Review: Testing the Limits (Daniel and Ryan #9) by Tamryn Eradani

Daniel and Ryan take their relationship to the next level, trying new things in scene and clarifying what they mean to each other.

With all that we’ve been through with Daniel and Ryan I was curious when I saw the title of this book. These two have done a lot with their relationship, scenes and pushing Daniel’s limits. After the last book, I admit I was wary of the possible next step but I took faith that the author knows her characters well and she sure as hell knows them inside and out.

Oh. Em Gee.

This. Was. Hot.

I don’t know what I thought I would get, well I did with the towel laid out but what I thought was going to happen didn’t and what I got was so much better.

Ryan’s the first person Daniel’s been with whom he could be happily, long-term monogamous with. He’s just not sure if Ryan feels the same way.

Daniel has always had the thoughts that Ryan was enough for him and that he ticked off every box Daniel could have or want in a relationship that includes his kink. Ryan has given Daniel everything and all Daniel wants is Ryan fully in return but neither man presses the topic. When Daniel gets a text from a Dom he’s played with at the club inquiring about his absence, he is unsure how to answer with sincerity and include Ryan in the answer.

That brings us to the newest scene with Daniel and Ryan and good lord, it was intense, erotic and off the charts filthy gorgeous.

“What do you say to make me to stop?”
“Red,” he whispers.
“Do you need to say it?”
“Please,” he begs.
“You’re going to scream for me,”

Is it hot in here? *pulls up hair and fans neck* I feel hot.

Anyway. This installment of the Daniel and Ryan serial justly takes the men to the limits of what they both can handle with kinky play, emotions and the future of their arrangement. Ryan has a plan to remind Daniel that the two of them are enough regardless of how much they enjoyed having Brett join them. I am still not sure who benefited from the scene more to ease their conscience, Daniel or Ryan. We don’t get Ryan’s POV so one would assume the confident Dom doesn’t question Daniel’s feelings and knows where both stand in every aspect of the relationship. And yet having Daniel’s cerebral POV we know what he wants to be monogamous with Ryan… and … ugh.

Again, I wish we could get a glimpse into Ryan’s head. This scene was so thoroughly orchestrated with a high level of dominance and eroticism that I really want to pick at his gray matter and know if he was as on edge as he had Daniel.

Though we get an answer to the text that Daniel and Ryan agree on, the excerpt for the next (and last?) book has me wondering on where we will leave the couple. I guess I will just wait and see.

A review copy was provided for an honest review.

Trivia Question: Name this enemies to lovers series featuring two detectives who are generally considered outcasts within their precinct & by book 2 across multiple precincts citywide. 10 pts

Audiobook Review: Return of the Chauffeur's Son by Tara Lain

Luca McGrath may be returning to Napa Valley, California as a promising chef with dreams of starting his own restaurant and winery, but his heart still lives with bad-boy billionaire’s son, James Armstrong. Luca spent his childhood playing games with the golden boy of California society, so blinded by James he barely noticed the dark, quiet lure of his conservative older brother, Dylan Armstrong.

But now, Luca’s home and his own powers of attraction are enough to make James question his dedicated heterosexuality and his promised marriage to a wealthy and powerful businesswoman. The obvious attraction between Luca and James spurs Dylan into action—but he’s fighting a huge secret. While Luca dreamed of James, Dylan dreamed of Luca. When Luca gets caught in the struggle between the brothers and gets accused of culinary espionage he’s ready to chuck the fairy tale—unable to even imagine Dylan’s power to make his dreams come true.

Listening Length: 6 hours and 28 minutes
Narrator: Greg Tremblay

I admit this probably wouldn’t have gotten such a high rating on its own, but because it’s essentially an M/M remake of the movie ”Sabrina”, the nostalgic sentimentality gained it a lot of leeway and extra points.


If you’re not familiar with either the original movie starring Audrey Hepburn or the Harrison Ford remake, the basic premise might not appeal. This focuses on Luca, who as the chauffeur's child, grew up alongside the two sons of an uber rich and powerful family. Luca has had a massive unrequited crush on James for forever, and has finally returned home after being gone for several years learning to be a chef. He knows he wouldn’t say no if James all of sudden proclaimed he was gay. However, James is…. impulsive, charming. He goes after anything or anyone who might catch his fancy with a singular purpose that is rarely deterred. So, when he sees Luca all grown up, James’s interest is piqued despite his straight status. Never mind he’s engaged to a woman who's ready to bridge their families together in a lucrative merger. To complicate things further is older, gay brother, Dylan. He’s just trying to put out fires and manage the potential fallout from James’s fleeting whims and Luca’s surprised hope. Dylan doesn’t expect to fall for Luca, and Luca doesn’t expect to be the center of attention between two gorgeous brothers.


This pretty much followed the movies to a “T”. I appreciate though, that unlike the movies, Dylan doesn’t chase after Luca for the sole purpose of making sure a business deal doesn’t get ruined. He genuinely likes Luca and as they slowly get to know each other, Luca starts to reevaluate his long held torch for James.


Narrated by Greg Tremblay, this was an expected enjoyable listen despite the fact that this devolved into a bit of silliness (mostly in the form of weird banter) once Luca and Dylan get together. Usually, that would be a hard sell for me but again, apparently I’m biased. It doesn’t hurt that the few smexy scenes present were quite nice. Overall, if you’re not familiar with the movie, this might not go down as easy as it did for me. Mostly, I was just tickled pink and had a great time listening to this M/M remake.


Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour: Tender Mercies (Men of Lancaster County, #2) by Eli Easton

Eli Easton is here today to tell us a little about Lancaster County & she brought some phenomenal pics too! 

A Sense of Place: Lancaster County

By Eli Easton

I’m celebrating the release of TENDER MERCIES, the second book in the “Men of Lancaster County” series.  It features a new couple and can be read as a stand-alone. What the books in this series have in common is being set in Lancaster County.  For this post, I thought I’d share some fun facts and images about Lancaster County to help readers get a sense of place. And while the name “Lancaster County” means something specific to me, I realize it’s not that well-known  around the world, so here’s a quickie primer.

Lancaster County is in central Pennsylvania.  It’s a heavily rural area with tons of small family farms still in operation (unlike most places in America, where huge factory farms have taken over).  It’s best known for the large Amish and Mennonite population, which is one big reason why family farms still flourish here. Lancaster County has beautiful green, rolling countryside with big barns, stone farmhouses, livestock, and crop fields. There are also many small, quaint towns. The photo below was taken on our farm.

Rural setting with buggies and horse drawn plows

We get tons of tourists here through most of the year.  What draws people is the feeling of having stepped back in time. When you drive around the country roads here, you can see men plowing the fields with horses or families riding in buggies. The Amish don’t use electricity or cars, and there are tons of Amish in this area (around 70,000), so you frequently see sights like these.

Above: Spotting a buggy from my bike

Also, because the Amish uses horses in everyday life, and keep livestock for milking, there are lots of animals visible as you drive around the area.

Historical Buildings

For the relatively young United States, Lancaster County has a great deal of history.  There are quite a few houses and barns still standing from the 1700’s. The farmhouse we live in was built in 1732.

And below are some photos of an old barn I took at a local farm sanctuary.

Seasons

Lancaster County has four seasons including humid summers, gorgeous colors in the fall, snowy winters, and lovely springs. Below is a photo of our barn after a heavy snowfall.

The Men of Lancaster County Series

With the “Men of Lancaster County” series, my goal is to explore the feeling of Lancaster County, a place I love, and specifically to feature romances with Mennonite and Amish characters in the m/m romance genre.

There are a few websites that help support and inform Amish and Mennonite men who come out as gay and leave their community. I myself wasn’t raised in those traditions, but I was the daughter of a very conservative Protestant minister, so I know what it means to be raised in a certain mindset and set of rules that is antithetical to your own mind and heart.  I wanted to write about this process, taking a character from his sheltered world and allowing him to discover, and eventually embrace, his true heart.

The first book, A SECOND HARVEST, features a 41-year-old Mennonite farmer, David Fisher, who thinks his life is essentially over. His wife is deceased and his two kids are in college. David lives alone on his farm and sees nothing ahead for himself but endless labor and boredom. That is, until openly gay, city boy Christie Landon moves in next door.

The second book, TENDER MERCIES, features a 19-year-old Amish man, Samuel Miller, who was born with a club foot that went uncorrected. Samuel has always lusted for men, but he’s hid this away, working hard on his father’s farm, and trying not to think about the future. He loses his battle with denial, though, and is caught out by his father, beaten, and shunned. With no place to go, Samuel ends up working for a city man who is trying to start a farm sanctuary in Lancaster County.

I plan to write more in the series.  For now I hope you all will take a trip to Lancaster County with me in these first two books. 😊

Fun Facts about Lancaster County:

1.       It’s main city, Lancaster, was the nation’s capitol for one day when the Continental Congress met there in 1777.

2.      Lancaster’s Central Market is the country’s oldest continuously operating farmer’s market, starting in 1732.

3.      Lancaster County was part of the Underground Railroad helping escaping slaves during the Civil War.

4.      Lancaster County still has 29 covered bridges.

5.      The Amish population of Lancaster County has doubled since 1990. There are approximately 70,000 Amish in Pennsylvania, most of which are in Lancaster County.

6.      Roadside stands and on-farm booths are popular with tourists and locals. They sell berries, tomatoes, pumpkins, corn, honey, cider, eggs, preserves, root beer, shoofly pie, and more.

7.      Pretzels are a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. Sturgis Pretzel House in Lancaster County, was founded in 1861.

8.    More than 99% of Lancaster farms are family-owned.

9.     The tourism trade brings in $1.6 billion a year in Lancaster County.

10.Ranked #1 in the US in preserved farmland with approximately 80,000 acres permanently preserved.

You can learn more about Lancaster County or order a free tourist guide here:

PA Dutch County Blog & Tourism Info

Eli Easton

TENDER MERCIES – Eli Easton (Men of Lancaster County #2)

Eddie Graber’s dream of a sanctuary for rescued farm animals was about to come true when his partner backed out at the last minute. Now Eddie risks losing the twenty-five acre property in Lancaster County—and all the hopes he held for it—before the project even gets off the ground. He needs help, he needs money, but most importantly, he needs to rediscover the belief in a higher purpose that brought him here in the first place.

Samuel Miller worked hard to fit into his Amish community despite his club foot. But when his father learns Samuel is gay, he is whipped and shunned. With just a few hundred dollars to his name, Samuel responds to an ad for a farmhand and finds himself employed by a city guy who has strange ideas about animals, no clue how to run his small farm, and a gentle heart.

Samuel isn’t the only lost soul to serendipitously find his way to Meadow Lake Farm. There’s Fred and Ginger, two cows who’d been living in a garage, a gang of sheep, and a little black pig named Benedict who might be the key to life, love, money—and even a happily ever after for two castoffs.

NOTE: This title is set in the same region as book #1 but features a new couple. It can be read as a stand-alone.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35076747-tender-mercies?from_search=true 

Author Bio for Eli Easton

Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, an organic farmer and a profound sleeper, Eli is happily embarking on yet another incarnation as a m/m romance author. 

As an avid reader of such, she is tinkled pink when an author manages to combine literary merit, vast stores of humor, melting hotness and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story.  She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time.  She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, three bulldogs, three cows and six chickens. 

All of them (except for the husband) are female, hence explaining the naked men that have taken up residence in her latest fiction writing.

Her website is www.elieaston.com 

You can email her at eli@elieaston.com

Facebook

Twitter

Anniversary Shenanigans: Author Visit + Giveaway - Joanna Chambers

Joanna Chambers is bringing her historical Dreamweaver magic to the clubhouse today as well as a special giveaway. 

Strawberries

The world, which is now grey, used to be full of colour.

That was before the war.

When I look back, it’s as though it was always summer then. The years have somehow merged, in my memory, into one endlessly long summer day. A day spent lazing by the river with Oliver, the sky innocently cloudless above us, the water summer-still, its glassy surface only disturbed by the occasional plop of a frog hopping into the water. Insects droning contentedly.

In my memory, the wine stays magically cold, no matter how long it’s been sitting open and the strawberries are always perfectly ripe. And when I kiss Oliver, that is what I taste—strawberries.

In my memory, I make love to Oliver in the open, under the sun. There is no fear of discovery. We are the only two people in the world.

I have carried this memory with me through the war. I have carried it like a dried flower, carefully pressed, somewhat preserved. Liable to turn to powder if handled too much.

I worry about how much I’ve built on that memory. The impossible weight of all my hopes and expectations. Because I know the sun did not, in fact, always shine, and sometimes the strawberries were green in places.

And we did not make love in the open. Not at all.

We wrote to one another, when we could. We even managed to meet once, for a whole afternoon. We went to the cinema. Saw Mrs Miniver, hands clutched under my coat. That was nearly three years ago.

And now the war is over. And miraculously, we are both alive. Only, I am not that innocent, carefree boy by the river anymore. The reality of the man I now am weighs heavy on me. I can’t imagine Oliver could possibly want the man I have become.

I walk the two miles from the train station to the river. It’s not sunny. It’s grey and looks set to rain.

When I wrote to Oliver to say I was coming, I said I’d meet him at our favourite picnic spot, and sure enough, when I climb over stile and turn down the path, there he is, leaning against the old tree, his shoulder propped against the great, gnarled trunk as he watches the river glide smoothly past.

I take a step forward and a branch snaps under my boot.

Oliver turns. There is hope—and fear—in his eyes.

“Peter—”

And then he’s running towards me.

I throw my pack to the ground an instant before he reaches me and then his lean, solid weight is slamming into me and he’s crushing his mouth against mine. The memories scatter—everything is made new.

There’s not so much as a strawberry in sight, and I don’t give a damn.

Author info

Joanna Chambers always wanted to write. In between studying, finding a proper grown up job, getting married and having kids, she spent many hours staring at blank sheets of paper and chewing pens. That changed when she rediscovered her love of romance and found her muse. Joanna's muse likes red wine, coffee and won't let Joanna clean the house or watch television

Website: http://joannachambers.com/
Twitter: chambersjoanna

Enter to win and ecopy of Children of the Night an anthology with ALL the proceeds going to Rainbow Railroad! Giveaway ends November 11th @ Midnight EST. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We thank Ms. Chambers for helping us celebrate turning the big 4!

Don't miss entering in our month long unicorn giveaway HERE! It ends 12/1/17!

Trivia Question: Name the series set in a large northwestern city in the US that heavily features coffee, baked goods & romance. 10 pts

Review: Improper Fraction by V.L. Locey

O’Malley Ramsey, math aficionado, grew up next door to Garrison Rook, All-American athlete. While O’Malley dreamed of numbers and kissing Garrison, Garrison’s tastes ran to home runs and hot chicks.

During a family celebration the night before both young men were heading off for college, O’Malley joyously discovers that Garrison isn’t quite as straight as the star athlete had been pretending to be. Vows to return to each other quickly followed a few clumsy kisses in the old treehouse in the Rook’s backyard.

O’Malley came home to Garrison. Garrison never returned to O’Malley.

Four years later, the two ex-friends meet up at a summer camp where O’Malley is serving as a counselor. Garrison is desperate to make things right with his childhood friend, but can O’Malley, still nursing the pain and mistrust of Garrison’s betrayal, ever forgive or love Garrison again?

This book hooked me with the geeky title and its nerd/baseball player MCs. Everything else was supposed to be icing on the cake. And it sorta was for about half of the book. But just like when you eat too much cake, the deliciousness of the first few bites just can't hold up throughout the whole thing. That's what happened with Improper Fraction. The first half was everything I love about romance and the second half…

O'Malley (Mal) Ramsey and Garrison Rook grew up together. They were inseparable until a kiss between them after high school graduation led to vows made for a future that would soon be denied. Since the moment Mal realized he was gay, he has been out and proud. Garrison has internally struggled with his attraction to men and never acted on it until the kiss with Mal. That kiss scared him and Garrison cut off all communication with Mal until 4 years later, after college graduation. Mal is working at a math and science camp for the summer and Garrison's little sister is attending. Garrison tags along too, under the guise of providing athletic opportunities to all campers.

When Mal and Garrison see each other for the first time in four years, it's very strained. Garrison has some groveling to do and I love that Mal makes him. Even with the years of separation between them, there's still so much love, friendship and chemistry. I loved “seeing” them come back together and the stolen moments of heat when the campers were sleeping.

After camp ends, Garrison still has to contend with coming out to his family and his minor league baseball team. Mal is there to support him but it’s a very stressful time for Garrison as he worries about parental expectations and being the first openly gay minor league player.

The scene is set for future angst as Garrison finds peace in who he is and decides when/how he will come out. I was on the edge of my seat while reading, wondering how this would pan out. I couldn't put it down. Until, mid-way through when a wrench was thrown in the plot and high school bullies turned adult "Bigot Brigade" were introduced and became the focus of the second half.

Color me confused.

From then on, the ground work laid in the first half, the major focus on sexual identity and its implications on family and career were brushed under the rug and glossed over. Literally, the coming out scene with his parents was a few pages and the coming out with his team? One. Sentence.

Obviously my enjoyment declined drastically after this shift. I was bummed. Big time. The first 45-50% I was all in. I was giddy about this nerdy, estranged best friends to lovers romance. The building up to reconciliation and a little after had me hooked. I really like Mal and Garrison together. The scene Garrison acts out from Mal's favorite movie... *swoon* The second half dragged while everything surrounding the bullies, the reactions to them and the subsequent climax of that situation was unrealistic, OTT and unnecessary IMO. The bullies read like an afterthought thrown in that detracted from what was otherwise a very enjoyable read.

The writing style was smooth and the pacing kept the story moving along during the first half. I'm hoping that by release, this will have gone through another round of edits. The cover doesn't really represent the book or the MCs. I would have rated the first half at least a 4 but unfortunately I have to account for the second half. With all that said, I'd recommend it for the first half alone because I really like Mal and Garrison and that they got their HEA... even if I was shaking my head and rolling my eyes at the huge second half shift and the ridiculousness of the last 10%.

“Garrison and I aren’t right anymore. We’re like an improper fraction.”

“Of all people, O’Malley, you should know that there are ways to convert an improper fraction to a mixed fraction.”

Anniversary Shenanigans: Felice Stevens - Giveaway!

Felice Stevens joined our shindig this year and we're esscited!

Why?

See our review of this author's work this year like:

Sara's 4.5 <3 review of The Arrangement audiobook HERE

Or her review of Please Don't Go HERE

Or how about Annery's review of audiobook After the Fire (Through Hell and Back, #2) HERE

Hot contemporary romance with a dose of reality and angst is the consensus.

Means Stevens fits right in!

We thank Felice for joining us and her most generous donation below!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. While life is tough, she believes there is a happy ending for everyone. She started reading traditional historical romances as a teenager, then life and law school got in the way. It wasn't until she picked up a copy of Bertrice Small and became swept away to Queen Elizabeth's court that her interest in romance novels was renewed.

But somewhere along the way, her reading shifted to stories of men falling in love. Once she picked up her first gay romance, she became so enamored of the character-driven stories and the overwhelming emotion there was no turning back.

Felice lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Her day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. Although she practices law, she daydreams of a time when she can sit by a beach and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there is bound to be some angst along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Twitter:https://twitter.com/FeliceStevens1

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/felicestevens/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8432880.Felice_Stevens

Instagram: https://instagram.com/FeliceStevens

Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/felicestevensauthor?ref=hl

Newsletter: http://felicestevens.us8.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=d43061d90bf2256eb322ed69f&id=586ac8fa57

Felice Stevens is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky person! Could it be you?


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway is open until 12:00AM (EST) on 11/10/17. Shortly thereafter, we will contact a winner!

Please respond to the winning notification within 48 hours or we will choose another winner. Good luck!

Don't miss entering in our month long unicorn giveaway HERE! It ends 12/1/17!

Group Review: We Met in Death by K.A. Merikan

“This is not the night you die.”
*

After years of working for a loan shark, Robert is done with blood and violence. All he has to show for it is a bag of money and a lifetime of regrets. There’s no other way out of his line of work than in a body bag.

So Robert decides to die.

But on the night he chooses to seal his own fate, destiny offers him a chance at redemption. When Robert saves a handsome young escort from a terrible death, he has no idea he is setting in motion much more than one last attempt at proving that inside the hardened shell, he is a decent human being.

Charming, quick-witted, and full of smiles, Nathan is all Robert could dream of. He’s also ready to fall into the arms of his gruff protector. Robert, on the other hand, has never been with a man and will first need to fight his own demons if he is to accept that his whole being wants to make Nathan his.

With his former boss hunting them both, time is ticking, and Robert might just not get the chance to decide before it’s too late. More importantly though, Robert will stop at nothing to protect the man who’s made him feel alive again, the man who is the only thing between him and the abyss.

*

“I never had to think much about death before, but I did yesterday. I thought I would die. In a hole. Covered with dirt. Suffocate underground.
But then you saved me.”


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: enemies to lovers, protector, cruelty, homophobia, crime, self-discovery, family conflict, age gap, escort, self-hate, first time, revenge, on the run

Genre: Dark, gritty, contemporary M/M romance
Erotic content: Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes

Length: ~90,000 words (Standalone novel, HEA)

WARNING: This story contains scenes of violence, torture, mentions of suicide, offensive language, morally ambiguous characters, homophobia and homophobic language

Average!

Chelsea - 4.5 Hearts

Mostly this book is about homophobia and second chances. There are gay slurs from side characters and a deeply closeted homophobic main character, Robert. So if you can't stand to read about 'the gayness rubbing off’ and 'the gays perving on every straight man out there’, then maybe turn away. But I'd urge you not too. While we'd all love to hate homophobic assholes, this book reminds us that the people aren't assholes, just their opinions and opinions can change. With that being said, Nathan has more patience than I ever would!

Robert and Nathan meet in a chance moment of bullets, blood and gratitude. They connect on a deep personal level that both men have been missing from their lives thus far.

Nathan glanced Robert’s way, and even just that moment of connection sparked excitement in Robert’s chest. A rush he hadn’t known for a long time, a lust for life meaning that whatever he’d done and whatever he’d felt last night didn’t matter anymore.

He didn’t want to die after all.

Nathan develops a bit of a crush on his heroic rescuer and with Robert being homophobic, there are some very unpleasant words said when Robert gives in to his lust again and again. Like I said Nathan is much more patient than I would be, but he's no doormat! Despite Robert's unpleasant words postcoitus he is utterly devoted to protecting Nathan, at all costs!!

“No one will get through me when I stand in front of you.”

It was super swoonworthy!!!!! Robert is also a secret sweetheart which he let's escape in moments around Nathan. If he could just let go of his prejudices, you know he'd be such a happier, freer man. His 'admiration’ for Nathan is a pleasure to read and the internal torture also serves him right for being such a douche nozzle!

Robert felt as if a blood vessel had broken in his brain and he was about to have a nosebleed at the sight of that ass flattened against the see-through wall.

In the end this story was more… calm? than I thought it would be. Obviously it was still violent (ew that ending *shivers*) and tense in places, but the majority of it was spent lying low. I kind of appreciated that, KA Merikan’s tense is heart attack type tense.

I really enjoyed this story! Nathan and Robert had a wonderful and unique story and it'll definitely be a reread!

Lorix - 4 Hearts

KA Merikan are a writing duo who never fail to deliver something uniquely them in their words. It's a style I love very, very much - there is  little soft and sweet in their words at first glance, and yet I feel as though the hardened characters they create are some of the most lovable I've read. 

Robert is a closeted gay. Closeted and hateful of his sexuality; hateful of himself because of it. Loving, or being attracted to, the same gender does not fit into his world. His life is violence and he has hardened himself to it through need, pushing his own needs away as a result... it seems to him the only option of survival. No sane man can live only in a world of hate and violence though. His involvement in this world was born of need rather than greed and whilst he'd armour-plated himself in indifference, as was bound to happen, the hate filtered through eventually. Speared by his own self-hate and his actions. Of the crimes he'd committed in the name of work, of the violence he'd lived by and with and of the consequences he could no longer ignore. Add that to the bubbling hate of his core self, and the answer is him alone and drunk in a graveyard with a bullet designed for himself. 

Fate had another idea though.

Redemption - maybe - came in the form of Nathan; a man more than comfortable with his own sexuality who happened to be the wrong person at the wrong time. Nathan was about to be put in a grave by the same gang Robert was a part of. Robert saved Nathan that night and the following weeks had them running for their lives.

Hiding in plain sight, they moved in with Robert's dysfunctional family and together they all started to build something functioning. The lust between Robert and Nathan was instant - but it was always quickly followed by Robert's self-loathing; a self-loathing that spilled out. He was hateful to Nathan at times in his bid to hide the part of himself he hated the most. Nathan though was more patient than he should've been - he believed in love and in family and wanted it to grow.

In a story full of such violence and hate there is a bulb of love that blossoms and grows. It is pure Merikan, and if you're a fan I think you'll enjoy this story. I have to say, that at times this story felt a tad rushed to me; it could have been a five heart read but it just fell short - for me. I still loved it though!

If you're a fan of KA Merikan you know you're going to like this! If you've yet to read this author I urge you to give them a go, just be sure to check out the trigger warnings first.

R *A Reader Obsessed* - 2 Hearts

Whelp. I'm totally the odd man out regarding this story. I had high expectations just because of the inherent reputation that comes with this writing duo, and maybe that set me up for a big fat failure. I was so wanting to be wowed and wooed, but sadly, that did not happen.

Overall, I love the premise. Who doesn’t want to see a bad guy redeemed in the face of love? To be on the brink of self destruction, only to find salvation in saving another? Essentially that's what happens when Robert saves Nathan from being executed, but I struggled with their journey towards their happiness.

For me, I never really connected with either character. Robert’s own ingrained homophobia and denial were hard to take and as usual, while understandable, it was just too painful to witness how poorly he treated Nathan again and again. His extreme hot and cold manner made my head spin, rubbing me the wrong way at each occurrence. Of course, he eventually unsticks his head out of his ass, but the transition didn’t feel true to me.

Apparently too, I might not be cut out for these types of scenarios where the MC’s are on the lam. The anxiety this wrought was just too much for my fragile self. I was a nervous wreck every time Nathan put his foot in his mouth and it seemed he could never not do that. Again, though understandable that he would react possibly poorly to all the crazy surreal and scary situations he was put in, I just couldn’t easily accept how Nathan dealt with the challenges he faced.

So, I’m gonna say my opinion won’t matter much in the face of the many who have absolutely adored this. Common things that all of my friends remarked on were the action, humor, and fabulous love story that unfolded. It seems I must be a bit dead inside because I hardly felt any of that. To top it all off, the easy resolution at the end was completely unrealistic to me, despite the sweet HEA.

Having said all that, I know for sure this hasn’t hindered me from trying more from this duo in the future. They wrote Diary of a Teenage Taxidermist which is one of the smexiest and favorite YA’s I've ever read, so I know they have the potential to move and impress me. This just wasn’t it.

Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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

Anniversary Shenanigans: Author Visit + Giveaway - Cordelia Kingsbridge

We're tickled pink to have Cordelia Kingsbridge join in the shenanigans again this year with a fic that's sure to make you AWWWWWW!

Noah brightened at the familiar sound of heavy boots thumping along the linoleum. He looked up from his computer at the nurses’ station to see Rusty McMillan tromping down the hallway, dressed as usual in a battered leather jacket and distressed jeans laden with clinking silver chains. His motorcycle helmet hung from one hand, along with a small shopping bag.

When Rusty noticed Noah, he changed course and came to lean against the counter. Noah shot to his feet, eyes traveling helplessly from the scarred knuckles of Rusty’s massive hands, over his burly chest and the tattoos snaking up his neck, to his weather-beaten face and thick beard.

“How is she?” Rusty asked, his voice deep and gruff.

“It’s been a pretty good day,” said Noah. “I’ll be right in.”

Rusty nodded and walked away, disappearing into a room down the hall.

Liz, one of the newer nurses on staff, cast a contemptuous glance after him and popped her gum. “What kind of trashy asshole comes into a nursing facility dressed like that?”

“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Noah snapped. “Rusty visits his mother almost every day. How many other patients’ kids do you see doing that?”

He left the nurses’ station before she could reply, and stopped outside the open door to Mrs. McMillan’s room. Inside, a frail elderly woman sat in a wheelchair by the large window, gazing out with blue eyes gone filmy with cataracts.

Rusty, who had set his helmet aside, knelt in front of her chair. “Hey, Ma. How you feeling?”

She turned her head towards him and frowned. “Who’re you?”

“I’m your son. Russell.”

She blinked, her expression one of utter incomprehension.

Rusty smiled. “I brought you something. See?” He reached into the shopping bag and produced a small stuffed Winnie-the-Pooh doll.

Mrs. McMillan’s face lit up. She reached for the doll with an excited gasp, then broke into happy chatter. Rusty grinned as he listened, still crouched by her chair.

Noah gave them a moment before he stepped into the room – the room that was plastered from wall to wall with Winnie-the-Pooh dolls, pictures, books, and other memorabilia, because Mrs. McMillan’s childhood love of the stories was the one memory she’d held onto throughout her struggles with dementia.

After giving Rusty a brief update, Noah left them in peace and rounded on his other patients. He was entering notes on a mobile computer in the hall an hour later when he heard Rusty’s boots approaching.

“Hey,” Rusty said. “Dr. Palmer told me you’re leaving in a couple of weeks?”

Noah bit his lip. “I’m moving into hospice nursing at a facility nearby. But don’t worry, we’re getting your mom used to the other nurses. The change shouldn’t be too jarring for her.”

“I trust you to do what’s best. I was actually asking because, uh…” Rusty cleared his throat, shifting from foot to foot. “I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner sometime?”

“I’m sorry?”

“I always figured it was against the rules for you to date a patient’s relative, so I never asked. But if you’re getting a new job, maybe we could…” Rusty shrugged and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, a slight flush on his rugged face.

Noah’s stomach fluttered like a thousand butterflies had been released at once. “Yes,” he said. “I’d love that.”

Right in the feels, ammiright? Be sure to let Cordelia know what you thought of her fic in the comments below!

ICYMI: Kill Game released 10/23 from Riptide Publishing and is the start of what promises to be a rollercoaster ride of a thriller series.

Homicide detective Levi Abrams is barely holding his life together. He’s reeling from the fallout of a fatal shooting, and his relationship with his boyfriend is crumbling. The last thing he’s prepared for is a serial killer stalking the streets of Las Vegas. Or how he keeps getting thrown into the path of annoyingly charming bounty hunter Dominic Russo.

Dominic likes his life free of complications. That means no tangling with cops—especially prickly, uptight detectives. But when he stumbles across one of the Seven of Spades’s horrifying crime scenes, he can’t let go, despite Levi’s warnings to stay away.

The Seven of Spades is ruthless and always two moves ahead. Worst of all, they’ve taken a dangerously personal interest in Levi and Dominic. Forced to trust each other, the two men race to discover the killer’s identity, revealing hidden truths along the way and sparking a bond neither man expected. But that may not be enough to protect them.

This killer likes to play games, and the deck is not stacked in Levi and Dominic’s favor.

Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this one. See our squee filled review HERE

We Unicorns thank Cordelia for helping us celebrate our 4th anniversary!

Thanks to Dreamspinner Press, enter to win any DSP audiobook! Giveaway ends 11/10 @ Midnight EST. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't miss entering in our month long unicorn giveaway HERE! It ends 12/1/17!

Trivia Question: Which shifter of a popular law enforcement series has a mate who loves all things all sugar? 5 pts 

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Off the Ice (Hat Trick, #1) by Avon Gale & Piper Vaughn

Avon Gale, Piper Vaughn & Riptide Publishing are here today to promote the first in their new Hat Trick series featuring hockey players, Off the Ice. Be sure to enter the giveaway below. You don't want to miss this one! Good luck!

Thanks for joining Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn on the OFF THE ICE blog tour. In the Hat Trick series, love and hockey collide—and create enough heat to melt the ice. Join the players as they chase both the Stanley Cup and their own personal happily ever afters.

About Off the Ice

Tristan Holt is nothing if not pragmatic. Despite a flourishing career as a defenseman for the Atlanta Venom, Tristan knows he can’t play hockey forever. One day he’ll retire—if an injury doesn’t force him to hang up his skates first. His backup plan? Finishing his business degree. But he doesn’t count on a very inappropriate attraction to his standoffish sociology professor, Sebastian Cruz.

Sebastian is on the bottom rung of the Sociology Department at Georgia State. He has his sights set on tenure, and he can’t afford to be distracted, especially not by a sexy student with a body straight out of Sebastian’s dreams. No matter how much Tristan tempts him, that’s one line Sebastian won’t cross. At least not until summer classes end. After that, everything is fair game.

But Sebastian lives loud and proud, and Tristan is terrified of being the first out player in the NHL. Neither of them can afford to risk their hearts when they can’t imagine a happily ever after. The problem is, unlike hockey, when it comes to love, there are no rules.

Available now from Riptide Publishing. http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/off-the-ice

About Avon Gale

Avon grew up in the southern United States, and now lives with her very patient husband in a liberal Midwestern college town. When she’s not writing, she’s either doing some kind of craft project that makes a huge mess, reading, watching horror movies, listening to music or yelling at her favorite hockey team to get it together, already. Avon is always up for a road trip, adores Kentucky bourbon, thinks nothing is as stress relieving as a good rock concert, and will never say no to candy.

At one point, Avon was the mayor of both Jazzercise and Lollicup on Foursquare. This tells you basically all you need to know about her as a person.

Connect with Avon:

●     Website: www.avongalewrites.com

●     Blog: www.avongalewrites.com/category/blog/

●     Facebook: www.facebook.com/avongalewrites

●     Twitter: @avongalewrites

●     Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/avongalewrites/

●     Instagram: www.instagram.com/avongale/

About Piper Vaughn

Piper Vaughn wrote her first love story at eleven and never looked back. Since then, she’s known that writing in some form was exactly what she wanted to do. A reader at the core, Piper loves nothing more than getting lost in a great book—fantasy, young adult, romance, sci-fi, she loves them all (and has an over-two-thousand-book library to prove it!). She’s an avid tea drinker, a hockey fanatic, a vintage typewriter collector, and loves to travel so much she has “wanderlust” tattooed on her ankle and dozens of countries on her bucket list. Recently, she discovered the world of nail art and realized she’s pretty handy with a paintbrush—as long as it’s a miniature one.

As a bisexual and Latinx person, Piper takes great pride in her heritage. She grew up in an ethnically diverse neighborhood and strives to put faces and characters of every ethnicity in her stories, so her fictional worlds are as colorful as the real one. She currently resides in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband, son, and a cat that has Piper wrapped around her little paw. Above all, she believes that everyone needs a little true love in their life … even if it’s only in a book.

Connect with Piper:

●     Website: http://pipervaughn.com/

●     Blog: https://pipervaughn.wordpress.com/

●     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pipervaughn

●     Twitter: https://twitter.com/pipervaughn

●     Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pipervaughn7/

●     Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piper.vaughn/

●     Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104698982870458063898

To celebrate the release of Off the Ice, one lucky winner will receive a Venom t-shirt in their size and Venom notebook! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on November 4, 2017. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Trivia Question: Name the historical wherein a duke named Max falls for a rentboy named Tristan. 5 pts