Review: DSP Advent: Homemade for the Holidays Week 4

Choosing the right gift for that special someone can be the most daunting part of the holidays. In a sea of mass-produced items, why buy when you can DIY? The end-of-the-year festivities are the best time for crafts, whether they’re made from yarn, paper, flour, or even code. And with some love and luck, these special presents might inspire a romance that lasts an evening… or a lifetime. Nothing makes the season merry and bright like a gift handmade from the heart, and to bring smiles to the faces of the ones they care about, these guys are willing to get creative.









Week 4 is here My Lovelies!



A Peace Offering by R.L. Merrill 

Dover Billings has sold his handcrafted wares at the Dickens Fair in San Francisco for over twenty years. He's not as outgoing as the other artisans at this yearly Victorian celebration and prefers to observe the festivities from the shadows. That is until a new corset maker moves into the booth next door and unsettles his carefully constructed life. Landry Malcolm is handsome, well-dressed, and the life of the party… one Dover wants no part of. Too bad he's attracted to his confident younger rival.

Landry desperately wishes to get through to the beautiful artist next door, but every move he makes seems to be the wrong one...until a drunken kiss seems to break through Dover's serious demeanor. Miscommunications seem to plague any attempts to find common ground, leaving Landry wondering what—if anything—he can do to make things right. Will a custom-made peace offering open the door to friendship, cooperation… and maybe more?


R *A Reader Obsessed* - 4 Hearts! 

Oh this was a good one!

Slight enemies, Dover and Landry seem to step on each other’s toes over and over as they cross paths repeatedly within their small artsy renaissance community. Landry desperately wants to make an impression, and Dover just wants to avoid intimacy all together.

It’s awkward and tentative with a one step forward with two steps back progression. Dover and Landry just can’t seem to connect and they fight with each other and themselves over whether or not they should pursue or just back off.

What I really enjoyed about this is that the MC’s are not cookie cutter stereotypes of the grumpy antisocial nerd vs the charismatic extroverted player. These two have layers, and I was constantly pleasantly surprised to see them slowly revealed in ways I didn’t expect.

Overall, impressive writing with natural realistic progression, this really was one of those rare holiday shorts that never felt rushed nor left out anything crucial (except the erotic details - darn!). Regardless, a hard earned, well deserved happy ending where a bit of perseverance and a willingness to take a chance pays off in all the ways!

Ann - 4 Hearts

This tale had all the elements of old-timey Christmas pageantry that I would love to have a taste of. The author did a great job of creating a visual treat and considering both Dover and Landry are artists, that element was a character in itself that added to my enjoyment of A Peace Offering.

Dover and Landry have an opposites attract / not-really-enemies to lovers thing going on. I liked where it was going even if Dover came across as a real dick to Landry more than once. Thankfully we got Dover’s POV as well and I really appreciate when an author does that with a particularly prickly character. Especially in a short story. The ending of the story and the beginning of the relationship don’t feel rushed then, because we’ve had the benefit of insight into Dover, in reality, being a bit of a smitten kitten over Landry.

The two of them were a real treat once Dover opened up and all that sweet chemistry got to pour out towards Landry who deserved it muchly by that point.


Piecing Together His Life by Jon Keys 

Real estate broker Colin Romu has been estranged from his family for many years, but an unfinished quilt bequeathed in his mother’s will might help him make peace. Seeking solitude, Colin heads for his isolated cabin in upstate New York, but a sudden blizzard lands him in a ditch instead. Fortunately local EMT Mason Doyle is on hand with a rescue and a place to stay until the storm blows over. As they contemplate Colin’s mother’s last gift, they realize their lives entwine in ways they never imagined.

Ann - 3 Hearts

The setup for Piecing Together His Life was really great. An inherited unfinished quilt, some family drama, a somewhat reclusive artist, a cabin in the woods; all great stuff. Colin and Mason were both likeable characters and obviously very attracted to one another. I liked where the story was going and was completely onboard.

I got a little lost with the two main plot points along the way. I was told about them, but they didn’t feel like they were explored enough or maybe they were just too big for a short story. Mason had basically zero confidence in his artisitic skills and has just kind of given up on pursuing art as a profession. His family is all for that and I guess I just didn’t get it. The big why was never really explained beyond they just weren’t fans of the idea. Colin was cut off from his family even though his mother left him the quilt and apparently still loved him. I guess. His family sounded pretty terrible actually and I didn’t understand the point. She could have just left him the quilt without all the drama and it would have felt more sweetly sentimental instead of a little meh.

I loved how it turned out though. It was a Very Christmas Happy Ending (all capitalized), the kind that gives you hope for the MC’s for a forever kind of happiness, not just with each other but with all kinds of possibilities for their futures.


Purls of Wisdom by Morgan James

Yarn shop owner and ex-soldier Noah Miller never looks forward to the Christmas season. At least this year the break coincides with Hanukkah. But before his vacation, he has to survive the December rush. 

When virgin knitter Finley Mason comes into the store desperate for yarn, needles, and lessons so he can win a bet against Hazel, a woman who must be his wife, Noah agrees to help him despite his better judgment—he usually hates teaching. 

As the deadline to finish his roommate’s scarf looms, Finley falls in love with the reclusive shopkeeper, and he tries his best to woo Noah with all the magic of New York City at Christmastime. Noah could easily be swept away—if only Finley wasn’t straight and taken….

R *A Reader Obsessed* - 3.5 Hearts!

Understated with dashes of quirk, I appreciated this nice holiday short!

Noah is a lot grumpy and perhaps that’s due to his experience in the military. Now that he’s home and owns a yarn shop, such a pleasant environment has not lessened his gruff side much. Despite the many unwelcoming signals Noah thinks he’s putting out, customer Finley is completely oblivious as he desperately begs Noah for help in teaching him to knit.

Surprisingly, Noah is unable to say no to Finley, and a nice slow burn starts as these two get to know each other under the excuse of being teacher and student. Finley is super earnest and happy go lucky - his infectious cheer inevitably rubbing off on Noah. Both wish things would progress further, but there’s just one teeny tiny misunderstanding.

Again, sweet and heartwarming as Noah comes out of his shell for all the right reasons, guaranteeing that he and Finely get a fabulous holiday together!

Ann - 4 Hearts

On paper Noah shouldn’t have been as swoon worthy as he was, but damn if he didn’t convince me to swoon along the way. Sure he’s a fine specimen of a male, but his grumpiness should have been off putting but turns out, it wasn’t. Especially in the face of the force of nature that is Finley.

Sure the story is pushed along by the misunderstanding, and the only reason that wasn’t annoying was because it was a short story, so it didn’t go on for too long, and because Finley has a friend in Hazel who is smarter than both Finley and Mason and makes sure the two of them get their shit together.

Noah is saved by the fact that we get his insight so I knew he was falling hard for Finley and my absolute favorite thing was the banter between the two of them. They had chemistry for days and I was there for it with every conversation.

Finley is just too sweetly earnest to ignore for long and his gift to Noah was sincerely adorable. I’ll be adding this one to my Christmas reread list.


Rainbows in Sea Glass by Kim Katil

Kyle has loved James, his best friend’s older brother, for as long as he can remember. Unfortunately James is a player, and Kyle has no desire to be his latest conquest. When James suddenly turns the full weight of his charm on him, Kyle flees to Cape May Point to collect sea glass and Cape May diamonds to make a St. Nicholas Day present for his aunt.

James has always taken Kyle’s presence for granted and he’s shocked to find how integral Kyle is to his life and future happiness. Braving his family’s well-meaning attempts to help and a sudden winter storm, James heads to the shore to convince Kyle that the most precious thing they’ll find on the beach is each other


R *A Reader Obsessed* - 3 Hearts!

Bonus points for favorite trope of falling for your best friend's brother!!

As per the blurb, Kyle has been in love with James for as long as he can remember, but he knows that he would never survive being a fleeting hookup. When a night of dancing makes Kyle realize he needs to distance himself from James and the potential messy situation, James too, has his own revelation.

What ensues is a bit of sappy wooing but it was enjoyable sappy wooing. Beware again the out of nowhere random BDSM element dropped in the bedroom (perhaps along with the homemaking theme, a little bondgae was also a possible option for advent authors this year) but I digress.

Again, this features a beloved trope, warm family vibes, and an inevitable cuddly HEA!

Ann - 3 Hearts

Being in love with the best friends brother is a trope made of gold. Rainbows in Sea Glass took it and cranked it up to 11. While everything was a little too perfect, a little too sweet and a little too shiny, that didn’t mean I didn’t eat it up. The author did a really good job of throwing in enough flash back moments to make sure we knew how important Kyle was to James and his family.

I really appreciated the unique setting and the use of the crafts that brought Kyle and James together (finally). Being a west coaster I wasn’t familiar with the setting and some of the treausres Kyle worked into his present for his aunt. So I did some googling and that always is a fun rabbit hole and any story that makes me google is a winner.


Riding the Hammer Lane by Cassie Decker

It’s long-haul trucker Eddie’s first Christmas away from home, and he picks up the CB radio in search of friendly voice. He doesn’t expect to reconnect with his old instructor—and brief but passionate fling—Colton. Eddie realizes the scarf he’s been knitting symbolizes the love and longing he’s been trying to deny. When fate brings them back together on a lonely, snowy stretch of Iowa highway, will they grab hold of their second chance and acknowledge the love woven tightly between them?

Ann - 2.5 Hearts

I liked the idea of Riding the Hammer Lane, I liked what I knew of the characters, but the problem was, I didn’t really get to know much. Having only one POV made it a little tougher to buy into how into one another these guys were.

Eddie was obviously a good guy and Colton was, well, Colton was there and I felt that I was told about their connection much more so than anything I actually saw. Which was kind of a bummer considering the unique premise. I think the action in the middle was a little big and not exactly necessary. I would have loved to have those pages filled with Eddie and Colton reconnecting. I wanted to be there for that ride
.

The Santa Project by Elinor Gray

Working at the Craft Emporium keeps Adam Martinez busy during the holiday season he absolutely hates. Enter elementary schoolteacher David Okoye, who can’t get enough of Christmas or craft supplies. David is cute, wholesome, and Adam can’t deny a little bit of a crush.

Making the holidays special for his students is only part of the reason David makes excuses to go to the Craft Emporium. He also holds a torch for Adam. He takes it as a personal challenge to show Adam how to enjoy the holidays when he asks Adam to teach him to knit. David promises the holidays can be wonderful when shared with the right people, but how can they share them when David is going home to his family and Adam will be left all alone?

Ann - 4.5 Hearts 

Ok, this story is a snack and a half. The author really managed to fit a lot of connection between David and Adam into a short story. I also felt like I got plenty of backstory for each of them, so that their reactions, issues and conversations read organically.

And David? David is super emotionally mature and what is up with that? He’s just perfect for Adam and the way he handled Adam’s dislike of the holidays and the understanding he showed was above and beyond what I expected. His profession as an elementary school teacher shines through, but in a way that was kind and not at all condescending. Adam recognized it too and it spoke to the appreciation they had for one another.

Their dates were quite sweet and exactly what I wanted to read for them. The bit of drama at the end made sense and was short lived, thankfully, because a sad Adam made me sad. The resolution was executed perfectly for the two of them and gave confidence in an HEA.

Also, steamy hot. Very steamy hot. A lot of the Christmas short stories fade to black when it comes to the physical, but not this one, no sireeee bob. Thank you Elinor, that was some good stuff.





**copies of the Advent stories were provided for honest reviews**

Blog Tour: Starlight (Dark Space #3) by Lisa Henry


Author Lisa Henry and Vibrant Promotions visit on the Starlight (Dark Space #3) blog tour! Learn more about the latest from the popular science fiction series!

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Starlight
Dark Space Series Book 3
Lisa Henry
M/M Sci-Fi
Release Date: 12.01.19
Starlight
Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations
Blurb
Brady Garrett is back in space, this time as an unwilling member of a team of humans seeking to study the alien Faceless and their technology. It’s not the first time Brady’s life has been in the hands of the Faceless leader Kai-Ren, and if there’s one thing Brady hates it’s being reminded exactly how powerless he is. Although dealing with the enigmatic Faceless might actually be easier than trying to figure out where he stands with the other humans on board, particularly when one of them is his boyfriend’s ex.
Cameron Rushton loved the starlight once, but being back on board the Faceless ship forces him to confront the memories of the time he was captured by Kai-Ren, and exactly how much of what was done to him that he can no longer rationalize away. Cam is used to being Brady’s rock, but this time it might be him who needs Brady’s support.
This time Brady is surrounded by the people he loves most in the universe, but that only means their lives are in danger too. And when Kai-Ren’s fascination with humanity threatens the foundations of Faceless society, Brady and Cam and the rest of the team find themselves thrust into a battle that humans have very little hope of winning, let alone surviving.
*Starlight can be read as a standalone but probably words better with knowledge of the first two books in the series.

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Excerpt
The Faceless ship was silent, but the anger and the adrenaline rush of the battle ran on a constant feedback loop in our skulls. Spikes of pain, of fear, were like blasts of static in our heads. And sometimes, more than once, we felt that same dizzying sensation of sudden loss—and of that hole immediately being filled in again. The Faceless felt no grief for the fallen. The hive barely even noticed the loss of one drone.

I thought of my dad and how acutely I still missed him and how his loss was written in my bones, and in everything I did. A day didn’t go by when I didn’t think of him. And I thought of how my grief and my fear for Lucy had captured Kai-Ren’s attention in the first place.

I wondered which one of us was the most incomprehensible to the other. The most alien.

We made our way carefully down toward the core of the ship. Everything seemed dimmer. There were fewer lights drifting in the walls, and the fluid itself seemed darker than usual. The ship was hurt. Was she dying too?

Chris and Doc carried the hybrid between them, his thin arms held across their shoulders. His pale feet dragged more than stepped, but his eyes were open now. They were dark and wide and fearful, just like mine.

Cam and Harry led the way, and Andre and I brought up the rear. I held Lucy’s hand tightly. It was warm and damp with sweat. She was quiet. Her face was pinched. But she didn’t even stumble as we moved forward through the dimly-lit curving passageway of the ship.

As we moved toward the fighting.

“If anything happens,” I whispered to her, “run back to where we just were, okay?”

She nodded, and squeezed my hand more tightly.

We kept moving, right up until we didn’t. Cam and Harry had stopped, and I craned my head to see.

“It’s okay,” Cam said. “Keep moving.”

There was a dead Faceless lying in the corridor. His mask had been removed. His eyes were covered in a white film. His yellowish skin was stained black around his throat, and over one cheek, like someone had spat ink over him. And then I realized that no, it wasn’t a stain. It was necrosis, or something like it. His skin had been ruptured in several places, punctured, and the flesh around it had turned black.

Venom. It had to be venom.

I looked at Doc and Chris, and at the way the hybrid was slung between them. The hybrid’s fingers curled around their shoulders, and I thought of claws digging into their flesh and wondered how long it would take Faceless venom to kill a human. And then I thought of every time that Kai-Ren had run his hands over my skin, and of how the Stranger had prodded my stomach, and how each time I’d been staring death in the face. I’d thought of Kai-Ren as a god once, hadn’t I? A god who could strike any one of us down on a whim.

I held Lucy’s hand tightly as we passed the dead Faceless.

There was a voice in the back of my head—mine, for once—that told me we weren’t going to make it to the pods. That told me we’d be caught here, in a curving corridor with nowhere to take cover and that the Stranger’s Faceless would kill us, but whatever was happening in the rest of the ship was keeping all the Faceless busy.

My heart was beating out of my chest by the time we descended to the bay where the pods were kept, and the doors shut behind us, the sticky seams sealing closed.

There were six pods here, and seven of us plus the hybrid. It didn’t matter, because Cam and I had shared a pod before anyway. There was plenty of room. But mostly it didn’t matter because we had no way of getting the pods to work, let alone launching them.

And then it really didn’t matter, because we wouldn’t be launching them into some tranquil sea anyway.

“Holy fuck!” Harry exclaimed from the one of the windows that looked out into the nebula.

I look past him just in time to see a Faceless ship being torn apart by a massive explosion. It was colossal. It was blinding.

And it was close enough that the shockwave hit us like a tsunami.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.
Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn't know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she's too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.
She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.
She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.
Lisa has been published since 2012, and was a LAMBDA finalist for her quirky, awkward coming-of-age romance Adulting 101.

Instagram: lisa_henry_author
Email: lisahenryonline@gmail.com
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Audiobook Release Blitz + Giveaway: Promises: Part 1 (Bounty Hunters #1) by A.E. Via


Author A.E. Via and Signal Boost Promotions host today's release blitz for Aiden Snow narrated audio book: Promises: Part 1 (Bounty Hunters #1)! Learn more today and enter in the audio code giveaway for Promises: Part 1 (Bounty Hunters #1)!


Buy Links: Audible US | Audible UK | Tantor

Narrated By: Aiden Snow

Length: 7hrs 31 mins

Publisher: Tantor Media

Blurb

Duke Morgan owns and operates one of the largest bail bond companies in Atlanta. Not only does he bond criminals out of jail, he and his notorious group of bounty hunters will also track them down and ensure they show up for court.


Roman "Quick" Webb is Duke's business partner and best friend. Both men are in their forties and have given up on the happily ever after with the ranch-style home, and white picket fence. They'd both tried it and failed miserably. But they have their friendship and they have the business.


When Quick's son, Vaughan Webb returns - after seven years-from studying abroad with his law degree in hand, he's back to claim what he's always wanted...his fathers' best friend...Duke Morgan. Vaughan has always claimed to be a classic gentleman with an old soul. He was focused and dedicated to becoming the man worthy of Duke's love.


It's a complex and messy situation as Duke and Quick figure out how to still be best friends when one of them is sleeping with his friend's one and only son. But when Duke is hurt on the job, all the unimportant trivialities fall to the wayside and Vaughan and Quick put their heads together to save Duke.



A.E. Via has been a best-selling author in the beautiful gay romance genre for five years now, but she’s no stranger to MM. She’s been an avid reader of gay lit for over fifteen years before she picked up her laptop to place her own kiss on this genre. She’s also the founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books, having published a couple great new up and coming MM authors.


A.E. has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Virginia Wesleyan College that she used to start her own paralegal firm after she graduated in 2008. She spent five years preparing and filing bankruptcy petitions for struggling blue collar workers who couldn’t afford to file with a lawyer. It was a rewarding and satisfying career… but another path called to her. Writing.


A.E.’s writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to adventure, to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.


Now that she’s gotten over her 10 books published hump, she’s kind of known now for her hardcore, play rough and love hard, bad boy, alphas. However, she does like to push herself to step out of her comfort zone, exploring different tropes, but she won’t push herself into a whole other genre. She’s head over heels for gay romance and she has tons of more hot stories to tell.


Be sure to visit Adrienne on her social media pages and subscribe to her newsletter to never miss another release date! Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak at upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she’ll appear next.





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Release Blitz: Nicki's Fight (Twin Peeks Bookstore #2) by Mellanie Rourke


Author Mellanie Rourke and Vibrant Promotions visit on the Nicki's Fight (Twin Peeks Bookstore #2) blog tour! Learn more about the latest from the series!

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Nicki's Fight
Twin Peeks Bookstore Romance Book 2
Mellanie Rourke
M/M Romance
Release Date 12.09.19
NickisFight-200x300

Blurb

KAINE
A lifetime of abandonment leaves its mark on a person. So much so that when Nicki left, it made a twisted sort of sense. After all, everyone else I had loved in this world had left me, why should he be any different?
Six years later and he’s back in my life. He’s still the same Nicki. Still the same sensitive, intelligent, loving and compassionate man he was years ago. Except…there are shadows in his eyes that were never there before. How do I love him again, trust him again? If he disappears now, there’s no way I’d survive.

NICKI
I love Kaine Devereaux. I always have. But sometimes love just isn’t enough. When my family moved thousands of miles away to chase the dream of a cure for my mysterious illness, Kaine and I had no idea that more than distance would end up separating us.
How do I ask Kaine to trust me again when I almost destroyed him? How do I ask him to love me again, when I’m still haunted by the specter of my past?

Nicki’s Fight is a M/M Romance with danger, heat, and a snarky cat who saves a life. This story does include explicit sex scenes and descriptive domestic abuse. Please pay heed to the Trigger Warning: Scenes of domestic violence and abuse


NicksFight-teaser2-1200x900NicksFight-teaser1-1200x900

Excerpt
“Do you want to talk about it?” Mom asked softly, her voice gentle as she took in the sight of me glaring angrily at the ceiling.

I rolled over, turning my back to her. She shut the door and climbed up on the bed, lying next to me on top of the old quilt.

“Nicki? Talk to me, sweetheart,” she whispered.

I sighed and rolled to my side, mirroring her posture. I knew we were equally stubborn, and there was no way she would leave without knowing the story.

“It’s stupid,” I said, sniffling and angrily scrubbing at my face.

She reached up and wiped a stray tear from my cheek with her thumb. Her red hair glowed in the fall sunlight, her dark-grey eyes as reflective as silver coins.

“If it’s making you this upset, I doubt it’s stupid,” she said.

I sighed. Mom could read me like a book. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to hide anything from her.

“It’s Kaine…” I said. She raised an eyebrow at me, and I continued. “Kaine… and Vinnie.”

“Ah.” She said, nodding in understanding. “You miss him.”

“It’s so stupid,” I answered. “I mean, it used to be Kaine, Bishop and I hanging out together all the time and it never bothered me. Now Bishop is all wrapped up in his art projects, and it’s just been Kaine and me. But now he’s dating Vinnie. I still see Kaine almost as much as I always did, but it’s… different somehow. How can it feel like I’m missing him, when I see him every day?”

She looked at me a few minutes, her gaze intent.

“Nicki, do you think miss spending time with Kaine, or do you miss spending time with Kaine… alone?” she asked.

I blushed.

“I-I…” I stammered, not sure what to say. I didn’t really know what I felt. I just knew I felt sick when I wasn’t with him. That he made me smile and made my heart race in the best way.

“Dominick,” she said seriously. “Sweetie. Are you trying to tell me you’re gay?”

My heart almost stopped when she said it. The thought had occurred to me before, but in the way of most teenagers, I’d avoided looking at it very closely. I mean, considering how open Kaine and his family were, how could I not have considered the possibility?

Kaine was my best friend. I loved him as a friend… right? I tried to make myself say that what I felt for Kaine was platonic, then I stopped to think back over the last several months. Thought about how just being in Kaine’s presence made me feel physically better. Thought about how my heart raced when I would run into him at school, or the special glow I’d feel after we’d done something together. Not to mention the times I’d had to hide my physical reactions when he’d been around. The last time he’d spent the night, it was all I could do to make it through the evening without embarrassing myself or him with an obvious erection. Or how I’d rubbed one out in the bathroom as soon as he had left.

As per usual, my mom was right.

“I— I think so…” I whispered.

She sighed, her own eyes getting a little watery.

“Are you… are you disappointed in me?” I asked, my eyes searching hers fearfully. I could deal with a lot of things in my life but letting my Mom down was not one of them.

“Oh, baby boy! No! I couldn’t be disappointed in you in a million years,” she said, wrapping her arms around me and squeezing me tight. “I just wish… wish this could be an easier path for you, sweetie. I know you didn’t choose it but being gay is hard.”

Covr Capture

About the Author
Mellanie Rourke lives in Akron, Ohio with her loving (and long-suffering) husband, snarky children, and furry menagerie.
She has been writing since she was a child but never had the impulse to publish until she was introduced to the world of MM Romance.
Now her husband has to put up with a variety of new ways to say "penis", and her children aren't allowed to tell their teachers what she writes.
For more information on Mellanie's upcoming work, join her Facebook group Misfits & Malcontents at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MisfitsandMalcontents/

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Release Blitz + Giveaway: Dances Long Forgotten (Winsford Green) by Ruby Moone


Celebrate the release blitz of holiday romance Dances Long Forgotten with author Ruby Moone and Signal Boost Promotions! Discover more and enter in the back list eBook giveaway!





Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link - Exclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited

Length: 35,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Blurb

On Christmas Eve, Dylan, the man of James Pell-Charnley’s dreams, is on the point of walking out. Then they hear the faint strains of a waltz in the library of the empty abbey. The music is said to be heard only by those truly in love and it gives James the courage to tell Dylan the story.


In December 1841, Lord Hugo Pell-Charnley is in a terrible mess. The youngest son of the late Marquis, youngest brother of the incumbent, never felt to fit. When his life comes crashing down, and his life and his family are threatened, he is forced to face his elder brother and confess his deepest secret. When he arrives at Winsford Abbey he finds he must also confront the shame from his past in the form of Lyndon Cross. The boy he’d loved but betrayed in school.


As they clear the ghosts from the past, they dance in each other’s arms in the library to the soft strains of the waltz, but long buried secrets threaten to destroy their happiness.


Two hundred years later, can those dances long forgotten give James and Dylan the courage to hold on to love?


Excerpt 

A knock on the door froze him. Who in God’s name would be wanting entry to the damned library at this hour?


Before he could respond, it opened, and Lyndon Cross stepped over the threshold and closed the door behind him.


Hugo had no idea what to say. He just stared. Mouth quite probably hanging open.


“I hope you don’t mind me following you,” Cross said. His voice should have been like a chorus of angels given the way he looked, but it was deep, quiet, and had a warm, raspy quality to it that brushed against Hugo’s skin. It always had. Even as a boy it had power, but as a man it wrapped its way all around him.


“Not at all.”


Cross walked towards him, and Hugo had to fight to remain in place and not bolt for the door.


“I wasn’t sure what to expect.”


Hugo frowned. “Beg pardon?”


“I wasn’t sure if you’d want to speak to me.”


“Ah, why wouldn’t I?” Hugo was genuinely bewildered for a moment, but then Cross raised an eyebrow; tilted his head.


No…no…no… He isn’t going to mention it…surely to God? It was something that Hugo had expunged from memory.


“Do you remember my last day?”


Hugo nodded; eyes wide. He is. Dear, sweet God, he is going to mention it.


Hugo felt as though someone was squeezing him all over, making it hard to think or breathe, as he recalled that last day vividly to memory.


He’d heard that Lyndon was leaving the school, from the gossip that periodically rippled through the school. It was as though someone had ripped his heart from his chest. He’d followed him through the building, completely unable to speak to him, tell him how desperate he felt. At the end, he’d hidden in the grand hall and watched Lyndon walk across it to meet his parents waiting in the carriage on the drive. No-one else was about. It was his last chance to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.


Lyndon, by some strange twist, paused by the door, looked around, and spotted him lurking by the grandfather clock. He’d hesitated, whilst Hugo’s heart hung suspended in his chest, and then he’d run to him. Run back into the hall. He’d thrown his arms around Hugo, held him tight for a moment, then kissed him on the cheek. He’d been about to run back when Hugo grabbed him. Actually grabbed him and kissed him full on the mouth.


In his dreams, Hugo liked to think Lyndon had returned the kiss, in a closed mouthed, inexpert way, with his arms tight about him. In reality, he wasn’t too sure. Lyndon had stared for a moment, then run back to his parents.


That had been ten years ago, and now, the first boy he’d kissed stood before him. Hugo wasn’t sure if he’d come to exact retribution and expose him. Well, if he was here to do that, he’d need to get in line.




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!


Ruby’s Room - https://www.facebook.com/groups/883596845175216/

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

Twitter - https://twitter.com/RubyMooneWriter

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Website – https://rubymoone.com


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Release Blitz + Giveaway: Stick to the Script (Ace's Wild #13) by Lane Hayes


Join author Lane Hayes and IndiGo Marketing in celebrating the holiday release of Stick to the Script (Ace's Wild #13)! Discover more about the novella and enter in the $25 Amazon gift card giveaway!


Title: Stick to the Script
Series: Ace's Wild #13
Author: Lane Hayes
Publisher: Lane Hayes
Release Date: Dec. 17, 2019
Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 31k
Genre: Romance, Bisexual, Holiday, Age Gap, Weekend Romance, Gay Romance

Synopsis

Jamie is a wedding photographer in need of a break, and a sexy freelance assignment on the East Coast sounds like an intriguing getaway. He makes his flight to Vintage Ridge just before an epic storm wreaks havoc on holiday travel. But when his friend is delayed, Jamie finds himself alone at the bed-and-breakfast for the night with the owners’ son...a hunky contractor with a wicked smile and a commanding presence. Not a problem. Jamie can handle light conversation with a ruggedly handsome man for a few hours. Maybe. If all else fails, he can read the script.

Wyatt loves remodeling old homes like his parents’ B and B. Spending an evening entertaining their guest while he finishes up his project doesn’t seem like a big deal, but Wyatt can tell there’s something special about the nervous younger man. He suggests reading the racy script that accompanies Jamie’s assignment to get his mind off the weather, but neither is prepared for what happens next. Their explosive attraction encourages them to bend the rules and stick to their own script...together.

PLEASE NOTE: For the first 90 days of this title’s publication, all sales and page reads will be donated to PFLAG.

Excerpt

“Hmm. How do you begin?” I asked.

“Like I said, this is the lead-in scene. I’ll probably set it in front of the fireplace. Those windows provide great natural light, and if it’s cloudy tomorrow that’s even better.”

“Are they going to sit or stand?”

James jumped up abruptly and moved behind me with his hands spread like he was framing a scene. “Stand, definitely. I’ll want the chairs out of the way.”

I set my wineglass down then pushed the chairs and the small table aside for him. “How’s that?”

“Good. That should work. Would you mind being a stand-in for a second?” He motioned for me to step toward the fireplace. “Move to your right. A little more. That’s perfect. Damien is muscular like you. He’ll probably wear jeans and a T-shirt.”

“I can take my sweater off,” I suggested.

“That’s not necessary. I can—”

I slipped the garment over my head and tossed it over the back of the chair. “Does this help?”

James licked his lips and stared at my chest for a long moment without speaking. “Um…yes. Could you put your hand on the mantel?”

I struck a casual pose. “Like this?”

He closed the space between us and gently adjusted my elbow. “Yes.”

“Where will Mark be?” I asked softly.

His Adam’s apple slid theatrically in his throat as he inched closer. “Here.”

The scene was set. Two long-term lovers had agreed to something they hoped would strengthen their bond. They’d introduced a new set of rules with a twist.

I didn’t give a fuck about Damien and Mark, but James fascinated me. His quirky intensity appealed to me on a level I didn’t really understand. Or maybe it was the implied element of danger. A sexy stranger didn’t turn up on my doorstep in a storm every day. This felt bigger than us somehow. Like an opportunity we were supposed to take. And the hungry look in his eyes and the furtive glance at my crotch made it clear he felt this too.

“Then what happens?”

He cleared his throat before studying the page again. “I’ll take a few pics to show Damien, um…taking control.”

“How do you show that without words?”

“It’s in the look. I might ask Damien to raise his hand, like he’s beckoning Mark closer.”

“Like this?” I hooked my finger, pleased when James closed the distance until we stood toe to toe.

“Yes. I’ll probably take a few photos of him unbuttoning Mark’s shirt and…”

“Like this?” I held his gaze as I undid the first few buttons on his oxford shirt.

Okay, I’d officially crossed a line. This was where he’d tell me to fuck off and back the hell up. I didn’t think he would, though. He was wound so tight with need, he practically vibrated. The urge to pull him against me and stick my tongue down his throat was strong. But he had to give me the reins. I held my breath and waited for him to decide what came next.

James nodded. “Y-yes. But then he stops.”

I stopped. I raised my hands, noting his unsteady breath when he opened his mouth and closed it…twice.

“Good call. If it were me, I’d tell him to undress himself. Slowly,” I said in a huskier than normal voice.

“You would?”

“Yeah. It’s a balance of power. It’s given freely…with trust. He wants to please his lover and himself at the same time. Am I right?”

He licked his lips. “Yes. That’s it. He’ll tell him to take his clothes off. One piece at a time. He’ll demand it.”

I pulled the script from his hands, fixing him with a no-nonsense look before inclining my head meaningfully. “Unbutton your shirt, James.”

“Me? What are you—what are we doing?”

“What do you want to do?” I countered. “Be honest.”

“I…I…uh.”

“Okay. I’ll go first.” I dropped the script on the side table, then brushed my thumb over his stubbled chin. “I want you.”

“But you don’t know me.”

I flashed a pirate’s smile. “You’re right. That doesn’t change anything.”

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Stick to the Script is part of a multi-author series of books that take place in the same fictional town. Each story can be read in any order. The connecting element in the Ace's Wild series is an adult store owned by Ace and Wilder. The main characters from each book will make at least one visit to Ace's Wild, where they'll buy a toy to use in their story! The only characters who crossover to each book are Ace and Wilder. And with various heat levels, there's sure to be something for everyone!

Ace's Wild Series


Meet the Author

Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016, 2017, and 2018-2019 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a newly empty nest.

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Release Blitz + Giveaway: Rialto (Unbreakable Bonds #8) by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott


Authors Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott join IndiGo Marketing to promote the release of Rialto (Unbreakable Bonds #8)! Find out more about the popular series' latest! Enter in the $25 Amazon gift card giveaway!


Title: Rialto
Series: Unbreakable Bonds Series #8
Author: Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
Publisher: Drake & Elliott LLC
Release Date: December 16, 2019
Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 74,000
Genre: Romance, Thriller/Suspense,

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Synopsis

Someone has it out for Rialto.

Ian Banner is loving his hectic life. He’s newly married, ready to start a family, and opening a new restaurant. All his dreams are coming true.

The last thing he needs is a problem with his restaurant.

But when one attack after another comes, he grows convinced he has another enemy.

Ian tries to handle things by himself, but his friends are soon drawn in when the attacks become violent. That’s when Ian realizes the target isn’t Rialto. It’s him.

Rialto is the final installment in the Unbreakable Bonds series and features sexy times, Daciana snuggles, overprotective family, fire, and of course, code names.

Excerpt

Ian sighed and stretched his legs out, putting his sock-covered feet onto the coffee table. He’d kicked off his shoes when they’d come in. “I’m still reeling over that damn raid. Someone had to have called it in, and I can’t figure out who would do such a thing. It’s driving me crazy worrying about it.”

“Everything’s fine. Even Sarah told you there’s nothing to worry about now.”

“Still, it shouldn’t have happened, and having those dogs in the kitchen?” He growled softly. “I just hope we don’t get any disgruntled reviews from the people we had to reschedule.”

“Bad reviews happen, you know that.”

“But over something like this? Something completely out of my control?” He sat up and faced Hollis. “I can’t get it out of my head that someone actually turned us in. And all that stuff about drugs? Drugs, Hollis! The last thing Rialto needs is a rumor like that. We had people in that restaurant who heard all that when they first came in.”

He stood and started pacing the room. Hollis watched his slim, agitated form as he moved, noting that his hands were clenched into fists at his sides.

“Rumors of drugs could hurt our chances of becoming foster parents, too!” he nearly yelled. He reached up and ran both hands through his hair, leaving the brown strands sticking up all over the place.

He’d worked himself into a frenzy again. Hollis stood and walked to him. He placed his hands on Ian’s shoulders, feeling the fine bones beneath his palms before sliding his hands down Ian’s back to pull the man into his body.

Ian slumped against him, wrapping his arms tight around him. “Thanks.”

“For what?” Hollis asked.

“For the hug. For knowing I needed one.” He tilted his head and stared into Hollis’s face. “You always know how to calm me down.”

“I don’t want you worrying about drug rumors. The fact that your restaurant only lost one night to the raid before opening up again will squelch any of those. Rialto will be fine. And this isn’t going to hurt our chances at being foster parents. We’ve already gone through the background checks and everything else. It’s all good.”

Ian had worried incessantly about the background inspection, but his past with Jagger had never been public knowledge. It also didn’t hurt that Ian had Rowe’s tech specialist, Gidget, run a check, making sure that there was nothing from Ian’s past that might throw up red flags. Gidget had confirmed that other than Jagger’s attack on Ian at Union Terminal three years ago, there was nothing linking Ian to Jagger.

“I just want it so much,” Ian mumbled against his chest as he leaned close again.

“I know, baby. I do, too.”

Ian lifted his head. “Yeah?”

“You know I do,” Hollis said as he bent down to kiss Ian. Ian’s arms slid up around his neck and he stood on his toes to press harder into Hollis’s mouth. That warm body felt too good against Hollis. He pulled away from Ian and stared at him, taking in the already blown pupils with a smile. “Enough of this worrying. I have a better idea. Stay right here.”

He walked to the front door to set the security alarm, then flipped off the lights. The automatic night-light on the stairs came on, but he knew where Ian was. He walked to his husband and lifted him. Ian’s legs automatically wrapped around his waist as Ian chuckled. Hollis knew he was laughing at being carried, but Hollis fucking loved carting Ian around.

“I bet I know what your idea is,” Ian murmured, kissing Hollis’s jaw.

“If it’s stripping you naked and having my way with you, you get a cookie.” He carried him up the stairs and into their bedroom, not setting him down until they were beside their bed.

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Meet the Author

Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott have teamed up to combine their evil genius to create intense gay romantic suspense stories that have car chases, shoot outs, explosions, scorching hot love scenes, and tender, tear-jerking moments. Their first joint books are in the Unbreakable Bonds series.

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Review: Hometown Christmas by Garrett Leigh


Can Yani and Gavin go from friends to lovers this Christmas?

Yani Nicolaou is sworn off love for good. After fleeing a bad break-up in London, the only blood, sweat, and tears he has left are for his gyro stall at the Christmas market. Rebound fling? No thanks. He’s sticking to one-night-stands.

Ex-army vet Gavin Richie has even less capacity for romance. Managing a homeless shelter while recovering from injury keeps him far too busy. So what if he’s often alone? He’s content being single, or so he thinks until a chance meeting lights a spark he can’t ignore.

Yani is the warmth and affection Gavin hadn’t known he was missing. As Christmas lights up the city, their lives entwine in more ways than one. Falling for each other is easy. Holding on is harder, unless a hometown Christmas proves their love can last longer than the festive season.


Yani left the hustle and bustle - and the heartbreak - of London behind for his small gyro stand. He’s content with the new life he’s building, though it involves a self-imposed ban on love.

Gavin still occasionally struggles with his life-altering injuries, but he’s determined to put all of his drive into his homeless shelter. It gets lonely sometimes, but he’s too busy for a relationship.

Their paths first cross randomly. And that lock of eyes was everything. So visceral!

description

The two men are thrown each other’s path again after Yani agrees to cook for the shelter when Gavin’s in a tight spot. What’s supposed to be a one-time favor becomes a pretty regular thing.

Because despite both men insisting that they’re completely fine going solo, the attraction between Gavin and Yani is immediate.

And it only builds as they go from strangers to friends.

I really liked the way Yani and Gavin’s relationship slowly grows. Both men are skittish, but they take things one step at a time.

Gavin, in particular, was a gem. He was so patient with Yani, and willing to work through things at Yani’s pace. Definitely boyfriend material!

There’s an underlying grittiness to the story. Which makes complete sense - this is Garrett Leigh after all.

Both men have their struggles and their histories. They’ve got baggage, and have to put in the effort to bring their lives together.

But while I’m usually all for Leigh’s brand of angst, this time around I found myself disconnecting a few times.

I think it was mainly because I’ve been in full-on holly jolly Christmas mode, and this book is more so a classic Garrett Leigh that just so happens to be set during the holiday season. Just not necessarily what I was in the mood for.

Also, because this is a novella, I thought that the very real issues Yani and Gavin were dealing with weren’t explored the way they needed to be.

That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed ‘Hometown Christmas’. I adored the much-deserved happy ending for Yani and Gavin!



A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.


Audiobook Blog Tour + Giveaway: Fighter (Survivor #3) by T.M. Smith


Author T.M. Smith visits on the Audio book blog tour for Nick J. Russo narrated series finale, Fighter (Survivor #3)! Check out today's tour stop and learn more about the 12 days of giveaways! Enter below!


Fighter - A Survivor story 
Dedication and smarts have given Blair Cummings a leg up in the Bureau. His job is all-consuming, but rewarding. It doesn’t leave much time for a love life though, not that Blair believes in love. At nearly thirty, he’s only ever been in one long- term relationship due to his inability to commit to anything other than his job and his family. 
Born into a family that is as successful as they are hateful, Howard Manning Tullor Junior ran so far away from his last name that he wound up in the arms of Satan himself. Freedom comes at a high price but it’s one Mannie is willing to pay, setting him on a path that leads him to a quiet, laid -back FBI agent. 
Their attraction is unexpected, and yet, welcomed. Blair seems to have finally found something worth fighting for, but Mannie, still haunted by ghosts of the past, wonders if he’ll ever be able to move on. The two are working toward their future, but can a budding romance survive when past and present collide? 
Available with Whispersync for $7.49 if you already own the Kindle eBook
Fighter buy links: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK | iTunes
Follow the tour...

December 10th

December 11th

December 12th
Edith Dunning

December 13th

December 14th

December 15th

December 16th

December 17th

December 18th

December 19th
      Poshgirl’s Blog         

December 20th
Belinda Zamora
Arlyna/Georgiana

December 21st


A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning Georgia; TM Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer. A Texas transplant, she now calls DFW her home. Most days she can be found curled up with a good book, or ticking away on her next novel. 

Smith is a single mom of three disturbingly outspoken and decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic. Besides her writing, she is passionate about Autism advocacy and LGBT rights. Because, seriously people, Love is Love!

Author links: Website || Blog || Facebook Author || Facebook TRIBE || Twitter 





The list below is the items in the 12 days of giveaways which are not listed necessarily in the order they will be pulled each day.

Merry Christmas! Prize box (US only!)... You Got This! Personalizable journal (Hey... you totally got this!) This Classic Happy Notes™ notebook is perfect for journaling, taking notes, making lists, and writing down your BIG IDEAS! Three dividers included so you can create different sections to fit your needs!
  • 60 sheets of lined paper
  • 3 dividers included)
  • relaxation coloring book with color pencils & sharpner, chapstick, Kleenex with a motivational note, Incense w/holder, various Author swag, Captain Marvel pic, passport binder, 750 piece puzzle and a reversable canvas bag from 'Fresh off the Boat, ABC network. *Full size 2020 Calendar (US only)
*Headphones w/Audible codes (Headphones US only, Audiobook codes can be either US or UK Audible)
*Full size 2020 Calendar (US only)
*Jay Aheer prints (International)
*Signed paperback copy of Fighter (US only)
*Starbucks Giftcard (IF your country has a Starbucks and I can forward you an e-giftcard, you can win!)
*Jay Aheer prints (International)
*Signed paperback copy of The Messenger (US only)
*direct from prime (International) Something bookish!
*3 best selling eBooks ---- Ann Lister (eBook copies of... Fall Again, Book 10 in The Rock Gods and A Rhythm You Feel, Book 1 in The Rock Gods: East Coast Label) Morticia Knight (eBook copy of In the Name of the Father)
*Storiarts Black Beauty fingerless writing gloves (US only)

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