Blog Tour + Giveaway: Bad, Dad and Dangerous Anthology by Various Authors

Welcome the Bad, Dad and Dangerous Anthology blog tour today! Authors T.A. Moore, Rhys Ford, Bru Baker and Jenn Moffatt join forces and created the paranormal romance anthology. Author Rhys Ford drops by to share a story inspired from her characters from the anthology! Read more and enter in the giveaway where you can win $10 from your choice of online retailer (i.e. Amazon, etc)!

 

Title: Bad, Dad, and Dangerous Anthology
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release: 6 October 2020
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Dad-Dangerous-Rhys-Ford-ebook/dp/B08G5FSM3Z 

Dreamspinner Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/bad-dad-and-dangerous-11769-b

Thanks so much for having me here! Since I revisited the world of Once Upon a Wolf for this anthology, I thought I'd drop back in on some familiar characters from that story for this blog tour. I hope you enjoy meeting them, again or for the first time!  

 

Hunting For Salvation - Part 1

“Last I heard, Dean didn’t want to see hide nor hair of you.” The retired Staff Sergeant spat in the dirt at Ellis’s feet, barely missing the toe of one worn boot. “Can’t say I’m too happy to see you either. How about if you crawl back into whatever hole you were hiding in and I’ll forget I ever saw you?”

Ellis hadn’t expected a warm welcome. Not after what he’d done back in a hell made of sand, blood and death but considering he’d been on the alleged right side of the line, he figured it would cut him some slack. Or at least enough of a courtesy to make the grizzled former Marine think twice about greeting him at the front door with a Glock aimed at Ellis’s gut but apparently not.

The wind coming off the shore stank of dead fish and tasted of salt when Ellis turned, licking his lips to bring some moisture back to them after the long hard ride down from San Francisco. The vintage Softail Deluxe he’d gotten from his cousin Levi was a brutal bone-shaker of a ride but the old girl hadn’t uttered a single complaint, rumbling down the highway with a growl throaty enough to remind Eli of an old blues singer in New Orleans and the good times he had with her son.

He’d followed the threads of his worn out connections to get to the sergeant’s house, not expecting much but hoping for a lead on Dean. Any nibble of information would be welcome, especially since the man seemed to have disappeared off the face of the Earth.

Much like Ellis had after their last deployment, limping home with a shell-shocked stare and the blood of innocents curdling on his tongue.

“What are you digging at him for anyway?” More spittle, this time with better aim. The splatter on Ellis’s boots was a faint splotch of moisture compared to the redolent humidity pouring up from the cliffs but he shot the old man a glare anyway. The Marine wasn’t cowed but spat again, clearing his throat once more. This time, the specks flew wide, dampening the bungalow’s wooden porch. “Hasn’t Dean done enough? Dragged you out of that sand pit and brought you home. After what you did…to him, to everyone there—”

“Unloaded everything they had on a bunch of kids who’d taken a wrong turn. Our kids,” Ellis growled softly. The wolf in him pressed against his chest, begging to be set loose but Ellis ignored the call to shift. He was done running and if it killed him, he would find the man who he’d run from.

He just didn’t know what he was going to do with him once he found him.

“Mistakes happen.” The force wasn’t in the man’s words when he spoke them and he looked away as Ellis’s gaze shifted towards his face. “They shouldn’t have been there. No need for a bunch of good men to lose their careers over a mistake no one could —”

“Know what happened. Was there, remember?” He closed his eyes, forcing away the rush of memories coming at him from the pieces of darkness he’d buried deep down inside of him. “Just want to find Dean. Make…amends. Have to.”

The old man stared at Ellis for a long time, watery eyes red around the edges from too many nights chasing nightmares with shots of cheap booze. He stank of cigarettes and muscle liniment, a lingering hint of fried foods and something dark eating away at his liver but Ellis didn’t have any way of telling the old man to go get himself checked out. Perhaps he already had and that led him into the closed end of the bottle.

“Could have killed him, you know? Dean, I mean,” The sergeant mumbled. “After you went back out after that boy… you should have left things alone. Too dangerous. Both of you… didn’t come back right after that.”

“Dean,” Ellis murmured, steeling himself for the ripple of wolf along his spine he knew would come as soon as he stepped clear of the porch. “Where?”

“I don’t know where but…” the old man trailed off, scratching at the white stubble along his fleshy jowls. “I know where his sister is at. Maybe she can help you. Or maybe tell you to go to the Devil. Either way, so long as I see the back of you, I’m good.”

Read the rest of the story tomorrow at Reading Reality!

Bad, Dad, and Dangerous Blurb: When the kids are away, the monsters will play.

School’s out for summer, and these dads are ready to ship their kids off to camp. Not just because their kids are monsters—whose aren’t?—but because they’re ready for some alone time to let their hair down and their fangs out. You see, not only are the kids monsters—their dads are too.

Even the most dangerous of creatures has a soft spot. These bad, dangerous dads love their kids to death, but they need romance.

Every year, for a few short weeks, these hot men with a little extra in their blood get to be who they truly are. And this year, life has a surprise for them. Whether they be mage, shifter, vampire, or changeling, these heartbreakingly handsome dads might be looking to tear up the town… but they’ll end up falling in love. All it takes is the right man to bring them to their knees.

WOLF AT FIRST SIGHT BY RHYS FORD

SFPD Lieutenant Joseph Zanetti has spent years protecting his city, and from the looks of St. Connal’s Pub and its bad-boy owner, Levi Keller, the place is a hotspot for trouble and violence. Joe’s problem? Levi is delectably hot, with secrets Joe can’t wait to dig into.

As a Peacekeeper for paranormals, wolf shifter Levi doesn’t need the complication of a hot cop sniffing around his pub when he’s just sent his teen son off to summer camp. He’s busy brokering a peace agreement between two warring factions. When Joe stumbles into Levi’s world, both plunge into a situation neither one of them was ready for—falling in love.

Tour:

1 Oct: Book Gemz - TA Moore
2 Oct: Paranormal Romance Guild - TA Moore
4 Oct: Boy Meets Boy - Rhys Ford
5 Oct: Reading Reality - Rhys Ford
6 Oct: Blogger Girls - Jenn Moffatt
7 Oct: Love Bytes - Jenn Moffatt
8 Oct: M/M Good Book Reviews - Bru Baker
9 Oct: Twinsie Talk - Bru Baker


Author Bio:

TA MOORE


TA Moore is a Northern Irish writer of romantic suspense, urban fantasy, and contemporary romance novels. A childhood in a rural, seaside town fostered in her a suspicious nature, a love of mystery, and a streak of black humour a mile wide. As her grandmother always said, ‘she’d laugh at a bad thing that one’, mind you, that was the pot calling the kettle black. TA Moore studied History, Irish mythology, English at University, mostly because she has always loved a good story. She has worked as a journalist, a finance manager, and in the arts sectors before she finally gave in to a lifelong desire to write.

Coffee, Doc Marten boots, and good friends are the essential things in life. Spiders, mayo, and heels are to be avoided.

| Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads |

RHYS FORD

Rhys Ford is an award-winning author with several long-running LGBT+ mystery, thriller, paranormal, and urban fantasy series and is a two-time LAMBDA finalist with her Murder and Mayhem novels. She is also a 2017 Gold and Silver Medal winner in the Florida Authors and Publishers President’s Book Awards for her novels Ink and Shadows and Hanging the Stars. She is published by Dreamspinner Press and DSP Publications.

She’s also quite skeptical about bios without a dash of something personal and really, who doesn’t mention their cats, dog and cars in a bio? She shares the house with Harley, an insane grey tuxedo as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird and enjoys murdering make-believe people.

| Website | Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Amazon |

BRU BAKER

Bru Baker writes sophisticated gay romantic fiction with strong characters, real-world problems, and plenty of humor.

Bru spent fifteen years writing for newspapers before making the jump to fiction. Whether it’s creating her own characters or getting caught up in someone else’s, there’s no denying that Bru is happiest when she’s engrossed in a story. She and her husband have two children, which means a lot of her books get written from the sidelines of various sports practices.

 

 

| Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Bookbub | Pinterest

JENN MOFFATT

Jenn Moffatt is a proud nerd. Raised on Star Trek, Dark Shadows, The Wild Wild West, and James Bond, she learned not to be afraid of things that go bump in the night and to have hope for the future of humanity. She grew up wanting to be a member of the Addams Family or part of the crew of the USS Enterprise—and she still does.

She’s been soaked to the skin for Chinese New Year and walked in the fog in Frisco. Went to high school in Sin City, and no, she didn’t live in a casino. Lived on the slope of an active volcano, and used to snorkel between classes in college on the Big Island. Now she lives in San Diego where she gets to see the ocean and wildflowers in the desert on the same day.

Jenn was born disabled, which gives her a deep understanding of what it’s like to be different, but she’s never let it hold her back. It just means she gets pretty good parking.

| Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |

Giveaway

 

$10 Giftcard for online retailer of the winner’s choice!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Giveaway ends October 11th 12AM EST. If chosen, please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected.

Blog Tour: Stealing His Heart (Connoll Pack #1) by Bru Baker

Help author Bru Baker celebrate the release of her newest Dreamspun Beyond title, Stealing His Heart (Connoll Pack #1). Find out more about this paranormal romance and read an excerpt below!

See our 4 ❤️ review HERE!

Thanks for joining me on Boy Meets Boy as I wrap up my blog tour for Stealing His Heart. I’m hard at work on book two, which will be about Joss, a selkie we meet in book one who has a good heart but finds it hard to trust other people. That wariness can lead him into some bad situations, which is where he ends up in Stealing His Heart.

Stealing His Heart

     Danny was going to need a shower before the day was out. Each pawn shop he’d visited was dirtier than the last, and he still had five on his list. No one would admit to buying a couple dozen iPads and laptops recently, and none of the stores had them out on display either.
     Where else would a sixteen-year-old take twenty thousand dollars’ worth of electronics to unload them? He certainly wouldn’t need them all for himself. Was he selling them to people on the street? Had someone pressured him to take them?
     Joss was a good kid. He’d been Danny’s first case, a scared preteen selkie who’d gotten himself kicked out of every foster home he’d been placed in. When Danny met him, he’d been living in a group home, stealing sea salt from upscale groceries and spending so much time in the shared showers that the caretakers started putting limits on his shower time.
     Danny had gotten him a membership to a Y that had a saltwater pool. Joss had stopped skipping classes and started doing well in school. He even volunteered as a swim instructor now, and he mentored younger kids at the foundation’s day center.
Joss had been the only person aside from foundation staff and Sloane who knew about the gifts. And even the staff hadn’t known where he was keeping them. But Joss had helped him carry boxes a few weeks ago. He’d been in Danny’s apartment and knew exactly where they’d been stored.
     The day of the burglary, Danny had dismissed Joss’s scent because he’d been there recently, but after thinking about it, he’d realized the scent had been fresh. Joss smelled like salt and sunshine. It always made Danny smile, but when he’d stood in his living room and realized the scent trail was too fresh to have been made weeks ago, it made him gag.
     He didn’t want to believe Joss would do that. Joss knew better than anyone how much those gifts would mean to the other kids. But he hadn’t come by the day center since the burglary. Danny called the Y and found out he’d been ditching swim lessons too.
     It was so unlike him. Danny was kicking himself for not paying more attention to Joss. He hadn’t been himself lately, but Danny chalked that up to regular teenage angst. He hadn’t checked up on him, and he should have. Now it was too late. Joss was back to skipping school, and his grades were tanking. Most kids his age were hitting the books and looking at colleges, and Joss was out there doing God only knew what.
     Danny had to figure this out before Joss got himself arrested or kicked out of school. But to do that he had to find Joss, and he was coming up blank. He’d been missing from the group home for more than a week.
     Joss was in trouble, and Danny didn’t know how to help him. But he did know that the first step was tracking down the stolen electronics. They were his only tie to Joss, and he wasn’t going to give up just because the pawn shops made him uncomfortable.

Dreamspinner Press, release date March 5, 2019

Blurb:
Stealing His Heart
A Camp H.O.W.L. Novel
Connoll Pack series 1

Love sneaks in like a thief in the night.

Danny’s parents raised him to believe his wolf was a curse. He’s part of the wealthy and powerful Connoll Pack, but only nominally. He abandoned that world to volunteer with supernatural kids, and he isn’t looking for a mate….

Max is a shifter who is also a detective. He’s working a case that could make or break his career. Danny’s caught up in the case he’s on, and he’s also irresistible. They’re a bad match—Max, an Alpha having trouble with his new powers and Danny, who trusts Alphas as far as he could throw one. But they can’t get enough of each other, and they might bond before they even see it coming.

They could be amazing together, but they have to get past a few obstacles—especially since someone close to Danny might be involved in the thefts Max is investigating.

Buy links:
Amazon
Dreamspinner Press
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Google Play

Bio and social media:

Bru Baker writes sophisticated gay romantic fiction with strong characters, real-world problems, and plenty of humor.

Bru spent fifteen years writing for newspapers before making the jump to fiction. She now balances her time between writing and working at a Midwestern library in the reference department. Whether it’s creating her own characters or getting caught up in someone else’s, there’s no denying that Bru is happiest when she’s engrossed in a story. She and her husband have two children, which means a lot of her books get written from the sidelines of various sports practices.

Visit Bru online at www.bru-baker.com or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Review: Stealing His Heart (Connoll Pack #1) by Bru Baker

Love sneaks in like a thief in the night.

Danny’s parents raised him to believe his wolf was a curse. He’s part of the wealthy and powerful Connoll Pack, but only nominally. He abandoned that world to volunteer with supernatural kids, and he isn’t looking for a mate….

Max is a shifter who is also a detective. He’s working a case that could make or break his career. Danny’s caught up in the case he’s on, and he’s also irresistible. They’re a bad match—Max, an Alpha having trouble with his new powers and Danny, who trusts Alphas as far as he could throw one. But they can’t get enough of each other, and they might bond before they even see it coming.

They could be amazing together, but they have to get past a few obstacles—especially since someone close to Danny might be involved in the thefts Max is investigating.

A truly enjoyable paranormal romance that made me sigh in contentment.


Set in the same world as the Camp HOWL series, this starts off with Danny. As per the blurb, Danny’s purposely estranged from his uber rich parents who cannot accept his good natured heart, a heart that only wants to help supernatural foster children in need. He’s basically a lone wolf, going to pack functions and monthly moon runs out of necessity but never forming close relationships with others or finding a new pack to belong to. Sadly, Danny has not known anything different since his parents too, have avoided the werewolf community, thinking their dual nature a curse.


One day, Danny’s apartment is robbed and there just so happens to be hot detective Max, nearby to help him out. These two hit it off immediately despite Danny being a werewolf and Max being an alpha shifter… and both are surprised that the process of forming an Alpha bond between them has already started. Despite the fact that such supernatural mojo progresses quickly and feelings develop fast, Danny and Max still take the time to get to know one another, to feel out their differences, and weigh the potential consequences of how such a bond will affect their lives and their future.


In addition to the more sedate relationship progression, it doesn’t hurt that both these guys were just so likeable. Danny was sweet and endearing, strongly independent but also needing so much love due to years of self imposed and parental neglect. Max was uber alpha, but he’s fair and oh so careful and considerate in handling skittish Danny, never wanting him to feel smothered or controlled, the perfect mix of protection and support.


Admittedly, I enjoyed this more than the Camp HOWL series, despite it probably bringing nothing new to the table in regards to supernatural lore. However, Baker has created an alternate universe that’s still interesting and entertaining, with small and big introductions of other creatures into the mix, and showing off the raucous, loyal loving family that makes up Max’s pack, in and amongst some action suspense mystery - all of which make this spinoff that much better.


This story simply clicked with me for some reason, and in addition to the above, the UST, sweet sexy, and romantic romance contributed to making this a Beyond win!

A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Warmest Wishes Advent 2018: Week 5

It's Week 5 of the Warmest Wishes Advent Stories! This week we're featuring stories from Renae Kaye, Kim Katil, Crystel Greene, Elizabeth Noble, Bru Baker and Jana Denardo!

ICYMI: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Slow Summer Heat by Renae Kaye

Geoffrey Saxon is in his forties, a bit plump, a lot fuzzy, and rather boring in bed—and thanks to a very public breakup, everyone in his street knows it. However, what they don’t know is that Geoffrey sometimes watches his hot young neighbor, Vaughn, in the pool. Vaughn has invited Geoffrey to join his pool parties, but Geoffrey knows it’s only pity.

As if things can’t get worse, Geoffrey’s air conditioner breaks during a heat wave in Western Australia—and just before Christmas. In search of some relief, he camps out in his backyard, where he also has a prime view of Vaughn swimming… naked. When Geoffrey’s injured falling from his spying post, Vaughn comes to his rescue and Geoffrey doesn’t think he can be more horrified.

But he could be in for a sweet holiday surprise. Is he ready to take the dive?

Ann - 4.5 Hearts

This story does slow burn just right, like, exactly, perfectly right. And when slow burn is done right, it can be hotter than the porniest of porn. Geoffrey gets that and his awkwardness, sincerity and honesty make this story. Slow Summer Heat is a purely character driven story, which works really well for the shorties because the characters can be more fully fleshed out and the balance of banter and activity let me get to know Geoffrey and Vaughn. Well, Geoffrey especially. It was nice to read a story with a more mature MC and watch his ego get stroked by someone who he felt was out of his league, but who ended up being a perfect match for him. The setup made it easy to see why Geoffrey was attracted to Vaughn, but reading about the evolution of Vaughn’s attraction to Geoffrey and Geoffrey’s realization that he deserved the affection was a treat.

Season to Shimmer by Kim Katil

One morning close to the holidays, Nolan wakes up to two surprises: a distress call from his younger brother and a beautiful man in his bed. Nolan, an art gallery owner, has always been discreet about his sexuality, but when his baby brother plans to come out at the annual family gala, Nolan wants to have his back—and that means showing up with a man of his own on his arm. Nolan knows just the man for the job.

Skylar, who owns a karate studio in St. Augustine, can’t get his one-night stand out of his mind. When he runs into Nolan at his gallery he is more than happy to volunteer his services as arm candy. Out-and-proud himself with his striking blue/green hair, Skylar is all in. Their adventure means a fancy salon, family drama, lots of sex, a ninja hippo, and palm trees lit up in a very suggestive way. By the end of it, what started as a hookup might become much more.

Ann - 2.5 Hearts

I loved the idea of this one and the beginning was a seriously hot setup. But then a lot of noise happened with every other character and took away from the two MC’s and that bummed me out. The messages were well received but were delivered in the guise of telenovela drama, which if you like a bit of OTT, then you will love this. I myself appreciate subtlety a bit more, so while this story wasn’t so much for me, I can see the appeal. I liked Nolan and Skylar together, I just didn’t get a real sense of them as a couple so it was harder to buy into the HEA than it should have been.

R *A Reader Obsessed - 3 Hearts

When a pending family holiday party pushes Nolan to come out to support his younger gay brother, it also pushes Nolan to take a chance on finding some romantic love himself. Who better to be his co conspirator and quasi-fake boyfriend than the gorgeous hookup currently occupying his bed? Surely, Nolan can find some “incentive” to get Skylar to be his date.

For me, this was a bit rough around the edges in execution and dialogue. There was a lot going on here that kinda left me spinning. However, I really enjoyed the brotherly vibes and for those who need plenty of smexy, this shortie does not shirk on the goodness. The dynamic between Nolan and Skylar was great and though things moved super fast, having Christmas just around the corner was good enough for me and apparently, good enough for these two to push them in the right direction! Cheers!

Santa on the Beach by Crystel Greene

The sexy Santa and the virgin dad....

Single dad Mario, twenty-one, has finally won shared custody of his five-year-old son, Sammy. They’re spending Christmas at a Tenerife resort to celebrate. The children’s swimming instructor, Josie, is sexy and fun, and Mario can’t stop dreaming about him. But Mario has no clue how to talk to a hot guy.

With his suntan, Speedos, and rippling abs, Josie seems to be the typical jock. He’s super sweet too, and everyone loves him. But he only has eyes for the fire-eyed little dad who looks like his son’s older brother and won’t stop policing the swimming class.

Sammy would like to be a king in the hotel’s nativity play. But he’s too afraid to go anywhere without his dad.

Mario would like a holiday romance with Josie, or even a little more, but between building his tech company and trying to do his part as Sammy’s father he has missed out on a lot and is too inexperienced to know where to begin.

Luckily Santa might have just the thing for everyone on his list...

Ann - 4.5 Hearts

Santa on the Beach was so much more than I expected and I loved Mario and his story. The author managed to fit SO much nuance into a short story and it was seriously impressive. The story was told from Mario’s perspective and it was a take on young fatherhood that I had never read before. I don’t usually go for stories with kids in them and it’s only because I don’t give them a fair shake. It’s no easy feat to write a story with a believable little kid, but Crystel Greene did it and the realistic difficulties Mario had with his son Sammy were in turn heart-waming and heart-wrenching, but in the end, realistic.

Reading Mario’s perspective and the stress he felt about measuring up as an extremely young father gave me a lot of respect for his character. At the same time, his crush on Josie gave him some hard won focus on himself for a change and while he fought it pretty adorkably hard, Josie appreciated Mario for how he should be appreciated.

The depth of this story along with the lovable characters and excellent banter made me search out more of this author’s stories as soon as I finished.

Twenty-Nine Hours to Eternity by Elizabeth Noble

Being gay and pagan can make for a lonely holiday season, as Ian knows well. He’s used to celebrating alone. The last place he expects to meet a like-minded guy is at LAX during a twenty-nine-hour layover.

Ian’s never felt so comfortable or compatible with another man, even if there is an air of mystery to Race.

Race is no stranger to holiday isolation, and he decides they should seize the opportunity they’ve been given and observe the Saturnalia the way it was meant to be. A grand celebration ensues, where every moment is special and every meal a feast. The ancient traditions take on new meaning as the men find meaning in each other. But each of them has a destiny and for their paths to continue together, it’ll take a kind of magic that hasn’t been seen in centuries.

Ann - 3 Hearts

This story was truly unique and while it didn’t have a lot of world building to be able to attach to, it was still bittersweetly intriguing. The hints of the paranormal throughout are subtle at first, but make more sense as the story evolves. The blurb makes it sound bigger than what it is, the story itself is not that dramatic, but the level of detail I got worked for the length of the story. I liked Ian and Race together very much and it was obvious from their connection they were meant to be together. There was only one way for that to be a thing, hence the bittersweet, but I still wasn’t too sad, and that says a lot for how the author set it up and the amount of detail provided. It wasn’t an expected type of holiday story, but it still had the core feels that made it memorable.

R *A Reader Obsessed - 3 Hearts

This was odd but weirdly enjoyable but odd.

Ian has a long layover waiting to service his next flight. However will he wile away the next 29 hours? Luckily, he meets Race, a stranger who he finds compelling and charming, and what ensues over the next day is them getting to know each other fabulously and celebrating the holiday through their shared pagan beliefs.

What Ian doesn’t realize is that the future brings an interesting development, and Race has apparently been waiting for this event and Ian for a long long time…

Obviously, this has a bit of paranormal/fantasy whimsy thrown in. Mix it with a little fate and you’ve got an interesting original set up that brings a twist on Ian and Race’s HEA!

Holidays Are Where Your Heart Is by Bru Baker

Jared’s been all over the world as a traveling manny with Holiday Helpers, and the itch to put down roots is starting to eclipse his wanderlust—especially since his current family is a handful.

After culinary school, Wes did some wandering of his own, exploring Central America before settling as a resort chef in his mother’s homeland of Costa Rica, a place he loves and where he plans to stay. If he’s learned one thing, it’s to be wary of flings with vacationers. Still, he can’t stand to watch two little Swiss kids lose their belief in Saint Nicholas, so he’ll lend a hand to the manny assisting the family. It won’t be easy to recreate a traditional European Christmas in a tropical paradise.

Between a snowball fight on a sunny beach and sledding down an active volcano, Jared and Wes discover some renewed holiday magic of their own. Can they make it last a lifetime?

Ann - 3.5 Hearts

Jared is feeling like he’s at the end of his traveling manny career. He’s dedicated to the education of kids and is anxious to try a new way to reach them. His latest charges have seemingly absentee parents so he has a big job on his hands to make these kids feel like they aren’t missing the Christmas they know while on a tropical beach. He gets help from the chef/surf teacher on site and of course, the two of them hit it off and it was pretty smooth and angst free. It made it easy to appreciate them as a couple and the near perfection of their relationship was all kinds of Hallmark. It wasn’t too saccharine sweet though, Jared and Wes had just enough snark to keep it real-ish, while still being holiday perfect. I totally bought into an HEA for them, so while the perfection may not have been 100% realistic, the author made me want to believe it, and so I did.

Purrfect Holiday by Jana Denardo

Tony Gatti had his life planned: get his veterinarian license and go to work with his dad and uncle. Soon after achieving his goals, he learned the shadows and blurriness in his vision went beyond needing glasses. Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic mutation with no cure. With his sight almost gone, he moves into his grandmother’s St. Augustine, Florida, home with his guide dog, Raven, to start life over. Nonna Concetta thinks she knows the perfect job for him. Her vet is looking for someone to destress the cats at a local rescue.

Javier didn’t plan to hire a cute former veterinarian to fill the role of cat cuddler, but Tony couldn’t be more perfect. Worried his attraction is inappropriate and knowing the holiday season always depresses him, Javier wonders if he should ask Tony out, or if he’d just be spreading the gloom to someone who already has enough of his own. But if he takes the plunge, could it turn out to be the best holiday ever?

Ann - 3.5 Hearts

Well, I’m a sucker for holiday stories. I’m also a sucker for stories with critters. Put the two together and it’s pretty much a recipe made for me. Purrfect Holiday had the makings to be entirely too adorable, but the author managed to bring in some reality to keep it from being that side of too much. Both men had issues outside the vet’s office and those things made their meeting much more important than just two guys being attracted to one another. Tony has a degenerative eye disease that he is learning to live with and Javier has some family that refuses to accept him; totally different heartbreaks, but heartbreaks nonetheless. They each could use a little shoring up and they found it with one another through the pets they’ve dedicated their lives too. It made for a meet-cute that wasn’t too cute, but also wasn’t too heavy either. The author struck a good balance between the reality of their situations and the hope they found with each other.

R *A Reader Obsessed - 3.5 Hearts

Animal lovers watch out! There's all sorts of dog and cat adorable-ness coming your way!

Disabled Tony doesn’t let his impending blindness inhibit him too much. So, when his grandmother finds him a part time job cuddling those in need at her vet’s office, it’s the perfect distraction. Bonus points for Tony, because hot doctor Javier is hot!

The progression between Tony and Javier was appreciatively sweet, realistic, and romantic. Throw in the bestest seeing eye dog, a geektastic meddling grandma, and plenty of food porn (sadly none of the real stuff) and this was quite the enjoyable and cute holiday romance!

Review copies were provided by the publisher in exchange for honest opinions.

Audiobook Review: Under a Blue Moon (Camp H.O.W.L. #2) by Bru Baker

Once in a blue moon, opposites find they’re a perfect match.

Nick Perry is tired of helping people with their marriages, so when a spot opens up to work with teens at Camp H.O.W.L., he jumps at it. He doesn’t expect to fall in lust with the dreamy new camp doctor, Drew Welch. But Drew is human, and Nick has seen secrets ruin too many relationships to think that a human/werewolf romance can go anywhere.

Happy-go-lucky Drew may not sprout claws, but he’s been part of the Were community all his life. He has no trouble fitting in at the camp—except for Nick’s stubborn refusal to acknowledge the growing attraction between them and his ridiculous stance on dating humans. Fate intervenes when one of his private practice patients threatens Drew’s life. Will the close call help Nick to see a connection like theirs isn’t something to let go of?

Listening Length: 6 hours and 40 minutes
Narrator: Dorian Bane

Keeping with a similar storyline both in tone and theme, some might appreciate this while others might not.


As with the first book, this centers around the quasi-secretive camp that helps transition and support werewolves going through their first change, focusing mostly on the various staff members who take care of these young adults. This time around it’s all about new employees Nick and Drew, who are ready to dive into their jobs as counselor and medical doctor respectively. These two meet at the airport when their flight is delayed and lustily hook up during their overnight layover. Though both think the other is hot hot hot, they don’t bother getting each other’s deets, thinking their one night stand will simply remain a fond memory.


However, life never goes as planned, and both Drew and Nick are quite surprised to see the other at Camp HOWL. The blurb describes the conflict perfectly. Despite their strong attraction and connection, Nick adamantly refuses to give into his desire for Drew, thinking Drew being a human will predispose a future relationship towards inevitable failure.

What Nick can’t wrap his obstinate head around is the fact that Drew is well acquainted with all things werewolf, having been raised by a pack since he was a young child. There’s pretty much nothing that Drew doesn’t already know or can’t anticipate, yet Nick resists and resists and resists some more.


Personally, I found all this self denial a bit tiresome (just like I think some found Tate’s resistance in Camp HOWL equally so), but if one knows that going in or enjoys this sort of conflict, then there shouldn’t be any issue at all.


This series continues to be narrated by Dorian Bane, and he seamlessly brings consistency to repeat characters. Bane’s enthusiasm is infectious and he aptly showcases the humor, elevating my rating by keeping me engaged. Nick might be a stubborn ass, but he’s put in his place multiple times over by the feisty Drew, and that was highly entertaining.


I’m definitely the odd man out regarding the love for this sequel. Admittedly, this had some nice shifter undertones of proprietary claiming and protective mate vibes but overall, this fell short for me due to having a comparable conflict to the first book. While I’m hoping for something different in the next installment, I don’t think that will happen. Oh well. Maybe my mood will change by then when I get to it!

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

Blog Tour: Hiding In Plain Sight (Camp H.O.W.L. #3) by Bru Baker

Welcome Bru Baker and Dreamspinner Press who are here today to promote the latest in the author's popular Camp H.O.W.L. series, Hiding In Plain Sight. Find out more about this paranormal romance and read and exclusive excerpt below!

See our review here.

Thanks for joining me on Boy Meets Boy today to talk about the third book in the Camp H.O.W.L. series, Hiding in Plain Sight. This is the book I’ve been waiting for, because we finally get to see Harris get his happy ending. He’s had years to come to terms with the fact that Jackson is his mate, and he resigned himself to it being an unrequited mate bond long ago.

Jackson has been attracted to Harris since the day they met, back when Harris’s parents joined Jackson’s Pack while Harris was in college. But he’s not the settling down type, so he put aside that attraction because he cared too much about Harris to lose his friendship for a casual dalliance.

I’m sharing an exclusive excerpt here today so you can have a front-row seat to the beginning of Jackson’s internal crisis as he realizes that his feelings for Harris go far deeper than simple attraction. Unfortunately, this realization couldn’t have come at a worse time, since Jackson is a on the cusp of taking a job with the Werewolf Tribunal that precludes all bonds--both mate bonds and Pack bonds.

Hiding in Plain Sight

                                   

Jackson knew Harris was in the apartment the moment he woke up. For starters, he felt more relaxed than he had in days. He could also smell Harris’s scent over the spicy aroma of the chili he was cooking.

He groaned and pulled his quilt over his face. Harris was in his kitchen cooking. Life was so unfair. He’d hoped a few days apart would dull the need he felt, but it had only intensified it. He was going to have to come clean and tell Harris what was going on. Continuing to avoid him wasn’t fair to Harris, and being a dick to him physically hurt. His wolf was going nuts.

He’d always been attracted to Harris, and he loved spending time with him. They were close, and he could see how that could morph into more. Not right now, though. Why couldn’t this drive to mate have popped up later? Maybe in a few years when Jackson was secure in a Tribunal job and ready to look for a Pack where he could be Second.

He rolled onto his stomach and buried his head under the pillows. The thought of making a home with Harris had him hard in an instant. For a second he let himself pretend he lived in that future—that he was napping in their bed while Harris pulled together dinner in their kitchen.

Jackson rutted against the mattress, caught up in a fantasy amplified by having Harris so close. He’d given up trying to pretend that Harris wasn’t his mate. It hadn’t made the decision to ignore the mate bond any easier.

The shrill ring of the oven timer brought Jackson’s hips to a sudden halt, reality streaming back in. He was hiding in his room while Harris cooked dinner. This wasn’t their bedroom, and while he might acknowledge Harris was his mate, he wasn’t his.

Jackson sighed and hauled himself out of bed. He’d grab a shower and get ready for work. With any luck, he could procrastinate until it was almost time to leave for his shift and then dash through the kitchen with the excuse of being late on his tongue.

Guilt seeped in while he was showering, and he sped up, steeling himself to man the fuck up and have dinner with Harris. The man was one of his best friends, and he deserved an explanation. God knew if the tables were turned, Jackson would be out of his mind with worry that something was seriously wrong.

Harris had the chili simmering on the stove and cornbread in the oven by the time Jackson wandered into the kitchen. Jackson had given himself the creepiest pep talk ever while he was dressing. He wasn’t going to let his feelings get in the way of his friendship with Harris, and he would pretend the mate bond didn’t exist. Couldn’t be that hard, right?

Jackson’s heart lurched at the hesitant smile Harris shot him when he walked into the kitchen. He’d been a terrible friend over the last week, and he needed to make it up to him. None of this was Harris’s fault. Hell, none of it was Jackson’s either, but he was the one acting like an ass.

Jackson perched on the counter, trying to summon a lightness he didn’t feel.

Harris had unearthed a frilly apron Jordan bought as a joke and was wearing it over his jeans and T-shirt to save his clothes from chili spatter. He looked edible with his long sleeves pushed up to his elbows and a light flush across his cheeks.

“You didn’t have to cook,” Jackson said, picking up a handful of the cheese Harris had shredded and tossing it into his mouth to give his hands something to do. They itched to reach out and touch. “You’re a guest.”

Harris smacked his hand when he reached for more. “Leave some for the chili. And I’m hardly a guest. I invited myself over. Cooking for you was the least I could do.”

Jackson nearly choked on his cheese. God, Harris was pushing all his buttons, and he didn’t even know it.

He coughed a few times to cover the choking. “You’re always welcome here.”

Harris bent over to check the cornbread in the oven and Jackson thought his heart might burst out of his chest. He tried to look calm when Harris turned around, but from the way his eyes had widened in alarm, he knew he’d failed.

“These are done. Is Jordan going to be back soon?”

Jackson reached over him and opened the cabinet to grab two bowls. “He texted a bit ago. He’s held up with a client and said not to wait for him.”

Bastard. No doubt he’d texted rather than called because he knew Jackson would be able to hear the lie in his voice. Jordan was probably going through an Arby’s drive-through right now and sitting in a parking lot until Jackson left for work. He’d also told Jackson to grow a pair and talk to Harris about what was happening, but Jackson wasn’t planning to share that part of the message.

It was hard not to lean into Harris’s warmth as the two of them moved around putting the finishing touches on dinner. It was painfully domestic, like a taste of what they could have if their bond was complete. Jackson didn’t know whether to stockpile memories like this one to help get him through the bad times when his wolf cried for his mate or to do his best to forget them.

Blurb:

Hiding in Plain Sight: A Camp H.O.W.L. Novel

Happily ever after is right under their noses.

Harris has been keeping a big secret for years—his unrequited mate bond with his best friend, Jackson. He’s convinced himself that having Jackson in his life is enough. That, and his work at Camp H.O.W.L., keeps him going.

Things get complicated when Jackson applies for a high-ranking Tribunal job in New York City—far from Camp H.O.W.L. The position requires he relinquish all Pack bonds… and that’s when his wolf decides to choose a mate. Suddenly Jackson sees his best friend in a sizzling new light.

Their chemistry is through the roof, but they're setting themselves up for broken hearts—and broken bonds—if Jackson can't figure out a way to balance his career and the love that’s just been waiting for him to take notice.

Buy links:

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Bio and social media:

Bru Baker writes sophisticated gay romantic fiction with strong characters, real-world problems, and plenty of humor.

Bru spent fifteen years writing for newspapers before making the jump to fiction. She now balances her time between writing and working at a Midwestern library in the reference department. Whether it’s creating her own characters or getting caught up in someone else’s, there’s no denying that Bru is happiest when she’s engrossed in a story. She and her husband have two children, which means a lot of her books get written from the sidelines of various sports practices.

Visit Bru online at www.bru-baker.com or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Review: Hiding in Plain Sight (Camp H.O.W.L. #3) by Bru Baker

Happily ever after is right under their noses.

Harris has been keeping a big secret for years—his unrequited mate bond with his best friend, Jackson. He’s convinced himself that having Jackson in his life is enough. That, and his work at Camp H.O.W.L., keeps him going.

Things get complicated when Jackson applies for a high-ranking Tribunal job in New York City—far from Camp H.O.W.L. The position requires he relinquish all Pack bonds… and that’s when his wolf decides to choose a mate. Suddenly Jackson sees his best friend in a sizzling new light.

Their chemistry is through the roof, but they're setting themselves up for broken hearts—and broken bonds—if Jackson can't figure out a way to balance his career and the love that’s just been waiting for him to take notice.

From my review of Under a Blue Moon: “I am really hoping there is another book because there are strong hints throughout with Harris and Jackson that need to be explored long after that flirting at the hospital. I mean, right? There’s more???? Please?”

*fist pump*

I have been waiting for Harris to get his mate and this book did not disappoint. We’ve met both Harris and Jackson from previous books in this series. Harris was Tate’s friend and fellow counselor at Camp Howl in the first book and we meet Jackson in book two as Drew’s stepbrother. What we also learn about Jackson and Harris in book two is there is way more than bro feeling’s between them. Harris acknowledges the crush he has on Jackson and Jackson just doesn’t know Harris is more than his best friend yet. It will take a literally getting some sense knocked into Jackson for him to figure it all out but it’s worth it.

His mate had been hiding in plain sight for all of their adult lives…

I love romances where our couple has known one another and been friends for years. There is a different intimacy of between friends that lends to a romance and Harris and Jackson’s history give this romance a bittersweet feels all while including some angst and serious UST.

As in the previous books, we get dual POV’s with this one and it’s always something I am thankful for. We already know that Harris knows Jackson is his mate and that he will stay in the friend zone forever if it means keeping Jackson around. What was great was to learn this isn’t all one sided and Jackson has been crushing on his best friend for years too, he just hasn’t felt the mating call, or at least he never checked the caller ID for identification. Even in Drew’s book, Harris and Jackson couldn’t stop being affections and flirty with one another…

Besides, someday his stepbrother Jackson was going to get his head out of his ass and realize he had feelings for Harris, […]

Oh, this book. There is a decent amount of angst happening with both Harris and Jackson. I can’t begin to tell you how much I hurt for Harris when we would deny himself everything he wanted as a man and wolf with Jackson. That sort of unrequited love kills me and yet I eat it with a spoon. When Jackson finally gets that Harris is his mate, a whole new level of angst arrives and these two just made me want to lock them in a room until they figure it out. Talk about self-control and denial, these two have it in spades and all that UST they were building was blinding. I was sitting on my hands waiting for them to give in and yet I was scared for both of them being hurt by doing so.

You see, Jackson is on a career path of moving up the ranks from a district enforcer to tribunal enforcer that will lead to him following in his father’s footsteps to be the second of a pack. It’s all he’s ever wanted but the pull of a mate is more than he bargained for and with that mate being Harris, Jackson becomes one hell of a mess. He can’t work, people around him notice his mood swings and it hurt to read how much his wolf was pining and crying for Harris. But, I do get why he hesitated for so long, why he denied what fate had determined with Harris. Following your heart and not your head isn’t always easy but it could leave you to everything you’ve always wanted.

“Everybody knows you two are one smoldering look away from boning. The UST was actually painful while he was here a few weeks ago.”

Harris just about broke my heart at least a dozen times reading this. You can feel how much he wants Jackson as his mate but the self-denial was intense as self-flagellation. When Jackson offers Harris a “deal”…ugh. I know Harris will always take what he can when it comes to Jackson, but I was worried for them both. I am just happy they decided to give it a shot and even though Harris acted hastily before Jackson had a chance to tell him what’s up, it gave us some great scenes with them.

I loved getting bits of Tate and Adrian again and of course being set in Camp H.O.W.L and Jackson being brothers with Drew, we get more of Drew and Nick. While Jordan didn’t sit well with me in Drew’s book, he grew on me here and I hope he will finally settle down. Also, the introduction of new supernatural beings to this world was welcomed and I am curious if the author will continue on with that storyline?

I loved every bit of this book. Of course being a hopeless romantic the romance comes first but I loved how Harris and Jackson are friends and lovers. How they can talk about what they want even if they dance around the issue at first and what their first argument was about. I love that these men understand how important career is to both of them but how they can’t deny the mating bond that is happening.

Looking back, it was kind of an odd thing to love about a friend. Maybe he’d known Harris was his mate all along, but his brain hadn’t been ready to process it.

I’m sad that this is the last in the Camp H.O.W.L series but it’s ending on a positive note. I like where the book left Harris and Jackson; what they are both doing with their mate and their careers. The authors note at the end made me excited and I can’t wait for the new series and more shifters!

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.