Review: Knight and Day (Magic Emporium) by Jacki James

Theodore Knight has a curious nature. Ever since he was a child, he’s loved books that are full of danger and adventure. In real life, he’s a simple bookstore owner. But in his imagination, he’s a hero who goes on great quests to save the princess, or in his case, the prince, from evil dragons.

Until one day, real life starts to look a lot like his imaginary world. . . and the fate of an entire kingdom rests on his shoulders. The world is more magical than he ever thought, and he will have to learn to accept the impossible as possible, if he and Samuel are to succeed.

Samuel Day had never journeyed to the human realm, and he sure didn't mean to get stuck there. That said, he’s found it all incredibly fascinating. Especially Theodore, the adorable human who holds a piece of the puzzle necessary to stop an evil immortal and save the magic realm known as Evorea. His loyalty is to his king, but it doesn’t take long for Theodore to become equally important.

They come from different realms and are as different as night and day, but together they have everything they need to save Evorea from ruin. They just have to find their way back there.

Knight and Day is part of the Magic Emporium Series. Each book stands alone, but each one features an appearance by Marden’s Magic Emporium, a shop that can appear anywhere, but only once and only when someone’s in dire need. This book contains a magic realm, a handsome guardian, one clueless human, and a guaranteed HEA.

This is the first book of the Magic Emporium series - complete stand alone stories who share the common presence of a mysterious shop that shows up in times of need across universes and dimensions.

To be honest, the blurb really embellishes what this story is about. In reality, it’s a super duper simple romance as Theodore and Samuel fall in love while trying to find a way back to the magical realm Evorea, in order to destroy a potentially sinister dagger. They learn about each other and the differences and similarities of their worlds with quite the quick progression to love in a matter of days. This touches lightly on fate and destiny and of course, ends with a nice and neat HEA that was quite anticlimactic.

I’m practically the lone person that didn’t love this story hard so take my unimportant opinion with a grain of salt. Having read many many urban fantasy paranormal stories over the years, this was admittedly easy breezy with very little to complain about but on the other hand, brought nothing new to really espouse upon either.

Overall, a decent introduction to this intriguing premise of a series.

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Out of the Ashes by M.J. James

Welcome debut author M.J. James and IndiGo Marketing as they celebrate the release of Out of the Ashes! Learn about the romantic suspense novel and enter in the $10 NineStar Press credit giveaway today!

Title: Out of the Ashes

Author: M.J. James

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: September 23, 2019

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 73600

Genre: Contemporary, LGBT, suspense, thriller, romance, mystery, contemporary, firemen, hurt comfort, revenge

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Synopsis

Alex Porter’s life goes up in flames the night his tiny bookstore catches fire. Powerless to stop it, he can do nothing but stand by and watch as the only thing he’s ever loved is taken from him.

Fire sergeant Matt Fields is ordered to Cliffside, Maine by the privileged Porter family, which doesn’t mix well with his quick temper, to investigate exactly what happened. When he meets Alex, he can almost taste the sexual tension hanging between them and fights to focus on his job to find out what started the blaze.

Once Matt discovers arson, a simple case of accidental fire becomes much more dangerous, and Alex’s life is suddenly at risk. Someone is out to get him…and Matt wants to know who. As he digs deeper to find the person who torched the shop, he and Alex finally give in to the wild heat between them. From hot as hell phone sex to even hotter face-to-face encounters, they grow closer together as the case spins out of control.

In the end, their newfound love will be put to the test when secrets come to light and arson turns to murder.

Excerpt

Out of the Ashes
M.J. James © 2019
All Rights Reserved

Black, billowing smoke splattered the night sky like paint on a canvas long before Alex reached the tiny bookstore he owned and loved more than anything. The glow of streetlamps skittered over the car’s windshield as he sped through the quiet streets of Cliffside, Maine, the idyllic town he called home. Their measured illumination tossed shadows across the interior of his sedan. He zipped past darkened storefronts and empty parking lots, praying he wouldn’t get pulled over because he didn’t have time to try to haggle his way out of a ticket. His life teetered on the edge, and he was desperate to stop the fall.

He had worked tirelessly to turn the shop into something he could be proud of, and now all his efforts were going up in flames. Even as a little boy he had dreamed of having his own business, and his intense love of the written word was the perfect motivation. For almost three years, it was his lifeline. Now, after a midnight phone call from the local police, said lifeline would be forever severed… He couldn’t even comprehend what was happening.

“No, no, no…” His protests faded away when he turned onto Shemwood Drive. The historic brownstone was blazing red-hot, thick black smoke pluming into the night-time sky. “NO!” He slammed the silver sedan into Park and leapt from the car, leaving the engine running and the headlights on. Smoke swirled in the light of their beams like venomous snakes on the prowl as he raced across the street toward the fire, heat blasting him in the face with every inch closer he got. He winced but charged forward.

“Stay back!” A firefighter approached as he headed for the roaring blaze. He stared at her, wide-eyed, the large shield attached to her helmet teetering above her head, the orange glow of flames reflecting off the shiny surface.

“This is my store!” he yelled at the petite blonde woman now standing between him and the fire. She gripped his arm like a vise when he tried to sidestep her, and he snatched free. “Let me go.”

“I don’t care. You’re not going in there.” She yelled to be heard over the roar of the inferno churning behind them. Alex’s determination faltered between the rumble and heat of the fire and the woman blocking him. “What the hell are you gonna do, anyway?”

“I…” What was he going to do, put out the fire with his bare hands?

“Step back!” She pushed against his chest and he skittered backward. She then turned her attention to the other firefighters manhandling a hose clearly losing the battle as it spewed water on the Book Nook.

“My God.” Alex ran his hands through his hair, his emotions like a caged animal, trying to claw their way out. Frustration and anger swirled among the panic settling into his chest and he gritted his teeth to keep from losing control. This couldn’t be happening. It just couldn’t. He tugged at the tie around his neck to try to ease the suffocating feeling in his throat and undid the top button of his shirt. He sucked in a deep breath and held his breath until his chest began to ache and throb before forcing all the air out, letting some of the dread twisting his stomach go with it. He had spent the majority of the night at his shop, hosting a pretty successful author signing and then cleaning up afterward, and all he had wanted to do was go home and relax. One phone call and his plan was literally up in smoke.

He wanted to scream, hit something, shatter into a million pieces right there in the street because everything was gone.

All those books, the artwork created by kids in the neighborhood during Saturday story times… Everything was burning.

His life was gone.

The pain of the realization swept over Alex like dense, choking fog, consuming him, turning him inside out. He sat on the curb across the street from his store, a thick huddle of sightseers from the bar on the corner now crowded together behind him, ogling the scene like vultures over roadkill. He could hear their “ohs” and “my Gods” and the words were making him sick. Sick because there was nothing he could do to stop them. Stop their taunting and awe and shock. He couldn’t stop any of it. The fire, the onlookers, the pity pulsing all around him; he could do nothing.

Nothing but stand there and watch as the life he had worked so hard to build turned to ashes right before his eyes.

After a long night of standing powerless on the sidelines while his life burned, Alex finally gave up and headed home—even though he wanted to do the exact opposite. He wanted to stay. Fix things. Turn his life upright again. How could he just walk away when the only thing important to him was gone? But he did. He left. Went home. He was a zombie as he peeled off his smoke-drenched clothes and sat naked in his living room, burying his erratic emotions in more than a few glasses of vodka and cranberry. Once his mind was good and chemically altered, he stumbled to his bedroom at the back of the house and collapsed into bed, falling asleep just as daylight began to peek through the curtains. He woke an hour later to incessant pounding on his front door and dragged himself out of bed, his head pounding like a thousand drums. He snagged a pair of boxers from the floor and slipped them on as he rubbed sleep from his eyes and wound his way through the house, using walls and furniture to stay upright.

“Yeah?” Alex swung the door open wide, the low sun blasting his face like pepper spray, almost blinding him. He lifted a hand to shield his eyes and fought to focus. “Oh, Sorry. Good morning, officers.”

Two stern-faced uniforms stared back at him, both with their legs shoulder-width apart and backs awkwardly straight in an overly masculine TV cop fashion. Alex wanted to laugh at how ridiculous they looked but held back. Their presence didn’t feel like a joke. Police at your door first thing in the morning didn’t typically scream social call.

“Mr. Porter?” The woman spoke first, her tone more a statement than a question.

“That’s me. Are you here about the fire?”

“We are, sir. Could you come down to the station, please? Answer a few questions for us?”

“Questions?” Alex’s gut lurched. “What questions?”

“Standard in this type of thing, sir. We need to find out what happened last night.”

“Yes, you do. But I don’t see why you need to question me. I wasn’t even there.”

“Then you’ll have nothing to worry about.” The woman shifted on her feet, and Alex noticed her grip tighten on the Glock at her side.

“Wait a minute…do I need a lawyer?” His stomach turned, like at any second his already obliterated life was about to get much, much worse.

“Do you have a reason to need a lawyer, Mr. Porter?” The male officer spoke this time, pulling Alex’s attention from the agitated woman. The man was good-looking, what some might even call hot, but all Alex could see was the accusation hidden beneath his words.

“Sure sounds like I might.” Every nerve in Alex’s body was screaming at him, putting him on edge. He had seen enough true crime television and episodes of Law and Order: SVU to know how things like this typically played out.

“Well that’s certainly up to you,” the male officer said. “Either way, we need you to come with us.”

He didn’t want to—he wanted to slam the door in their faces and crawl back into bed and forget the last twelve hours even happened—but Alex knew he had no choice. If he didn’t go with them willingly, they would just make him. His neighbors would see him dragged off in cuffs and the entire town would know what happened before he even arrived at the station. He ran a hand through his hair and huffed.

“Fine,” he said, stepping out of the doorway and onto the porch. A cold northern wind swept around them, but Alex was too upset to care.

“Um, sir?” The female officer gestured toward him, and Alex stopped.

He lowered his hand from above his eyes as he moved to the side and, to block the sun, stepped into the shadow cast by one of the large columns flanking the porch steps. “Yes?”

She glanced over at her partner who nodded to Alex’s lower half. “You might wanna get dressed.”

Though he had slipped them on only a minute ago, Alex had forgotten he had answered the door in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs.

He darted back inside and stood behind the door. “I think I’ll need a minute.” Both officers nodded as he stepped away from the door and headed back to his bedroom. He was wide awake now, embarrassment and fear jolting his mind. He got dressed in record time, throwing on some jeans, a T-shirt, and a pair of old sneakers while trying not to dwell on what would no doubt happen once he got to the police station. How in the world was any of this happening?

First, he lost his store, and now…what, he was about to be grilled by the police? Maybe even arrested? No, the officers standing at his door didn’t come right out and admit anything, but Alex knew they suspected him. Even the simplest mind would only take a second to realize it made sense to think he burned down his own place, but that didn’t help quell his uneasiness. By the time he locked the house and crammed into the back of the police cruiser, his hangover had moved from his head to his stomach, and he had to fight to keep from throwing up.

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet the Author

I’ve always wanted to be a writer (like most writers, I’m sure) but not until the last few years have I taken it seriously. I was always told growing up that I had to get a job and “earn my keep,” so I pushed my dream of writing a book to the back of my mind and entered the workforce. Fast-forward many, many years and here I am, trying to make a go at it.

I stumbled across Blogger in 2010 and my world of writing exploded. I have met (via the web) so many amazing writers and industry professionals and book bloggers that have passed on their wisdom and experience and successes and failures. So many, in fact, that I have no excuse to sit down and write out the stories living in my head. Which is what I’m now attempting to do.

I enjoy reading more than most other things (well, except maybe for writing. And TV. No way am I giving up my TV) . OUT OF THE ASHES is my first foray into the world of adult m/m and I am loving it!

Website | Twitter

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Guest Review: Him Improvement by Tanya Chris

The course of true love runs through every neighborhood….

Only one thing stands between Gregory MacPherson II and his dream revitalization project for the gritty neighborhood of Ball’s End: a rinky-dink, run-down used bookstore called Hailey’s Comic. But when master negotiator Mac shows up to make a deal with the owner, he comes face-to-face with quirky, colorful Hailey—unexpectedly good-humored about Mac’s attempted eviction and, also unexpectedly, a hot guy.

Hailey won’t give up his lease, no matter how much money Mac offers. When it comes to consummating their mutual attraction, though, he’s a lot more flexible. Soon Mac has as hard a time prying himself out of Hailey’s bed as he does prying Hailey out of the building. But Hailey doubts Mac’s plans serve Ball’s End’s best interests, and he insists Mac give him a chance to prove his case. If they’re going to build a happy ever after, one of them will have to be remade…

Reviewer: Annery


Do you feel like skipping Halloween & Thanksgiving and diving right into a non-treacly non-Christmas Christmas tale? Look no further than this sweet tale from Tanya Chris. Reminiscent of A Christmas Carol, but without copying it beat for beat, Him Improvement follows a sort of remaking or awakening of Gregory “Mac” McPherson.

Mac is a real estate developer, and his company focuses on rehabilitating underutilized neighborhoods or, as the people who live there might say, paving the way for gentrification. Mac’s current project is in Ball’s End, whose residents are decidedly on the lower-income spectrum, and therefore have been easy to relocate via buyouts, non-renewal of leases, or other methods. The one holdout is Hailey’s Comic, which despite its name, isn’t strictly a comic book store but a rambling used book store. In order to expedite the emptying of this last storefront Mac decides to employ the personal touch and brings himself to 502 Main Street where he meets Hailey Green, the bookstore owner, and it’s basically lights out.

There is a strong element of, if not insta-love, at least insta-lust which quickly morphs into the former, at least on Mac’s part, but I didn’t mind. Refreshingly Mac isn’t conflicted about his attraction to Hailey due to his gender, Mac’s been out as bisexual to his friends and family since college, and the sexual attraction isn’t really ever in question. Hailey likes/wants Mac (a.k.a. Greg to Hailey) and isn’t coy about it. Once Mac starts a relationship with Hailey, he’s not only exposed to Hailey’s views on life, capitalism, and urban planning, but he also gets to meet and spend time with the people of Ball’s End. Lives that were once abstractions in a report are now living, breathing, flesh & blood. This is source of angst in this story. Mac getting to know those who are affected by his company’s projects and Mac wanting to be worthy of Hailey. At heart Mac is a good guy, and he also happens to think that Hailey hangs the moon. This leads him to revise or scrap the way does business in order to embrace the needs of those already living in these areas and not just the new residents his company is hoping to attract.

The story is told from Mac’s P.O.V., and very much centers on Mac continually questioning if Hailey would approve or what would Hailey do? He shouldn’t worry so much. Hailey is also just a good guy trying to do, what he believes is the right thing. To that extent he’s been using the bookstore as community center that covers everything from after-school babysitting to an informal AA meeting place. The only thing he hasn’t been able to do is turn a profit, because he’s terrible at business. Anyway these two men, who on the surface are opposites, make a pretty good whole. I enjoyed that their external appearance didn’t restrict who they were in the bedroom. As usual Tanya Chris delivers realistic relationships full of heat and sensuality. I liked that in spite of their radically different upbringings and likely politics, each man respected where the other was coming from, their goals and motivations.

I’ve only have two quibbles with this story which can absolutely be ignored by everyone else. One is Hailey himself. Granted we know him from Mac’s P.O.V., but he seemed almost too perfect. Also I questioned this decision to plant his flag in a mostly minority neighborhood. I’m not a particularly PC person or at all, but it struck me as a bit of White Savior or White Martyr? I’m not saying his intentions are nefarious or any such thing, far from it, but maybe making the character something other than a white guy looking for purpose amongst underprivileged minorities would’ve sat better. My second quibble is said minorities. Some of them seem to exist to prop up Hailey’s bonafides as do gooder or Mac’s education in social diversity, and the other part had a whiff of the Noble Savage. I’m sure I’m wrong but it did cross my mind.

Of course you can skip my previous paragraph and just enjoy a sweet story about two adults who find a way to live in each other’s different worlds, and enrich each other’s lives because they’ve fallen in love. Isn’t that what we all want in the end?

Merry Early Christmas. xoxo

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Between the Covers Anthology by Various Authors

Time to get Between the Covers of this anthology by Ann Lister, TL Travis, S.J. York, Kris Jacen, Elle Keaton & Lynn Michaels! Find out more & enter the giveaway to win your very own e-copy! Good luck!

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

Length: 242 Pages

Blurb

Get lost in a book store and find something hot.


Behind the stacks, tucked into the dark corners, and reading nooks, you’ll find an adventure, and you might just find more. Grab this hot boxset and get into these six tales of passion and possibly love.


Using book stores as a source of inspiration, these six bestselling authors take you on a journey you won’t forget. Your heart will be warmed as you dive in and discover our men from the heart of the book store.


Love - Limited Edition by Elle Keaton

Bent Corners by Kris Jacen

A Rhythm You Feel by Ann Lister

Coffee, Tea or Me by TL Travis

Love Potion No. 69 by Lynn Michaels

Stacks by SJ York

Elle Keaton - Website - Facebook - Twitter - BookBub

Kris Jacen - Website

Ann Lister - Website - Twitter - Facebook - Goodreads - Amazon

TL Travis - Website - Twitter - Facebook

Lynn Michaels - Website - Twitter - Facebook

SJ York - Twitter - Facebook 

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Review: The Mistletoe Kiss by Ruby Moone

Widowed bookseller Lawrence Fenton has spent a lonely lifetime hiding who he is. He has convinced himself his feelings for his far too young, gorgeous, but troubled assistant Christy Shaw are nothing more than pride in his protégé and concern for his plight. 

Christy’s life involves walking fine lines: one between his mother and his abusive stepfather, one where he must keep his needs hidden, and hardest of all, one where he must keep his feelings for his serious employer to himself.

Lame since birth, Lawrence cannot imagine anyone wanting him, least of all Christy. But when Christy’s life threatens to spiral out of control, Lawrence steps in. Then Christy’s emotions spill over into a kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas. Will Lawrence be able to face the long-buried truth about himself and keep Christy by his side?

I am absolutely ridiculously in love with historical holiday romances so I had to snag The Mistletoe Kiss when it came through. It completely delivered on every little nuance that speaks to me and I ate up the atmosphere and the characters the author created. 

Lawrence is a stoic widower with a sad history. He’s now owns a small neighborhood bookshop and while he comes across as a solid businessman, he doesn’t really seem to be as strong on the customer service side. Not that he doesn’t do everything for his customers they ask, he just doesn’t have that charisma that customers in a close community love. He hires an assistant, Christy, who turns out to be just what the shop (and Lawrence) needed. Christy has a tough life, he’s dirt poor and has to be very careful trying to support his mother while avoiding his abusive drunkard of a stepfather. 

I enjoyed reading the dynamics between Lawrence and Christy. Technically, there’s a May-December thing happening, but the balance between the two of them never felt off with the power tilting too far towards the older of the two MC’s. The only way that came into play was that Lawrence was Christy’s employer, but that made sense. Christy held his own with his ambitions and loyalties, Lawrence gave him the warm fuzzies from tops to tails, but he also had his pride as a grown ass man, and was plenty mature for his years. I think what really made the thought of a relationship between them work for me was the respect they had for one another. The author did an excellent job of showing me the admiration beyond just the physical and it gave the story more depth beyond Christmas fluff. 

The little moments between the two came along with more frequency and the bookshop provided safe common ground for them to connect. Lawrence gave Christy more responsibility and Christy ran with it. He brought warmth to the shop and to Lawrence and it was so sweet to read as they slowly opened up to one another. 

There was a prominent subplot happening the whole time, Christy’s mother and the aforementioned stepfather from hell are constantly on Christy’s mind so naturally Lawrence gets pulled in as well. That brought plenty of ugly moments into an otherwise relatively angst free story. It did add some grit that kept the story from being too pretty-perfect. My only complaint was that line of the story didn’t end up being resolved. I wouldn’t expect it to be completely wrapped up in a story of this length but I would have liked it to be at least solidly heading in a direction of resolution. 

The MC’s are heading towards a pretty solid HEA though and that makes me exceptionally happy. They really found their footing with one another and when they took their relationship to a physical level they were verrrrrry compatible and I love, love, loved their potent connection and romantic banter. It was exactly why the holiday books get to me so hard.

**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

Review: La Famiglia (Men of Gilead #2) by Deanna Wadsworth

Forrester Giordano comes from a huge, nosy Italian family, and with their homophobic jokes and slurs, he’s decided to stay in the closet. He finds respite in his bookstore in the quaint village of Gilead—where he has a huge crush on one of his customers, Kyle Benson.

Kyle is determined to live his dreams, and though life isn’t easy being deaf, one by one he’s making them come true. He’s scored a great job practicing law, bought a cute bungalow where he can finally have a big flower garden, and he has a dog he loves, Jasper. Now he just needs one thing to complete his happiness: a family of his own to make up for the one he never had.

Forrester and Kyle’s relationship starts off hot and heavy, and neither man can deny the depth of their connection. When Forrester’s little brother gets mixed up with their heroin-dealing cousin and his mother falls ill, Forrester has a decision to make—maybe the hardest of his life. For the first time, he’s found a man worth coming out for.

Unfortunately nothing ever goes according to plan with la famiglia.

I’ve got to say that this has a lot going for it, as it boasts a gentle giant who owns a bookstore and falls in love with the gorgeous newcomer with a disability and a painful past. The only thing is, said gentle giant is in the closet.

Yes, lately I haven’t been able to enjoy this sort of set up as much as I used to, but I liked the first book The Rhubarb Patch and its small town setting, so I wanted to give the sequel a chance. For the most part it succeeds.

Forrester is a really down to earth guy, kinda the odd man out amongst his other 3 burly brothers, but he loves his big fat Italian family - he just can’t say with 100% that they’ll love him back if he reveals his true self. Unfortunately, he has some reason for doubt due to a fractious history with his now deceased dad who had a predisposition to spout off bigoted statements. Thus, Forrester fears there’s a possibility that the rest of his relatives feel the same way, and he’s not going to rock the boat if he doesn’t have to. However, Kyle quickly becomes more than a crush, and he knows he’ll have to make some tough decisions and soon.

Kyle, in turn is equally wonderful, seeing the best in Forrester, never pressuring him, knowing that coming out is a very personal choice. Kyle also knows what it feels like when said choices and autonomy are taken away and the feeling of fear and helplessness that comes along with it. His past is particularly awful, where he was horrifically betrayed by the one person who should've kept him safe, using Kyle’s disability against him in the worst way. Because of this, Kyle wholeheartedly supports Forrester regardless of the fact that he wants to be open about being with the protective big guy, but he’s willing to wait since he finally feels safe due to Forrester’s careful care and consideration.

So, despite the hiding and the secrets, the strength of this story lies with both MC’s. Their relationship may start a bit fast once their attraction is made known, but the growing feelings evolve and mature at a good pace. It of course doesn’t hurt that both characters are really really likeable, and this was full of family crazy dynamics, sexy and tender loving, and a good amount of hurt comfort. I admit for me, Wadsworth is a tad quirky where certain things stood out, but I’m invested in this series now and should there be more stories about the characters from this quaint town, I’ll gladly revisit Gilead again.



Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Tag Team Review: Yuletide Truce by Sandra Schwab

London, 1845

It's December, Alan "Aigee" Garmond's favorite time of the year, when the window display of the small bookshop where he works fills up with crimson Christmas books and sprays of holly. Everything could be perfect — if it weren't for handsome Christopher Foreman, the brilliant writer for the fashionable magazine About Town, who has taken an inexplicable and public dislike to Aigee's book reviews.

But why would a man such as Foreman choose to target reviews published in a small bookshop's magazine? Aigee is determined to find out. And not, he tells himself, just because he finds Foreman so intriguing.

Aigee’s quest leads him from smoke-filled ale-houses into the dark, dingy alleys of one of London's most notorious rookeries. And then, finally, to Foreman. Will Aigee be able to wrangle a Yuletide truce from his nemesis?

Lori - 4 Hearts

My first seasonal story of the year (even if I read it waaaaay out of season!) and it was everything I look for in my Christmas stories. It had that feel good Christmas feel to it, the one where you know it will all turn out right in the end with just a little bit of turmoil on the way. I suppose this could be classed as enemies-to-lovers, set in England a century or so ago, it was more of a class-ist disagreement - basically the posh toff got his comeuppance and fell in love. So, pretty much all good then!

It is a short read, but it's perfectly lovely. If you're looking for a book to start off your holiday reading, I'd definitely recommend this one. Feel good all the way in a palette of red and green with a dash of snow.

Perfick.

Lost in a Book - 4 Hearts

Merry Christmas!!!!!! It’s that time of year we all know and love with all of the ugly sweaters, countdowns to how many minutes are left until Christmas day, AND

Oh yeah, and all the Christmas books we get to enjoy. This book had 3 things going for it that initially drew me in; It's a historical m/m, it’s only 68 pages, and I needed a reality escape and thought Christmas in September would do the trick. Historicals seem to be my drug of choice lately and one of my favorite worlds to get lost in. This book was no different and I devoured the 68 pages like a bag of chips. I enjoyed this short little read and wouldn't have complained if it was longer.

Yuletide Truce takes place in 1845 London around Christmas time. Everyone is feeling the Christmas cheer except Alan "Aigee" Garmond and Christopher “Adonis of Fleet Street” Foreman. Well, Aigee would be feeling all Christmasy if Foreman wasn't being such a buzzkill and putting a damper on his favorite time of year. Aigee works in a small bookstore and reviews books for their little magazine. Foreman writes for a more fashionable publication and "has taken an inexplicable and very public dislike to Aigee's book reviews." After another scathing review, Aigee decides to confront the infuriatingly gorgeous writer and put an end to the bad press affecting his boss. This confrontation doesn’t go well because the Adonis is an asshat and Aigee loses it and rips him a new one. Bah-humbug!

Days pass and Aigee decides to visit his old neighborhood. You can take the boy out of the slums but you can’t take the heart of the slums out of the boy. While visiting, he spots Foreman being led down a questionable back alley. Out of the goodness of his heart, Aigee follows and lucky for the Adonis, is quite the street fighter because he saves his tight little ass. Foreman isn’t in the best shape and ends up in Aigee’s rooms for some much needed rest and sex. *Rewind* Huh? He just got his ass kicked with one eye swollen shut and after the blood is wiped away, it’s time for a blowjob and some friction. *sigh* I didn’t hate it though…because I’m a perv like that. Ok, Ok, before they had sex, they called a Yuletide Truce “a ceasing of hostilities in the spirit of the season and all that.” Then the sex.

This was a enjoyable little enemies to lovers read. I liked Aigee and Foreman together even though we don’t get much on page time with them as a couple due to the length. It wasn’t all jingle bells and mistletoe after the truce was called but the HEA was hard-fought. As I mentioned, they hooked up right after the altercation and the transition from conversation about a friendly truce to Aigee offering a “tongue-lashing” was abrupt and lacked finesse . However, outside of that questionable transition, it was a well rounded shorty that I enjoyed and got me through until my next hit of historical. Definitely recommended.


P.S. The cover reminded me of something my grandma would watch on the Hallmark channel. I'll overlook it since it's a Christmas book and I’m supposed to be merry and full of good tidings and shit like that.

Audiobook Review: Murmuration by T.J. Klune

In the small mountain town of Amorea, it’s stretching toward autumn of 1954. The memories of a world at war are fading in the face of a prosperous future. Doors are left unlocked at night, and neighbors are always there to give each other a helping hand.

The people here know certain things as fact:

Amorea is the best little town there is.

The only good Commie is a dead Commie.

The Women’s Club of Amorea runs the town with an immaculately gloved fist.

And bookstore owner Mike Frazier loves that boy down at the diner, Sean Mellgard. Why they haven’t gotten their acts together is anybody’s guess. It may be the world’s longest courtship, but no one can deny the way they look at each other.

Slow and steady wins the race, or so they say.

But something’s wrong with Mike. He hears voices in his house late at night. There are shadows crawling along the walls, and great clouds of birds overhead that only he can see.

Something’s happening in Amorea. And Mike will do whatever he can to keep the man he loves.

Listening Length: 12 hours and 11 minutes
Narrator: Kirt Graves

TJ Klune is a autobuy author to me. Even if I review a free copy, I’ll end up purchasing the book in ebook, audio or paperback because I just love the story that much and I need TJ to keep writing for as long as he can stand it. One of the greatest things about this author is his willingness to take risks when it comes to writing. And boy was this a risk.

This is the most unusual story I have listened to in awhile. There is a lot going on that I was keenly aware of while I was following Kirt Graves narration, I just couldn’t figure out the bigger picture. The story was pretty obvious in some ways, but I was still following breadcrumbs to understand it completely through most of the story. It is definitely a story that takes you on a winding journey. It’s hard to tell whether it will lead you to the Emerald Castle, or whether you’ll end up back in Munchkin land.

I love a bit of mystery, and this mystery worked me the entire time. I was hungry for the little bits of knowledge that cropped up during odd moments, and how that played into the overall plot. I really had no idea how this story was going to end, even as I neared the conclusion. I loved that I got played and that at times I was completely confused.

This story is an experience. In patience and thought. It’s like a twin peaks episode, but then once you’re at the end you realise you’ve watched the entire season. It’s something bizarre and quirky and beautiful. Fascinating in it’s development with a slow reveal. A complex piece of literature from a skilled writer who enjoys taking readers on a ride.

I did find the tone of the story to be a little dreary. It felt slow at times, and I wanted it to hurry up. My best advice to other readers is to go in expecting an experience. Not just a story but a journey. This will make you consider the what if’s and draw parallels to thoughts or stories you’ve heard or seen. This is a story within a story, and once you’re inside it, you’ll question what you’ve read, and everything you’re going to read.

This is more than a romance. This is actually beyond a romance. The relationship between Mike and Sean is the most minute part of this story, but is also everything in this story. Pay careful attention.

I can’t say I love Kirt Graves as a narrator, but I think his style is growing on me. This is a personal issue and I don’t think it has anything to do with Kirt’s voice acting skills. I’m a weirdo with voices, and if you’ve followed any of my previous audio reviews, you’ll know it is more connected with my hearing issues than the actors who put their voices to these stories. The best way to judge for yourself would be to sample this story on Audible.

If you’re a fan of odd quirky stories, complex writing, and stories that are different, definitely give this one a go. It wasn’t my favourite, but it is definitely something memorable, and for that it gets high marks.

A review copy was provided for an honest opinion.

Review: Hearts in Ireland (World of Love) by J.C. Long

When the future is shrouded and it’s hard to find direction, maybe it’s time to let the heart lead the way….

Ronan Walker stands at a crossroads, unsure how to pursue his education… unsure if he even wants to. Now that his mother is gone, all he has left are the wonderful stories of her youth in Ireland, and he’s drawn to the land of his ancestors. There, he seeks out his mother’s family and meets Fergal Walsh, who works at Ronan’s aunt’s bookstore. A love of literature facilitates a fast friendship between the two men, and even though Ronan cannot deny the potential—and his desire—for more, he cannot see a future for the two of them when he leaves Ireland. Fergal must persuade Ronan to give school in Dublin a chance—and convince Ronan that his heart has already found its home.


World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

I was curious about this book having read the author's highly erotic short stories and wondering how his take on this particular line would transfer. The writing is easy to read and engage in, as usual, but the heat level is not in the same land at all. That isn’t a bad thing, it’s just very different from what I have read before but I truly enjoyed the romance of Ronan and Fergal and wouldn’t change a thing.

Home isn’t always where you started—sometimes it’s where you end up.

This book starts off with an extremely emotional scene as we meet Ronan Walker as he is with his mother as she passes away. Ronan’s mother, Allanah, was everything to him and the stories she would tell him of her homeland back in Ireland was a bond they shared. Knowing how much his mother loved where she was from and how much she wanted to go back, she made Ronan promise he would visit and of course he does.

The promise made was bittersweet for me as traveling to Scotland after my father passed was something I had planned to do. He and I always talked about visiting where his family was from and his passing only made my want stronger but life for me had other plans. It’s still on my list though… one day I’ll get there.

This story makes so much sense if you really take in how much Ronan’s mother meant him. Going to Ireland to really take the time he needs to deal with his grief of losing his mother in the place that meant the most to her, it’s only fitting he would find himself.

So, Ronan travels to Ireland to stay with his mother’s family; his Aunt Gwendolyn and his cousin Hannah in the small town of Abhainn Dún, where they run a bookstore. Once Ronan gets settled and takes in all that Ireland offers on his first day, he goes to the family bookstore and meets Fergal, the handsome boy with the thick Irish brogue, dark red hair and light green eyes. Okay, we can pause here to tell you how much I adored Fergal and not just because of his accent though the way his dialect was written I smiled because I could hear that “Oi” for “I” and just melted. Fergal is such a sweet character who has so much in common with Ronan and his fancy for the American makes him so freaking adorable! Sigh.

Ronan and Fergal have a slow burn to their relationship and really begin it all with being friends. They have a shared love for reading and James Joyce being a favorite and they have plans to see the sights as well as going to Dublin’s Parade together. When Fergal offers to take Ronan camping, a rain storm heats things up between them and Ronan is faced with decisions he wasn’t prepared to make.

Ronan learns so much about his mother from her family, including the fact that she was literally born in a barn, but the most important things Ronan learns is where his heart truly lies. This whole trip for Ronan was him running away from the depression losing his mother brought on. He has always talked about going back to school to get his Masters so he can teach, but put it off repeatedly but once he voices the intent in Ireland, Fergal and Ronan’s family offer the information about Trinity College and their program. It’s a subtle hint for him to stay but Ronan doesn’t know yet if he is coming or going and the feelings he’s having for Fergal muddle his thoughts and confuse the hell out of him.

You see, Allanah met his father when Richard, was stationed in Ireland with the US Air Force. They met, fell in love and when his father proposed, his mother immediately accepted and love took her to a new country to start a new life. Though she never once regretted following Richard, she longed to return to Ireland. So, if Allanah followed Richard to the US for love, you have to wonder if the same thing would happen to Ronan and if so, would his love follow him or would he stay for his love?

Hearts in Ireland was a lovely and sweet story about finding yourself and finding your heart. I loved how Ireland itself becomes part of the romance. The setting is strong and had Ireland not been such a strong tie to Ronan’s mother, this would have just been a boy goes in vacation meets another boy and they have and HEA. But Ireland IS Ronan’s mother to him. It’s who she was deep in her heart and souls and it makes sense Ronan would find himself on the emerald isle and also find someone to give his heart to.