Review: Trickster by Elizabeth Coldwell

Galactic bounty hunter and battle-scarred veteran Rufus Trayner always gets his man, no matter how hard he has to fight. No charismatic conman is going to fool him, and even though he can’t forget the feel of Jobi Wade’s lips on his own, or fight his growing desire for the man, it won’t stop him hunting for justice.

Jobi Wade knows every trick to help him elude the clutches of the law, but he hasn’t reckoned on the dogged determination and sexual magnetism of Rufus Trayner. Are the only chains that can hold him the ones Rufus’s love has wrapped around his heart?

This was fun and light. For a short story there wasn’t much to work with but I felt Rufus’ character was developed enough to get a feel for him and his personality.

Jobi was a bit harder to understand. I felt that his character could have used a little more development, we learn next to nothing about him in this story, except that he is on the run and must be pretty smart to evade capture, and hack into sensitive information around the universe.

Unfortunately, short stories under 50 pages are difficult to rate because there just isn’t enough. It’s like a preview with a lot left over at the end of the writing.

The chemistry was almost there and with a bit more development, would be believable. I did enjoy the tease, and the chase, but I didn’t really feel it in a way that convinced me these two would get together.

There was next to no relationship development, which brought the story down a bit. Even one additional interaction would have boosted the story and the couple.

Overall I didn’t feel that my time was wasted, and I enjoyed the idea of the story. I’d recommend this for someone wanting a snippet of sci-fi on a tea break. There is a nice kinky flow to it. I would give this author a second look with a longer story, to see how she develops it over a bigger word count.

A copy was provided by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Check out on Goodreads!

Purchase Links:

NineStar Press: http://ninestarpress.com/product/trickster-elizabeth-coldwell/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Trickster-Elizabeth-Coldwell-ebook/dp/B019169NJW

Author Bio

Elizabeth Coldwell is a multi-published author and the former editor of the UK edition of Forum magazine, where she was responsible for publishing a number of now very well-known authors for the first time, as well as honing her own writing.
She lives in East London, is a season ticket holder at Rotherham United, and a keen cook. Her recipe for peanut butter brownies is available if you ask nicely…

Email: elizabeth_coldwell@yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://elizabethcoldwell.wordpress.com

Excerpt

©Copyright Elizabeth Coldwell 2015

All Rights Reserved.

I knew when I found him, hanging there in his chains, that he was going to be trouble. Trouble that would haunt me across galaxies. Those eyes, that insolent pout, that muscular, battle-scarred body. The last thing I expected, but everything I desired. And because of that, I made the first serious mistake of my career.

Though some would call it the second serious mistake, the first being my decision to leave the army. My family never understood why I would choose to give up everything I’d worked so hard to achieve. They saw the rank of Captain before my name, the honour medal I’d been awarded for the part I played in the Mondrian Offensive, and the enviably secure pay and conditions I enjoyed. What they hadn’t seen was the bodies of men I regarded as my brothers lying broken in the mud after three days of hand-to-hand combat on Mondrian. They never knew how close I came to joining the ranks of the fallen, even if they couldn’t fail to notice the slight limp I was left with after the field medics operated on my injuries. It was enough to convince me to get out while I still could.

Becoming a bounty hunter following my discharge seemed like a logical move. It gave me the thrill of the chase, and the opportunity to bring the bad guys to justice. I got to make my own choices about what assignments I took. And it paid well enough that I could start to think I might retire in a couple of years. I’d always had the dream of settling down in one of the little coastal towns on Bencula, spending my evenings on the porch with a brew in my hand, watching the suns setting over the silver-blue sea. Of course, in those fantasies, I had a man to share those long summer evenings with. Most of the rest of the time, I felt as though I was destined to always be alone.

So when I found myself tracking Jobi Wade, I was thinking of nothing more than swelling my retirement fund. In truth, I was surprised our paths hadn’t crossed already. After all, Wade was wanted for felony on half the Federated worlds. He was a hacker and a con man, as light-fingered as he was smooth-tongued. The type who would have been classed as a charming rogue, but for the fact the data he stole was sold on to enemies of the Free Governments. He had information stored on memory chips that could bring down armies and bankrupt all but a handful of nations, and a lot of important people were desperate to get that information back. But Wade was elusive. Several times he had come close to capture, only to wriggle from the grasp of his pursuers. Where other men had failed, I was keen to succeed.

Review: Broken Alpha & Devoted Alpha (The Alpha/Omega Verse #1-2) by DC Juris

Any Alpha/Omega readers out there? 

 
Yeah, we thought there might be a few. Check out Chelsea's double reviews of D.C. Juris's Alpha/Omega Verse!


Book #1 - Broken Alpha

Captain Korden Encarit of the North Star thought he'd lost the most important person in the universe to him - his brother and lover, Rennett.

A year later, Rennett has been found alive, a captive on a hostile planet. Only when their sibling link reactivates does Korden realize how bad the damage is: stripped of his mental strength, Rennett is now a Broken Alpha.

With the help of his friends - ship's Malorcian healer, Sokel, and his fiery Human mate, Sebastian - Korden must try and heal his brother's mind and help him adjust to his new status as omega. But Rennett needs a mate, and it quickly becomes clear that no one is willing.

Will Korden give up everything he has worked for - his career, his ship - buck Presidian tradition, and risk the scorn of their father to save his brother?

This series caught my eye for a lot of reasons, one it has alpha and omegas (so yum!) and then it has two of my favourite naughty sub-genres, incest and Daddy kink!! YES! I mean there is no way I could pass up on a series with both of those making an appearance!!

I don’t know what I was expecting but both books surprised me a lot, did I enjoy them?… yes I actually really really did.

This is a story about aliens. Aliens who have alpha and omega status, both characteristics similar to typical alpha and omegas, but if you're expecting fur and knotting you won't find it here. Kordan and Rennett are brothers, alphas and lovers. Rennett went on a mission nearing a year ago and never came back, Kordan assumed he had died. When our story starts Kordan is given information by Sokel and Sebastian (Kordans best friends and mated pair) that Rennett has been held prisoner and tortured for the time he has been missing. Of course Kordan goes and rescues him, but the severe mental torture that was inflicted changed Rennett from an alpha status to omega.

Before going into this you have to know that all four of these characters are main characters, each have equal page time and most have a chapter or so in their POV.

This story had great characters and a very interesting world, unfortunately I felt that they weren’t explored or explained as well as they could’ve been. We didn’t get to know much about Kordan’s or Sokel’s alien species, we weren’t even given many details about what they look like, just some small insignificant facts like, their blood is yellow. That being said, it didn’t make me feel like I knew these men any less. The feelings and experiences that Kordan and Rennett go through are very well written and I definitely felt connected to them. Some more background information on Rennett and Kordan’s relationship before the kidnapping or how Sokel and Sebastian became mated would’ve been nice. The universe also wasn’t very detailed, there was enough to make the story work, but nothing compared to other alien stories I’ve read.

There were also a few things that tied up too neatly or quickly for my liking. One prime example is, Kordan and Rennett’s father never knew about them being lovers and it's mentioned that it'd be a big scandal if he ever found out. Yet nothing is mentioned about the confrontation other than an off-page conversation Kordan has with him. There’s no fall out, or no acknowledgment that their dad approved, just nothing.

OK getting back on track to the things I liked. I really really liked the closeness between all these men. Their friendship and need for each other is so tangible throughout the writing that I adored the scenes when they needed to comfort each other. Sokel and Kordan’s banter was delightful and Sebastian (being the only human) brought some humour to the story. The premise behind the mind link (that everyone can lock into it) was fascinating and probably one of the few things that was thoroughly explained.

Then there's the heat scene….oh holy moly that was sooooo goooood. I’d read this book just to get to that desperate, clawing, filling, sweaty marathon of hot brocest sex. It was good.

Don’t shoot me but I definitely picked this up for the brocest, which didn’t end up being a main part of this book. Yes it was there and it was hot, but this focused much more on Rennett’s recovery and adaption to becoming an omega and the friendship between the four men. So no, it wasn’t what I was expecting, but I loved the tender moments and the connections present, even if things could’ve been more fledged out.

Check out Broken Alpha on Goodreads!

Book #2 - Devoted Alpha

Sokel and Sebastian from "Broken Alpha" are back. Sokel has long known his Human mate has harbored certain hidden fantasies and desires, but he's not the kind of Alpha to demand anything of his omega. One night, a whispered word slips past Sebastian's lips -- daddy. Ever the devoted Alpha, Sokel sets out to help his mate understand that these cravings don't make him a deviant. But when Sokel visits a fellow healer in an attempt to please his mate, has he gone too far? And will their best friends and housemates, Korden and Rennett, be able to accept this new twist to their lifestyle?

Phew….this is what I call age-play, but not for the faint hearted. This has got infantilism, age-play and a feeding fetish. A lot of people will be uncomfortable with this, so if this quote freaks you out, stay clear.

“You feel so good, baby boy. So good in my hand. You’re so hard for me, so hard for your daddy. I love to touch you like this, my baby boy. My Bastian, my baby. Drink your milk while I touch you. That’s good, isn’t it? You like my touch, don’t you, baby boy? You like it when Daddy touches you?”

Ok so you’ve been warned. Honestly I love age-play, but even I got a big squeamish while reading this...probably because I was equally turned on and appalled at myself.

This book, unlike its predecessor was just about Sokel and Sebastian, Kord and Rennett do make a small appearance at the end, which leads to a pretty hot scene *waggles eyebrows*. Pretty much Sebastian has this kink, and Sokel makes it happen… ending with fairly extreme (but what I found quite delicious) results.

This story could be read as a stand alone, except for the whole understanding of the universe. The mind-link and omega/alpha status’ aren’t really explained in this book and while it's not necessary to enjoy the age-play, understanding them would make a few sentences less confusing. It really is just a lot of kinky scenes.

I obviously liked it and if you like age-play, you’ll like it too, but don’t expect much more than some kink in this short story.

Check out Devoted Alpha on Goodreads!

Review: Love in Retrograde by Charlie Cochet

Enthusiastic, play-it-safe Kelly Sutton is an American intern at the Photonic Royal Society in New London. He’s been working on Project Mars for over a year, a mission kept so secret by the Society even Kelly doesn’t know exactly what it is. What Kelly does know is his contribution to the task will benefit mankind, and that’s enough for him.

Kelly’s world turns upside down when concerns over his mentor's behavior lead Kelly to investigate and stumble upon a wicked truth. What is supposed to be a project to advance human life turns out to be an endeavor capable of mass destruction. The terrifying reality forces Kelly to choose between looking the other way to keep his job, as he’s always done, or risking his career and even his life to do the right thing by saving the man who’s captured his heart.

Kelly is an intern hoping to advance his career by being part of Project Mars. After overhearing an argument between the two Doctors heading the project, Kelly is taken to the secure section where he discovers Project Mars is actually a human, biologically engineered to be a super-soldier. He does not expect to be confined to Mar’s living quarters, or start caring for this weapon.

This was a fun adventure/love story. As a novella it is a quick read, but the world building and character development is enough to give the illusion of a longer read. None of this story drags, and the quiet before the storm is sweet.

The erotica wasn’t all it could have been but I’ll forgive it because the rest was thorough enough. The plot development and character development was great for a novella. I think it could have been broadened just a bit to give it that edge, but what was there was good enough to know the writer has skill in bringing a fleshed out story.

The action portion was a little too fast paced which took away from the story. Even though this is science-fiction, more would have been better. More explanation of what Mars was doing during the action, more explanation on the villains and their purpose, and more about the supporting characters. These all seemed to be a bit stifled. Obviously I enjoyed this enough to want more, which speaks for itself.

I would recommend this to sci-fi fans, who enjoy genetically engineered humans, conspiracies, and some shoot ‘em up action.

A copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review

Check out on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Review: For Never and Always by Ana J. Phoenix

Seth finds himself alone at an abandoned train station, with no idea what happened, or how he got there. He boards a train, only to discover it’s a special express transporting the recently deceased to their final destination. The conductor tells him he’s having a near-death experience. Seth wonders if it has something to do with his violent boyfriend, but that doesn't matter. All that matters is getting the hell off the train before he actually dies. But when he spots his best friend and secret crush among the traveling dead, the urge to leave fades...

This story broke me and put me back together in the best of ways, it’s the definition of bittersweet and no HEA has ever been more H in the EA. I’m not much of a crier with books and movies. I generally will only get blubbery with animal stories and ridiculous random shit in a Hallmark commercial. When I do though, I start and have trouble stopping and it’s u-g-l-y. That’s probably why I lock down my cold black heart, no one needs to see the aftermath of my ugly crys. My last couple of crying books, The Art of Racing in the Rain and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, were both dog books, they still hurt my heart and I’m still mad at the authors for making me ugly cry. This book was different though, I blubbered, but it wasn’t nearly as vile as my past experiences have been. Even though the book had a foreboding and moody feel throughout, it never felt hopeless. And isn’t hope everything?

Seth and Carter were best friends since childhood but grew apart as they grew older. Carter identified as hetero, had a girlfriend that he loved and a big secret that he kept from Seth. Seth moved in with a boyfriend who controlled him, abused him and cut him off from everyone he loved. Needless to say, there were unresolved feelings all around and if it weren’t for fate, kismet, the stars aligning, the flow of heavenly love or pure coincidence, the two end up on a train headed for their ultimate destinies. This. Was. Awesome. The author did an amazing job of building the story around the journey on the train and all the meaning of the train cars and stops was brilliant. She tied the evolution of their memories to everything around the train seamlessly, I loved it.

Both Seth and Carter were such amazing characters. They were flawed and honest and this story needed that because anything else wouldn’t have felt like a fit to the story and would have cheapened the setting and the aura the author created. There had to be a bit of pain with all the realizations these two were going through. They weren’t just confessing to one another the bits of their lives the other had missed, but they were also figuring out their own eternities and how to resolve and accept them. It sounds really heavy and it was. But, it didn’t read overwhelmingly depressing and it really could have without all the aspects the author included. The author balanced the realizations with the reconnection of Seth and Carter perfectly so while they were owning some tough truths, they also had the appreciation of each other again. And that’s where the hope was present throughout.

The ending was wonderful and awful and perfect and hurt all at the same time. It had to end the way it did and good on the author for not caving and make it too easy or too perfect. It followed the logic of the world the author built, respecting the rules that had to be followed. The ending also allowed the characters’ to own their inner strength along with all the regrets and confusion they had when they boarded the train. It was a cleansing journey, which yeah, I know sounds corny, but it really was.
The secondary characters added a lot to the story as well and reading about Seth and Carter helping them also gave them perspective on themselves.

This really unique and bittersweet read hit me hard in the feels and I can’t recommend it enough. It was refreshing to read something out of the ordinary that still gave me all the warm fuzzies that I love from this genre. Seth and Carter are going to be with me forever and always and I know I’ll be comfort reading this story again.

For more information on Never and Always, head over to Goodreads.

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

Review: Bender by Gene Gant

At nineteen, college freshman Mace Danner works as an escort, hiring himself out to customers who want a submissive they can dominate. Having no carnal urges himself, the sexual side of his job leaves him cold, but he sees the pain inflicted on him by his clients as punishment for causing his brother’s death when he was in high school. Pain is not enough, however, to wash away his guilt, and Mace starts binge drinking in an effort to escape his remorse.

The dorm’s resident advisor, Dex Hammel, sees Mace spiraling out of control and strives to help him. Despite the mutual attraction between them, Mace is disturbed that he still feels no sexual desire for anyone. Even with Dex’s support, Mace's self-destructive behavior escalates, leading to a situation that endangers his life.


A New Adult title appropriate for ages 16+

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I chose this book. The blurb sounded twisted in a fantastic way and I was intrigued by the concept of an asexual masochist. However, Mace is not a masochist and this isn't a BDSM book. Mace blames himself for his brother's death and as penance he's become a male escort who specializes in "submission".

But it's not enough. It's never enough. So he keeps upping the stakes. I don't necessarily believe he's suicidal, but I think he has no concept of self-preservation. And nothing dulls his internal pain like external pain.

I was surprised by how much emotion and character depth Gant was able to achieve in a novella and impressed. I felt how isolated and lonely Mace was along with all of his self-loathing. I also felt the lassitude. He's pushed everyone that he ever cared about away and believes himself unworthy and maybe even toxic to others.

The further away I get from high school and college the easier it is to forget how difficult it can be to be different, to not fit in and while that's somewhat fashionable amongst the hipster generation everyone needs someone to understand them; it's the most important thing to Mace. His confusion and sense of alienation is the catalyst for a tragedy that becomes his own personal hell.

Until he meets Dex and Dex won't give up on him.

Dex is his friend and RA but he wants to be more, so he keeps hanging around, offering to talk, to be his friend and eventually Mace comes to trust him and, more importantly, finds comfort with him. I tagged it bisexual because he did have a girlfriend and some of his customers are female, but I'm really not sure if he's actually attracted to women or just grasping at straws out of his profound confusion over being asexual.

There is some chemistry between Dex and Mace, but I didn't really feel their connection as anything more than friends which is likely due to the length. I did truly appreciate that there was no magic cock and Mace sought professional help that was actually helpful, though I was disappointed that no one encouraged him to press charges against Wes.

The ending seemed a bit rushed and maybe too tidy, but I would definitely read something else by this author.

Recommend to fans of NA.

 Trigger warning:  assault, mentions of violence and some flashbacks.

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

Find out more on Goodreads.

Tag-Team Review: Mulligans by Charlie David

Chase never had many friends, but at college, he meets and forms close ties with straight jock Tyler Davidson—a connection he fears he’ll lose if he tells Tyler he’s gay. Keeping his sexuality secret becomes harder for Chase as he joins Tyler and his family at their idyllic lake house for the summer. It grows more and more difficult for Chase to avoid Tyler’s attempts to set him up with girls, and he’s tired of making excuses. Chase is ready to embrace the man he is, but he’s afraid of what it will cost him.

The Davidsons seem like the perfect family, but Chase soon realizes there’s trouble in paradise. Tyler’s dad, Nathan, has done everything to make a good life for his wife and children—including suppressing his sexuality and denying his needs for years. But like Chase, Nathan is growing weary of living a lie. What begins as an offer of support from Chase grows into an unexpected attraction that will have profound effects on everyone. Chase and the Davidsons are about to learn that there’s no such thing as a perfect family, but that perfection isn’t a requirement for friendship and love.

1st Edition published by Palari Publishing LLp, 2010.

Fantasy Living and Lorix tag teamed the Mulligans!

I haven’t seen the film, so I pretty much went off the blurb. I had a preconceived idea of what this was about but was surprised where it ended up. I’m not sure if I liked the ending because it wasn’t what I expected, but then I also liked it because I didn’t expect it.

Chase is in college and has been invited to his best-friend, Tyler’s, family vacation home for the summer. There he meets Tyler’s family, the Davidson’s. Mum is Stacey, Dad is Nathan, and little sister is Birdy.

Chase hasn’t come out to Tyler yet, but notices something about Nathan that tweaks is intuition. What starts as a supportive ear, turns into something more, and has messy consequences.

This story was a mixed bag. I enjoyed it, and read it from start to finish without any other form of entertainment interruptions. I was eager to see where it went, and fascinated by the layers of hidden thought within the story.

Stacey was by far my favourite Davidson. Learning about her was really enjoyable, and I’m glad that her perspective was a big part of the narrative.

There is a fair amount of drama in this story, but I wasn’t overwhelmed by it. I did feel a bit sad for everyone, but there was the attempts at forgiveness and extending a hand in friendship that kept the story lighter than it could have been.

The attraction between Chase and Nathan is convincing. I can see why Nathan got caught up with the fantasy of what life might have been like if he had come out twenty years ago. The challenges that he faces as a father and family man, while ignoring a vital part of himself, showed that he was human and someone who cared deeply for his family. The flawed part of the man became more apparent as the story progressed, but he never turned into the villain.

Chase seemed equally swept up in fantasy. One that wasn’t really conscious, but once prodded became something big and beyond anything his younger mind was capable of truly processing. I worried for him, because being that young always magnifies tortured feelings and can potentially turn them into something more damaging. I’m glad he seemed to be level headed enough to get a handle on reality, rather than slip into something darker.

The story flowed well. The golf angle was fun, and different. Not something I would have considered as a good plot filler, but it worked. The writing was tight, and editing was solid.

Overall the story was good, and the plot worked. The key points were clear, and the story was brought to a natural conclusion. It wasn’t neat, or wrapped up in a pretty ending. It was entirely believable, and it didn’t feel tacky, cheap, or fetishised. I’d recommend this for something serious but not heavy. This has romantic content, but it is not a romance. It’s a story about mistakes, with consequences, and working on forgiveness.

A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

***Maybe a little spoilerish, so don't read if you like a full surprise.***

Gah, What can I say... I liked this story but the ending left me wanting. Not because it was bad, I just wanted different so I felt unsatisfied... discontented... something along those lines. I guess I wanted the sunshine and rainbows ending and that didn't happen exactly as I would have like it too. Doesn't mean this was a bad story though. On the contrary this is a book full of great characters and a plot that works well. 

Though I have not seen the film on which this book is based, I felt like I was reading a film. We were introduced to several characters viewpoints, a similar tact used in films, for me personally i would have liked it to be all in the POV of the two MC's. That is a personal preference though, it doesn't reflect the quality of the writing.

Chase and Nathan fascinated me. I loved how things developed between them, it felt very real. Want and regret and decisions made in lust. Neither were bad men and it easy to see how sometimes good people make 'bad' choices, inadvertently hurting those they love and care for the most.

I had mixed feelings about Stacey - and not just because she called her daughter Birdy...

Joking aside, I think she is probably an important character in the film, it can't be just about Chase and Nathan when one is the father of the other's best friend; I felt adding her POV into the book was unnecessary though. It just didn't sit right for me. I wanted to  know about Chase and Nathan and I wanted everything from their POV. I wanted the reactions of the other characters, especially Stacey and Tyler, I wanted as filtered through their eyes and feelings only. Again, this is a personal preference.

All in all a well written book that didn't always feel quite right to me, but this reflects more on me than the book itself.

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

Check out on:

Dreamspinner Press

Goodreads

Group Review: Heart Ripper: Coffin Nails MC (Sex & Mayhem #9) by K.A. Merikan

--- You always want what you can’t have. ---

David. Catholic. Gay. Set on keeping his purity ring.
Raja. Biker. Manwhore. Never refuses a bet.

David has always tried to be the best son his parents could dream of.
Always at church on Sunday.
Always eager to help with the garden.
Always trying his best at school.
Prim, proper, innocent, and kind.
But deep inside of him, there is a yearning planted by the devil himself, and when a cocky, foul-mouthed biker pulls him a step too far, David doesn’t fall into the abyss. He leaps.
Raja is all he’s ever dreamed of, yet didn’t dare voice. Older, dangerous, a wall of muscle with a grip so strong David can’t resist him no matter how hard he tries.

As a freshly appointed president of a motorcycle club on the verge of ruin, Raja has a lot to live up to. Being gay doesn’t do him any favors in terms of commanding the respect of his men. He has his way of compensating though.
Always first in a fight.
Always bragging about his sexual conquests.
Always up for a bet.
Daring, tattooed, sexy, and unapologetic.
After he boasts he can have any man he wants, he gets challenged to hook up with the preppy guy wallflowering at a party. Raja can’t wait to pop the innocent cutie’s cherry. But when he finds out the guy is his friend’s younger brother, life gets a whole lot messier.

Why is the one guy who should be off-limits always the most tempting?


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:

Themes: Outlaw motorcycle club, organized crime, religion, homophobia, bet, good boy meets bad boy, coming out
Genre: M/M romance, suspense
Length: ~100,000 words

WARNING: This book contains steamy sexual content and graphic violence.


Chelsea - 4.5 Hearts

Buddy Read with Breann and Fantasy! We had a lot of fun fawning over David, getting hot under the collar with Raja's dirty talk, and cheering loudly when certain people got punched in the face!

This was truly a sweet and fluffy Merikan book. However that being said, there's still some dismemberment, but it wouldn't be a ‘sex and mayhem’ book otherwise ;-)

So first off let me introduce you to David and Raja:

Everyone meet David,

David is an eighteen year old boy who has been raised in a conservative catholic family. His brother is Hunter (who was the hero in ‘Split’), a member of the Coffin Nails MC (‘CNMC’) Detroit chapter. David goes along to Hunter’s new sons baby shower, along with all of these CNMC members. Here he meets Raja and ends up doing dirty dirty things!1

“I’m a dirty boy, I want it.”

Yea you do! Seriously though, David was such a cutie.

He is naive, but honest with himself once he learnt to overlook the restrictions his parents had placed on him. Obviously he annoyed the shit out of me when he was clouded by all the opinions he’d been led to believe, but more on that later. I loved seeing David come out of his shell and make a version of himself that was just for him. It was very well done.


Everyone meet Raja,

Raja is the newly appointed president of the Coffin Nails MC Toledo chapter. He’s struggling to get his small chapter of 5 men up and running while trying to prove his worth as a gay president. He is a self-proclaimed manwhore and loves it! When he’s at Hunter's baby shower, Raja feels the need to prove he’s still a ‘man’ even though he’s gay (queue eye roll) and makes a bet with one of his men that he could get any man to suck his cock. Here enters David.

Raja is one sexy Mofo, every sex had me in overdrive and his dirty talk… grunts...so good!

Raja moaned and grasped David’s hair tighter. His muscled stomach flexed so beautifully that David couldn’t help but gasp against the thick shaft. “It’s gonna plow both your holes today. Can you imagine it pushing your ass apart?”

I really like how Raja wants to protect David, but not smother him. He wants David to explore what it means to be himself. Once they decide to be together though, Raja brings out that possessiveness, which had my toes curling in delight.

Even though I liked Raja, it was definitely because he grew on me. Being an out and proud manwhore, he doesn't treat David extremely well in the beginning, and I felt nervous about the inevitable fallout his actions would cause. I like how things resolved though. Good for David!

One reason I was hesitant to read this book was the religious themes involved. Hearing about gay boys (and girls) hating themselves and being hated on makes me so angry, especially when it's disguised under the banner of ‘love’ and what's ‘best for you’. Now don't get me wrong, I think spirituality is an important part of many people's lives, but religion is organised by people, and people can be judgmental ignorant pricks who should not enforce their opinions where it's not welcomed. It feels a lot like brainwashing, which was why is was so interesting to see David start to question his opinions and beliefs when faced with a world away from his parents influence. Poor David and his inner conflict…. It hurt to read.

“There are facilities where I can be helped with my… feelings. I’m just not ready to go, but it looks like I’ll have to, because it’s spinning out of control.”
Raja’s jaw clenched.
“What facilities?”
“There’s even something like a summer camp where I would go for a few months , do therapy, and not be a pervert anymore. There’s lots of people who have succeeded.”

This book had some great moments that had me jumping up and down in my seat. I was literally grinning like a loon when Raja comes help David out with a certain situation gone wrong at church, it was ah-mazing!!

Some people may think this book was too long, I didn't notice the length but I can understand their thoughts. I could've kept on reading for the delicious sex alone! It takes a great book to make you invest and physically feel all the emotions the characters are feeling. It might be because the religion issue is close to my heart, but I was definitely invested! This book was ridiculously fun, ridiculously sexy and ridiculously infuriating. Highly recommend!!!

Breann - 4 Hearts

Well, hot damn! Hot book is hot.

I really couldn't have said it better than Chelsea. Reading with Unicorns is always better, especially when you can chat about all the dirty details and get excited when a certain someone gets what's coming to them.

First: David. He was adorable and sweet. Yes, he definitely frustrated me sometimes. I wanted to smack him, but had to remember he's really young and a product of his environment. Considering his strict upbringing, he was very open and honest with Raja about his feelings. And he had feelings. Hot and dirty feelings.

Raja saw something in David right away and drew everything David was trying to hide out to the surface. He brought out the dirty boy in David. Good-NESS they were effing hot together. David has got a mouth on him. I loved all the kinky things Raja made come out of David's mouth.

This was most certainly the fluffiest of the series. There was some violence and blood, but it was mostly a good mixture of sexy and sweet. I liked the change of pace, but it still felt like a Sex & Mayhem book.

For me, Heart Ripper was a tad too long. There was a lull in the middle and the David and Raja scenes felt a bit repetitive at times.

Definitely another win in the series. I am convinced that K.A. Merikan can do no wrong.

Fantasy Living - 4 hearts

This review may contain minor spoilers

I’ve had a pretty mixed experience with the Sex & Mayham Series. I have mostly loved the books I’ve read, but some have flopped a bit for me.

This wasn’t a flop. I thoroughly enjoyed it. David made this book wonderful. It’s a little fluffier than the previous books, but it still has that sharp edge of the MC to keep with the flow of the rest of the series.

I liked Raja but I wasn’t completely convinced by him as the President of the patched-over club. While he was trying to create an income for the club, I felt like there wasn’t a good way to showcase him leading the group, and pursuing David. The focus was more on his relationship with David, and I felt that the development of the MC as a group was stifled.

David’s self-acceptance was hard won. I’m not entirely sure whether there was really any resolution on his religion. But he moved well into the crowd at the MC and made friends, carving out a spot for himself in his new environment.

There were some light moments, and some good old fashioned flirty fun. This book didn’t drag at any point, and I enjoyed learning about both these characters, as well as reading more about prior characters.

The religious stuff was fairly benign. Some questionable content, and some interesting concepts, like the purity ring, which I have heard about, but at the time, wasn’t interested enough to know more of. It was nice to learn something new.

The sex, as always, was hot. David and Raja had great chemistry. I liked that after the first scene, things moved a lot slower. I think that made it more believable with David being a virgin.

I think my favourite parts of this story was when David started to get the confidence to stand up for himself, and the people he cared for. Growing up in a sheltered environment, where disappointment from others is probably the worst thing imaginable, meant that speaking his mind freely was something he had to learn once he started living with his brother. I felt the authors used care and precision when developing David, and the timing of his growth was perfect.

I would recommend this for readers who enjoy MM MC books, with some edgy content. There is violence in this book, as with the others, so reader beware. This can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading some of the prior books first, just for the fun of it (and to appease my series order OCD).



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Blog Tour + Giveaway: Heart Ripper by K.A. Merikan

The Merikans are here! We said the MERIKANS are here! are you excited yet? You should be. Not only have the ladies stopped by to promote today's release, Heart Ripper: Coffin Nails MC, the ninth book from their popular Sex & Mayhem series! Not only do we get to drool at the cover and teasers, there is an excerpt and a giveaway attached! One lucky winner could choose ANY ebook from the Sex & Mayhem series!

We also had a gangbang review of Heart Ripper here!

Take it away, Merikans!

We knew we’d write Heart Ripper as soon as David appeared on the pages of Split as the MCs younger brother. There was just something about this tertiary character that spoke to us, and in no time, we were hard at work. David comes from a very devout Catholic background, and the overbearing nature of his mother doesn’t do him any favors in discovering his sexual interests. But then comes Raja, a friend of David’s brother, and he sweeps David off his feet without knowing who he’s dealing with.

This story is much sweeter than many of the other Sex & Mayhem books in the sense that one of the characters is not in any way connected to the criminal world, and that is one of the reasons Raja, the newly appointed club president of one of the Coffin Nails MC chapters, likes him so much. David is a sweet ray of sunshine and normalcy, the kind of boyfriend Raja never had, and he can’t deny himself the attraction, even if he knows he should not pursue this particular guy.

I guess most of us like a story of a forbidden love, one that needs to face many obstacles. It isn’t easy for Raja to openly date a guy, and it is even harder for David to put everything on the line, but their connection is explosive, and neither of them can make himself give up on it.


If you want to see our inspiration photos for this book, check out the ‘Heart Ripper’ Pinterest board: https://uk.pinterest.com/KAMerikan/heart-ripper-by-ka-merikan-sexmayhem-9/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29330795-heart-ripper---coffin-nails-mc

Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GBO228Q/

EXCERPT:

The bearded guy from downstairs slid inside, locking the door of the bathroom with a loud, final-sounding clang, and then his dark gaze was on David, rendering him mute and unable to defend himself from that strong presence.

The man was taller than David, and the white T-shirt he was wearing clung to his athletic body as he glided through the bathroom. For a moment, the world slowed down, and David could swear he saw the pitch-black hair float in the air, the curved-up moustache twitch as the man smiled beneath the thick, well-kept beard. Bold black tattoos covered the man’s arms, all the way to his wrists, and some even peeked out from under the round collar of the shirt, beckoning David to have a closer look at the dark, warm-hued skin, which had immediately set the man apart from everyone else present at the party.

“I… I mean, okay, I guess you need it more,” David uttered and attempted to pass the guy, fleeing for the door. He was hot, cold, sweaty all over, and nervous as hell. Life had been so much easier years ago, before puberty hit him in the face like a red hot poker drenched in sin.

The man stood in his way, and before David could utter a word of protest, a palm as hot as molten lava burned the skin of his throat, squeezing gently as the man pushed David back. David stepped back in a daze, letting the stranger direct him toward the wall, until his knees hit something hard and cool. The man pushed him down, and David obeyed yet again, taking a seat on the closed toilet.

He could barely breathe from the stress of being alone with this guy in a locked room. “I’m sorry if I stared,” he wanted to say, but only managed a hoarse whisper. His body was still processing being touched by this man. Older, bigger, with eyes that could scorch David alive.

“I enjoyed you staring,” said the stranger with a small smirk to his lips as he traced his thumb over David’s lips. It was the sulphur to the match of David’s arousal, and he quickly clenched his thighs in panic. Even his accent immediately set him apart from most people David met. Rich and thick as sugar syrup, it was definitely Southern.

Even fumbly kisses with a girl at church camp weren’t as igniting as one touch from this man. David would burn in hell for the images crawling out of the back of his mind. His heart was beating so hard it made him light-headed.

The man liked him looking.

So he wasn’t about to scold David for it. But what could a man like this possibly want with him then? A man with all that dark hair on his thick arms, a face as handsome as if it were a gift from the devil himself, and touch that made every hair on David’s body bristle.

“This… this is a misunderstanding,” David mumbled.

The man smirked and pulled down the zipper of his jeans, slowly letting go of David’s neck. “Nice to meet you, pretty boy.”

About the author

K. A. Merikan is the pen name for Kat and Agnes Merikan, a team of writers, who are mistaken for sisters with surprising regularity. Kat’s the mean sergeant and survival specialist of the duo, never hesitating to kick Agnes’s ass when she’s slacking off. Her memory works like an easy-access catalogue, which allows her to keep up with both book details and social media. Also works as the emergency GPS. Agnes is the Merikan nitpicker, usually found busy with formatting and research. Her attention tends to be scattered, and despite pushing thirty, she needs to apply makeup to buy alcohol. Self-proclaimed queen of the roads.

They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and books. When you pick up a Merikan book, there’s one thing you can be sure of - it will be full of surprises.

e-mail: kamerikan@gmail.com

More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:

K.A. Merikan’s author page: http://kamerikan.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KAMerikan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KA_Merikan

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6150530.K_A_Merikan

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/KAMerikan/

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Review: Undercover Boyfriend (One Fine Day #1) by Jacob Z. Flores

Two men, one lie, and a whole bunch of trouble.

Marty Valdez is in serious trouble. His sister’s wedding is around the corner, and everyone expects to meet Marty’s super-successful underwear model boyfriend—whom Marty invented. Now Marty has to produce a half-naked hottie or suffer the worst humiliation of his life.

FBI agent Luke Myers is in serious trouble. He’s been working undercover to take down a dangerous drug cartel, but his cover’s blown and he needs to disappear. Luckily, a geeky yet intriguing comic book artist gives him the perfect opportunity. Luke just has to pretend to be his boyfriend, and pretending is what he does best. But between Marty’s mother and his ex, Luke might’ve bitten off more than he can chew, and Marty’s knack for finding trouble might ruin more than just his sister’s wedding.

BREAKING NEWS!!!

This story is #TotesAdorbz

I legit wanted to hug my kindle at the ending. It's got so many things I enjoy about escapist entertainment. If this were a movie it would be that one you've seen a million times but still it never gets old. It's your comfort watch where you settle in with the good popcorn and the BIG OLE DEW. Seriously, what's the point of that 12 oz can? That's nothing but a waste of my time.

Just look at all that yummy neon goodness. 

Anywhat!

This book is my first experience with this author, this series and by proxy Harlequin. That's right. I've never read a Harlequin but if this is what they're like I need to rectify that travesty with a quickness.

Undercover Boyfriend is the classic fake to real boyfriend trope with a geek and a super hot dude. They seem an unlikely pair but Marty and Luke click from the moment Marty catches Luke trying to steal his Hyundai. It's pretty predictable and maybe a little OTT, but so sweet and romantic with loads of UST and two well developed characters.

Marty is our adorkable geek who's gotten into the habit of making up people to get out of uncomfortable situations. He's a comic book aficionado and homebody. I wouldn't characterize him as an introvert or anything he just isn't into peopleing; peopleing's a hassle. But his big sister's wedding is coming up and everyone is pressuring him to meet his underwear model boyfriend, Tim Drake, so in a desperate attempt to find someone, ANYONE he head's for the local gay bar armed with his lucky coin.

And meets Luke Myers, undercover FBI agent and sex on a stick. Dude is crazy, stupid hot and in a pickle since his cover just got blown on a cartel case he's been working for over a year, so if fake boyfriending it can get him off the grid for a bit so be it.

I don't think he ever imagined becoming so smitten with not only Marty and his extensive collection of superhero garb, but the Valdez family. Nor did I. The mother is larger than life and nothing's getting past her. The sister is brash, nosy in an affectionate way and her brother's biggest cheerleader. The extended family is gossip-y and loud, something I can identify with, but they will close ranks if you fuck with one of them in a heartbeat.

Of course the cartel case gets brought to their doorstep which brings out all the things I like in an MC. Luke is protective and becomes increasingly possessive of Marty. There's also a significant size difference between the two, something that pushes my buttons. The way Flores threaded Luke's backstory into the story kept my attention and I loved that even though this is instalove it worked for me because both of these characters used their words. 

They bond over throwback tunes, superheros and their shared dislike of Marty's ex-boyfriend and royal douchecanoe, Christian. Their first kiss was romance movie epic and swoonworthy. Flores did an amazing job of showing how much they care about each other, how having to work together betters them both and how their feelings expand and develop over the few days they're together.

There's nothing better than a romance wherein the two MCs bond through a harrowing experience and this harrowing experience brought with it sinister baddies and an all around badass partner in Crispy. I'm kind of hoping book two is Crispy's book. Whomever it is I will be there with bells on! 

The sex scene was fade to black, but not before its made imminently clear just how turned on each MC is by the other. Yet another win in a romance read in my book.

Recommend this book highly to people who enjoy romancey romance that is sweet with a side of adventure.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.