes).

Goodreads Page
Facebook Reader Group
Email Quinn at: quinn(at)quinnwardwrites(dot)com
Website

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A MelanieM Review: Femme (Femme #1) by Marshall Thornton

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Queeny cocktail waiter, Lionel, wakes up to find himself in bed with Dog, a straight-acting softball player and the two embark on a rocky road to romance. A journey that requires coming out of the closet, going into the closet, a pair of red high heels, many pairs of red high heels, a failed intervention, a couple of aborted dates, and homemade pom-poms. Mostly, Lionel and Dog learn what it means to be a man.

I fell deeply in love with Lionel, the femme of the novel Femme right from the opening paragraphs when he is grapheling with waking up to the morning after realities in the most delightful of Lionel ways.  The conversation he’s having with himself over the man in his bed, the probabilities over what he thinks his name is, whether or not the sex was as delightful as he remembers it was or great dream sex….the rambling goes on and my love affair just solidified itself.  I loved Lionel.

He was effervescence itself while having been through more than a few of life’s harder realities.  Trust me, Lionel is someone who has accepted himself, knows who he is and isn’t going to back down for anyone. He’s fabulous without being a cliche or if he is, Lionel is going to grab that cliche, glam it up, and make it his own.   I totally forgot that Marshall Thornton had created him.  For me, Lionel became real in just a few pages and has stayed that way, even now.

Then Dog woke up.

Dog aka Doug, well, he’s got a different path to  walk, including that to my heart.  It takes a while with Dog.  He’s unsure of everything in his life, including how to stand up for himself, how to come out to his family, how he feels about femmes, just about every important question in life is one that Doug needs to answer in this book.  Loyalty, love, and relationship questions….all are looming large here.

Dog  (the reason for his name will be explained towards the end of the story…perfect really) undergoes realistic character growth.  A much needed ones.  Because, like Lionel, Doug comes across as so real he is also so disappointing in his actions at crucial times in the story.  You’ll see it coming and start flinching at the approach because Marshall Thornton knows human behavior.  I can see readers having issues here.  But it is also what makes Dog/Doug’s growth and the steps he finally takes so rewarding.  He becomes the man who Lionel deserves to have in his life.  They deserve each other, pom poms and all.

Marshall Thornton really knows how to write characters that have staying power.

This is the first in a series.  It has me wondering if the author will pull from the pool of amazing characters he created for this novel or if he’s going to do something  entirely   different but same subject matter.  I don’t care. Ok, yes, I do.  I love all these characters and want to see them all again, except one.  Boo hiss to him.  So I’ll be waiting for my next Marshall Thornton story to arrive (he’s become an automatic read for me).  Meanwhile, I’m highly recommending Femme (Femme #1) by Marshall Thornton to all of you.  It’s two person narrative is highly addictive as are its characters,  the story flows smoothly and quickly, and the ending is one to leave you happy and wanting more of  this couple.

Cover art by Marshall Thornton.  I like the red shoes.  So Lionel but the font seems to harsh.  Maybe that’s what’s jarring me.

Sales Link:  Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 222 pages
Published July 28th 2016 by Kenmore Books
ASINB01FT7CVKU
Edition Language English
Series Femme
Literary AwardsLambda Literary Award Nominee for Gay Romance (2017), Rainbow Award for Gay Romantic Comedy (2nd) (2016)

A Lucy Review: Love For All Seasons Charity Anthology – Various Authors

Rating:  3.5 stars out of 5

This anthology has stories that share the theme of the seasons.  In some, the season is front and center, such as Winter’s Chill and Sweeter Than Honey, while in others it is not integral to the story.  As in every anthology there were stories I liked more than others.  I got introduced to authors new to me, several of which I will be looking forward to seeing again.   All the stories here are fairly short, as typical in an anthology. 

Brioche for Two  – V.L. Locey  (3.5 stars)  Brian is a businessman who orders two brioche delivered from the bakery where Isamu works.  Isamu is a broke film student and can’t figure out why an obviously well-to-do man such as Brian would want to have anything to do with him.   Of course, he helps Isamu with his film project on finding passion.   It really is the story of their meeting and maybe beginning.

Sweeter Than Honey – C.M. Valencourt (4 stars)  Grayson is a vegan baker who sells at the market where Wyatt sells honey from his hives.  Some nasty attitude prevails and it is up to Wyatt to show Grayson not everyone is cruel.  New to me author and this story was adorable.  I admit, the vegan aspect drew me in – I am a vegetarian always trying to make that leap to vegan.  The uninformed and sanctimonious way Grayson attacked Wyatt is, unfortunately, all too common in the vegan community .  Wyatt is patient and a good person and I enjoyed reading about the bees.

Special Nights – DJ Jamison (3.5 stars) Sam suffers from severe insomnia and sometimes trying to sleep just isn’t worth it so he heads off to spend time in the very early morning at the diner where Hunter works.  Hunter has a lot going on in his personal life right now but he takes the time to talk to Sam.  This is set across the year and how they slowly become something to each other.  I liked the flirting between the two and the fact that nothing was rushed.  They shared snippets about themselves and didn’t fall into bed, which made it seem real.  It was cute, maybe needed to be a bit longer.

Winter’s Chill – Cathy Brockman (2 stars)  Jeff is working on his grandfather’s house so that his mother can sell it.  Lane is his next door neighbor and during a storm not only does the power go out but Jeff is trapped under a fallen branch.  Luckily, Lane hears it and rescues Jeff, then offers to let him stay by Lane’s, where there is a generator, heat and food.   It is the week they spend snowed in that they get to know each other.  This one had potential but I didn’t think it lived up to it.  Part of it may be a personal thing, as it is written in present tense and that isn’t preferred for me.  The other part is that they have conversations that seem forced and stilted.  The writing style wasn’t working for me and this one wasn’t a favorite.

Beach Boys – Annabelle Jacobs (3.5 stars)  Russ is on vacation with his best friend, Sarah, and another friend, Karen.  It was technically a girl’s weekend until the third girl broke her ankle and Russ is invited to fit in.  It’s a sweet bungalow right on the water and he’s extremely happy to be there.  Even more so when spying the hot surfers on the beach.  What more could he ask for?   Told in first person by Russ, I liked the whole meet your guy on vacation and this one was sweet instead of all sexy.  I liked that too because this is the very beginning of something for these guys.  There are some funny parts, such as Bailey the dog and her love for tug of war, that made me smile.

Who Do You Love, My Valentine – EJ Smyth (2.5 stars) Nox is a god who has been crushing on a human, Matt, for more than two years.  It happens that at Valentine’s season Cupid needs some help and of course Nox draws the short straw and has to fix Matt up with someone else.  How can that be!  Especially when Nox misses the shot and now Matt is falling in love with a woman, Joanie.  Now what?  Right in the beginning, Nox is invisible and he is licking Matt’s neck and fondling his groin, while Matt is unable to know what is going on.  He even admits it, “It was a creepy thing to do, but he was close, so very close.”  Ummm, nope, not a reason and that made me very uncomfortable.  Joanie was accidentally shot by the arrow is now extremely attracted to Matt and Nox just sort of pushes that to the side, which was annoying.  I did appreciate that when Matt is hit with the arrow, it hurts! That was unique.   This one was up and down for me, but feather sex pushed it down a little.

Favorite Flowers – Chris McHart (4 stars)  Gabe owns a flower shop, working with his best friend, Tara.  Tara is on him to get out there and start dating again, that “Not every guy is a cheating bastard.”  But he doesn’t want to and he’s sticking to his guns.  Then a customer comes in, totally overwhelmed, and wants to buy flowers.   He starts coming in every week to get a bouquet but never gives any indication of being interested or even being available so Gabe is sure it’s nothing. He doesn’t even given Gabe his name until much later, Jason.  This was by far my favorite of the anthology because the dance they are doing in the flower shop was shy and sweet.  Jason is going through a divorce after sharing with his wife, who was his best friend, that he’s pan, so he wants that out in the open right away.  I applauded him for that.  Jason’s way of asking Gabe out was romantic and lovely, and his reasoning for keeping Gabe a little at arm’s length was perfect.  “Just you, me, lube.  That’s it.” 

The Last Chance  – RJ Scott (2.5 stars)  Luke is a senior in college, set to graduate.   He can’t forget the kiss (and frot) he had with the captain of the hockey team four years before.  Of course, said Captain, Justin, hasn’t spoken to him since that day.  Luke “wanted to, but he avoided me, and I got the message.”  Now it is senior year and for some reason Jason’s jock friends are apologizing for things Luke might be holding against Justin because of them.  That part was cute.  What wasn’t so cute for me was that after four years of ignoring him, Justin has now decided to make a move.   His friends are trying to help and that was cute, but after four years of nothing, I wanted way more groveling than we got.  At first, Luke acted like I expected a self-respecting person to act when they’ve been treated poorly and get, “Please believe me, I had my reasons” as the excuse.  “I should have spoken to you.  I’ve waited so long.”  You are on the same college campus!  So I thought the end was totally out of left field, particularly when you factor in that in reality, they only spent part of one evening together.   I am a big RJ Scott fan but this one didn’t work for me.

Cover art by RJ Scott is soft, sweet and fitting to the mood and style of the stories.

Sales Link:

Universal Buy Link

Book Details:

ebook
Published April 19th 2018 by Love Lane Books Limited (first published April 16th 2018)
Original TitleLove for all Seasons
ISBN139781785641244
Edition LanguageEnglish
URLhttp://www.lovelanebooks.co.uk

An Alisa Review: Life Is A Stevie Wonder Song by V.L. Locey

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

Authors know that their muse is a fickle creature. Best-selling spy novelist Stephen Ramsey has been in a hate-hate relationship with his inspiration for months. When Stephen’s publisher lays a legal ultimatum upon him, with a rapidly approaching deadline, he knows he must do something to kick-start his creativity or face the unemployment line. His daughter comes up with a possible answer: a summer camp for the creative soul. With nothing to lose, Stephen packs up his laptop, phonograph and beloved record albums and heads from Greenwich Village to the Catskill Mountains.

There, among a horde of college students attending for extra credits, is Declan Pomeroy, a photographer of fey creatures who is twenty-two years younger than Stephen. The woods are a magical place, and he quickly finds himself falling under the spell of the free-spirited photographer. Confusion wars with desire inside Stephen as he succumbs to the feelings welling up inside. But, sadly, summer camp always has to end. Can a man who has just found himself really leave the person that makes his heart sing?

This story just pulled me in and I really enjoyed it all the way though.  I love seeing guys have and accept a life altering change and see how it makes their lives better.  Stephen has succeeded as an author even as he has had multiple marriages come apart.  Declan is a free spirit who for the most part is very patient with Stephen’s slow acceptance of their connection.

The story is told from Stephen’s point of view which makes it easy to see his frustration with his writer’s block and confusion in regards to Declan.  When he gave himself the chance to let go and see what would happen it was freeing for him.  I was able to see Declan’s emotions through Stephen’s eyes even when he didn’t always seem to understand.  I loved Declan’s determination to stay true to himself and make Stephen make the big change of moving but it was for the better for both of them.

The cover art by Sloan J Design is nice and I love having visuals of both of the characters.

Sales Link: Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 87 pages

Published: 2nd edition, April 18, 2018 by VL Locey

Edition Language: English