Boy Meets Boy Reviews: Aiden Snow

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Audiobook Blog Tour: Ex Meridian (Nothing Special #7) by A.E. Via

Aiden Snow narrated romance, Ex Meridian (Nothing Special #7) is out on Audible. Join author A.E. Via and Vibrant Promotions in celebrating today! Learn more about the tale!

Title: Nothing Special VI: Ex Meridian

Series: Nothing Special

Author: A.E. Via

Genre: M/M Action Romance

Publisher: Tantor

Narrator: Aiden Snow

Length: 9 Hours

Audio Release Date: 07.07.20

Blurb

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.
Note: This is a partners-to-lovers, out-for-you, action romance.

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/NSVIIExMeridian

Excerpt

Neither of them spoke while they ate. Ex never felt the need to fill their long moments of silence with idle words, and his partner wasn’t a big talker. Besides, Ex could enjoy Meridian by him simply being there. His presence was just that powerful.

“So, what’s next?” Meridian asked after he’d pushed his empty plate to the side.

Ex drank some of his water, the coolness feeling good to his parched throat, but he wished he had something stronger. He reclined in his seat, mimicking Meridian’s posture and trying to appear casual.

“First and foremost, we go to Virginia and get our supplies. My contact there is ready for us, we should be in and out,”Ex explained. “Oay night. Of course, flying would be faster but we can better stay under the radar if we avoid TSA. Amtrak will be easiest to transport our cargo as well.”

“Works for me. He knows what we need?”

“Yes. As soon as we get back we can start to have some conversations around town. We’ll backtrack over the task force’s recent arrests and see what we can find. I also wanna keep an eye on that deputy district attorney. Something seems off there to me,” Ex said.

“Agreed.”Meridian put his cigarette into his mouth and finally lit it. He blew the aromatic smoke away from Ex but he still caught the robust scent of cloves.

Ex thought the smoking habit was atrocious, but he found he liked it when Meridian did it. The addiction made him seem less programmed. It was something his partner did when he was battling on the inside, and it was also something he only showed Ex.

Meridian’s eyes were half covered by his long black eye lashes, appearing as if he was enjoying what he was doing. He had one arm braced on the back of the seat and Ex could see the shiny Italian silk lining of Meridian’s jacket and the butt of his chrome Wesson Valor resting against his rib cage.

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 literature for over twenty 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 well-known for her hardcore, love hard, bad boy, alphas. However, she does like to push herself to step out of her comfort zone, exploring different tropes. 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.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48195130-bishop

Author Official Website: http://authoraevia.com

A.E. Newsletter Signup: https://goo.gl/4hfuMh

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/aeviaauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAEVia

Audiobook Review: Promises: The Next Generation (Bounty Hunters #5) by A.E. Via

Brian and Quick are the first to offer up two new recruits.

Kellam Knight has studied martial arts under his sensei, Quick, since he was eight years old. A tossed-out reject from high-society, Kell has a problem fighting on the right side of the law. If he sees an injustice, he has to correct it. He doesn’t have to run and cower from his enemies anymore, he’s a fighter who can protect himself and others. When Quick offers Kell the opportunity to join Duke’s training program, he’s all in. Except he’s not prepared for the straight, over-confident, extremely disciplined, sexy man Brian has recruited to be his partner.

Tyrell Jenkins’ world was flipped upside down when his father never returned home from his last deployment. He’d been Ty’s teacher, mentor, his guide to living a righteous life as a good man. His father didn’t raise him to be like every other young, stereotypical male in Atlanta. Instead, he’s been taught to be respectful, to speak the language of real men. When Brian King – his father’s most trusted comrade – finally comes to him with the truth, he doesn’t come alone. He comes with trained men hidden in the shadows… and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a brotherhood unlike any other.

Reviewer: Annery

I’ve started and deleted about ten sentences trying to start this review. I’m feeling conflicted but here go my thoughts. It might get long, and slightly spoilerish. Sorry.

This is the fifth book in the Promises Series, and I guess it’s meant as a reset and introduction to a new generation of hunters for Duke’s Bail Bonds. That makes sense as the original guys are aging out and settling down with their honeys. I’m down for that. Between A.E. Via’s relentless (in a good way) romanticism and Aiden Snow’s top notch delivery this series has grown on me, sometimes despite myself, and I’ve been generally happy. I’m not sure about the new guys.

The new recruits to DBB are Tyrell “Ty” Jenkins and Kellam “Kell” Knight brought in by Brian and Quick respectively. They’ve both gotten to 27 or 28 still flailing in the pond of life searching for …? I’m not quite sure what, but when they meet they fit the mold of insta-lust/insta-lust/fated-mates, a given in shifter books, which doesn’t overly bother me, but this isn’t a shifter story.

Kell is a poor little rich boy who was abandoned to his own devices when he came out to his rich politician father. We never see said parent or other family again. He’d been a student in Quick’s dojo and was, to some extent, taken under Quick’s wing and has become a martial arts master. Meanwhile Ty’s father was Brian’s commander and fellow cave dweller during his captivity in Afghanistan. Since his father’s death, when he was sixteen, Ty has spent his life trying to care for his mother as his father would have, she was evidently so sheltered by his brand of love that she found it impossible to buckle up and care for her son after her husband's death. (*major side eye*) This has translated into Ty living in the ‘hood so that his mother can live in comfort. He’s also looking for his own queen befitting a king like himself. Yep. When Ty and Kell meet that’s it. In the course of a month or two we get a forever love story with wedding bells included.

My problems with this story are many but the main one is the character of Ty. It pains me and I’m conflicted because in a note at the beginning of the book the author states that he’s based on her recently deceased brother. How can I find fault with him? I’m so sorry but ....

We’re introduced to Ty as he goes about his job of delivering ‘goods’ for Cheddar. As you can imagine Cheddar is not exactly a businessman who’s on the up & up and that’s fine except that Ty is more than a bit sanctimonious. He’s been celibate for the last two years and has dedicated a fair amount of that time to finding his Queen. Ty has a running inner monologue of his father’s teachings, mostly based on Muslim beliefs (his father was a Kenyan so I don’t know where the surname Jenkins comes from) and his own cobbled together life dictums. They mostly amount to being judgemental of women who dress skimpily, have sexual agency, and men who don’t conform to Ty’s notions of manhood. I won’t say I disagree with some of his assessments, but IMO he’s far from being without sin. He works for Cheddar! This search for a woman who conforms to a Muslim or conservative Christian ethos of modesty is fine, I guess, to each their own, but Ty should be doing something else too. He went to prep school and two years of college but somehow his job is delivering stuff for Cheddar? I don’t buy it.

Kell is cut from the same cloth as Ty. He went to prep school too but since graduating HS has been subsisting on teaching a few classes in Quick’s Dojo and that’s it. Why? To my knowledge there are quite a few things one can work at, particularly being a white, prep school educated man. This notion of Kell scraping by in a bad neighborhood seems more like a plot device to make Kell fit fully in the ‘damsel-in-distress’ mold, ripe to be rescued by Ty. I know that Kell says he’s competent to care for himself and we get scenes of him whipping out his martial arts expertise to the detriment of bigger, brawnier guys but he falls like limp noodles to Ty’s every request.

I’m reluctant to criticize relationships for the roles each partner chooses to take or the ones they’re comfortable in. We love what we love. I cut my romance teeth on what are now considered “problematic rapey bodice rippers” and I still love them, but this gave me niggles.

Kell has long blond tresses but is otherwise hairless on his body. He walks around covered, almost cloaked, dressed in black because he’s a ninja and to avoid problems with neighborhood thugs who taunt him for looking like a girl, for being pretty. Sure. Actually, it read as Kell physically representing the type of woman Ty wants. Pure. Modest. Demure. No wonder that despite not previously identifying as gay or even curious Ty jumps right in. Kell is everything he wants, and willing to follow him two steps behind if necessary. He’s even a virgin. Again, though not being my jam, to each their own: follow your own moral code that doesn’t harm others, follow your God without denying others the dignity, rights, and choice to not believe, pair up in (dated) heteronormative roles of male & female behaviour, or D/s without the BDSM component. I’m peachy fine with all of it. But Ty’s Holier-Than-Thou attitude, even with the DBB guys, was off putting to say the least. Sadly I’ve found this to be the case with most True Believers in anything. Moral certainty (save the obvious things) is dangerous territory and one I prefer to visit seldomly.

For the rest, aside from being kind-of smart young men, I didn’t see the wow factor in these two for Duke and the others to be so impressed by them. I’m sure they’ll grow into their jobs but two months in? They were okay. Clever but not reinventing the wheel or anything close. Also one nice, decent person in Ty and Kell’s respective ‘hoods wouldn’t have come amiss. Poverty isn’t equal to meanness. As for the romance it rested on Kell allowing Ty to be THE MAN in ALL things: Ty will provide a home, protection, and food. Kell will remain covered in the presence of others, follow Ty’slead, and cook. They even wait for marriage to fully consummate their union so don’t expect much smex. That’s fine. We all pick our paths but I’m pretty sure this is the type of relationship now widely pilloried in the MF romancelandia world of empowered women. I don’t care. Just saying.

Anyway that’s enough rambling to say that this didn’t work for me due to the MCs and we got very little of the previous guys which would’ve been a balm for me. As usual YMMV but I think even Aiden Snow couldn’t inject excitement into this. I’ll read more from this author but this was just not a good fit for me.

Audio Tour: Promises: The Next Generation (Bounty Hunters, #5) by A.E. Via

Join author A.E. Via & Vibrant Promotions on the audio tour of Promises: The Next Generation (Bounty Hunters, #5) narrated by Aiden Snow. Find out more & read an excerpt below!

Promises: The Next Generation

Bounty Hunters Series, Book 5

Author A.E. Via

Publisher: Tantor

Narrator Aiden Snow

Listening Length 9 hours 3 minutes

Audio Release: 04.07.20

Blurb

Duke Webb has run the most successful bail recovery agency in Atlanta for over 20 years. That's because he has a team of trained, competent hunters backing him up to keep his name feared on the streets. But Duke knows that nothing can go on forever. That's what leads him to start his new training program.

Kellam Knight has studied martial arts under his sensei, Quick, since he was 8 years old. A tossed-out reject from high-society, Kell has a problem fighting on the right side of the law. When Quick offers Kell the opportunity to join Duke's training program, he's all in. Except he's not prepared for the straight, over-confident, extremely disciplined, sexy man Brian has recruited to be his partner.

Tyrell Jenkins' world was flipped upside down when his father never returned home from his last deployment. He'd been Ty's teacher, mentor, his guide to living a righteous life as a good man. When Brian King - his father's most trusted comrade - finally comes to him with the truth, he doesn't come alone. He comes with trained men hidden in the shadows...and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a brotherhood unlike any other.

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

Excerpt

Kell paused at the door with his hand on the knob. “Tyrell. There is something I want.”

“Name it.”

“I want to kiss you.”

Ty’s chest expanded. Kell was giving him his gift in return. His thank you for the rare gold lying against his skin.

Ty didn’t stop walking until his entire body was pressed against Kell’s from thigh to forehead. He bent down and placed his lips where he always did. Needing to make eye contact, he brought one hand up and caressed Kell’s cheek tenderly before reaching around and releasing his hair from the messy bun. Kell swallowed loudly. Ty grazed his lips across Kell’s temple and lingered there as he slid his hand into that thick mane, burying it deep until his palm cradled the back of Kell’s skull. His partner whined and rubbed his body against him. So pliant and at his will. Kell smelled like fresh soap mixed with the ginger and apple from whatever shampoo he used. Ty pressed in harder and plunged his other hand in, watching the long strands thread through his fingers. Kell’s hair felt like plush down feathers.

Ty’s joint was ’bricker than brick.

Kell lifted his head higher, aiming those pretty lips where he wanted them to be. Ty hovered his mouth just over his and paused there, inflicting a few more seconds of torture before giving in to what he craved. Kell rose onto the balls of his feet and took their suffering away. He touched their lips together, gently at first, before moaning deeply, tilting his head and flicking his warm tongue at Ty’s lips.

Ty’s composure shattered.

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.

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.

Social Media Links

Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AuthorAEVia

Author Official Website: http://authoraevia.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/aeviaauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAEVia

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7354860.A_E_Via

A.E. Newsletter Signup: https://goo.gl/4hfuMh

Bounty Hunter Series Universal Link: mybook.to/BountyHunterSeries

Audiobook Review: Promises Part 4 (Bounty Hunters #4) by A.E. Via

Brian King was honorably discharged from the United States Navy five years ago. He'd left with the highest honors a man can receive in his country, but he'd paid the ultimate price to earn them. He'd returned home with all his limbs, his right mind, and with his only brother Ford, at his side. But, one thing had been lost, maybe for good...his voice.

Now, being a bounty hunter is Brian's only means to satisfy his need to calculate, track, and capture. He missed companionship, he missed communicating. So, when he met Sway Hamilton - in the most unconventional means - he'd been surprised at his special way of understanding Brian's every look...and touch.

Sway grew up in the rough part of ATL, trailing behind his twin brother Stanton and his best friend, Dana. He and his brother had a bond only twins could understand. So when Stanton's life was taken during their sophomore year in college, Sway didn't think he'd ever recover. However, Sway knew there was more to life than heartache.

Sway has to learn to trust in love, and Brian has to believe that Sway will always understand him even if he never speaks again.

Contains mature themes.

Listening Length: 11 hours and 3 minutes
Narrator: Aiden Snow

Reviewer: Annery

This is the fourth book in the Promises Series, and it’s finally Brian’s turn for a HEA. If you’ve been following along, and why wouldn’t you? Brian is Ford’s younger brother. Bad things happened to him during his military days and Brian came home with PTSD mostly manifested in Selective Mutism. It’s been four (4) years and Brian has adapted, learning ASL, using text-to-speech technology, and otherwise expressing himself pretty clearly through his body language. Though he continues to go to therapy and do the recommended exercises, mostly to please Ford, he’s resigned to the fact that his mutism may be permanent. He’d be fine with that except that it seems to hinder the possibility of finding a real relationship. Until Sway.

Sway is Dana’s childhood friend, a nurse, and a man who’s deeply empathetic to the suffering of others, sometimes to his own detriment. Sway & Brian met as a one-off in the previous book, and when they see each other again at Ford and Dana’s the spark shines brighter than ever. They’re exactly what the other wants and needs.

The course of this book, like the others, follows the men of DBB on a particular case and the blossoming of their own romance. In this instance, the formula worked super well for me. The development of the relationship between Brian and Sway was organic and the personal issues of their lives weren’t brushed under the rug of LOVE. They did find their HAPPY in each other, but they didn’t cease being the men they were prior to meeting and their issues didn’t magically disappear. Most of all I appreciated how it’s obvious that the author thoroughly researched ASL and it’s speakers and doesn’t make the whole plot contingent on Brian being vocal again.

For those wanting some A.E. Via style scorching smex fear not, she’s got you covered and Aiden Snow delivers the goods. Despite some bumps I liked this series as a whole and loved the audios, so if you need some aural comfort, a warm blanket in these angst ridden days, the men of DBB will keep you safe.

Audio Release Blitz + Giveaway: Promises Part 4 (Bounty Hunters #4) by A.E. Via

Aiden Snow narrated action romance, Promises Part 4 (Bounty Hunters #4) is out! Join author A.E. Via and Vibrant Promotions in today's audio book release blitz and enter in the $25 Amazon Gift Card giveaway! (4 winners)

Promises: Part 4

Bounty Hunters Series, Book 4

Author A.E. Via

Publisher: Tantor

Narrator: Aiden Snow

Listening Length: 11 hours and 3 minutes

Audio Release: 03.11.20

Blurb

Now, being a bounty hunter is Brian's only means to satisfy his need to calculate, track, and capture. He missed companionship, he missed communicating. So, when he met Sway Hamilton - in the most unconventional means - he'd been surprised at his special way of understanding Brian's every look...and touch.

Sway grew up in the rough part of ATL, trailing behind his twin brother Stanton and his best friend, Dana. He and his brother had a bond only twins could understand. So when Stanton's life was taken during their sophomore year in college, Sway didn't think he'd ever recover. However, Sway knew there was more to life than heartache.

Sway has to learn to trust in love, and Brian has to believe that Sway will always understand him even if he never speaks again.

Universal Buy Link: http://mybook.to/PromisesPart4

Excerpt

“So. You drive the hottest black car I’ve ever seen. You wine and dine. You build and create.” Sway glanced around the kitchen and out of the large window. “You seem to be doing okay for yourself. And, you hunt down bad guys at night.” Sway smirked and gave Brian a hot leer. “It’s like I’m on a date with Batman.”

Brian almost choked on his wine. He remembered Sway having a type of masculine sass to him, but he didn’t remember him being hilarious. Brian had to be careful around him. He smiled broadly, his face feeling strange for stretching that wide.

Sway gave him a teasing grin and went back to eating. His plate was almost clean except for a few string beans and a couple of bites of fish. His eyes were still on his plate when he confessed, “I like to make you smile, Brian.”

Brian’s heart might’ve stopped. He felt his nostrils flare because what he heard was Sway felt good pleasing him. “I like that you can. Some people don’t think so, but I don’t mind smiling.”

“You wear that look well,” Sway said quietly.

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.

Social Media Links

Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AuthorAEVia

Author Official Website: http://authoraevia.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/aeviaauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAEVia

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7354860.A_E_Via

A.E. Newsletter Signup: https://goo.gl/4hfuMh

Bounty Hunter Series Universal Link: mybook.to/BountyHunterSeries

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audiobook Review: Promises Part 3 (Bounty Hunters #3) by A.E. Via

Bradford (Ford) King was sure he had the rest of his life mapped out. Life was simple, no distractions or complications - at age 46, that's all Ford wanted. What he didn't want was his work partner, sniper/watchman Dana, giving him s--t all the time.

Dana Cadby had grown up labeled a roughneck from the wrong side of the tracks. Dana pulled himself up by his own boot straps and made a name for himself in the marksman community. He'd been Duke's bounty watchman for five years. At 33, he was trusted, well-respected by his peers, his bosses, his friends...so why couldn't he earn the same respect from his partner?

Dana knew he was bisexual before he graduated high school. He also knew he was attracted to the huge, 6'3" SEAL from the moment he and his brother came to join their team.

When Duke sends Dana and Ford out to track down their most dangerous bounty yet, they both embrace the fact that they make one hell of a team...but they fight tooth and nail against the powerful intimacy brewing between them.

Contains mature themes.

Listening Length: 7 hours and 48 minutes
Narrator: Aiden Snow

(story is 3.5 rounded up for the AB)

Reviewer: Annery

The men of Duke’s Bail Bonds continue on the highway to love. The road isn’t always smooth but it’s a certain destination and Aiden Snow, once again, delivers it without a hitch. This turn we have Bradford “Ford” King an ex-Navy Seal, 46 y.o. giant of a man, who’s taciturn on his best days, and on the tail end of a losing the battle with an overwhelming attraction to Dana Cadby. Dana is 33 y.o., DBB’s resident marksman, and anything but immune to Ford’s presence. So what’s the problem you ask? I’m happy to say it’s not the regular or expected. The blurb kind of gives everything away but I’ll try not to be too specific.

After saving his brother’s life, Ford is back in a civilian life which he only finds tolerable by taking care of his brother and hunting criminals. He has no social life to speak and never did anything that can be confused for a relationship. He finds them too messy. The thorn on his side is how Dana befuddles him by being a consummate professional but having a seemingly chaotic social life. And also that pesky attraction. Meanwhile Dana can’t figure out why Ford is so hard on him but desperately wants to impress Ford and not just in the professional arena. Their coming together takes some time, logically so, but once it happens it’s a no-nonsense affair. Dana embraces his long dormant bisexuality and Ford, at his age and with his life experience, just can’t be bothered by what others might think.

The thing I like best about the world that A.E. Via has created is it’s boundless optimism. I say this because these men who work in what we can all agree is a relentlessly macho profession have zero problems with homosexuality. Not a single one. Not about their own same sex attractions or those of their colleagues. I’d love to live in that world. I’m not being sarcastic. Alternatively I’m convinced, having been from Bk.1, that these stories would work perfectly in some kind of shifter universe. These men are consumed by body hair, scent, and the lure of the hunt. Their senses override any kind of logical thought and it never steers them wrong. See! Shifters! Anyway … this isn’t that kind of ‘verse but you can still have a good time with men from DBB particularly in Aiden Snow’s delivery.

Audiobook Review: Promises Part 2 (Bounty Hunters #2) by A.E. Via

Roman “Quick” Webb is one badass bounty hunter on the crime-filled streets of Atlanta. He’s fearless when it comes to carrying out his dangerous job alongside his longtime best friend and business partner, Duke. However, there is one thing that has begun to cause Quick concern and it’s the dreadful thought of living out the rest of his life alone. Seeing his best friend and his son fall in love and sharing the special connection that only true soulmates can, has made him all the more aware of what’s lacking in his life.

Love.

Dr. Cayson Chauncey has been wildly attracted to the big, tattooed hunter for almost a year, ever since he performed the surgery that saved Quick’s best friend’s life. Cayson must’ve mistaken Quick’s gratitude for something more, because the one time he tried to make his desires known, he was harshly rebuffed and left on the man’s doorstep feeling stupid for hitting on an obviously very straight man.

Cayson never dated a man who was willing to come out of hiding and be with him. Now at almost forty, Cayson is intent on no longer being anyone’s dirty secret. Having experienced countless disappointments, and having taken a stand not to fall for any more tricks, Cayson is more than a little skeptical when Quick comes around asking for a second chance to prove himself. The gorgeous man had already made it clear that he was not interested in Cayson… or so he’d thought.

Dr. Chauncey stirred up Quick’s suppressed, most carnal desires from a place deep down inside of him. He’d reacted so badly the first time that now his sexy surgeon wanted nothing to do with him. It was going to take a fair amount of patience and a whole lot of wooing involved as Quick sets out to convince Cayson that he’s worth another chance and that he is the brave lover who Cayson has been looking for.

With a scorned ex and a very dangerous job thrown into the mix, Cayson’s happiness and all of Quick’s promises may not be as easy to keep as they’d hoped.

story 2.5 but the AB is aces

Reviewer: Annery

First things first: the AB by Aiden Snow is really good and what got me through without skimming. He’s excellent.

THE STORY:

The last quarter of each book in this series introduces the couple for the next one and the pairing of Dr. Cayson Chauncey and Roman “Quick” Webb held lots of promise *wink* for me. Alas those hopes were dashed in a sophomore slump.

Quick is like the Fantasy Island version of Dog The Bounty Hunter: dark haired, tall, and an eighth degree black belt. Dr. Chauncey is a brilliant but lonely surgeon who, in spite of all of his accomplishments, has been unable to meet a single man to satisfy his desires (pretty common desires if you ask me, and I’m pretty sure he could’ve found someone on any dating app). Luckily Quick has begun to feel a reawakening of his heretofore buried bisexuality and sets his aim on Dr. Chauncey. A great “opposites attract” pairing that went pfft.

The main problem is Cayson Chauncey. He’s like one of those heroines in bodice rippers who have to, unreasonably, make the hero suffer for the past misdeeds of others. When Quick begins to woo him it seems Dr. C keeps raising the bar while excusing the behavior of Dr. Joe, an ex that treats Cayson like last year’s gum on the sole of a shoe, and who puts the whole group in danger. Quick has to continually jump through a series of hoops and ultimately I felt like Dr. C “loved” Quick for purely physical reasons. For that matter I couldn’t fathom what Quick’s attraction to Dr. C was either. Maybe they’re perfectly paired but I couldn’t get it and I didn’t care for them at all. Hope the next pairing works better for me.

All of this yawning led me to noticing how the author doesn’t shy away from dropping name brands left and right, there’s even a page for ™ acknowledgements at the beginning of each book! Is it meant to lend authenticity to time and place? Dunno.

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.

Audio Blog Tour: Promises: Part 3 by A.E. Via

Aiden Snow narrated audiobook, Promises: Part 3 is out! Find out more from author A.E. Via and Vibrant Promotions today!

Promises: Part 3

Bounty Hunters Series, Book 3

Author A.E. Via

Publisher: Tantor

Narrator: Aiden Snow

Listening Length: 7 hours and 48 minutes

Audio Release: 02.11.20

Blurb

A bounty hunter’s partners to lovers’ story.

The hunt is on… and he’s the prey.

Bradford (Ford) King was sure he had the rest of his life mapped out. Though he was no longer a SEAL Lieutenant, his brother was home safe and he had a job that still allowed him to satisfy his hunger for hunting bad guys. Life was simple, no distractions or complications – at age forty-six – that’s all Ford wanted. What he didn’t want was his work partner, sniper/watchman, Dana, giving him s**t all the time.

Dana Cadby had grown up labeled a roughneck from the wrong side of the tracks. He’d fought, scrounged, and survived despite a father that constantly told him he couldn’t. Dana pulled himself up by his own boot straps and made a name for himself in the marksman community. He’d been Duke’s bounty watchman for five years. It was his job to ensure their safety, watch their backs. At thirty-three, he was trusted, well respected by his peers, his bosses, his friends… so why couldn’t he earn the same respect from his partner?

Dana knew he was bisexual before he graduated high school. He also knew he was attracted to the huge, 6’3”, SEAL from the moment he and his brother came to join their team. It wasn’t easy for him to tamp down his immediate reaction to Ford’s thick muscles, full beard, and dark eyes. Still, Dana exhibited nothing but professionalism towards him, not wanting to make his ‘straight’ partner uncomfortable.

After Dana took back his ex-girlfriend, he’d noticed an intensification in Ford’s bad attitude. One that turned aggressive and downright antagonistic, and Dana was damned if he’d just lay down and take it. He was gonna make that man respect him if it was the last thing he did.

When Duke sends Dana and Ford out to track down their most dangerous bounty yet, they both embrace the fact that they make one hell of a team… but they fight tooth and nail against the powerful intimacy brewing between them.

Beware: When Ford and Dana connect, no fugitive can hide from the hunter and his watchman.

This story is a part of a series but can stand alone. It does not end on a cliffhanger and has a HEA.

Disclaimer: This book is about MM romance, albeit there is a very brief MF scene.

Universal Buy Link: http://mybook.to/PromisesPart3

Excerpt

“Grin all you want, you cocky little shit, but I’ll show you what this old man can do when I get you on that mat.” Ford ripped his arms away and walked up the row, turning the corner without a backwards glance.

Dana pulled in a breath of air and ran his hand over his chest where Ford’s arm had been. He felt hot and mildly embarrassed. He thought he’d played it off well, though. He should’ve known Ford wouldn’t take the joke for what it was. The man had no sense of humor… when it came to him, anyway. Dana had seen Ford laugh with his brother and smile when he was going over the latest military gadget he was able to get on the underground web, but lately the man refused to humor him. Dana dropped down on the small bench between the lockers. His big mouth had just written a check that his body was going to have to cash. Ford would be more than happy to teach his thirty-three-year-old ass a lesson in respecting his elders.

“Your bounty will not expect you to wrestle with him. Getting him on the ground is the best way to subdue him. Rush him, catch him off guard.” Quick walked back and forth across the mat, his muscular arms clasped behind his back while he instructed. Quick was an eighth degree black belt. He’d been studying martial arts since he was a boy. Hell, even Ford and Brian together couldn’t take him down. He was fast and a master at counter-maneuvers. You had to be able to get your hands on him first to do anything to him, and that was pretty much impossible. So Dana could respect Quick as a teacher. “Don’t second guess yourself. There’s no time for that. If you have an opportunity, take it. Got it?”

Everyone nodded their understanding. Duke stepped up. His black and gray hair was thick and disordered. He looked confident as always, but his eyes couldn’t hide his concern. “I called the extra training session this month because I’ve been contracted to go after a couple pretty big fish. These two brothers – Raymond and John Grossman – are well-known meth dealers here in Atlanta. They were bonded out on a five hundred thousand-dollar bond each but failed to appear a month ago. These men are dangerous. They have security, armed guards. They have money and lots of contacts, meaning plenty of places to hide. We’re going to have extensive hours of surveillance and scouting ahead of us. We’re going to finish training here then reconvene at the office for a strategy meeting later today. We gotta bring our A-game, like always. We were brought on because we know how to do this shit, so let’s get ready.” Duke looked back at his business partner. “Alright, Quick. Let’s get started.”

Ford moved back, letting him catch his breath. Dana was panting and sweating all over the place. They’d moved on from counter attacks to take-downs and submissions. Quick was giving them pointers while he demonstrated on the other martial arts instructor employed by the gym. Ford kept dumping Dana on his back every time he came at him. Although Ford never cracked a smile, it still looked like he enjoyed seeing Dana down there in pain, his face a mask of frustration as he tried to gain the upper hand.

“Dana, stop letting him get his arms around your thighs, goddamnit! You’re overthinking it!” Quick barked.

“Pair me with Duke or something. How the hell am I going to take Ford’s big ass down?” Dana fussed back, slowly getting back up on one knee.

“Are you saying you can only take down smaller men? If you are, then you are useless to me.” Quick was in Dana’s face, his forehead bumping into him while he pushed him back. “What’s size have to do with skill? You’ve seen me take down Brian and Ford. Both of them are bigger than me. You’ve seen Duke take down men twice his size. Defeating your opponent only takes skill and confidence, Dana, and you’ve got both of those in spades, so use them. Now get your ass back in position and stop bitching or I’ll have you riding a goddamn desk while the real men do the work.”

When Dana got back in front of Ford, the bastard couldn’t resist returning the wink Dana had given him in the locker room. “Now you be sure to take it easy on this old man.”

“Fuck you,” Dana grumbled, crouching down again.

“No. I’ll leave that to your prima donna girlfriend.”

Dana stood up, wondering what the hell business that was of Ford’s. “Jealous?”

Ford grunted an angry breath. “Of what? Being a fool just to get some bougie ass from a stuck-up bitch?”

Dana rushed at Ford like an idiot, shoving his shoulder into his midsection, trying to take him down. Ford folded his heavy body over Dana’s back and dropped all his weight, slamming him down face first to the mat. The air rushed out of him and he struggled to breathe with the massive man pinning him down. Ford’s reverse bear-hug had Dana’s arms wrapped so tight, he felt like he was in the grip of an anaconda. The crazy part was, Dana didn’t hear or see anyone coming to his aid. Obviously, this wasn’t a technique they were learning.

Ford’s mouth was by his ear, his hot breath fanning over his heated skin. “Pretty shitty sneak attack, boy.”

“Boy?” Dana hissed, his face flat to the mat. “Why are you always talking shit about her, huh?”

Ford’s hold around his entire upper body kept him from being able to do anything but snarl his frustrated words. “Why, Ford? You’ve been an ass ever since I got back with her.” Dana struggled, getting more pissed off by the second. “Answer me. Why don’t you want me with her?”

“Because you deserve better than that,” Ford said too quietly for the other guys to hear, and let Dana go.

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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.

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