A Stella Review: When Will I Be Loved (Crescent Bay Chronicles #2) by Julie Lynn Hayes

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Fairy tales can come true…

when will I be loved coverMiller Fenwick wants the kind of happy ending his best friend got, with the hunky werewolf of his dreams. Trouble is, there doesn’t seem to be a Prince Charming on the horizon, and casual encounters don’t cut it anymore. Now that Alexx and Raoul are engaged, Miller is becoming resigned to being the bridesmaid, never the bride. But a chance encounter with a sexy stranger at Charisma has his hopes soaring, and his heart is wide open to possibilities.

Holt Wynne is the head of Helios, the largest vampire organization in the country. He’s a very influential and wealthy man, with a deep-seated hatred of werewolves. His running into Miller at Charisma isn’t entirely accidental. He’d meant to wait, but his emotions got the better of him, and he couldn’t stay away. And now see what he’s done…

Wait until Miller finds out he’s sort of just gotten married to the sexy vampire who hates the people who are Miller’s best friends. Sparks are gonna fly—and not just in the bedroom. One thing for sure—life in Crescent Bay is never dull!

When Will I Be Loved is the second book in the Crescent Bay Chronicles series by Julie Lynn Hayes. I liked the first one so much, so as soon as I saw this one was out , I got my hands and eyes on it. Here we meet Miller, Alexx’s best friend (When Will I See You Again), tired of meaningless nightstands and of being alone. He’s looking for someone serious in his life but the perfect guy he’s spent one night with, has vanished the morning after. Miller works as a receptionist at the Crescent Bay Chronicles, the newspaper just bought by Holt Wynne, the head of Helios, the largest vampire clan in the country.
Holt saw his mate, or eternal love as vampires say, at the Lupercalia Ball, and soon started changing his life, moving to Crescent Bay and buying the newspaper Miller works at.

“I saw you and I knew,” Holt whispered in a husky voice.
“Knew what?”
“That you were mine,” Holt said simply.[…]
“What does that even mean?” He gave Holt a confused look.
His legs felt as if they were ready to give out on him, and he didn’t put up an argument when Holt gently seated him back on the sofa.
“It means, my love, that you and I… That we…” […]“I know you’re probably familiar with the concept of soul mates. With us, it is that, but more so. And it’s a rare occurrence. To find another person who is as much you as you are, even if he or she appears to be very different. It’s about two hearts becoming one, two souls finding one another and reuniting. We call it eternal love. And you are mine. I knew it the moment I saw you at the Ball. And I knew I had to come back for you.”

Their first meeting was hot and explosive, maybe the “I love you” after seeing each other only two times was a little too much but I love stories about destined mate so it was okay. Miller was good to Holt, too strict and not used to having some fun. I liked how Holt showed his weakness and he wasn’t ashamed of his feelings. He seriously suffered in the past and I was happy for him for finally have found his mate. He fell apart on Miller more than once, very human for a vampire.

I appreciated seeing more of Alexx and Raul, they had a huge role to play in this book, but don’t worry, it can be read as a standalone. The book is sickening sweet (and I loved every single sugary moment) but there are a few childish behaviors that forced me to give it not more than four stars.

I can admit I preferred the first one, it was more engaging to me and less predictable in some parts, even if it’s hard to compare the two stories, they are totally different. Nonetheless When Will I Be Loved was perfect for the Miller story, he deserved this kind of lover and HEA. Now I’m really curious to know if there will be a third book in this series.

Cover art by Trace Edward Zaber. The cover shows a specific scenes in the story. I like it a lot, especially in the use of colors.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 363 pages
Published June 7th 2015 by Amber Quill Press
ISBN 9781681750378
Edition Language English

Crescent Bay Chronicles series
When Will I See You Again #1
When Will I Be Loved #2

SALE LINKS

ARE https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-whenwillibeloved-1838226-340.html
AMAZON http://www.amazon.com/When-Will-See-You-Again-ebook/dp/B00IA6Q77Q
AMBER QUILL PRESS http://www.amberquill.com/store/p/2200-When-Will-I-Be-Loved.aspx

Its Hot and Beyond Sexy! Its Legally Bound by J.R. Gray (excerpt tour)

Bound Series Banner

 

Legally Bound Spotlight

 

 

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The last thing Daniel, a hard-working public defender, expected to see the morning after a one night stand was his hook up staring back at him from the wrong side of the law. Assigned to work his case, Daniel vows to keep things professional with Rafael but has a hard time controlling his craving for dominance, the control and the connection they shared. Rafael, a paid dominant in the Chicago underworld, has been dealing with a cop problem for far too long. Used to sex with no emotion, he’s entranced with Daniel’s submission, his innocence, and…could there be something more?

Can Daniel clear Rafael’s name, keeping him out of jail and in his life, with the odds, a cop, and the mounting evidence against them?

amazon link


Legally Bound Teaser


Excerpt

Daniel scanned them, looking for anything interesting to lift the dreary Monday, and his eyes went wide when they landed on the face of the man whose bed he had been in last night. “Oh shit,” he said too loudly, drawing the attention of the bailiff. He waved her off, muttering, “Nothing.”

“What?” Jesse hissed.

“I fucked one of our cases last night,” Daniel admitted, knowing he would get it out of him one way or another. There was no point fighting his partner’s excellent extraction skills.

“Which one?” Jesse asked, looking over his shoulder, way too amused.

He tried to nod subtly to one of the prisoners.

“You have to give me more than that.” Jesse stood up and blatantly turned around to study the men sitting in the rows behind them.

Stiffening in his seat, Daniel tried to keep his back to the man he had seen every naked inch of, as well as had his tongue buried inside of, till the early hours of the morning.

“Dark hair, six feet plus, green eyes.” He tried to speak out of the corner of his mouth so no one could read his lips.

“The one with the sleeve tattoo and the huge arms?” Jesse asked.

“Yeah,” he answered in a low, sheepish voice.

“I knew it was that one. You so have a type.” Jesse flipped back around to take his seat once more. He instantly went for the files, lifting up folders and setting the large stack right in front of him.

“What are you doing?” Daniel kept looking over his shoulder to see if the guy showed any signs of recognition.

“What’s his name?” He didn’t look up from the stack of files as he spoke. “Rafael,” he whispered as his face flushed just saying his name. “What are you doing?”

“Figuring out what your lay did,” Jesse said, positively glowing by now.

“I really hate you,” he responded, pulling at his tie and trying to loosen it.

“You’ll thank me later.” Jesse hummed, plucking out the file and flipping it open. “Oh, hot damn, you picked a good one.”

Daniel snatched the file out of his partner’s hands, his eyes going wide. Life just got a little more interesting.

All through the arraignment hearing, he found it hard to keep his mind off the previous night spent at Rafael’s apartment. They’d had an instant connection. He groaned to himself as it became increasingly hard to focus.

“Do you think he did it?”

“Who knows, but how many innocent men do we represent?”

Daniel’s stomach knotted. He didn’t want the allegations to be true. “Good point.”


 

Breach of Contract Spotlight

 

 

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With the legal trouble behind them, Daniel Caplin and Rafael Argon are ready to settle into a low key d/s relationship, but life is unrelenting, when blackmail shatters their illusion of happily ever after. Pictures from one of the Rafael’s public scenes instill fear into his new Submissive, Daniel, acting as a wedge driving the new couple apart.

The building peril in George’s community weighs heavy on his shoulders as he struggles to find the culprit while hiding his feelings for his new house guest. Jesse is torn between ending his marriage, picking up a rebound he should have left fifteen years in the past, and the dangling carrot of a possible relationship with a man. He is forced to fight for what he wants most, a leap he may be too chicken to take.

In the sequel to Legally Bound George battles to take down an unknown enemy, while watching helpless, as those he cares for most are broken beyond repair. Can Rafael and Daniel rebuild their trust after it’s broken with lies?

 

amazon link

 


 

Breach of Contract Teaser


 

Excerpt

The back elevator dinged as he approached, and the doors slid back to reveal Jesse’s face. He had circles under his eyes and worry lines in his forehead. Two fingers held a garment bag over one shoulder and a duffle over his other.

“Is it still okay if I stay?” He put a smile on his lips that George knew was fake.

“But of course. Let me help you.” George approached him and tried to take the bag, but Jesse didn’t move to hand it over.

“I’ve got it.”

“Don’t be absurd. I would have a slave do it, but he’s rather tied up at the moment.”

The statement earned a chuckle out of Jesse, and he gave up the bag. Even hurt Jesse had a light in his blue eyes and his heart on his sleeve, a trait that made him wholly unique compared to the masks most wore to impress George.

“I can stay on the sofa or something if the slaves use the guest rooms.”

George laughed and turned his back to stalk down the hall. When he didn’t hear Jesse following, he cast a glance over his shoulder.

“Slaves in bed … how naive you really are, handsome.”

Jesse started after him, brow creased. “Where do they sleep then?” He caught up and followed George to the other side of the penthouse.

He realized Jesse was serious, and he laughed throatily again. “I have cages for them.”

“I love you and Daniel, but your lifestyle is fucked.”


 

Damages Incurred Spotlight

 

 

 

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Their world is crumbling on the King’s shoulders.

Elliot is gone.

George has failed, and his demons are threatening to swallow him whole. Jesse’s life is slipping through his fingers. He feels like he’s losing George, whom he has just gotten back. The search for Elliot is taking its toll on the pair of them, and the strain shows the cracks in their trust.

Zac is doing everything he can, but he’s been plagued with flashbacks of a life he can’t remember. Even his iron constitution must break sometime, and the search for Elliot can’t wait. Each minute could be the difference between life and death.

Can they get it together to save themselves or Elliot?

amazon link


Damages Incurred Teaser


 

Excerpt

It was dark when he stepped out into the back entrance of the penthouse. His footsteps echoed through the halls as he walked. George should be in bed as he was generally an early riser, but Jesse half expected him to be consoling his pain with a slave.

He paused in front of the play room, swallowing hard. What if his actions had been the final straw in George moving on? What if…

It was too painful to finish the thought. He set his hand on the handle, telling himself he could face what he found inside. He turned it silently and pushed the heavy door forward. It was dark inside, only the lights of the city illuminating the toys spread over the massive wall. The door was soundproof, but now that it was open, all he heard was the light snore of a slave. He closed the door quickly and then pressed a hand into his aching chest. He stalked forward, seeing the flicker of a fire on the wall as he approached the living room.

He stepped around the corner to find George looking pensive staring into the fire, drink in hand. He paused, waiting for an invitation. One never came. George acted as though he didn’t see him. Jesse opened his mouth, but he didn’t know what to say. There wasn’t an apology that could even cover the pain he’d put George through.

He fell to his knees. “Forgive me,” he whispered.

George didn’t respond. Jesse fell forward pressing his forehead into the cool hardwood floor. Warm hands closed around his arms, dragging him to his feet, and he was enveloped in George’s arms. His eyes started to mist, and he couldn’t catch a full breath. It was all too much to bear. He’d left his heart when he left George, and there were no words for what it felt like to be back here. He buried his face in George’s neck and wrapped his arms around him. George kissed every spot he could reach on Jesse in their position.

It was so much more than dominant and submissive like this. Jesse’s heart ached. The pain radiated through his bones. He’d been holding off losing it for so long he hadn’t even realize how bad the pain had gotten, how numb he’d been.


 

Author Bio

When not staying up all night writing, J.R Gray can be found basking in the warm glow of the Miami sun, or at the gym where it’s half assumed Gray is a permanent resident. A dominant, pilot, and sword fighting enthusiast, Gray finds it hard to be in the passenger seat of any car. Gray frequently interrupts real life, including normal sleep patterns, to jot down nonsense. The bane of Gray’s existence are commas, and even though it’s been fully acknowledged they are necessary, they continue to baffle and bewilder.

 

If Gray wasn’t writing…well, that’s not possible. The buildup of untold stories would haunt Gray into an early grave or possibly a mental institution where the tales would end up on the walls in crayon and finger paint.

 

https://twitter.com/theoriginalgray

https://twitter.com/booksbygray

https://facebook.com/GrayBooks

https://booksbygray.tumblr.com

https://theoriginalgray.tumblr.com (NSFW)

https://www.pinterest.com/JRGrayBooks/

Cover Reveal Time for Lovers Entwined by Lillian Francis (cover reveal, exclusive excerpt and giveaway)

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Lillian Francis reveals the beautiful cover art of her upcoming book titled LOVERS ENTWINED.
It releases on August 03, 2015.
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BLURB
Ewan Matthews is one of Boston’s leading genealogy experts. When a would-be bridegroom comes looking for confirmation that there are no skeletons in his ancestral closet, Ewan considers turning the job down. Trey Capell is a jerk of the highest order and yet Ewan experiences an infuriating attraction that’s easy to justify. Trey’s exactly his type—a carbon copy of the man Ewan’s been looking for his entire life.
Harder to explain is the sense of recognition that leaves Ewan speechless the moment Trey steps into his office. Or the stomach-churning sensation at the thought of casting the job aside.
Trey gets more appealing by the day, leaving Ewan struggling with forbidden desire for his client. Desire not helped by strange voyeuristic dreams that have started to haunt his sleep. Dreams that appear to be an echo of the past.
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PRESENTING
Cover Art by Meredith Russell
Lovers Entwined jpeg
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EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
They had reached the outer door and the old freestanding wooden coat rack that Ewan had picked up in a second-hand shop several months ago. It added an air of old-world charm and respectability to the premises, and fitted in perfectly with the rest of the old dark wood Ewan had surrounded himself with.Two coats hung side by side from the curling hooks. Ignoring his own black woollen coat, Ewan lifted the tan trench coat from the rack. He held it up and open, his hands waiting expectantly. There was the tiniest of pauses, the smallest frown, and then Trey turned and slipped his hands into the sleeves, allowing Ewan to slide the material up his arms, coming to rest at his shoulders.Most of the snow had melted away in the warmth of the office, leaving behind flecks of dirt on the quality material. Ewan picked off the worst of the muck and then brushed the flat of his hand over shoulders, settling the fabric so it moulded to muscles and tendons. He flattened the collar, letting his fingers drift under the hair that rested there to the very short hairs at the nape of Trey’s neck.

He had moved around to the front and was doing the same to the lapels when he finally caught himself.

What the hell am I doing?

What had possessed him to do such a thing?

Trey was watching him with an air of bemusement.

Stepping back abruptly, Ewan allowed his hands to fall to his sides.

“All part of the service.” He hoped he had covered his own surprise at the turn of events and that he hadn’t actually been caressing his client’s neck for an inappropriate amount of time. However long inappropriate could be considered to be!

“A very personal service,” Trey said, but there was no emergence of the leer that normally angered Ewan. He almost wished there had been.

Read more exclusive excerpts on –
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PRE-ORDER NOW
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lillian Francis. Author of gay romance. Happy Endings guaranteed. Eventually.
An avid reader, Lillian Francis was always determined she wanted to write, but a “proper” job and raising a family distracted her for over a decade. Over the years and thanks to the charms of the internet, Lillian realized she’d been writing at least one of her characters in the wrong gender. Ever since, she’s been happily letting her “boys” run her writing life.
Lillian now divides her time between family, a job and the numerous men in her head all clamouring for their stories to be told.
Lillian lives in an imposing castle on a wind-swept desolate moor or in an elaborate ‘shack’ on the edge of a beach somewhere depending on her mood, with the heroes of her stories either chained up in the dungeon or wandering the shack serving drinks in nothing but skimpy barista aprons.
In reality, she would love to own a camper van and to live by the sea.
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Winner’s Prize: An eBook from Lillian Francis’ backlist!

A Sammy Review: Yours All Along (Loving on the Edge #7.5) by Roni Loren

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

“Would you make a move on me if I wasn’t?” he asked, no jest in his voice.

“No.”

“Not your type?”

Devon closed his eyes. “Nope.”

You’re exactly the wrong type.  I don’t fuck people I love.

Yours All Along coverHunter Riley has always been at his dad’s mercy. Being the son of a conservative politician isn’t easy. It’s all about being buttoned up and smiling when you just want to roll your eyes. But that set an example for Hunter – an example of how not to be. As soon as he’s able to, he moves as far away from his family as he can manage, and that means California.

There he meets Devon, an out-and-proud student with purple-streaked hair. They hit it off right away and soon become best friends and fraternity brothers. Hunter shows everyone, especially those in the fraternity, how being gay doesn’t mean you can’t be a brother by rooming with Devon.

At first it’s just jokes for them, easy laughs and fun times. But somehow they tip over that edge, exploring each other in ways they haven’t before. But one night and a horrible accident brings that all to a stop.

Years later, Hunter hasn’t spoken to Devon since the accident, but when his fiance sends him on a pre-wedding vacation to Texas where Devon lives, Hunter just can’t stay away. Did time ever really matter to them, or is it jut too late for Hunter to wake up from a life that isn’t his own?

And no matter what, he knew one thing for sure: He didn’t want it to end. He’d never had a friend like Hunter. He could find people to warm his bed. That part was easy. But there was no way he’d find someone who got him like Hunter did. That shit was different. Special. And worth protecting.

Roni Loren is a new author for me, as she usually writes M/F, which isn’t really my thing. But I decided to give it a chance. The blurb intrigued me, what can I say?

With the help of Roni, I was able to get my hands on the book and I easily devoured it. The story is short, perhaps a bit too short for my liking (but that just means I enjoyed it and really wanted more of them).

It takes on a few issues, such as having a family that would disown you for being gay or even having a gay roommate, and how far people can go to save themselves from abandonment. It may sound like the book was this big angst fest, but it actually wasn’t. The majority of the story is told in a flashback, handled well and giving us a look at what college life was like for Hunter and Devon. I can easily say it was a much freer time for them, and that shows in those flashbacks. They’re full of life and love, and it contrasts sharply with the characters we meet in the first chapter.

To get a chance to look back at them and how they got to that point was a treasure. It was also hothothot at times. Experimentation? Sign me up, please, especially if it’s in the back of a limo!

In the end, after all of that, this book is really about finding yourself again. I appreciate that. We all get lost sometimes.

The cover art is simple but nice. Who doesn’t like a nice muscular back? I certainly will not raise my hand to that question. The stance and what I see does actually remind me of Hunter too, so it’s not entirely just some random hot guy (or maybe it is, but it’s my Hunter).

While I’d love to see more of these characters, I at the very least hope this isn’t Ms. Loren’s last foray into M/M. I’d love to see what she can do with a full-length novel.

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

Book Details:

ebook
Published June 16th 2015 by Intermix
ISBN139780698411036
edition languageEnglish
seriesLoving on the Edge #7.5

Loving on the Edge series are mostly M/F with this exception.

A MelanieM Review: Dead Button (Jack of Spades #3) (Pulp Friction 2015 #9) by Lee Brazil

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Dead Button coverHaunted. Seduced. Betrayed.

When ghost enthusiast Dr. Sabine Brusilov plucks a weathered skull from the mud and debris at the bottom of the Mississippi River, he gets more than he bargained for. The skull comes with a moody, petulant, sexy ghost who is not shy about his attraction to Sabine. Along with proof that ghosts really do exist, Sabine finds a treasure beyond compare.

Love.

Love is everything to long dead Barton Montoire. He’s lived for it, faced dishonor for it…killed for it. Now that he’s found it again, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep Sabine at his side for eternity. Even if that means more blood on his hands.

With the darkness that circles Sabine growing stronger, and his lover’s actions becoming more erratic and unpredictable, Bart is challenged to protect his love from some unknown danger.

Ghosts and humans exist on two separate planes, and there’s only one way for them to be together.

But betrayal lurks in the shadows…

Of all of the 4 interconnected series of the Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States collection, this series and main couple are the most problematic for me.  And that my somewhat dubious affection is for characters that comes from Lee Brazil?  Even more of a surprise and the cause of much questioning on my part.  That is never more true than for Lee Brazil’s story in Round Three, Dead Button (Jack of Spades #3) (Pulp Friction 2015 #9).

After I finish reading each story, the first question that pops up is why don’t I like these characters more.  Or more accurately one character more? That would be Dr. Sabine Brusilov.  From the beginning he has come across as cold, unfeeling and harsh in his approach to his lover, the delectable ghost Barton Montoire.   Theirs is a long  relationship that has always seemed very one sided and prone to the potential for abuse.  Yes, definitely not a fan of Sabine’s.

It has come up along the way that other characters in the series see their relationship the way I do and the explanations have been that Sabine is shocked over the manner in which his and Barton’s relationship is viewed.  But have these scenes and clarifications made any adjustments in my feelings towards Sabine?  Not really.  For me, the one closest  to my heart with this couple is Barton.  His treatment at the hands  of Sabine both push Barton further into my affection while continuing to alienate Sabine more throughly from it.

But the more I think about it, I wonder if that isn’t part of Brazil’s plan all along.  That you must pull one of the characters down so far that he seems unredeemable.  Until he isn’t.  That his salvation becomes part of the “Holy Grail” of the story, something that must be achieved at all cost.  Because Sabine is certainly on his way to hell given his actions here.

Parts  of this story hurt so bad that I can still feel it.   Brazil’s writing leaves no emotion unturned or unchurned as I should say.  The pain is spread far and even across the characters.  The darkness is here and feels unstoppable as well as unknown.  Its brunt is borne by Barton, at least on the surface.  That Sabine is wrapped up in something out of his control is obvious but his actions?  How far back did the influence start?  This becomes more of a psychological mystery as well as a supernatural suspense story.  I love that.  Because as much as I dislike what Sabine is doing, Brazil makes me question the impetus for his actions and what the man must be feeling underneath it all.  Will I come to love Sabine as I do Barton?  The answer lies in stories 4 and 5 and I can’t wait to find out.

All the stories and series in the Pulp Friction 2015 collection are convoluted and full of shocking revelations.  Somehow, though, I get the feeling that Lee Brazil’s Jack of Spade might just supply the biggest surprise of them all.  Stay tuned!

Cover art by Laura Harner is dark and perfect for this story.  The covers for the series were originally too light but as the plot got nasty and murderous the covers have changed with the tone.  Love it and them.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 46 pages
Published June 15th 2015 by Lime Time Press
ASINB00ZS51B8M
edition languageEnglish
series 2015 Pulp Friction – Altered States Collection

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About Pulp Friction 2015

Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Spend a year with the creatures that go bump in the night…fighting for their rights to exist and protecting the innocents of The Big Easy. A diverse group of friends trying to find their place in a world they never had to “fit” into before.

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.
Round One:
Drawing Dead (Jack of Spades: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blind Stud (King of Hearts: 1) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs: 1) by Parker Williams
Diamonds and Dust (Ace of Diamonds: 1) by Laura Harner

Round Two:
Dead Blind (Jack of Spades: 2) by Lee Brazil
Stud Player (King of Hearts: 2) by Havan Fellow
Up the Ante (Four of Clubs: 2 ) by Parker Williams
Diamond Draw (Ace of Diamonds: 2) by Laura Harner

Round Three:

Dead Button (Jack of Spades #3) by Lee Brazil
Blind Man’s Bluff (King of Hearts #3) by Havan Fellows

A Mika Review: A Casual Thing by Annabelle Jacobs

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

A Casual Thing V2Patrick Mason travels to Bristol to spend the summer with his brother, Ben. He’s cat sitting for the first two weeks while Ben goes on holiday. But Ben neglected to tell him he wouldn’t be doing it alone. Will Adams—Ben’s mate and Patrick’s long-time crush—is staying in Ben’s guest room while he waits to move into his new house after a breakup.

Against his better judgment, Patrick convinces Will that a little no-strings fun is just what they need. Patrick doesn’t want to get involved with a guy on the rebound, and Will isn’t interested in starting something serious with a student. But Patrick’s never been good at separating sex from feelings, and this time is no exception. As their weeks together draw to a close, they need to decide if they have something worth pursuing or if it’s really just a casual thing

The hot and sexy cover caught my eye and made me want to check out Annabelle Jacobs’ A Casual Thing.  What I found is that Annabelle Jacobs writes low-angst, romance, and sexy books.

A very much younger brother has crush on older brother’s best friend. A quick romance as it took no time for Patrick and Will to get together. I would have thought with their past history would have been brought up more, that Will would have seen certain signs along the way for the indicators they were.

Patrick definitely was a sweet character, I liked him as well. Can’t forget big brother Ben, I think he was amazing, supportive and loving to both guys.

I really liked the pacing of the story, it was really sweet between the two guys. I love her writing style. as well as how the author decided to showcase the two guys after the friends with benefits feelings.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I wanted a HEA instead of HFN, I just felt like all the things that Patrick and Ben went through should have been showcased in an epilogue of some sorts. I’d recommend this book to lovers of romance, low-angst lovers, and friends to lovers fanatics.

Cover Art by Anna Sikorska: It’s always nice to get some man candy for our eyes, and he did not disappoint. This is a really cute cover. It’s representing Patrick with that towel own, and it does not disappoint.

Sales Links:   Dreamspinner Press eBook  |  All Romance   |  Amazon  |  Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 138 pages
Published July 1st 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
original titleA Casual Thing
ISBN139781634761345
edition languageEnglis

Love Men In Kilts? Check out the Plaid Nights Anthology from Torquere Press! (excerpt and giveaway)

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Book Name: Plaid Nights Anthology
Release Date: July 15, 2015

Author Names: Rob Rosen, Megan McFerren, Julia Talbot, Elizabeth Coldwell, Racheline Maltese & Erin McRae, Angelique Voisen, Missouri Dalton, Logan Zachary, Lila Mathews, Anna Mansel, and McKay

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Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: BSClay

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Sales Links:  Torquere Books

STRW Author BookSynopsis

In Plaid Nights, men in kilts are as varied as they are hot. Whether they’re caber tossers, rugby players, Highland warriors, country dancers, or time-traveling vampires, they’re up for surprises and sexy good times.

Rob Rosen starts us off with humor in “Tossing It.” Contemporary men discover love in unexpected places in “Whiskey and Want” by Megan McFerren, “Some Like It Scot” by Julia Talbot, “Perfect Working Order” by Elizabeth Coldwell, and “Off-Kilter” by Racheline Maltese & Erin McRae. We get a taste of the paranormal in “Sir WW” by Angelique Voisen, “Feumaidh Mi Ruith (I Have to Run)” by Missouri Dalton, and “Kilt in the Closet” by Logan Zachary. And we’re treated to forbidden love in historicals “Hunting for a Highlander” by Lila Mathews, “A Time to Heal” by Anna Mansel, and “As Fair Art Thou, My Bonny Lad” by McKay.

In these stories, some tartan-clad men wear their kilts in the “traditional manner,” while others are less daring. But all find love, and of course, a happy ending—especially at night, when the plaid comes off.

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Pages or Words: 65,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Gay Fiction, Historical, M/M Romance, Paranormal (Please note: As an anthology, not all categories may relate to all stories.)

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Excerpt: From “Tossing It” by Rob Rosen:
He took a spoonful of stew into his mouth, green eyes sparkling in the daylight. He was cute in a lanky, pale, freckled sort of way. He sighed contentedly as he set the spoon back down. “Just like mom used to make.”

“Back in the old country?”

He laughed. “Back in New Jersey. Though Newark is sort of old.”

We continued eating together, side by side. His leg brushed mine. It stayed brushed. I didn’t move mine away; he didn’t move his either. This was an odd turn of events. Was he gay? Not a clue. Still, most guys would’ve moved their legs away. Maybe he was simply oblivious. Straight guys sometimes had a habit of that. You just never knew. Then again, you could test the theory if you were so inclined. Me, I was always so inclined.

I pointed to a throng of kilted behemoths off to the side. “What’s with the skirted mountain men?”

He chuckled. “Caber tossers.”

“That some sort of Scottish slang for rednecks?”

He turned my way, eyes locking with mine. It was like staring into a field of emeralds. Guess I’d been too busy staring at his crotch before to notice. Shame on me. “Caber tossers. They toss logs. Poles. Big ones.” Well, he’d certainly know about big poles, I figured. “They’re up to twenty feet tall and almost two hundred pounds.”

“And they toss them? Why?”

“For sport.”

I ate a couple more bites of my fish. It was perfectly cooked, greasy and flaky. My stomach settled down. “Sport? Like tiddlywinks for giants?”

He nodded as he continued eating his stew. His eyes rarely left mine. I was all too glad to return the favor. I stared at his freckles, connecting the dots, constellations hidden in the patterns. “Something like that.”

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Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Plaid Nights’. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the authors and Pride Promotions.

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Tour Dates & Stops: July 14, 2015
Parker WilliamsScattered Thoughts & Rogue WordsBayou Book JunkieThe Hat PartyInked Rainbow ReadsMy Fiction NookHavan FellowsHearts on FireJessie G. BooksWicked Faerie’s Tales and ReviewsTwo Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye CandyBFD Book BlogFangirl Moments and My Two CentsBike Book ReviewsKimi-ChanIyana JennaDawn’s Reading NookVS ReadsHappily Ever ChapterCharley DescoteauxMM Good Book ReviewsVelvet PanicMolly LollyBoy Meets Boy Reviews

A MelanieM Review: Blind Man’s Bluff (King of Hearts #3) (Pulp Friction 2015 #10) by Havan Fellows

Rating: 4 stars out of 5:

 

Blinds Man's Bluff coverIn a world where supernatural creatures openly exist, who can blame them for coalescing in one of the most fascinating and erotic places on earth? Welcome to New Orleans.

His modus operandi is to feed and leave…

Laurant never repeats a meal. Not that his hors d’oeuvres complain. The incubus enjoys meeting every one of their needs multiple times over, leaving them in a blissfully sated state of mind for days—sometimes weeks—afterward. So, even though Laurant’s power is diminishing, why hasn’t he sought nourishment these past months since that explosive true feeding in March? For once in his centuries-old life, he realizes he doesn’t want just a snack…he wants a mysterious feast.

He has powers and no idea how to use them…

Gun has done his best to stay away from the sexy as hell incubus despite all his taunts and teases. Avoiding the demon was simple at first…but Gun’s powers are awakening and they like the sex demon. A lot. Now it isn’t so black and white, especially when Laurant focuses all his stimulating attention on helping Gun find his origins. But the once vivacious incubus doesn’t appear his lecherous perky self anymore. Gun jealously thought he found sustenance with others, but perhaps not. Maybe Laurant needs him again…and maybe Gun is okay with that…

They just might be on the verge of overcoming all the obstacles in their way…that is until those special three little words are whispered with the strength and magick to tear them apart completely.

In the Pulp Friction universe, the third round of stories always brings the heartbreak and the action.  The characters always seem to end  up at the edge of a precipice and the only way out is down.  Oh, the angst and suspense!  In Blind Man’s Bluff (King of Hearts #3), Havan Fellows stays true to the pulp fiction formula and heightens both the emotional tension between Laurant and Gun as well as the relationship “high stakes” that comes with trying to combine an incubus with a taste for men and a sexy man who is more than anyone can figure out, including himself.  Gun is that true unknown quantity.  He has no memory of how  or what he is.  But clearly from past events, he’s not human. But the answer to what he is remains illusive.  Until someone from his past arrives in town to supply the answers. Or do they?

Gun is a wonderful character, made all the more remarkable because we have come close to knowing who he is ( his pov as supplied by Havan Fellows is a large part of the narrative).  Still what type of supernatural being Gun is remains an unknown.  But the clues are starting to pile up and the assumptions being made aren’t pretty.  That’s a huge amount of power he is capable of wielding, turning him into a weapon that can tilt the outcome of battles.  But whose side is he on? And what battles are looming up ahead? Some  of the answers start to fall into place here.

But the drama that pulls at me is on a smaller, more personal level.  That’s the tentative relationship forming between Laurant, the incubus who has never had a “special someone”  before, and Gun, the man who doesn’t  know who he is. Plus there is the added question of whether he can trust the politics that pull at Laurant constantly over his feeding and choice of partner.

Oh, Laurant.  how can such a sex on two legs demon come across as so vulnerable?  The author manages to make Laurant accessible and emotionally open, even as his actions and words give off an opposite impression.  I love this incubus.  He’s both troubled and troublesome.  He’s the gregarious man at the party and the lonely man in his heart.  How do you not find him charming and worthy of his own HEA?

Here it almost breaks and for so many reasons.  The other couples are acting uncharacteristically mean towards each other, all the close friends support for this unusual circle of friends seems to be breaking down and there is a darkness feeding the instability and pain erupting all around them.  Typically, this story raises more questions than it answers…perfect for a Round Three story.  I expect that and now eagerly await story number four.  As hearts break so I hope they will be mended.  Soon.

I love this series and characters.  They are wonderful, sexy, and unique.   If you are new to the Pulp Friction inter-connected series and groups of characters, then please realize these are not standalone stories.  They must be read in the order they were written.   I have listed them below.  Check them off as you go.  They are all on my Must Be Read  lists for this year!  Grab them up and get started today.

Cover art by Laura Harner.  These covers are getting better and better as well as darker and darker.  It goes along with the emotional tone of the stories and events that are occurring.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 58 pages
Published June 30th 2015 by Appleton Avenue Publishing
ASINB010PIZQ7S
edition languageEnglish
seriesPulp Friction 2015 #10, King of Hearts #3

 

 

About Pulp Friction 2015

Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Spend a year with the creatures that go bump in the night…fighting for their rights to exist and protecting the innocents of The Big Easy. A diverse group of friends trying to find their place in a world they never had to “fit” into before.

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.
Round One:
Drawing Dead (Jack of Spades: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blind Stud (King of Hearts: 1) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs: 1) by Parker Williams
Diamonds and Dust (Ace of Diamonds: 1) by Laura Harner

Round Two:
Dead Blind (Jack of Spades: 2) by Lee Brazil
Stud Player (King of Hearts: 2) by Havan Fellow
Up the Ante (Four of Clubs: 2 ) by Parker Williams
Diamond Draw (Ace of Diamonds: 2) by Laura Harner

Round Three:

Dead Button (Jack of Spades #3)  by Lee Brazil
Blind Man’s Bluff (King of Hearts #3)  by Havan Fellows

A Stella Review: When Will I See You Again (Crescent Bay Chronicles #1) by Julie Lynn Hayes

Rating:  4.5 stars out of 5

When Will I See You Again coverRaoul Marchand is the crown prince of Charisma, the infamous night club in Crescent Bay, renowned for its supernatural clientele. He has the pick of any and all men, but he cares for none. He uses them and throws them away again, and has done so for some twenty years, in the aftermath of a tragedy that robbed him of what he loved most in the world.

Alexx Jameson is an idealistic would-be reporter with the Crescent Bay Chronicle. Presented with an opportunity to write a story on the Marchands, he eagerly grasps the chance to be a real reporter. His friend, Chronicle receptionist Miller Fenwick, suggests they go to Charisma to do a little research. Alexx isn’t sure that’s such a great idea. After all, he’s still under age, being only twenty. No problem, Miller can fix that! Added bonus, there’s a full moon tonight.

When Alexx first encounters Raoul, it isn’t exactly in the way he dreamed of, and he’s sure he made a terrible first impression. But Fate throws them together under unforeseen circumstances, and the attraction between them can’t be denied.

Can Raoul let go of the past long enough to find his future with Alexx, or is he doomed to repeat past mistakes?

When Will I See You Again by Julie Lynn Hayes is one of what I call “feel good” books, the kind of book, when I finish reading, I feel so satisfied. This book has everything I like to read, lovely characters, hot steamy sex, good plot and great HEA, plus a welcome (to me) amount of sugar. It hit one of my softer spot, the sweetness. That’s exactly why I enjoy Julie Lynn Hayes’s work so far so much. She can write stories that stay in my mind and my heart for so long. The one between the innocent, mouthy Alexx and rough Raul is unforgettable and the attraction is strong and compelling. There’s a little supernatural aspect that bring our heroes together that make this book almost a second chance at love story and it just add a special touch to their love.

I read this book a couple of times and every time I like it more, every time it was hard to put down. I can say it’s my favorite by the author.

It’s not just a simple paranormal story between a wolf shifter and a human. Of course it’s romantic, sexy and real in the unrealistic world it is set in, real in the romantic love between MCs and the power of friendships. Moreover there’s a mystery to solve that will affect their lives greatly.

So if you enjoy a book with a well developed plot as well as a good romantic story with some paranormal throw in it, When Will I See You Again is exactly what you are looking for. It’s well written and there is a sequel I begged for, called When Will I Be Loved, beautiful too.

Cover art by Trace Edward Zaber. I love this cover, the solitude I can feel coming from the lonely wolf will be rewarded at the end.

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

Book Details:
Published February 6th 2013 by Amber Quill Press, LLC
Kindle Edition, 292 pages
ASIN B00IA6Q77Q
Edition Language English

Crescent Bay Chronicles series
When Will I See You Again #1
When Will I Be Loved #2

Get Hot and Sexy with Cari Z’s Where There’s Fire (Panopolis #2) (giveaway)

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Where There’s Fire (Panopolis #2) by Cari Z
Published by Riptide Publishing
Release Day:  July 13, 2015

Cover Artist: L. C. Chase
Pre-Order/Sales Link:  Riptide Publishing

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STRW Author BookSynopsis

Making a name for myself as a Villain in Panopolis is hard work. Six months ago, my boyfriend broke me out of jail. Now he’s spending most of his time defending our turf against other Villains he accidentally freed along with me. And my new psychic powers are not only impossible to control, but they’re also giving me migraines.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. My skills are improving every day, and Raul—aka the Mad Bombardier—and I have never been happier. That is, until my first solo job is interrupted by a mysterious woman who tells me that Raul has been kidnapped by a ruthless new Villain. The only way to free him is to do a job for Maggot, a man with scary ideas and an even scarier superpower.

I can’t go to the cops or a Hero for help. Odds are they wouldn’t listen to me anyway. If I fail, Raul will be killed. If I succeed, we’ll both be bound to a man who’ll stop at nothing to put Panopolis on the path to civil war.

It looks like the only way to win is to take out the competition.

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Cari Z was a bookworm as a child and remains one to this day. In an effort to combat her antisocial reading behavior, she did all sorts of crazy things, from competitive gymnastics to alligator wresting (who even knew that was legal!) to finally joining the Peace Corps, which promptly sent her and her husband to the wilds of West Africa, stuck them in a hut, and said, “See ya!” She also started writing, because some things she just thought she could do better. She’s still climbing that ladder, but can’t stop herself from writing, or from sharing what she creates.

Cari enjoys a wide range of literary genres, from the classics (get ‘im, Ahab) to science fiction and fantasy of all types, to historical fiction and reference materials (no, seriously, there are so many great encyclopedias out there). She writes in a wide range of genres as well, but somehow 90% of what she produces ends up falling into the broad and exciting category of m/m erotica. There’s a sprinkling of f/m and f/f and even m/f/m in her repertoire, but her true love is man love. And there’s a lot of love to go around.

Cari has published short stories, novellas, and novels with numerous print and e-presses, and she also offers up a tremendous amount of free content on Literotica.com, under the name Carizabeth.

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Connect with Cari:

Website: http://cari-z.net/
Blog: http://carizerotica.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/author_cariz

Cari is Riptide’s author of the month! Read her interview on Riptide’s website: http://riptidepublishing.com/authors/cari-z

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The winner of the Where There’s Fire blog tour will work with Cari to name a character in the next Panopolis novella! Comment on this blog tour to enter in the drawing. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on July 18. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. Entries. Please leave your email in your comment so we can contact you if you win!  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. 

 

Panopolis Universe

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Panopolis, the City of Heroes: a place where exciting things happen every single day. Things like mad science, reckless public endangerment, corporate espionage, and political puppetry.

You’ve got to wonder, why would anyone ever want to move here?

And once they get here, why would they ever want to stay?

Maybe for the excitement of watching real super-powered Heroes battle it out with Villains every day—preferably from a few hundred yards back. Maybe for the chance to become one of those Heroes, brave and stalwart and always doing the right thing.

Or maybe . . . just maybe . . . some people stay because they prefer to take their chances with a Villain or two.

Books Include to Date: