Review: Twin Flames by Lexi Ander

A Lycan descendant of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, Tristan is not as extraordinary as his ancestors. He is an average warrior, unremarkable throughout. But this fact does not trouble him because he has found his Twin Flame, the one person destined to be his, who will love him unconditionally, life after life.

Then his Flame betrays him, leaving him shattered and dying. Brokenhearted, Tristan dissolves the sacred bond and leaves. His best friend, Ushna, accompanies him, vowing to guard and protect him, and Tristan slowly comes to realize that love does not require a sacred bond.

But if he hopes to keep the love he chooses, they will first have to survive ancient secrets, lies, mythical creatures, and the return of absent gods…

WARNING:  Vague(ish) Review forthcoming

This author is new to me. Before I get going let me say, for the record, that I'm interested in continuing with this series. Ms. Ander weaves an engaging tale filled with Lycans, mythical creatures, historical references and a heaping spoonful of an UST fueled romance. With cowboys. 

Cowboys don't make me all squirmy like others but Tristan slutted up his cowboy gear enough to tempt even me. He moved some hay. Shirtless and sweaty.

Both Tristan and Ushna are Lycans who relocated to Oklahoma after Tristan broke his twin flame bond with lying, cheating, sonofabitching Theo. In case you were wondering, this is a big deal. Twin flames last for eternity. To sever the tie means both could potentially spend eternity alone, never to find their soulmate again. Many thought this decision capricious on Tristan's part, thought he should stick it out and let the flame "correct" the lying, cheating, sonofabitching rampant in their relationship. Ushna wasn't one of those people. He and Tristan have been friends since childhood. Which means… 

Friends to lovers trope!!!

With UST so thick I was this close to pulling out the ole Ginzu knife.

He hadn't mauled me-not yet-but I could feel the need in him. It promised to be explosive if he let go. I was extremely hopeful. Wall sex. Kitchen sex. Wall sex. Shower sex. Wall sex. Couch sex. Horizontal, vertical; I'd take it however I could get it.

Tristan teased Ushna with his skinny jeans, too tight tees, sauntering, shirtlessness and "accidental" touches. It was fantastic. Easily my favorite part. Then he nailed his boy. 

Sadly, not on a wall. Buuuuut there were definitely some odd happenings during the consummation. Still hot, but my head was tilting.

Then things went sideways. I realize this is a series, but the last chapter/chapter and a half were packed with information, loose ends and what I felt were some highly unlikely reactions to incredible and life changing events. I was overwhelmed and blinking in surprise and bewilderment. Not to mention knee deep in creek Uh, really? *side eye* The other hitch in my giddyup has to do with the beginning events surrounding the murders of the neighbors and the Lycan who Tristan and Ushna tracked to Seattle. Maybe I'm making too much of it, but it felt unresolved. Then again, it could be covered in the rest of the series. Guess I'll just have to read on to find out.

Recommend to those who enjoy shifters, friends to lovers and fantasy readers.

A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more on Goodreads.

GET A LOAD OF THIS! Dirty Rings Guerilla Post by Rhys Ford and Greg Tremblay

Holy shit guys!  Look at what Rhys Ford and Greg Tremblay are giving away!  TO EVERYONE!!!!

So a funny thing happened on the way to a tweet, Greg Tremblay, the fantastic narrator of my Dirty series, texted me and said… hey, you should giveaway a custom ringtone. Or something to that effect. There was some discussion. A few emails and then well, long story short—there may have been some pixilated shots of whiskey and banter but a plan was formed. A plan so cunning I could have stuck a tail on it and called it a weasel.

Mostly, it involved Greg. And your phone. But it was still a plan!

After a furious, intense process of queries, eliminations, debating on who said what, we came up with a set of phrases from Cole, Bobby, Jae, Claudia, Scarlet and one from Maddy then Greg went to work. And returned to me with a brilliant sound bites forged by a narrative master—in the style of the characters’ voices.

So dear reader, as a thank you for everything you’ve done for Greg and me, I’d like to present the entire set of ringtones—twenty one in total—FREE, as a gift to you.

Available in Android (MP3) and iPhone (formats for Android and Apple phones, Greg has also graciously included the WAV files if that’s your thing. Download links to the zipped files are provided below.*

A great humongous thank you to all of the blogs who helped me with this guerilla gifting. This swirled up on Tuesday and Greg just MADE it happen. He is the voice of the series and I am forever grateful for his talent.

Love you all, and really, Thank You.

Rhys Ford

Dirty Rings Android MP3

Dirty Rings Apple M4a

Dirty Rings Apple M4r

Dirty Rings Wav

If you’ve not tried out Greg Tremblay’s narrations, please do so. He makes audiobooks fun and damn, he brings Cole and the others to life.

Greg Tremblay’s body of work can be found here—and yes, the Dirty series is there but so are many other lovely audio books. I highly recommend one of Greg’s audiobooks, a comfy chair, a pair of headphones and a nice hot cup of coffee… or tea… with or without whisky.

* These are copyrighted and available free for individual use. The files included in the zip cannot be sold by third parties nor can they be altered in anyway as to destroy the integrity of the original work. Animals were test subjects for these sound files and while the cat could not have given less of a shit, the dog seemed mighty interested. Please note, neither own nor use a phone or a computer so results may vary.

In case the full links are needed:

Dirty Rings Android MP3

https://www.hightail.com/download/UlRUbUpkdENoMlZDaDhUQw

Dirty Rings Apple M4a

https://www.hightail.com/download/UlRUbUpkdENoMlZjR01UQw

Dirty Rings Apple M4r

https://www.hightail.com/download/UlRUbUpkdENvQnU5TE5Vag

Dirty Rings Wav

https://www.hightail.com/download/UlRUbUpkdENvQnNsYzhUQw

Greg Tremblay at Audible

Guest Review: Nights Like These by Chris Scully

Starting over sucks. At forty, Miles Koprowski thought he had life all figured out. He had a nice car, a hot young lover, and a cushy job… and then he didn’t. Call it fate, or karma, or a downturn in the market, but this opinionated cynic is now forced to play rent-a-cop in a dying office building in the burbs just to make ends meet. Throw in an unhinged ex, a coworker who hates him, and a hot new boss, and suddenly everything is uncertain.

Miles doesn’t plan on liking the night shift or becoming embroiled in a mystery that reawakens old passions and puts him in danger. And he certainly doesn’t plan on falling for the overbearing head of security, Colton Decker, former soldier and doting dad. But nights like these can change a man, make him start to believe there’s more to life than a high-paying job and a warm body in his bed. With a thief on the loose and his new job in jeopardy, Miles will have to decide what’s truly important. He might discover things he never knew he wanted… as long as he makes it through the night.

Reviewed by Vivian

Displaced, mature man coming to grips with a newer, less affluent reality. After giving up pride and the sweet, young tail he'd been keeping, Miles lands a corporate security job which turns out to be way more exciting than he ever would have imagined. 

There's murder, repeated thefts and a slew of suspects--including the smoking hot Mr. Perfect he collided with recently. 

The mystery portion was well done since the blame kept getting shifted along through various characters and did a good job making you doubt and wonder. This is more of a cozy mystery in that Miles stumbles into something and recognizes things no one else does. Cue the art geeking, yep, there's babbling about Canadian artists and works, which even if you don't go for art is smooth enough to glide over. 

The characters were likable, but not perfect. Colton and Miles both have enough background and baggage to be a bit dented in spots. There were a few character shifts that didn't seem to jive with previous actions, almost like Colton and Miles switched places. The secondary characters were amiable and the suspects were more questionable than dislikable.

The romance is hot and steamy when they get the chance. Kinda wish they'd gotten the chance to go full in, but the opening acts were satisfying. The story is a satisfying mystery with a romance featuring a more mature couple. 

The ending: Big aaahhhh...

Overall, an amateur sleuth finds himself and love after he thinks he's given up.

Favorite passage: “Uh, in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not really a relaxed kind of guy.”That made him smile. “Youarea bit tightly wound.”

For more information on Goodreads or Booklikes!

*Please note the book is being released January 26, 2015

Review: Saving Michael (Surf Bay #3) by Ashley John

The Deputy Sheriff of Surf Bay has hit rock bottom. After pushing his boyfriend away with his drunken, violent behavior, Michael doesn’t have any reason to live anymore. Sleeping in his car and on his father’s couch, Michael is spiraling further and further into a dark pit as he drinks himself to death. 

The local vet, Caleb, is young, attractive and full of life. His passion is saving the animals that pass through his surgery, but when the very place he loves is engulfed in flames, it’s up to the local, drunk police officer to save him from the fire. After being saved, Caleb invites Michael to his mother’s annual Christmas party to make his ex, Ace, jealous, but as Michael and Caleb get closer, Caleb knows there’s more to the dark void of sadness that fills Michael, than first meets the eye. 

He makes it his mission to save Michael, but is Michael beyond saving? Michael witnessed something horrific as a child that changed the course of his life forever, but will he be able to bring justice to the memories of his past so he can have a future?

*This is a stand-alone story, but certain characters and plots have been carried over from the first book in the series, Lost & Found. This is an novel of approx. 83,000 and contains sex depicting sex between two men*

I've been dithering over how to rate this story - do I give it 3.75 stars, or 4? As you can see, I settled on 4. After reading the first two books in this series, I was really eager to find out more about Michael. After book two especially he was an easy character to hate - we saw him at his worst, and his worst was being violent towards the MC of that book, Porter. Of course I wanted Porter to have an HEA and Michael was not part of that, but I had a feeling there was more to him than what met the eye and Ashley John proved me right.

What I like about Ashley John's characters is they are not two dimensional. Michael is a perfect case in point. He had more depths than just drunken-bully. It just took a while and Caleb to show us...although, did it? Because, despite his thought process, Michael was the one who went into a burning building to save Caleb. He could have walked away - I liked this. I liked that the author showed us Michael's integrity, however deeply drowned in alcohol it was, before Caleb was in the picture. It showed that it was truly the Michael Caleb saw that we were seeing, not just a character conveniently changed to make a story fit.

Talking of Caleb - oh was he a sweetie! Boy oh boy did I like him. So nice - yet he wasn't perfect...I saw what he did to Ace! Again, even with this character that could potentially be 'perfect' Ashley John managed to round him out, make him more real.

It took a bit of thinking on how to rate this book because sometimes it did seem a tad convenient...but after I thought about it, I realised that fits the Surf Bay series just right. It is a feel good read - despite some angstier moments - because it is inherently about love and relationships. And yes sometimes it's a little bit rose-tinted glasses, but that's the kind of story it is. Enough drama to keep you interested but with characters and relationships that warm the heart. Don't read them expecting a gritty true-life scenario, heartache and angst. That's not what these books are about. And I have to say, I love how Ashley John portrays love; perfectly imperfect.

At times I felt a bit more research wouldn't have gone astray, and there were some English to American-isms that got missed (icing instead of frosting for example) but nothing that dragged me from the story. An extra edit might have caught some of these things but, like I say, none of it was detrimental my enjoyment of the book.

I have to say, this is an author I hugely admire for his hard work and attitude. He is young, but he had a dream and decided to follow it.  He doesn't expect it all to just happen, he works really hard to make it a reality. Reading back that sentence it sounds like I know him - but I don't. I reviewed a book of his and gave it ...well, it wasn't the most favourable review ever. Instead of getting upset though, he thanked me and took on board the points and asked me to review (here) his next book, knowing full well that I had not previously connected with his work.  Way to go Ashley! With that attitude you will go a long way - in my humble opinion!

A copy of this book was provided in return for an honest review.

Review: I, Omega by (Kari) The Gregg

After one mind-shattering night with a stranger at a local leather bar leaves him forever changed, Gabriel lives on the streets as a vagrant to elude the master who hunts him, but the were-shifter is a fierce, stubborn predator who reclaims him soon enough. Gabriel is carried away to the pack’s home territory where his instruction on what it means to be the pet of an alpha begins. Gabriel isn’t just any pet, though. He is the rarest among their kind: a human omega.

Treasured? Or cursed?

As Gabriel’s father, the Distinguished Gentleman from Pennsylvania and stalwart of the conservative party, pushes the considerable resources at his disposal to locate his missing son, Gabriel explores who and what he is under his master’s careful protection. Gabriel falls for the shifter who is lover and destroyer, owner and...friend?

Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: BDSM theme and elements, dubious consent, male/male sexual practices.

January Author of the Month… 

The Gregg

It happened again. I'm not sure how she does it, but The Gregg did it again. She's little by little making me her dirty little bitch.

I picked this up and the next thing I knew I was done. I was sucked into the KNOTTING/shifter/fuckhot/slaveboy/collars void. Ok, ok, I went willingly. Who am I kidding?

TWO WORDS:  SO. HOT.

A couple times. Tis true. Cal and Gabriel are that hot. 

"Mine to feed, mine to fuck. Mine to play with, punish, and protect. Say it."

"You're my pet, my pretty baby. Mine to care for. Mine to keep."

"I am your world."

"And nothing works for me without you in it. Never forget that, Gabriel." 

Gabriel and Cal… hit so many buttons I felt like the Easy Button. On a good day. 

Gabriel's a sub and Cal's "beast" recognizes and claims his boy immediately. Gabriel's spooked by the KNOTTING and takes to living on the streets. But the beast is country strong and persistent.

The more KNOTTING, claiming, marking happens the more docile Gabriel becomes. Well, sort of. Gabriel likes a good spanking and loves to be mastered so he's got to act up every once in a while, right? Sadly, chastity was only threatened but there was some delightful edging/orgasm denial and tons of biting. 

It's the caring and grooming and tender moments between the two of them that got me, though. How possessive Cal is of him. How Gabriel's most comfortable at Cal's feet. Naked excepting his collar.

Cal's protectiveness isn't entirely based on his alphadom and Gabriel being his mate. It seems Gabriel, due to his omega tendencies, is highly sought after by other packs as well as his father who's a highly ranked member of Senate. The omega to a pack leader, once they've bonded, streamlines pack dynamics, making it function optimally and apparently omegas are hard to come by. Hence, all the double secret protection around Cal's compound.

I am your omega, your mate. Shaking with nerves and lust, Gabriel smiled. I am not afraid of what we are.

What they are is HHHHOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTT!!!!! Dance off hot.

This book went directly to my favorites shelf. It did not pass "Go". It did not collect $200. Helluva way to kick off 2015. 

Do NOT let the dub-con tag scare you. It's hardly even worth mentioning. Gabriel needs so prettily and Cal meets all those needs. IN spades. The Gregg might've just earned the title Empress of Smut Mountain.  

Recommend to those who like hotness and marking and collars.

Find out more on Goodreads.

Review: Double Header: My Life with Two Penises by Diphallic Dude

He was featured on the front pages of RollingStone.com, Jezebel.com and was covered by The Huffington Post. Both Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno featured him in their opening monologues. Countless news agencies around the world broke the story when he went on Reddit and did an Ask Me Anything (AMA). Ranking as the 4th most popular Reddit AMA of all time (beating out the likes of Peter Dinklage, Bill Murray, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harrison Ford), DoubleDickDude spent 48 hours discussing his life with a genetic condition known as diphallia. Only 1 in 5.5 million males worldwide are born with two penises. However very few (if any) are born with two working, and by all accounts, attractive penises. After having managed to stay under the radar for over 20 years DoubleDickDude (or DDD for short) amassed thousands of followers on Twitter and Tumblr in a matter of hours. In fact Twitter (temporarily) suspended his account for replying to his followers too many times!

For the past year he has taken to writing a more lengthy and detailed account of his life so far. Very little could be detailed during a frenzy of questions from thousands on Reddit. DDD goes from discussing his childhood, and explains how he knew he was special at an early age. His parents support grounded him in his early youth. We find out how he lost his virginity and was exposed to his peers. From there he discusses his wild streak of sexual adventures fresh out of high school. Recapping his favorite questions and answers, discussing sexuality and acceptance DDD covers the gamut.

Don't worry, all the saucy and steamy stories he hinted at in his AMA are covered and then some. Like that 7-way orgy he briefly detailed amid the torrent of questions during his AMA. Not to mention the hunky straight gym jock who "went gay" and the poor girl who... shall we say, her lady place was a wreck after one time with DDD. It's all in there and more!

Written from first person perspective the narrative is raw, honest and often times gritty. Details are not spared and readers beware, naughty moments are revealed! The next time you see a man on the street with more than an adequate bulge in his jeans, it might just be DDD. 

I like many, many others discovered Double Dick Dude (DDD) about this time last year through his Reddit AMA. I wouldn’t go so far to say I became obsessed with him, more like fascinated. Let’s call a spade a spade, you put two cocks in the same room, you’ve got my attention. Two cocks on the same dude and… C’mon man, there’s only so much restraint I can muster up. Just look at them! Since the surgery a staggering 10" each.

DO STRAIGHT GUYS LIKE YOUR COCKS AS MUCH AS YOU CLAIM?

Yep, at least the ones who’ve seen them in person. My cocks are like a unicorn or… in my case a magical ram.

Alas, the Reddit AMA exploded into something akin to one of those giant man of war jellyfish with the tangle-y tentacles and I was forced to admit defeat.

I have a day job and a semblance of a life. I can’t be reading about DDD’s sexcapades all the day long! Then I found out about this book! I thought, ‘oh, I can catch up on all the sexcapades!’ Well… turns out a lot of this is on Reddit, so if you kept up with DDD on Reddit or Tumblr this is really going to bore you to tears.

He expounded upon his gym experience with the straight dude who “spotted” him which was probably my favorite part. It's bukkake porn gold because DDD comes by the bucketload.

DDD likes dudes that are straight or who claim to be, so I’m thinking a DDD St82gay series. Put him in an RV with a big ole mattress in the back covered in plastic, of course, and let’s GET 'ER DONE! Course that would leave out the ladies… 

How can we forget about that time he pounded that girl in the Princess Leia bikini so hard that her cervix followed his cocks out and landed on the couch? That just doesn't happen every day. Well, it did for them for about three months or so. What about the orgy where he fucked 6 other people. 6!!! 

I pull them both out and wag them at her, she gets wide-eyed. I stuff them in her pussy and she orgasms instantly. She then tells me to stop and to take off the strap on and just fuck her with my dick. I tell her it's not a strap on and she refuses to believe me until she grabs them both and suddenly doesn't want to have sex anymore.

"We should stop before you come or something."

"I already did, three times."

She looks shocked, reaches down and feels my loads oozing out of both her holes.

 "I'm so going to hell for this." She put on her clothes and left.

THREE TIMES?!?!?!

Yes, whichever one I start with, after I come I can use the other immediately and keep going. Then switch back and keep going. I can go a few hours, having orgasms roughly every five to 10 minutes.

All this time I thought the penis sorcery in these romance books was a bunch of hooey. Turns out, DDD's got them all beat and he's a real dude!

Those three sexcapades largely encompass the book although there are snippets of humdingers peppered throughout.

A few hours passed and I finished emptying my prostate into him. The mattress was soaked, his ass wide open and gaping. I tugged them out and went to the bathroom. A moment later he walks in as I'm taking a piss, looks down and sees them again and then looks up at me and full out faints right there in a pile of laundry.

DDD doesn't always trouble himself with informing his sex partners of his condition prior to the banging. Details. He haz needs.

That include a fuckload of fisting. This I missed. I had no idea the lengths he went to to empty his prostrate which reportedly has to happen regularly otherwise it swells to grapefruit size and causes his ass to start yawning open. He's now taken to relieving it with a 2 liter soda bottle when without a willing partner or 5.

That he doesn't need lube for. I… I… really, I have no witty comeback for that. Tip of the hat, DDD.

I'm in fantastic shape, I work out weekly and at a glance I'd be considered the all American guy. I've got two dicks, a set of big stretched nuts and a huge asshole, big deal. I'm not bending over and showing it to old ladies outside the beauty parlor.

There is that.

As for the writing, it's not good. It's very rudimentary which is a shame because this, in the right hands, could've been great. I don't know who edited this thing but they need to find success in another field. Clearly, editing is not his/her forte. 

Lastly, I've heard/seen mention of DDD exaggerating or embellishing events and without sounding like a complete thundercunt here, I have serious reservations regarding DDD's ability to pull off a web of lies this extensive. 

Exhibit A:  DDD tried to have a foursome with a hooker and two of his buddies and told the hooker there were five cocks in the room. 

Exhibit B:  He had a buddy in high school who specifically asked him not to discuss their relationship in the book or elsewhere. He admits that he was his first male lover. Now, everyone who went to high school with them (minimum) knows they did the deed. Yes, everyone knew about his two cocks after he lost his virginity to Chatty Fucking Cathy. 

I rest my case.

Don't get me wrong. He seems to be a nice guy, believes in karma, is a proponent of positive body image and loathes labels, all things I can respect. Just… everyone can't be Stephen Hawking, y'know? And that's ok. Think how boring the world would be.

I have to say the amount they're charging for this equates to highway robbery, but I was entertained. I just wish it had been developed better minus all the regurgitation from Reddit and Tumblr. Verbatim no less.

Recommend to those with disposable income and/or fisting enthusiasts. 

Find out more on Goodreads.

Blog Tour and Give-Away: Investigating Love Tour by LM Somerton. Promotor: Pride Promotions.

Book Name: Investigating Love (series)

Individual titles are: Rasputin’s Kiss, Evil’s Embrace, Tarot’s Touch

Author Name: L M Somerton
Author Bio: L M 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 not so subtle) leanings towards BDSM.

Where to find the author:
https://www.facebook.com/lmsomerton
https://www.facebook.com/lmsomertonwrites
http://www.twitter.com@lmsomerton
http://pinterest.com/lmsomerton

Publisher: Totally Bound
Cover Artist: Emmy Ellis

Blurb(s):
SERIES:
Being thrown together in extreme circumstances is not the best foundation for a relationship. Alex and Conor must juggle the demands of their jobs as police detectives with their personal lives. With Alex as demanding in the bedroom as he is at work, will Conor be able to accept that submission is not weakness. Finding out will be the most important investigation of their lives.


Rasputin’s Kiss:
What if the last thing you felt was the kiss of a knife?
Rasputin’s kiss is lethal. He’s a ghost—killing and disappearing into the night. With few leads and four bodies on his conscience, Detective Inspector Alex Courtney and his team are running on empty and it’s only a matter of time before Rasputin strikes again.
When Alex recruits a young detective to play the part of his boyfriend and provide a tempting target for a killer, he knows he is taking a huge risk. He doesn’t expect Conor Trethuan to be a perfect potential submissive. When their mutual attraction becomes more, Alex has to face the conflict between his possessive instincts and the need to push his young lover into danger.
Investigating their feelings has to come second to investigating the case. There’s no time to decide if what they feel for each other is real. With Rasputin closing in, they may not live to find out.

Evil’s Embrace:
Never underestimate the power of obsession.
After the trauma of the Rasputin case, Detective Inspector Alex Courtney and his boyfriend, Detective Constable Conor Trethuan, are in desperate need of a holiday.
The peace and tranquillity of Cornwall can’t eradicate Conor’s nightmares, though, and the unbearable prospect of losing Alex drives him to confess feelings that he isn’t sure are reciprocated. Alex responds in the best way he knows how—by issuing orders and claiming Conor’s body as well as his heart.
Prematurely recalled to work, they are thrown into a dangerous trafficking case focused on a leather bar with a hardcore reputation, Spikes. Conor is sent in undercover, not knowing that he is only a decoy. When Alex learns that the motivation behind his team’s involvement in the case might not be as straightforward as it seems, he realises that his actions might jeopardise not just their relationship, but Conor’s life, too. A shadowy figure from Conor’s past is about to step into the light.

Tarot’s Touch:
Can truth be found in the cards?
DI Alex Courtney and his lover, DC Conor Trethuan are under enormous pressure as their team investigates an arson case and a murder.
It soon becomes apparent that the two cases are linked and the race is on to find a vicious killer. A tarot card is left with the first victim and the detectives are left to interpret the clues it provides. When Conor receives a note from the killer making reference to another card, the whole team is shaken. Their worst fears are realised when a second body is discovered, along with another tarot card.
Conor suspects he has been followed, then a hit and run leaves him injured. Alex wants nothing more than to wrap his lover up in cotton wool and protect him from the world. But is Conor the killer’s target or just a pawn in a much more sinister game? As the clues come together it seems that the motive for murder might be revenge.

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance, BDSM, Mystery, Crime Drama

Excerpt: From Evil’s Embrace:

6. 

Alex emerged from his reverie, realising that the air was cooling and the sun was about to disappear. He opened his eyes and found himself nose to beak with an enormous seagull.
“Oh God! I haven’t got any sandwiches for you today, Alfred. Go away.”
The friendly bird showed up with remarkable regularity, though Alex realised it was probably just waiting for the fishermen to arrive so that it could take advantage of pieces of discarded bait. Conor had insisted on naming it after Alfred Hitchcock in dedication to the filmThe Birds. Alfred looked completely unperturbed by the lack of food, waddled a couple of steps to the side then turned so that his feathered butt was right in Alex’s face. “Jesus. All right, all right. I can take a hint. I suppose we’re right in your favourite spot or something?”
“Alex. You know Alfred’s a bird, right? Why are you having a conversation with him? It’s awfully one-sided.”
“I… Oh for pity’s sake. You and he are in cahoots. It’s all a plot to get me up, isn’t it?” Alex stood up and stretched languorously, prodding Conor with a toe. “Hey, dreamer—Alfred has a point, you know, we should get back to the cottage or we’ll be tackling the cliff path in pitch blackness.”
“But it’s so warm! I don’t want to move.” Conor made no attempt to get up. Alex squatted next to him. “Well, let’s see. Either you can do as you’re told or later I’ll tie you down and fuck you with your cock in a cage. You won’t get to come all night.” He trailed a finger across Conor’s bare chest and tweaked a nipple.
Conor opened one eye. “I don’t believe you filled your bag with chastity devices. That’s a hollow threat.”
“Well, it’s up to you if you want to call my bluff, my love.” Alex smiled sweetly, knowing full well that he had packed a device that was rather dramatically named The Steel Heart. He really hoped Conor kept pushing because he couldn’t wait to try it out.
“Five more minutes.” Conor closed his eyes again.
Alex looked around. Other than Alfred, who was definitely laughing at him, there was nobody else anywhere close to them—certainly not close enough to be able to work out what he was doing. He slipped his hand into Conor’s wetsuit and grasped Conor’s cock firmly. “Five more minutes should be long enough.” He slid Conor’s wetsuit zip down, further exposing him to the sea breeze.
Conor jerked in his hand and yelped, “Alex! What the hell are you doing?”
“I think that’s pretty obvious, don’t you?” He jacked Conor roughly. “You decided to test me and this is the result. Your evening is now decided, but in the meantime I thought I’d give you one last opportunity to come. Don’t worry, nobody’s watching.”
Conor moaned, fully alert and looking highly indignant. “Well, that’s not quite true. Alfred is getting an eye full. The RSPB will probably have us arrested for causing psychological damage to a bird. Alex, you realise you have grains of sand on your hand, don’t you?”
“Mm. I guess that’s turning you on, ’cause you’re hard as a rock.”
Conor writhed in Alex’s grip, making Alex grin. He loved being able to control Conor with a touch. “That’s it, baby, come for me. Come for your master.”
“Master?” Conor’s questioning exclamation was accompanied by a barely restrained shout as he came with a gush into Alex’s hand.
“Well, that’s what you’ll be calling me tonight when you’re in bondage and begging for release.”
Conor’s eyes widened as he panted, “You really did pack something, didn’t you?”

Alex just nodded and smiled.

Tour Dates/Stops:
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The Hat Party
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January 5
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Carly's Book Reviews
Boy Meets Boy Review

January 6
Cathy Brockman Romances
Full Moon Dreaming

January 7
MM Good Book Reviews
Fallen Angel Reviews

January 8
Three Chicks After Dark
Molly Lolly

January 9
Cate Ashwood
Love Bytes

January 12
Parker Williams
Prism Book Alliance

January 13
Velvet Panic
Rebecca Cohen Writes

January 14
Amanda C. Stone
Queer Town Abbey

January 15
Crystal's Many Reviewers

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Review: Nine One One by Scarlet Blackwell

Damon can’t forget 9/11 and all the precious things he lost…

It’s ten years after the horror of 9/11. Former NYPD cop Damon Summerfield was there. He lost his firefighter partner, Justin, in the collapse of the twin towers and fled to Canada to attempt to rebuild his shattered life. Now he is back in New York for Christmas with his family for the first time since his loss.

Still deep in mourning with no end in sight, he visits Justin's favourite bar near ground zero and there meets Simon, a firefighter with the FDNY and fellow survivor of 9/11. Simon is smitten by him from the start, and despite feeling the same way, Damon can't bear to give them a chance, not when he thinks Simon's job will tear them apart someday too…

Publisher's Note: This book was previously released by another publisher. It has been revised and re-edited for release with Totally Bound Publishing.

9/11

Horrifying. Tragic. Devastating.

I won't rehash the events of that day. But it's an open wound on America.

Thirteen years and a few months later and I can still remember that day. Remember the following weeks, watching the despair from real life victims' family members and those on television. I can't even watch a movie about that day to this day. And I kind of psyched myself on reading this story to see if I could do it. I tried reading another romance that featured 9/11 events, a few years ago and couldn't do it.

Now years later and I tried a different romance by an author I'm familiar with...and I finished. I zoned out while reading a few flashbacks, couldn't help comparing to what I remember from that day. (I wasn't at Ground Zero, let's say 50 blocks away or so) My reaction to this story might be a little skewed compared to another reader. Can't believe I'm sharing so I'll leave it at that, please. :)

I found the story was typical Scarlet Blackwell - angst, heaving alpha men, a mishmash of a British America (seriously, Totally Bound - an American editor can help edit these Britishisms out of a book that is supposed to be based in America), a conflict that seems to be not easily resolved but a bridge is built by the end to seek an answer and a fitting ending. I don't think it was her best work. Good enough for what she set out to accomplish: a man grieving for his dead lover finds possible love in NYC ten years later at Ground Zero during the holidays.

Damon is ex-NYPD, living now in Montreal, away from the agony of losing his love, Justin that summer day on 9/11. Justin was a firefighter who died trying to save lives. Damon has been celibate for ten years, still a mess, refusing counseling and not dealing with his ghosts. On Christmas Eve, he meets another firefighter, Simon in a bar. And though he tries to avoid the man, fate keeps putting these two together.

Now I understand what the author was going here but I had to suspend my reality because I doubt these two would actually keep meeting each other so easily. Maybe it was the magic of Jizzmas that brought them together? And semen sorcery for those men being able to come so much. Maybe it could be said for a certain someone's ten year drought but I used my reality-suspension rubber band to believe that bit.

Damon's internal struggles with finding another man attractive was...good enough too. I like reading about love being found after loss, so it had the right ingredients - inner turmoil, self loathing, grief, guilt. Did I buy the entire story? *side eyes* Yeah, I guess it's alright.

The guys got together fairly quickly. A week actually, so you get some New Year's Eve action too. There was hot sex, rimming action, all night banging by muscular, tall guys who almost sounded American but not quite. Little phrases or actions didn't read New Yorker or American which again, an editor familiar with the country the book is based in would go a long way.

Overall, a sad and hot number. The author did research the events and included Ground Zero info. And she wrote romance and made something happy from that...wound.

Pretty decent read. I enjoyed the key elements of the romance. A little over dramatic at a few parts which this author is known for. Compared to some over the top antics I've read from her in the past, the antics in this book were muted. I enjoyed the ending the most. It ended with a beginning, a promise of more. I do hope those two find love from what feels like a hopeless place and maintain it. I'd say it's a tentative HEA with room for more.

Maybe I'll try to give that other romance a chance in the near future.

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