Review: Manties in a Twist (The Subs Club #3) by J.A. Rock

Look, I’ll never stop missing Hal, but this Subs Club my friends started to review suck-ass doms isn’t gonna bring him back or give him justice. For me, it’s just another chance to hang out with my friends, even if they think I’m too dumb to understand the important work we’re supposedly doing.

But maybe I’m not as dumb as they think—at least I know when I’ve got a good thing going. Which is why I just moved in with my dom. Ryan’s awesome possum. He’s really short, never makes me feel stupid, and is up for anything. One word: costumes. Two more words: women’s underwear. We’re all about the lace, no leather.

Except when we do pony play. We first tried it as a joke, but turns out I’m ballin’ at it. Now PetPlayFest is coming up, and I wanna take down the Subs Club’s archrival, Cinnamon the ponygirl, in the horse show.

My friends think I’m spending too much time with Ryan and ignoring my obligations to the group. But since when is friendship an obligation? Ryan’s my first serious relationship, and I want to take it . . . seriously. At some point I need to think about my future, not my past.

—Kamen

I know it’s the “job” of a reviewer to be objective when reviewing but I’m having a hard time remaining objective when it comes to this book. I think it’s the worst kept secret on the interwebs that I’ve been squeeing about this one for months. My level of excitement has increased with each installment mainly because KAMEN!!!!!!!!!!!

“…Your profile sounds like little orphan Annie grew up and married the sun and they had a child made entirely of the unblemished souls of infant animals.”

As soon as I read that description in The Subs Club I knew. I knew the way you know about a good melon. Then J.A. sprinkled some magic dust and gave him a MANTIES fetish! And he plays guitar, loves wings and Jolly Ranchers, makes up words, loves baseball and is kind of cocky about his ability to CRUSH anything sports related. So… basically perfect. And, strangely, could be me. But not in, like, an incestussistic way because that's just weird.

J.A. is doing an incredible job in this series capturing the voice of each of these characters and Kamen's voice whispered sweet nothings to me even before I worked out his fetish. Without doubt I wish like hell Kamen was a real person. If I click my heels three times will it make it so? 

*frantically clicks heels*

He’s no wordsmith nor will he ever be a Mensa member, but he is bizarrely creative and has a heart the size of Texas; EVERYONE loves him. As much as Dave pistol whips The Subs Club into shape with his control freakishness it’s my belief Kamen is the glue that holds them together. All the big life events, catastrophes and meltdowns that have happened with the guys they always go to Kamen for help which speaks volumes about his character and what kind of friend he is. 

Kamen met Ryan in the previous book, Pain Slut, so this is an established relationship. They have just moved in together after 4 mos of dating, an event that has been the source of many a snarky remark from friends and family. Kamen is troubled by the sassiness since he can’t comprehend why you wouldn’t move in with and declare your love for someone if you know it to be true. Who cares how long it's been? He leads with his heart and there isn’t an ounce of artifice about him. But his relationship with Ryan is a HUGE problem for his friends because they miss him. And why wouldn’t you? This is a totally realistic conflict if you ask me.

"…You’ve always been the one who makes everyone feel better. About everything. If you’re not around, like, what’s even the point?”

He and Ryan do have a little hiccup which they work out quickly and go on being amazematastic. They are the fun couple. Ryan is significantly smaller than Kamen, a thing that Kamen adores but also doesn’t miss an opportunity to poke fun at him. They are still trying out different kinks have mishap after mishap. All of which are hysterical. But PetPlayFest will go down in history as one of the funniest things I’ve ever read and it wasn’t just Rymen’s antics either. Everyone hates Cinnamon because she’s a bitch and a half that deserves to be knocked off her high horse. Er, I mean, her high pony? 

I’ve thought long and hard about what else has made me laugh this hard before and the only thing I could come up with was Katt Williams’ The Pimp Chronicles. No book has EVER made me laugh this hard. Every time I turned around they were doing something else that had me in stitches. I highlighted and bookmarked like I was studying for an exam! And in the middle of all my gasping, choking and eye wiping there’d be a moment like this:

…if he believed I could do something, I could do it.

Or this…

So I just sang it because it made me feel good, and because I wanted Hal to know fast cars didn’t mean tragedy and for Ryan to know that he and I were gonna keep exploring and that we didn’t have to end up with a life that made perfect sense-just one we’d built together.

So, yeah, they’re pretty much perfect for each other and I loved their story SO MUCH! I was kind of disappointed for a minute that it wasn’t sexier since MANTIES and PONIES (helloooo! /shocker) but then I just thought that’s stupid because this story made me so happy on so many different levels that to take points off for not being erotic would be a huge disservice to this unicorn of a book. A book like this doesn’t come along that often. Kamen alone deserves 5 hearts as does Ryan and the fact that it made me laugh so hard I couldn’t breathe deserves at least 20 hearts, so 30 Hearts it is! 

Definitely my favorite of the series and one that I’ll re-read. 

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

Find out more on Goodreads.

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Calling the Show by J.A. Rock

We welcome J.A. Rock into the clubhouse today to read us a lullaby. Even Nora decided to stop by to have a listen!

*pets Nora*

Hi! I’m J.A. Rock, and welcome to the Rockin’ Read Aloud Tour—where once a week, a super awesome romance blog hosts a video of me reading aloud from my backlist. I really like reading aloud and doing voices, so I thought this would be a fun way to spotlight some of my past titles. Thanks so much to Boy Meets Boy for hosting me on the first stop, where I’m reading from Calling the Show. I won’t say too much more, because the video already has an intro, but I will tell you that you can comment on this post for a chance to win an ecopy of Calling the Show, and that you can follow the tour at the stops listed below. There will be a giveaway at each stop, plus some possible special guest readers.

So grab a massive glass of wine, sit back, and enjoy!

Watch Episode One: Calling the Show.

Follow the Tour

March 19th – Boy Meets Boy (Calling the Show)
March 25th – Prism Book Alliance (The Subs Club)
March 31st – Joyfully Jay (Pain Slut)
April 4th – The Novel Approach (When All the World Sleeps)
April 11th – Love Bytes (Brandon Mills versus the V-Card)
April 16th – Sinfully Gay Romance (The Grand Ballast)
April 20th – Crystal’s Many Reviewers (The Good Boy)

About Calling the Show

Senior stage manager Jesse Ferelit and sophomore light board operator Simeck Whedon meet while crewing a college theater production. Jesse hates everything about Sim—his lack of theater experience, his obsession with LGBTQ politics, his infatuation with, of all things, hula hoops. Well, he doesn't hate everything. He doesn't mind Sim's eyes, or hair, or his surprising ability to be cool in a crisis. But Jesse is graduating in just a few months, and if there's one thing he does not have time for, it's a relationship.

Sim knows exactly what he likes: civil rights, the circus, and sex. And he knows what he likes about Jesse. In the control booth, Jesse is exactly Sim's type—a natural leader, collected and confident. But outside the booth, he seems reclusive, acerbic and uptight—hardly Sim's type at all. Is a relationship with Jesse a real possibility, just a fantasy, or a hopelessly lost cause?

When Sim offers to teach Jesse how to hula hoop as a way to relax and loosen up, the lessons ease the two men out of their individual circles and into an unexpected shared world of sex, kink, friendship, and eventually love.

About the Author

J.A. Rock is the author of queer romance and suspense novels, including By His Rules, Take The Long Way Home, and, with Lisa Henry, The Good Boy And When All The World Sleeps. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Alabama and a BA in theater from Case Western Reserve University. J.A. also writes queer fiction and essays under the name Jill Smith. Raised in Ohio and West Virginia, she now lives in Chicago with her dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

Website
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Leave a comment with your contact info (email, Twitter, Goodreads profile link, etc) for a chance to win a copy of Calling the Show! Entries will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on March 22, 2016.

Review: All I Believe by Alexa Land

Nico Dombruso has learned to keep the world at arm’s length after being badly burned by his last relationship. Even so, he decides to let himself enjoy a summer fling while on vacation in Italy. It’s just sex after all, so what’s the harm?

He gets so much more than he bargained for when he meets gorgeous, mysterious, art dealer Luca Caruso. The connection between them is undeniable, and for the first time in years, Nico starts to consider the possibility of trusting his tattered heart to someone again.

But when a secret is revealed that shakes him to his core and threatens to tear his family apart, Nico runs, so far and so fast that no one, not even the man who was making him believe he could love again, might ever be able to reach him.

This gay romance is approximately 95,000 words in length. It is the tenth book in the Firsts and Forever Series, but each book is written to stand alone, so jump in anywhere.

Please note: Contains adult language and graphic sex. Only intended for adult readers.

I don’t think I’ll ever quit this series.  Even if Alexa writes 47 more books in the series I’m sure I will read each and every one.  This has turned into a comfort read.  I know what I’m getting into when I pick up an Alexa Land book.  I’m going to laugh; I’m going to swoon and sigh and maybe tear up just a little.  They’re feel good stories, even with the angst written all through them.  

This installment of the Firsts and Forever series is Nico’s story.  Nico is cousin to Dante and Vincent and the grandson of the ever-loved Nana.  Nico has gone on vacation to Nana’s hometown in Italy with Nana and Jessie.  Of course, the shenanigans start before they even board the plane (Bacon-Flavored Booty Butter, anyone?) and continue in true Nana Dombruso fashion.  Once they arrive, we meet the gorgeous Luca and the sparks fly.  

If I’m going to be honest I have to say this is not my favorite of the series.  I never really connected with Nico and Luca.  I never really got a good picture of Nico in my head and Luca seemed a bit… cookie cutter to me.  That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy this story, cause I did.  Just not as much as a lot of the other ones.  Really, what kept me reading was Jessie.  Even Nana got to be a bit too much for me in this one.  Jessie, though… Jessie will always hold a special place in my heart and I have a pocket reserved just for him.  Jessie, you get in my pocket right now, Mister!  

So, although not my favorite, this is still a good, fun read and I recommend the series to those who like quite a bit of madcap humor in their romances.  And guns.  Can’t forget those.  Nana would probably shoot me if I did.

Find more info on Goodreads!

Release Day Review: Two Pet Dicks by John Inman AND GIVEAWAY!!!!

Old friends and business partners, Maitland Carter and Lenny Fritz, may not be the two sharpest pickle forks in the picnic basket, but they have big hearts. And they are just now coming around to the fact that maybe their hearts are caught in a bit of turmoil.

Diving headfirst into a whirlwind of animal mayhem, these two self-proclaimed pet detectives strive to earn a living, reunite a few poor lost creatures with their lonely owners, and hopefully not make complete twits of themselves in the process.

When they stumble onto a confusing crime involving venomous reptiles, which is rather unnerving since they’re more accustomed to dealing with misplaced puppy dogs and puddy tats, they take the plunge into becoming real-life crime stoppers.

While they’re plunging into that, they’re also plunging into love. They just haven't admitted it to each other yet.

Hello Friends! So, today is awesome and you are going to thank your lucky Unicorn Stars you came to visit the clubhouse today. Why, you ask? Because I read an awesome book and the author of said awesome book is offering up an eBook for one super duper lucky commenter. Check out the end of the review for more information and how to enter. 

Now, to get to the Two Pet Dicks . . . 

Sometimes you get lucky enough to read the book that is perfect for you in that moment. This was that book for me and my moment. I needed some fun and John Inman delivered it in spades with these Two Pet Dicks. This is the story of two best friends who decide to open a pet detective agency. They’ve been best friends since they were kids and friends with benefits since they were 13. They’ve always been each other’s firsts, even with boyfriend breaks as they got older. Maitland and Lenny are adorably dense and so San Diego, I loved it. Being a San Diego native along with the author, I can tell you that our town has a certain vibe to it that John Inman captures perfectly.

So, Maitland and Lenny have gotten the boot out of Lenny’s dad’s basement and have opened a storefront for their business. The name, Two Pet Dicks, sounded much better in their heads than it looks on the sign above their door, but it’s all they had cash for and these guys definitely don’t sweat the small stuff. Thus the entrepreneurs embark on the new phase of their business. They get to work right away with an interesting mix of cases; a stolen lizard (that come with bitter exes), a missing foul mouthed and mangy parrot (whose owner is also foul mouthed and mangy), a lost dog with an owner who can only pay with an ice cream cone (he’s an adorable neighbor kid), a missing gerbil (from a familiar setting) PLUS Maitland’s own incontinent Chihuahua, Pudding Pop and Lenny’s wayward brother’s monkey, the perpetually horny, Ed. This is really only the tip of the iceberg of the crazy.

While there are a lot of laughs and plenty of physical humor, it’s not ridiculously over the top so that you feel like your reading a gay version of Dumb and Dumber. Maitland and Lenny may not be, as the author says, “the sharpest pickle forks in the picnic basket”, they’re really good guys with good hearts. I couldn’t help but love them both.

The story is told from Maitland’s POV and while he has no problem pointing out Lenny’s shortcomings in the common sense department, he does it in such a sweet loving way that it never comes across as mean spirited. Plus, in the same breath, he’ll sing Lenny’s praises and the balance is perfect for their relationship. Not to mention, Maitland has his own challenges that are plenty obvious and he has no problem admitting them as well.

The entire tale is entertaining as hell from start to finish. What I loved the most though is common for John Inman’s books and that’s the evolving relationship between the MC’s. While I was told about the history that Maitland and Lenny shared, I saw it and felt it right from the beginning. Their conversations read so naturally I could easily see that these guys had been best friends forever. Then, as the relationship starts to evolve into something more, these guys stay in character and roll with it organically and didn’t depend on unnecessary angst or miscommunication to more the story along. That’s not to say they jumped from friends to boyfriends, that wasn’t the case. But, they did start with the sweet little confessions, the extra touches and the lingering looks. It was really the sweetest, dorkiest courtship I’ve ever read and I loved every little ‘moment’.

Maybe we were now heading down a road we’d been shooting toward all along but were too dumb to see coming. 

We couldn’t be that stupid, could we? Let me answer that. Yes. Yes, we could be that stupid. What other two adults would try to make a living in this day and age as pet detectives? Yeah, I think “stupid” probably describes us pretty well.

There was a mystery that was moving along at the same time their relationship was moving forward, so they had interruptions at pivotal moments, but with each little conversation, the guys would share something new and move closer to big confession time. Since these guys have been friends with benefits since they figured out how fun dicks were, the sex was hot as hell and the temp increased as the book progressed. Their new found feelings made the connection stronger and the sexy times more meaningful. As a reader, I appreciate a good character connection, it makes the boning more than just boning. The feels make the sexy times just that much more delicious.

One little thing that stuck with me was Lenny’s use of the shortened version of Maitland’s name, Mait. Really, not a big deal, but it struck me as adorable and I realized how much I like that name. Obviously Lenny did too. Ok, one more little thing, Lenny could not get a handle on ‘herpetologist’ and that running joke amused me to no end. Herpetologist? Herbivore? Hermaphrodite? All the same right? Oh Lenny, bless your heart.

I would be completely remiss to not mention the absolutely fabulous appearance of Arthur from the Belladonna Arms. He was gerbil sitting apparently when the critter went missing and hired the Dicks to locate the wayward rodent. I like to think he was the perfect Fairy Drag Mother for Lenny and Maitland making sure the love pollen was spread judiciously over the two. Good to know the love pollen works for more than just the residents of the Belladonna Arms.

This is one of John Inman’s FUN books, so there were HEA’s all around and the bad guys/gals got the justice that was their due. I started this on a Sunday afternoon and didn’t break until I finished. I got laughs and just the right amount of feels and heat to keep me hooked from the time the guys hung their sign above the door.

For more information on Two Pet Dicks, head over to Dreamspinner Press

Who’s ready to win a book? Yeah, we know you are! 

In the comments section, share your funniest pet story and we’ll pick a winner at random to win an eBook of Two Pet Dicks. Get your stories in by March 25th, 2016 9pm PST (and leave us your email address), that’s when we’ll pick a winner.  Please respond to the winning notification within 48 hrs or we will choose another winner. 

Good luck!

Review: Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews

Even if it means quitting their boy band mid-tour, Troy Tanner isn’t going to watch his little brother snort his future away after addiction destroyed their father. On a private jet taking him home from Australia, he and pilot Brian Sinclair soar above the vast South Pacific. Brian lost his passion for flying—and joy in life—after a traumatic crash, but now he and Troy must fight to survive when a cyclone strikes without warning.

Marooned a thousand miles from civilization, the turquoise water and white sand beach look like paradise. But although they can fish and make fire, the smallest infection or bacteria could be deadly. When the days turn into weeks with no sign of rescue, Troy and Brian grow closer, and friendship deepens into desire. 

As they learn sexuality is about more than straight or gay and discover their true selves, the world they've built together is thrown into chaos. If Troy and Brian make it off the island, can their love endure?

This is a great beach read in literally every sense. My only regret is that I didn’t actually get to read it at the beach! I shall remedy that the next time I read this one. And I will reread it, on vacation, on a beach. That was really what this book was made for. It’s pure entertainment from start to finish. 

There’s enough action at the beginning and throughout to make sure the peril these guys are in is not forgotten, but not so much that the hopelessness takes over. There was survivor’s guilt, breakdowns and close calls throughout their time on the island which kept the fluff balance just right. The island was an additional character that while beautiful could be a cruel bitch. I liked how this read and I could see how both of them were torn about their feelings and how the island changed them when they eventually made it home. I’m not talking about the romance part here, but how the experience affected their outlooks on life and their loved ones. Also, that’s not really a spoiler BTW, of course they made it home!

The angst is on the low scale, which I require for my vacation/beach reads. And while the low angst may not have been realistic considering the new terms these two are coming to understand in their lives, I didn’t really care because, again, beach read. Mostly though, and this is the most important thing, I loved the characters. Troy and Brian aren’t just a great couple for me, I genuinely liked both of their characters separately and together. The author did a great job of building these guys into fully fleshed out characters all around.

If you like your characters to be friends first, this is your story. There’s a slow build up to any hint of romance and lust which really worked for me because it was done so well. I loved reading how they got to know one another’s history and quirks, it was entertaining, funny and very sweet. There was definitely a bromance before the romance and their close friendship made me believe in their emotional connection and the love later on. Basically, the evolution was the story for me and the rest was a vehicle to get them there.

The awards, prizes and coronations for best first kiss need to go to Brian and Troy. I won’t, no, I can’t tell you any particulars because that would ruin the “first time read” for you and I hate when that happens. But, I will tell you, it was a fucking moment and I loved it! It spoke to the true romantic in me and I read it a couple of times because it was hot for sure, but even more it was so damn delicious and heartfelt.

The fact that they were each other’s firsts when it came to being with another man was addressed and was, as I said, low angst. The overall conclusion is that love is love and no one’s heart should be defined by a label. I think it was all summed up best by Tyson (Troy’s younger brother) when Troy went to visit him in rehab and told Tyson about Brian. That conversation was one of my favorite parts of the book, Tyson’s matter of fact view and unwavering love and support of his brother made my heart happy. Was it a little too perfect? Probably. Did I care? Nope.

Grab your beach chair, towel, cocktail of preference and of course, your sunscreen and enjoy this one. I did and I will again.

For more info on Beyond the Sea, check it out on Goodreads.

To get yourself a copy of Beyond the Sea, follow one of the links below:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Sea-Romance-Keira-Andrews-ebook/dp/B01CTEO5XM/
Amazon Global: http://mybook.to/BeyondTheSea_KA
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-beyondthesea-1999675-153.html
iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1092395500
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/beyond-the-sea-5
Smashwords:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/621961

**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

Review: Dragon Dreams & Fairy Wings (Fire & Flutter #1) by Bailey Bradford

What happens when a fairy loses his wings—and his memory?

Griff was born a Love fairy, but he never quite fit in. He didn't want to be part of a harem, at least...he didn't think he wanted that. What with his wings gone and his memory damaged, he can't be certain of what he felt in the past. All he does know is, he wants his wings back. Without them, he's grounded.

Blaze is a dragon shifter who tends to stick his foot in his mouth—and some other parts in other places—when he really shouldn't. His brother is the king, and his sister-in-law Bonny is scary. Blaze's last screw-up got him grounded, unable to shift into his dragon form. His punishment seems harsh to him, but there's no escaping it.

Then the Love fairies come to the castle to work on forming an alliance. Blaze has about had it with guarding the horny beings, and he's disappointed that they don't stay small and cute. He almost commits a major faux-pas when he swats at something buzzing him, and it turns out to be a fairy on a dragonfly.

 And from that snarky meeting, something wonderful, and dangerous, will come.

A lighthearted adventure, full of magic and creatures.

Both Blaze and Griff don't really fit in with their kind. Griff is a fairy, but had a terrible accident. As a result, he lost his wings and his short term memory. Blaze is a dragon but can't control his fire and had his magic taken away from him as a punishment. Both were a little lost and felt like their life was falling apart at the seams.

When they first met, they had an instant connection. They both got a lot of flak for having interest in someone not of their kind. I liked their insistence and dedication to each other. They knew they had something special and were willing to fight their families to keep it. Things moved fast, but hey, they're a dragon and a fairy. I can forgive a little insta in this case. Besides they really needed each other and I think they each felt a great relief in finding someone they could connect with. They grasped onto each other and weren't going to let go. They set on a quest together to find Griff's fairy wings.

All the elements for a fun and engaging story are here. Blaze and Griff were nothing short of lovable and the world created was rich and vivid. Not to mention the adventure they had together and the other magical creatures they met along the way. But the story never really took off for me. I kept waiting for... more. I found myself putting it down often and wasn't very motivated to pick it back up. I wanted more depth from the characters. While they were lovable, I never felt like I really knew them. They were very surface-y. The story focused more on the fantasy and adventure aspect, and I wanted more form Griff and Blaze.

Like I said, there's a lot to love here. Especially if you're looking for some light fantasy, then Dragon Dreams & Fairy Wings is a good choice. And with a series title like Fire & Flutter, I'll probably pick up the next book.

Guest Review: Guardian by Jordan Taylor

On a blustery November day in London, Gavin catches a bus from Waterloo Station to his office. He makes this journey five days a week, year after year, alone. Or so he thinks.

He does not know that his guardian angel accompanies him each day of his life, watching over him—loving him as all guardians must. His guardian’s feelings, however, fall into baser depths. As all guardians know, it is taboo to feel carnal love for a human ward. Such a relationship would not be viable—or healthy. Gavin’s guardian knows this. Lives and breathes this. And yet, to lift Gavin from depression, he is willing to attempt the impossible: to manifest as a human for Gavin and finally meet the love of his immortal life face-to-face.

Guest Reviewer: Chelsea

This was absolutely beautiful, but not what I was expecting when I started reading it. It took me a long time to think on this before I wrote this review. I enjoyed it immensely but it left me feeling confused and a little sad. I’ll explain that later in the review, which may be a bit spoilerish, but I’ll warn you appropriately.

This is written from the Guardian’s POV, we never know his name he is merely Gavin’s Guardian. In this world everyone has a guardian and every guardian can see each other, they are always present to their person and ALWAYS loving!

Throughout the train, I see others lean on their people, hug them, or rest their heads on shoulders— holding them on the stressful morning commute. We feel for them. We can’t help it.

Gavin’s guardian however, loves him more than he knows he should and desperately wants to help him through his depression.

They never tell you it’s wrong. They don’t have to. Relationships between humans and guardians are loving, caring, compassionate.
But my feelings for Gavin…

This was so beautifully written, I wish I was a writer so I could say what was so wonderful about this writing. The details about this world were so subtly given that we saw everything in glimpses. It left me wanting to see more, but knowing enough to understand the universe.

This is a story about unconditional love. Not the normal romance-story type love. But selfless, self-sacrificing, forever love. The guardian’s love for Gavin was beautiful and heartbreaking. I was in equal amounts pleasure and pain while reading this, but mostly pleasure.

I lean my forehead on his. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could do more for you. I would do anything for you, Gavin. You know that?” Gavin opens his eyes for a moment to look out the window at the darkening city. I kiss his temple, longing to kiss his lips, wishing even more that he could feel me.

The guardian becomes physical (human) for 24 hours to help Gavin out of his depression and also because he desperately wants to touch and hold him, just once.

The man I know more intimately than I know myself— whom I spend every breath beside, whom I love with a blinding intensity I have not felt since some lives back as a physical— does not know me. As far as he is concerned, I am a stranger. Nobody.

This is where I'm going to get into the spoilers. I will be giving away a lot of the ending. Please don't read if you want to enjoy the story as it plays out. However I think I would have liked to have known the ending before reading it. So anyway SPOILER.

Sooo Confused about what I feel about how this ended, it was not what I was expecting at all!! The guardian CANNOT become human forever no matter what happens, he is no longer alive, he has to accept that he will never be able to be with Gavin in the way he wants, so he helps him find another human.

God, it broke my heart!! It takes a great writer and a unique story to affect me in such a way. But as I said earlier, this is a story about unconditional love and while I definitely struggled with the heartache, seeing the guardians joy for Gavin's happiness despite his own, made me feel so elated.

Yes in the end and after some time to reflect, it was a perfect ending, however, the alternate ending where the guardian somehow stayed with Gavin would have been perfect as well.

Beautiful wonderful concept about loving guardians surrounding their people in love and helping them through life's obstacles. In the end it ended as it should, but I felt sad and tense, much as the guardian did as the realisation of what was to happen dawned upon him, that he couldn't be what Gavin needed. Truly a beautiful short story!

Purchase Link
Goodreads

Interested about this book and author? Read an excerpt from "Guardian"

Excerpt

Gavin sits still on the couch at home, seeing nothing, thinking of Thomas. I sit beside him, arms around him, pressing my face into his neck, kissing him, saying that I love him.

Gavin shivers, stands. He walks into the kitchen.

I lean on the kitchen doorframe, watching him open one cabinet, then another, then the refrigerator.

“What can I do to help you?” I ask. “I would do anything for you, Gavin. Anything. How can I take this pain away?”

He returns to the sitting room to gaze out the front window.

My last two humans talked to themselves. Gavin never says a word unless absolutely necessary. I wish he had someone to talk to, even a dog or cat. I long to hear his voice as much as to see him smile.

His mind still feels thick and heavy with fatigue. He drops back on the couch and soon is lying down.

I sit beside him, stroking his hair, absorbing as much despair into my own soul as I can, like the headache. But it’s not enough. Never enough.

“Help me,” I whisper. “I need help.”

I feel the others at once: warm light lifting the ash-black heaviness that sucks us down. My own ability to think lucidly returns.

“I need to be real for him. I can help him.”

***

Author Info

Jordan Taylor is the author of numerous novels and short stories, including the bestselling Angel Paws series, historical fantasy series Lightfall, and Sight, appearing in Best Gay Romance 2014 (Cleiss Press).

An avid reader and writer, Jordan also enjoys photography and graphic design, travel, ice cream, complimenting cats, and tweeting about her smooth fox terrier, Firefly. Preferably combining as many as possible at the same time.

Website: www.jordantaylorbooks.com

Twitter: @JordanTaylorLit

Dirty Bits Blog Tour & Giveaway: Dirty Heart by Rhys Ford

Rhys Ford visits the blog today to celebrate her final release, Dirty Heart, from her much beloved and bestselling Cole McGinnis series. Rhys takes over the blog today and has an AMAZING GIVEAWAY. And BONUS GIVEAWAY for the winners of Dirty Bits Blog Tour!

Take it away Rhys!

I’ve written the start of this post about five times and I still don’t know what to say. Some writer, huh?

How do I put into words the whole of this journey? This series was the start for me. These characters—Cole and Jae—have taken me to places I never thought I’d go, met people I am so very thankful to have known and most importantly, enriched my life beyond measure.

So how do I say goodbye to the beginning?

I can’t. And honestly, I won’t. As this story arc ends, I am grateful for so many readers joining me along the way. I can promise that as we close out this series, Cole and Jae will be back some time in the far future. But for now, this is goodbye.

And yet a hello of sorts… to a happiness and a life these characters deserve to have.

Because God knows, I’ve run them through the ringer.

So please enjoy this final Dirty tour as I present short scenes from Jae’s POV. Many are from instances in the books and a couple are in-betweens but I tried to find places where Jae really needed to speak. I hope you enjoy them.

And a tour cannot be a tour without a giveaway! So…. Here goes.

Leave a comment below and be entered to win a $20 gift certificate from an e-tailer of your choice BUT that is not all. From these winners, I will randomly select ONE person to be a character in my other Los Angeles series, Murder and Mayhem. So hit up every blog, enter to win! ONE winner per blog!

Don’t I sound like I’m trying to sell you a used Buick? *grins*

Most of all, and please know this comes from the bottom of my heart where I keep my love for coffee and music, thank you. Thank you for reading the books and thank you for supporting me along the way. I cannot come up with the words strong and deep enough to express my gratitude.

Saranghae-yo.

Dirty Bit 1

My life ended on the doorstep of my aunt’s house.

Death came to me, digging into my flesh and leaving a mark I couldn’t wipe away. He arrived holding an orchid plant, white paper thin scallops bobbing from fragile verdant threads along a brown stalk. His eyes were gold and hemlock green, filled with a wicked humour cocky enough to lift his smile from sweet to sensual. There was enough Asian in him—Japanese, I found out later—to ghost his skin with a rich golden undertone and pull the edges of his eyes into a curve. His thick brown mostly straight hair was too long to be professional and it fell forward, a sweep of mink across his strong, handsome face.

I knew I was dead when he spoke, a rolling melodic baritone with a splash of brightness sharp enough to make me forget the house of mourners at my back and the guilt I carried in my belly because I survived where my cousin Hyun-Shik did not.

Death says odd things. In this case, Death handed me a business card then said, “I’m Cole McGinnis. My brother Mike said he called ahead. It’s about Kim Hyun-Shik. Are you a relative?”

Who names the end of the world Cole? And more importantly, why did Uncle need to hire a private investigator? Digging into Hyun-Shik’s death would only open wounds just beginning to close. I was already on the outs with Auntie and Grace. Adding a handsome, sexy broad-shouldered man to the mix was only going to damn me further. I didn’t need to know how many levels Hell had but if I was around him for much longer, I knew I’d find out.

I wanted him—this investigator into death. I wanted him in ways I’d not felt ever before and I handed him off to Grace as soon as I could, hoping to get lost in the bowels of the large house. There was no reason for him to affect me. I hadn’t touched another man in years, hoped to not touch another man for…ever. I’d come to an understanding about who I was. Who I needed to be. And up until I looked into Cole McGinnis’ green eyes.

“Food. They will need food.” Talking to myself seemed silly but in the emptiness of Aunt’s house, it was comforting. The kitchen was tucked away into the back, framed in by French doors that opened up to a pool no one used. I needed something to calm me down and while I’d been trying to break the habit I’d formed when dancing at Dorthi Ki Seu, my lungs itched for a hit of clove-scented smoke.

I slipped outside to light the kretek, knowing Aunt wouldn’t want the smell in her house. She didn’t want me in her house but there I was, about to make sure her guests had food and something hot to drink while they cried over Hyun-Shik’s death. I was too numb to feel anything. I wasn’t sorry Hyun-Shik was dead, another source of my guilt but I’d lost so much…he’d hurt me too much… for me to forgive him, even in death.

The sound of a faucet turning on told me someone was in the kitchen and I took one final drag of my cigarette and glanced behind me, expecting to see Grace or possibly one of Aunt’s friends who’d come to make tea.

Instead, I found Uncle’s investigator staring at me through the partially open doors and the look on his face told me everything I didn’t need to know.

Cole McGinnis wanted me. In a way I couldn’t risk. In a way I wanted so much the buried part of me cried out for his touch.

In a way we could never ever let happen.

***

Former LAPD detective Cole McGinnis’s life nearly ended the day his police partner and best friend Ben Pirelli emptied his service weapon into Cole and his then-lover, Rick. Since Ben turned his gun on himself, Cole thought he’d never find out why Ben tried to destroy him.

Years later, Cole has stitched himself back together. Now a private investigator and in love with Jae-Min Kim, a Korean-American photographer he met on a previous case, Cole’s life is back on track—until he discovers Jeff Rollins, a disgraced cop and his first partner, has resurfaced and appears to be working on the wrong side of the law.

As much as Cole’s fought to put the past behind him, he’s soon tangled up in a web of lies, violence, and death. Jeff Rollins is not only trying to kill Cole’s loved ones, he is also scraping open old wounds and long-forgotten memories of the two men Cole loved and lost. Cole is sure Rollins knows why Ben ruined all their lives, but he isn’t looking for answers. Now Cole is caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a cold-blooded killer with the key to not only his past but his future.

Purchase Dirty Heart at:

Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7553
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Heart-Cole-McGinnis-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B01CNW7604/
And other fine ebook retailers.

Follow the Dirty Bits Tour at these fantastic blog sites:

Mar 16 — Boy Meets Boy (www.boymeetsboyreviews.com)
Mar 17 — Love Bytes (http://lovebytesreviews.com/)
Mar 18  — MM Good Book Reviews (https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/)
Mar 20  — The Blogger Girls (http://thebloggergirls.com/)
Mar 21  — It’s About The Book (http://itsaboutthebook.com/)
Mar 22  — Sinfully Gay Romance (http://sinfullymmbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/)
Mar 23 — Joyfully Jay (http://joyfullyjay.com/)
Mar 24 —  Prism Alliance (http://www.prismbookalliance.com/)
Mar 25— The Novel Approach (http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/)

Rhys Ford was born and raised in Hawai’i then wandered off to see the world. After chewing through a pile of books, a lot of odd food, and a stray boyfriend or two, Rhys eventually landed in San Diego, which is a very nice place but seriously needs more rain.

Rhys admits to sharing the house with three cats of varying degrees of black fur, and a ginger cairn terrorist. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird, a Toshiba laptop, and a red Hamilton Beach coffee maker.
My Blog: www.rhysford.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhys.ford.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhys_Ford

My books can be purchased, folded and first chapters read at Dreamspinner Press. http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

To enter the $20 gift certificate from an e-tailer of the winner's choice giveaway, leave a comment below and a valid way to contact you (email address, twitter handle, Goodreads link, etc.)

From the group of tour winners, Rhys Ford will randomly select ONE person to be a character in her other Los Angeles series, Murder and Mayhem. BONUS!

The $20 giveaway is open until 9 PM PST March 23, 2016. Shortly thereafter, we will contact a winner whom we will select using a highly scientific "names in a hat" method (or, you know, an internet randomizer). Please respond to the winning notification within 48 hrs or we will choose another winner.

Good luck!