Blog Tour + Giveaway: Going Down by Lady Jaguar


Author Lady Jaguar and Other Worlds Ink visit on the Going Down blog tour! Enter in the giveaway to win a $15 Amazon gift card!

COVER - Going Down - Lady Jaguar

Lady Jaguar has a new MM erotic action-adventure romance out: "Going Down."

A misunderstanding leads to seduction, then a life-changing job offer…

Tino Santini is calm and decent with a core of steel, qualities he needs when he is offered the role of PA to ferocious CEO, Richard Mason.

The opportunity arises after Tino is trapped with Mason in the office elevator just before Thanksgiving. A bottle of brandy kickstarts a night of scorching sex which does wonders for Tino’s flagging career.

Pansexual multi-millionaire, Richard, has it all; wealth, success, commitment-free sex every time he snaps his fingers, but a former female lover, a New York gangster and a murky past all threaten to destroy his chance of happiness.

Tino gradually learns who his boss really is, whilst willingly keeping him happy both in the bedroom and out of it. Neither of them expect their relationship to be anything other than business, until a personal tragedy means that Richard needs Tino more than ever.

For both of them, that first chance meeting is the catalyst for a headlong plunge into sexual adventures, murder and possibly love.

Warnings: one instance of drug use, alcohol use, violence, historical incest query, extreme possessiveness.


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN




Giveaway

Lady Jaguar is giving away a $15 Amazon gift card with this tour. Enter via Rafflecopter:

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Excerpt

Going Down meme - Lady Jaguar


THE CEO’S OFFICE was behind a tall oak door with his name emblazoned on a silver plaque. Tino knocked and went in, figuring it was okay as Mason wanted him to follow in the first place.

The room was empty, so Tino went back outside and asked Eleanor what he should do.

"He's probably in his bathroom," she said. "Just wait for him in the office. Don't make him come looking for you."

Tino hurriedly returned to Mason's office. The space was huge, with two glass walls giving views up and across Fifth Avenue. His black mahogany desk was also enormous, and mostly empty apart from a telephone, an ink blotter and an Art Deco lamp.

To one side of the office were two large grey leather couches and a smoked glass coffee table in between. The wall behind one of the couches was dominated by a large square artwork consisting of a series of blips and lines, black on white background. At the bottom was the discreet legend, Love Story. It didn't make any sense to Tino, but he never pretended to be an art buff.

As he waited, perched on the chair opposite Mason's desk, he tried to remember what he knew about the man usually occupying the large black leather chair.

Not much, apart from everyone knew he had an evil temper. There had also been some talk of an affair with a transgender hooker, and the supercars he had stored in the parking lot underneath the building. Tino had even heard a rumor that he’d killed someone once, with his bare hands.

He ran his finger around his collar, hoping he wouldn’t start to sweat. The man was terrifying, that much he did know. Some said he was a generous and fair boss who wasn’t to be messed with. Others called him Godzilla under their breath and tried to avoid him at all costs.

There was no doubt he polarized opinion in the office. Anyone who had received a tongue-lashing from him bore the scars for life.

Tino’s backside pimpled and he fought the urge to run. Christ, what was he doing here?

He heard the toilet flush, and within a few moments, Mason came out of another door on the opposite side of the office. He still wore his suit trousers but his upper torso was distractingly bare, revealing a broad chest smattered with silky black hair, and a Celtic knotwork band circling one upper arm. On his back, there was a wolf’s face, similar to the Wolfen company’s logo. As Tino continued to check out the CEO’s muscular swimmer’s shoulders and narrow waist, Mason threw his shirt at him, making him jump.

“Get that cleaned, will you?”

The garment smelled of him, and Tino had to resist the urge to bury his face in it. Instead, he watched as Mason covered up that divine chest with a fresh shirt and began fiddling with the cufflinks.

“Help me,” he said impatiently.

Immediately, Tino jumped to his feet and went to assist. The cufflinks were gold, the stones white diamonds. They must have cost the equivalent of half a year’s salary for Tino. He fumbled and dropped the second one.

As he bent down to pick it up, he noticed Mason’s feet were bare. No shoes. No socks, just long, prehensile toes and perfectly pedicured nails with black nail polish. He tried not to stare, concentrating on the task in hand.

When he had finished, Mason went to sit in the black leather executive chair on his side of the desk.

"First off, questions." He clasped his hands on the desk in front of him.

Tino waited, staring at the snowy cuffs and sparkling diamonds.

Mason waited.

"Sir?" Tino said, when the waiting became painful.

"Don't you have any?"

Tino realized Mason had been asking him what his questions were.

"Oh, right! Er, yeah. A bit of a shock, coming in this morning and being told to clear my desk. Why do you want me, sir? I thought..."

Mason took a file out of his desk drawer and opened it. "Valentino Santini, born 1988, educated in Brooklyn. Average grades at best. Came to Wolfen as a filing clerk in 2012. Proved to have an aptitude for marketing and a pleasing telephone manner. Worked up through the company to become a junior manager and then..." He slammed the file shut. "Career stalled thanks to one ambitious little prick. I would fire him, but he gets results. So back to you. You're loyal, discreet, bright and personable. Those are the qualities I need for someone to eventually take over from Eleanor. Also, the ability not to take shit from anyone, most of all me. You think you can do that, Valentino?"

"Yes sir," Tino replied promptly.

"My question to you is, why would you want to? Work for me, that is??"

Tino opened his mouth and closed it again. "I... wasn't given the choice, was I?"

Mason gestured impatiently. "Of course you have a choice. You think I want someone who hates the air I breathe? There are plenty of internal positions within the company, not only here but in any one of our offices. The pay won't be as good but..."

"I want to work for you," Tino said, cutting him short.

"Why?"

"I like a challenge. Someone says to me, 'it's impossible,' I like to prove to them it isn't."

Mason smiled crookedly. "You expect to have me eating out of your hand any time soon?"

Wow. For a moment, Tino couldn’t speak. He was mesmerized by the man in front of him, enviable cheekbones, straight dark hair that spiked over a high forehead, cruel lips that had …

No, don’t think about what we did in the elevator, for fuck’s sake…

He snapped back to the present.

"If I did, it wouldn't be a challenge, would it? Sir."

Mason rested back in his seat, long fingers stroking the fat leather chair arms.

"One could argue this is a woman's role. Being my Man Friday? Being at my beck and call? Listening to me when I'm jacked up on JD and wanting three whores in my apartment within fifteen minutes? Ringing you when you're at your sick mother's bedside and screaming at you for forgetting to organize my pastrami bagel? Threatening to fire you every five minutes? Do you really want to work for a blue-chip asshole like me?"

He came around to Tino's side of the table and perched on the desk in front of him, impaling him with an intent glare. Tino could smell his sandalwood aftershave and something much muskier, beguiling him, screwing with his reason. He tried not to look at the man's crotch. If he didn't know any better, he was sporting a healthy-looking semi.

"I think I can handle you," he muttered.

"Oh, I know you think you can.” Without warning, he took Tino’s chin in a strong grip and forced him to look up. “Don't make the mistake of falling for me, Valentino. Eleanor probably already told you this. I break balls, rip hearts to shreds and fuck like a demon, but I don't do love. Respect, yes, if it's earned, but not love. Never forget that."

"I have no intention of marrying you, sir," Tino replied, deadpan. Inside his chest, his heart was beating so loud, he was surprised Mason couldn’t hear it.

Mason let go of his face, grinning savagely. "And that, Valentino, is why I want you. I think we understand each other."




Author Bio

Lady Jaguar’s first den was in the depths of Archive Of Our Own and Wattpad, where she still writes fan fiction for Holby City, Good Omens and Doctor Who (Eight.)

Now she has ventured out with a story her readers asked her to write and is just about to place it at your feet like a dead rodent. Expect filth, high-octane frolics and every beloved romance trope known to mankind!

Lady Jaguar is on Instagram (when they haven't banned her,) Twitter, and down with the kids at Tumblr.

Author Website: https://www.hollowhillspublishing.blogspot.co.uk
Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/realladyjaguar
Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyjaguarwrites/
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19878228.Lady_Jaguar
Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/?s=lady+Jaguar&search_type=book_search


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Giveaway + Book Blast: The Secrets in my Scowl by A.E. Via


Author A.E. Via & Vibrant Promotions are here today promoting The Secrets in my Scowl. Find out more & enter in the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card. 4 WINNERS!

The Secrets in My Scowl Book Blast Banner
The Secrets In My Scowl
AE Via
M/M Romance
Release Date: October 28, 2016
Page Count: 325
The Secrets in My Scowl Cover
Blurb
Sparks ignite and tempers flare when a sexy, optimistic wedding planner moves his business in across the hall from a jilted, divorce lawyer’s practice.
“Look smart ass. This is the last time I’m going to remind you about breaking sections of the lease. If there’s a next time, I won’t stop until you and your frilly, white wedding shit is thrown out of here. Do you got it?!”
Wylde looked in Jacob’s pained eyes and answered in his deep voice. “Yeah, counselor. I got it.”
From high school, up until he became a successful attorney Jacob Snowden was convinced that love had it out for him. “Everyone left,” were the words he lived by. His mother, his high school sweetheart, his father, and his fiancĂ©, all left Jacob just when he felt it was safe to let down his guard. Not any longer. Jacob was a determined man, set at keeping people at a distance. If his six foot one, military-made body didn’t scare people off, his permanent scowl surely did. At almost forty, Jacob’s social life was non-existent, but he told himself his work fulfilled him. He helped people get out of their loveless marriages. Jacob Snowden was one of the best divorce lawyers on the east coast and was damn proud of it. So, imagine his disdain when a wedding planner moves into the suite directly adjacent to his… an insanely masculine, male wedding planner.
Wylde Sterling had made quite a name for himself in his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, working for a wedding planner that catered to the elite. He was known for his charm and impeccable taste. Yep, he was incredible at giving couples the wedding of their dreams. But he wanted nothing more than to plan his own. After striking out in love more times than he cared to admit, Wylde decided to start his own business in a new city, hoping Richmond would give him a fresh start. Things started out wonderfully – until he started to piss off the angry divorce attorney next door.
Wylde could see past Jacob’s mean scowl, knowing there was a reason for it. It was the man’s defense mechanism, his means of keeping people away. Everything in Wylde told him to stay away, but he believed Jacob just needed to meet a man who had been hurt as badly as he had.
This title is a standalone that ends in an HEA



The Secrets in My Scowl Teaser 1The Secrets in My Scowl Teaser 3
Excerpt
It was another freezing night as they walked to their cars. The temperature had to be in the low thirties now. “Do y’all get a lot of snow here?” Wylde asked, staying close to Jacob’s big body.



“You’re not used to snow? You’re from up in the mountains.”



“Jesus. Just answer the damn question, lawyer.” Wylde elbowed him.



Jacob smirked at him. “We usually get some. I’m pretty sure we will this week. Forecast is calling for four to five inches.”



“Oh, man. I hope it’s not here on Friday. I’m going to Mr. Drummond’s greenhouse that day,” he said as they turned the corner.



“I hope you find what you need there. He loves giving away those flowers. He has them delivered to hospitals, funeral homes, people’s doorsteps, you name it.” Jacob’s voice had gone quiet in the dark lot as they made their way to their cars.



“You’re going to make me the most popular wedding planner in Richmond if I can get free flowers.” Wylde started his car with his key fob, Jacob doing the same, but they still hadn’t parted ways.



“It’s going to be a hectic week for me. I’m winding down on a pretty big case, but on Friday, maybe you can come by and we can play a game when you get back.” Jacob rocked back and forth like he was nervous about Wylde’s answer.



“That sounds good. I should be back early.” Wylde started to move in closer, wanting every last second of Jacob he could get, and of course, some of his body heat.



“If you’re back before five, why don’t we drive around a bit, and I’ll show you some of Richmond. That is, of course, if you haven’t found a guide already.” Jacob’s scowl was dropping into place and it made the hairs on Wylde’s arms stand up… and his d**k.



He knew exactly what Jacob was hinting at. He’d seen Wylde out with a man before and from the mean look on Jacob’s face, it looked like he wasn’t interested in competition. Wylde needed to set this straight now.



They were toe-to-toe, Jacob leaning a little on his driver side door. Wylde slowly eased his arm inside Jacob’s heavy coat, grazing the fabric of his suit jacket, letting it rest there on his hip. Wylde leaned in so their chests were pressed together. He didn’t have to look down at Jacob’s face and he liked that. “No, Jacob. No other guides. None.”



Jacob appeared to accept that answer. His jaw unclenched and Wylde felt a heavy palm on his back as Jacob pulled him even closer. He thought Jacob was leaning in for a kiss but instead, he grazed the side of his jaw and rested his face in Wylde’s neck. “Thank you for tonight,” he whispered roughly. “I really needed it.”



Wylde held on. He wanted to run his hands up and down Jacob’s hard body but he reminded himself to be cool. He needed to let Jacob run the show and keep it at a pace he was comfortable with. Wylde’s judgment couldn’t be relied upon when he was so madly attracted to the man. Instead, he placed a delicate kiss behind Jacob’s ear and pulled away. “I had a lot of fun too, Jacob.” Wylde pulled his card out of his messenger bag and softly slid it inside the breast pocket of Jacob’s suit jacket. He licked his lips as he got a very similar reaction as the other week – minus the sensual moan. Damn, Jacob was so sensitive there. Wylde would remember that. “My cell phone’s on there. Until Friday, counselor.”



Wylde walked away and got in his own warm car. Jacob was still standing there when he drove off. That had to be a good sign. But as he made the short commute to his own apartment in the Towers on Franklin, he said a silent prayer.



Please don’t let us hurt each other.



The Secrets in My Scowl Teaser 2



AEVia-Logo-JayAheer2015-white-black-Large (1)


A.E. Via has been a best-selling author in the beautiful gay romance genre for six 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 novels 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.
She’s recently celebrated her 20th book anniversary, and is 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 peek at upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she’ll appear next.
Social Media Links
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AuthorAEVia
Author Official Website: http://authoraevia.com
A.E. Newsletter Signup: https://goo.gl/4hfuMh
The Secrets in My Scowl Graphic 1



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Giveaway + Blog Tour: Marry Him by Marina Ford


Join author Marina Ford & Riptide Publishing as they promote new contemporary romance, Marry Him out now. Find out more below & enter in the giveaway for a $15 Riptide gift card too.


Blurb:
Joe Kaminski likes to go with the flow, a good trait to have as a young artist living in London. His laidback approach to life makes him a fish out of water when he’s hired at P&B Designs, a high-powered PR agency. The money’s good, but with his poor planning skills, he doesn’t see it lasting.
Harry Byrne likes his life the same way he likes his PowerPoint presentations: structured. Known for his dynamic personality, Harry suffered a blow when his seven-year relationship fell apart, souring his mood. The last thing on his mind is getting into another relationship, especially with a man who can barely make it to the office on time.
They’re not even supposed to like each other. But five years later, Joe and Harry are getting ready to tie the knot. They should’ve known it was only a matter of time before everything starts to fall apart: obstructive friends, well-meaning but meddlesome family, a hovering ex, international incidents, fires, pregnancies, and an airport chase. It seems their “I do”s were doomed from the start. 
Bio:
Marina Ford is a thirty-three-year-old book addict, who would, if permitted, spend all of her time in bookstores, libraries, or in her own bed with stacks and stacks of books. Luckily, she has a husband and a dog, who force her to interact with humans of planet Earth from time to time. In fact, she so enjoyed falling in love with her husband that she can’t resist evoking those same feelings in the love stories she writes. She does not believe in love at first sight—but she does believe in the happy ever after, though it must be earned. She likes her stories to be light, since real life can be miserable enough without making up more of it in fiction.
She lives in England, loves rain (gives one an excuse to stay at home and read books, right?), long walks (when it doesn’t rain), history, Jane Austen, the theatre, languages, and dogs. It is her dream to one day possess an enormous country house in which each room is a library (okay, maybe except for the kitchen), and in which there are more dogs than people. A smaller and perhaps more realistic dream is to make people smile with the things she writes.

To celebrate this release, one lucky person will win a $15 gift card to Riptide! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on March 7, 2020. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. For more chances to enter, follow the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Audiobook Review: Promises: Part 1 (Bounty Hunters #1) by A.E. Via

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 didn’t party and screw up in school like his buddies. 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.

Part I of the Promises story is about Duke and Vaughan and DOES NOT end on a cliffhanger. Part II is about Quick and Dr. Chauncey and their realization that it’s not too late for any of them to find love.

Listening Lenth: 7 hrs 31 min
Narrator: Aiden Snow

Reviewer: Annery 

Are you having a lazy day? One where you want to be entertained but can’t/don’t want to expend too much mental energy? Do you like tall, brawny, masc alpha-males who enjoy tall, brawny, masc alpha-males? Do you like (and who doesn’t?) Bruce Willis movies? Do you like a good ensemble cast? This is the book/series for you!

Author A.E. Via and narrator Aiden Snow are NTM and I can say they’re both very good at what they do. Though this isn’t my preferred candy, I can appreciate A.E. Via’s brand of romance: sex positive, romantic, and absolutely sweet. Her men are utterly masculine, muscled, competent, and all the things associated with alpha-males but they’re not knuckle dragging numbskulls. They’re in tune with who they are and what they want out of life, which makes sense being that, at least in this series, they’re grown-ups who range in age from 30 to 49. No blundering apes in sight. But I digress. This is the first book in a new series which is a spinoff of the Nothing Special Series, however you can read it, like myself, without reference to the previous series and each book as a standalone. Every part is about a different couple, though it seems most of the cast will all appear or at least be mentioned throughout along with mentions or visits by characters from Nothing Special.

Promises, Pt.1 is about Duke Morgan and Vaughan Webb, a pairing I overall loved. Duke owns a Bail Bonds and a Private Investigations outfit, he’s forty-five (45) but feeling way older. He’s only had four relationships in his life, none of which has given him the sense of belonging or being wanted we all crave. His last long term attachment was with Judge from Don’t Judge, but it was only a FWB arrangement on Judge’s part, while Duke was always left craving for more. Judge has gone off to live his very own HEA and is now nothing more than a good friend and business partner, but the universe is about to give Duke’s his reward.

At thirty-one (31) Vaughan Webb is a lawyer, who’s come home to spend time with his father, work in the Atlanta District Attorney’s Office, and woo the man he’s been in love with since he was a teenager. That man is Duke. The fact that Duke’s best friend is Quick, Vaughan’s father isn’t an obstacle. Vaughan is one of those ‘older-than-his-years’ souls who early on knew what he wanted, what he had to do to achieve it, and was willing to go for the long game. He turned his father into an ally to keep him posted about Duke’s life while he set about becoming a man he thought Duke would want and seriously consider.

I really liked these two as a couple. I liked how the prescribed age roles were flipped without much fuss. I liked that, though perhaps more a result of wishful thinking, Quick isn’t put-off by a relationship between his son and his best friend but rather supports it. I liked how Vaughan truly and demonstrably cares for Duke from moments of tenderness to scorching intimacy. This is a story of big love, high emotion, and sweeping gestures that’ll warm your heart.

One hiccup was Duke’s sudden insta love/lust for Vaughan. Commendably he had never thought of Vaughan as anything other than Quick’s son until Vaughan approached him. Perfect. However Duke’s turnabout is like flipping a switch. It’s kind of understandable given how starved for affection he’s always been and Vaughan being young & smoking hot, but I would’ve liked a few more seconds of introspection or a minute for him to recast Vaughan from bf’s son to hottie/love-of-my-life. I enjoyed everything else, from the clearly well researched world of bond-bails and medical procedures to an excellent performance by Aiden Snow. I’ll certainly be moving on to the next book.




Series Refresh + Giveaway: Shatterproof Bond Series by Isobel Starling


Welcome to the Shatterproof Bond series refresh from author Isobel Starling and A Novel Take PR! Don't miss today's sexy exclusive excerpt from series finale, Powder Burns, other excerpts from books #1-2 or the giveaway where two winners will win entire series e-sets!! Good luck!


The Shatterproof Bond Series:
Book 1: As You Wish
Book 2: Illuminate the Shadows
Book 3: Return to Zero
Book 4: Counterblow
Book 5: Powder Burns

Publisher: Decent Fellows Press

Release date: Already released in print, ebook, and audiobook

Length (Print & Ebook/Audio):
Book 1: As You Wish, 45k words | 4 hours audio
Book 2: Illuminate the Shadows 55k words | 5 hours audio
Book 3: Return to Zero 70k words | 7 hours audio
Book 4: Counterblow 48k words | 4.5 hours audio
Book 5: Powder Burns 103k words | 10 hours audio

Subgenre: M/M Romance Thriller

Warnings: Mild BDSM

Purchase now:
As You Wish: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012T8J92U
Illuminate the Shadows: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ELOXC
Return to Zero: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FHYJWTS
Counterblow: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LP9Y9N
Powder Burns https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XP9PMR7

Book blurbs:

Book 1: As You Wish

WINNER OF THE 2018 AUDIOBOOK REVIEWER AWARD FOR ROMANCE

1 wedding, 2 best men, one hell of a love story!

Declan Ramsay was set to be the best man at his brother's wedding in Scotland, sharing best man duties with the bride's gay kid brother Sam. Sam was abroad finishing his studies so the best men communicated by email for more than a year and wouldn't meet for the first time until a few days before the wedding.

But on meeting Sam Aiken, Declan is surprised to see he isn't a kid at all, but a striking, athletic blond man with gorgeous green eyes and a wicked sense of humor. Declan is alarmed by the ferocious attraction he feels for Sam. And as the attraction is reciprocated, the events at Dunloch Castle change everything Declan has ever believed about himself.

But is Sam Aiken all he appears to be?

Also available in paperback and as an award-winning audiobook, narrated by Gary Furlong.

Book 2: Illuminate the Shadows

A Scotsman and an Englishman fall in love…


After the most amazing week of his life, at Dunloch Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, in Scotland. The charming, mysterious Samuel Aiken has turned Declan Ramsay’s life upside down. Declan has experienced a remarkable change. He has come to terms with the fact he is bisexual, and he has fallen head-over-heels in love with his boss’s son Sam.

However, falling for his boss’s son was never going to be an easy path to happiness, mainly because the boss in question is multi-millionaire property tycoon and former MI5 operative, Sir James Aiken.
Sir James is repulsed by his son’s homosexuality, and so discovering that his employee Declan Ramsay- the man he installed to run his luxury property rental empire- is in a relationship with Sam, does not go down well.

The lovers cannot hide from the looming presence of Sir James Aiken for long! Soon enough James makes his move, and Declan finds out what he will have to endure to stay with Sam, and what he will have to give to feel worthy of Sam's love.

Book 3: Return to Zero

Life takes a darker turn for Sam and Declan...


Pulled into a world of secrets and lies for the man he loves, Declan Ramsay’s life has changed immeasurably in the eight months since meeting and falling for his boss’s son, Sam Aiken. Declan's journey of personal discovery is about to take a darker turn, and for Sam, the world becomes more treacherous than he could ever have imagined.

Two agents are missing -- presumed dead, while on a reconnaissance mission at an outdoor adventure center in the Scottish Highlands. Sir James Aiken sends his son and Declan to follow the trail, and discover the fate of the agents.

As the mission offers his first chance to use the skills he learned on the MI6 training course in Morocco, Declan is keen to get started. However, Sir James sees to it that the seeds of doubt and discord have been sewn between the couple, as they begin their mission.

The journey to their Highland location, and the discoveries they make when they reach the G’wan Adventures center, prove that Sir James Aiken has been less than honest with his son. Events in the Highlands force Sam and Declan to face their greatest fears and understand what they both really want from life -- and from each other.

Book 4: Counterblow

True love comes at a cost...


After the devastating events in the Scottish Highlands, Sam and Declan have moved on to a new, deeper level in their romance. Their commitment to each other is unquestionable; however, there are plenty of questions that need answering about other aspects of their lives, and those who sought to end them.

Sam is trying his best to deal with the day to day frustrations of his injuries. He’s completely dependent on Declan for everything and hates the way the scales have tipped in their relationship. Although he’s officially on leave, Sam’s mind cannot stop replaying all that happened to him and questioning why, and who is behind it all.

Declan’s relief at having Sam home throws him into house-husband mode. He’s happy to take the reins and care for his partner, however, beneath the surface Declan cannot help but be drawn back to how he felt in the Highlands, and how they were betrayed by a man who was supposed to have their back. Declan had promised Sir James Aiken that he would pay if he hurt Sam, and now Declan has to decide how he can deliver his payback and put his and Sam’s world back on an even keel.

Book 5: Powder Burns

One book, Two Missions, and a memory-key full of secrets!


After a series of terrorist attacks on fracking sites owned by a Gas multinational named Drilsink, Sir James Aiken’s agency is bought in to find the radical Eco-terrorist group responsible. He sends Sam and Declan to work undercover at Imperial College where Intel suggests the group is recruiting. While Sam works behind the scenes, Declan takes on the identity of Geologist Dr. Tobias Hunter and soon makes an enemy of a fellow science geek- a man who Declan comes to despise more than Sir James Aiken!

When the operation moves from London to Munich and then Vienna, Sam, and Declan are thrown headlong into a spy scenario straight out of the thriller novels they love to read—but with a distinct and disturbing sexual twist! Sam meets an old friend and uncovers shocking information about James’ past.

With Erik Madsson still imprisoned inside the A.L.L. HQ, James comes to realize that he should have listened to his son. Keeping the enemy inside his own home is about to be the biggest mistake he has ever made.

Excerpt from As You Wish (Shatterproof Bond #1)

“Flight B-A-one-four-three-two to Edinburgh will be boarding from Gate A twenty-six.”
Sam Aiken paused and glanced up at the yellow airport signage directing that the walk to Gates A1-A26 would take ten minutes. “Shit,” he muttered under his breath. Sam’s flight to Edinburgh was also due to take off in ten bloody minutes. He shouldered his heavy rucksack and sprinted through Terminal Two at London’s Heathrow Airport, ducking and diving around fellow travelers.
It was partly Sam’s fault that he had been delayed. Initially, it was by choosing the wrong queue and getting stuck in the security check line for twenty minutes. And then, by attempting a conversation with a security guard and being given a thorough groping in response. If he hadn’t been so stressed, Sam might actually have enjoyed the attention.
Sam Aiken was over six feet tall and wore his sandy-blond hair to his shoulders. His boyish face, tanned by the Saudi Arabian desert winds, had sprouted a monstrous attempt at a beard. It looked ridiculous. It couldn’t even be called a beard, more scrub than forest! Sam had spent the past year in the Middle East, where the beard is the symbol of manhood and honor, so he’d grown it to try and fit in. It worked there, but back in the UK, it just made him look a bit grubby. Sam was dressed in knee-length khaki shorts and an over-washed, cranberry-red T-shirt. His appearance was that of your average backpacker, so why security had singled him out for the extra attention, Sam didn’t know. Maybe he should know better than to try and crack jokes with security officials, especially when they had his balls in their hands.
“Nice wand! Watch where you’re sticking that thing, I might like it!” Sam joked nervously in his soft British accent. The very well built, alpha security guard waving the metal detector wand over his body glared at him. Sam arched his brows and grinned, hoping to inspire an illicit smile from the man, but instead, the security guard pulled him aside and got his friend to observe as he gave Sam a thorough feel up. He wished he had kept his mouth shut. That thirty-minute delay left Sam on a knife-edge.
As he ran through the featureless, white airport corridors towards Gate A26, Sam wasn’t sure now whether he would make the flight. His mind raced with the snowball effect of that possible future event. All of his father’s well-made plans would be shot to shit, and he would be the reason— in the dog house and only back in the UK an hour.
Sam turned into a wide, open-plan lounge. Out of nowhere another traveler suddenly appeared, cutting across Sam’s path, dragging a black, wheeled suitcase. Sam couldn’t stop himself from tripping. He fell forwards and then halted in mid-air. The broad masculine hand of the traveler was gripping his bare forearm to prevent the fall. He pulled Sam to right himself. The two men glared at one another.
“Jesus! Watch what you’re doing with that thing!” Sam exclaimed, furious.
“You watch where you’re going, eejit!” the stranger retorted in a posh Edinburgh brogue.
The Scotsman rushed off, dragging his suitcase, and Sam continued to run on to the correct gate, fretting internally about what idiot’s people can be.
When Sam arrived minutes later, he saw a throng of passengers milling around, and on glancing at the info board, he read there was a delay of ten minutes. Sam breathed a deep sigh of relief. He unhooked his rucksack and found a wall to slide down. He searched in the front pocket of his pack, drew out his phone, and made a call.
“Hi, this is Samuel Aiken. I have a one-thirty p.m. pick up from Edinburgh Airport. Well, my flight is delayed by ten minutes. I just wanted to let you know. Great, see you then.”
Sam ended the call and glanced down at his left forearm. He saw the outline of red grip marks. He absently rubbed the imprints left by the Scotsman with the wheeled black case, unable to deny that being touched so roughly had made warmth flood into his gut.

Excerpt from Return to Zero (Shatterproof Bond #2):

“SAM! Are ye home?” Declan hollered as he opened the front door. “Sam?”
“In here.” Sam’s distant voice filtered from the spare bedroom. Declan was in a buoyant mood, at last, after weeks of waiting, he’d received a call from his boss. He sauntered confidently towards the bedroom and knocked once before walking in.
“Why d’ye no’ pick up? I’ve called ye, like, six times already! James wants us in fer a meet —” Declan stopped, and in the way, only Sam Aiken could do, the breath was stolen from his lungs.
Declan’s yoga mat was laid out in the center of the large bedroom floor, and upon it, a shamelessly nude Sam Aiken was facing the tall antique mirror that rested against the wall. He was on his belly, his back bowed, and his palms pushing against the floor as his shoulders rose in the midst of the cobra pose.
Declan slumped to sit silently on the king-size bed and watch. He stared, bug-eyed and slack-jawed at all of that flawless pale skin, wrapped around an athletic, slim frame. Declan adored how pliant and supple Sam was. He reveled in the sight of corded muscles moving beneath the taut surface of the younger man’s skin, like the workings of a well-honed machine.
Ignoring his voyeur, Sam pushed himself up from the cobra pose, so he sat back on his calves. He closed his eyes and focused on his breath, and then, when he was ready, placed his palms flat on the mat, level with his knees. Then, putting all of his weight on his hands, Sam drew his legs out to either side of his body, doing the splits, balancing solely on his hands.
Declan’s bearded jaw dropped open, and his heart skipped a beat at the impressive sight. The mirror allowed Declan to observe Sam from many angles, and the view was exquisite. He knew there was a reason he was home early, but, whatever the hell it was, it could wait.
Sam aligned his legs and bought them up above his head, so he was in a handstand position, and there he stayed for a minute, his breath shallow and barely audible. There was not one tremble in any of Sam’s muscles. It was awe-inspiring. Sam was the very picture of oneness—strength, control, balance, and agility. The lines of Sam’s form were sinuous and erotic, and there was no stopping the hot, hot hunger that made Declan’s whole being shudder with need.
Sam’s spine arched back and with incredible discipline, his body bowed slowly, until the soles of his feet were placed firmly on the yoga mat, and Sam was in the crab position. He was trying so desperately to focus on his own breath and to remain centered, but Declan was breathing heavily through his nose, like a stag readying for the rut, and even though Sam could not actually see him, Declan’s presence always came with the prickle of otherworldly electricity. It really was like they were magnetized.
The sound of heavy breathing was doing things to Sam’s body that he just could not control. His heart beat faster, beads of sweat littered his brow and formed on his chest, and his pale cock reddened, filled and rose majestically, providing an extra spectacle for his handsome observer. Sam arched his spine to its capacity and inched to his toes and fingertips. He stayed like that, his muscles clenched tight and his cock standing straight as a flagpole awaiting its flag. After a minute, he slowly unclenched his muscles and allowed his body to ease its way gently back to the mat. Each movement still effortlessly controlled.
This naked yoga routine was on the list of the most erotic things that Declan had ever seen in his life. And now that Sam was on his back, his eyes closed, with arms stretched above his head. Declan decided that this was his opportunity to pounce.

Exclusive Excerpt from Powder Burns by Isobel Starling


Declan walked back down the alley onto Gerrard Street. He continued on through to the Wardour Street end of Soho and ducked down another alley that he knew was not covered by CCTV. This alleyway hid a residential entrance door. Declan looked at his palm in which he held a small plastic bag with a key inside. He removed it and then let himself into the building.
Declan swiftly closed the door behind himself, pocketed the key and groped for the light switch. Flicking it on he saw he’d stepped straight into the small kitchen of a decrepit rundown studio flat before the light flickered ominously and bulb popped.
“Shite!” Declan hissed as he was thrown into absolute darkness. From the quick look he’d gotten of his surroundings Declan knew that there was one other room and a doorway that probably led to a bathroom. The warm stagnant air in the flat had absorbed the scents of spices and cooking oil from the restaurant next door.
Declan sensed Sam’s presence a second before he felt the warm slender body slam against his chest in the dark.
“Westley—” Declan exclaimed in a pained whisper. But before he could say another word Sam’s mouth was on his, kissing him hotly with ravenous urgency. The coiling pressures of need and longing that twisted painfully inside Declan for the arduous weeks he and Sam were parted were finally released.
Sam jumped up and wrapped his legs around Declan’s hips. Declan’s staggered taking Sam’s weight. His hands moved, as if magnetized, to cradle Sam’s firm bottom. Sam was a raging forest fire in Declan’s arms and Declan knew no other way forward than to give himself to be consumed by the flames.
His arms full, Declan stumbled forward in the blackened room, bumping into furniture—the rush of lust guiding them to seek a solid surface to fuck against—fast. A small side table was knocked over and the jarring sound of smashing ceramic made them pause for a breath and emit childish laughter, like a pair of teens partaking in an illicit tryst. Declan’s leg found a soft edge, and Sam toppled backward pulling Declan with him. Luckily, he landed on a couch.
From the squeak of the cushions and the lack of support in the springs Declan knew it was a cheap old faux leather settee they were grappling and groping on, but he didn’t care. Sam was in his arms and they were both horny as hell.
Declan paused, his face buried at the nape of Sam’s neck while he caught a breath. Sam smelled like home, like his favorite meal, like all of Declan’s best birthdays. Sam was a treasured gift and Declan was desperate to unwrap him.
“Are you okay?” Sam cupped Declan’s freshly shaven cheeks and held his head up. The few places where skin met skin tingled with electricity. Sam’s cock pulsed, trapped in his jeans beneath his bear of a husband. He flicked his hips up to encourage Declan to move and get the party started.
“Hey, are you okay?” Sam asked again.
“Aye, aye, I’m good!” Declan snickered into Sam’s neck, the vibrations, and hot breaths sending a shiver down Sam’s spine.
Declan eased his hips up a little, giving his hands the space to move swiftly to unzip Sam’s fly, and then his own while Sam’s playful fingers found their way beneath Declan’s jeans to knead the globes of his tight Scottish arse. Rediscovering one another, they kissed, bit, and tasted. Urgent breaths and passionate moans from the lovers severed the silence in the dilapidated studio flat.

©Isobel Starling 2020


About the Author:

Isobel Starling spent most of her twenty-year professional career as a visual artist in Ireland. She now writes full time and loves writing Thrillers, Comedy, Historical, and Fantasy. In nearly six years she has written twenty books, released fourteen audiobooks, and has translations of most titles in French, German, and Italian. The Shatterproof Bond series is a #1 bestseller in Germany.

"As You Wish" (Shatterproof Bond#1) narrated by Gary Furlong won the Audiobook Reviewer Award for Romance 2018. It is the first M/M Romance audiobook to win a mainstream audiobook award.

Connect with Isobel:
Website: https://www.decentfellowspress.com
Newsletter: https://isobelstarling.wix.com/books
Instagram: @isobel_starling
Twitter: @isobel_starling and @decentfellows

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/isobel_starling
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Isobel-Starling/e/B00U1MKE5I



Giveaway: 

To celebrate the refresh of the Shatterproof Bond Series, Isobel Starling is giving away 2 complete e-sets of the series! Open internationally, must be 18 years old to win. 

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Giveaway + Release Blitz: Half-Light (The Cassie Tam Files #5) by Matt Doyle


Join author Matt Doyle & IndiGo Marketing in celebrating the release of Half-Light (The Cassie Tam Files, #5). Find out more about this LGBTQIA science fiction novel, read an excerpt & enter in the NineStar Press giveaway for a $10 gift card too!



Title: Half-Light
Series: The Cassie Tam Files, Book Five
Author: Matt Doyle
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: March 2, 2020
Heat Level: 1 - No Sex
Pairing: No Romance
Length: 48300
Genre: Science Fiction, LGBTQIA+, genderfluid, interspecies, space opera, space travel, third gender

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Synopsis

With Angel Tanner, the android that runs California’s criminal underworld, pulling the strings, PI Cassie Tam finds herself thrust into a conflict with New Hopeland’s biggest and baddest. But working with the murderous AI may be the only way that Cassie can get to the bottom of her home’s greatest mystery: What is New Hopeland City?



 As she struggles to balance her dealings with allies and enemies alike, Cassie is left with a difficult choice. She has always straddled the line between light and dark. Now, the time to decide which side she’s on is drawing close…if she can figure out which is which.


Excerpt





Half Light
Matt Doyle © 2020
All Rights Reserved

“Diu.”

I look to my right and find a free space
to pull the car into. I have a couple of different ringtones on my cell phone,
each assigned to give me a clear idea of whether I need—or want—to answer it.
This generic-but-far-too-loud melody marks this call as coming from one
particular number. Given what day it is, I’ve been expecting to hear from them.
The last few days have been spent playing a game that’s essentially the adult
equivalent of passing notes in class. I leave a note somewhere, I get another
at home, I respond somewhere else. It’s been a pain, and it’s all been leading
up to this. “It’s where it leads next I’m worried about.”

I steel myself and tap the screen to
answer the call. A female voice comes through, dripping with an overacted
panic. “Is…is that Cassandra Tam?”

I recognise the voice instantly. “It is.
Cassie or Caz is fine.”

“My name is Anna Welch. I need help,
Miss Tam.”

I sigh. “Well, that’s what I’m here for.
Do you want to discuss this over the phone, or would you rather meet in
person?”

“In person,” she replies, and I can hear
the smile in her voice. “Somewhere neutral would be best. I’m rather paranoid,
you see.”

“Okay, that’s fine. Where?”

“I’ll text you the location.”

She hangs up, and the text comes through
almost immediately. Once I’ve finished reading it, I can’t help but smile. She
wants to meet at an old abandoned warehouse. It’s one I’m familiar with. A few
months back, I broke up a dog fight in the same building. During the case, I
discovered there’s a secret entrance to the building via an underground network
of hallways. That gives me a way to monitor her if I need to. Or a convenient
escape route.

I hit the speed dial for Lori, and it
goes straight to her answering service. After the beep, I say, “Hey, it’s
Cassie. I guess you’re driving. Listen, I’ve just had a call from a potential
client, and I’m gonna have to go meet with them. I’m still coming, but it may
be worth checking what later times there are for the film, just in case this
runs long. Anyway. Be with you soon.”

I throw my phone onto the passenger seat
next to me and pull out into the light traffic of the New Hopeland afternoon.

*

By the time I reach the warehouse, I’ve
already run through a number of different scenarios in my head. None of them
ended well, so I’m putting my faith in reality right now. “No fear, Tam, this
was a voluntary trip,” I remind myself, and push the main door open. Inside
looks the same as it did the last time I was here, minus the boxed area. And
people.

Frowning, I make my way towards the back
of the building and start checking doors. Finally, I spot a far-too-tight black
ponytail, illuminated by the screen of a computer. “Welch. Real cute using the
surname of the woman you murdered,” I say, just loud enough to make sure she
heard it.

Angel Tanner spins in her chair towards
me and laughs, casually turning her monitor off as she does so. “Now,
detective, you know full well Harold did that.”

“The way I understand it, it amounts to
much the same thing, eh?” I walk into the room and she rises to meet me. When
she offers a handshake, I take it on instinct.

“Actually, no. The core result is the
same, but the point is it wasn’t me. That makes it a very different thing, at
least in the eyes of the law. Still, I’m happy you reached out.”

“I almost didn’t,” I say and then shake
my head. “No, that’s not true. I considered looking for a different way to
contact you after I found out our mutual acquaintance was Gary Locke. You could
have got in touch any time you wanted.”

“Yes, I could have. But I knew talking
to Mister Locke would be hard for you after that whole unfortunate incident
with your girlfriend and her brother.”

“Unfortunate incident?” I reply, my
words dripping with a mix of anger and shock. “He tried to kill both of us. And
he convinced her brother to take his own life for a cause that wasn’t even
real.”

“Which is why I did it this way. I
needed to know you were serious in your intention. Oh, and the cause was real,
I’m certain of that. Or the part Locke cared about was anyway.”

I grunt and shake my head. “I didn’t
come here to talk about conspiracy theories. You said I wanted to know what’s
happening in New Hopeland, and you’re right. You want help to find out the same
thing, so I came. Can we please get on with this? I have plans.”

She smiles her creepy smile and nods.
“You and me both, detective. But that’s fine. Today was more about checking
you’re on board than anything. So, this will be our base of operations for the
time being. It’s out of the way, and it’s neither used nor monitored, so it’s
fit for purpose.”

I shrug. “Seems okay. It’s easy enough
to get to.”

“I should hope so. You’ll be spending a
good amount of time here. Now, to business. What I said on the phone wasn’t
entirely false; I really do need your help. As you can imagine, I can’t move
freely right now, and my links in the city aren’t particularly well suited for
certain jobs. Like the one I have for you to do tomorrow.”

“Which is?”

She pulls an envelope out of her pocket
and hands it to me. “This contains a couple of photographs relating to Anna
Welch’s case. You’re going to visit Mister Locke at the prison tomorrow morning
and question him about them. They contain some gifts for him, a mild drug on
one, and a special communicator on the other. You’ll find a corresponding
communicator in there, too, along with instructions as to what to do with it.
Make sure you read them somewhere cameras can’t see them clearly.”

“Great. You know, he wasn’t happy to see
me the last time.”

“I don’t doubt it. Harold will make sure
he plays nice though. I trust you can do the same?”

“For now.”

“Good enough.” She waves me away and
heads back to her computer. “Now, go enjoy yourself. We’ll talk more soon.”

Play nicely. Follow orders until you
know more. I leave without another word.


Purchase

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Meet the Author

Matt Doyle is a speculative fiction author from the UK and identifies as pansexual and genderfluid. Matt has spent a great deal of time chasing dreams, a habit which has led to success in a great number of fields. To date, this has included spending ten years as a professional wrestler, completing a range of cosplay projects, and publishing multiple works of fiction.



 These days, Matt can be found working on multiple novels and stories, blogging about pop culture, and plotting and planning far too many projects.


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