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Release Blitz + Giveaway: Thief of Hearts by Ruby Moone


Thief of Hearts by Ruby Moone is out from JMS Books! Celebrate with the author and Signal Boost Promotions! Enter in $15 Amazon gift card giveaway!




Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | JMS Books

Length: 72,000 words approx.

Blurb

It’s 1806 and aristocratic, bastard born jewel thief, David Lambert has few rules in his life. Never bed the staff, never bed a man more than once, and never kiss. In the space of one weekend, all his rules are shattered by a stunning, violet eyed footman with a secret.


Jeremy Naylor thought he had found the man of his dreams. Thought he had found the one person that might, just might, understand him. But in one shocking moment his dreams are destroyed, and he is forced to run for his life.


When Jeremy is flung into Newgate for a crime David committed, it’s a race against time to get him free and David is forced to face up to his past, his family, and accept that he might have a future if he has the courage to fight for it.


Excerpt

David hammered on the door of Charnley’s Grosvenor Street mansion and, finding the door unlocked, let himself in. He strode through the hallway, boot heels ringing on the marble floor, and was met by a flurry of agitated staff.


“Get me Charnley. Now.”


The butler emerged and addressed him in condescending tones, but David brushed him aside. “Where is he? Study?” he stalked across the hallway and headed for the study door with the staff flapping behind him. He threw open the door, but there was no-one inside.


“Charnley!” he bellowed. “Get out here now.”


The flurry of footmen was swiftly replaced by burly, determined looking grooms, so David pulled out a brace of pistols from the back of his breeches and aimed them.


“Hold it right there,” he said, and the men stopped. “I have no quarrel with you, but I will see Charnley. Anyone who tries to stop me will be shot. Those of you who know me know I will do it.” He raised the pistols and waited. No-one moved.


“So, where is he?”


“What in God’s name is going on?” Charnley appeared, leaning over the gallery balcony, then running lightly down the stairs wearing only his shirt sleeves and waistcoat. “Lambert, why are you causing ructions in my home? For God’s sake, man, put the pistols down.”


“First, call off your lap dogs.”


With a flick of a hand, the staff were dismissed, but David held onto the pistols. “Shall we?” he asked, nodding towards the study. He slammed the door shut behind them with his boot.


“Get him out. Whatever you want from me is yours, just get him out.”


Charnley frowned. “What the hell are you talking about?”


David stalked across the room, gun in hand and put the muzzle against Charnley’s chest. “You have until the count of three to tell me you will get him out. If you do not, I will shoot you and get him out myself.”


Charnley staggered back and held up both hands. “What … who are you talking about? Get who out of where?”


“One.”


“Lambert, I do not know what…”


“Two.”


“God… man will you … Oh Christ. Not Naylor?” A look of genuine shock on Charnley’s face surprised David.


“Three. Yes.” He pushed against Charnley’s chest.


“Yes, yes… of course I will help. Just put the fucking gun down.”


David lowered the pistol slowly, and Charnley backed away, one hand going to his throat. Sweat stood out on his brow.


“Get your coat, get down to Newgate, and undo whatever lies you told to put him in there. Now.”


Charnley lifted both hands. He was a little taller than David, and heavier having a few years on him, but he was treating him with a healthy respect. “Now, listen to me.”


“I’m listening. Get your coat.”


“David, I will do everything in my power to get Naylor out, but we have a serious problem here.”


“Which is?”


“He is not there because of anything that I did. I did not order his arrest.”





My name is Ruby Moone and I love books. All kinds of books. My weakness is for romance, and that can be any kind, but I am particularly fond of historical and paranormal. I decided to write gay romance after reading some fantastic books and falling in love with the genre, so am really thrilled to have my work published here. The day job takes up a lot of my time, but every other spare moment finds me writing or reading. I live in the north west of England with my husband who thinks that I live in two worlds. The real world and in the world in my head...he probably has a point!


Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/RubyMoone/?ref=bookmarks

Twitter - @RubyMooneWriter

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rubymoone/

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Blog Tour + Giveaway: Nectar and Ambrosia (Amaranthine Inheritance #1) by E.M. Hamill


E.M. Hamill and IndiGo Marketing visit on the Nectar and Ambrosia (Amaranthine Inheritance #1) blog tour! Read the exclusive except from the new urban fantasy and enter in the Nectar and Ambrosia eBook giveaway! Up to five lucky winners!

Title:  Nectar and Ambrosia
Series: Amaranthine Inheritance #1
Author: E.M. Hamill
Publisher:  Star Bard Books
Release Date: June 30, 2018
Heat Level: 1 - No Sex
Pairing: Male/Female, Male/Male
Length: 81576
Genre: Fantasy, urban/mythical

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Synopsis

Callie, a Classics major, flees home to protect her family from a monster straight out of mythology.  Visions lead her to Nectar and Ambrosia: the weirdest pub on Earth, where inter-dimensional travelers with attention seeking issues get drunk in between the A-list celebrity lives they create. They can't pretend to be gods anymore—not since a treaty with the current Supreme Deity promising they won't intervene in human affairs.

The Doorkeeper of this threshold, Florian, rides herd on the rowdy Amaranthine and offers her shelter and a job. Callie likes the lonely, mysterious bartender more than she should. For Florian, her presence is a ray of light in the gray monotony of his sentence behind the bar, but he keeps a cautious distance—the truth of how he became Doorkeeper could change Callie's perception of him forever.

When angels show up for a war council over Zeus's irrational mutters about a comeback, Callie has uncontrolled visions of an apocalypse.  Ex-gods realize she’s the first Oracle Priestess in generations. All Callie wanted was keep her parents safe, and now it seems she must sacrifice her future to keep the rest of humanity safe, too. Ambrosia could be the key to harnessing her visions— or it could cost her life.

War is coming. The threshold between worlds has never been more fragile. Callie must discover who is pulling Zeus's strings and avert the final battle—before the immortal vying to become the next Supreme Deity kills her first.​

Exclusive Excerpt


While Florian tended to Big Z, Callie interrogated Hermes in search of validation for her burgeoning acceptance. They sat together in one of the booths out front and the former messenger, who claimed to now be a lawyer for the gods, indulgently fielded her rapid-fire questions as he ate the remainder of the olives from Florian's garnish tray. His funnel-shaped glass overflowed with green spheres and a token amount of alcohol.
"You might try a drink with your olives, sometime. That's a pretty serious habit you have there," Callie noted.
"Silence, mortal scholar. I'm allowed my vices. I don't have many others." He popped more into his mouth. "So what other burning questions do you have?"
"So, why would gods bother taking on a human form at all, or an animal one? I always wondered about that."
He shrugged. "In our native form you'd be unable to perceive us as anything but bright lights or energy. We take on whatever appearance will get us where we need to go, or in Zeus's case, incognito to avoid pissing off Hera."
The last part of the sentence emerged sotto voce, and Hermes looked over his shoulder as if expecting Hera to appear. She giggled, glancing with cautious guilt at Zeus's back.
"Interacting with humans is more practical in a corporeal body. We can be male or female—or both, depending on the situation. It makes it easier for you to relate to us, and there are distinct advantages in the field of biology." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, and Callie snorted, amused.
"Yes. Rather prolific advantages, as I remember."
"Not so much, anymore." He shifted, and became serious. When he spoke again, his voice held gravity. "There are rules in place now that make it less practical to procreate with humans. We can't intervene in our children's lives in any way that would alter their destiny so the decision should be given more consideration than it gets. Conception happens without fail unless we take some pretty drastic precautions. In most cases, it's a temporary decision and a temporary body, but we become governed by emotions that aren't the norm for our kind when we take on a permanent human form. We're not big on humility or love or being good parents unless we're constrained by the human condition."
Hermes went silent for a moment, an odd, wistful expression on his face as he regarded her. "Every now and then, we decide to live out a human lifespan just for kicks. But biology can't be cheated. When we truly become human in this world, eventually that persona is going to die of old age or as a result of abuse to which the body is subjected. Like that one did." He jerked his chin at the drunken Zeus, still disguised as a now-dead rock star. "Losing this identity has been exceptionally hard. Nobody's ever seen him like this. He didn't even mourn losing Henry the Eighth this badly."
"So, the cult of celebrity has become the new worship?"
Hermes looked impressed. "Score one for the lady. You worked it out in no time at all."
"Not that hard to see. Some of those celebrities are too perfect, or too weird to be human. Tom Cruise?"
"Trust me, not one of ours. The celebrity or rock star status works for some of us. Me? I prefer to be the normal everyday Joe with power, money, and good taste that everyone else wants to be." He saluted her with his martini. "Envy and imitation work almost as well as fame, without the paparazzi. They suck."
"So how many are professional athletes?"
"Not as many as you might think. There are a lot more porn stars."
"Eww." Callie wrinkled her nose.
"We take attention where we can get it."
"Don't take this the wrong way then, but Hermes was always one of my favorites." Her face heated up and she covered her eyes, confused at her own reaction. "Oh my God, I sound like I’m fangirling."
Hermes laughed. "Thanks, but I have a boyfriend. I'm flattered. Don’t worry, your admiration is appreciated for what it is."
"When I was little I loved the story about stealing Apollo's cows. Dad read it every time I asked, even though he must have been sick of it. I know it's probably allegorical."
"Oh, no, that one's relatively accurate. It didn't take much to impress people back then, but making cows walk backward isn't as easy as it sounds."

Purchase

Star Bard Books | Amazon Kindle | Amazon Paperback |Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Meet the Author

Elisabeth "E.M." Hamill is a nurse by day, unabashed geek, chocoholic, sci fi and fantasy novelist by nights, weekends, and wherever she can steal quality time with her laptop. She lives with her family, a dog, and a cat in the wilds of eastern suburban Kansas, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.​

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail


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Review: A Trust to Follow (Wild Magics #1) by Diana Waters

Daymon is the second prince of a kingdom in which Evokers—those who possess intuitive magical abilities—have long since been treated with fear and mistrust. Marked as an Evoker himself, Daymon is captured by those who wish to take advantage of these powers. Now, the prince must put his faith in Rhyder, the captain of his guards—and the man Daymon has claimed as his own—to free him.












Some short stories work and some don’t. This one delivered!

Prince Daymon is the rare magic user and because of his potentially volatile abilities, he’s kidnapped by those who fear him and hate what he is. As he lays imprisoned awaiting a terrible fate, the only thing that’s keeping him alive is the hope that his lover and captain of his guard Rhyder, will find and rescue him.

Jumping to and fro from past to present, glimpses of how Daymon and Rhyder meet and fall in love are shown. This was a lovely look at an established couple, about a man with great power but still unsure of such and an equally strong partner who believes that he can and will do amazing things not only because of his magic but also due to his royal station.

Like with all short stories, it’s often a gamble and when it’s a win, I torture myself wishing and wanting at least another 100 pages of all the goodness. This was sexy and swoony and Rhyder is a fucking dream. Luckily, what I thought was initially a one-off, is now apparently the beginning of a series! Score!


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


Release Blitz + Giveaway: Smoke in the Mirror by Aimee Nicole Walker


Celebrate the release of Smoke in the Mirror with author Aimee Nicole Walker and Vibrant Promotions! Learn more about the contemporary romance! Enter in the $5 Amazon gift card giveaway!

Smoke in the Mirror RDB Banner
SMOKE IN THE MIRROR
A ROAD TO BLISSVILLE STORY
AIMEE NICOLE WALKER
M/M ROMANCE
RELEASE DATE: 07.12.18
Smoke in the Mirror Cover
COVER DESIGN: JAY AHEER/ Simply Defined Art
COVER PHOTOGRAPHER: WANDER AGUIAR
MODEL: TRAVIS

Smoke in the Mirror Graphic

BLURB
Memphis Sullivan thought he was coming to Blissville to help his cousin out, but instead, he gained three meddlesome females, a tribe, and a permanent home. More than a year later, he owns a popular comic book and vinyl record store and doesn’t think his life could get any better. That all changes when the star of his favorite television show and bad-boy fantasies rides into town and spices up his vanilla world.
Lyric Willows’ decision to visit an old friend in Blissville will change his life in ways he never dreamed possible. The paranormal investigator is immediately drawn to the mysterious disappearance of the town’s founder in 1850 and rumors that his former home is haunted. More alluring to Lyric than the history of Bliss House is the immediate connection he feels to the adorably geeky owner of Vinyl and Villains, who also happens to be his friend’s cousin.

Lyric becomes Memphis’s houseguest when he decides to stay in town to conduct a paranormal investigation. Tight spaces lead to sexy encounters, and before long, ghosts aren’t the only things that go bump in the night. The more they unravel about Anthony Bliss’s disappearance, the more tangled in one another they become. How is it possible for two virtual strangers to feel like they’ve known each other for their entire lives? Was their love written in the stars, or is it nothing more than an illusion?

Smoke in the Mirror is the fifth book in the Road to Blissville series. Each book can be read as a standalone book or part of the series. This book contains sexually explicit material and is intended for adults 18 and older.



Smoke in the Mirror Teaser 1

Smoke in the Mirror Teaser 2
EXCERPT
Three weeks passed with no word from Lyric. I would’ve taken it personally if he was communicating with Maegan during that timeframe, but she hadn’t heard from him either. I’d shamefully looked online for answers, but he had pulled another disappearing act. I accepted he’d changed his mind and moved on to a different town and haunted house. I’d kept my house spotless during the first month of waiting because I wanted to make a good impression on the man when he arrived, but I gave up on tidiness at the same time I gave up on him showing up on my doorstep.



That’s why I was masturbating at eleven o’clock on a Saturday night instead of scrubbing the bathroom and kitchen when his truck rumbled into my driveway. I didn’t realize he arrived right away of course because I was fingering my ass with two fingers from my left hand while stroking my dick with my right. What else would I be doing on a Saturday night? I was about to shoot my load when I heard Gigi growling low in her throat in the hallway. At first, I thought she was pissed because I locked her out of the bedroom since I couldn’t jerk off with her judgmental eyes watching me. Then the growl became a full-out squeaking bark about the same time I heard voices downstairs. My stroking hand stilled as panic flooded my body.



“What the fuck are they doing here?” I whispered out loud. The Matrons were nosy as fuck, but they’d never unlocked the door and let themselves in. Then I heard a fourth voice join them, one so deep and raspy with the perfect amount of southern drawl, and it sent electric thrills coursing through my body. The slightest jerk with my right hand made me come hard enough for my toes to curl and my eyes roll back in my head.



“Memphis is probably sleeping,” Gertie said loudly from the bottom of the steps. She was the oldest, and mother of Sandra and Clara. Sandra was the one who owned the house I rented, and it was mostly furnished with her belongings. The only things I moved in were my clothes and my bed. Sandra moved in with Gertie after her husband’s sudden death a few years prior. Up until that moment, I felt exceedingly lucky to find such a nurturing landlord and two additional ladies to fuss over me.



“Fuck!” I whisper-yelled, jackknifing off the bed and grabbing the closest pair of sweats off the floor. I grabbed a T-shirt too, but instead of pulling it over my head, I wiped the cum off my chest and tossed it in the direction of the dirty clothes basket.



“Surely not,” Sandra said. “It’s a Saturday night. He’s most likely busy doing something else.” Fuck me! “We were all young and single once.”



“Who needs to be young or single to masturbate?” Gertie asked her oldest daughter.



“Mom!” Clara admonished. She was the softest spoken and most demure of the three, but that wasn’t saying much.



“We love your show,” Gertie said, changing the subject. “Memphis is a big fan too.”



“Is he now?”

Aimee Logo
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.


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Review: Love Me Louder by Christina Lee

Noah Dixon is damaged goods. After an accident leaves him physically scarred and emotionally vulnerable, dating isn’t in the cards, so he throws himself head-first into his retail job. When he’s obligated to attend his best friend’s engagement party on Fire Island, it dawns on him he’s about to spend yet another weekend feeling totally invisible and alone among a swarm of gorgeous men.

That’s when the idea of an escort comes in.

After Will Crossen was forced to put his theater major on hold in favor of two jobs to tackle his ailing mother’s hospital bills, he tells himself becoming an escort isn’t that big of a deal. It’s just another form of acting, right? He doesn’t expect his newest customer to be the cheery, overconfident sales associate he avoids like the plague at his day job. Talk about awkward.

But what happens on Fire Island stays on Fire Island…especially when a smoldering attraction sparks into flames. Will doesn’t feel so alone anymore, and for the first time, Noah realizes someone is seeing him behind all the scars. But between their jobs, Will’s massive familial responsibilities, and Noah’s vulnerabilities, they don’t stand a chance unless they find a way to let love speak louder than their demons.


Holy fishnets Batman!!

fisnets.jpg

I’m in the minority with my rating but the fishnets, the way Will rocked them, and how much Noah got off on them brought out my happy face.

Noah works at a home furnishings store with the quiet and stand-offish Will. Noah is happiest at work where he is able to transform spaces for customers. In his private life he’s lonely, insecure about his scars, and distancing himself from the friends and family that love him. This distance from his helicopter parents and physically “beautiful” friends works until he has to go back to Fire Island for a birthday party and secret engagement for his friends. Unable to stomach a trip back alone with everyone hooking up except him, he spots a bat signal in the form of a card his co-worker Will accidentally drops.

Gotham City Escorts.

Will works multiple jobs to help support his mother and her medical bills. He meets up with his next client to prepare for a weekend away at a coffee shop and is taken aback to find Noah waiting. After a rocky start, Will agrees to escort Noah for the Fire Island trip.

Will and Noah’s agreement begins a tentative friendship where they spend time getting to know each other. They definitely can’t show up for the weekend acting like they’ve never spent a minute together. Outside of work, they realize they have things in common and that their assumptions about the other were way off base. A connection is made and then at Fire Island their chemistry comes alive. Except, they don’t know what’s real and what isn’t. Noah doesn’t understand how anyone can be attracted to him beyond a hook-up and believes that Will is just doing what he is paid to do; which is to act like he’s a devoted boyfriend. Will can’t see past his need for money and what that means in caring for his mom. There are some mild curve balls thrown in to make decisions more complicated but low to medium angst overall with a HEA.

The first 50-60% of the book dragged for me. I wasn’t even sure I would hit 3 stars for a rating because I wasn’t having a very enjoyable time. The insecurities and self-doubt were understandable but Noah grated on my patience. Assumptions in high quantities were being spewed on both sides. The back and forth does he/doesn’t he or he’s only interested because I’m paying him drove me cray-cray after a while. I was extremely relieved that everything picked up and my sanity/enjoyment was restored as I finished out the story. Clearly this is a case of “it’s not you, it’s me.”

A warning for readers that like their MCs to only have *ahem* interactions between themselves: There are other... escorty type situations while Noah and Will find their place together. They're minor but bills gotta be paid and all. *shrugs*

Recommended.

”Show me, fuck me, hire me again just so we can pretend to pretend.”




Author Visit + Giveaway: Tight Quarters by Annabeth Albert


Welcome Annabeth Albert and A Novel Take PR's visit to the blog in celebration of the latest Out of Uniform release, Tight Quarters! Learn more about the author's favorite M/M SEALs and enter in the giveaway for a chance to win Reader’s Choice of any Out of Uniform book in paper + surprise swag pack!


“Sexy, sweet and heartfelt, Annabeth Albert's Out of Uniform series is a fresh take on Navy SEALs that will delight and entertain romance readers.”
--Layla Reyne, author of the Agents Irish and Whisky series.

Title: Tight Quarters by Annabeth Albert

Series: Out of Uniform #6

Publisher: Carina Press

Release Date: ebook: July 9, 2018 | print: July 31, 2018

Subgenre: M/M Contemporary Military Romance

Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo


Book Synopsis: Petty Officer Bacon, a navy SEAL and ace sharpshooter, has been on the front lines of more than his fair share of dangerous ops. Yet when a minor injury relegates him to the beta team, he’s tasked with what may be his riskiest assignment yet: the silver fox journalist he’s babysitting is the hottest, most charismatic man he’s ever encountered.

Award-winning journalist Spencer Bryant may have been named one of Pride magazine’s most eligible bachelors of the year, but he’s not looking to change his relationship status. He’s a consummate professional who won’t risk his ethics or impeccable reputation by getting involved with a source. Even a sexy-as-hell military man. But while Spencer can resist his physical attraction to Bacon, he has less control over his emotions—especially when the mission goes sideways and the two men are trapped alone.

Getting out of the jungle alive turns out to be easy compared to facing the truth about their feelings for one another back in the real world. And whether or not they can build a future is a different story altogether.

This book is approximately 82,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Excerpt

“Is something up with you and the reporter?” Curly demanded as they walked to the building where the LT and the rest of the leadership had a situation room for planning their strategy.
“Nope. We were just talking.” Bacon wasn’t lying—they had been talking. And Curly sure as hell didn’t need to know how close to rage-kissing Spencer he’d been. He’d been more pissed off than he’d been in years, and Spencer was a threat on so many levels, and yet somehow, he’d been turned on. It was fucked up, and the impulse to lean in and kiss the living daylights out of Spencer had been stupid and impulsive, things he tried hard not be anymore, and he needed to make sure it didn’t happen again.
“Good. We don’t need any of us getting all buddy-buddy with the reporter, right?”
“Yeah.” Bacon hoped his reluctance didn’t show in his tone. He wasn’t overly friendly now, but there on the bluff, telling him about Jamie, he’d felt something more than animosity. And in a way, that had him madder now. He’d let his guard down, and he wasn’t sure whether Spencer would take advantage or not.
“I talked to Donaldson. He’s going to try to can it with the wisecracks.” Curly was slightly out of breath—he was probably even more bushed than Bacon felt. It had been a long ass forty-eight hours, and the night was muggy and smelled dank, like a basement full of plants.
“Try isn’t as good as will.” Bacon frowned. “But thanks. And it’s not just him, you know? On the plane, no one was stopping him.”
“It wasn’t really offensive,” Curly protested. “Just him running his mouth.”
“It was to me,” Bacon said with a sigh. He hated that they needed to have this conversation. “I’m probably going to come out as pan to the team soon, and I need to know you’ve got my six, man. You staying silent when people are homophobic—even if it’s just a joke—fucking hurts.”
“I’m sorry,” Curly said quietly as they reached the building. “I’ll try—will—do better. And you coming out, that’s probably a good thing, yeah? That alone might silence some of it. And who knows whether someone else is also wondering whether or not to come out. Good role model and all that.”
“Yeah.” Bacon really didn’t want to be a diversity poster-child, but he also wasn’t sure how much longer he could quietly seethe.

Author Visit

Favorite M/M SEALs

Hi! Thank you so much for having me today as I celebrate the release of TIGHT QUARTERS, sixth in my SEAL series, Out of Uniform. This one pairs Bacon, a SEAL sniper, with Spencer, a silver fox journalist embedded with his team. It’s no secret that I adore SEALs—this is book six of the series, and my seventh SEAL hero book (I have to count CONNECTION ERROR too!). But why? What’s so awesome about SEALs, particularly as it pertains to the m/m genre?

I love how elite the SEALs are—only a few are chosen to go to training, most of those will drop out during “Hell Week” and only a few make it through to earn their tridents. These are special, determined people. Each has very specialized skills too that allow them to operate as a team. Also, until very, very recently, it’s been an all-male environment, which creates unique interpersonal experiences. From my extensive research, I’ve learned that culture really varies from team to team as they operate as small, tightly knit units. Some teams get along like family. Others may have issues with differences or personality conflicts. In my books, I’ve tried to portray the wide range of SEALs and experiences on the teams. I’ve also tried to explore the wide range of reasons and motivations for becoming a SEAL as well as why they choose to remain (or not) with the teams.

But given such a testosterone charged environment with such life-and-death situations, the experience of SEALs in same-sex relationships really intrigues me. And I’m not alone. There are other awesome m/m books starring SEALs and former SEALs.

Any lover of military romance must start with LA Witt, who writes some of the best m/m military romance around. She’s covered just about every job in the navy from grunts to officers to fighter pilots and SEALs. Among her best is WASH OUT, which features a hero who desperately wanted to be a SEAL but didn’t quite make it due to injury. I love the exploration of what happens when Special Forces is the dream and reality disappoints.

Another master of the military/romantic suspense genre, Charlie Cochet, has several books that fit the bill. I particularly loved LOVE IN SPADES which stars an ex-special forces solider (very similar to a SEAL). SE Jakes is another who has several military romances and has a wide range of series to choose from. My personal favorite is LONG TIME GONE, which features an ex-SEAL. And if you like your military with a touch of sci-fi, Hailey Turner’s Metahuman series features special forces men. IN THE WRECKAGE starts the series. Out this month, Layla Reyne has a former SEAL turned federal prosecutor in her romantic suspense IMPERIAL STOUT ,and I adore her voice!

I’m sure I’m missing some other great SEAL and former SEAL and special forces heroes, so feel free to chime in in the comments! Thank you so much for having me today, and I hope you enjoy TIGHT QUARTERS!


About Annabeth Albert:

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. The #OutOfUniform series joins her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat and #PerfectHarmony series.
To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: www.annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two active children.

Connect with Annabeth: Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group | Newsletter | Instagram | Website

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Review: A Private Gentleman by Heidi Cullinan

To seal their bond, they must break the ties that bind.

Painfully introverted and rendered nearly mute by a heavy stammer, Lord George Albert Westin rarely ventures any farther than the club or his beloved gardens. When he hears rumors of an exotic new orchid sighted at a local hobbyist’s house, though, he girds himself with opiates and determination to attend a house party, hoping to sneak a peek. He finds the orchid, yes…but he finds something else even more rare and exquisite: Michael Vallant. Professional sodomite.

Michael climbed out of an adolescent hell as a courtesan’s bastard to become successful and independent-minded, seeing men on his own terms, protected by a powerful friend. He is master of his own world—until Wes. Not only because, for once, the sex is for pleasure and not for profit. They are joined by tendrils of a shameful, unspoken history. The closer his shy, poppy-addicted lover lures him to the light of love, the harder his past works to drag him back into the dark. There’s only one way out of this tangle. Help Wes face the fears that cripple him—right after Michael finds the courage to reveal the devastating truth that binds them.


Albert/Wes (same person) and Michael were surprisingly good together. Their meet-cute was pretty funny and definitely left me wanting to know more about these two men, Michael in particular. After a quick bout of mistaken identity an immediate connection is felt and these two quickly became drawn to each other. What I really liked was even though that connection was immediate, the progression of deeper emotions occured throughout the book, with love not being confessed until they had been through their own journeys.

I found the main focus of this book to be about their individual healing and how they had to overcome their vices/pasts alone before they would work together. That being said they both played a part in each other's healing.

There wasn't a heap of sex, but Cullinan does write great sex and this book is no different.

There are a couple of reasons this book rated lower for me, the first one being the major theme of child abuse with no trigger warnings. There are partial on-page abuse scenes, (as in detailed memories, recollections etc) of pre-pubescent boys getting sexually assaulted. Rather horrifying. Definitely needs some trigger warnings.

There was also a really weird happily ever after for the time period. Still very happy though!

SPOILER

Wes’ family all knew he was gay, basically hated him his whole life and then at the end of the book, they're all like, 'Whatever, it's all fine, come over for dinner and bring that fine man with you’, yea…. I don't buy it. I would have bought apologies and then indifference, not a happy family.

END SPOILER

All in all I enjoyed the read, it definitely needs some trigger warnings but it went by quickly and was a very unique story.


Release Blitz + Giveaway: Lost In Indigo (Colors Of Love #1) by V.L. Locey


Welcome the Lost In Indigo (Colors Of Love #1) release blitz to the blog today! Author V.L. Locey and Signal Boost Promotions bring you info on the QUILTBAG hockey romance. Enter in the backlist giveaway today!




Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK


Length: 70,695 words approx.

Blurb

Mathieu Beresford was so close to seeing his dream come true.


The thirty-eight-year-old captain of the Buffalo Surge had led his team to the final round of the playoffs with his aggressive defensive play and leadership. During the first game of the championship series, he was taken down, and his leg snapped upon impact with the boards. From his hospital bed, Mathieu watched his team go on to win it all.


Adrift in anger, resentment, and the new direction of his life, he returns to his mansion along the St. Lawrence River. Alone and sulking, Mathieu is not prepared for Indigo Neu to enter his life. The genderflux twenty-year-old botany major signs on to play nursemaid, confidant, and groundskeeper over the summer and slowly leads Mathieu out of his confusion––one tender smile and touch at a time.


The deeper Mathieu falls, the more he wonders if being lost might not be so bad after all.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, Dr. Who, Torchwood, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, two Jersey steers and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.

When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.




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Review: Love For All Seasons Anthology by Various Authors

Love stories for all seasons.

RJ Scott brings together authors in an anthology that reveals true love always deserves a happy ending, whatever the season.

With characters who find love in a New York park, or on a college campus, in the middle of a snow storm or in the heat of summer, ‘Love for all Seasons’ delivers romance for everyone. 

Including stories from three authors, new to the world of writing MM romance.



The first two things that caught my eye when this anthology came through the blogosphere were; the proceeds are all going to two charities worthy of all our support, The Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Albert Kennedy Trust (follow the links to learn more about them) and secondly, there are three authors new to the MM genre published here. I think that’s such an awesome idea. What a great way to get introduced! I hope other coordinators of anthologies follow suit, support is something that is sorely lacking in our world these days, so to see it represented this way in the MM Community is quite heartwarming.

Brioche for Two - Seasons of Bryant - Spring 
V.L. Locey 
3 ¾ Hearts 
Brioche for Two is the first of four short stories that will tell the tale of Isamu and Brian, so this story is more of an introduction to the MC’s. That doesn’t mean that anything was lacking or I was left hanging in any way as a reader, it just means that their story isn’t over. The setup for their HEA is ever present though and I liked their chemistry from the beginning. Isamu is a film student crushing hard on one of his customers from the bakery where he works part time. Brian is the crush who is older, devastatingly handsome and incredibly successful. Technically they are in the “opposites attract” realm, but they clicked so well that I never had the feeling that Isamu didn’t belong in Brian’s world so there was no manufactured angst about where he was in his life in comparison to Brian. That was really refreshing for a change. I loved the documentary project that Isamu had to work on that the author used to show the heat between these two. It was clever, steamy and makes me want to read the next chapter of their story.

Sweeter than Honey 
C.M. Valencourt 
3 Hearts 
The premise for Sweeter than Honey is adorable and quite relatable for anyone who’s ever been to a farmer’s market. Considering that is most people, given their popularity, I know I’ll be shipping stall owners right and left next time I go.

Wyatt is a local beekeeper who is anxiously looking forward to market season and he is even more happily anxious when he is set up next to a handsome vegan baker named Grayson. Problem is, Grayson is a bit of a militant vegan and he in no way approves of beekeeping due to the harm he believes it causes. Grayson was a bit off putting at first and I was impressed with how Wyatt kept to the high ground considering the smear campaign Grayson was trying to pull off. Wyatt convinced Grayson to learn a little more before judging his livelihood so harshly and surprisingly, Grayson agrees. From this moment on, I could see these two together and I though the beekeeping lesson I received was very interesting. I wish the drama at the beginning were dialed back just a bit so I could reconcile Grayson from the beginning of the book to Grayson at the end. Being a short story, there wasn’t enough time to watch him change that much, but I did still buy into the two of them together in the end.

Special Nights 
D.J. Jamison 
4 Hearts 
I loved this story. It was one of those quiet ones that you get wrapped up in easily and focus on a couple of really likable characters who need a break and need to find one another. Sam has insomnia and he liked to head to the all night diner where Hunter is a waiter. The story is set over an extended period so the two get a chance to know one another in a pretty realistic way considering one is a customer and the other is working his buns off when they do get to see each other. The slower pace works here because anything else would not have been believable. The reader gets to know the two of them as they get to know each other so their conversations felt very intimate and when the time finally comes for them to move beyond a professional relationship I couldn’t have been happier. 

Winters Chill 
Cathy Brockman 
2 ½ Hearts 
The set up for Winters Chill is perfect for a seasonal anthology. Nothing sets you up for love between two MC’s than being snowed in. Lane is the prepared MC, ready for the harsh winter storm and Jeffrey is our unprepared MC who ends up being rescued by Lane and given shelter until the storm passes. I liked that the author didn’t make Jeffrey incapable of taking care of himself, his pitfalls came from outside forces more than anything else. It put the two of them on more of a level playing field from the beginning which read well for a short story. The two opened themselves up pretty quickly to one another and a few of their conversations were a little jarring in that there was some early on oversharing and unasked for advice that just didn’t read authentic to me. Not that either of the characters minded in the least, it just didn’t seem like that’s how people would normally communicate with a stranger. Jeffrey is closeted and Lane is not which could have lead to some angst but he author addressed it well for a short story.

Beach Boys 
Annabelle Jacobs 
3 ½ Hearts 
Awwww, I was utterly smitten with Beach Boys. The story is really an extended meet cute with a hard core tease at the end, which normally would drive me nutters, but the way the author delivered it, it was perfectly delicious. It doesn’t try to be more than it is, so go in knowing you aren’t going to get an epilogue describing Russ and Blake’s HEA, but you are going to get one of the best meet cutes you’ll get in a long time. This would make a great short film, I would LOVE to see this story play out further, but I was also completely happy with where it left off. Russ is charmingly real and Blake turns out to be just the same, I loved it.

Who Do You Love, My Valentine 
EJ Smyth 
3 ½ Hearts
I was happy to see a fantasy story included in the anthology and Valentine stories always seem to deliver the goods. Nox is an immortal who has been crushing on a human for too long. He spies on Matt from his realm far too often and his distraction leads him to screw up his one job, his arrow hits the exact opposite of the person Matt should be with. What happened next could easily have gone in bad directions, but the author kept it focused on the humans getting back on track with minimal lasting heartache and I appreciated the world building that allowed free will to still play a major part in the outcome for the characters. I thought that was really well done and made the evolution of the story much easier to buy into. I would have loved to see what Nox’s father thought once all was said and done, but that didn’t take away any of the fun I had reading this one.

Favorite Flowers 
Chris McHart 
4 Hearts 
Kudos to everyone who works tirelessly to make sure that others get a special holiday. Such is the case for Gabe who owns a flower shop yet he has never received flowers as a gift himself. Jason becomes a regular customer and while Gabe can’t help but crush on the man, he also knows nothing can ever come of it. But the two still get to know one another and become acquaintances at the least. Jason is more of a romantic than he lets on and as it becomes obvious he is smitten with Gabe, the two of them move beyond customer and shopkeeper and we really get to see them as they get to know one another. I respected Jason quite a bit for his honesty and I’m glad that Gabe appreciated it as well. The reality of Jason’s situation kept the story from being too sweet and gave it the dose of reality that will make it memorable.

The Last Chance 
RJ Scott 
4 Hearts 
For fans of second chance love stories, this will be a treat and a half. I personally love them when they are done just right and The Last Chance was done just right. It’s a story set while Luke and Justin are still in college, but they’re at the end of their college careers so the two were much more mature than most characters in college aged stories. Justin is taking the last chance to see what he could possibly have with Luke and I loved seeing the perspective of Justin’s friends when they were trying to “help”. Luke didn’t make it too easy and Justin didn’t give up and both of those things made me respect and root for them. It’s a very sweet and optimistic story and I really enjoyed the read.




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

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Love it Like You Stole It by Ki Brightly


Author Ki Brightly and IndiGo Marketing celebrate the release of Love It Like You Stole It from NineStar Press today! Learn more about the contemporary romance and enter in the $10 NineStar Press giveaway!



Title:  Love It Like You Stole It
Author: Ki Brightly
Publisher:  NineStar Press
Release Date: July 9, 2018
Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 99400
Genre: Contemporary, contemporary, blue-collar, mechanic, classic car love, age-gap, mobsters, crime, family drama

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Synopsis

Michael Levine is backed into a corner. He started tearing apart cars for the local mob with the best of intentions—to save up money to pay for his mechanic certifications and impress his crush and mentor, Ben. But Michael soon finds himself in way over his head. He knows stealing is wrong, but it’s only cars, and the insurance will pay to replace them, right? What started out as a small job to make some extra bucks soon turns into a nightmare he’s not sure he’ll ever be able to find his way out of.

Ben Jelen isn’t sure where his life is going. On the surface everything looks fine. He has a successful business, he’s raising his niece into a strong person, and he has a boyfriend most guys only dream of—sexy and rich. But nothing feels right. The only things that really keep Ben’s attention anymore are his classic Road Runner, his niece, and Michael—his Meeko. Ben took him under his wing forever ago, and their love of old cars and fast driving has forged a strong bond. Ben’s days don’t feel right if he doesn’t get to see Meeko at least once. But something seems drastically wrong in Meeko’s life, and Ben hopes he can put the pieces together to help him before it’s too late.

Excerpt

Love It Like You Stole It
Ki Brightly © 2018
All Rights Reserved

Prologue
BEN JELEN

“It’ll be a month, Bennet.”

I clutched the small silver bolt so hard it cut into my palm. The pain wasn’t enough to distract me. Rick’s bottom lip jutted out. It always did when he was on a roll. He crossed his heavy arms, eyes shadowed by his ball cap. With a sigh, I ignored my big brother, cutting my attention to the object of our current bitchfest. Vandi, his daughter, lounged nearby with tiny pots of fingernail polish out on the dusty, paperwork-covered desk.

“I’ll be good, Uncle Ben,” she chirped, her bow mouth turned up into a wide smile. She almost wasn’t a little girl anymore. It wasn’t long ago that I’d sit with her and do the painting. The sun cutting into the garage through the open bay door lit up her gold curls making them shine brightly. Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she dabbed a little brush covered in pink paint at her thumb. In her white summer dress, she couldn’t have looked more out of place.

I bent back over the motor of the beat-up, blue Ford Taurus and stared at it without seeing much of anything.

“It’s damned good money. They need mechanics for when the machinery goes down. If her mother hadn’t—”

“Rick,” I warned. Vandi’s head snapped up at the mention of her mom. I had no intention of mopping up tears today. He leaned a hip against the front quarter panel of the car and rested an elbow there, sending me a winning grin. It was the same bullshit one I used when trying to get my own way. “I’ve known you your whole life. That shit don’t fly.”

He chuckled, but his smile didn’t waver as he leaned in close, pushing his cap back with a thumb. I caught a whiff of the cologne I used and sighed. He’d raided my dresser again. Looking at him was like looking in a mirror—his brown eyes and long face with its blunted nose were just like mine, except mine was cocked a little to the left. He wiggled his eyebrows, and I blew out a hard breath.

“Those oil rigs are dangerous, and ask next time you steal my stuff.” I poked him on the shoulder with my ratchet as he shrugged, not at all bashful about his thievery.

“It’s a month on, three weeks off. And with the bonuses, I could be pulling in over a hundred grand next year. We can get the garage set up right, get more clients in…I won’t do it forever.”

I frowned and rubbed at my chest. He winced and scowled right back, like maybe he understood why I was upset. The idea of Rick being away for more than a few days made me nauseous. We’d always been a little too close, and it only got worse after Mom died. I sneaked a look at Vandi to see what she was thinking about all this, but she didn’t seem to be listening.

“I’m not sure it’s worth it,” I muttered. Shit. Money. We sure could use more of it.

A low humming started up from Vandi—a familiar song from the radio. “Check it out!” She flashed her pink fingernails at us. Rick turned and nodded at her.

“Real pretty, baby doll,” he said fast, not quite covering up the irritation in his tone. Her smile vanished.

I smacked his arm, but he was back to cajoling me with his half grin. I smacked him upside the head, sending his ball cap flying, but he ignored it and patted my cheek.

“I want this garage to get off the ground,” he said, “and so far, we’ve only been getting in about five or six people a week because we don’t have a lift. I had to send Mrs. Hopper to fucking Firestone because we didn’t have the right size tires.” He waved his hand toward the empty space stretching out behind us that practically begged to be filled with equipment. “We don’t have half the shit we need…”

“What if you’re out there in the middle of the ocean and there’s a hurricane or a blowout or—”

“Get back here you four-eyed fuck!” someone shrieked from outside. The low voice cracked on the swear word.

“What the hell…” I turned to look over my shoulder, and the bolt from the oil filter slipped from my fingers. With a ting, it disappeared into the abyss of hoses in the engine. “Shit.”

I slammed my ratchet down on the motor casing, and the air compressor at the rear of the work area chose that moment to kick on, filling the old cement-block garage with its chugging clatter. I strained my ears, but the voices outside were drowned out. “Turn that off, Rick.”

Nodding, he headed back to flip the switch. Vandi craned her neck forward to look out the wide door.

“He thinks he’s too good to talk to us. Mickey Mouse won’t open his mouth.” The bully’s voice dipped deeper on that last word, and an instinct for trouble sent me striding out the door into the gravel parking lot, past the few sad vehicles waiting for their turn in the repair shop.

Across the small side street, three teen boys surrounded another one on the sidewalk. He was hunched in on himself with his arms crossed protectively over his gut, his stance practically screaming, “Hammer me.” One of the boys—short, with a mean twist to his lips and a cheap buzz cut on his carrottop—smacked the glasses off his prey. Sparkling in the late afternoon sun, the lenses sailed in an arc and landed in the street.

“Should we do something?” Rick’s long shadow loomed near mine, arms crossed.

“Come on, hit ’em back,” I muttered, clenching my fists. “Protect yourself.”

Instead, the kid just rubbed at the bridge of his nose with one hand. He was coltish and stretched thin, like he’d grown too fast. But he was tall, and if he would throw a punch, he’d have reach. He didn’t move to defend himself or say a word, though, simply stared at his feet. I glanced at Rick, but when I looked back, the tall boy was shaking his head. Sunlight caught and glimmered on blue highlights in his black hair. The short asshole shoved him hard while the other guys circled, grunting out guttural encouragement that puffed up Mr. Attitude.

Outrage propelled me toward them at a fast clip.

“Ooooh, fuck,” Rick said on a chuckle.

I hadn’t planned on anything more than bitching out the bullies—until the short kid threw a hard jab. The tall one gasped and staggered back a step at the blow, but one of the kids in the circle shoved him upright so he could take more abuse. Wincing, the tall kid shook his head so hard he seemed to make himself dizzy. He staggered to the side but righted himself at the last second.

“You’re no better’n me—us.” The short kid hopped up and down imitating a wet chicken, darting his gaze around the circle. “You’re no better than us!” He screamed out a war whoop as he lunged forward to land the next punch. The tall kid took it on his left cheek and—pow!—crumpled to his knees.

“You little shits! Knock it off!” I ran toward them, hands pinwheeling, but had to slow down as a car shot by, going way too fast on the narrow street, separating me from the teenagers. Crunch. I winced and sighed as I jogged past the flattened glasses. No coming back from that.

The kids stilled as I approached—became panicked, malicious little statues. But when I stepped onto the sidewalk, fists balled up at my sides, my shadow fell across them, and the obnoxious brats scattered, helter-skelter—like I might actually chase them down and dish out a taste of their own medicine.

“You better run, you little pricks. Stay off my block!” I yelled after them. “I’m badder than you’ll ever be!”

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Meet the Author

Ki grew up in small-town nowhere pretending meteor showers were invading aliens, wild flowers were magic potions, and secret agents hid around every corner. (Ki probably read more than was healthy.) They had one amazing best friend, one endlessly-out-of-grasp “true love,” and a personal vendetta against normalcy.

College was a catapult out of that sleepy little hamlet into a slightly larger, more entertaining city—Erie, Pennsylvania.

In their adopted hometown they enjoy the sandy beaches, frigid winters, and a wonderful fancy water addiction. Ki shares life with two sweet Muses, their Sugar Plum, and two children. Every day with these wonderful people is full of adventure.

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