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Guest Review: Ex Meridian (Nothing Special #7) by A.E. Via

Police Lieutenants, God and Day are under intense pressure from the chief to take back control of Atlanta’s streets. The last thing their task force needs is a pair of trained killers in town with a personal score to settle.

Take a man and strip him of his ability to feel compassion, empathy, remorse, or any of the emotions that make him human, but leave the ones that ignite rage and aggression and you have the perfect killing machine—now imagine two of them.

Code names Ex and Meridian are synonymous for ‘guaranteed death’ to international terrorists. Two broken men from the same crooked streets, recruited into an unsanctioned government program that few know about. Trained to operate most efficiently—lethally—together.

When Ex returns from an op in Bolivia to learn his little brother has been accidentally killed in a feud between drug gangs, he’s stateside before he can consider the rules he’ll be breaking, and of course Meridian is right beside him. There’s mayhem on the streets of Atlanta and the police are losing control. If Godfrey and his elite team of detectives can’t get the job done then they’d be happy to lighten their caseloads for them. And Ex nor Meridian care about doing it quietly.

“I know who you are.” The man grunted when Ex turned to leave. “You’re the fucking devil.”
Meridian walked past, glaring one final time. “Say that loud enough… maybe God will save you.”

But after their first run-in with the big lieutenant and his protective husband, Day, Ex and Meridian start to reevaluate their own relationship. Wondering if they could be even deadlier if they let loose the feelings for each other that they’ve been forced to suppress for years.

Meridian’s dark eyes stayed locked on his, “A man who can fight beside the one he loves doesn’t make him weaker, Ex—it makes him more dangerous.”

No multiple pairings. No cliffhangers. Ends with a HEA.


Reviewer: Shee Reader

This is a super delicious return to the drug gangs and elite police officers of Atlanta with two brand new characters. Ex and Meridian are both so detached from real life even their own families believe them to be dead. They are back in Ex’s home city to find and exact revenge on whoever killed Ex’s only brother and leaving his momma with no family left.

The characters felt difficult to relate to at first, as they are so far removed from societal norms, but I did really like their connection, and it was an easy step to rooting for them to move their relationship forward in a more personal way. Seeing our old friends God and Day be the catalyst for these two trained killers to embrace each other was sweet as could be! It was a shame to only get the most fleeting visits with Atlanta’s finest, but these two new men were a lovely addition to the super hot law enforcement alpha fest that AE’s books are.

The book was a lovely, often emotional read, and the sexy times are, of course, scorching, but it threw up a lot of questions for me that I really do not want the answers for! Does the CIA really have operatives like Ex and Meridian that have been ‘reprogrammed’ to remove any trace of humanity? These are dark times we are living in, so a little less thought might have been better for me.

I really did enjoy the cameo appearance from God and Days’ squad and it did prompt me to re-read all the Nothing Special Novels, so that was a rather lovely side effect of reading this super absorbing book.

Highly recommended.

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



Blog Tour: Four Letter Word (Love Logic #2) by K.M. Neuhold


K.M. Neuhold and Vibrant Promotions visit on the Four Letter Word (Love Logic #2) blog tour! Discover more about the MMMM romance today!

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Four Letter Word
Love Logic Series, Book 2
KM Neuhold
M/M/M/M Romance, Menage
Release Date: 03.20.20

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Blurb
Relationships are hard enough between two people...can the four of us make it work? Or is love nothing more than a four letter word?
Polyamory...the first time Riot says the word, it feels like everything slots into place. Maybe I’m not greedy for loving both of my best friends at once…
For most of my life, I didn’t think I could ever have the kind of love I’ve been dreaming of, but somehow a sexy bartender with a major sweet tooth is making it all seem possible.
Maybe Riot is right: our capacity for love is bigger than most people let themselves feel. But will Leo and Hudson feel the same? Will they be willing to try to build this beautiful, complicated life with me?
If I can keep them from ripping each other’s heads off that is...
*** This is book two in the Love Logic series and can be read as a stand-alone. This is a MMMM story full of love and heat.

Universal Buy Link: http://mybook.to/fourletterword

FLW Bishop teaser

FLW Leo teaser

Excerpt
“Bish, hold up,” Hudson says, wrapping his thick fingers around my bicep to pull me to a stop. My heart beats harder at his touch, everything in me insisting I melt into him and give him anything he wants. After all, it’s what I want too.



I swallow hard and turn to face him. “What’s up?” I ask as casually as I can manage.



He steps closer, crowding into my space until all I can feel is the warmth of his body and all I can smell is his spicy whiskey body soap and a hint of the alcohol on his breath. He cups my face, and the move is so familiar at this point I don’t think I could keep myself from leaning into it if I tried.



“Come home with me?” he asks, his voice a low murmur that vibrates through me and strokes my cock awake without any effort.



“I…” My brain is foggy from the booze, but more than that, my body is quickly getting drunk on Hudson’s closeness. If I say yes, I know we’ll have a fun night together. He knows exactly how to touch me, exactly how to make me come so hard I’ll see stars for hours. I sway into him, my cock fully hard just thinking about how Hudson’s bare skin feels against mine. “Have to go home...alone.”



Hudson’s shoulders sag. He strokes his thumb across my cheek without saying a word and I wonder if he’s hoping to change my mind. His hot breath ghosts over my lips a fraction of a second before his mouth is on mine. I brace for a hungry onslaught, steeling myself to refuse him again no matter how good the kiss is. But, to my surprise, his lips move slowly against mine, which is strangely harder to resist than if he shoved his tongue down my throat and started grinding his erection against me. I put my hands on his chest, curling my fingers around the fabric of his shirt and parting my lips to deepen the kiss.



It’s entirely too easy to get lost in the sweet rhythm of his mouth, the familiar taste of his tongue, the comforting feeling of his body against mine.



He breaks the kiss without warning and I drag in a breath in an attempt to get my thoughts back in the right order.

KM Neuhold Logo__
Author K.M.Neuhold is a complete romance junkie, a total sap in every way. She started her journey as an author in new adult, MF romance, but after a chance reading of an MM book she was completely hooked on everything about lovely- and sometimes damaged- men finding their Happily Ever After together. She has a strong passion for writing characters with a lot of heart and soul, and a bit of humor as well. And she fully admits that her OCD tendencies of making sure every side character has a full backstory will likely always lead to every book having a spin-off or series. When she's not writing she's a lion tamer, an astronaut, and a superhero...just kidding, she's likely watching Netflix and snuggling with her husky while her amazing husband brings her coffee.
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Guest Review: Handsome Death by Sara Dobie Bauer

I'm not hunting him; I'm protecting him.
At least, that's what I tell myself.
In New York City, a beautiful creature like Tristan Clement should not be walking the streets alone, and I'm the perfect vampire to watch his back.
But what if keeping him safe isn't enough anymore? What if I want to touch? And taste?
I need him. But I've never needed anyone.

---------------

In a world where paranormal creatures live amongst us and must follow certain laws, living life as a dangerous loner works for vampire Ethan. Inhabiting his gleaming apartment, wearing his designer suits, jetting around the world as a fanged killer-for-hire, Ethan does it all alone.

That is, until he literally runs into Tristan. Tristan, who is clearly trouble wrapped in skinny jeans and an oversized sweater. Tristan, with his shock of angelic blond curls. Tristan, who plays piano more beautifully than the old masters-- and Ethan would know; he saw Beethoven.

Tristan is gorgeous, a little sassy, and irresistible. Also, Ethan is horrified to note, Tristan has no idea how incredibly tempting he is to things that go bump in the night.

Overcome by the urge to keep Tristan safe, Ethan begins to... well, stalk is such a strong word. What starts as an obsession quickly becomes something more, something that Ethan needs. And to his surprise, Tristan seems to need him, too...

This darkly romantic tale delivers steamy passion and a happily ever after. Be advised that Handsome Death includes explicit m/m content, stalking, mentions of past abuse, and graphic violence.


Reviewer: Annery

What a difference a day makes. If I’d read this earlier this month I would’ve ended up between a meh and sort of disappointed.* This month? It was a sweet and innocuous distraction that filled up a couple of hours. No small feat.

Sara Dobie Bauer sets us in a present day alternate world, specifically NYC, where vampires and other paranormal creatures are acknowledged and live openly in society with rules governing their kind. Very little of the vampire trappings, mythology, back story etc. is developed, rather the story counts on the reader knowing vampire canon and the author tweaks a few, convenient, bits. It doesn’t really matter and I’m not sure that the vampire aspect contributed anything to the story but the romantic idea of truly eternal love.

Ethan a.k.a. Etienne a.k.a. the Marquis de Marteau a.k.a. The Butcher has been among the undead for over two hundred years and has yet to quench his lust for death, which he currently slakes by being a mercenary. Just for fun and giggles. During that time he’s also been dead to any kind of kinship or affection but all of that changes one October day when he wanders into a coffee shop and meets his destiny, Tristan “Tris” Clement. Tris is the wet dream du jour: a tall, all limbs, blonde, musical prodigy (aren’t they all?) who’s the doe-eyed proverbial babe in the woods, good to the last fibre of his being, and in need of protection. Ethan will be that for him and so much more.

You could get stumped by some things like how Ethan, despite being an 18th Century Parisian speaks like your average Twitter bro, but I digress. I chose to squint through most of the niggles, ignore the vampire angle, and enjoy the tale of a man who was emotionally numb, a young man who’s been knocked down a bit, and how they fill each other’s empty corners. Sexually, they’re like a match and strike, they scorch the sheets, and dabble in some kink. Tris loves Ethan’s domineering brand of love, Ethan can’t get enough of how Tris clings to him like a barnacle, and wants to swaddle him in gauze. They’re both deliriously happy. And if you want an uncomplicated and angst free read to escape the doldrums this will do nicely.

*My whole disappointed thing has to do with my previous SDB read “We Still Live”. It was such a vital read for me, and the tone from that one to this one was so different that I guess it just jarred me. But I appreciate that not everything has to be heavy and I like a writer who has range.





Don't miss today's release blitz for Handsome Death HERE

Release Blitz: Handsome Death by Sara Dobie Bauer


Author Sara Dobie Bauer and Gay Book Promotions share the author's paranormal release blitz for Handsome Death. Find out more about the vampire romance today! 

See our review HERE

RELEASE BLITZ
Book Title: Handsome Death
Author: Sara Dobie Bauer
Publisher: Carnation Books
Release Date: April 10, 2020
Genre/s: Paranormal M/M romance, contemporary M/M romance
Trope/s: Vampires, bondage, hurt/comfort, age gap
Themes: explicit sex, past abuse, dark, immortal, graphic violence, stalking
Heat Rating: 5 flames
Length: 72 000 words
It is a standalone story.
Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited



Blurb

I’m not hunting him; I’m protecting him.

At least, that’s what I tell myself.

In New York City, a beautiful creature like Tristan Clement should not be walking the streets alone, and I’m the perfect vampire to watch his back.

But what if keeping him safe isn’t enough anymore? What if I want to touch? And taste?

I need him. But I’ve never needed anyone.




In a world where paranormal creatures live amongst us and must follow certain laws, living life as a dangerous loner works for vampire Ethan. Inhabiting his gleaming apartment, wearing his designer suits, jetting around the world as a fanged killer-for-hire, Ethan does it all alone.

That is, until he literally runs into Tristan. Tristan, who is clearly trouble wrapped in skinny jeans and an oversized sweater. Tristan, with his shock of angelic blond curls. Tristan, who plays piano more beautifully than the old masters-- and Ethan would know; he saw Beethoven.

Tristan is gorgeous, a little sassy, and irresistible. Also, Ethan is horrified to note, Tristan has no idea how incredibly tempting he is to things that go bump in the night.

Overcome by the urge to keep Tristan safe, Ethan begins to... well, stalk is such a strong word. What starts as an obsession quickly becomes something more, something that Ethan needs. And to his surprise, Tristan seems to need him, too...

*This darkly romantic tale delivers steamy passion and a happily ever after. Be advised that Handsome Death includes explicit m/m content, stalking, mentions of past abuse, and graphic violence.*



Excerpt

I feel an itch on the back of my neck so glance behind me, and indeed, there he is, the blond kid from yesterday. I must have caught him staring, because as soon as I turn to look, he ducks his head and goes back to reading.

I shouldn’t approach him. Granted, he’s stunning. Most vampires would love to get their hands on his bare skin, but I’m not one for picking up humans outside of blood clubs. I’m cautious. Vampires can get in a lot of trouble for biting a human without consent. Like sentenced-to-death trouble. The humans at blood clubs know what they’re getting into. This guy? He looks like a puppy in need of a cuddle. He has no idea what a vampire could do to him.

Maybe some reconnaissance is in order. Just to, you know, make sure he’s all right after yesterday’s altercation.

Or something.

I’m lying to myself. This isn’t a protective detail in Serbia, this is me away from combat too long and bored in New York.

Fuck it.

He sits at one of the heavy wooden tables with the lid off his cup. His hair hangs halfway over his forehead, tilted down over a paperback, but I can still see his mouth, the way he chews his bottom lip, making it pinker, fuller.

I walk right up to his table. I don’t wait for him to look up. I don’t wait for an invitation. I just sit.

He startles at my arrival. His eyes widen and stare at me.

“Who are you?” I ask. I’ve always been really good at openings.

“Uhh.” His forehead wrinkles.

I drum my fingertips on the table. “I’ve never seen you in here before.”

“You saw me yesterday.” He folds the top corner of a page in his paperback: Dracula by Bram Stoker. “You saved my ass yesterday.”

“Before yesterday,” I reply.

He sighs. “A Starbuck’s bought out my favorite coffee shop, so I guess this is now my favorite coffee shop. Buy local.” He scoops his messenger bag off the floor and shoves the book inside.

The kid has one of those runway model faces—gaunt if not so beautiful, sharp and yet soft. Freckles? Zero. Wait, no, he’s got just a smattering that you would only notice close-up … or with well-trained vampiric eyes. He has no shadow of recently shaved facial hair, and that’s no surprise based on the white-blond of his hair. He must moisturize those lips because nobody’s mouth just naturally looks like the perfect mixture of velvet and silk.

He sighs again, louder. “You’re staring at me.”

No, I’m studying him—checking out his vulnerable areas, which are pretty much everywhere considering he’s so thin and fragile-looking.

As for everyone else in the coffee shop, they’re looking at the kid like they want to take him to bed. I catch a girl at the next table over gawking. A big dude with a beard stands in line to our right, his mouth hanging half open as he admires.

“Everyone is staring at you,” I respond.

His pale cheeks burn bright red as he swoops his bag onto his shoulder and stands. “No, that’s …” He shakes his head. “Ha, no.” He doesn’t say goodbye. He even leaves his coffee, half-consumed on the table. He up and abandons me without a word, but I do watch him go—as does half of Inky Grounds.

Once he disappears out into the early October morning, I turn back around and stare at his deserted coffee. Granted, I’m not smooth—I get it—but he didn’t have to run out like that. I just wanted to see that he was safe. Shit, I don’t even know his name.



About the Author
Sara Dobie Bauer is a bestselling author, model, mental health speaker, and LGBTQ advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film. Her current obsession with Timothee Chalamet runs deep, and don’t even get her started on Call Me By Your Name.

Author Links



Release Blitz + Giveaway: Absolving Ash by Chantal Mer


Author Chantal Mer and Signal Boost Promotions celebrate the release of Absolving Ash from the multi-authored hockey romance, Bachelor Bid series. Learn more today and enter in the Absolving Ash eBook giveaway!





Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 48,050 words approx.

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Blurb

For the last decade, successful restaurant owner and chef, Ash Ariti, has worked to make amends for the career-ending mistake he made when he was young and allowed anger to consume him. Driven to be worthy of the second chance he’s been afforded, Ash built a life centered around giving back to his community, all while maintaining a low profile. When he finds himself thrust into the spotlight of a bachelor auction to help one of his favorite causes, he never expects to come face-to-face with the sexy man who’s career he destroyed.


Isaiah Blake has spent a lifetime proving he’s deserving of what he has. After a hit on the ice prematurely ended his NHL career, he committed to becoming a better version of himself. Now, he’s living an open and honest life. So, when he has an opportunity to interview bachelors participating in the Hockey Allies auction for the Hockey Network, the only thing he’s hoping to gain is exposure for his non-profit. That is, until his former rival Ash, steps onto the auction block. Isaiah sees an opportunity to make amends for the suffering he caused ten years ago. Unfortunately, Ash is wary of Isaiah’s motives, and soon Isaiah realizes there is more to Ash’s cautiousness than the history that binds them.


Attraction takes hold as Ash and Isaiah begin to build a new professional alliance and friendship. They must learn to forgive each other, and most importantly, themselves. With outside forces and public opinion hawking, will their relationship be over before it begins? Or will they discover joy and redemption in each other, and find their happily ever after?


Author Bio

Chantal Mer is an author and optimist. Her stories explore relationships and what it means to be family. When she’s not writing about strong women, strong men, and strong love, she can be found walking her adorable dog, volunteering at her kids’ school (in the library, of course), teaching at the local university, and reading.


Chantal lives outside of Philadelphia (home of the Super Bowl LII champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, woot, woot!) with her husband, kids, Toffee the Wonder Dog, and vicious cat, Gracie. 


 


Hot hockey players on the auction block…

Win a date with a professional hockey player during All Star weekend in Chicago. From leading scorers to fan favorites to guys you love to hate, watch the players strut their stuff in support of the Hockey Allies charity.

Place a bid. You just might find someone to keep you warm.




Guarding Garrett - RJ Scott
Keeping Kyle - Jeff Adams
Loving Layne - V.L. Locey
Scoring Slater - Susan Scott Shelley




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Giveaway + Blog Tour: The Parable of the Mustard Seed by Lisa Henry


Age gap fans will want to check out The Parable of the Mustard Seed by author Lisa Henry. Find out more about this hurt/comfort romance from the author's visit where she talks about the lovable pooch from her book, read an excerpt hosted by IndiGo Marketing & enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card too! Good luck!


Title: The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Author: Lisa Henry
Publisher:Self Published
Release Date: 3 April 2020
Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 79 000 words
Genre: Romance

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Synopsis


The past never stays buried forever.



John Faimu is an Australian-Samoan police officer who deals with hurt kids every day. He loves what he does, but he’s tired of the grind of shift work, and of trying to find a balance between his job, his family, and the young man who straddles the increasingly blurry line between both.

Caleb Fletcher was the teenager John saved from a cult eight long years ago, and he’s now the young man John wants in ways that neither of them should risk.

Eight years after his rescue, Caleb is still struggling with PTSD and self-harm. John has always been his rock, but now Caleb wants more. Can he convince John to cross a line and love him the way they both crave? And when the monsters from Caleb’s past come back seeking to silence him for good, will John’s love be enough to save him?

The Parable of the Mustard Seed is an mm gay romance featuring hurt/comfort, first times, found family, and angst with a happy ending.

Author Visit


Hi, everyone. I’m Lisa! Thank you so much for having me here today, and letting me talk a little about my newest release, The Parable of the Mustard Seed.

Whenever I’m writing a book, supporting characters have a way of wandering in and stealing scenes. I have a lot of love for the supporting characters in The Parable of the Mustard Seeds, from Caleb’s dad Darren, to John’s entire family and his says-what-she-thinks colleague Liz. But I think that maybe my favourite supporting character in this book is Cricket the dog.

Cricket is the shelter dog Caleb gets as an early birthday present from his dad, and he and John go and pick up on one of John’s days off. Anyone who follows my social media knows of my love of dogs and cats, and some of Cricket’s mannerisms (and her favourite way to play) were definitely borrowed from Daisy, my lab. Except (sorry, Daisy!) Cricket is a lot smarter.

Cricket is a seven-month old red kelpie, an Australian breed of dog that some of my readers might not be familiar with. Kelpies are smart, and fast, and they’re working dogs, which means that if you are going to have one as a pet, you need to keep them active and engaged. They’re also incredibly loyal and protective, and they love socialising. If you walk towards Caleb’s back fence, you’ll get a face like this one looking back at you:



I don’t know what it is about the dogs I put in books. For some reason, the darker the book and the more damaged the character, the more likely they are to have a dog. Maybe it’s an unconscious consolation prize, or an apology: “Sorry I did such horrible things to you. Here, this puppy will make it better.”

For all that I’ve given characters dogs before, I think this is the first time I’ve acknowledged in the actual book what they’re there for. Cricket is unashamedly a dog who can help Caleb to heal, and to give him the motivation to get through each day—sometimes being responsible for a pet is the push it takes to get out of bed—but Cricket also brings Caleb pure joy:

Fifteen minutes later, with an armful of dog food, treats, toys, and Cricket’s favourite blanket, John pushed the door open with difficulty. Caleb and Cricket followed him, Cricket tangling herself on her leash.

“Hope she doesn’t pee in my car,” John said.

“Can I sit in the back with her?” Caleb asked him, wearing a smile bigger than any John had seen on him in months. Maybe longer.
“Sure.”

They drove to the beach, and John laughed while Caleb paddled in the shallows with a very dubious Cricket. Dainty little girl didn’t like to get her paws wet. Not at first, anyway, but it didn’t take her long to change her mind.

John sat on the beach and watched as Caleb and Cricket splashed around. It was good to see Caleb happy. Carefree. His hair shone in the sunlight. The water glittered.

Afterward, they found a tap up on the grass, and Caleb washed his feet then cupped his hands so Cricket could drink. He was still smiling.

“Thanks, John,” he said. “Thanks for doing this.”


In this story, Cricket might be the rescue dog, but she’s rescuing Caleb at the same time.


Excerpt


Fucking hospitals.

John scrubbed his knuckles over his scalp. He felt more tired now than he had for a long time, and it wasn’t just the shift work. It was Caleb, and this place, and the knowledge that they’d been here before and they would be here again. Different hospitals, different beds, different scratchy blankets and too-cold air conditioning, but all of them stuck in the same old cycle.

Eight years of this.

It wasn’t always this dramatic. Most of the time it didn’t end in a hospital. Most of the time it was increasingly erratic behaviour. It was risk-taking. It was subtle and pervasive, but John knew how to read the signs. He’d talked Caleb down from plenty of metaphorical high places before. Enough to wonder every time if he was only delaying the inevitable. If Darren was, and the psychiatrists and psychologists were, and the pharmacists.

John sighed.

Of course it felt hopeless. It was almost three in the morning and he was sitting in a fucking hospital. Shit always felt dire in the middle of the night.

John reached out and brushed his fingertips against the back of Caleb’s right hand. His skin was cold to the touch, his fingers white and bloodless. Several of his knuckles were grazed. The wounds weren’t fresh.

Darren had said last week that Caleb had punched a wall. Out of nowhere. No warnings signs, no meltdown, just a sudden, furious burst of anger that had broken over him. And afterward, Darren said, when Caleb was sitting on the floor nursing an icepack, he’d refused to talk about it.

Sometimes even Caleb didn’t know what the fuck was happening in his head.

John’s fingertips brushed the wrinkled edge of the tape that held the canula in the back of Caleb’s hand. The plastic tape was dry and rough.

“I bleed and you’re here.”

Fuck.

John straightened and turned his face toward Caleb’s. His face was pale, his lips colourless. Dark circles carved out hollows under his eyes.

“Your dad called me,” John said. “He’s on his way.”

Caleb’s gaze dropped away.

John leaned closer and frowned. “What the fuck are you doing, mate?”

“Bad night.” Caleb pressed his lips into a thin white line.

“Were you clubbing?” John gestured at his clothes: dark jeans, a tight shirt, and—what were the kids calling them these days?—expensive kicks.

Caleb inspected the bandages on his arm. “Yeah.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Caleb.” John was always there to pick up the pieces, but he didn’t coddle Caleb. He never had, not even at the start. “You think I drove all the way here to listen to you lie to me?”

“I was with a guy.” Caleb flinched as he said it.

“Were you safe?”

Caleb’s gaze faltered. “I was with a guy.”

“So you said.” John wondered what reaction Caleb had been expecting. “Were you safe?”

Caleb nodded, turning his face away.

John studied him for a moment, unsure how to react. A part of him was afraid to react at all in case any reaction was an overreaction. Caleb wasn’t coming out as gay—he’d done that at nineteen—but by admitting to a sexual encounter he was coming out in another way: Caleb was coming out as human being who wanted to be touched. A human being with sexual needs. This was a big step. The biggest in a long time. Nobody had expected him to remain celibate forever; nobody thought that was remotely healthy. But fuck, this big step had turned into a hell of a stumble, hadn’t it? Caleb was in freefall.

John reached out and squeezed Caleb’s shoulder. “Did this guy try something? Something you didn’t want to do?”

“No.” Caleb shifted. His worried gaze found John again. “No, it was me, not him.”

John nodded.

“We went to a hotel.” Caleb’s gaze slipped away again. “He said I was a slut.” His voice hitched. “Said I was bad.”

John moved his hand from Caleb’s shoulder to his cheek. Caleb was still so cold. “If you tell me he was being a prick, I’ll track the fucker down.”

“The way he said it, I was supposed to like it. Wasn’t his fault.” Caleb closed his eyes. “I didn’t even mind, not much, not when he was there.”

John sighed. “What happened when he left?”

Caleb shuddered. “When he left, all I could hear in my head was Ethan.”

John tensed, and tried not to let Caleb feel it.

“So loud,” Caleb sighed.

John withdrew his hand. “Look at me.”

Caleb opened his eyes.

“Next time you hear Ethan Gray in your head, you don’t listen to him.” John shook his head. “You call you dad, or your doctor, or you call me, doesn’t matter what time, you call me and I will be there. You understand me?”

Caleb jerked his chin in a nod.

“You don’t cut yourself, Caleb.” John frowned. “You understand me?”

“Okay,” Caleb murmured.

The worst part, John knew, was that Caleb meant it, and would go on meaning it right up until the next time he was holding a blade against his wrists.

You’ll break my heart one day, Caleb Fletcher, I know you will.

John forced a smile. “Okay.”

Caleb sighed and closed his eyes.

John watched him until he fell asleep, then got up and hunted down a blanket.


Purchase at Amazon




Meet 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, and a Rainbow Awards finalist for 2019’s Anhaga.

You can connect with her here:


Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail | Instagram

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Exclusive Tour + Giveaway: A Vigil in the Mourning (Soulbound #4) by Hailey Turner


Welcome author Hailey Turner and A Novel Take PR as they share an exclusive on today's tour stop for A Vigil in the Mourning (Soulbound #4)! Don't miss out the latest from the popular urban fantasy series nor the giveaway: two winners will receive any e-copy of a Hailey Turner book!


A Vigil in the Mourning by Hailey Turner

Series: Soulbound IV

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date (Print & Ebook): April 6, 2020

Length (Print & Ebook): 102,951

Subgenre: LGBTQ Urban Fantasy

Warnings: None

All buy links or pre-order links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0852P8F13/
Author Site: https://haileyturner.com/book/a-vigil-in-the-mourning


About A Vigil in the Mourning:

The devil you know is never the one you should trust.

Special Agent Patrick Collins is dispatched to Chicago, chasing a lead on the Morrígan’s staff for the joint task force. Needing a cover for his presence in the Windy City, Patrick is ordered to investigate a politician running for mayor. In the lead up to election day, not everything is what it seems in a city where playing to win means appeasing the gods first and the electorate second.

But Chicago brings its own set of problems outside the case: a stand-offish local god pack, a missing immortal, and Patrick’s twin sister. Fighting Hannah and the Dominion Sect provides Patrick with a sinister reminder that some blood ties can never be cut.

Left behind in New York City, Jonothon de Vere finds himself targeted by hunters who will go through anyone to kill him—including the packs under his protection. With a bounty on his head, Jono is forced to make a choice that Patrick would never approve of. Doing so risks breaking the trust he’s built with the man he loves, but not acting will give the rival New York City god pack leverage Jono can’t afford to give up.

When Patrick and Jono reunite in Chicago, Patrick must confront the fraying of a relationship he’s come to rely on for his own sanity. But fixing their personal problems will have to wait—because Niflheim is clawing at the shores of Lake Michigan and the dead are hungry.

A Vigil in the Mourning is a 102k word m/m urban fantasy with a gay romantic subplot and a HFN ending. It is a direct sequel to A Crown of Iron & Silver. Reading the first book in the series would be helpful in enjoying this one.

Praise for A Vigil in the Mourning (Soulbound #4):

Patrick and Jono fight for their lives, tangling with Norse gods and monsters, while their relationship is strained by secrets and separation, in another exciting, deliciously angsty ride from Turner's Soulbound series. — Layla Reyne, author of the Fog City Trilogy

VIGIL IN MOURNING takes the Soulbound series a step further into stellar story crafting. A change in scenery for Patrick and a separation from his soulmate raises the stakes, and cliches are deftly avoided and expectations shattered as the central love story becomes fraught with tension. Each plot twist leaves the reader gasping and clinging to the pages, and I was not expecting that ending. Jono and Patrick lead an ensemble cast of characters that includes a snack obsessed dragon, a seer with a sarcasm problem, and gods that can't help but meddle. Patrick's snarktastic attitude leaves me laughing and terrified at the trouble he calls down. — SJ Himes, bestselling author

Exclusive Excerpt

Jono didn’t feel comfortable until he was outside the heavily warded building that housed the PCB in Lower Manhattan, breathing in cold winter air. He pulled his mobile out of his pocket and was about to ring his ride when a familiar Escalade pulled to the curb. The window rolled down halfway, and Emma stared at him from behind the steering wheel. The accusation in her gaze hadn’t faded since Ginnungagap.
“Get in,” she said flatly.
Jono bit back a wince. “Where did Leon go?”
“We swapped babysitting duties.” Someone honked in the street behind her and she scowled. “Get in, Jono.”
Jono climbed into the SUV and buckled up. Emma took her foot off the brake and stepped on the gas. She didn’t look at him.
“Leon and I were supposed to go to Queens,” Jono said.
“We swapped that duty, too.”
Jono stretched out his legs and stared straight ahead. He knew why Emma was angry, that the row he could feel building was inevitable, but he figured the place to start was “I’m sorry.”
Emma gripped the steering wheel so tight her knuckles went white. She clenched her jaw, muscles standing out in her slim throat. “I hate how your secrets keep getting doled out when we least expect it.”
“They aren’t just my secrets, Em.”
“This one is.” Emma flicked the turn signal before the next light, waiting to turn left. “Sage said she found out in December when you were all past the veil in Tír na nÓg and you told her not to tell us.”
“You can’t be mad at her for keeping my secret.”
“You’ve had an animal-god patron guiding you since you were infected. Do you know how fucking rare that is? More than half the packs in the United States have stopped believing in them. The power they bring is just myths these days.”
“Did it look like I was carrying a myth?” Jono asked quietly.
Emma snorted. “I’m assuming Patrick knows?”
“He’s known since last summer.” Jono leaned his head back against the headrest and grimaced. “Ethan knows because he saw what was in my soul in preparation for his sacrifice. Lucien and Carmen found out when I left to get Patrick after he’d stayed at the Crimson Diamond to save Kennedy in August. Gerard and Keith know because they were there with us in the Spring Queen’s Court when I reinforced our bargain with the fae. Now you and Leon know.”
“Ethan knows?” Emma asked after half a minute of silence.
Jono closed his eyes and tried not to think about that time spent in Ethan’s hands. “He knew, somehow, about Fenrir, or that the gods were going to give me to Patrick. Either way, it made me a target at the time.”
Emma didn’t speak again until they were driving north on the FDR, heading for Queensboro Bridge. “It kind of feels like you don’t want us to know anything.”
“I…” Jono’s voice trailed off, and he opened his eyes, staring blankly at the red taillights stretched out before them. Evening rush-hour traffic was fucking terrible no matter the city. “Fenrir didn’t speak to me until after I got infected with the werevirus. I was making a right mess of things in London at the time. Then I woke up one day with his voice in my head and his claws in my soul and he wouldn’t leave.”
“Did Marek know? When he went to London to bring you here?”
Jono turned his head, staring at Emma’s profile limned in the faint shine of headlights and taillights. “No. He never mentioned Fenrir when he made his offer.”
“Maybe he knew and just never said anything. Like you.”
“Em.” Jono rubbed tiredly at his face. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“You lying?”
“Me obeying the gods because I had no bloody choice.”



About Hailey Turner:

Hailey Turner is big city girl who spoils her cats rotten and has a demanding day job that she loves, but not as much as she loves writing. She's been writing since she was a young child and enjoys reading almost as much as creating a new story.

Connect with Hailey:

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Website: www.haileyturner.com

Giveaway


Celebrate this exciting new installment in the SOULBOUND series with a giveaway! Two winners will receive any e-copy of a Hailey Turner book. Must be 18 to enter and win. Open Internationally.

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Blog Tour: Rules to Ignore (Davey's Rule #7) by Susan Hawke


Vibrant Promotions and author Susan Hawke visit on the Rules to Ignore (Davey's Rule #7) blog tour! Learn more about the series finale today!

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Rules to Ignore
Davey’s Rules Series Book 7
Susan Hawke
M/M Romance, Daddy/boy
Release Date: 03.16.20

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Blurb
Davey’s Revised Rule #1: A good Daddy will love his boy with all his heart.
Davey Hendrickson doesn’t mind being forever single when he’s got his bestie at his side. It’s not that he wants to be single. He’s spent most of his adult life searching for his own perfect Daddy. Even if he’s not naturally submissive, someone that fabulous is obviously meant to be a boy… right? Over the years, he’s dated every type of Daddy imaginable but not one of them could come close to meeting the requirements from his ridiculous list of rules.
After losing his husband, Sammy Robustelli has learned to be strong while raising two children on his own. No matter what life has thrown his way, nothing seems too hard with his best friend and roomie Davey at his side. When the two friends learn that people believe they’re a couple, they can’t help but laugh. The very idea is a big joke... until it isn’t.
It only takes a few wake-up calls before Davey wonders what happens if a guy might be in love with the best friend he can never have. It could never work for a pair of boys in need of a bossy top, right? Except… maybe Davey doesn’t know himself—or Sammy—as well as he thinks.
This is the final book in a series about not-so-perfect Daddies, adorable “boys,” and one sassy brat with an insane list of rules. Grab your fan and tissues because this series comes with both a high heat advisory and all the squishy feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book.

Universal Buy Link: http://mybook.to/RulesToIgnore

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Excerpt


Preston finally held my card out, but didn't release it when I reached for it. "Not so fast, boo. I know you're going to disappear the second I let this go—and you'll be too distracted to pay attention when I read the announcements—so I want to run over a few things. We have the tables set up in a row against the far wall, as we discussed. You'll begin your date by handing this card to the moderator."



"Moderator? And who will that be?" Preston looked irritated when I interrupted, but I wasn't sure I needed my interactions to be judged.



Preston rolled his eyes. "We discussed it, remember? Pay attention, sweetie. Our regulars have volunteered to act as moderators. They aren't there to interact, so just ignore them. They will take each of your cards and rate your three-minute date. At the end of the event, we’ll look through everyone's cards and match couples according to those ratings. You'll have the same moderator, because you won't change tables. So I'd suggest picking someone you like before you choose their table. When the bell rings, the boy will move on to his next date while a new one will take the seat in front of you."



When he finally let go of the card, I frowned at it for a second. "No wonder I didn't know what was going on, that sounds complicated. I probably zoned out during our planning sessions."



"Right? You did seem to get distracted easily, now that I think about it." Preston paused and smiled kindly. "Relax, Davey. The only thing different about tonight is the length of the date and the side of the table you're sitting on. Remember to keep an open mind and have fun. Besides, didn't I see Sammy walk in with you? If he's doing the mixer, at least you know you'll have a three-minute break to bitch at your bestie about what I'm putting you through." He paused to waggle his eyebrows. "Unless maybe you'd prefer to make better use of those three minutes and explore the chemistry everybody sees between the two of you."

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As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I'd care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I've found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that's what I try to bring to every tale I tell.
I'm a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown "kids of my heart." I'm more widely known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.

Amazon Author: https://amzn.to/2Hdgwvl
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