Blog Tour & Giveaway: Redemption (Diversion #5) by Eden Winters

Anyone else love Bo as much as me? Well, too bad! He's mine. *grabby hands* Book 5 from Eden Winters' Diversion series is almost here! In the meantime, we have a cover reveal, an excerpt, and an ebook copy to giveaway.

Cover & Blurb:

Living is the easy part.

Agent Lucky Lucklighter and his partner escaped Mexico alive, only to plunge into bureaucratic fallout from their mission. Hell, maybe Lucky should have stayed south of the border. Especially when the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau places Bo into rehab, and Lucky’s facing both therapy and an inquiry into a fatal shooting. Watching over his shoulder for a vengeful drug lord or a cartel don calling in favors leaves him scarcely able to imagine a future for them as agents, or as a couple.

Bo Schollenberger once had a vision for their life together, but he’s bowed beneath the weight of his undercover work. Lucky’s hanging on by his deeply chewed fingernails, clinging to hope by making Bo’s dreams of a home into reality. The last thing he needs is a phone call from a dangerous man who knows too much, summoning him back to Mexico for “an early Christmas present.”

Not when the SNB brass asks tough questions, like “How well do you know your partner?”

Excerpt:

“What’s your current credit rating?”

Lucky didn’t often use credit. After getting out of prison to work for Walter, he’d bought his car from a police auction for cash, and lived a low-key lifestyle. Before that, Victor Mangiardi had taken care of him. A nice way to live, but other than a car stereo in his teens, he’d never made payments on anything. And he’d been Richmond Lucklighter then. He’d only been Simon Harrison for a short time, and although he’d used credit cards to make expense reporting easier when on assignment, he paid them off every month. “I’m not sure.”

“Then let’s see.” The woman tapped on her laptop and whistled. “Mr. Harrison, I don’t think we’ll have a problem getting you the loan.”

He owed Walter one hell of a lot of those frou-frou coffee drinks from Starbucks for giving him a credit score to make a loan officer whistle.

An hour later Lucky fought to hide a grin from a woman who’d put the Energizer Bunny to shame. “Now, I’m familiar with the house you’re considering. Offer 180. Trust me.” She winked and handed him the phone.
He pulled a dog-eared card from his wallet and dialed.

“Mr. Harrison?” The Realtor didn’t sound too happy to hear from him, not that he blamed her. She’d been working hard for her commission. That’s why she got commission.

“Is that house still available? The fixer-upper in the gated neighborhood?”

“Y… yes.”

“I want to make an offer.”

Now what was he gonna tell Bo?

Sales Links: http://wp.me/p3EiBX-d4

(Bonus link: Check http://rockyridgebooks.com/334/ to get Diversion, the first book of the series, for .99!)

About the Author:
Captivated young by story-telling, Eden Winters’ earliest memories include spinning tales for the family’s pets. Her dreams of writing professionally took a sojourn into non-fiction, with a twelve-year stint in technical documentation.

She began reading GLBT novels as a way to better understand the issues faced by a dear friend and fell in love with the M/M romance genre. During a discussion of a favorite book, a fellow aficionado said, “We could do this, you know.” Good-bye gears, motors, and other authors’ characters; hello plots and sex scenes.

Somewhat of a nomad, Eden has visited seven countries so far. She currently calls the southern US home, and many of her stories take place in the rural South. Having successfully raised two children, she now balances the day job with hiking, rafting, spoiling her grandchildren, and stalking the wily falafel or elusive tofu pad Thai at her favorite restaurants. Her musical tastes run from Ambient to Zydeco, and she’s a firm believer that life is better with fur kids and Harley Davidsons.

Find Eden’s other works at http://edenwinters.com or contact her at edenwinters@gmail.com

Author Links:
Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdenWinters
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eden-Winters/300380906658065
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenWinters1
Blog: http://www.edenwinters.com/
E-mail: edenwinters@gmail.com
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25783348-redemption
Publisher: Rocky Ridge Books
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Tour Dates & Stops: August 1, 2015

Parker Williams, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, BFD Book Blog, Mikky's World of Books, MM Good Book Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Bayou Book Junkie, The Hat Party, Jessie G. Books, The Jena Wade, Christy Loves 2 Read, Inked Rainbow Reads, Molly Lolly, TTC Books and More, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Iyana Jenna, Andrew Q. Gordon, Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Ogitchida Book Blog, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Reviews by Jessewave, Velvet Panic

Now it's time for a GIVEAWAY! Enter to win an ebook copy of Redemption. If you haven't started the series, you can get the first book, Diversion, for only .99 HERE!

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Viscount's Wager (Gambling on Love #3) by Ava March

London, 1822

You never forget your first love, but is a second chance worth the gamble?

Anthony, Viscount Rawling, knows exactly what he wants in life and he isn't above having a look about London for it. When he spots recently widowed Gabriel Tilden at a ton function, he thinks he might have found love…again.

Gabriel is as gorgeous and reserved as he was when he broke Anthony's heart seven years ago. But they were only adolescents then…surely Anthony won't hold the incident against him. And especially not when the attraction between them is stronger than ever.

Gabriel came to London in search of distraction, and a teasing Anthony is impossible to resist. As Anthony introduces Gabriel to the pleasures that can be found in the city—and in his bedchamber—their bond deepens into something more. Yet both men are hiding secrets that could pull them apart forever…

Primarily what I'm feeling is an overwhelming sense of ambivalence.

I didn't love it or hate it.

Actually, I was flummoxed as to why I was having such a blasé reaction to this story until Max and Tristan made an appearance. If I'm completely honest, what I enjoyed most were the parts with the couples from books 1 and 2. The minute, the second Max started getting all bossy and grumble-y I knew. 

It's these characters. I'm a character person. Give me at least one good character that I can sink my teeth into and even if the story isn't up to snuff chances are I'll still be enthusiastic. Neither of these characters did a thing for me.

It started off with the premise which I found flimsy. Anthony and Gabriel meet and share a swim in a pond and a kiss when they're 16 and 18, respectively. If anyone else just got the pond scene from A Room with a View in their head, you're not alone. The next day Anthony stumbles across Gabriel kissing a girl whom he subsequently marries. Anthony's understandably upset but then begins 7 yrs worth of moping about the one that got away. I mean, he's not celibate or anything, but he's never satisfied. I find this a tad far-fetched but I'm willing to cede the point and go with the destiny trope.

I love the destiny trope!

Then Gabriel's wife suddenly dies and he fortuitously runs into Anthony in London. And Anthony acts like not a day has passed!

No talking? No questions? No why the hell did you kiss that floozy?

Nope.

Just piss poor communication EXCEPT when it comes to sex. No problem discussing the "intimate matters" and being tenacious about it too.

Their communication issues coupled with their lack of vibrancy, zip, zing, what have you, left a sour taste in my mouth.

I'm sympathetic to their struggles, though they are largely self-inflicted. Then again, that is wont to be the case in this genre. I'm happy they got their HEA. I appreciate the hopeful message of the book, but they are beige. They will live happily ever after in their beige house with beige furniture and have beige fields of barley surrounding them. They will, however, have some toe curling sex which I suspect will lead them to Kinksville in no time. I can always count on Ms. March to bring the hotness.

The writing is lovely as I've come to expect from this author, but I wholeheartedly agree with my buddy reader, Adam, that this final book of the series is unnecessarily fattened up and not in a meaningful way. It could use a stern editor to excise some of the extraneous verbiage. 

I am sorry I didn't love it as much as I expected to since I was so looking forward to it, but it was nice to see all of them together one last time and this will remain one of my favorite historical series.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more on Goodreads.

Review: The PsyCops Series by Jordan Castillo Price

I have just finished marathoning this series (except for the first one, I'd already read that one), including the shorts and I still want more. MORE, I tell you.

Wow. I don't really know where to start this review... actually, that's a lie. I'm going to start with Vic, because, for me, this is all about Vic. I love Vic. I LOVE Vic. I LOVE VIC. Totally and utterly. Starting with the cover model used (I mean HALLO, he's gorgeous and exactly how I pictured Vic, 9 times out of 10 the cover model used doesn't match my mental image but JCP nailed it for me). That scowl, that stubble, that can't-quite-be-bothered look. Perfect.

And, his personality matched. Perfect in that not-at-all-perfect way. A childhood that consisted of moving from one foster family to another. Drug use to control his psychic ability. His psychic ability, the dude sees ghosts, most often caught in the moment of their violent death. Time spent in Camp Hell where he was abused to find out the extent of his powers. Being part of a psycop team, disliked by the rest of the force because they don't understand, or fear, what he can do. Oh, and he's gay. Not that he has a problem being gay, but it isn't exactly embraced in the job he holds.

So, all in all, Vic fears the shadows. He doesn't can't trust easily. Humans and spiritual entities alike are just too willing to use him for their own gain. I'm surprised he holds things together as well as he does. But he does, in the snarkiest, grumpiest, most gorgeous way possible.

Have I mentioned I may love him a little??

As the series develops we see him embrace what he can do, albeit sometimes very reluctantly. His ability is stronger than most realise, because Vic wasn't born yesterday and he knows that being classified a level 5 psychic is risky enough, without anyone realising he is actually stronger. The more he learns about what he can do though, the more responsibility he takes on. It's a funny (perfect) mix of reluctance and responsibility. Kinda like knowing you have to get up to your baby for the fifth time that night no matter how exhausted you are. The difference being you undoubtedly love your baby more than Vic loves the ghosts/paranormal entities, oh, and your baby is most definitely less dangerous.

We meet Vic in book one at his, psycop, partner's retirement party. This is where we also meet Jacob, the non-psychic member of another psycop team. Jacob is seemingly (at least in Vic's eyes) everything Vic isn't. Handsome, personable, super-nice and he has a real thing for psychic abilities. like a real thing. As well as their adventures as psycops and ghost hunting (!!) this series is very much about the relationship between Jacob and Vic.

Now here I have a confession. I love nice characters in books. People use the word nice often in distaste, as if there could be nothing more boring. I think nice is very underrated and, what can I say, it's a quality I appreciate, in fiction and RL. However, yep, there's a however, because Jacob was so nice for several books, I was expecting Jacob to reveal a nasty side - I hope it's not too much of a spoiler when Isay it never appears!!

I did love Jacob and the further the series went on the more I appreciated him. He was there for Vic, wholeheartedly and, boy, did that give him plus points in my book. It's fair to say, not all those Vic thought he could trust could actually be trusted.

In fact, JCP writes fantastic characters. Crash is another favourite, I'm not going to elaborate on him too much because I feel to enjoy Crash properly, you need to experience him first hand. Secondary characters are often my weakness (I sometimes feel those second in nature to the MCs can be more interesting, though in this case Vic holds his own), they can take an interesting story and just make it...more. Crash, Miss Mattie, Lisa... a plethora of others, they all just work to enhance an already fabulous series. JCP manages this without taking the focus off Vic and the main story line.

The ghostly goings on...
The author has the knack of balancing emotional storyline perfectly with action storyline. Each thread is carefully interwoven, clues and hints dropped throughout the manuscript. Sometimes I thought I knew what was happening...at times I was right, at times I wasn't. Sometimes things twisted and turned making me second guess my opinion. In fact, it was just as any mystery story should be. The interaction of guessing and re-guessing is an integral part of the enjoyment for me. If it is too obvious what's going on I skim read to find out if I'm right or not! JCP struck the balance well.

I loved each story. I'm not sure I have one that stands out as a favourite, or any that I felt were meh. Each story worked well, on their own and as part of the series. When I say that, I'm not suggesting you start with book 6, or skip the 3rd book, reading each book definitely benefits the whole psycpos experience, but each book is a contained story in its own right. While some threads carry on throughout the series, there are no dreaded cliff-hangers. None of that stuff that's meant to entice you to the next story (but generally just makes me made as hell that I've only got half a story!)

I'm not going to go into detail about each storyline, what would be the point of you reading them if I did, but I will say I genuinely had difficulty putting each book down to do those everyday things, you know, like go to work, or look after the kids...

I also read one book after another (with, as I said the exception of book 1 - though I'm seriously considering a re-read to remember where it all began) and I definitely have a book hangover, I've DNF'd two stories since I finished this series  (yesterday) already. Send recs ASAP!

One last thing before I go. Voice actor, Gomez Pugh, narrates these audio books. Now I read the books so I can't vouch exactly for these in audio, however I did listen to the audio version of Body Art by Jordan Castillo Price, read by Gomez Pugh, and thoroughly enjoyed his narration.

For more information check out Goodreads or JCP Books.

A copy of this series was given in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Held Hostage (Sin City Uniforms #4) by Morticia Knight

SWAT officer, Cole, can handle just about anything, until he rescues Brett—a man who makes him question all he’s ever believed about love.

As a member of the Las Vegas Police Department's SWAT team, Cole has seen his fair share of danger, but he's never taken a chance on love. He's willing to have some fun when the mood strikes him, but he's married to the job. Called in on a hostage situation, Cole is prepared for anything and everything…except for the brave and beautiful Brett.

Brett has been burned before, most recently by Officer Parker McLean. He's hoping to settle down in Vegas, perhaps find someone he can build a life with. The last thing Brett's looking for is another man in uniform. But when he meets Cole, there's an attraction that can't be denied. Still, he hadn’t expected to fall for the chiseled alpha.

What begins as nothing more than two people experiencing a great night together spirals into something far deeper. But will Brett be able to handle the stress that comes with having a lover who constantly puts his life in jeopardy? And can Cole risk his heart on an everyday hero, or will the job he knows so well remain his top priority?

Brett was introduced in book 2 of this series when he and Parker were casually sleeping together. Well, it was casual on Parker's part, but Brett ended up with his heart broken. I had felt bad for how he was treated in Parker's book, so I was super happy that Held Hostage gave him a sweet and sexy HEA.

Cole is a Vegas cop and has a comfortable relationship with his best friend. The have sex and remain besties, with no strings attached. Just how Cole likes it. No commitment, nothing serious. 

When a hostage situation arises at a clothing store, Cole is on the scene and this is where he meets Brett. Brett is the manager of the store and has to handle the hostage from inside until the police are able come in. After it's over, Cole sees that Brett is pretty shaken up about the whole thing and encourages him to take care of himself.

Their attraction was pretty insta, but it felt genuine. I never found myself questioning why they were falling so fast because the connection was there. Cole knew what Brett needed, even if Brett didn't. He helped Brett make decisions for himself and not what would make everyone else happy. It's was Brett's time and Cole was going to make sure he took advantage of it.

Cole is bossy. Bossy in a hot as hell, sexy way. They had a BDSM-type relationship, without the roles and titles. Cole was bossy and told his good boy what to do. And then Brett did it. He did it oh so well. I loved them together, in and out of the bedroom.

The problem was Cole didn't want a relationship. *blinks* C'mon! For me, it's one of the most frustrating plot devices out there. No matter how true to life it may be, it really bugs me when this is used as an excuse. Especially when you are already in a relationship, even if that's not what you're calling it. But I'd like to give Brett a high five for how he dealt with Cole. Looks like all of Cole's encouragement for Brett to do things for himself backfired. Ha! 

Held Hostage is very enjoyable addition to the series. All of the books can be easily read as a standalone.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Full Moon Dating: Book 4: Gage & Hamish by Julia Talbot

Cat shifter Gage is an impossible bottom. No one has ever been able to tame him, even if he wants them to. He’s willing to keep trying, though, and when he finds out about the paranormal dating site Full Moon Dating, he puts himself in their hands. He longs for someone who will take him in hand and make him like it.

Hamish is a bear shifter who plays too rough for most subs. Gage sounds like just what he needs, so when Full Moon matches them up, he’s happy to see how they get along. Can he convince Gage that he’s the one to make the man toe the line?

I liked the kink factor even though Gage is a bit of a brat and that's ordinarily a drawback. I also like Hamish being a bear shifter and a bit of a lumbersexual.

I think it's probably a disadvantage for me to have read this entire series back to back because they are very formulaic. 

Boy meets boy. They eat. They go back to the bigger shifter's house and boink. Then fall in instalove. The end. Insert Gage (jaguar shifter) and Hamish (grizzly bear shifter) who are paired this time by Ades and her gut instinct again. This couple is apparently a bad idea. I'm not sure why. They seem like a natural fit to me. Stir in some spanking and bondage and voilà! Welcome to instalove, boys. 

Only this one didn't have as much of the cute stuff as the previous two nor did I think it did as good a job showcasing their animalistic tendencies. 

The conflict had more meat on its bones than the rest of the series, but there wasn't enough page time for me to invest in the instalove.

It's not porny enough for me to categorize it as PWP. Then again I may not be the best judge. *side eyes*


It's mostly fluffy brain candy. Enjoyable and quick.

The Full Moon staff offer the glue and Ades offered the best line in the series so far:

“The bear and the kitty. They’re blissfully happy in pain slut land, living the spanky life.”

Spank on, shifters! 

Spank on.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more on Goodreads.

Review: Cheeky Hipsters and Jocks by Posy Roberts

Jack has a secret hidden in his pants, and Eli thinks he knows what it is.

Jack Cox has a secret he’s kept hidden for years until a fellow hockey player discovers a scrap of silk and lace hiding in his pocket. Elijah Mitten notices how anxious Jack is as the hot-pink fabric makes its way around the locker room, and when Jack throws it in the trash like it means nothing, Elijah guesses what’s beneath his stoic façade and possibly his pants.

When Elijah shows up on Jack’s doorstep looking for answers, Jack won’t admit anything. But when Elijah takes matters into his own hands, Jack has to make a decision: share his secret and risk losing hockey or keep it hidden forever. 

Part of the sexy shorts; Secrets, series this was both sexy and short. So it did what it said on the tin cover. If you're a manties fan, then this is a book for you. I mean it reads like a checklist of manties hotness...the hockey player with a sexy secret. Yes please. RAWR.

What...what's that? You don't know what manties are. well. come on out from under that rock and I'll explain. Manties are sexy panties for men. Manties. Lace and silk and satin. All the kinds of sexy lingerie traditionally seen on women, but for men. And yes, it is as sexy and as hot as it sounds. Thin, flimsy fabrics containing all that man stuff. Lace caressing the perfect arse. Satin outlining the thick shaft of a penis...you get the idea right.

Okay, so now imagine a hockey player with a secret love for manties. Imagine a team member finding a scrap of hot-pink lace in the pocket of the teammate. It takes coming out to a whole different level.

Of course, when the brattish teammate assumes the panties belong to last nights (female) lay, well you think you've got away with it. Until the doorbell rings later and the team captain turns u, with the mantiers you'd shoved in the bin in his hand and more than a glint in his eye...

This sexy short is a perfect in-between novel read. Well written, with a light-hearted feel, I'd recommend it to all manties fans!

For more information check out Goodreads.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Werecat: The Fugitive by Andrew J. Peters

On the run after killing a Hunter from The Glaring, Jacks travels to the Bahamas with his only clue to what the secret society’s assassin was after: his maker’s key to a safety deposit box at an offshore bank. A thirty-day legal procedure holds Jacks up from uncovering what could be a hidden treasure.

Meanwhile, Jacks meets an alluring ex-pat named Maarten who hosts a nonstop pleasure cruise for disaffected werecats who have no interest in the politics of their kind. With his nerves scratched raw from living on the run, it’s too tempting of an escape for Jacks to turn away. But while he’s cruising the Caribbean and spending his nights in an orgiastic cuddle pile, The Glaring lays siege to New York City in a night of terror. Jacks’ boyfriend Farzan fights for his life and tries to reach Jacks overseas.

 Jacks needs to emerge from a binge of drugs and flesh to defend his boyfriend. But can he give up the chance to be with his own kind for the first time in his life? When the secret in the safety deposit box is revealed, Jacks realizes that it’s up to him to get it before The Glaring uses an arcane magic that could destroy humankind.

Jacks is in Barbados, waiting to get access to Benoit's accounts and safety deposit box. Worried about his lack of funds, missing Farzan, he wanders around, looking for something to do. Meeting up with Maarten, another werecat, leads to an extended party cruise with a group of spoiled werecats while Farzan deals with wild cat attacks back in New York.

Not a good storyline for me, and I was concerned how it would play out, especially when the story sometimes felt manipulated to go a certain way, where the events didn't feel natural, didn't always make sense. Worse for me, though, was how Jacks made up excuses to justify his poor choices. I was irritated with his implausible rationalizations, and angry at how inconsiderate he was being to Farzan, the man he supposedly loved, but who he now questioned if he "liked" him. WTH? Wasn't he worried about Farzan? Didn't he miss him, want to hear his voice? What were his declarations of love all about? Yeah, I was angry. His priorities were messed up and he was being self absorbed and immature.

So why was I still so caught up in this story?!

Because I wanted to know what was going to happen, how things would get resolved. Luckily, we got some action, and progress in the storyline as Jacks and Farzan were reunited. Jacks seemed to finally be getting it and I appreciated his remorse even as I winced at the angst of it.  Unfortunately, even though this story was longer than the first two, it still read as an installment in a series, and not a complete story by itself.  So, good things were happening, but the main problem with The Glaring was still unresolved.  I'm a little frustrated, but also curious how this will all turn out.



Side note:
A few odd word choices were jarring at times, especially when I was caught up in the story. I kept checking the dictionary to see if my understanding of a word was incorrect.

Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Get more info on Goodreads!

Unicorn Favourites: Love is an Open Road: Week Seven

The M/M Romance Group on Goodreads hosts a Don't Read in the Closet event each year where they invite members to submit a photo with a story prompt. Interested authors then volunteer to write the requested stories, which are published for free for everyone to read. It's a fun/exciting/stressful process, and a great opportunity to read stories from favourite authors. And chances are, you'll also discover some new authors, who hopefully have a back-list of goodies to check out :)

This year's event was named Love is an Open Road and they started releasing the completed stories on June first. Here at BMBR, we've been following along on comment threads, anticipating the stories from our favourite prompts, and now greedily reading the stories as they become available.

OKW: The Spy and His Boy by Lyn Gala and An American Homo in Paris by Vanessa North

My initial review for this story was... less than cogent. Lyn Gala has a way of doing that to me but I'll admit I was surprised she made it happen in only 40 short pages. I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking I know the author personally, but I know how she approaches her craft. She is meticulous in her research and her stories are always superb in both character development as well as world building. This short exemplifies her skills well.

It's my understanding that this story has garnered some negative attention. I'm not sure what to make of that, but I can tell you this is one of my favorite stories of the event to date. It's engaging despite the subject matter or maybe because of and I loved the way it's constructed. Much of the relationship development takes place off page but, their connection is undeniable in the windows of time we're privy to peek into. As a matter of fact, I loved it so much I decided to re-read it just for this week's post.

And I loved it even more! I picked up more of the nuances I missed in my initial mad dash to gobble this up.

Jakob and Merle's story is told in three parts beginning just prior to WWII. They would seemingly be at cross purposes given their German and French heritages but nothing could be further from the truth. They meet just in a secret club for those with deviant desires. Jakob is a newbie and Merle snatches him up and soon makes many of the other doms envious of his find. The war forces them apart, forces them to act like enemies. They get but one stolen moment during which they configure a plan that could alter the course of the war.

He wrapped his arms around Merle’s waist and held on tightly. The world had lost its mind, and if these few stolen moments were to be all he had, he wanted everything.

Then they reunite afterwards, after a misbegotten war has stolen years from them to face an uncertain future. No one can endure that much pain and suffering and emerge unscathed. The fact that they must redefine their relationship dynamics is a given. The fact that Lyn Gala addresses the complexities of their relationship with subtlety and adroitness is what makes this story brilliant, in my opinion.

“I’m here. I will stay here,” Merle promised.
“I want to feel you in me,” Jakob said.
“Ah.” Merle smiled. “I am more than happy to indulge my boy.”
“I’m no boy, not anymore.”
“You are my boy, and you always will be.” 

It's a remarkable story of two men finding the only war they want to fight is the one to keep one another. Classic Lyn Gala and spot on the prompt.

My thanks to the author and her team for contributing to the LOR event.

*********************************************************************************************************

WARNING: Self-indulgent, reminiscing "review" ahead.

Ah... Paris.

One of my favorite places.

My first began thought about this story was, 'it's SatC, the gay version! When Carrie goes with The Russian to Paris, but with less Oscar de la Renta'. 

Benji is probably more depressed and homesick than Carrie was, but still. Also, Carrie didn't get dumped by The Russian, though she did get slapped. Potato/po-tay-to. Aaron, Benji's boyfriend, lacks empathy to say the least. Aaron dumps Benji rather cruelly leaving him no choice but to return to Idaho, but not before he has one last farewell tour through the city of light with an affable fellow he met at the local coffee shop named Ziri. 

Ziri is his tour guide, his comic relief and the one partially responsible for pulling Benji out of the doldrums. Ziri's aide-de-camp is Paris.

Who doesn't love Paris?

They start an elaborate game of 'kiss or dare' involving Aaron's name and Paris. These two went to so many of my favorite places too! I wallowed in the memories.

Le Marais was where I stayed too. 



And had the most expensive god damn bowl of 'mac-n-cheese' I've ever put in my mouth. It was hella good but christ on a bike.

I took somewhere in the neighborhood of a kajillion pics along the Champs-Élysées including the cite of the "Bad Romance" video aka Dare #1 that will so turn Benji into a household name.



Le Metro is an experience like no other. Oddly enough, it wasn't that difficult to traverse once you get the hang of it. Course the map looked like it had been through a war zone once the vacation was over. It's framed now with the circling and highlighting and taped together and all. Because memories.



Nothing like Benji and Ziri's memories. Can't top switching pants in public. Sadly.

Who knew letting someone wear your pants could feel like having them under your skin?

Pigalle was one of my favorites sections. It's so pretty and most of it is just an old, quaint neighborhood until you get to Moulin Rouge. Van Gogh and many other greats lived there. I'm sure Moulin Rouge and all that's associated with it had absolutely nothing to do with their decision to move into that area. *side eyes* There was a market where I got the best bottle of wine. Never to be found again and, trust me, I've tried. 



Had the greatest crêpe just down the street. It was HUGE! Oozing with Nutella and bananas. OMG my mouth is watering just thinking about it.



I have a thing for cemeteries. Every city I always have to go. Some say they're morbid. I find them irresistible. I just knew Jim Morrison's grave would be the be all end all. It was not and I had to hunt for that fucker forever, too! My favorite was Oscar Wilde's. Benji had a moment there as well that pulled at my heartstrings.



I couldn't believe all the lipstick. The whole thing was covered in lipstick kisses and words of love. Amazing.

There is a saying about finding your favorite bridge on the Seine. 



I'm just going to assume Benji and Ziri were near this one when their magical day started to wind down. Just before the passion, desperate needing and 'I-don't-want-it-to-ending' happened that was such a delight to read. I had serious reservations in the believability department of a one day whirlwind romance, but it's not sappy or super fluffy. Everything that transpires feels organic. They had a great day. They have fun together. Ziri validates Benji in ways Aaron, evidently, hasn't been. 

Can't say if they'll be together forever-n-ever,but I have high hopes for their future. After all, they have Paris. 



Thanks to the author and her team for contributing to the LOR event.

*****

SheReadsALot: Just a Feeling by JH Knight and Wolf's Honor by Laylah Hunter.

My review of Just a Feeling by J.H. Knight

aka

Gush-ation

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

aka

I've been waiting for this one not even the psychic tag is going to deter me...because I really love nanny romances. 


Um...my heart melts when I see a tattooed, burly guy with a baby.

Pardon me.

Um...this story is somewhere in the 4.5 - 5 stars range, so I'm just cutting to the chase and round this shit because this is totally one of my favorites of the event. 



It was sweet but not overly sticky, it was funny but not at the expense of the characters, it was real because babies don't come with a manual and it was touching because through grief came a pretty solid HFN/HEA that read organic.

This is my first J.H. Knight too! Yay!

Mark is an ex-solider who planned on being uncle to his best friend's baby and due to an unfortunate event, he's a father to a baby boy he can't even name. He's tired, he's heartbroken and he is in love with the tiny human who is colicky and drives him up the wall.

But he knows the baby has him as his protector. And Mark is the kind of guy who will step up to the plate. 

Ian, the auburn haired (I swear he's a great character, I'm not rhapsodizing just because he's a ginger) nanny, who is snarky and overly qualified, makes Mark realize a few things:

- that he can accept help 
- that he can learn to balance this parenting thing with an extra set of hands
- that he can possibly...have a meaningful relationship

Ian is a great character (view spoiler) from a big family who gets people, how different personalities work. He's adaptable but firm in his beliefs when it counts.

Reading Mark fall for Ian was beautiful. He was trying to fight it but it's inevitable. *pink and gushy sigh*

My only complaint? I wished this was longer. :D

I loved Ian's family (Dave and his mouth is the shit! The shit!) And the snark, great level of snark. Yup. :D

Um...it's safe to say I'll try to fit in the books I have by this author collecting dust on my Kindle sooner than later. 

Highly recommended for nanny romance lovers, lovers of babies in romances and happy (let me borrow from Cupcake) squishy feels.

It's a feel good romance. 

My thanks to the author and the team behind the event! *♡*
******************************************************************************************

KNOTTING!



(Cupcake tells me all the time to lead with your best foot forward.)

My KNOTTING aficionados and Sterek peeps who enjoy A/B/O might like this one.

This was another one of my top prompts. Why? Alpha and damaged omega, baby! I know KNOTTING was about to go down. And this author made quite the impression last year with The Raven's Luck

I got my snacks, got comfortable...I was READY when I saw today's LOR release.



Cory is an abused omega. He has been abandoned by the humans, he's been raped and treated like property by the wolves. His old master was killed and he finally gets his chance to escape. But the new Alpha catches him. Troy, new Alpha is not an alpha-hole. He's considerate and tries to fix the damaged pack but he's most drawn to Cory.

Damaged omega who smells too good meets an Alpha who thinks before he acts? Awesome. I like the way Laylah Hunter made the pack work. There were truly a pack where all opinions mattered. I wanted more but I have a tendency to be greedy when it comes to words that are good. :D

Now the KNOTTING. Not as intense as I like it. My favorite type of KNOTTING is when the omega can feel that fat KNOT at the edge of his hole and he worries it will fit.



And then the Alpha manages to stuff that hole full. And then they're tied by the Alpha knot...*grunts*

But this was not forceful KNOTTING.

This is thoughtful KNOTTING.

Cory blisses out into omega heaven for a while, content with the world in new and wonderful ways as most of his world narrows down to Troy’s marvelous cock working his ass. It starts to thicken at the base, like they always do, and Cory feels it when Troy lets go with a strangled snarl, slams in hard, and his cock starts to pulse with hot waves of release.

Still good.

Of course I'd read about 200 more pages of these words. But for what was given...I was satisfied.



My thanks to the author and the team behind this event. 

*****

Lorix: 
I
cant't
choose...

So I'm cheating this week. There were several books I loved, but other's reviewed them better than me, so I'm just going to link the stories and let you find out for yourselves how fab they are. :)

The Spy and His Boy by Lyn Gala.
An American Homo in Paris by Vanessa North
Just a Feeling by JH Knight
Bright Like a Thousand Memories by Gabrielle Morgan
Loving Rush by Sofia Grey