Review: Eric Arvin's Greatest Hits by Eric Arvin

From Urban Fantasy to Contemporary, enjoy these four romances from Eric Arvin in this exclusive bundle. In Simple Men, Chip is a football coach at a small college, but his personal life is in a bit of a rut. Then he meets the new school chaplain, Foster. Chip decides to go for it, but love is never simple, and sometimes it's a downright mess! In Another Enchanted April, three men stay at a bed-and-breakfast with a breathtakingly beautiful garden that has an air of the supernatural. Jerry's there for love, Doug's there for sex, and Tony is practically dragged along. Three men clinging stubbornly to their self-destructive ways... can the magic of the garden prevent love's labors from being lost? In Woke Up in a Strange Place, Joe wakes up in a barley field with no clothes, no memories, and no idea how he got there. He sets off through a fantastical changing landscape to confront his past. If he wants to find peace—and reunite with the Stranger he is so strongly drawn to—he must continue on until the end. In Galley Proof, fiction writer Logan is perfectly happy—until he meets the editor of his next book, Brock. Soon his life and his new manuscript are in a shambles. To take his mind off the mess, Logan goes on a trip, but he might have to admit there are some things you can’t run from.

Average!

Simple Man

2.5 Hearts

“It’s not you it’s me”

This story follows two separate couples. A Chaplain, Foster, and a Football Coach, Chip. Chip is a stereotypical hetero jock until he meets the new Chaplain of Verona College. He quickly discovers his thoughts about the chaplain are not very straight at all.

Brad and Jason have been friends and roommates since they started at Verona College, and their bromance is starting to feel like a little more than platonic intimacy.

I think some people would favour this type of writing style. It is flowery and light. Lots of descriptive text and traditional prose. Unfortunately for this story, I prefer a more contemporary style of writing, so I didn’t quite get into it the way I had hoped I would.

There is a lot of tongue in cheek wit that got a giggle out of me, and I enjoyed the side characters and the interactions (except fo Lynn, I didn’t like Lynn all that much) and the relationship development was decent.

This story is fluffy and lighthearted in a lot of ways. There wasn’t a great deal of depth of character which is my preference, but the romance was nice.

I enjoyed that it followed two couples of differing ages through their discovery of their sexuality. It gave a good contrast between two generations. Jason and Brad are the school pranksters and I enjoyed their antics. It boarded erotic with their interactions and continued to simmer for much of the story.

Foster and Chip were more overt in their relationship development. More set up, and getting to know them. A lot more background of prior relationships, and time spent developing their characters.

I’d recommend this as a light read. This is romance, so you’re not going to get anything more than a take of an erotic wrestling match, and a lot of hard-on references, but for this style of writing it fit well.

Another Enchanted April

3.5 Hearts

Three friends, Tony, Douglas and Jerry are off for a holiday at a seaside resort. Tony is reluctantly pressured into going so he could be a supportive friend for Jerry, who has been mooning after Douglas for a long time.

All Verona College graduates they have stayed friends, even though Tony is a grump, due in part to a football injury that never healed properly.

This story is about new connections and reconnections. I really enjoyed the setting, and the relationship building. There was a lot of good dialogue and teasing out of personalities that helped this story stay strong.

Tony feels old and washed up (he’s not) and spends most of the vacation in the gardens, trying to ignore the flirting of the grounds keeper, Sal. Sal is not put off by the gruffness that is Tony, and continues to flirt and pursue throughout the story.

Told predominantly through Tony’s and Jerry’s point of view, the gardens and the Manor House is the primary setting. There is a lot of beautiful descriptives of the surroundings which really drew me in.

Doug is the playboy of the three, and there are some fun scenes with Doug planning all manner of erotic fun for them to enjoy. I felt pretty bad for Jerry, because all he wanted to do was spend time with Doug, no matter what they were doing.

Relationship development was strong in this story, and I really enjoyed getting to know everyone. There was a lot of lighthearted banter, but also a serious tone when necessary, and the three characters were endearing.

Recommended for those who enjoy light romance with some light erotic content in a holiday setting. Don’t expect a threesome between these three though. Tony is way too much of an outlier to participate in that type of debauchery.

Woke Up in a Strange Place

4 Hearts

Revered by many a reader on Goodreads, I had pretty high expectations for this story, and I can say that it absolutely delivered.

The thing that stands out most for this story was Eric’s use of descriptives to build an entirely tactile world inside my head. It was beautifully balanced with richness that allowed my imagination to take hold and steer me through the winding dimension of this afterlife.

The premise of the story was enchanting, as were the characters and the overall plot. This is a beautiful journey for Joe, with some fascinating concepts of life after death, coupled with some well placed humour to cut through the morbid subject matter.

There was enough depth to ensure the subject was not glossed over. There are some things that may be distressing for some readers, but I honestly think this is an experience in reading that even the lovers of fluff will find enjoyable.

Experiencing Joe’s memories one at a time, on his journey from childhood to his one true love was precious and beautiful. Even through the hard times, I saw the connections he made, and the love he had for life and his friends.

This is a highlight of this anthology, and I am richer for this journey. I would recommend this for all readers.

Gally Proof

4 Hearts

This is the story of writer Logan Brandish and his new editor Brock Kimble. Written in first person from Logan’s point of view, this story was beautifully witty and well written.

Logan is being challenged in his writing by his newly assigned editor Brock, but he is having trouble concentrating on writing due to a combination of writer’s block, and swooning over Brock. It seems that Brock hates everything Logan writes, and he is challenged to re-write his manuscript over and over, while fighting said writer’s block, and pining for Brock to notice him in a completely unprofessional way.

This was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed both Logan and Brock. I found the banter entertaining and smile inducing. The writing style in this particular story was enjoyable, and suited, even though it is not my favourite style to read.

The focus on Logan and his unrequited infatuation was strongly expressed during the story, and a mixture of traditional writing style, and some well placed contemporary language made the punch lines stand out stronger.

This is a story that I would enjoy re-reading, as something comforting and entertaining both.

Logan’s roommate Janey and her mission to get the Mormons was a quirky and fun addition to the plot line. I loved her antics and was cheering for her the whole time.

Logan is dating Curtis, and it was easy to see how that was going to turn out. I promise there is no cheating, and everything turns out well in the end, but from Curtis’ first introduction, you can tell that the relationship is pretty stale, and it’s a matter of time before something needs to change.

As part of this collection, this story was one of my favourites, and I would recommend this for those who want a story that has more depth than the first two. It has a lot of wit and charm, and kept me reading from the start to finish with no lapses in concentration.

A review copy was provided for an honest opinion.

Review: Hearts in Ireland (World of Love) by J.C. Long

When the future is shrouded and it’s hard to find direction, maybe it’s time to let the heart lead the way….

Ronan Walker stands at a crossroads, unsure how to pursue his education… unsure if he even wants to. Now that his mother is gone, all he has left are the wonderful stories of her youth in Ireland, and he’s drawn to the land of his ancestors. There, he seeks out his mother’s family and meets Fergal Walsh, who works at Ronan’s aunt’s bookstore. A love of literature facilitates a fast friendship between the two men, and even though Ronan cannot deny the potential—and his desire—for more, he cannot see a future for the two of them when he leaves Ireland. Fergal must persuade Ronan to give school in Dublin a chance—and convince Ronan that his heart has already found its home.


World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

I was curious about this book having read the author's highly erotic short stories and wondering how his take on this particular line would transfer. The writing is easy to read and engage in, as usual, but the heat level is not in the same land at all. That isn’t a bad thing, it’s just very different from what I have read before but I truly enjoyed the romance of Ronan and Fergal and wouldn’t change a thing.

Home isn’t always where you started—sometimes it’s where you end up.

This book starts off with an extremely emotional scene as we meet Ronan Walker as he is with his mother as she passes away. Ronan’s mother, Allanah, was everything to him and the stories she would tell him of her homeland back in Ireland was a bond they shared. Knowing how much his mother loved where she was from and how much she wanted to go back, she made Ronan promise he would visit and of course he does.

The promise made was bittersweet for me as traveling to Scotland after my father passed was something I had planned to do. He and I always talked about visiting where his family was from and his passing only made my want stronger but life for me had other plans. It’s still on my list though… one day I’ll get there.

This story makes so much sense if you really take in how much Ronan’s mother meant him. Going to Ireland to really take the time he needs to deal with his grief of losing his mother in the place that meant the most to her, it’s only fitting he would find himself.

So, Ronan travels to Ireland to stay with his mother’s family; his Aunt Gwendolyn and his cousin Hannah in the small town of Abhainn Dún, where they run a bookstore. Once Ronan gets settled and takes in all that Ireland offers on his first day, he goes to the family bookstore and meets Fergal, the handsome boy with the thick Irish brogue, dark red hair and light green eyes. Okay, we can pause here to tell you how much I adored Fergal and not just because of his accent though the way his dialect was written I smiled because I could hear that “Oi” for “I” and just melted. Fergal is such a sweet character who has so much in common with Ronan and his fancy for the American makes him so freaking adorable! Sigh.

Ronan and Fergal have a slow burn to their relationship and really begin it all with being friends. They have a shared love for reading and James Joyce being a favorite and they have plans to see the sights as well as going to Dublin’s Parade together. When Fergal offers to take Ronan camping, a rain storm heats things up between them and Ronan is faced with decisions he wasn’t prepared to make.

Ronan learns so much about his mother from her family, including the fact that she was literally born in a barn, but the most important things Ronan learns is where his heart truly lies. This whole trip for Ronan was him running away from the depression losing his mother brought on. He has always talked about going back to school to get his Masters so he can teach, but put it off repeatedly but once he voices the intent in Ireland, Fergal and Ronan’s family offer the information about Trinity College and their program. It’s a subtle hint for him to stay but Ronan doesn’t know yet if he is coming or going and the feelings he’s having for Fergal muddle his thoughts and confuse the hell out of him.

You see, Allanah met his father when Richard, was stationed in Ireland with the US Air Force. They met, fell in love and when his father proposed, his mother immediately accepted and love took her to a new country to start a new life. Though she never once regretted following Richard, she longed to return to Ireland. So, if Allanah followed Richard to the US for love, you have to wonder if the same thing would happen to Ronan and if so, would his love follow him or would he stay for his love?

Hearts in Ireland was a lovely and sweet story about finding yourself and finding your heart. I loved how Ireland itself becomes part of the romance. The setting is strong and had Ireland not been such a strong tie to Ronan’s mother, this would have just been a boy goes in vacation meets another boy and they have and HEA. But Ireland IS Ronan’s mother to him. It’s who she was deep in her heart and souls and it makes sense Ronan would find himself on the emerald isle and also find someone to give his heart to.

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Handle With Care by Jospehine Myles

Josephine Myles and Signal Boost Promotions are promoting the re-release of Handle With Care! Check out today's info and enter the Josephine Myles back list giveaway!

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 51,000 words

Cover: Kanaxa

Blurb

Great things come in small packages…


Ben Lethbridge doesn’t have many vices left. He lost his youth to raising his little sister to adulthood, then made up for lost time with reckless abandon. Two years of constant partying—and ignoring his diabetes—has left him tied to a home dialysis regimen.


He can work from home, fortunately, but most of life’s little luxuries are forbidden. Except for watching porn… and fantasising over Ollie, the gorgeous purple-haired skateboarder who delivers his discreetly packaged DVDs.


Their doorstep banter is the highlight of Ben’s solitary day, but his paranoia over his illness-ravaged body prevents him from seeing their flirting for what it really is. He knows Ollie is far too young for him anyway, but he figures there’s no harm in sprucing himself up a bit.


Then one day, a package accidentally splits open, revealing Ben’s dirty little secret. But instead of Ollie being repelled they make an unexpected connection that has Ben wondering if he’s been reading the situation wrong all this time. The only way to find out if they have a chance at love is to risk showing Ollie every last scar. And that could take more courage than Ben owns.


Warning: Contains superhero porn comics and a pint-sized, accident-prone delivery guy with colour-changing hair. Readers may experience coffee cravings, an unexpected liking for bad mullets, and the urge to wrap Ollie up and take him home.



Author Bio


English through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. Jo blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She’s beginning to suspect he enjoys it.


Jo’s novel Stuff won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Bisexual Romance, and her novella Merry Gentlemen won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Romantic Comedy. She loves to be busy, and is currently having fun trying to work out how she is going to fit in her love of writing, dressmaking and attending cabaret shows in fabulous clothing around the demands of a preteen with special needs and an incessantly curious toddler.


Website and blog: josephinemyles.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/josephine.myles.author

Twitter: @JosephineMyles

Newsletter: eepurl.com/hrQ4s

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Audiobook Review: Until You (At First Sight #3) by T.J. Klune

Together with their families and friends 

Paul Auster

and

Vincent Taylor

request the honor of your company at the celebration of their marriage.

Listening Length: 5 hrs 4 mins
Narrator: Michael Lesley

Fair warning – this is basically just gonna be me gushing and what not for some paragraphs.

You know how sometimes real life is just all up in your business making you adult and it’s annoying and really utter BS? Nothing terrible is happening, but nothing awesome is happening either and you just get tired? I was having one of those times a couple of weeks ago. I have a quote from Dorothy Parker I like to remember in these not-really-so-trying-but-oh-so-very-tiring times, “It’s not the tragedies that kill us; it’s the messes.” It helps me to put the BS into perspective. I’ve added a new thing to keep my addled brain centered when I’m feeling extra precious and that is to grab me a fist full of Klune.

I nabbed the audiobook version of Until You as soon as it came through on the blog, I had already read it and couldn’t wait to hear T.J. Klune’s words come out of Michael Lesley’s mouth. That’s how I read it in my head anyway, so I was pretty stoked. I decided to revisit the whole crew and listened to Tell Me It’s Real again, I wanted the WHOLE Vince and Paul experience from start to, well, to start really; the wedding is just the beginning of happy for Paul and Vince. At the same time I was reading Destiny of Dragon’s and I lumbered like a drunk gorilla through real life deadlines by letting the lizard portion of my brain take over the muddling and I let the fun part of my brain loose at the Klune-a-palooza festival.

If you’ve read Tell Me It’s Real and The Queen and the Homo Jock King, you have to read and listen to Until You stat. I loved the manic wedding planning and of course all the banter. But what got me right in the heart throughout were the connections between Vince, Paul and all the extended family. It seems like everybody had their “moments” in amongst all the funny and that’s something the author always nails, a shot to the feels and poignant moments perfectly balanced in the middle of the entertaining chaos.

I fell in love with Vince in tell Me It’s Real, I mean, who didn’t? But in Until You, he raised the bar pretty high for significant others everywhere. His natural and almost accidental charm are just too good for your average person, but for Paul, he couldn’t be more perfect. The romance was ideal because it was sincere and still tinged with a healthy dose of snark. It’s the exact recipe for romance I want to hear and read. Michael Lesley does a perfect Vince, and I can picture Vince turning into Larry Auster as he ages. How adorable is that to imagine?

Thank you T.J. and Michael, you made my days better, you made me smile and you made me laugh when I needed it. With all the extreme . . . everything these days we tend to underestimate the simple things as we get tripped up in our messes and I’m trying hard to remember to enjoy the good stuff as I should.

T.J. and Michael, you are the good stuff.

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

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Lying Eyes by Robert Winter

Robert Winter and IndiGo Marketing at in the clubhouse, celebrating the release of Lying Eyes! Check out the book info today and enter the giveaway where three people have a chance to win a paperback copy of Lying Eyes!

See our 5 Heart Review of Lying Eyes HERE!

Title:  Lying Eyes

Author: Robert Winter

Publisher:  Robert Winter Books (self-published)

Release Date: July 7, 2017

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 84300

Genre: Romance, Mystery, BDSM

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Synopsis

This bartender’s art lies in more than mixing drinks …

Randy Vaughan is a six-foot-three mass of mysteries to his customers and his friends. Why does a former Secret Service agent now own Mata Hari, a successful piano bar? Where did a muscle daddy get his passion for collecting fine art? If he’s as much a loner as his friends believe, why does he crave weekly sessions at an exclusive leather club?

Randy’s carefully private life unravels when Jack Fraser, a handsome art historian from England, walks into his bar, anxious to get his hands on a painting Randy owns. The desperation Randy glimpses in whiskey-colored eyes draws him in, as does the desire to submit that he senses beneath Jack’s elegant, driven exterior.

While wrestling with his attraction to Jack, Randy has to deal with a homeless teenager, a break-in at Mata Hari, and Jack’s relentless pursuit of the painting called Sunrise. It becomes clear someone’s lying to Randy. Unless he can figure out who and why, he may miss his chance at the love he’s dreamed about in the hidden places of his heart.

Note: Lying Eyes is a standalone gay romance novel with consensual bondage and a strong happy ending. It contains potential spoilers for Robert Winter’s prior novel, Every Breath You Take.

Purchase

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA

Excerpt

Saturday rolled around, and Randy headed to town early to make sure everything was ready for Mata Hari’s busiest evening of the week. Although the bar officially opened at five-thirty, it was rare for anyone to wander in much before seven o’clock. Randy was surprised when the front door opened at six to admit a good-looking man.

The stranger was probably about five foot nine or ten, and wore a three-piece suit that seemed tailored to accentuate a lean build. His dark hair was cut stylishly short on the sides but thick and swept back on the top, and his mustache and full beard were closely trimmed. A brightly colored necktie contrasted with the somber gray of his suit. Randy had trouble assessing the man’s age, but he would go with thirty. European, though—Randy would stake the bar on that guess.

The newcomer contemplated the walls of Mata Hari, passing almost dismissively over the art on display. He studied each piece for no more than a second before moving to the next, but Randy had a distinct impression the man sought something in particular. As he completed his survey, he kept turning and eventually met Randy’s eyes across the bar.

Immediately desire flared in the man’s face as his hungry gaze drifted over Randy’s tight white shirt and up to his face, lingering on his mouth. Shoulders tightened almost imperceptibly as he drew himself to his full height, yet Randy recognized a softening of hard edges. He lazily ran his own eyes to the stranger’s luxurious beard, and he imagined stroking the softness there. He sensed something accommodating. Something potentially submissive, yet more subtle than the wanton displays of obedience and posing he was used to on Mondays at his private club.

Something he would enjoy channeling and rewarding, in the right circumstance.

The man started toward the bar. As he moved, Randy had the odd sense that the suit he wore was ill-fitting, even though it seemed perfectly tailored. A step away from the bar, his face just—closed. That was the only word for it. One instant he was cruising Randy; the next he was stone.

Randy sighed to himself. The guy was probably a closet case on his first night at a gay bar. That usually meant an unsatisfying encounter, even if the newbie didn’t rabbit. In any case, it wasn’t Randy’s thing. He’d had plenty of virgin ass over the years, and preferred his men experienced.

Fine. Nothing for me here. He waited at the bar, vaguely disappointed.

“Sir, good evening.” The man’s accent was English, his words precise and elegant like his hair and his clothes and his beard. Probably from London. Up close, Randy could see his eyes were a deep shade of brown graced with streaks of gold around the pupils that caught the lights over the bar. “I’m looking for a Mr. Randall Vaughan.”

Despite forswearing his immediate attraction to the stranger, that honeyed voice caused Randy to smile slowly and show his teeth. He registered the slight widening of the eyes behind the stranger’s mask as he focused on Randy’s mouth.

“I’m Randy Vaughan. And you are…?”

The man blinked in surprise. “Oh. The Mr. Vaughan I was seeking is an art collector.”

Shit. Just another jerkwad, making assumptions right away. Randy was a big man so he couldn’t possibly be knowledgeable about art, could he? Well, fuck that noise. One more chance.

“I wouldn’t use the term collector, but…” Randy gestured at the walls.

“Quite so,” the man said distantly, and turned to sweep his gaze over the works on the nearest wall. “Neither would I.”

Randy’s back stiffened immediately. The stranger—no, the asshole—turned his attention back to Randy and held out a hand. He seemed oblivious to the fact that he’d just royally pissed Randy off. “My name is Jack Fraser. I’m from the Kensington Museum in London.” Fraser paused as if waiting for Randy to be impressed. “I sent you a letter recently.”

Randy willed himself not to think further about Fraser’s whiskey-colored eyes or the luxuriousness of his beard, and he didn’t take the offered hand. Instead, he wiped a small spill on the counter before him. “You did,” he agreed in a bored tone.

Fraser dropped his hand. “Ah, yes.” A pause. “My secretary didn’t hear from you to set up an appointment.”

“Which was my answer to your request,” Randy said, letting some snarl appear as he met Fraser’s eyes. They were still guarded and closed off, but Randy could see embers burning deep inside. In the right setting, and with proper motivation, he could imagine making those embers flare and ignite in the slender man before him. For the moment, though, the eyes just narrowed in calculation.

Before Fraser could say anything, Randy turned away. “If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

“May I buy a pint?” Fraser asked, desperation shading his smooth accent.

Randy considered calling Malcolm over to deal with it, but stopped in front of the beer taps. He was annoyed at his lingering attraction, and he decided to push back on this prick a bit. “Fine. What’s your pleasure?”

“Guinness. If you have it.”

“Of course you’d drink Guinness.” A little scorn curled Randy’s lip. “Well, the closest beer I have is a stout from Flying Dog.” He let his sneer turn feral. “It’s called Pearl Necklace.” He dropped his eyes to Fraser’s necktie, as if he could picture that very thing replacing the colorful silk.

Fraser blinked nervously. Probably he could picture it too. Maybe he even imagined Randy’s hot jizz splattering his chest and neck as his reward. Well, he shouldn’t have been a condescending shit out of the gate then. Randy waited, one hand on the tap, the other idly scratching his ear to make his bicep flex under his white shirt. Fraser focused on his arm and swallowed audibly.

“That’ll be fine,” he said. “A, uh, Flying Dog then.” Randy drew the pint to set before Fraser on a coaster. He didn’t wait for the man to take a sip or comment, but headed to the other end of the bar to check inventory.

He stayed busy but somehow noticed that Fraser lingered at the bar for several minutes, apparently hoping Randy would come back and let him ask again about the piece Randy had purchased from the Gates Gallery. When Randy deliberately kept his distance, Fraser took his beer (which, Randy was pleased to note, was more than half gone) and wandered around the room to examine more carefully each painting displayed. Sometimes he moved on quickly to the next piece of art. Other times, he gave a slight shake of his head.

Randy’s ears burned, and he considered throwing the guy out. Since he’d opened Mata Hari no one had given him grief about his collection. To be honest, no one had studied it the way Fraser did, but still. Each piece had been acquired because Randy connected to something in it. To have this handsome English stuffed shirt look down his nose offended Randy in a way he couldn’t even articulate. He seethed inside the longer Fraser spent on his dismissive tour of the room.

When Fraser reached a landscape that was hung over a small settee, he gave a distinct snort. He set his empty beer glass on a nearby table and Randy swooped over to pick it up, ostentatiously swiping the wood as if it had left a ring. “Another Pearl Necklace?” he snarled.

“Ah, no. Thank you.” Fraser seemed surprised to find Randy standing so close, though his eyes remained closed off and stony. “But it was a quite nice stout after all. Thank you for the recommendation.”

Randy gestured at the landscape with his chin. “Is that painting offensive to you for some reason? You’re practically laughing at it.”

“What? Oh no, it’s…fine. Competent. It’s the presentation, the arrangement of the art, that I find amusing.”

Randy ran his gaze over the pieces arranged on that wall of the bar. He’d decided where to hang each and every work over a long stretch of time as he’d readied Mata Hari for opening. He revisited the collection frequently and rotated different pieces in and out of prominent positions. Most of his customers were oblivious but Randy took great satisfaction in presenting something unique in the atmosphere of his bar.

“What’s amusing about it?”

“Well, there’s no story, is there?” Fraser answered him.

“What do you mean?”

“Individually each piece is presentable. A few are even intriguing. But see here,” he gestured at the landscape, “this is a nicely executed pastoral, yet it’s positioned between a Japanese scroll and a watercolor of a monarch butterfly. The pieces say nothing about each other, and have no intrinsic relationship.

“But over there,” he indicated the wall opposite, “is a modern landscape. Change the frames to something complementary, place them side by side, and the two landscapes together suggest a conversation in, oh, quite a lot actually. Painting techniques, the subject and tonal changes in works separated by two artistic traditions. You see?”

Randy did see, but he’d be damned if he’d admit it. “Two landscapes here wouldn’t fit,” he said stubbornly.

“Ah. Art as furniture. Of course,” Fraser said with a smirk, and that did it.

“No charge for the Pearl Necklace,” Randy barked. “Since you made the trip for nothing.”

Meet the Author

Robert Winter lives and writes in Provincetown. He is a recovering lawyer who prefers writing about hot men in love much more than drafting a legal brief. He left behind the (allegedly) glamorous world of an international law firm to sit in his home office and dream up ways to torment his characters until they realize they are perfect for each other. When he isn’t writing, Robert likes to cook Indian food and explore new restaurants. He splits his attention between Andy, his partner of sixteen years, and Ling the Adventure Cat, who likes to fly in airplanes and explore the backyard jungle as long as the temperature and humidity are just right.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail

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Giveaway + Blog Tour: Spun! (The Shamwell Tales, #4) by JL Merrow

JL Merrow is here today talking CAMP to promote Spun!, her latest Shamwell Tale!

Be sure to enter to win a $20 Riptide credit below. Good Luck!

Hi, I’m JL Merrow, and I’m delighted to be here today as part of the blog tour to celebrate the release of Spun!, the fourth of my contemporary MM romantic comedies in the Shamwell Tales series.

The Man from CAMP**

To mangle a phrase: Some men are born camp; some achieve camp; and some have camp thrust upon them. (Whether or not they enjoy the last is presumably a matter of personal taste).

Camp is the sort of thing that’s hard to define, but easier to recognise. Think of Liberace, or Elton John. Remember the original 1960s Batman series starring the late, lamented Adam West, or the movie Hairspray?

Camp: ostentatious, exaggerated, affected, theatrical; effeminate or homosexual; pertaining to, characteristic of, homosexuals - The Oxford English Dictionary 

Camp is often seen as synonymous with gay, but that can be very misleading. Many gay men are about as far from camp as you can get, and one of the campest men I’ve ever met turned out to be married with thirteen children (the jury is out over whether he was over-compensating).

In Victorian times, to be camp was to be seen as less than masculine, which (it went without saying) was A Bad Thing: a threat to society’s rigid gender roles and by extension, to society itself. For example, in Oscar Wilde’s scandalous trial for homosexuality, much was made of his “effeminate” mannerisms, such as covering his mouth when he spoke (in fact he was simply embarrassed by the poor state of his teeth).

Conversely, however, in certain spheres camp became an acceptable face of homosexuality: gay entertainers, or actors playing gay characters, would (and some, reportedly, still do: Gok Wan, I’m looking at you) “camp it up” for predominantly straight audiences. Camp, safely contained on the stage or within a radio or television show, was something to be laughed at, rather than feared for its subversive nature. It’s no coincidence that the Oxford English Dictionary definition of the word includes the term “theatrical”.

Even among gay men, camp has an ambiguous status: celebrated by and in some, such as drag queens and other gay icons, the quality of camp is rejected by others who prefer the “straight-acting” gay man, with his more traditional presentation of masculinity. It is, if you like, the Marmite of the queer community. British comedian Alan Carr has said that he’s faced more homophobia from gay men than from straight people: as a camp gay man, he’s accused of perpetuating stereotypes of the effeminate gay. It’s a complex problem, at the root of which is the fact that we still live in a deeply patriarchal society.

Gay is easy. Being camp is difficult – Graham Norton, British comedian/TV host

Is David in Spun! camp? As he’d put it, does a hobby horse like spotted dick? David, with his constant flirting, his penchant for exaggeration and his habit of scattering French words into the conversation is completely, gloriously camp—even down to both first and last names.*

And he’s proud.

Readers, do you have a favourite camp celebrity/icon? Tell us about them!

*David, for Camp David, the country retreat of the US president, and Greenlake, for the facility in Louis Sachar’s Holes. But you knew that, anyway. ;)

**The title of this post is, of course, in homage to the books by pioneering gay pulp fictioneer Victor J Banis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5213541-the-man-from-c-a-m-p

About Spun!

With friends like these . . .

An ill-advised encounter at the office party leaves David Greenlake jobless and homeless in one heady weekend. But he quickly begs work from his ex-boss and takes a room in Shamwell with easygoing postman Rory Deamer. David doesn’t mean to flirt with the recently divorced Rory—just like he doesn’t consciously decide to breathe. After all, Rory’s far too nice for him. And far too straight.

Rory finds his new lodger surprisingly fun to be with, and what’s more, David is a hit with Rory’s troubled children. But while Rory’s world may have turned upside down in the last few years, there’s one thing he’s sure of: he’s straight as a die. So he can’t be falling for David . . . can he?

Their friends and family think they know all the answers, and David’s office party hookup has his own plans for romance. Rory and David need to make up their minds and take a stand for what they really want—or their love could be over before it’s even begun.

Spun! is now available from Riptide Publishing.

About the Shamwell Tales

Welcome to Shamwell! A sleepy rural village in Hertfordshire, England, it’s the perfect place to move to for a little peace and quiet—or at least, you’d think so. But as a succession of newcomers to the village find, there’s more going on in these idyllic surroundings than cricket matches on the common and pints of ale in the local pubs.

As a place where everyone’s connected to everyone else, Shamwell’s rife with mishaps, mayhem, and misunderstandings—and the path of true love is no smoother than the ancient stone walls of the parish church.

Each contemporary romantic comedy in this series stands alone, but all feature a cast of characters drawn from Shamwell and its surroundings.

Check out the Shamwell Tales, available from Riptide Publishing!

About JL Merrow

JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea.  She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again.

She writes (mostly) contemporary gay romance and mysteries, and is frequently accused of humour.  Her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy, and several of her books have been EPIC Awards finalists, including Muscling Through, Relief Valve (the Plumber’s Mate Mysteries) and To Love a Traitor.

JL Merrow is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, International Thriller Writers, Verulam Writers and the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.

Connect with JL:

●     Website: www.jlmerrow.com

●     Twitter: @jlmerrow

●     Facebook: facebook.com/jl.merrow

●     Goodreads: goodreads.com/.J_L_Merrow

To celebrate the release of Spun!, one lucky winner will receive a $20 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on July 8, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Review: Switch Hitter (Shifter Hardball #3) by Cheyenne Meadows

Tucker Wilde’s life is in a tailspin. Twenty-four hours ago, he was one of the top second basemen in the all-shifter professional baseball league. Now, he’s lost his starting spot to a rookie, been dumped by his girlfriend, and had a night of explosive passion with a man—a teammate at that. He can’t get Dixon out of his mind—even though Tucker still believes himself to be straight. With his career in jeopardy, he’s unsure where to turn or how to fix the mess.

Dixon Foxx is a baseball prodigy, though a perfectionist father stole any joy he might find in the game. He only sticks with it because it’s all he knows—and because of Tucker, the man Dixon’s wanted since they met. His dreams come true one night, only to turn into a nightmare the next morning when Tucker blows off their incredible time together as a drunken mistake, never to happen again.

The life of a switch hitter is all about mixing things up. Tucker excels at it. Only this time, the game isn’t on the line—his heart is.

This was another fun read in the Shifter Hardball series!

Told in the dual POV’s of our resident second and third basemen for the Preston Predators, we meet Tucker Wilde - a wild dog and Dixon Foxx - a gray fox as the teammates fight to win a game.

We know from go that Dixon has had a thing for his teammate since the gray fox saw the wild dog take his position on the diamond at second base. But Dixon has always known Tucker was straight with his revolving door of women and self-regulated himself to the friend/teammate zone. But when things go south for Tucker, it’s the friend in Dixon, the caring what happens to his teammate that may possibly get him everything he’s ever wanted.

Tucker loves playing baseball and being part of the Predators. The team has become his home and his family which is important since Tucker is a shifter without a pack. But, Tucker is slipping and his game is off. When Coach Banner calls him on it and benches him from his starting position until he can earn it back, Tucker takes it hard and so does his girlfriend. Well, his girlfriend takes it like an opportunistic bitch, but I'm glad she's gone.

Anyway.

Tucker decides to drown his sorrows and after far too many drinks even for a shifter with a fast metabolism, he’s rescued by his friend and teammate Dixon who decides the wild dog needs to sleep it off at his house. But when a simple request for keys opens Tucker's eyes to something he never thought of, we get one hell of a hot night. I won’t spoil the night for you but I will just say there is ass virginity lost, there is one man who is born to be a power bottom, there is KNOTTING, alpha behavior, begging and it’s so fucking hot. All of it.

If this wasn't shifters I might have an issue with the first night Tucker and Dixon spend together but shifters and the inner beast that rule the men in this series get a pass. They get a pass and get a pat on the butt because that was ridiculously hot. I don't care that Tucker's gate only swung one way before he finally notices Dixon and his inner beast begs to be claimed.

By the way, the shifters having chats with the inner beasts is one of my favorite things about this series. It cracks me up when they talk to their beasts and then get all snarky and argue with them.

So, when the morning after brings in new light and Dixon wrapped around Tucker, he has a hard time with this new side to his sexuality and runs farther than a shot to the gap. He can admit he loved what he did with Dixon but doesn’t quite understand never being attracted to a man before and how all of the sudden he and his beast were sitting up and panting like it was mating season. At least Tucker has an understanding team, a very understanding friend in Dixon and two mated pairs on the team with one who is bisexual.

It was great to see Ram and Wiley again as well as Trigger and Graham. I like that Tucker was able to talk to Ram about being bisexual while also doing a bit of research on it. It was clear that he was sexually attracted to Dixon and liked being his friend but getting his mind wrapped around the fact that he isn’t as straight as he thought he was would take a bit of time. It’s a damn good thing that Dixon has wanted Tucker long enough that after getting a taste of him, he’ll wait for Tucker go unfuck his shit and decide what he wants.

Both Tucker and Dixon had less than stellar childhoods. Tucker’s mom was kicked out of her pack because Tucker was a hybrid and Dixon has a famous baseball player for a dad so he ate and slept with the diamond. The bond between the shifters of having what each wanted while lacking, fuels the friendship and adds to the slow burn to the teammates being mated.

This really was a fun read. The shifters on the Predators are always a blast to hang out with and loved the moments they would all shift and chase each other around the field. Tucker is lover of pranks and he brings fun to the team while letting them remember playing the game is supposed to be fun but that doesn’t mean Tucker isn’t ready and willing to work his ass off to earn his starting position back. When Dixon offers to help him and they develop a pre-practice and pregame ritual, the shifters begin to get even closer as friends and Tucker starts to take his walls down piece by piece.

This does have fast and hot kind of one night stand in the beginning of the book but from there I would call this more of a slow burn. We get Tucker with his new bisexuality and really taking in what that means to him and we know that Dixon is there and will be there when Tucker is ready.

Switch Hitter… that title implies exactly what it should both on and off the field. Tucker and Dixon have a great friends to lovers to mates romance that really shows that, fate is a fickle thing, but sometimes she does nail it on the head.