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Release Blitz + Giveaway: Caught Off Guard by Beth Laycock

Author Beth Laycock and Gay Book Promotions celebrate new release, Caught Off Guard! Read more about the contemporary romance and enter in the giveaway for a chance to win an eBook from the author's back list and a $10 Amazon gift card!

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Caught Off Guard

Author: Beth Laycock

Publisher: Rainbow Romance Press

Cover Artist: Free to be creative

Release Date: June 15, 2022

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance, Military Romance

Tropes: Forced proximity, friends to lovers, brat MC

Themes: Hurt/comfort

Heat Rating:  4 flames  

Length:  approx 40 000 words

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US   |  Amazon UK 

He’d risk his life to find his brother. But he never expected to risk his heart.

Blurb

Three months since his brother went MIA, and Lane Matthews is tired of waiting for answers from overseas. Calling in a favour from his CO, he gets a posting to Jeddah—his first overseas deployment and where his brother was stationed—and the opportunity to try to find him.

Life in a foreign land isn’t quite as he imagined, and neither are his duties. And while his first encounter with his housemate, Tristan, may be memorable, it’s for all the wrong reasons.

Tristan catches him off guard but falling for the hot—straight?—soldier is definitely not in his future. Tensions rise as Lane gets closer to discovering the truth behind his brother’s disappearance, but even the best-laid plans can get swept off course and lost like a grain of sand in the desert. 

This MM military romance from Beth Laycock features an age gap, a bratty MC, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, and of course a HEA.

Excerpt 

The driver parked up, and I clambered out of the car as if I were waking from a dream—the heat a slap in the face after the blast of the AC. My CO, or who I assumed was my commanding officer, strode my way, every inch the army man with the stiff walk and straight back.

“Matthews?” He thrust a meaty hand at me, and I shook it as he crushed my palm in his.

“Yes, sir. Lane, Lane Matthews. The Duke of Lancaster’s regiment.”

“Major Tibbins. Glad to have you here. I won’t lie; we struggled to cover the last guard’s shifts when he left, so we’re happy to have you here.”

Guard? What guard? He released my hand and clapped me on the back. I staggered under the weight, catching myself before I stumbled.

“We’ll start you on gate duty in the hut you just drove past, but you’ll probably be able to rotate with the others soon. Anyway, I just wanted to welcome you, but I’ll let you get settled in. Reception has your accommodation details and duty roster. You’re not on until tomorrow afternoon, but I’ll swing by before then. Any questions, just let me know. I’m here to help you settle in.”

He waited a beat, but when all I could do was nod in response, he strode off, leaving me to stare after him, more than a little shell-shocked.

I shuffled into reception and waited as the man behind the counter spoke to a woman with a kid sat on her hip about the nursery. Army wife? Another woman popped up behind the desk before I could give it more consideration.

“Hi, can I help you?”

After a whirlwind of paperwork, I left with a set of keys and a folder of documents. I grabbed the map and followed the tarmac path-slash-road into a housing complex. I wound my way through the houses until I found mine in the corner and fumbled the key into the lock as I finished reading my roster.

After more years than I wanted to consider in the reserves, my first proper assignment would be as a guard. A glorified fucking babysitter. What the fuck? This was not how I imagined my first overseas posting with the army. Not leaving the compound all day. I wouldn’t be a soldier like my brother. How the hell was I going to find out what had happened to him—if he was even alive still—if I would be stuck in a hut all alone?

I needed to find the soldiers he served with, question them. Find out what they were doing to locate Jake. I couldn’t just wander onto their base, and I knew none of his teammates to ask. I was screwed. And I couldn’t help but wonder if Steve, my CO back home, and maybe my dad seeing as he went way back with Steve, had had a hand in keeping me on the compound. Probably with how Steve had helped me get posted here in the first place.

I slammed the front door shut with my foot, still staring at the goddamned piece of paper, and flung my rucksack to the floor. It knocked into the console table and rattled a can of pens. I slapped the handle of my suitcase down so hard the case fell over and crashed against the wall. A groan of frustration slipped out as I slumped against the doorway and buried my hands in my hair.

“You quite finished taking your tantrum out on my home?”

The deep voice had me jerking away from the wall as my eyes flew open. I’d thought I was alone. Why was there someone in my house? Wait, his home? “I wasn’t having a tantrum.”

One thin eyebrow arched in response and, yeah, sounding like a spoilt brat wasn’t my best defence. But then all reasonable thoughts disappeared as the surprise of someone else being there wore off and I took in the man standing before me.

A man I could’ve conjured straight from my spank bank: a couple of inches taller than my six feet and much, much broader than me. With his bare chest, it was all too easy to see just how ripped he was, and I licked my lips in response. His dog tags nestled in the valley between his pecs and my gaze wandered lower over each peak and dip of his abs and traced the veins disappearing beneath the waistband of his shorts.

He cleared his throat and my gaze shot up to his, meeting dark brown eyes that seemed to mock me. Do not blatantly check out guys you’ve just met, Lane. Unless you want to get punched. Especially not a straight guy, if the edge to his glare was anything to go by. I gulped.

“It sure sounded like a tantrum.”

“I didn’t know anybody else was here.”

He smirked and a dimple appeared, softening the sharp angles of his jaw that was accentuated by the hard bristles of his beard. “So, it’s not a tantrum if you’re alone?”

About the Author 

Beth Laycock’s books are influenced by her time living overseas as well as the gritty, urban landscape of the north of England where she grew up. She has been reading romance since she was old enough to tell herself that line every book lover does—just one more chapter.

As a teenager, she attempted to write her first novel, and many more since then are still gathering dust on her bookshelf. It wasn’t until she discovered the M/M genre that her muse showed up and refused to quit telling her stories about beautiful men finding love together. She hasn’t stopped scribbling them down since. Beth’s muse usually shows up when she is in the shower, is allergic to cleaning, rarely lets her watch TV, and insists she drinks copious amounts of coffee so she can turn caffeine into words.

 Beth’s books range from sweet to sexy, long to short, contemporary to paranormal, but a HEA is always guaranteed.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

Newsletter Sign-up  |  Pinterest  |  BookBub

Giveaway 

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

an ebook from the author's backlist and a $10 Amazon gift card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

Release Blitz: Sapphire: Home and Abroad by M.D. Grimm

Author M.D. Grimm and Other Worlds Ink share new release info on fantasy romance, Sapphire: Home and Abroad! Find out more today!
 

Sapphire: Home and Abroad

M.D. Grimm has a new MM fantasy book out, Stones of Power book 8: Sapphire: Home and Abroad.

The Dark Mage, Lord Morgorth, and Aishe of the Ravena Tribe, are to become bondmates.

Morgorth is equal parts nervous and excited. He wants to unite with Aishe in the sacred dialen ceremony, to proclaim their devotion to the world, to show everyone that Aishe is his equal and deserving of respect. After all they’ve survived together, why shouldn’t they make the cosmic promise before friends and family? But duty must often come before pleasure. When Morgorth’s estranged mentor, Master Ulezander, comes to him with a time-sensitive mission involving a major stone of power, Morgorth has little choice but to acquiesce.

Aishe knows his mate struggles with the revelation of his true destiny, after a lifetime of defining himself as the future Destroyer of Karishian. All he can do is reassure Morgorth that being the Savior is a far better fate for both of them. But as Morgorth and Aishe leap through worlds and dimensions in pursuit of a stone of power, more pieces to the puzzle of Morgorth’s destiny are revealed. And they form an image of sacrifice and tragedy.

The dark cloud of an ancient enemy looms ever closer, and the path to becoming the Savior might prove more monstrous than that of the Destroyer.

About the Series:

Lord Morgorth is a dark mage on the planet Karishian. His peers consider him a villain, but there is more to him than they choose to understand. Cursed by a dark destiny and tormented by painful memories of the past, Morgorth struggles to find his place in the world. Far from innocent, Morgorth has teetered between embracing his destiny and fighting against it his entire life. A decision that is made easier when Aishe comes into his life. Aishe is a creature of the forest, a warrior and healer. He has the moral compass that Morgorth needs, and Morgorth gives Aishe the companionship he craves. Together, they forge ahead, weathering the storms and fighting the enemies fate puts into their paths.

However, their greatest enemy is not a living being, but gemstones infused with deadly power. They are addictive, seductive, and completely treacherous. Morgorth hates them and is determined to find and imprison all of them. But he soon realizes they are keys to a greater power. He learns his destiny is not all he thought it was. And an even greater enemy stirs in the darkness. Enter the world of “The Stones of Power.”

Universal Buy Link


Excerpt

Sapphire Home and Abroad meme

Morgorth stepped forward and stretched out his arms. He murmured a series of words under his breath and an opaque pinprick of light appeared. I stepped a bit closer, fascinated. The pinprick grew into a swirling, pulsing liquid silver gateway. It was beautiful and ominous. It made no sound, and yet gave off pressure that I felt against my body, and the hair on my arms stood on end.

The few trees bordering the clearing creaked and groaned as they bent away from the portal. I didn’t hear anything—not birds or squirrels, not deer. Nothing was near us, and the poor, stationary trees were doing their best to also get away.

Morgorth fisted his hands and widened his stance, still muttering. His skin glowed, and I silently shifted to his side. His eyes were a burning amber, his expression set in stubborn determination and intense concentration. Sweat slid down his face. The portal pulsed a bit faster, the beat knocking against my ribs. What was he doing?

Then the silver gained a bluish color before darkening to mossy green. Morgorth grunted and lowered his hands, though his magick still glowed.

“Take my hand,” he said in a stiff, strained voice. “And hold on tight, to both me and your bow.”

I swallowed hard and took a deep breath. I clung to my bow as I took his outstretched hand and pressed to his side. His skin was hot to the touch but not burning.

“What can I expect?” I asked.

“Discomfort and weirdness,” he said with a hint of a smile. “Just don’t let go.”

“Never.”

Then Morgorth ran and yanked me with him. We dove into the portal without hesitation, and he was right about the discomfort and weirdness. It wasn’t the emptiness of teleportation nor the whiplash of magickal speed. Morgorth charged through the swirling green, dragging me along. The green slipped over my skin and hair like cold putty and tried to capture my feet in its murk. It seemed to last forever but I was certain it was only a moment or two. Then we were somewhere else.

I caught my breath and stumbled forward, still clinging to Morgorth. He didn’t let go either, his magick still at the surface. He took a cloudy crystal from one of the many pouches at his waist and bent to place it at the base of the portal.

This time, I heard his word of magick.

“Lelleknau.”

Words of magick were supposed to be nonsensical, something each mage created for themselves. It was personal, each new word linked to a spell and used for nothing else. It took both words and hand flourishes for a mage to cast a spell or secure an enchantment. It was different for magick healers like myself. It wasn’t so much magickhealers used, it was our life essence, gifting a part of ourselves to our patients. Give too much and it could kill us. The missing part of our essence would replenish over time, faster if we were happy and balanced.

To open a portal and redirect it was remarkably heavy magick, and my mate never ceased to leave me in awe of his abilities and his continual growth in both strength and intelligence.

“Will the crystal leave the portal open?” I asked.

He nodded. “Only on this side, though. We don’t want anyone or anything following us.”

“I doubt any of Vorgoroth’s creatures want to follow.”

Morgorth shrugged and straightened. “I don’t want to take the chance. And I wasn’t just thinking of my minions.”

He was thinking of our guests. Probably about Lyli.

I sighed. Yes, that girl was fearless and far too curious for her own good. And wherever Lyli went, Olyvre wouldn’t be far behind. Then Elissya would also come.

“This will also prevent any of the creatures here of getting inside. The crystal is also a shield.”

“Clever.”

“Draining,” he said with a sheepish grin. His magick settled into his core, causing his eyes and skin to lose their glow. “It won’t hold for long. In and out, no sightseeing.”

I snorted and glanced at our surroundings. “I don’t think that will be a problem.”

A thick, dense jungle surrounded us, and I was only now noticing the oppressive heat. My skin broke out in sweat and my clothes soon stuck to me in the most uncomfortable way. I exhaled sharply and let go of Morgorth to wipe at my brow.

“Aye, in and out, please.”

Morgorth grimaced as well and readjusted the bag.

“I hope you can track the bloody thing.”

“I don’t sense magick like on Karishian so it shouldn’t be a problem to open my third eye and spot the box. And if for some reason that doesn’t work, I can always try to meditate and find its aura and track it back to its location.”

“Wouldn’t the box shield the stone’s power?”

“Its power but not its signature. According to Melondia, the box doesn’t have enough layers to truly block it. Think about the layers of Geheimnis. A mage could use their third eye but not spot the stones I have in the tower because the barriers are too thick.”

I nodded, and he closed his eyes. This place did feel… empty. Magick was everywhere in Karishian, in the land, the water, in the creatures. In the sky and in the clouds, and in the sun. In the air itself. I didn’t like it here. I shuddered and fingered my bow. The familiar texture of the wood soothed me just enough to unclench my muscles.

I kept an eye on our surroundings as Morgorth once again called to his magick.


Author Bio

M.D. Grimm Logo

M.D. Grimm has wanted to write stories since second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things actually, but not that!). Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!).

After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English, (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?) she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier.

Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain, (or else what’s the point?) finding their soul mate in the process.

Author Website: http://www.mdgrimmwrites.com/

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001710645622

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4574220.M_D_Grimm

Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-grimm/

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-grimm/

Author Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.D.-Grimm/e/B00I0KZMY6/

Other Worlds Ink logo

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Saint's Song (Rebel Kings #2) by Garrett Leigh


 

Author Garrett Leigh and Signal Boost Promotions share new release information on Saint's Song (Rebel Kings #2)! Find out the latest int he popular series and enter in the giveaway!

 





Cover Design: Black Jazz Design

Length:

Rebel Kings MC Series

Book #1 - Devil's Dance - Buy Here
Book #3 - Forgive Me Father - Pre-Order Here - Out Nov '22

Expect: a fragile king, a sweet-hearted henchman, an enigmatic hitman, and a fight to the death.Cam, Alexei, and Saint have survived their battle with the devil, but with too many enemies to count, can they survive the war?

“Kill me,” I choked out. “If he’s dead, you gotta kill me too.”

One club, one heart.

Three men, one soul.

Can loving someone kill you? I feel like the world is ending every time I look at them.

Cam. My brother. My president.

He’s the love of my life

And then there’s Alexei. I didn’t know I could feel this way about one person, let alone two. But I think of him in every breath I breathe for Cam. Every thundering beat of my heart. Because there is no Cam without him.

There is no me. My life wasn’t worth living until I found something worth dying for.
And I’d die for them a thousand times.

Saint’s Song is the second in a hurt/comfort, biker romance, MMM duet from the world of the Rebel Kings MC. Content warnings inside the book.




Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer.

Garrett's debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.

Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with renowned LGBTQA+ photographer Dan Burgess.

Website: http://www.garrettleigh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh

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Series Tour + Giveaway: Love at Lake Clyde Series by Aiden Ainslie

Author Aiden Ainslie and Gay Book Promotions promote the new contemporary series, Love at Lake Clyde series! Find out more about Books #1-2, King of the Mountain and Master of the Wild! Don't miss the $10 Amazon gift card giveaway! 

 

SERIES TOUR - LOVE AT LAKE CLYDE

BOOK DETAILS

LOVE AT LAKE CLYDE, BOOK 1 

Book Title: King of the Mountain

Author and Publisher: Aiden Ainslie

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Length: 106 000 words/ 386 pages

Release Date: July 11, 2021

Genre:  Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Gay awakening; rich sports star meets poor student

Themes: Coming out; competitive cycling; overcoming adversity; perseverance; HEA

Heat Rating for the series: 3 - 4 flames

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

The books are standalone but the reader would benefit from reading them in sequence to fully appreciate the setting and supporting characters of Clydesdale, a fictitious town in the California Sierra mountains.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Blurb 

American cycling sensation and heartthrob Clifford Du Frey is riding the wave of success. Brand Du Frey is a multi-million-dollar business, and during the Tour de France, Clifford is mobbed by fans wherever he goes. The superstar must focus on winning the Tour de France and maintaining his fan base.
But Clifford has a secret. He has fallen hard for Gabe O’Reilly – the dreamy art student from San Francisco whom he met on a summer’s day in Paris.
Can Clifford and Gabe’s budding relationship withstand the media storm and other forces arraigned against them? Can the grit and determination that propelled Clifford to the top of his sport help him break out to find true love and happiness?

You will root for Clifford and Gabe as they take you on a steaming hot ride through France and all the way back to their native California.

LOVE AT LAKE CLYDE, BOOK 2

Book Title: Master of the Wild

Author and Publisher: Aiden Ainslie

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Length: 88 500 words/ 364 pages

Release Date: January 27, 2022

Genre: Contemporary MM  Romance 

Tropes: Opposites attract; roommates to lovers; protect your bruised heart by never falling in love again; rich guy poor guy; proving oneself in a strange environment

Themes: Fairy tales; clash of city and country; wilderness challenge; meddling townsfolk; HEA.

Heat Rating for the series: 3 - 4 flames

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

The books are standalone but the reader would benefit from reading them in sequence to fully appreciate the setting and supporting characters of Clydesdale, a fictitious town in the California Sierra mountains.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Blurb 

IT whiz, Conner O’Reilly, moves from London to California to lick his wounds and recover after the break-up of a bad relationship. He is determined to find a job and start a new life. The last thing he needs is another romantic entanglement.
But Conner hasn’t bargained on meeting Ewan Driscoll. Wild, tattooed, gorgeous, messed-up Ewan, who has more baggage than a freight train.

Will Conner be sensible and get his life back on track, or will his heart lead him into the wilderness?

Excerpt from “King of the Mountain”

GABE

Cliff stood in the shallows. His pale skin gave him the quality of a Michelangelo marble statue. His body had magnificent, classical proportions. Every muscle was clearly defined as though chiseled in stone and smoothed to perfection under the loving hand of a master sculptor. I wondered if he realized just how beautiful he was. And I still found it hard to believe that he was giving me the gift of his time.

He watched me as I strode toward him and, when I shook the water out of my hair, he warned, “Don’t you dare splash me. I like to get in slowly.”

“I won’t splash you,” I said as I stopped in front of him. His eyes were unbelievable. The aquamarine of the water reflected off his blue eyes. I had the sensation of looking into a kaleidoscope of colors yet to be invented. I placed my hands on his shoulders and kissed him on both cheeks.

He was startled but did not back away. “What was that for?” he asked.

“We have not had a chance to greet each other yet – the French way. The way you taught me. And,” I continued, “to say I’m sorry.” 

I gave him my sweetest smile.

“Sorry for wha….”

He did not get to finish the sentence because I folded one leg behind him and, in the most basic of wrestling moves, tipped him backward into the water.”

The look on his face was priceless, and I burst out laughing when his head emerged, spluttering and cursing.

He reached out a hand and said, “You can at least help me up.”

I took hold of his hand and found myself yanked off my feet with Cliff dunking my head underwater. I shook myself free and rose from the waves to see Cliff making a run for the beach. I lurched after him, tackled him, and dragged him back into the water. He laughed and spluttered till he gained his footing and rounded on me, grabbing my waist. His hands stroked over my hip bones, and I started laughing. He had inadvertently found my weak spot, the most ticklish part of my body. Cliff was not one to let such an advantage pass him by. He held me tight with one arm curved around my chest while his free hand tickled my hip bone without mercy. I giggled and squirmed helplessly in his arms.

We horsed around in the water like a couple of drunken teenagers. Drunk on sunshine, drunk on life, drunk on L…   I did not dare to complete the thought. Who was I to think a man like Clifford du Frey would fall in love with me? For all I knew, he was straight as straight can be. Sports stars let off steam by horsing around with their teammates. And after the grueling days on the road, he sure needed some fun to relax and unwind. 

I reminded myself that a man could bathe in the warmth of the sun, but that did not mean the sun cared about the man’s existence. He was an international celebrity, a superstar. As unattainable as the sun itself. And we all knew what happened to those who flew too close to the sun.

After a few more minutes of splashing and laughing, I got his glistening body in a half nelson and made him concede that I was a superior wrestler.

Cliff stood bent-over, panting. I beat my chest like Tarzan and hollered at the waves, “I, Neptune, King of the Sea, have conquered the one and only King of the Mountain.”

He smiled his most disdainful smile, came to stand right in front of me, and said, “Just wait till I get you up into the mountains.”

“What are you going to do?” I teased, “Drag me into your castle and tie me up?”

His nostrils flared, and his face showed such a mixture of emotions that I was at a loss to interpret them.

“For starters,” he said, “I’ll whip your ass….”

I caught my breath. 

He continued, “…at skiing.”

He drew himself up to his full height, which meant I was looking directly at his lips and the stubble on his chin. I ached to reach out and feel that roughness. I did not just want to feel it with my hands; I wanted to feel it on my neck, my chest, on every square inch of my body. He parted his lips, and I imagined the sweet, salty taste they would leave on my tongue. 

My throat was suddenly dry. I licked my lips and looked up at the eyes that were waiting to bore into mine. Our chests were only separated by a minuscule air gap and two thin layers of water that were rapidly evaporating under our bodies' heat. I stood motionless; my heart was pounding so loudly that I was sure Cliff could hear it. I had the sensation of my chest hair vibrating to the rhythm of his heartbeat.

About the Author

Aiden Ainslie lives in the Diablo foothills, east of San Francisco. When he is not writing or listening to audiobooks, he likes to cycle and hike. During those solitary pursuits, he dreams up the characters and plots for his MM Romance novels.

Aiden and his family have two dogs that keep him busy and he also enjoys zipping around town on his motor scooter, drinking coffee at the local coffee shops, and watching people to get inspiration for his writing.

According to Aiden, "Setting and mood are critical parts of a romantic story, hence I am always taking pictures of romantic settings to be used in future novels".

Author Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook

Newsletter sign-up  |  BookBub

Giveaway

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

a $10 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Redeeming Jayden by Brina Brady


Author Brina Brady and Gay Book Promotions share new release info for Redeeming Jayden! Read more about the hurt/comfort romance and enter in the Redeeming Jayden eBook giveaway!

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Redeeming Jayden

Author and Publisher: Brina Brady

Cover Artist: Brina Brady

Release Date: June 10, 2022

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes:  Age Gap, Hurt/Comfort

Themes: Trust

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 61 972 words/ 232 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  

Blurb

JAYDEN BARRON

Twenty-two-year-old artist Jayden Barron is summoned home from New York City by his father to assist in the family business of painting and selling replica art to international rogue buyers. Nothing prepares him for what he encounters when he arrives, however, his entire family is missing. 

Those his father has been dealing with rarely return missing people alive. The family attorney sends Jayden out of the country for his protection, straight into a haunted castle with a singing ghost who leaves him lilacs in the middle of the night. Fortunately, the castle also has Harlan Wendell.

HARLAN WENDELL

Affluent, generous, thirty-two-year-old, German interpreter, Harlan Wendell has every material possession he could want, but no love in his life. He hires young Jayden to recreate his family portraits lost in a fire. It isn't long before he realizes that Jayden is much more than an employee to him, and they begin a relationship that fulfills both their desires.

When events take a dramatic turn and secrets are revealed, can Harlan protect Jayden and their love?

Age Gap, Rogue Artist, German Translator, Haunted Castle, Missing Family, Secrets, Steamy, MM Romance Suspense, HEA, KU

Excerpt 

Harlan unlocked the door and let them inside the room. He wanted to know why Harlan had called him to the Fireplace room. He had dismissed his guards and his assistant. What does he need to discuss now? 

“Sit down and make yourself comfortable. Can I get you some wine?”

“I’d like a full glass,” Jayden said as he relaxed in a very comfy chair.

Offering him wine right away made him worry he had bad news. He couldn’t take any more sadness, especially about his family. Something positive would help. Getting drunk would also help, but Harlan didn’t allow his employees to drink to oblivion. Right now, he wished he could meet his Academy friends for a drink at the English pub in Greenwich Village. He should have told his father no; he had his own life to live. He might have been in New York, not here with a deliciously sexy man acting like a world leader. 

Harlan poured red wine into two crystal goblets, handed him one, then sat in the other plush chair.

“Is everything okay so far?” Harlan asked. 

“Not exactly. Some strange things happened last night.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this morning?” Harlan crossed his arms. 

“I had to check some things out first.” He didn’t look like he had a lot of patience. Why does he act like he’s a king? Get over yourself.

“Tell me now,” he ordered.

“When I was sleeping, someone came in my room and put a vase of lilacs on my dresser. My door was locked.” For some reason, Harlan didn’t look a bit shocked. He behaved as if it were a normal occurrence in the castle. Then he remembered what Mr. Wagner had told him about the castle being haunted. At the time, he hadn’t believed in such things as castles haunted by ghosts. Someone could be living here without Harlan’s knowledge, but he seemed to be a man of details. Nothing would get past him. 

“I didn’t put lilacs in your room. The only other people with the keys to your room are your guards, and I doubt they would do that as a joke.”

“I don’t think they would either. Maybe a ghost did.”

“A ghost! It could very well be. Stranger things have happened around here in the past. No one has ever seen a ghost, but doors slam and sometimes, things break without an explanation. It’s been like that since I was a child.” 

“Why don’t we look for who is pretending to be a ghost?”

“So far, we haven’t had any problems. If it’s a ghost, it’s a friendly one. I don’t think about it that much anymore.”

“I’d like Blaine to bunk in my room, so I’m not alone.”

“Blaine is only seventeen. He can’t sleep with you.” He clenched his teeth and shot Jayden a death stare. 

“Did I say anything about sleeping with him? There’s a smaller bed along the wall.” Jayden raised his voice more than he had wanted to. 

“I’m not allowing it.”

“What do you think will go on in my room with Blaine?” Jayden scrunched up his face in anger, puzzled by Harlan’s unfounded jealousy. 

 “Don’t you see how he looks at you? He admires you a lot more than you realize.”

“And how is that?” He thought Harlan was overreacting and imagining something that didn’t exist. 

“He wants to have a relationship with you.”

“That’s nuts. We’re not going to fuck. Are you jealous of Blaine?”

Harlan threw his wine goblet at the fireplace; the shattering glass pained Jayden’s ears. For a moment, everything blurred after his outburst. 

Jayden teared up from Harlan’s behavior. “I’m sorry if I said something wrong, but Blaine just wants to be friends.”

Harlan frowned at Jayden. “He’s not staying in your room. I’m not a fool.”

Jayden stood up and wiped his tears with the back of his hands. “Fuck this shit. I’m out of here. I don’t understand why you’re talking shit about me or Blaine.”

“There will be consequences for your blatant disrespect to me. I don’t allow anyone to speak to me in that manner.” He glared at him.

“And I don’t allow anyone to break shit out of anger around me,” Jayden shouted back at him.

“You will do what I tell you to do, so I can keep you safe. You’ll be punished for being disrespectful to me.”

“Punished. I don’t get punished.” Jayden gulped the rest of his wine.

“You will when I discuss the consequences for breaking the rules after you sign a contract.” 

“What are you talking about?” Jayden was beyond confused. If he continued to act like this, there would be no contract. He was so immature and jealous for no reason.

About the Author 

I am from Huntington Beach, Ca. I taught various subjects at a Continuation High School in Los Angeles, California for 27 years. I obtained a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in History, Secondary Social Science Credential and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Reading and Secondary Education from California State University, Long Beach. I also enrolled in some creative writing classes at UCLA.

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Release Blitz: Lost in Amber (RELIC #4) by Maz Maddox


 

Author Maz Maddox and Gay Book Promotions host a release blitz for Lost in Amber (RELIC #4)! Learn more about the paranormal romance today!

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Lost in Amber (RELIC #4)

Author and PublisherMaz Maddox

Cover Artist: Shaleah Poster

Release Date: June 7, 2022

Genre: M/M paranormal romance

Tropes: Second chance, hurt/comfort, enemies to lovers

Themes: Being brave when it’s hard to do, forgiving yourself, lots of humor

Heat Rating: 3 flames     

Length: 58 000 words

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Blurb

Being alive for millions of years means I’m rarely surprised.

In the long expanse of my existence, I’ve been rescuing fossils for only a breath. During that time, my path has crossed with many different people — shifter and human alike.

Some friendly, some nefarious.

A hundred years ago, one such man graced me with his presence.

He was one of the few to have almost killed me.

Imagine my surprise when I see him again, buying the rarest amber fossil to have ever been discovered.

Precious. Beautiful. Unique.

A true treasure millions of years in the making.

I won’t let him get away again.

Excerpt 

“Leave me alone.”

“First time was in the desert.” He tapped the spot where I had shot him and I flinched against my will. “You told me that day not to push you but I did it anyway.”

“That’s right,” I did my best to sound threatening, but it sounded more like a question. “And I found you hiding out in Shanghai after you stole from me. That’s twice you’ve lost when I told you not to mess with me. Don’t push your luck.”

He strolled around the bed, giving the slowest chase I had ever been trapped in. The space between the wall and bed were narrow, leaving no chance for me to rush around him so I wasn’t boxed in.

“D-don’t come any closer!” I fumbled for a weapon, decided on a painted bronze lamp with years of wear around the base. My body jerked awkwardly as I tried to heave the thing off the table, realizing with horror it was bolted down. The table stumbled from my effort and my reflex was to try and catch it instead of flee, which was my fatal mistake. Yulong was on me, and I swung my fist in a last ditch effort to escape.

My wrist was caught and pinned to the wall beside my head, a thigh pressed between my legs to keep my from my next move of kicking as hard as I could. My brain scrambled with terrified spikes of cold dread and irresponsible tingles of heat at the feeling of someone’s leg between mine. Yulong loomed over me, the pressure against my wrist firm but not painful, like he was toying with his food before consumption.

The effort of my heart trying to hammer its way free made my breathing strained, adrenaline rushing over me in a panic while my hormones flooded other bits I didn’t need in that exact moment. Yulong’s gray eyes were bluer at that proximity, the dark circle encasing the color would have been gorgeous if I wasn’t about to get my ass kicked.

“And the third time you surprised me…” he started in a low rumble, the tone doing horrible things to my sense of self preservation. “Was how you looked at me when you invited me inside for cocktails.”

The pupils in his shale eyes flexed, widening as they skipped over my face and landed on my mouth. I felt the muscles in my jaw clench, my molars tightening in defiance. Somehow through the noise of the open balcony, the distant horns and engines mixed with bird songs, I could hear his calm, steady breathing. Heavy, silk strands of black hair spilled around his face, the scent of warm, deep wood incense drifting from him like smoke.

“I-I have connections.” I swallowed to try and ease the scratch in my voice. “Hurting me will make them come after you.”

“What makes you think I want to hurt you?”

About the Author

Maz is an m/m romance fanatic, dabbles in yaoi, adores dinosaurs and writes romance stories with a healthy heaping of adventure mixed in. 

When she's not pairing up Centaurs with bank robbers, she's plotting new stories and sending inappropriate texts to her friends. 

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Blog Tour + Giveaweay: The Shackles That Hold Us (The Magi Accounts #2) by Michele Notaro


 

Author Michele Notaro and Other Worlds Ink host today's blog tour visit for The Shackles That Hold Us (The Magi Accounts #2)! Discover more about the latest in the urban fantasy series and enter in the $20 Amazon gift card giveaway!

 

The Shackles That Hold Us - Michele Notaro

Michele Notaro has a new MM urban fantasy out, The Magi Accounts book 2: The Shackles That Hold Us. And there's a giveaway.

As if crushin’ on a shifter wasn’t bad enough, I had to go and date one.

A mage and a shifter walk into a bar… No, that’s the whole joke.

Magi and shifters don’t mix, and yet I find myself in a relationship with Cosmo, a lion shifter. And on top of that, Cosmo, and all his pride members, consider my brothers and me to be a part of their pride. Three magi in a shifter pride. Who would’ve ever thought?

Navigating our connection while trying to figure out what’s going on in the world isn’t easy. Trusting that Cosmo means forever when he says it? Even harder. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned since meeting the Ono-Nais, it’s that taking a risk with my heart will be worth it to be a part of their lives.

The Shackles That Hold Us is a 113K novel and the second book in the MM urban fantasy series, The Magi Accounts. It’s recommended to read the series in order because it has an ongoing storyline.

*Intended for adults only. Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of this novel.

Amazon | Universal Buy Link | Goodreads


Giveaway

Michele is giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card with this tour:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47241/


Excerpt

The Shackles That Hold Us meme - Michele Notaro

Sure enough, a minute later, I heard Cosmo bounding up the stairs. I knew it was him because of the way the bond around my heart reacted. The door burst open with way more force than necessary, and Cos rushed to me, dropping to his knees beside the bed and pulling me into a hug.

His arms were around my neck—avoiding my sensitive back—so I wrapped mine around his waist and realized he was shaking.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I whispered.

He tucked his face into the side of my neck and shook his head.

“Talk to me, honey.” I made a disgusted face at the endearment that accidentally came out of my mouth. But I didn’t take it back—progress.

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Sure doesn’t seem that way to me.”

He sighed, nuzzled into me, and breathed deeply. “I needed to see you.”

“Okay…”

“I’ve been… uh, worried.”

“Why? Did something happen at work?”

“No. I’ve just been worried… about you.”

“Oh.”

He waited a beat. “That all you have to say?”

“Uh, yeah. Not sure what else there is to say.” I shrugged against him, then winced from my skin. Goddess, how long was it going to be sore?

“You could try making me feel better.”

“How?”

“By admitting you missed me, too.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. I might’ve missed you a teeny tiny bit. Like so miniscule it was hardly noticeable.”

He snorted. “Prickhole.”

I smiled and rubbed his back, then turned my face toward him so I spoke for his ears only since I knew Jude and River were eavesdropping. “I did miss you, you know.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Cos, really.” I waited a few seconds. “You make the best pillow, and you’re so warm that I’ve been freezing since you left.”

He barked out a small laugh. “I can always count on you to keep me humble.”

I snorted, then gripped him tighter and tucked my face farther into him. “I do miss you when we’re apart, kitty cat.”

A small rumble started vibrating his chest, and I smiled as I sighed. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw River and Jude walk out of the room, but I didn’t pay them any attention, not when I had a sweet and sexy lion in my arms.

Cos leaned back and captured my mouth with his, kissing me as tenderly as he held me, and I let him. Sometimes his gentleness was almost painful in its sweetness, but it was a hurt I wanted to feel.

His tongue caressed mine, taking its time and exploring my mouth like we had all the time in the world. It made my heart race and my chest warm and my belly fill with a thousand butterflies all at the same time.

When he broke the kiss, he nudged my nose with his, smiling when I opened my eyes, and he whispered, “Hi.”

I blinked a few times, staring at those golden eyes. “Hi.”

He pressed a lingering kiss to my lips before meeting my gaze again. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

“Really? Or is this one of those times when you’re acting like you’re okay even though you’re not?”

I scowled at him. “I said I’m fine, which means I’m fine.”

He gave me another peck.


Author Bio

Michele Notaro logo

Michele is married to an awesome guy that puts up with her and all the burnt dinners she makes—hey, sometimes characters are a bit distracting, and who doesn’t plot when they’re supposed to be cooking? They live together in Baltimore, Maryland with two little monsters, three-legged and four-legged fiends, and a little old man (aka their two sons, their two cats, and their senior dog). She hopes to rescue another cat soon, and if her hubby wouldn’t kill her, she’d get more than one… and maybe a few more dogs as well.

She loves creating worlds filled with lots of love, chosen family, and of course, magic, but she also likes making the characters fight for that happy ending. She hopes to one day write all the stories in her head—even if there are too many to count!

Author Website: https://michelenotaro.com/

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Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/author.notaro/

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Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Michele-Notaro/e/B01NBK83H9

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