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Release Blitz for Sweet William by Diane Hartsock (excerpt and giveaway)

Title:  Sweet William

Author: Dianne Hartsock

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: October 30, 2017

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 15800

Genre: Historical, student, dub con/non con, historical, abduction, romance, gay

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Synopsis

William Wilkerson leads the life of the privileged rich. Head of his father’s shipping business, he indulges to his heart’s content in the pleasures of the flesh with Boston’s finest young men.

That is, until he reunites with Fredrick: his former tutor and the one man who captured his heart. But William’s father has declared Fredrick off limits. And Fredrick, himself, believes he’s beneath the attention of the Wilkerson heir.

After having lost his current pupil to graduation, and with no prospects of a replacement, Frederick is homeless, hungry, and easy pickings for the men on the docks. When Frederick is shanghaied into service on William’s own merchant ship, will William discover his plight in time to rescue him?

Excerpt

Sweet William
Dianne Hartsock © 2017
All Rights Reserved

Chapter One

Fredrick held up his glass and stared at the candle’s flame through the amber liquid. He took a sip and savored the rich, biting taste on his tongue, welcoming the burn down his throat. This was the very last drink he could afford, and he had to enjoy it.

A giggle erupted from someone out of sight on the back staircase, and a smile tugged his lips, despite the dire state of his wallet. The laugh had been carefree, joyous, naughty. Fredrick shifted on the cushioned bench. The lunch hour had passed, and he was the only customer in the dining room. He wondered if the innkeeper up front would notice if he adjusted his cramped cock as it throbbed in sympathy with the bright laughter that reminded him of his own ardent affair.

Rather than risk it, he watched the fruit vender outside the window beguile a customer. Another giggle and stifled moan floated down to him and he grinned, even though the laughter emphasized his own loneliness. It had been far too long since he’d had someone in his bed.

Fredrick looked up at the clatter of footsteps, distracted from his memory of lush lips, white skin, and wide hazel eyes. He caught a glimpse of red hair and an embarrassed cheek before the gentleman crammed a hat on his head.

“Damned Wilkerson,” the man muttered as he passed him, face averted.

With conscious effort, Fredrick loosened his hold on his glass, but he had no way to stop the wild hammering of his heart. Wilkerson? Could it really be…? Perhaps not, but the Wilkerson family he knew had strong ties to Boston. At least, the father often traveled there. But did William come now? He had to know. Before he lost his courage, he stood and swallowed the last of the brandy and then crossed the room to the staircase.

He shook his head at his eagerness. It had been three years, after all, and they’d parted in anger. Would William acknowledge him? A man stepped onto the landing and Fredrick allowed his gaze to travel up the white spats and checkered trousers. Blood heated his face when he found the silk vest and shirt open at the throat to expose soft white skin.

A sigh brought his gaze up to the attractive face that stirred his dreams. Rich brown curls surrounded lovely hazel eyes and full, pouting lips. Panic swept the pretty face, and then a delighted smile revealed the even white teeth that had nipped his collarbone on more than one glorious occasion.

“Freddie, is it you?”

He hasn’t forgotten! Fredrick stored away the joy to visit later. God knew his pleasures were few and far between these days. “How are you, William? I had no idea you came to Boston.”

“On occasion.” William stepped off the landing, only a slight sway in his lean body betraying his inebriation. Fredrick’s heart skipped. The top of William’s head barely reached his shoulders—perfect for Fredrick to rest his chin on if he gathered him close. To his surprise, William didn’t hesitate, clasping Fredrick in his arms and stretching for a light kiss. Fredrick’s hold tightened instinctively, but William didn’t seem to mind, winding his arms around Fredrick’s neck. He licked Fredrick’s lips, his sweet tongue seeking entrance.

Fredrick laughed, breathless with the need that swept him, but moved his head back, denying the kisses sure to topple the defenses he’d built against this man.

He chuckled wryly at William’s delicious pout. “You promised not to tease me.”

“That was years ago. I made no promises today.” William nibbled at Fredrick’s lips, but eased away when he resisted.

Fredrick glanced over his shoulder at the innkeeper watching them. “William, what are you about? Anyone could have seen you. This is dangerous—”

“It was only a few kisses, but perhaps you’re right.” A scowl darkened William’s face. “The proprietor is paid handsomely for his discretion, but it’s possible I’m growing careless.”

Distracted by William’s open shirt, Fredrick closed his hands into fists to resist the urge to embrace him again. Memories stirred of the slide of fabric under his fingers: images of cool sheets and creamy skin. He longed to run his tongue down the exposed flesh of William’s neck and revisit the delights he’d enjoyed, once upon a time.

“How is Lord Wilkerson these days?” he asked instead, throwing that barrier between them. A shutter seemed to close on William’s eyes, his gaze becoming less warm. In sudden panic, Fredrick touched his arm, afraid William would walk away. “Forgive me. This is hard for me.”

He trembled when William put a hand over his. “For me, as well, darling. I had no idea you lived in Boston.”

“Or you would have stayed away?” Fredrick regretted the jealous words the instant they left his lips and looked aside to hide the blush he knew reddened his face. He always played the fool with William.

“My father’s been ill for some time. I’ve taken control of the shipping portion of the estate and come to Boston from time to time to check the wares from the Orient. We managed without incident these past ten years, since eighteen seventy-four, but recently we’ve had an increase in damaged goods. My presence at the docks seems to deter clumsiness.”

“Of course.” Fredrick chewed his lips as he searched for something to say, his heart heavy.

“And what is my former teacher doing in this wild town?” William asked, his voice kind.

Fredrick shrugged, not about to tell him he’d run as far from William as he could when Lord Wilkerson had humiliated and dismissed him. “I’ve been tutoring Lord Anadaile’s daughter.”

“For truth? That must be hell on earth. A more spoiled child I’ve yet to meet.”

“She has a good heart, but this position is soon over, anyway. Miss Cynthia comes of age next month, with her debutant party in June. No need for me after that.”

A cough from the innkeeper at the far end of the room caught their attention. As if recalling his state of undress, William buttoned his shirt and did up his vest. Fredrick groaned inwardly as he remembered doing similar service for William after an afternoon spent undressing him.

William gave a brilliant smile as if sharing the memory and took Fredrick’s hand. “Will you have a drink with me at the club?”

Longing almost overcame discretion, but the barrier of their positions couldn’t be ignored, by either side. “Forgive me. I’m not dressed appropriately for your friends.”

William’s beautiful eyes widened as if seeing the frayed brown suit for the first time. Fredrick’s heart warmed. William had the fine trait of seeing a man behind his outward trappings. Rank held little interest for him. For an instant, the ugly thought that William could well afford the fine principle pricked him, but he knew it was his own poverty that prompted the emotion. William had a true heart.

He watched in fascination as a blush tinted William’s porcelain cheeks. William kept his gaze on their clasped hands, and his words started an ache in Fredrick’s chest. “Damn convention and society can go to hell. I’ve missed you, Freddie. I want to see you. Not at the club, and not here.” A flirtatious glance. “I wouldn’t want to bring scandal to my favorite tutor.”

“It’s better we don’t—”

“Probably.”

William leaned up and kissed Fredrick full on the mouth. A sweet tongue slid passed his lips to tangle with his, tasting and teasing. Caught unawares, Fredrick opened to him, drowned in memories of sultry afternoons, bodies entwined. William’s scent surrounded him, spiced with tobacco and whiskey and expensive cologne. Underneath, there was the heady fragrance of heated skin.

Fredrick groaned as lust swamped his defenses. His cock swelled to life for its lover, ached for the touch it had missed for far too many lonely nights. He returned William’s kiss with fervor, forgetting where they were, his position, everything but the need to taste again this man he loved with all his being.

William broke off their kiss and leaned against the wall, his chest heaving. They stared at one another and Fredrick bit hard on his lip. Dearest Lord! William stood before him, everything he desired in life, intelligent and beautiful. Mine! Fredrick’s heart broke, while agony twisted in his gut. He had nothing to offer the eldest son of one of New England’s finest families. He’d known that three years ago. Nothing had changed his circumstances.

William had always been able to read him, and he set his pretty lips in a firm line. “I’m in Boston through the week. I want to see you, Freddie. Please don’t be cruel. Meet me at the pier in two hours.”

“But—”

His protest went unheard. With a flash of anger in his eyes, William strode past him without another word.

Purchase

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

Meet the Author

Dianne is the author of paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, m/m romance, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind. She lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. She says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee warming her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

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Cover Reveal for Welcome Home, Soldier by Deanna Wadsworth (excerpt and giveaway)

Title: Welcome Home Soldier 
Author: Deanna Wadsworth
Genre: M/M Romance
Publisher: Dreamspinner

Release Date: December 2017 


Clay and Daniel fell in love as enlisted men during Desert Shield, but Don’t Ask Don’t Tell meant they had to keep it secret. After Clay’s convoy was ambushed, PTSD changed him, and their relationship ended in a horrible fight on Christmas Eve.

Twenty-five years later, they’ve reconnected on Facebook, and Clay finds out Daniel will be alone on Christmas Eve. Impulsively, he sets out for Daniel’s hometown of Gilead, Ohio—where Daniel is now the mayor—to surprise him with a visit. But a blizzard strikes and Clay wrecks his car. All hope of seeing Daniel is lost—until a mysterious old man named Nick offers Clay a ride. The weight of past wounds and the scars of war might make their reunion awkward, but Clay is willing to take the risk to win back his lost love. Despite a lifetime of disappointing holidays, Clay hopes that this soldier is finally coming home for Christmas.
“You sure we’re gonna fit over that bridge?” Clay asked when a rickety-looking bridge appeared up ahead on the edge of the headlights’ range. The one-lane bridge didn’t look wide enough to fit the big vehicle.

“Oh, I can make it,” Nick assured him.

A soldier’s sixth sense kept him alive, and it was a trait very few lost. Though Clay trusted Nick knew what he was doing—he was probably a local—Clay held his breath as they squeezed over the old structure, the curved metal support less than a hand’s width away from Clay’s door.

“Told ya we would make it,” Nick said merrily as they bounced around a bit when the truck was back on the road.

“I can’t believe your boss has you delivering packages this late on Christmas Eve.”

“I work for a real stickler,” Nick said, chuckling. “Gotta make sure that everyone in Gilead gets their Christmas present.”

“You with the post office?” He’d been so anxious to get out of the weather that he hadn’t noticed any badging on the vehicle.

Nick chuckled again. “Something like that. I always spend Christmas Eve delivering packages. It’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Giving everyone their Christmas miracle?”

“I could use a Christmas miracle.”

“Not dying on the side of the road is pretty miraculous.”

After a begrudging nod, Clay let his vision get lost in the warp speed. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Today would be one of his better Christmases. At least Clay wasn’t dead and he would get to see Daniel again.

With his track record, Clay should hate the holidays, but he just couldn’t bring himself to. Christmas was a joyful time of year, one of hope and miracles. Of course, wanting a perfect holiday and having it always fall short used to throw Clay into a tailspin of depression, drugs, and drinking. It was still the hardest day of his sobriety. Last year he did all right, however. He saw three movies on Christmas Day, one was a good, one was lousy, and he fell asleep during the third. The only places usually open were movie theaters and bars, and Clay had no business in a bar. No sense tempting Fate.

The soft refrains of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” filled the cab.

A sudden, sickening sense of dread filled his chest.

Did he think Daniel would be thrilled to see him after the way Clay ended things? What if Daniel rejected him?

Then what?

He had no car, no phone. He glanced at Nick, humming along to the radio. Maybe he would let Clay ride along on his deliveries… and suddenly Clay was that scared little boy in the church again. Not knowing where he would stay for the night, abandoned and alone. The memory hit him hard, stealing his breath.
The Christmas lights blinked from the greenery on the pew in front of me. Maybe Mama will get us a tree so Santa can find me this year. Laughter caught my ear, and I turned. The family behind us was leaving. I looked around.

 


Everyone was leaving.

My tummy began to hurt. Mama said she was going potty, but she’s been gone a long time.

Where is she?

“You all right?” Nick asked.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” Clay blinked hard and rubbed his chest, forcing the old memory back into the box where he locked away things he couldn’t face.

With a bitter sniff, he realized that box had been too damn full for too damn long.

Staring out into the snow steadied his racing heart. He wasn’t that frightened kid anymore, hadn’t been for a long time.

The song on the radio repeated the refrain about being home, taunting Clay with promises of mistletoe and presents under the tree. And where the lovelight gleams?
Whatever that meant.

“There’s the mayor’s place,” Nick announced. “You ready, Clay?”

He shot the man a look, startled by the serious note in his voice.

Didn’t have a choice at this point. “Yeah, sure,” Clay managed as Nick turned into a plowed driveway lined by snow-covered trees that faded into the blowing white.

 

I could wander off into the night and freeze to death.

“It’s going to be just fine,” Nick assured him.

Clay flinched once more.

Nick wore the expression of someone who knew more than they should or perhaps had seen more than they wished. Or maybe Clay was imagining this entire thing and he was actually dead on the side of the road. He’d learned long ago the mind could create some powerful illusions.

At the end of the driveway, a gleaming light filled the white expanse, a golden beacon of home to match the song still playing. Clay didn’t know what he expected Daniel’s house to look like, but he should’ve known it would be a log cabin A-frame with a big deck drenched in snow. Daniel always dreamed of building a log cabin.

 

Looks like he got his wish.
Clay’s heart skipped as the song continued to play, and for an instant, Clay felt like a soldier coming home for Christmas after a long and weary tour.

 

If only in your dreams, Fisher.

“This is where you get off, soldier,” Nick announced.

Clearing his throat when the truck stopped, he offered, “Listen, Nick, I don’t know how to repay—”

Nick raised a hand. “No need. Just go in and make up with your friend.”

Clay studied the cabin, hunkered in between tall pines on one side and a barn on the other, bundled up against the elements. Smoke spiraled from the stone chimney, quickly captured in the storm and whisked away. Golden light spilled from the large windows and onto the white snow. Even through the storm, Clay could make out the colorful twinkling of a Christmas tree inside.

 

I don’t know if I can do this.

He looked at Nick. “Are you sure you shouldn’t come in? I don’t think Daniel would mind. The roads are getting dangerous.” It was ballsy to invite a stranger into Daniel’s house, but basic human decency wouldn’t allow Nick to go back out into the storm, right?

“No, no,” Nick assured him. “I’ve done this a time or two. I got it all under control.”

Clay nodded but didn’t move.

“Go on,” Nick encouraged. “I have more gifts to deliver tonight than just you.”

Chest aching, Clay let out a weary sigh and zipped his jacket. Then he shook Nick’s hand, engulfing it in both of his own. “Thank you again. And please be safe out there.”

Nick gave a rumbling, deep-belly laugh. “Oh, ho-ho! I’ll be fine. Don’t you worry.”

Hesitating for another moment, Clay said farewell, then climbed from the truck and shut the door. He waved goodbye and hunched into the weather. Leaving fresh tracks, he hurried toward Daniel’s porch. The wind swallowed the sounds of the truck engine, and when he glanced over his shoulder, Nick had already disappeared into the storm.

Godspeed, friend, he thought, grateful for his guardian angel tonight.

He hoped that same good fortune would stay with Nick on his route.

Clay stared at the ominous green door—Daniel’s favorite color. With a fortifying breath, he pushed the doorbell. When he didn’t hear anything, he knocked on the door with a fist. On the other side, a dog barked.

His heart gave a pang at the sound. His white German Shepard Lola had died too young, only seven. Damn, I miss her.

Clay raised his hand to knock again, but the rumble of a man’s voice followed by the switch of a deadbolt stopped him. His heart skipped. This is it.

The door opened.

“Clay?” Hazel eyes met Clay’s, wide with shock.

 

At least he recognizes me. That’s a start. Shoving his hands into his jacket pockets, Clay offered, “Merry Christmas, Daniel.”
Deanna Wadsworth might be a bestselling erotica author, but she leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her wonderful husband and a couple adorable cocker spaniels. She has been spinning tales and penning stories since childhood, and her first erotic novella was published in 2010. She has served multiple board positions at her local RWA chapter and is the current President 2017 for Rainbow Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing books or brainstorming with friends, you can find her making people gorgeous in a beauty salon. She loves music and dancing, and can often be seen hanging out on the sandbar in the muddy Maumee River or chilling with her hubby and a cocktail in their basement bar. In between all that fun, Deanna cherishes the quiet times when she can let her wildly active imagination have the full run of her mind. Her fascination with people and the interworkings of their relationships have always inspired her to write romance with spice and love without boundaries.

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A VVivacious Review: Improper Fraction by V.L. Locey

Rating: 4.5 Stars out of 5

O’Malley Ramsey and Garrison Rook have been inseparable from a really young age.  Mal has been in love with his best friend ever since he learnt what love was but the day they both head off for college sees Mal’s wildest dreams come true as Garrison might not be as straight as he wants to appear. They both make fervent promises to come back to each other but while Mal keeps his end of the promise Garrison breaks his.

When Mal and Garrison come face to face four years later, will Garrison be able to convince Mal to forgive him and will Mal be willing to let go of the hurt and embrace a chance at love?

This book was amazing. God! I am really loving this author when I picked up this book I hadn’t read anything by this author but when I finally got around to reading this book I had read two shorts by this very author and I really liked both of those. And this kind of turned out to be the cherry on the top, because it was so good. Ah! Just so amazing!

First off, right of the bat, I have got to say how much I loved all the characters, I mean not only Garrison and Mal but Mrs Rook like completely stole my heart. Not only for all the humour she added to situations but she felt like such a parent getting Garrison in embarrassing situations it was so cute. In fact, I liked the entire Rook and Ramsey family, they were all like such well- developed characters and I liked them all so much.

Mal is a math aficionado and just that fact makes my heart flutter. I am so math crazy that it was amazing to read about someone even crazier than me about math, I just can’t get that scene were Garrison is telling Mal to stop doing percentages inside his head out of my head, it was just so ingenious like Mal would totally be the kind of guy to refute everything with mathematical exaction.

I had a little more problem liking Garrison because his excuses for not keeping his promise kind of don’t sit well with me. But once I got over that, I really liked him too. I especially loved Garrison and Mal together because whenever they were together it felt like they belonged there. This especially helped a lot in the beginning of the book when the characters weren’t as established and I was still trying to wrap my head around Garrison, because the kind of chemistry Garrison and Mal shared from the very beginning was priceless. They totally had the Oh My God these kisses are combustible kind of chemistry. It was easy to see how much they belonged together especially when I had my doubts about if they should but once all the doubts cleared up these two were just such a rock-solid couple.

This story doesn’t only focus on the romance and it has a plotline that isn’t based on the romance but no matter how I didn’t like that aspect of the plot, I think I liked how it was used to make a point and further the plot and be that additional push to get things in the right place.

Overall, this story was amazing like hot chocolate. It was just what I needed and it made me feel so good. Loved it, loved it and definitely recommend it.

Cover Art by Reverie Design. I liked the cover.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 179 pages
Published October 18th 2017 by Gone Writing Publishing LLC
Original TitleImproper Fraction
ASINB0755YPLQX

Release Blitz for Bernie (Barista Boys #4) by AE Ryecart (excerpt and giveaway)

Book Title: Bernie

Author: A E Ryecart

Publisher: A E Ryecart

Cover Artist: Meredith Russell

Genre: Contemporary MM Romance

Length: 60,600 words

#4 in the Barista Boys series, but it can be read as a standalone

Blurb

“You fix the lives of others. The waifs and strays, the lost and broken, you fix them all, Bernie. But the life that needs fixing most of all is your own.”

Bernie Porter is a haunted man. He holds tight to the guilt that he was responsible for the death of the only one he’s ever loved, a man he vowed to protect and keep safe.

Every frightened and damaged kid who washes up at Barista Boys door, Bernie rescues each and every one – all because of the man he failed to save so many years before.

Emotionally and physically scarred, Jared Hastings survived a night of violence and madness that almost left him dead. As he emerges from the nightmare that threatened to destroy him, Jared’s determined to plunge head-first into a future that’s free from the horrors of his past.

A night-time street robbery, and Bernie and Jared are thrown into each other’s worlds. But as fast as Jared comes into Bernie’s life, he’s gone, leaving Bernie with the gnawing conviction he’s let something precious slip through his fingers.

Their paths cross again in a way neither could have foreseen. From their first tentative steps, the slow burn of their relationship gathers pace. But as dark histories are revealed, and souls and hearts bared, each man finally comes to understand they can fix not just themselves, but each other.

Buy Links ~ Available on KU

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Excerpt

A faint aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg and cocoa floated on the air, underscored by a subtle spice. Bernie breathed in deep, the scent an intoxicating mix of expensive cologne and the warmth of Jared’s skin. Bernie licked his lips as unaccustomed nerves overtook him. In the sunny garden, the timing was different, the situation was different. He opened his mouth, ready to ask if he could see Jared again. He’d seen, he was sure he’d seen, a glimmer of interest in those big blue eyes. There was only one way to find out. Before he could speak Jared asked a question which stopped him dead.

“You know,” Jared said as tilted his head towards the wicker chairs for them to sit down, “I never for one moment expected to run into my Good Samaritan again, and especially not here. Lindy said you’re an old friend of Mikey’s. How long have you known him?”

Bernie sipped his drink, buying himself time. This wasn’t a conversation he wanted, but it was inevitable the question would come up. How he’d met Michalis was tangled and screwed up, and a nightmare that haunted him still. The innocent question had a far from innocent answer. He needed to pick his words carefully as he had no idea how much, if anything, Jared knew about his brother-in-law’s business activities.

“I’ve known Mikey for years. We met when he had business interests in nightclubs.” The answer was bland, but it was true, every single word of it.

Jared had been about to take a swig of beer, but he paused and tapped the rim of the neck against his lower lip. Bernie watched him, seeing the questions swimming in his eyes.

“Do you still work with him?”

Bernie stared into eyes that didn’t flinch or waiver. He’d never said he’d worked with or for Michalis. He’d deliberately omitted that part, but Jared was smart and had seen through his carefully constructed answer. What Jared thought of that, Bernie had no way of knowing. But this was a question he could answer in all honesty, and with no ambiguity.

“No, I don’t. I worked with him in the early days, and not for long. We parted company and took very different paths in life but we’ve remained good friends and I hope we always will.”

“Good.”

Neither spoke, nor moved, as they looked deep into each other’s eyes. Bernie exhaled a long breath, and Jared’s lips curled up into a big smile that held more than a hint of relief. Whatever Jared meant by his one word answer, Bernie wasn’t going to delve, not when Jared was smiling at him and making his heart beat faster.

About the Author

A E Ryecart writes mm romance/gay fiction. Filled with angst, high drama and emotional tension, she writes the books she likes to read. An avid people watcher, most of her writing takes place in a local café amidst the background hum of hissing coffee machines, where she can check out the other customers for character and story inspiration!

A born and bred Londoner, she may have moved to someplace more leafy but the city is still very much part of her DNA, which is why her books are set in and around present-day London, providing a thrilling, metropolitan backdrop to the main action.

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A MelanieM Review: Whiskey Kisses by Anna Martin

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

In a small town about an hour’s drive outside Dublin, there’s a whiskey distillery.

Jim has worked in the distillery as its business manager since he returned to his home town after getting his degree. Whiskey is a slow business and rural life is quiet, but Jim takes it in his stride. That is, until the handsome and mysterious Mr Aiden Rooney moves into a room above the local pub and sets off a flurry of gossip.

Aiden’s an artist, and his devil-may-care attitude is a revelation to Jim. But he still lives in a small town in rural Ireland, and he’s not even sure if he wants to be out and proud. The choices they make could change everything, if only Jim dares to follow his heart.

I love Ireland so any romance or book with Ireland as a setting usually has me at the narrative “hello”.  I also say the same about whiskey so Whiskey Kisses by Anna Martin seemed like a sure bet.  While what I found didn’t fulfill my hoped-for promise indicated by the blurb, it still remains a very nice love story, one I think most people will enjoy.

Told from the perspective of Jim/James/Jimmy (depending upon who you are talking to in his large family and small town), he makes for a sweet narrator of his own story and romance.  He tells us of his childhood, his injury, his brief escape to college and city life and his amazingly happy and content return to the village he was born into and now resides.

The only drawback?  His sexuality and basic closeted status.  Which gets a good shakeup when an artist comes to town in the form of Aiden.  It’s one look and Jim is quite smitten as is the artist.  The pursuit and romance is on.  The rest of the story is lovely, mostly angst free and short.

All that’s wonderful except that it meant that the romance had too much instant love for me.  Jim/James is closeted but falls right into the arms of Aiden (almost literally).  The move in together and love seems practically instantaneous  (even though it’s separated by a few “and a few weeks/months later”).  The flow of the story just  doesn’t seem  to indicate too broken of a time line for me to get a feeling of time passing here.

While I loved Jim and family, Aiden always felt like more of a blank canvas.  In some stories, even when you only have one pov, you get  many fully formed characters, but Aiden always felt less than substantial.  I still rooted for the couple to succeed, but I would have loved to have more personality or as much a character foundation to Aiden as I did for Jim.

But my real quibble here?  Somehow the elements of whiskey and village life could just as easily been transported to another country altogether.  The story is called Whiskey Kisses!  So give us some real whiskey goodness here, some good old Irish background  on the peat, wood barrels, something!  Give us some marvelous foundation to wrap this story around, not bookkeeping and a dreary employee lunch room.   Make this section come alive for us and the  rest of the village too while we are at it.  I’ve been to Ireland many times but other than the names of the  nieces and nephews, you’d never know it honestly.  You could have transplanted this story anywhere.

So, for me Whiskey Kisses is a light romance, a short sweet read.  Not what I had hoped for but if that’s what you are looking for, this is the story for you.

Cover art is very generic.  I don’t know who this model is but I’m seeing him all over the place.  He’s so cute but where’s are the elements of the story?

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 69 pages
Published October 21st 2017 by Anna Martin Originals
ASINB076NN8VVM

A MelanieM Review: Dragon Lesson (Supernatural Consultant #6) by Mell Eight

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

All Lumie wants is Goldie’s beautiful smile, but the only expression he ever shows Lumie is tears. When Goldie asks him for a favor, Lumie leaps at the chance to finally see Goldie happy.

Goldie wants to live a life free of the fear that has chained him for so long, but breaking free of them once and for all may come with a higher price than he and Lumie are prepared to pay.

Cover by Aisha Akeju is similar in tone and coloration to the other books to brand the series, along with the “dragon kid like” footprints which these dragons are now long past.  It makes it feel like a children’s story and in fact they are getting their mates. Just not a fan.

We’re now up to book six in the Supernatural Consultant series by Mell Eight and she’s still running strong and not out of dragon kits yet.  In Dragon Lesson, it’s one of my favorite of Dane and Mercury’s  odd children or dragon kits as it were.  Lumie, a dragon of mixed elements the result of heinous scientific experiments, he’s been something of an adorable enigma throughout most of the stories.  He’s been capable of astonishing feats of power even at the youngest of age and has abilities that not even his mixed elemental powers can explain.  Now of age to go to college, Lumie finds himself at a crossroads at every stage of his life.

In a previous story, several dragons were rescued from yet another “lab” by Dane, Mercury and family along with government help.  One of them was a badly abused and tortured dragon  named Goldie (you won’t have to guess the element here). Lumie finds himself instantly drawn toward Goldie, trying in his own way to help the dragon heal and move forward.

These are short stories.  Yet, Mell Eight still produces a tale that shows Lumie trying to figure out where he belongs (he doesn’t think it’s college), how much he loves his family), what’s happening with some of the other kits, and still produce a suspense story that moves the entire series arc forward.  That would be the one about the mystery of the person behind the dragons kidnapping and experimentation to begin here.  Goldie and Lumie figure heavily into the plot as well as find they mean something much more to each other.

Dragon Lesson is another wonderful edition to the series.  But if you are coming at it new, I expect you would be quite lost.  These are not standalone stories but need to be read in progression starting at book one as the characters age and the plots build on one another.

Sales Links:   Less Than Three Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook
Published October 10th 2017 by Less Than Three Press
ISBN13 9781684310913
Edition Language English
Series Supernatural Consultant #6