Tag: Pride Publishing

An Alisa Review: Switching Places (Kiss of Leather #8) by Morticia Knight

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

Tai wishes Master Lucas wasn’t such an adamant Top, but he’s also crushing on the sweetly submissive Elliot. Could he have it both ways?

 

Tai has hit a wall in life. From all outward appearances, he’s the guy who has everything—looks, personality and money. But the modeling gigs are drying up and he still hasn’t found that specialsomeone to call his own. The part-time work at Kiss of Leather is quickly becoming full-time to prevent the drain on his dream-business savings.

Elliot fell for the stunning Tai from almost the moment he met him. If he wasn’t so self-conscious about the weight he’s recently put on, maybe he could work up the nerve to make a move. However, not only is he a virgin who’s never done a scene before working in a BDSM club, but he’s also sure that Tai has a thing for Master Lucas. There’s no way he could ever compete with the handsome silver fox.

When Master Lucas confesses to Tai that he doesn’t only see him as a hookup and offers him a contract, there are a ton of considerations. They both realize that serious compromises would have to be made for them to have a relationship. But what if they found a third, a sub who could bottom for Tai and also do TPE with Master Lucas? Once the idea takes hold, Tai knows just the perfect boy for them both. Even better? He’s right there at Kiss of Leather, and Tai can’t wait for Elliot to turn them all into a throuple.

I have loved the Kiss of Leather series and this was another great story in it.  We start with Tobey and Hunter’s house warming party before seeing more into Tai, Lucas and Elliot’s lives.  Tai and Lucas have been dancing around their feelings for a long time but when faced with trying to make an exclusive relationship work they know there are some big barriers to overcome.  Elliot is so sweet and just wants to help and serve all those around him but knows he needs to find someone for himself and stop admiring from the sidelines.

I have loved Tai in the previous books and was excited to see him finally get his story.  Lucas’s acceptance of Tai’s behavior and attitude is one of the things that shows that love will come even when you don’t expect it.  I hated seeing Elliot get hurt when he was trying to find something for himself but I loved that it gave Tai and Lucas the chance to pamper him and grow their relationship.

I liked this story as I have the series but this one was much more insulated than the last few and we didn’t really see much other than these three working everything out together.  Much of the story was told from Elliot’s or Lucas’s viewpoint and I felt much more connected to Elliot and invested in his happiness than Tai or Lucas.  It seems they found a good common ground for them all to have an equal relationship but didn’t feel that there was much shown to see them really navigating their relationship once it started.

The like cover art by Erin Dameron-Hill and the visuals of the characters and that it follows the pattern for the series.

Sales Links: Pride Publishing | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 152 pages

Published: February 27, 2018 by Pride Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-78651-648-0

Edition Language: English

Series: Kiss of Leather #8

A MelanieM Review: All The World’s An Undead Stage (Offbeat Crimes #6) by Angel Martinez

Rating:  5 stars out of 5

Old actors never die shouldn’t be literally true.

Carrington Loveless III, skim-blood vampire and senior officer of Philly’s paranormal police department, has long suspected that someone’s targeting his squad. The increasingly bizarre and dangerous entities invading their city can’t be a coincidence. So when a walking corpse spouting Oscar Wilde attacks one of his officers, Carrington’s determined to uncover the evil mind behind it all.

As a rare books librarian, Erasmus Graham thought he understood some of the stranger things in life. Sharing a life with Carrington’s shown him he didn’t know the half of it. They’ve survived attack books and deadly dust bunnies together and got through mostly unscathed.

Now his world and his vampire’s appear ready to collide again. Books are missing from the rare books’ collection—old tomes of magic containing dangerous summonings and necromancy. He’s certain whoever’s been stalking the Seventy-Seventh is composing their end game.

It’s going to take a consolidated effort from paranormal police, librarians, and some not-quite-authorized civilians to head off the impending catastrophe.

As I said before, I’m sort of running out of superlatives here.  Angel Martinez and this series, Offbeat Crimes, has given us wildly imaginative and perfectly wonderful in every way characters, over the top creatures like ginormous pills bugs from space and lethal flying verse spitting books, an overall arc and villain to literally die for.  Of course, some of the main characters here are already dead, including Carr, aka  Det. Carrington Loveless III, a vampire who has a real distaste for blood and lives off a “blood lite” version that he still finds barely edible.  Oh and he’s in love with a rare books librarian Erasmus Graham.  What a couple, a great one among quite a few memorable ones with this series.

In All The World’s An Undead Stage (Offbeat Crimes #6) Angel Martinez brings this  particular arc to an end, although I’m hoping with all my heart not the series.  A evil mage has been targeting the Seventy-Seventh Precinct and we are soon to find out who and why.

And it involves  zombie actors spouting verse coming to kill them.  Nods.  Of course it does.  Makes perfect sense.  In an Angel Martinez world.

And that’s just the opening act as they say.

Because there are layers and layers to these stories.  It’s never just about the villain and his nefarious plans for…well…whatever.  It’s also about relationships, romantic ones, working dynamics, interspecies communication, even something beyond that here as the Precinct is made up of all types of intelligent beings even if we aren’t quite sure of their origin.  All The World’s An Undead Stage is about the beings inside of it, working together to survive, go forward, and yes, thrive while loving each other and keeping the world safe.

That’s a tall order when you are facing evil of this magnitude.

And I’ve come to care deeply about everyone, every character here due to the author’s superb characterizations and writing skills.  How else do you explain me sobbing away here:

Carrington took a quick glance back at Hunter and LJ.  They held each other tight–strange orphans abandoned on the darkest possible of nights. LJ lifted a sleeve in a wave and Carrington returned it with a salute.  They were, without a doubt, the bravest jackets he had ever met.

We are talking about animated clothing here.  Two jackets…a couple, (LJ a leather jacket and Hunter, a pea coat) who have become two of the characters I’m fondest of.  At that imagery?  I’m bawling like a baby.  Especially if you knew the rest of the context.  The author has over the course of this series given these jackets life and personality.  Oh, yes, love and a relationship. You forget you are crying over flying bits of linen and leather but recognize them as beings that levitate and love each other, that have pride in being part of the Seventy-Seventh Precinct and show fear of loss.

Extrapolate that depth of characterization to the cast of beings, the humans with quirky “talents”, the wolf cursed to be a human, the vampire who can’t stand blood, the firestarters, the shakers and quakers, all the couples and the ‘animals’ who make up the Seventy-Seventh.  They are all here in amazing detail and dimension, alive, vivid and believable.

Carrington and Erasmus are at the top of this story as they focus on their relationship while adding up clues, hunting missing books, and dealing with Carrington’s mother.  All the various story threads flow easily together, weaving in and out, like some weird, wonderful supernatural tapestry.  I arrived at the end far too quickly, a little shaken, counting all the characters to make sure everyone arrived safely (still not sure I counted right).  And now I’m squinting at some of those lines of the authors.

Hmmm.

I mean, it’s quite all right for 42 to be the answer to life, the universe and everything.  But really, “Someone feed the gouramis!”  Damn pesky fish.  More books, Ms Martinez, more books are definitely needed because as we all know carp are never to be trusted!

Read it…it will make sense..I promise you.  But if you are new to the series, don’t start here.  Read them all in order.  It’s such a pleasure watching the men, women, beings of the Seventy-Seventh learn to come together from a shaky beginning to the solid unit they are here that depends and yes, feels deep affection for each other (more for the couples).  For me this is a must read series.  I highly recommend it.

Cover art: Posh Gosh.  I like the covers and the way it brands the series.

Sales Links:  Pride Publishing | Amazon

Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published January 2nd 2018 by Pride Publishing
Original TitleAll the World’s an Undead Stage
ISBN139781786516602
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series Offbeat Crimes – Add it to your Goodreads now:

An Alisa Review: Pushing Phillip (Common Powers #4) by Lynn Lorenz

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

Jobless, homeless and alone at Christmas—can his new friends keep him from running?

 

When the guys decide to spend Christmas together at the ranch, it’s going to be a time for catching up with each couple. Rush and Brian are hosting, Edward and Jack will be there and Mitchell and Sammi are coming in from Houston.

 

When Brian and Rush take Phillip, a newly outed gay man, under their wings, they discover he’s got a power. But this power is one that makes all of them uncomfortable, along with the young man himself as issues of trust arise.

 

Phillip finds himself jobless, homeless and alone for the holiday, and he’s run out of options. Just when he’s ready to move on, he finds new friends who are ready to give him a second chance at his dreams. Along with a second chance at love.

 

This book gave us the chance to see into the relationships of those in the previous books and to also learn about Phillip and Estaban. Phillip has just been surviving for as long as he can remember, being used by his mom for his powers and then on his own after he ran away and just as he is settling in somewhere it starts fall apart around him.  Luckily for him he had met Brian and their motley crew quickly adopt him into the fold.

 

I loved seeing the flourishing relationships of those from the previous books.  Sammi is really started to grow up more though he still needs to be taken care of but that is what Mitchell longs to do.  Edward still likes to throw Jack for a loop but he has started to take more in stride.  Brian and Rush have continued to be strong partners even as Rush worries.

 

Phillip is delighted when Rush given him the chance to learn and try to be a cowboy.  I could feel his desperation and hopelessness when he was sure that he would have to start out somewhere new.  We didn’t really see all that much of Estaban, more from Phillips side, which made it a little harder to connect with him.  I didn’t like how he made such quick judgements though and was glad to see Sammi put him in his place a bit.

 

The cover art by Posh Gosh is a wonderful picture and continues the pattern for the series.

 

Sales Links: Pride Publishing | Amazon | B&N

 

Book Details:

ebook, 209 pages

Publication: December 19, 2017 by Pride Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-78651-622-0

Edition Language: English

Series: Common Powers #4

A Lila Review: An Actor’s Guide to Romance by Catherine Curzon and Eleanor Harkstead

Rating: 3.25 stars out of 5

When long-time theatrical enemies are cast as lovers, their late-night rehearsal brings a whole new meaning to method acting.

For twenty years, Adam Fisher and Thomas Fox have been the best of enemies. From their first meeting at drama school to shared stages, shared bills and a competition to amass the most illustrious awards, they have been the names on every theatregoers’ lips. Separately they can sell out an entire run in an hour, so when they’re cast as lovers in London’s hottest new play, the tickets are gone in minutes.

But for rakish Adam and gentlemanly Thomas, the small matter of their first on-stage kiss is causing a headache for everyone. Over a bottle of wine on one rainy night in the city, these two acting legends will do whatever it takes to banish their first-night nerves. After all, as everyone knows, the show must go on!

An Actor’s Guide to Romance is an extra-long scene story. There’s not much more to it other than a quick introduction to the characters, their first time together, and their confessions of love & future planning.  We get most of the information about their times together by their thoughts and conversation.

The story is well written and the MCs are well developed for such a short story. The language is formal and dramatic just like the actors and there are fun moments to bring the reader closer to Thomas andAdam.

Overall, this is a good story if you want a smart, quick British story with two older characters and a nice setting. If you aren’t into enemies-to-lovers and fast “I love yous” this might not be your story.

The cover by Erin Dameron-Hill is pretty but doesn’t say much about the story.

Sale Links: Pride| Amazon | NOOK

ebook, 200 pages
Published: January 23, 2018, by Pride Publishing
ISBN: 9781786516466
Edition Language: English

L.M Somerton on Writing, her Travels and her Warlock Series ( LM Somerton guest post and excerpt)

Warlocks series

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have L.M. Somerton here today on their Warlocks tour. Welcome, L.M…

Hi, I’m L M Somerton, and it’s such a pleasure to be with you today!

I’m a firmly committed book addict and over the years have enjoyed many genres. I read English, American and Commonwealth Arts at university, which was just an excuse to devour hundreds of works from authors I may never otherwise have come across. With vague, rose-tinted ideas of writing as a career I have spent more than two decades in marketing and corporate communications roles. The upside of the rat race has been the opportunity to travel extensively and make friends around the world.

There’s evidence of my travels in many of my books, which are based in diverse locations, though I have a particular love of the remoter parts of England. It’s hard to beat Cumbria, Cornwall or the wilds of the Yorkshire moors for romantic settings. More recently I’ve drawn on my travel experiences to base stories further afield and the US is a firm favourite.

I try to paint a picture with my words. I want my readers to be drawn to my characters and absorbed by my plotlines, albeit with plenty of kinky hot stuff thrown in. I write thrilling romance rather than romantic thrillers. There’s nothing more fascinating to me than power exchange between men, which is why all my books to date have BDSM content to varying degrees.

I write early in the mornings and late at night, fitting my boys and their stories around a busy job, family and demanding cat (who thinks humans exist only to serve him). When I’m not writing I still love to travel and find inspiration for new storylines along the way.

About the Warlocks Series…

 

L.M. Somerton‘s Warlocks series is a dangerous mix of love, magic, mayhem, and the four elements – and a great MM paranormal tale:

Elemental warlocks are a rare breed. There are only four known to exist across North America and they don’t tend to advertise their talents. But when you have the power to control earth, air, fire and water there’s bound to be some drama, especially when one of the four is young and untrained.

The elements don’t always combine well and warlocks are no different. When their lives collide, it isn’t just sparks that fly. Add love to the mix and a dangerous cocktail of magic and mayhem is primed to ignite.

Book One: Elemental Love – Blurb

Elemental Love

An untrained warlock is a dangerous man to love.

On his twenty-first birthday, Evrain Brookes discovers he is an elemental warlock. The spell suppressing his talent lifts and he has to get used to a whole new existence. The protection that kept him safe during his childhood is gone, his skills are wild and uncontrolled and there are those that seek to use him for their own gain.

Evrain’s grandmother is a witch, his godfather another warlock. Between them they do their best to keep Evrain on the right path. He learns that in order to gain control of his formidable powers, he will need to ‘channel’ through a life partner, a process that happens only with consent and through love. But how will he ever find a man prepared to put up with a Dominant warlock for a boyfriend?

Dominic Castine has no idea that Evrain’s grandmother sees him as a prospective partner for Evrain. He tends her garden and she teaches him about herbs—a trade-off they both enjoy. He is drawn to Evrain’s charismatic presence but doesn’t understand why he wants to drop to his knees and submit to him.

When Agatha is murdered, Evrain and Dominic are thrown together as she manipulates them from beyond the grave. Dominic becomes the pawn in a terrifying game between warlocks whose powers he barely comprehends.

In the end, lives will depend on his courage, his willingness to grant Evrain control and the power of love.

Pride Publishing | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Barnes & Noble | QueeRomance Ink

Book Two: Elemental Hope – Blurb

Elemental Hope

A warlock’s blood gives him life. It can also bring his death.

It’s no wonder Evrain Brookes, newly fledged warlock, is feeling the strain. A coven of power-hungry witches is after his blood. Literally. A psychotic warlock wants him dead. His godfather’s training regime is about as much fun as chewing on nettles and an overweight, scarily perceptive cat has moved into his house.

His boyfriend Dominic yearns for a normal life, or at least a safer one. He accepts his role both as Evrain’s submissive partner and as the conduit through which he channels his gift—but he’s afraid for his lover, and the lengths Evrain’s enemies might go to in order to fulfill their lust for power.

When Evrain falls victim to a plot between the Octis Coven and malevolent warlock Symeon Malus, it’s up to Dominic to rescue him. With the help of the two other North American warlocks, Shadow the cat and an old enemy, Dominic takes steps to get his lover back. There’s a high price to pay and no guarantee that the risks he must take will work out but Evrain is worth going through hell for, even if it costs Dominic his life.

Pride Publishing | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | QueeRomance Ink

Elemental Hope meme

Excerpt – Elemental Love

“What’s with the weather today?” Evrain exclaimed, as his grandmother and godfathers turned toward him from their seats around the fire. “I swear I left Portland in the most glorious sunshine but I seem to have dragged a storm along with me.”

Coryn and Gregory exchanged glances. Agatha rose from her chair and came toward him, holding out her arms.

“Give your old grandma a hug, birthday boy.”

Evrain bent to accept Agatha’s embrace. He kissed the top of her head. She smelled of nutmeg and ginger, the scent familiar and comforting.

“Happy birthday, Evrain.”

“Thank you, Grandma.”

Coryn and Gregory queued to take their turns for hugs.

“Did you enjoy the drive over?” Coryn asked, his eyes twinkling.

“I did. Thank you both, so much. It was a great gift and a brilliant surprise. I could get used to driving around in that.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but it’s just for the day. A special treat.”

Evrain shrugged. “I’ll take it.” He cast his gaze at each of the people he loved. They returned his scrutiny with an intensity that made him feel a little uncomfortable. “What? Do I have a smudge on my nose or something?” He walked over to the fire and peered into the mirror hanging over the mantel. As far as he could tell there were no weird marks or splotches.

“How are you feeling? Any unexplained headaches or nausea recently?” Gregory asked.

“No. My joints are a bit sore but I’m putting that down to a lack of exercise over the last few days. I was going to hike along the river this afternoon and shake off some of the lethargy.

I haven’t been sleeping well—I think I’m still getting adjusted to the time zone.” Evrain’s sense of discomfort grew. It wasn’t like Gregory to ask after his health. “Why the sudden interest in whether or not I have the sniffles? Is there a weird hereditary disease in the family that I don’t know about?”

“Why don’t you take a seat by the fire? There’s something we need to talk to you about.”

“Is this some kind of intervention?” Now he was really worried. “I’ve heard about those.

I promise I’m not a drunk, I don’t take drugs and I’m not addicted to gambling.” He gave a nervous laugh.

Gregory stood. He placed his hand on Evrain’s shoulder and squeezed. “It’s nothing to worry about. In fact, it should make things a whole lot clearer for you. I think it’s time.

Agatha?”

“Indeed. The hour doesn’t matter. I geared everything to the date.” She hummed a

strange tune under her breath.

“And a very significant date it is.” Gregory guided him to a chair, ignoring Agatha’s weird behavior.

Evrain sat, sinking into the overstuffed cushion. He’d need a cleaver to cut the atmosphere, not just a knife. Or maybe a scythe, that seemed appropriate. Agatha’s gothic mantel clock began to chime. Evrain’s senses sharpened. He could pick out every detail, every thread of the woven hearth rug. A mixture of intense aromas—spices, burning wood, candle wax, even Gregory’s aftershave—assaulted his nose. He wanted to cover his ears there was so much sound—spitting and crackling from the fire, leaves and branches thrashing outside in the wind, breathing, heartbeats. Evrain gasped. It was too much. He gripped the arms of his chair and felt every imperfection in the wood. His head swam.

“What’s… What’s happening?” He squeezed the words from between gritted teeth.

In the hearth, the fire exploded, sending huge flames shooting up the chimney. The storm outside intensified, pounding at the cabin with weapons of hail and wind. Evrain took short, sharp breaths. He sensed movement behind him and swiveled around to see the pot plants on the windowsill sprouting shoots and new leaves at incredible speed, the foliage spilling over countertops and onto the floor. This could not be happening. The pressure in his head built to an intolerable level. He was aware of Gregory’s touch, clasping his hand.

“Let it go, Evrain. Don’t be afraid.” Gregory’s voice, calm and soothing, penetrated his panic.

Evrain willed his body to relax. Multicolored lights exploded before his eyes, then everything went mercifully dark.

* * * *

“Evrain, you’re a warlock.”

“What the hell happened, Grandma? Am I ill? My head feels like a grenade exploded.

Inside it.” Evrain massaged his temples and groaned. “Wait. What did you just say?”

“I said, my dear boy, that you are a warlock. Now drink this, it will make you feel better.

You were out cold for a few minutes there.” She thrust a mug into his trembling hands.

“What is it?” He sniffed the drink with some suspicion.

“Butterbur, chamomile and ginger root tea sweetened with a little honey. My own remedy and better than any chemical you could poison your body with.”

“Does it cure insanity, because I could have sworn that you just told me I’m a warlock?”

“It doesn’t, and you are. Don’t be a child. Drink it.”

“Don’t be a— Gregory! Please tell me I’m hearing things.” He looked to his godfather who stood in front of the fire making strange movements with his fingers.

“Just hold on a minute, Evrain. I need to damp down your conflagration a little.”

“What? Wait… You’re… Oh my God. I’m in an alternate reality, aren’t I?” He addressed his question to Coryn, sitting in the chair next to him. Coryn seemed a bit pale despite the heat. His smile was full of sympathy and understanding.

“It’s true, Evrain. You are a warlock and so is Gregory. Your grandma put a suppression spell on your powers shortly after you were born, to protect you. You heard her humming? Well, she was lifting the spell. You have come into your powers. You’re very strong, Evrain. The change was too much for you and you blacked out for a few minutes.”

Author Bio

L M Somerton

Lucinda lives in a small village in the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, cows and sheep. She started writing to fill time between jobs and is now firmly and unashamedly addicted.

She loves the English weather, especially the rain, and adores a thunderstorm. She loves good food, warm company and a crackling fire. She’s fascinated by the psychology of relationships, especially between men, and her stories contain some subtle (and some not so subtle) leanings towards BDSM.

Author Website: www.lmsomerton.com

Author Facebook (Personal): www.facebook.com/lmsomerton

Author Facebook (Author Page): www.facebook.com/lmsomertonwrites

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/LMSomerton

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6623749.L_M_Somerton

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/l-m-somerton/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/L.M.-Somerton/e/B00AV9XRW8/