Review: An Unexpected Truth by S.A. Meade

A trust destroyed is a trust that is hard to recover…

Brendan Matthews is happy training racehorses for a living. He thinks he’s hit the jackpot when a wealthy orthopedic surgeon, Adam Ahmadi, sends six yearlings his way. Not only are the horses a cut above the rest, their owner isn’t too shabby either.

But not everything is as it seems. Adam has many secrets, most of them dark and deadly. When Adam’s past returns with a vengeance, he disappears, leaving Brendan confused and hurt.

If Adam survives, will his past destroy their future?

Is it possible to have a slow burn romance where the MC’s fall for one another quickly but also take their time with the relationship that’s filled with lies and angst? You bet your sweet ass it is and this book is proof.

“I know I have no sort of claim on you… on us but I think there’s a chance that we could be an us. Am I making sense?”

From reading the blurb I thought I knew what I would be getting with this romance and I was so wrong. Those two words in the title; unexpected and truth, you need to keep those in mind because it’s the soul of this story.

Told from the dual POV’s of our MC’s we meet Brendan our resident horse trainer as he is waiting to meet the owner of the new horses that will be under his care and tutelage. The owner, one Dr. Adam Ahmadi is not at all hard on the eyes and the chemistry between the men is palpable from the get go. Both Adam and Brendan fancy one another and begin a fast friendship but they keep it there for some time to just simply enjoy the company of another man while getting to know each other.

Brendan is this strong, loving and down to earth man who loves his work with the horses. The pride he takes in training proves itself at the races and he’d like nothing more than to live his life with a man he loves at his side. Meeting Adam provides a bit of conflict as he doesn’t mix business with pleasure but the attraction these two have is too strong to deny or let slip away.

Adam, oh boy he was a joy to read. The doctor, the surgeon that is no more due to an accident that destroyed his money maker, aka his hand finds solace, gratitude and love with Brendan in his small house on the ranch. The snowed in days with these two were beautiful to read and through it all, I truly believe Adam wants nothing more than to be with Brendan.

“[…] but it just makes me wonder how many other secrets he’s hiding. There’s a trust issue here. Or maybe I’m just being oversensitive.”

It was lovely to get both POV’s because as I’ve said before, there are unexpected truths that come about in this book. Those truths are something I was not prepared for and kinda came out of left field but then again, they had to and it wouldn’t have worked any other way. I know I am being vague about it and I have to so that when you read it, you get as blindsided as I did when it all is revealed.

There are times with books I like to try and figure out what will happen before it does but the author does a beautiful job of setting and telling this story that I simply sat back and let it unfold the way she intended. Sometimes it works better that way, to let the story play out and enjoy the ride.

The romance was comfortable and yet sexy at the same time. I love watching Brendan and Adam fall for one another even amongst the angst, chaos and even lies that come between them. It’s been said forgiveness is a virtue of the brave and that’s what this romance truly is. It’s brave and it becomes honest and pure as it’s baptized through the fires of the past.

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Heart 2 Heart Charity Anthology by Various Authors

We're so pleased to have the Heart 2 Heart Charity Anthology authors and Vibrant Promotions visit with their blog tour today. Authors May Archer, Charlie Cochet, Alison Hendricks, Sloane Kennedy, Lucy Lennox, Ruthie Luhnow, Lily Morton, Chris Owen, Poppy Dennison, Hailey Turner, and A.E. Wasp all contributed. Learn more about the charity anthology today, all proceeds will go to 3 charities!

Author A.E. Wasp stops by for an interview and delivers an exclusive excerpt!

Plus you could win a paperback copy of the Heart 2 Heart Charity Anthology ! Enter below, good luck!

See our 4 <3 review of the anthology HERE!

HEART 2 HEART ANTHOLOGY

May Archer * Charlie Cochet * Alison Hendricks * Sloane Kennedy *
Lucy Lennox * Ruthie Luhnow * Lily Morton * Chris Owen *
Poppy Dennison * Hailey Turner * A.E. Wasp

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 02.07.18

COVER DESIGN: AngstyG/www.angstyg.com
ANTHOLOGY EDITOR: Leslie Copeland

BUY LINK: http://getBook.at/Heart2Heart


BLURB

Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered… What if a dating app that guaranteed you a love match broke down just in time for Valentine’s Day? What if you found yourself on a blind date with a random guy who might be your opposite in every single way? It could be a disaster. Or… When the code breaks down, fate just might take over.

Eleven of your favorite gay romance authors have joined forces to light up your Valentine’s Day with a collection of sweet, sexy, silly, and hot short stories, featuring a wacky cast of characters chosen from your reader suggestions! Morticians and magicians, superheroes and spies, lawyers and lobstermen, will all learn that love has nothing to do with algorithms… and sometimes you find it in the least-likely places.

And the best part? All proceeds from this collection will go to the authors’ favorite LGBTQ charities, to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!

It will only be available for 90 days, so Tuesday, May 8th will be the last time you can purchase this anthology.

Over 162k words total, contemporary MM romance

AE Wasp

The Magician and the Mortician

Can you tell us a little bit about your characters?
Alberto (42) is a jaded magician who hasn't had any magic in his life since his long-time partner died five years ago. Mikey (29) is a mortician who finds magic and meaning in life through his work with the dead and their families.

Was writing this story easy for you to do? Or was it a little bit outside of your normal writing zone?
Writing is never easy for me, but once I realized why the characters were perfect for each other, the story happened. Writing a short is difficult for me. I tend to write long.

What were some of the reader submissions that stood out to you, and why?
I was happy to see one person mention a Native American man and someone with Asperger's. The only reason I didn't do that was that I felt I would need a longer story to do it justice. And a 'heartbreakingly beautiful assassin' that I really want to write one day.


Since the anthology is only available for a limited time, (90 days) do you have any plans for your story after that?
I expect these guys to make an appearance in a new project that May and I are working on for the fall!


What do you think of the line-up of authors? How does it feel to be in such great company?
I am fangirling like crazy! It's a dream line up, and I am so impressed with how genuinely wonderful everyone has been. It really made me want to write the best story I could.


Other than your own, do you have a favorite story (or two) in the anthology?
That's so mean to make me pick.


Have you ever set someone else up on a blind date? If yes, how did it turn out?
I didn't, BUT, a long time ago, pre-1994, I did have a guy friend over, and one of my girlfriends dropped by. When she left, Pete said, "I'm going to marry that girl." And he did, and they are still married. So I know the things we write about can happen!

If Heart2Heart were to match you with someone, who do you think you'd get paired with?
OMG. Are we talking functioning app or the wonky one we wrote about? Whoever it is, they'd better know what they're getting into dating a writer, and someone who will call me on my crap. Stockard Channing? That would be nice.

Is there anything else that you think would be fun to talk about?
I love to hear everyone's worst and/or best dating experiences.

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

It wasn’t until Mikey turned to thank the waitress that Alberto felt like he could exhale. How was this man real? Maybe he was having a hallucination.

He should probably tell himself to slow down, get himself together, but he had zero desire to do so. He wanted to know everything about Mikey. He wanted to meet his family and talk to them about life and death. He wanted to go on long car rides across the country and visit the World’s Biggest Ball of Twine, or Carhenge, or anything.

Never in a million years had he ever thought he would meet someone so fascinating and he was going to carpe the hell out of this diem. Noctis? Nocturn? What was the Latin for night? Whatever. It didn’t matter. He was going to seize it all. All of Mikey’s days, nights, afternoons, mornings, and evenings.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, could this be love at first sight? Was that actually a thing? If it was, how terrifying would that be?

He took his salmon with the barest of thanks, paralyzed by the thoughts in his head.

“So what made you want to be a professional magician?” Mikey asked him. “Besides the fact that it’s super cool, obviously.”

Okay. He could answer that. Small talk. This was good. Normal for a first date. “My abuelo was an amateur magician. He owned a magic shop that I more or less grew up in. I thought he was the greatest guy.”

“How about your father? Is he into magic, too? Is it your family business?” Mikey’s eyes lit up, and he groaned as he took a bite of his steak. “Oh, my god, this is so good.”

Alberto shifted in his seat as Mikey’s groan went right to his cock. “No, my dad is definitely not into magic. He’s an engineer. He was so disappointed when I didn’t go to college. But he grew up pretty poor, and he just didn’t want his kids growing up like that.”

“Kids? Do you have brothers and sisters?”

“One brother, eleven months younger than I am. Freddy is an engineer. And straight and has already provided grandkids, to my mother’s delight. Though she’s always open for more.” Alberto smiled. Luckily, he and Freddy got along great. Freddy was Alberto’s biggest fan, and Alberto doted on his three nieces.

“Did you ever want kids?” Mikey asked, toying with his sautéed string beans.

Truth or what he thought Mikey wanted to hear? Truth. Easier to deal with. “No. Not really. I like being an uncle well enough.”

Mikey sighed and sagged in his chair. “Oh thank god. I don’t either. I feel like gaybies are the newest fashion trend. Seems like every guy I date wants a baseball team of them, and they look at me like I’m a monster when I say I never wanted kids.”

“Let’s toast to a kid-free future, then.” Alberto tapped his wine glass against Mikey’s.

“Glad that’s out of the way,” Mikey said almost to himself as he cut more steak.

The feathered thing in Alberto’s heart fluttered. Mikey was thinking about the future, too. He might be crazy, but at least he wasn’t alone.

CHARITIES

We are pleased to be donating 100% of our proceeds to 3 wonderful charities:
The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Bisexual Resource Centre: http://biresource.org/
One n Ten: http://onenten.org/

We encourage all readers to learn more about these groups and consider making a donation of your own. Every little bit helps.

BACKGROUND/TITLES

What began as a random idea quickly turned into a collaborative and completely voluntary effort from 11 authors, more than 130 readers, cover designer, 2 proofreaders, and one cat herder to keep it all together.

Readers were asked to submit ideas for characters, both typical and off-the-wall, and from that list, each author picked 2 seemingly mismatched guys and helped them find love.

May Archer - The Baker and the SEAL

Charlie Cochet - The Assassin and the Dog Walker

Poppy Dennison - The Electrician and the Event Planner

Alison Hendricks  - The Professional Gamer and the Paranormal Photographer

Sloane Kennedy - The Florist and the Lawyer

Lucy Lennox - The Uber Drive and the Phone Sex Operator

Ruthie Luhnow - The Lawyer and the Lobsterman

Lily Morton  - The Tattoo Artist and the Writer

Chris Owen - The Criminal and the Sommelier

Hailey Turner - The Superhero and the NSA Agent

AE Wasp - The Magician and the Mortician

GIVEAWAY

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Release Blitz + Giveaway: Closets Are For Clothes (Dream On #1) by Addison Albright

Addison Albright and Signal Boost Promotions celebrate the release of Closets Are For Clothes (Dream On #1) from JMS Books! Learn more about the romance today and enter in the giveaway! You could win a back list eBook from the author! Good luck!

Universal Buy Link

Length: 43,199 words

Publisher: JMS Books

Blurb

Mike’s life is carefully compartmentalized. He’s deep in the closet to his family back in Kansas, but lives life honestly and openly in Austin. He’s unnerved when Wes, his old university crush, turns up at his door in answer to a roommate advertisement, but quickly sees the potential…benefits of the arrangement. Wes has never doubted nor denied his sexuality. With the support of his family he’s an out and proud LGBT activist.


On the scale balancing his self-esteem on one side, and the love of his family on the other, Mike has to decide which weighs more. Is Mike being fair to his parents by not giving them the chance to know his real self? When the delicate balance of his life is disrupted, he decides he’s tired of living a lie. Will Wes understand his concerns, or will their fledgling relationship crumble under the strain of Mike’s uncertainty?

Excerpt

I walked down the narrow aisle with a book jammed under my arm and holding my carry-on bag in front of me as I focused on the labels for the rows. Due to the effect my nerves were having on my stomach, I was beginning to regret the meal I’d eaten during the two-hour layover in Houston.


I found my aisle seat, but it was occupied. Nobody sat in the window seat. This leg of my trip used a smaller plane—Wichita was hardly a bustling hub—and there were only two seats on either side of the aisle.


My shoulders stiffened, waiting for the request. My guess was he had a traveling companion, but they’d booked their flight too late to get two seats together. I’d be willing to trade, but I hoped it would at least be to another aisle seat. I wasn’t claustrophobic at all, but I preferred the freedom an aisle seat provided.


I stopped in front of my row and looked at the man, my eyebrows raised questioningly. He stood and stepped into the aisle. I opened my mouth, but wasn’t entirely sure what to say. He hadn’t moved on. He stood as if waiting to sit back down after letting me in. “I’m sorry.” I held up my boarding pass. “Apparently, there’s some confusion. This is my seat, here.”


“You don’t mind, do you?”


My whole body tensed at his tone. As if he simply assumed I’d switch seats for no obvious reason beyond he preferred mine. Which frankly—dammit—was likely to happen because I was non-confrontational and this wasn’t worth the fight. But it pissed me off that he wasn’t asking, acting like it was a done deal, and he didn’t even try to offer justification. He also had the kind of smile you see on people trying to sell you a load of crap, be it a used car or a dubious political position.


“Is there a problem?” The inquiry came from behind—a male voice with a polite but firm tone.


“No problem,” the man in front of me said. The slick politician smile that had come so naturally to him now seemed strained, or rather, a mild sneer supplemented it. “We were just switching seats.”


“Sir, do you want to switch seats with this gentleman?” the flight attendant asked.


“Gentleman” was a generous term for the jerk, but points for diplomacy. I was sure the answer was obvious. I’d booked an aisle seat because that’s what I preferred. But I imagined that wasn’t the real question. I wasn’t sure if the flight attendant would rather, like me, avoid a confrontation, or if he’d like to see the pushy bastard put in his place. I knew which I’d rather see if I were a random spectator, but I wasn’t.


“I’m willing to switch.” But I refused to say I “wanted” to. It was a cop-out, but it would be miserable enough sitting next to the guy for the next couple hours without adding the possibility of his simmering hostility to the mix.


I hefted my carry-on bag into the overhead bin and sidled across to the window seat. I sat with my book in my lap and stared out the window at the tarmac, hoping it was clear I wasn’t interested in making small-talk and wished to be left alone.


The man parked himself back in the seat that should have been mine, and the flight attendant made his way toward the back of the plane.


“Jesus H. Christ. We had it under control,” the man muttered.


Apparently, being left in peace was too much to wish for. As my dad liked to say, you could wish in one hand and—


“Don’t know why that faggot felt he needed to stick his nose in our business.”


My grip on the book tightened and I spun without thinking toward the man. “Excuse me?” My tone oozed with aversion. I didn’t try to hide my feelings, so I’m sure the incredulous disgust I felt at his use of that word showed on my face as well.


Was it Wes’s influence or was I more likely to stick up for someone else than for myself? I wasn’t sure which, but I found I couldn’t let that go without expressing my repugnance at his shameless and vocal bigotry. I didn’t even know if he was simply using the word as a general derogatory insult or if he’d assumed the flight attendant was gay because of his career choice.


His lip curled as a soft snort puffed from between his thin lips. “I said, I don’t know why that fellow felt he needed to stick his nose in our business.”


That wasn’t what he’d said. I hadn’t imagined it. But I wasn’t going to pursue it. If nothing else, at least he knew his prejudice wasn’t always going to be accepted when aired in public. The more people realized it was bigotry that needed to be hidden in a closet, not the targets of it, the better the world would be. Yeah, Wes’s activism was influencing me.


I turned back to the window, closed my eyes, and counted to ten before reopening them. This was the last thing I wanted to deal with on the flight home to come out to my parents. My gut was churning enough without this added stress.


I’d been rather proud of how I’d managed to push aside my uncertainties the past two weeks and return to being my regular normal self. Right up until it had been time to head to the airport, anyway. I’d studied Wes’s pamphlets, and Greg had taken a set of them home, too, so he could be prepared on my behalf. That alone had taken a huge share of the weight off my shoulders.


Even so, now that the big moment was looming, it took a concerted effort to not be that jittery guy on the plane that everyone kept an eye on, waiting for them to crack and brandish a nail file that had slipped by security. Sure, there was a good chance everything would be fine. But there was still a possibility that my relationship with my parents would never be the same, and there was a huge sliding scale of degree for that potential unpleasantness.


Would my dad react similarly to the man sitting next to me? Under pressure, faced with his son admitting to being gay after he’d spent years talking about how wrong he felt that was, would he crack? He’d never used that word—“faggot.” He’d never used any kind of derogatory word.


Thinking back, I knew Greg was probably right about Dad’s apparent angle during his campaign to convince me it would be wrong to be gay. It all boiled down to the motivations behind his efforts. Was it as simple as he’d convinced himself I was making a choice, and wanted the best possible life for me, or did he think there was something intrinsically wrong—sordid, contemptible—with being gay?


Would I lose his respect? His love? Would holidays forevermore be tense? Helen was on my side, thank goodness, but what if Dad were to become convinced that I couldn’t be trusted around her two young children? I shifted in my seat, trying to get comfortable, but it couldn’t keep my mind from picturing him mining for all his arguments from only websites that were biased against LGBTQI+ people and not seeking the truth from a fair balance of sources. If that was the case, then there’d be a good chance he’d bought into a lot of the bullshit they were peddling. The fact he’d held off saying the more disparaging claims didn’t mean he hadn’t read them and thought there might be something to them.


The plane taxied down the runway and took off, and I turned my gaze to my book. I’d brought Andy Weir’s The Martian because I’d read it before and loved it, and I’d figured I might be distracted, so it’d be best not to try to follow a new story.


I opened the book, read the first three lines with the character thinking he was “pretty much fucked,” and closed it again. I didn’t believe in omens, but that summed up how I felt. It was just a question of degree.

About Addison

Addison Albright is a writer living in the middle of the USA. Her stories are gay (sometimes erotic) romance in contemporary settings. Her education includes a BS in Education with a major in mathematics and a minor in chemistry. Addison loves spending time with her family, reading, popcorn, boating, french fries, “open window weather,” cats, math, and anything chocolate. She loves to read pretty much anything and everything, anytime and anywhere.


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Guest Review: Cinderella in the Sheets by Reece Pine

Prince on the streets seeks Cinderella in the sheets.

Presley has a problem. It’s not that his evil stepdad is President of the USA, and he’s tired of traveling the country to stealthily sway right-wing governors & senators over to the side of good. (Well, besides that.) It’s that the escort Presley hired for a night of fun turned out to not be an escort after all, and now he can’t find the guy. Damn his habit of always wearing a blindfold whenever he hooks up with strangers!

Half his Secret Service detail are after the guy for the security threat he poses, half are on team #finallygetPresleyaBF, and Presley himself just wants to see the guy once more to figure out if what he felt that night was real. All they have to go on are a couple of clues and the glasses the guy left in Presley’s hotel room, but by using all the surveillance they can get away with, they’ll find him somehow.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

Presley has a high profile, political life and also has physical needs. One of his secret service security detail helps him out by arranging ‘escorts’ for Presley when the need *ahem* arises. In order to maintain his anonymity (such as it is) Presley wears a blindfold to cover some of his face. Of course this poses problems when he wants to find the guy that gave him an unforgettable night…

Fortunately, Presley’s team are loyal and committed to project get-presley-a-boyfriend, and they are prepared to push the boundaries and use any surveillance available to them to track down Presley’s guy. With sometimes hilarious outcomes!

I quite liked Presley form the start, although I’m not very political, I could certainly appreciate the evil stepfather is president of the USA , and that Presley travels far and wide to persuade influential people away from the dark side! I also really liked Presley’s date. That he brought Presley dinner and clearly liked him was nice from he outset, that he had secrets too was intriguing.

What I really loved, was Presley’s security detail. They were super! Earle trying to keep his rage enclosed when he discovered the risks Presley had taken was fabulous, and the scene with the hazmat suits was superb.

Of course this story had a HEA, and it was a good one too. Nicely written, good dialogue and an interesting premise mad this a quick read I really enjoyed.

I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Losing It (Ringside Romance #4) by Christine d'Abo

Christine d'Abo and Riptide Publishing visit on the final day of the Losing It virtual book tour! Learn more about the final book in the Ringside Romance series! Comment on today's post for your chance to win $25 Riptide credit--ends February 24th 12AM EST!

Hello, my name is Christine d’Abo and I’m so happy to be here today.

All things, no matter how good and loved, must eventually come to an end. When I originally planned to write my Ringside Romance series, it was only going to be three books. But then my lovely Justin came into being and there was no way I could leave this world without giving him his happy ending. So here we are, at the final stop on the journey, with both excitement and a few tears.

Justin’s character was my way of showing myself that every character can be his or her own hero. That we don’t have to be slaves to our circumstances, that given the right motivation and support from those who love us, we can move past our own negativity and become someone more.

Justin thought the person to help him was Grady.

That was because he hadn’t met Finn yet.

By helping Finn find his voice, Justin realizes that there’s more to life, more to himself, than he’d ever realized. I hope you’ll join me for LOSING IT, the final tale in the world of the Ringside Gym, where even the most unlikely of heroes can find his happily ever after.

About Losing It

Available now from Riptide Publishing!

Finn Miller doesn’t do social. He works his IT job from home as often as he can to avoid people. If it weren’t for his weekly training sessions at Ringside Gym, he might never leave his apartment. And he only does that because of Leo, the gym member he’s in love with. When Finn gets talked into attending a speed dating fund-raiser at the gym, his greatest wish is to have the courage to try to say something—anything—to Leo.


Justin McCormick has spent most of his adult life being used, whether playing a corporate heavy, or acting as guard dog for his ward. So when he leaves Vancouver for a fresh start in Toronto, he doesn’t quite know what to do with himself.


The moment Justin sees Finn at a speed dating event, he knows there’s no way he’ll make it without a little help, so he offers to coach Finn on the art of conversation. What he doesn’t count on is his unexpected attraction to this shy boxer, or his fear that if Finn gets his way, Justin might lose out on his best chance at love.

About Ringside Romance

Deep in the heart of Toronto lies Ringside Gym. Once a safe haven for troubled teens, Ringside has gone derelict, a forgotten memory of past days. Until a group of friends set out to do what they can to bring life back to the ring and create a new home for LGBT youths.


But when their lives threaten to pull down their dreams, each man must turn to others to help make it a reality. Winners take all—but there are no losers in love.

Check out the Ringside Romance universe!

About Christine d’Abo

A romance novelist and short story writer, Christine has over thirty publications to her name. She loves to exercise and stops writing just long enough to keep her body in motion too. When she’s not pretending to be a ninja in her basement, she’s most likely spending time with her family and two dogs.


You can visit Christine at her website www.christinedabo.com, and chat with her on Facebook and Twitter. Want to keep up with Christine’s new releases? Sign up for her newsletter and receive a free book!

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Losing It, one lucky winner will receive a $25 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on February 24, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Review: Don't Plan to Stay by Kaje Harper

At eighteen, Donnie Kagan's plans for graduation, and maybe even college, were derailed by a beer, a stoplight, and a fatal crash. Now he's twenty-four, out of prison, and bitterly determined to start over. But with the holidays approaching, he can't resist a quick trip home to Tallbridge, North Dakota, and the man he left behind. Just a fast look, to make sure Adam's doing all right, before Donnie starts his new life. He doesn't plan to stay.

Adam Lindberg's been waiting six years to get closure with Donnie. He missed that chance after the accident, fighting for his life in a hospital bed as Donnie pled guilty and disappeared into the justice system. Without so much as a letter back from Donnie in all this time, Adam's tried to move on. And yet, he never found another guy he cared about the same way. So when Donnie shows up in Tallbridge, Adam's ready to fight for more than three words of goodbye. Of course, Adam's brother and dad don't want Donnie to stick around, but it's the busy Christmas season at the family store. If Adam asks for Donnie's help, maybe he'll stay long enough to finally talk about the future, and the past.

There are some things I can always count on when I read a Kaje Harper story; the characters will always have a journey, they will always teach me something and they will always give me honest emotions. I always know I will get wrapped up in the MC’s lives and I will tend to iron man through the story in one sitting because I forget I’m even reading. Everything flows organically and the balance is always perfect from start to finish. Don’t Plan to Stay had all of these things and while the backstory for Donnie was incredibly heartbreaking, the story never went down the melodrama trail but instead had a hopeful edge at even the bleakest points. Being that Don’t Plan to Stay is set at Christmastime, that bit of hopeful optimism gave it the ideal tone for a second chance romance at the holidays.

Donnie’s character is quietly memorable and I had a lot of respect for the man that he had become. He made mistakes, but he was not alone, yet when it all came down he was left to pay the price solo. The tragedy that happened when they were young cost Donnie his maturing years but his strength of character when he comes back home to check on his boyhood love, Adam, before heading off to start his life had me hooked from the moment I met him.

Donnie wouldn’t be Donnie without Adam, the two were imperfectly perfect for one another. They were opposites to an extent, but they were also very alike at their core. They had polar opposite childhoods and Adam’s family gave Donnie the family he never really had. There’s a lot of very interesting dynamics when Donnie returns with a lot of truths coming out into the open. This aspect of the story was fascinating for me in that the emotions were the same as they were six years prior, but the characters had matured by six years as well. Each one of them had to reconcile their relationships with what they thought they knew to be truth but with the benefit of hindsight.

The romantic aspect of the story was sublime. It was the focus for sure, but I liked that it was told in relation to the rest of the characters as well. It gave the overall story more depth and it made all the characters more developed. I loved that Donnie didn’t fight the inevitable just to give the story some unnecessary angst. That drives me nutters when I’m reading a story, when one MC decides he’s not the man for the other and essentially negating the other MC’s life choices. The acceptance that Donnie came to, with some loving caretaking by Adam evolved just right for the two of them.It wasn’t too hard, it wasn’t too easy, it just happened as the two of them fell in love with the more mature versions of themselves.

The supporting characters were great, especially Adam’s dad. He was just such a realistic dad and I appreciated his honesty, his open mind and his open heart. He’s barely getting through the days himself after the loss of his beloved wife and I think Donnie’s coming home came at just the right time to give him a renewed perspective on life that his wife would have wanted.

I was left with a really hopeful HEA for these guys and I had a big ol’ goofy grin when I finished reading their story. Their happy was hard won, but they fought for it together all their lives and deserved every bit they got.

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

Re-Release Blitz: Blind Passion by Penny Brandon

Celebrate the re-release of Blind Passion with author Penny Brandon and Signal Boost Promotions! Learn more about the contemporary romance today!

Universal Buy Link

Length: 82,000 words approx. 

Blurb

Attraction for Adam was not a handsome face, a striking smile, or beautiful eyes, but a scent that would drive him to distraction or a voice that could make his heart beat faster. When the combination of the two walked into his life in Luke, Adam couldn’t help but want him. But how was he supposed to know if Luke felt the same attraction? He had no prior experience, no past encounters, nothing to help him. Not even his sight.


One look at Adam and Luke wanted him. Sensual, gorgeous, kind, with a strength that Luke was drawn to, Adam was everything Luke desired. Being in Adam’s arms, showing him the pleasure of a man’s body, being touched, held, and desired in return, had Luke wanting more, had him wanting what he knew he couldn’t have.


It didn’t matter to him that Adam was blind, but Adam deserved more than someone like him. Luke was a man with a broken past and falling in love with Adam was a foolish thing to do, especially because Adam would never love him back if he found out what Luke was hiding.

About Penny

Penny is a complete romantic who believes everyone can fall in love if only they'll open their heart to the possibility, which is why she writes these hot erotic stories that will always have a happily every after. However, it doesn't mean that she'll make it easy for her men to get there. A lover of things that go bump in the night, Penny's imagination can sometimes run riot, so magic mirrors and evil dolls are only the beginning.


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Blog Tour + Giveaway: Second Wind by Aimee Nicole Walker

Welcome Aimee Nicole Walker and Vibrant Promotions to the clubhouse! The Second Wind blog tour visits with an not only an excerpt, but also a $10 Amazon gift card!

SECOND WIND

AIMEE NICOLE WALKER

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 02.14.18

COVER DESIGN: JAY AHEER/ Simply Defined Art

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER: WANDER AGUIAR

BUY LINK: http://mybook.to/SecondWind

BLURB

Second wind: a new strength or energy to continue something that is an effort. After an amicable divorce, Lincoln Huxley is ready to embrace the sexuality he repressed for more than two decades. Rush Holden is no longer willing to settle for closeted men or those who don’t share his dreams of marriage and fatherhood. A chance encounter on a lakeside pier is the second wind they both need. Or will it just be a painful reminder of all they had lost?

Second chance: an opportunity to try something again that failed one time. Rush and Lincoln have shared a lot of firsts—friendship, young love, and heartbreak. Cruel reality forced the two men to choose paths that took their lives in different directions. Twenty-six years later, they get a second chance to fall in love with each all over again. Can it really be that simple, or will the same issues ruin their happiness a second time?

Happily ever after: to live happily for the rest of one’s life. Rush and Lincoln know that love and life can’t be defined by words alone. Patience, commitment, and the determination to do whatever it takes will be the only way the two men achieve their happily ever after.

Second Wind is a funny, sexy, and endearing standalone romance novel about love, loss, and rediscovery. It contains sexually explicit material and is intended for adults 18 and older.

EXCERPT

I suddenly felt an invisible pull to go to the pier and ride the damn thing. No, Rush wouldn’t be with me in person, but the memory of him would be. I walked the short distance and bought tickets for the Centennial Wheel. The pier was packed with families and friends just looking to have a good time and enjoy the beautiful June weather before the serious humidity hit later in the month.

I felt a little silly as I approached the long line by myself, but I passed the time by texting Phee and checking my email. The line had suddenly stopped advancing, and I wondered if the ride broke down or something. Then I heard the chatter about newlyweds posing for photos with the grand Ferris wheel in the background.

“Look how handsome the grooms look,” someone said.

“It so good that people don’t have to hide any longer,” another person added.

I stepped out of line to see for myself, and my heart thudded to a stop in my chest before it raced with recognition. It wasn’t the grooms that held me spellbound; it was the photographer. I’d know that stance anywhere because I sure as hell had seen it enough times growing up. The camera he held in his hand was a lot different and more expensive than the ones he used to own, but the way he stood and cradled it like a rare treasure was all the same. Rush! But how was this possible? My mind had to be playing tricks on me. This moment was nothing but a fantasy brought on by all the trips down memory lane I’d made the past twenty-four hours. I would wake up to find that I fell asleep in the hotel room instead of walking to the pier.

There was no way in hell that Rush, my Rush, was a few hundred feet away from me. It had to be someone who resembled him. The photographer turned around and smiled at something his assistant said to him. I started walking toward him without stopping to think if I should. For the first time in more than twenty-six years, my world felt right. My Rush.

It felt like I’d caught my second wind.

I am a wife and mother to three kids, three dogs, and a cat. When I’m not dreaming up stories, I like to lose myself in a good book, cook or bake. I’m a girly tomboy who paints her fingernails while watching sports and yelling at the referees. I will always choose the book over the movie. I believe in happily-ever- after. Love inspires everything that I do. Music keeps me sane.

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/aimeenicole.walker?fref=nf

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TWITTER - https://twitter.com/AimeeNWalker?lang=en

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Release Blitz: Pretty in Pink (Housemates #6) by Jay Northcote

Jay Northcote and Signal Boost Promotions are here today to promote the latest New Adult release from the popular Housemates series, Pretty in Pink! Learn more about the romance today!

Universal Buy Link

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design

Length: 58,000 words approx.

Housemates Series

Book #1 - Helping Hand

Book #2 - Like A Lover 

Book #3 - Practice Makes Perfect

Book #4 -Watching and Wanting

Book #5 - Starting From Scratch

Blurb

Ryan isn't looking for a relationship with a guy--and Johnny isn't looking for a relationship at all.

Ryan's always been attracted to tall, leggy blondes--normally of the female variety. When Johnny catches his eye at a party, Ryan's interest is piqued even though he's never been with a guy before. The attraction is mutual, and the amazing night that follows opens Ryan's eyes to his bisexuality.

Experience has taught Johnny that love hurts. Staying single is safer, and there's no need for complicated relationships when hooking up is easy. When he moves in next door to Ryan, they're both interested in picking up where they left off, and it seems like an ideal arrangement: convenient, mutually satisfying, and with no strings attached.

Despite their best intentions to keep things casual, they develop an emotional connection alongside the physical one. Both begin to want more from the relationship but are afraid to admit it. If they're going to work things out, they need to start being honest--first with themselves, and then with each other.

Although this book is part of the Housemates series, it has new main characters, a satisfying happy ending, and can be read as a standalone.

Excerpt

Ryan was a few drinks down and feeling pretty buzzed when he first caught sight of blond hair through the crowd of partygoers.

He nearly hadn’t bothered coming out tonight. He had his third year project to write up, and should have been working on that, not partying with his next door neighbours. But the rest of Ryan’s housemates had talked him into it and he could do with letting off some steam, so he hadn’t put up much of a fight. One night couldn’t make too much difference, right?

The blonde arrived late and headed straight into the throng of dancers in the living room, bottle in hand. Tall and leggy in black skinny jeans with shit-kicking boots, Ryan’s interest was piqued immediately and a spike of arousal made his cock wake up. Tall and blonde was completely Ryan’s type, but when this blond slid a leather jacket off slender shoulders and tossed it on the back of the sofa, his washboard-flat chest made it clear he was a guy—so not Ryan’s type after all.

Despite the gut punch of disappointment at that revelation, Ryan found his interest persisted. The guy drew Ryan’s attention like a magnet lining up iron filings, and no matter how hard he tried, Ryan couldn’t stop watching him.

Spurred on by alcohol and reckless impulsivity, Ryan made a conscious decision not to question his attraction and just roll with it. He gradually edged his way into the group where the blond was dancing, and when he finally managed to make eye contact, the guy gave him a knowing smile that reflected Ryan’s interest right back at him. It curled around Ryan’s balls like the gentle, insistent squeeze of a hand.

Game on.

University was supposed to be all about new experiences, and Ryan only had a few months left before he graduated. He’d never hooked up with a guy before, and it had always been on his sexual bucket list, but not a high priority. As a young teen he’d sometimes admired androgynous male models on the pages of magazines that his mum used to buy and felt a confusing interest in them… but he’d never seen a guy in real life he’d wanted to fuck enough to actually do something about it.

Until tonight.

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. He has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.

www.jaynorthcote.com
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