Blogtour: Hallelujah by Kim Fielding and F.E. Feeley Jr.

HALLELUJAH

by

Kim Fielding and F.E. Feeley Jr. 

a gay horror novel

Hi, Kim Fielding here to celebrate Hallelujah, the horror novel F.E. Feeley and I co-wrote.

I have always loved horror stories. No, seriously. Always. Some of my earliest memories involve sitting in the living room with my dad on Sunday afternoons, watching old monster movies on TV. When I was very young, Disney movies sent me screaming out of the theater (really), but plop me down in front of Dracula or Frankenstein and I was happy as could be.

The first story I remember writing, circa first grade, was about a haunted spacesuit. Sadly, that masterpiece no longer exists. I learned a few years ago that Arthur C. Clarke wrote a story in the 50s called… “The Haunted Spacesuit.” It’s possible I read that story before writing mine (I learned to read very young and by first grade was reading pretty advanced stuff—and annoying the heck out of my poor teachers), and therefore my first work was actually somewhat plagiaristic. I don’t remember. All I do know was that from the beginning, I dug scary.

I enjoyed the movies Rebecca and Les Diaboliques, and I read a lot of horror in various guises. As a teenager I adored the gothic horror of V.C. Andrews’s Flowers in the Attic. I also loved Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” Rice’s Interview with a Vampire, and everything by Ray Bradbury or Edgar Allen Poe. Oh, and Stephen King—I gobbled everything he published.

Why is horror so delicious? From a reading standpoint, it’s kind of like riding a roller coaster or eating habanero salsa. It gets our pulse racing in a safe way. It’s also oddly affirming. No matter how much my life might suck at a particular moment, at least I’m not in the middle of a zombie apocalypse or being stalked by a homicidal clown. Writing horror is fun for the same reasons. Plus it gives the author an opportunity to tackle social issues in a fresh way. Consider, for example, Get Out, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Night of the Living Dead, among many others. This was part of the reason Fred and I decided to write a horror story.

Given my love for the genre, it’s a little surprising I haven’t written much horror. I’ve crept around its edges with some paranormal, dark fantasy, and suspense, but I never quite plunged in fully. Until now. I hope you enjoy reading Hallelujah as much as Fred and I enjoyed writing it.

What are your favorite horror movies or books?

What are your favorite horror stories?

About the book:

"Hallelujah."

Can you hear it?

Whispering in the dark.

Secrets only the dark knows.

Joseph Moore, choir director for the First Baptist Church of Lenora, Nebraska, has secrets of his own. Terrible, lonely secrets. One that involves natural human desire. One that calls forth powers he cannot begin to understand. Both with the potential to destroy him and those he loves.

Now the world is changing. The darkness, the shadows, the ghosts, are closing in—and Joseph and his lover, Kevin, are being stalked by a merciless demon, hell-bent on possession.

Can you hear it now?

There in the dark.

It's whispering your name.

Warnings: Violence. This is not a romance.

Amazon | iBooks | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Smashwords

Excerpt

“NO!”

Joseph fought against the hands on his shoulders. The room was sweltering, and all his strength had sapped away.

“NO!”

“Joseph, open your eyes! Open your eyes, dammit!”

He was being shaken, and despite his unwillingness, his eyes opened. Kevin’s face stared down at him.

“Fuck you. Let me go!”

Joseph pulled away and fell backward onto the altar steps. His attempt to break the fall caused his wrist to smart painfully, and he whimpered. His whole body shook; he felt sick to his stomach.

Kevin raised his hands in surrender. “What the hell, man? Who did this to you?”

“What?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’? You’re beat to shit. Did someone jump you?”

Joseph looked down and saw his scratched-up legs and swollen ankle. He scanned the sanctuary, half expecting the shadowed figure to be lurking somewhere nearby. But that wasn’t the case. All the lights were on, brilliantly illuminating every corner. There was no sign of the spirit who normally haunted the place.

“Who are you looking for?”

Joseph faced Kevin once again. “What? No one. What are you doing here?”

Although Kevin had been bare-chested at their last meeting, he was wearing a shirt now. Well, part of a shirt. It was an old Budweiser tee with the sleeves cut out and the sides wide open. When he moved, it revealed glimpses of his chest and flat stomach. Joseph felt his face flush as he averted his gaze.

“I was driving by and saw all the lights on and the door open. Figured the joint was getting robbed or somethin’. Then I found you wailing on the floor in…. Damn, dude. Look at your wrist.”

Joseph saw it was swollen. The memory of where he’d been flashed in his mind once more. The red-eyed gaze was burned into his memory.

But that had all been a dream, hadn’t it?

Please, Lord, let it have been a dream.

“Who did this to you?” Kevin repeated with a furrowed brow.

“Nobody. Look, I came back here because I thought I left something, and I fell. I must have banged my head or something.”

“You fell. Where? Into a war zone?”

Blogtour: The Third One by Roe Horvat

Book Title: Third One (Those Other Books series)

Author: Roe Horvat

Publisher: Roe Horvat

Cover Artist: Roe Horvat

Release Date: March 30th 2020

Genre: Contemporary MMM erotic romance

Trope/s: Established couple + third, hurt/comfort

Themes: Two dancers and a businessman, Swedish coast, Gothenburg, pining, passion

Length: 46 000 words/140 pages

Heat Rating: 5 flames 

Add on Goodreads

Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link 

Blurb

It could have been just an innocent crush. Something guiltless and fleeting. But Luke spends every day with Marcus; they talk, touch and dance together, they create and perform together. They know each other inside out. As a consequence, Luke has been in love with his very much taken choreographer for years. Seeing Marcus and his partner Liam together has become increasingly painful, and Luke needs to leave. His dancing career is nearing an end anyway. He will start university, reinvent himself, forget Marcus and find happiness elsewhere.

Except Marcus loves him back. And Liam knows. Liam’s dark eyes and his imposing silhouette begin haunting Luke’s dreams. Drowning in both lust and sadness, Luke is swept into a passionate triangle with two men who couldn’t be more different. Suddenly, instead of fear or caution, there’s just a mind-numbing desire for more.

 

Excerpt

Liam had always known words wouldn’t fix this. He walked closer, pausing next to Luke, who still wouldn’t look at him. Liam covered Luke’s left hand with his. The chill shocked him at first. Luke’s hand was ice-cold, and Liam was painfully aware of the last time they’d touched, two months ago at the hospital. He squeezed lightly before he stroked Luke’s fingers, warming them. Luke didn’t move, except his head sunk lower.

He didn’t pull away. Luke didn’t pull away.

Of course, he didn’t. Liam hadn’t imagined the energy between them. Carefully watching Luke’s profile for clues, he lifted his other hand and let it rest on Luke’s neck. Luke squeezed his eyes shut and inhaled harshly, and Liam could see Luke struggling. His chest ached at the sight. He massaged Luke’s nape while the man battled with himself. Liam stepped closer still until his nose brushed Luke’s hair. Breathing in Luke’s scent, he nuzzled his temple. Just a second passed, and Liam wanted to pause the time. Please. He felt a shudder ripple through Luke. One more second, one more breath. It was unmistakable. They both felt it, the same pull, the same rush of want, glimpses of a future, a different reality where they would touch willingly and with the ease of familiar lovers. God, it had been such a long time since Liam felt this sure, this convinced of the grand potential of love.

A deep sigh and Luke leaned away, pulling his hand from underneath Liam’s.

“This is so wrong,” Luke blurted. He hugged his hand to his chest as if Liam had burned him with his touch.

“Why?” Liam asked.

Release Blitz: Hearts Of Destiny by Kay Doherty

Title: Hearts of Destiny

Series: Chevalier, Book Four

Author: Kay Doherty

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: March 30, 2020

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 40700{

Genre: Paranormal, LGBTQIA+, MM romance, gay, pack dynamics, feud, wolf shifters, dragon shifters, multispecies shifters, bonded mates

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Synopsis

Ean and Matthias have known they’re mates for a while, but Matthias has been unwilling to claim Ean. He believes his past and age-old secrets are too big for Ean to overcome, so instead keeps Ean away by irritating him.

Depressed and no longer able to be near the dragon-shifter, Ean leaves the pack house and, after a night of heavy drinking, makes a life-changing decision that pushes Matthias into action.

As the blood moon draws nearer, the Chevalier Pack is called before a tribunal of paranormal leaders to assess the Alpha’s rumored mysterious abilities. Matthias decides to share his secrets with a little help from Colby. And to top everything off, they face another attack by the McBane Pack, which the Chevalier decide will be the last.

Excerpt

Hearts of Destiny
Kay Doherty © 2020
All Rights Reserved

Prologue
Duray Horde Vault

After adjusting the stack of scrolls tucked beneath his arm, Matthias opened the door to the vaults and headed down the stairs. He had no idea what was contained in the newest additions to the horde library, but Sadie had insisted he take them, look through them, and archive them appropriately. The sheer number of scrolls he was carrying guaranteed weeks of sequestered reading, and he was looking forward to it. Matthias often disappeared for days within the vault stacks, and no one cared. He was moody and antisocial at the best of times and preferred his own company to that of other dragons.

At the back of the library, he dropped the scrolls unceremoniously on top of the desk he’d claimed as his, decades ago. Since no one came down to the vaults, no one had challenged his claim. As far as the horde was concerned, the vaults were Matthias’s domain. The soft thump of little feet echoed in the cavernous space, dulled slightly by the papers and leather-bound tomes that filled the shelving. Matthias knew who those steps belonged to, and his disposition lightened a bit. Sadie’s son had a thirst for knowledge that Matthias admired, even if it did mean his quiet sanctuary was invaded on a regular basis by the child.

“Hi, Matthias.”

“What are you doing down here, Luca?”

ARC Review: Pop Star (Famous #1) by Eden Finley

Blurb:

Harley

What happens when the most successful boy band on the planet breaks up?
How about twenty thousand fans screaming my name.
But the price of fame comes with an increased risk to my safety.
I’ve been avoiding the dreaded B word for as long as I can, but after a close call with a rambunctious fan, I can’t do it anymore.
It’s time to give in.
I need to hire a full-time bodyguard.
And when he shows up, he not only screams badass, he’s another B word I try to stay away from: boyfriend material. 

Brix

Protecting people is not what my company usually does, but the boss knows I need money, and the pop star is offering an insane amount to live with him and make sure no more crazy fans break into his house.
I’m doing it for the money and nothing else.
He may be the prettiest man I’ve ever seen, and I may feel sorry for the celebrity life he’s been forced into since he was a teenager, but that doesn’t mean anything.
Just because he fascinates me, that doesn’t mean I like him.
It doesn’t.
Professionalism. I’m gonna live it. Breathe it. Enforce it … Mostly.

Todd's rating:

After Harley being the selfish, arrogant, would-be villain slash pop star diva in Jet's "Hat Trick" book, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect of him in this story, but I did have a feeling that Eden wouldn't disappoint. And she didn't.

Right off the bat, I immediately liked the more down-to-earth, slightly-insecure guy behind the boy band image that was forced upon Harley by his shitty, controlling record label. There was a lot more to him than the public was allowed to see.

The main thing that completely irked me about Harley in "Hat Trick" was his engagement to Evah, but we quickly found out here that their relationship was a total work of fiction, arranged by those making all of Harley's decision for him behind-the-scenes.

Then when an obsessed fan took things way too far, and Harley needed a bodyguard, that's where we met Brix, the straight-laced, military guy assigned to babysit the anxious pop star.

Although Brix's Army training had left him pretty buttoned-up, I enjoyed the fun, playful, often-mischievous interactions that the pair engaged in nearly from the start. Brix was not only a guardian at the gates, but also a friend with good advice that Harley needed to hear.

Blogtour: Hogtied by Holly Bargo

Hogtied 

by Holly Bargo 

Genre: Contemporary MC Romance 

Cowgirl meets biker ... what could go wrong?

When a biker shoots her sister's prize steer, champion roper Melanie goes after him. Unfortunately, she doesn't think it through, and that hot temper puts her squarely in Hammer's sights. Melanie's ire only increases when Hammer defuses the dangerous situation by claiming her as his property. If the former Marine and now sergeant-at-arms of the Black Ice Revolution MC thinks she's his for the taking, he's sadly mistaken. She wants nothing to do with him, but he's not about to let this sexy, feisty woman go.

This romance contains some explicit scenes and a guaranteed HEA. May not be suitable for young readers. 

Goodreads * Amazon

Teaser:

“No need. You all stay off my property,” the old man said. “I’m inclined to shoot every last one of you.”

Hammer raised an eyebrow and his skepticism must have showed.

“Daddy was a sniper in the Gulf War,” Melanie explained with a saccharine smile. “And he taught Julie and me how to shoot, too. We can protect ourselves.”

​Hammer met her cool confidence with another small smile. “The three of you can’t protect the whole farm and your father knows it.”

Release Blitz: Why Can't Life Be More Like Pizza by Andy V. Roamer

Title: Why Can’t Life Be Like Pizza?

Series: The Pizza Chronicles, Book One

Author: Andy V. Roamer

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: March 30, 2020

Heat Level: 1 - No Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 55100

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult, LGBTQIA+, Young adult, contemporary, family-drama, interracial, gay, in the closet, immigrant family, high school, mentor

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Synopsis

RV is a good kid, starting his freshman year at the demanding Boston Latin School. Though his genes didn’t give him a lot of good things, they did give him a decent brain. So he’s doing his best to keep up in high school, despite all the additional pressures he’s facing: His immigrant parents, who don’t want him to forget his roots and insist on other rules. Some tough kids at school who bully teachers as well as students. His puny muscles. His mean gym teacher. The Guy Upstairs who doesn’t answer his prayers. And the most confusing fact of all—that he might be gay.

Luckily, RV develops a friendship with Mr. Aniso, his Latin teacher, who is gay and always there to talk to. RV thinks his problems are solved when he starts going out with Carole. But things only get more complicated when RV develops a crush on Bobby, the football player in his class. And to RV’s surprise, Bobby admits he may have gay feelings, too.

Excerpt

Why Can’t Life Be Like Pizza?
Andy V. Roamer © 2020
All Rights Reserved

Chapter One—Why Can’t Life Be Like Pizza?

Why can’t life be like pizza?

I’ve been asking myself the question a lot lately. I love pizza. Pizza makes me feel good. Especially since I discovered Joe’s. Joe’s Pizza is quiet and out of the way and allows me to think. And Joe’s combinations are the best. Pepperoni and onions. Garlic and mushroom. Cheese and chicken. And if you really want that little kick in the old butt: the super jalapeno. Mmmm, good. Gets you going again. And lets you forget all your troubles.

What troubles can a fourteen-year-old guy have? Ha! First of all, I’m not a regular guy, as anyone can guess from my taste in pizza. My parents are immigrants who are trying to make a better life for themselves here in the United States. Besides the usual things American parents worry about, like making money and having their kids do well in school, my parents spend more time worrying about the big things: politics, communism, fascism, global warming, and the fact they and their parents survived violence and jail so I-better-be-grateful-I’m-not-miserable-like-kids-in-other-parts-of-the-world.

Grateful? Ha! As far as I’m concerned, life is pretty miserable already. Instead of thinking about the World Series or Disneyland, I worry about terrorists down the street or the dirty bombs the strange family around the corner might be building.

I don’t know why I worry about everything, but I do. It’s probably in my genes. Other guys have genes that gave them big muscles or hairy chests. I got nerves.

And then there’s my name. RV. Yeah, RV. No, I’m not a camper or anything. RV is short for Arvydas. That’s right. “Are-vee-duh-s.” Mom and Dad say it’s a common name in Lithuania, which is the country in Eastern Europe where my parents were born. A name like that might be fine for Lithuania, but what about the United States? Couldn’t Mom and Dad have named me Joe, or Mike, or even Darryl? My brother, Ray, has a normal name. Why couldn’t they have given me one?

ARC Review : The Demon Design (Souls and Sigils #1) by Dorian Flynn

Blurb :

In a dangerous world, Mason Kane knows what it’s like to lose everything.

There’s no interview to become a hunter—mercenary drifters who deal with monsters and dark magic the average person can’t handle. Those who have it in their blood show up when the bounty is posted and claim the rewards only when the job is done.

Mason Kane couldn’t imagine any other life for himself…until his last job, one which left him alone and injured beyond natural help. Lost, he moved to the city to drink away his retirement and wallow until his eventual death. That is, until an enigmatic millionaire approaches him with a job offer—someone, somewhere is practicing one of the forbidden arts, devilurgy, and only Mason can stop them. What’s more, the stranger is willing to offer the ultimate reward: a cure.

With the help of a handsome and charming magician, Toma Shigomina, Mason has to learn not only who’s selling the mysterious sigils, but how—and why. But, when it comes to dark magic, nothing is as it seems. Will Mason be able to solve the mystery and keep the people he cares about safe? And what, exactly, are his new employer’s motivations?

Christelle's rating :

The blurb sounded interesting for me and I like to try tropes that are not my usual “go-for-it”, ie MM Romance in a fantasy context with monsters, hunters and magic.

This is a “short story” at least for me as it’s around 100 pages and it’s clearly part of an “on-going” series if the ending of this instalment is of any indication.

So, we have 2 MCs, Mason and Toma. Clearly, Mason used to be a kind of a “bounty hunter” of monsters, a job not very well “appreciated” in this fantasy world. His life goals were to spend some serene time with his partner, both in work and love, but it got badly derailed and left Mason with a profound injury, no job and alone. But then, he has a hook-up with Toma, a teaching magician. The attraction is clear, even more from Toma’s side, so why not use the excuse of a new job that has just been offered to him to see more of Toma. Even if this job might be a dangerous idea with his “new boss” potentially being very unscrupulous, but coming with the possibility of healing his injuries.

Release Blitz: Late Night Poetry by Nell Iris

Book Title: Late Night Poetry

Author: Nell Iris

Publisher: JMS Books

Cover Artist: Written Ink Designs

Release Date: March 28, 2020

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: Second chances

Themes: reunion

Heat Rating: 1 flame

Length: 10 000 words

It is a standalone story.

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Buy Links

JMS Books | Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Kobo | Apple books | B and N

 A love story told in answering machine messages.

Blurb

Saying “I love you” to someone who says it first, isn’t supposed to lead to a break-up, but that’s what happens to Sully and Lou. Sully is out and proud while Lou is in the closet, so when their relationship deepens, Lou runs.

But then Lou starts leaving emotional messages of remorse on Sully’s answering machine. Sully is torn between his love for Lou and his attempts to get over him. With each message, Lou’s regrets deepen. With each message, it becomes more difficult for Sully to forget him. With each message, Sully finds it harder to want to move on.

Can old love poems and heartbreaking honesty help Sully and Lou find their way back to each other?

Excerpt

Sunday, November 25, 1990. 11:35 PM.

“Ron set me up on a date.”—thick, revolted grunt—"A fucking date. He and Kelly told me to come over for dinner but neglected to tell me they had also invited one of her single female friends. Fuck him. I told him I was trying to get over someone and then he does this? I asked him why and he said, ‘I’m your brother, I’m just looking out for you and besides you need to get back into the saddle again.’ The saddle, Sully, like I’m some fucking cowboy or something.”—Deep stuttering breath—“I felt so betrayed. A few days ago, he asked me why I was so mopey, and I told him I’d just broken up with someone really important and that I’m very upset about it. He said he was sorry and then a few days later he tells me to get back on the horse? I couldn’t even storm out of there because he grabbed my arm and said Kelly had worked so hard on the dinner, so I better not disappoint her. He’s definitely inherited his guilt-trip skills from Mom.

“Then I had to spend the rest of the night dodging wandering hands. I can’t tell you how many times I had to brush her fingers away from my thigh. As soon as I could, I got up and left but then she followed me. She cornered me before I could get into my car and kissed me. I felt like I cheated on you. I cheated on you and all I want to do is beg your forgiveness and promise you I won’t do it again. Except it doesn’t matter, does it? I did this to myself. I did this to myself and now I have to live with my choices. With the consequences of my cowardice.

ARC Review: For the Sake of a Scottish Rake by Anna Bradley

From the blurb:

After a sheltered upbringing, Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe is finally embarking on her first season, eager to experience everything she’s missed. When Lucy realizes that her uncle plans to quickly marry her off in exchange for a slice of her fortune, she begs a favor of a new acquaintance, Ciaran Ramsey. If Lucy remains single until she turns twenty-one, she—and her money—will be out of her uncle’s power. All the charming Scot needs to do is woo her for six weeks, and then jilt her...

The Ramseys don’t need the scandal of a false engagement attached to their name. But Lucy’s older suitor is both distasteful and dangerous, and Ciaran can’t allow his lovely friend to be forced to marry such a man. And besides, the more time Ciaran spends with his new “betrothed,” the more their ruse begins to feel very much like the real thing. Passion like this is impossible to feign, but how much is a rogue willing to risk for love?

Heather's rating:





I adore Anna Bradley and everything she writes, and For the Sake of a Scottish Rake was no different. A fun friends-to-lovers, slow-burn romance with an exciting plot, I enjoyed every minute of this story.

There were so many tropes to love. Fake boyfriend/girlfriends, predicament rescue, and friends-to-lovers and they all worked. I'm a huge fan of the fake relationship plot device, and so I was immediately hooked. I also liked that Lucy was a girl who beat to her own drum and didn't feel pressured by society's rules. She was quirky and unique, and I love that in a heroine.

The big Scottish character always works for me (natch), and so I was predisposed to like Ciaran, but he won me over more and more as the story went on. Ciaran was just so nice. I think a lot of authors are afraid of writing nice male MCs, so they air towards making them rude or boorish. Ciaran was just a good dude, and I was so happy when he finally realized his feelings for Lucy.

Review Tour: Shadow & Light (Raptors #3) by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Length: 54,500 words approx.

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Arizona Raptors Series

Book #1 - Coast to Coast - Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Book #2 - Across The Pond - Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Blurb

Is it easier to fall into the shadows than hold onto the light?

Injured in a horrific car accident by a man who made him feel like nothing, Henry was left with life threatening injuries, crippling self doubt, and his career as a hockey player destroyed. He’s struggling to see, and as much as people tell him to have hope because he’s young and fit, his vision is compromised and he’s spiraling into despair. Estranged from his family, and his money all gone, there seems to be no hope. Hockey gave him freedom, and now it’s all been taken away.

Adler insists on letting Henry stay in a vast Lockhart-owned mansion in Tuscon, but it's a big and lonely place. When Apollo arrives at the house with his sunny smile and infectious optimism, along with his no-nonsense rules, he slowly becomes an integral part of Henry’s life. But one day, when Henry is better, Apollo will leave, and what happens then? Has Henry really fallen for the dark eyed man, or is it all just smoke and mirrors?

If there is one thing that Apollo Vasquez knows all about it’s helping others and living with quirky athletes. After all, he’s spent most of his adult life tending to one of the richest hockey playing heirs in America. His days have been filled with friendship, laughter, and the knowledge that he’s needed. Or he used to be. Over the past year Apollo’s best friend, Adler Lockhart, has been slipping away, his time spent with his boyfriend, on the ice, or traveling the world with the man he loves. This leaves Apollo feeling like a clunky third wheel or all alone in a luxurious apartment with no one to fuss over.

Knowing that his life is at a crossroads, his loving nature leads him far away from his childhood friend to the dry desert town of Tucson where he signs on to care for Henry Greenaway as the young Raptor recovers both mentally and physically from a near fatal car crash. Henry is also facing a new life, one that might lead him from the sport he has loved for so long. Cooking, cleaning, and providing moral support is just what the doctor ordered for Apollo, and he soon finds himself not only rediscovering himself and a new life he adores, but falling for the sweet, lost, injured man who’s slowly capturing his heart one timid smile at a time.

Karen's review:

‘Shadow and Light’ is a story that I’ve been waiting for…it’s Henry’s story and Apollo. We met Apollo for the first time briefly in the ‘Harrisburg Railers’ series. He’s Adler Lockhart’s best friend and personal assistant. But now that Adler’s got his Foxy man, Apollo’s life has become a lot less demanding and he’s finding he has to much time on his hands to think and a lot of that thinking seems to focus on the last man who broke his heart. So, when Adler proposes that he go to Arizona and take care of Henry, Apollo decides that maybe this is just what he needs someone who needs his help in a place that’s filled with warmth and sunshine.

Henry’s struggling…life’s just not cutting him any breaks. It may have been a car accident that broke his body but it was the man driving the car who broke his heart and shattered him emotionally and his family took care of whatever self esteem he had left along with his money leaving Henry with nothing and no one to offer him support as he struggles to find his way back to the world in general and the sport that he loves. 

Together Apollo and Henry can help each other to find a way back from their pain if they can just learn to trust each other and share what’s in their hearts.

I was more than a little anxious for this story since we’ve been following the events of what’s happened to Henry throughout the previous books and for the most part I enjoyed this one but I also found myself wanting the relationship development between Henry and Apollo to come from Henry’s point of view just a tiny bit more than it did, but while I wanted a bit more of Henry’s perspective during this part of the story, I also didn’t feel like his POV was entirely missing either so that may be more a me thing than a story thing. 

Audio Book Review: Howling on Hold by E. J. Russell

From The Blurb:

Listening Time: 8 hrs., 2 min. 

Sometimes it’s harder to teach a young dog new tricks. 

That’s why werewolves embark on a Howling: a three-year rite of passage in which they’re sent to a group residence to wrestle with their wolfy instincts and assimilate into the Wider World. But Tanner Araya’s Howling is almost over, and he could be called back to his remote pack at any moment. His twenty-first birthday might be his last chance to act on his strongest instinct and finally kiss Chase Denney. 

Chase is RA at the Howling residence affectionately dubbed “the Doghouse,” and he takes his job seriously. So seriously that when he realized he was developing feelings for a resident, he forced himself to keep Tanner at a distance. But now that Tanner’s twenty-one, he’s not Chase’s charge any longer. They could be friends or—if Chase is lucky—something more. At least until they both return to their home packs for good, as tradition demands. 

It would take a miracle for them to get together—especially when the other Doghouse werewolves insist on “helping.” 

Warning: Many Frisbees are harmed in this story, forgiveness is not always easier than permission, and the five-second rule does not apply.

Karen's rating:

So the lovely Ms Sandra says to me..."I read this and liked it, want the audio?" of course I scampered off to Audible to listen to the audio clip for it and saw that the narrator was none other than Greg Boudeaux, skipped the audio clip because...Greg Boudeaux, need I say more? I scampered back to my e-mail and said 'Yes please'. Seriously how could I go wrong? I couldn't and didn't, ok?

First off can I just say this is a shifter book but hey no my first ride at this rodeo and it's by new to me author E.J. Russell...new to me, not to a whole lot of other people.

What I found here was a story that simply worked and worked well for me. It was cute and touched with humorous moments that had me laughing and frequently smiling. There were a whole lot of characters from 'Fae Out of Water' and 'Supernatural Selection' previous series by this author and as someone who hasn't read any of these books I can comfortably say that while I read/listen to and very much enjoy this book, I'd really like to go back and enjoy the earlier books as well because there were times when I wouldn't exactly say that I felt lost but I did feel like something was missing and I wasn't quite getting the connections between characters.

Blogtour: What He Really Needs by Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood

Title: What He Really Needs

Author: Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood

Publisher: Wainscott Press

Release Date: March 20, 2020

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 85,000 words

Genre: Romance, Gay romance, M/M romance, Legal romance, Gay suspense and adventure romance

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Synopsis

Sometimes, it takes a second chance to get things right.

Cayo Suárez, who is gay, and Ben Roth, an admitted Oblivious Straight Guy, were roommates in law school, but two years after graduating, they have lost touch. After an accidental meeting, Cayo invites Ben to stay with him while Ben looks for his own apartment. There’s only one complication, but it’s a big one—Cayo has been in love with Ben since they met.

What begins as a heartwarming reunion of old friends heats up quickly, and Ben starts to wonder if he’s as straight as he always thought he was. Cayo and Ben reconnect in a most unexpected way, but their jobs complicate things. Cayo works for low-income people at Legal Assistance, and Ben works for the man.

When Ben and Cayo become involved in a controversial case, powerful people with a lot to lose seize control of the situation. They want to bend the case’s outcome to their own nefarious ends, and they’ll destroy anyone who tries to stand up to them. Will Cayo and Ben find a way to save Ben’s career, and their budding relationship, before it’s too late?

What He Really Needs is an action-packed book full of warmth and humor, a first-time bisexual awakening, a healthy dose of suspense, steamy sexy times, and an extraordinarily happy ending.

Excerpt

Excerpt from Chapter One
Saturday, August 19: Washington, DC
Cayo

The sticky air was thick with the ripe smell of horny men. Johnny’s was the big gay sports bar in town, and on Saturday nights there was always a kickass drag show. At two in the morning, the drag queens had come and gone, and I lost myself in music loud enough to rattle my teeth. It was that time of night when everybody was dancing together, and all eyes were on the lookout for an interested man.

I turned around, and just as I noticed a cute blond twink giving me the once-over, I saw him. A dozen yards in front of me was the man I’d moved to DC to get away from. I’d know him anywhere. Dripping with sweat and obviously a couple of sheets to the wind, Ben Roth was dancing his ass off.

You’re out of your mind. That last vodka tonic was one too many.

The flashing lights made it hard to see, so I started moving in his direction. Since Johnny’s was packed, crossing the busy dance floor wasn’t the easiest thing in the world. I sneaked under and around gyrating bodies, and slid between a few couples who were eye fucking each other for all they were worth. Soon, I was next to him, and there was no doubt. None other than Ben Roth was in one of the most popular gay nightspots in the District.

Eyes closed, head thrown back, he seemed oblivious to the madness around him. He still looked like a cross between a teen heartthrob and Prince Charming, with his wavy brown hair and boyishly handsome face. Broad shoulders, muscular pecs, and a trim waist were tantalizing under the damp T-shirt that clung to his torso.

He must have sensed someone watching him. Opening his eyes, he scanned the room and slowly turned his head to the side, toward me. His gaze, loosened by too much alcohol, immediately sharpened as he shook his head and blinked his brilliant amber eyes. He curled his lips into the smile that had launched a thousand ships—as well as countless jack-off fantasies—and he jumped at me.

“Cayo?” He engulfed me in a bear hug. Lime and honey tickled my nostrils, immediately followed by the unmistakable scent of Ben’s spicy musk. For the three years we had lived together, that peppery, mossy smell gave me a semi every time he came home from a run.

I wrapped my arms around him and reveled in the way his toned muscles resisted my squeeze. He pulled me closer, and I felt safe for the first time in who knew how long. I’d honestly thought I would never see him again. Just as his spicy-sweaty essence began to make me feel giddy, I—

Release Blitz: Forgotten (Heaven and Hell Club, Book 2) by Colette Davison

Book Title: Forgotten (Heaven and Hell Club Book 2)

Author: Colette Davison

Publisher: Independently published

Cover Artist: Colette Davison

Release Date: March 25, 2020

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: Hurt/comfort, disabled MC, small age-gap, one-night stand to lovers

Themes: Being true to yourself, trusting in others

Heat Rating: 3-4 flames

Length: 75 000 words

It is the second book in a series. 

It can be read as a standalone, but does work better if read after Broken.

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Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

Can he build a future, when he’s forgotten his past?

Blurb

Jared has fought hard to achieve something close to ‘normal’. Needing to get away from his well-meaning but suffocating family, he follows a message he wrote on a scrap of paper to a new city, hoping to find a missing piece of his past.

When Kyrone, a cocky pole dancer at the Heaven and Hell Club, saunters into the tattoo parlour Jared works in, his life is turned upside down again. A passionate one night stand turns into something unexpected for both men. But life is never simple as they work out if they can have a future beyond what has been forgotten. 

Forgotten is an MM romance with hurt/comfort, a small age gap, and two men who need to learn to be true to themselves. It is the second book in the Heaven and Hell Club series and, whilst it can be read as a standalone, works better if read after Broken.

Excerpt

“I tell you what,” Kyrone said. “I’ll jump into the shower and then nip to the corner shop to get us something more substantial and healthier for breakfast. You can take a shower while I’m gone. How does that sound?”

Jared glanced at the pile of their clothes on the floor. He didn’t much fancy putting on dirty, slept-in clothes straight after a shower.

“I need to put some laundry on,” Kyrone said. “So I’ll throw your clothes in too.”

“What am I meant to wear in the meantime?”

ARC Review: The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth

From the blurb:

Saoirse doesn’t believe in love at first sight or happy endings. If they were real, her mother would still be able to remember her name and not in a care home with early onset dementia. A condition that Saoirse may one day turn out to have inherited. So she’s not looking for a relationship. She doesn’t see the point in igniting any romantic sparks if she’s bound to burn out.

But after a chance encounter at an end-of-term house party, Saoirse is about to break her own rules. For a girl with one blue freckle, an irresistible sense of mischief, and a passion for rom-coms.

Unbothered by Saoirse’s no-relationships rulebook, Ruby proposes a loophole: They don’t need true love to have one summer of fun, complete with every cliché, rom-com montage-worthy date they can dream up—and a binding agreement to end their romance come fall. It would be the perfect plan, if they weren’t forgetting one thing about the Falling in Love Montage: when it’s over, the characters actually fall in love… for real.

Heather's rating:





The Falling in Love Montage is an angsty, wonderful, teen lesbian love story, and isn't that EXACTLY what we all need in our lives right now? I know I needed it.

The Falling in Love Montage is a stunning debut by Ciara Smyth. The lesbian YA scene is pretty barren, and though gay teen romance is becoming more and more mainstream, it was about time that the ladies got their time in the spotlight. Lesbian romance, FTW!

Truthfully, I don't read a lot of young adult or new adult books, and it took me a bit to get out of my "adult" headspace for this one. It came naturally to me to try to defend Saoirse's dad and think that Saoirse was a bit bratty, but then I really tried to envision everything from the position of a teenager in her shoes and it all became a lot easier. Also, be prepared for a lot of 4th wall breaking, which I don't often come across in my adult romances.

The best part of this book was the adorable love story. The meet-cute was squee-worthy, and each classic love montage scene made my heart happy. Plus, big time bonus points for a plus sized, body-confident love interest who was shown as desirable.

Audio Book Review: Consorts of the Red King by Eden Winters

From The Blurb:

In deepest space the ruthless Federation lays waste to one rebel colony after another, leaving comrades-in-arms Van Orskey and Tayn Kassik without family, without a home, and without hope. 

With nothing left but each other, they run contraband and smuggle fugitives from the safety of their ship, the Cormorant—with the occasional clandestine mission for the rival Coalition thrown in. Their heists have not gone unnoticed, though even the bounty on their heads doesn’t prevent them from being a thorn in the enemy’s side at every opportunity. 

Pissing them off? Big mistake. 

From the day of his birth Prince Jorvik of Akiak learned duty, wisdom, and honor from his father, leaving him ill-equipped to withstand betrayal by his Federation-puppet uncle. He has no love for the greedy off-worlders who plunder his world’s natural resources and enslave his people. To defeat his foe, he needs the cunning, fearlessness, and touch of treachery only outlaws can offer. 

Two off-world mercenaries make unlikely partners in Jorvik’s quest for vengeance, but the more he learns of them, the more common ground he discovers. In each other’s arms they find passion, heat, and maybe, a reason for living—until their common enemy threatens to tear them apart. 

To survive, they must take on the corrupt Federation. 

And win. 

Listening Length: 12 hours 42 minutes

Karen's rating:

I took so long getting to this one because...SciFi...

The fact that I even tried it...Eden Winters...Darcy Stark...

I'm a big fan of this author. Even before her 'Diversion' series I was devouring her books...from 'Almost Mine' to 'The Wish' I've enjoyed this author's stories and while I had initially decided that this would be the one that I just took a pass on when the opportunity presented itself to read the book...I caved and in some ways that was probably the right choice...this one's SciFi folks...sooooo much SciFi I just couldn't connect so I took a break and because sometimes Karma's not a b*tch...the book came out on audio and audio is my friend especially when the audio is being done by a narrator as talented as Darcy Stark.

So I grabbed me a copy of the audio book and then I spent a week staring at it whenever I decided to listen to an audio book because "Ohmygod!!! It's SciFi and what if I don't like it...and yes, I did angst a bit about this." before putting on my big girl panties and telling myself "If I don't like it, I don't like it. The world will not end." So here's what my audio adventure taught me...

apparently if it's a good story, it's a good story and while I struggled a bit when I tried to read this story, when I got it on audio with what I consider to be a rather talented narrator I found myself relaxing and focusing on the details and allowing my mind to visualize the world(s) that this author created and the life forms...yes, that's right this one goes beyond the light SciFi that I've listened to and enjoyed in the past and by light SciFi I'm talking humans, tech, maybe some genetic enhancement and/or manipulation and for me that's a level of SciFi that I'm comfortable with and often enjoy. It's not about good or bad it's about comfort level and that's mine but even I occasionally venture outside of my comfort levels, I find it to be a healthy thing to do and as it turned out this was a good time to do it.

Release Blitz: Tainted Tales - A Dark Folklore Anthology for Save the Children

Book Title: Tainted Tales (A Dark Folklore Anthology for Save the Children)

Authors: Claire Marta, Anna Edwards, Faith Ryan, Sara Dobie Bauer, 

Emma Jaye, T.S. McKinney, Abrianna Denae, Leigh Kenzie, Jessica Collins, L. Ann

Publisher: Self-Published

Cover Artist: TRC Designs

Release Date: March 26, 2020

Genre/s: Dark M/M and M/F Folklore (this includes dark romance and dark reads). 

Majority is dark PNR/Fantasy but there is dark contemporary

Trope/s: Forbidden love, captor/captivity, stalking, enemies to lovers, others

Heat Rating: Each story has its own flame rating.

Length: approx. 200 000 words/500 pages

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Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited

Universal Amazon Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

A Dark Folklore Anthology for Save the Children

Blurb

Some stories paint us sweet, told to children as they fall asleep.

Mother Earth she weaves the world with a whirl of her magic, and her kind embrace shapes us all. Father Time keeps us all, ever constant, ever moving onwards, for time never stands still.

Icy hands and a frozen touch, Jack Frost ushers in the cold snap, coating the earth with sparkly delights. If Jack brings cold, May Queen brings warmth, her delicate touch bringing forth the spring.

Follow the rainbow and maybe you’ll find, a Leprechaun with his lucky pot of gold.

The watchful eyes of Man in the Moon keeps all of the secrets of the night, shining down on us with his silvery light. The Sandman is here to soothe you to sleep, bringing all to slumber with a pinch of magic dust. Shhh, sleep now. Beware the Boogeyman lurking out of sight, waiting under your bed, to catch naughty children in the night. Be good little children, for Santa is watching, and he knows if you've been naughty or nice.

Tales of lore, fair music to our ears. Can you hear it? Did you know? Not every tale is sweet. The truth is darker, our stories more twisted, unlike the rhymes that children hear.



All proceeds will be donated to Save the Children.

This is a mixed M/F and M/M anthology that contains trigger warnings for its dark content.

It is intended for a mature audience of 18+.

 

 

Giveaway 

ARC Review : Without A Trace (Lancaster Falls Trilogy #2) by RJ Scott

Blurb :

When long-buried secrets are exposed, and the search for truth becomes a race to save a life, how can two men ever hope to find real love?

Losing his brother has shaped Drew to become the man he is today—heartbroken, alone, but determined to make a difference in the world. Joining the military, fighting battles in places that he’s never even heard of, is his attempt to make amends for telling his brother to go to hell. After his brother disappeared, he’d clung to the hope Casey was out there living his life. Of course, he’d be furious at Drew, and probably hate his brother, but at least in Drew’s head, Casey was safe.

One call changes everything. Casey’s body has been found, and the hope that had fueled Drew’s constant search for the truth is destroyed. Coming home to Lancaster Falls to bury his brother and face his mom’s anguish and accusations, is a nightmare made real, and he has nowhere to run from the pain.

Logan has made a home in Lancaster Falls. As a police officer, he plays by the rules, and he would never think of working off-the-grid. All that changes when an anonymous tip crosses his desk, and he is thrust headlong into solving a hundred-year mystery that could be connected with the modern day death of Casey McGuire. Fighting an attraction to Casey’s brother is hard enough, but the infuriating man is there at Logan’s every turn, interfering with the case, breaking the rules, and demanding that Casey’s story be heard.

Christelle's rating:

I closed that book with a happy sight and looking forward to the third part. Yes, this is a MM Romance trilogy with a different couple each time but with an on-going mystery plot. So, no-standalone here.

The action takes place in Lancaster Falls, a small town with, of course, long time families, histories of childhood friendships, the usual expected gossips of a small community. One particular event impacted Lancaster Falls : the sudden disappearance of Casey, a young man, several years ago.

In Book 1, this mystery resurfaced when Sawyer, one of the town cops, had to deal with the discovery of skeletons and it was established that one of them was Casey's.

While the investigation is still going on, in book2, Drew, Casey’s brother, comes back to Lancaster Falls to deal with the loss of his brother and face the consequences of the aftermath of Casey’s disappearance. He needs answers and closure. He deeps down into learning the truth with the overlooking and sometimes the help of Logan, another one of the town cops.

Review Tour: Without A Trace (Lancaster Falls #2) by RJ Scott

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link  

(KU from March 21 2020)

Length: 85,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Lancaster Falls Series

What Lies Beneath - Amazon US | Amazon UK |Universal Link

Blurb

When long-buried secrets are exposed, and the search for truth becomes a race to save a life, how can two men ever hope to find real love?

Losing his brother has shaped Drew to become the man he is today—heartbroken, alone, but determined to make a difference in the world. Joining the military, fighting battles in places that he’s never even heard of, is his attempt to make amends for telling his brother to go to hell. After his brother disappeared, he’d clung to the hope Casey was out there living his life. Of course, he’d be furious at Drew, and probably hate his brother, but at least in Drew’s head, Casey was safe.

One call changes everything. Casey’s body has been found, and the hope that had fueled Drew’s constant search for the truth is destroyed. Coming home to Lancaster Falls to bury his brother and face his mom’s anguish and accusations, is a nightmare made real, and he has nowhere to run from the pain.

Logan has made a home in Lancaster Falls. As a police officer, he plays by the rules, and he would never think of working off-the-grid. All that changes when an anonymous tip crosses his desk, and he is thrust headlong into solving a hundred-year mystery that could be connected with the modern day death of Casey McGuire. Fighting an attraction to Casey’s brother is hard enough, but the infuriating man is there at Logan’s every turn, interfering with the case, breaking the rules, and demanding that Casey’s story be heard.

Karen's review:

If you haven’t read “What Lies Beneath” than you need to stop right here…got get that book and start reading because this is one of those series…you know the type…where each book connects to the next one and chances are very, very good that if you haven’t followed things from the beginning you’re going to get lost and rumor has it that the woods around Lancaster Falls are not a safe place to get lost in.

In the first book we get to meet many of the characters that will continue throughout this series as well as the beginnings of a decade old mystery…What happened to Casey McGuire after he left Lancaster Falls? 

For years Casey’s brother Drew (Andrew) chose to believe that Casey was out there somewhere living his life and hopefully being happy or at least he believed that until Casey’s remains were found along with a something more and now ready or not Drew finds himself returning home in search of answers to questions he never wanted to ask…questions like who killed his brother and why?

Logan’s only been in Lancaster Falls for a couple of years. After an injury earned him an early discharge from what was supposed to be a lifetime military career.

Once again the reader is presented with a story that has 2 main story lines the first one being the continuation of the mystery surrounding Casey’s disappearance and the ongoing graffiti that keeps turning up around town and the second one is the relationship that’s developing between Casey and Drew.

There’s a lot of tension as well as antagonism between Drew and Logan, that to say the least makes a relationship seem very unlikely. Drew’s only in town to find out what happened to his brother and help his mom give Casey a proper burial and then he’s out of there or at least that’s how things start for him. While Logan’s determined not to get involved with him because he’s a by the books cop, Drew’s leaving soon and he knows it and he’s the victim’s brother so it just wouldn’t be right, right?

Initially I wasn’t 100% on board with this pairing because I just couldn’t quite see it, but as the antagonism slowly went from antagonism to some rather interesting flirting and both men began to display small gestures that showed their feelings were changing, I began to like this match and for what seems to be some apparent differences these men also share some definite commonalities as well.