Showing posts with label Loner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loner. Show all posts

Guest Review: Swiped By My Dad’s Best Friend (Thrust into Love #1) by DJ Jamison

Cooper Rutledge: frat boy, general screwup, and...Daddy's boy?

On the surface, I don't take things too seriously.
Not my poor grades, or my hookups, or my inability to find my purpose.
But that was before.

Before the daddy of my wet dreams swiped right on my pic.
Before he turned out to be my father's best friend.
Before I convinced him to indulge in one night of pleasure with no strings.

I didn't count on how magical it would be.
I didn't know that when he spanked me and offered words of praise, my soul would drink it up.
I didn't realize how right Daddy kink would feel.

One night could never be enough.
Because I do care. Too much.
And when life sends me into an emotional tailspin, Trace steps up to support me---proving he cares too.

Everything has gotten very real, very fast.
But are we ready for the fallout?
I can't let anyone, not even my father, come between me and Trace.

I've finally found my Daddy, and I'll fight to keep him.



Reviewer: Shee Reader

I loved this book! I loved that Cooper and Trace were such a good fit, but that the author really evaluated the genuine challenges of a big age gap in a relationship.

When we meet our guys, Cooper is really floundering. He’s having trouble with college and finding his way in the world. Living up to his father’s expectations for him presents a bigger challenge than he can meet by himself.

Trace has got his life together, and although he’s lonely, his business is doing ok, and he’s been asked to speak at the college alumni association by his former best friend, Cooper’s father. When Trace arrives in town, he decides a cheeky little hook-up is just what he needs to relax.

Take a breath folks, when the hook-up arrives, it’s Cooper. * At this point I’m clapping my hands with glee* This is even better than the only one bed trope that I love!

Of course, the path of true love did never run smooth! There is a huge journey for both men, including the elephant in the room - Cooper’s dad. The distance they live from each other, and Cooper’s need for direction and a daddy.

This book is adorable. It’s beautifully written, funny, engaging and cute. The HEA is perfect, and the journey all the characters go on are charming. I adored Cooper finding everything he needed in Trace, and vice versa.

Highly recommended!

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



Release Blitz + Giveaway: Beyond the Ruby River (Immortal Jewels #3) by Lee Colgin


Author Lee Colgin and Gay Book Promotions celebrate the release of paranormal, Beyond the Ruby River (Immortal Jewels #3)! Find out more and enter in the giveaway for a chance to win: a $10 Amazon gift card, a direct-to-kindle copy of Beneath the Opal Arc, and a direct-to-kindle copy of Across the Sapphire Sea!

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Beyond the Ruby River 

Author:  Lee Colgin

Publisher:  Colgin Enterprise

Cover Artist:  Natasha Snow

Release Date: June 17, 2021

Genres: M/M Historical Romance, M/M Paranormal/Fantasy Romance,

Tropes:  Mixed species, second chance romance 

Themes:  Longing, betrayal, forgiveness, grief, reunion

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 72 000 words/ 260 pages   

It’s the third in a series but can be read as a standalone.

Add on Goodreads

Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK 

When an incubus half-breed falls for a mortal Egyptian man, will their love span centuries or are they destined to pine for each other for all eternity?

Blurb  

In Ancient Egypt when the pharaohs ruled the banks of the Nile, Mahu led a simple, if somewhat melancholy, life. Making papyrus filled his days. His needs were provided for, but deep in his soul, Mahu longed for companionship.

Dakarai, born of a demon mother and a human father, craved independence. A young incubus constantly in the shadows of his full-blooded siblings, Daka set out for a new city and a life of his own. 

While a starving Daka roams the streets hunting for a meal, the sight of a beautiful man walking alone stops him in his tracks. The handsome stranger is just what he needs to quench his spiraling thirst.

But Mahu turns out to be more than Daka bargained for, and his heart falls for the lonely man.

What betrayal shatters their foundation, can Daka and Mahu find their way back to each other, or is each soul destined to long for the other for all eternity?

Beyond the Ruby River is an MM Paranormal Romance featuring a steamy love story, a second chance romance, and the mysteries of an ancient world. This is book three of a series and can be read as a standalone with its own HEA and satisfying conclusion.

Excerpt

Dakarai 

Hunger stirred deep in Daka’s core, an emptiness with claws and teeth demanding to be filled. It was his first night in Naukratis, and already he wondered if he’d

made a mistake abandoning the safe cocoon of his family. Though eager for a taste of independence, Daka’s nerves flut‐ tered with unease as he stalked the unfamiliar streets.

With only a warm sea breeze for company, Daka let loose his extra sense, the one that would lead him to a meal. Entering the wide market square, he cast his gaze over dozens of stalls, their colorful awnings muted in the evening light. Laborers celerated the end of a day’s work with beer, bread, and conversa‐ tion. Street vendors peddled their offerings. Naukratis smelled of fresh spiced fish, baking bread, and candied nuts—all of which appealed to him, but none that would quench this particular hunger.

What Daka needed would be found past the town’s main market, perhaps down a side street or along a narrow alley. Inhaling through his nose, sorting the myriad array of scents, he searched for the alluring aroma of pleasure. A brothel would suit perfectly.

Daka’s intuition guided him forward, but before he could cut south to chase the divine smell of arousal around the corner, his gaze landed on an elegant man and refused to budge. His eyes possessed a will of their own, such was the man’s appeal.

He was taller than Daka’s average height, long of limb with wide shoulders and perfect posture. He wore cornflower blue linen, belted at his narrow waist, skirt hanging to a svelte pair of thighs. Dark onyx tresses hung past his chin, straight and prob‐ ably silken to the touch. Daka couldn’t be sure of the texture at this distance and it was suddenly of the utmost importance to find out.

Though brothel workers would make for an easier target, Daka veered off course to pursue the handsome man instead. To seduce him and touch his lovely hair for himself. He followed through the square—dodging people and slinking amongst the crowd, stealthy as a cat and just as light on his feet—until he was no more than ten paces from his quarry.

This close, Daka could pick up the scent lingering in the man’s wake. Earthen and woody, like the papyrus that grew in the marshy lands nearby. He inhaled greedily. What would he smell like aroused? Daka had to know.

The man left the busy center of town, turned west, and continued between rows of mud brick houses, his pace steady as a pulsing heart. He had the stride of a man to a purpose. Daka’s curiosity grew with each step. Instead of catching up to begin the seduction, Daka shoved his appetite aside in favor of learning the man’s destination.

They walked for another quarter hour until the chirps of bugs overtook the noise from town and houses gave way to farmland. Daka spotted the neat rows of tumuli leading to an ancient mastaba, and their endpoint became clear.

The man had led him to the final resting place of Naukratis’ dead.

Well-maintained burial mounds, with funerary gardens throughout, lined the landscape. Daka hung back so as not to be noticed or to disturb this man in his grief. The perfect posture he’d noted earlier began to sag, shoulders drooping forward, head bowed as he knelt by a triad of graves. He sat back on his heels, long thighs stretched thin, the blue linen of his skirt revealing smooth bronzed skin.

Daka could not help his appetite, inappropriate as it may be, though he would strive to contain it. This man was in no mood for the sort of amorous encounter an incubus like himself fed on. He needed a warm, familial embrace, not the frenzied release Daka itched to provide.

He slunk back into the shadows to watch from under a sweet-smelling date palm. The man sat with the dead. Daka sat by himself, wondering who the man had lost.

Daka’s family possessed immortality. At least, his mother and siblings did. His father was human, but Daka had never met him. As a half-blooded demon, he’d staked claim to immortality but not to all the gifts that came with it. His powers of sway and persuasion were paltry in comparison to his full-blooded brethren. Unable to bend people to his will, Daka could only nudge. He might never develop the skill of astral projection. But he would live forever, a feat which seemed unfathomable at only twenty-two years into eternity.

The man bent over the graves had a decade or so on Daka in age, perhaps more. Maybe thirty-five or forty, Daka couldn’t tell. A man in his prime but worn around the edges with the melancholy that loss thrusts upon the living.

About the Author 

Lee Colgin has loved vampires since she read Dracula on a hot, sunny beach at 13 years old. She lives in North Carolina with lots of dogs and her husband. No, he's not a vampire, but she loves him anyway. Lee likes to workout so she can eat the maximum amount of cookies with her pizza. Ask her how much she can bench press.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website   |  Facebook Group  |  Twitter

Newsletter Sign-up  |  BookBub

Giveaway 

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

a $10 Amazon gift card

a direct-to-kindle copy of Beneath the Opal Arc

and a direct-to-kindle copy of Across the Sapphire Sea

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

Release Blitz + Giveaway: The Ballad of Crow & Sparrow by V.L. Locey


Author V.L. Locey and Signal Boost Promotions celebrate the release of Western romance, The Ballad of Crow & Sparrow! Find out more and enter in the back list eBook giveaway!


 



Cover Design: Designs By Sloan

Length: 74,337 

Blurb

Sometimes a man’s biggest blunder can turn into his greatest triumph.

Orphaned at fourteen, Crow Poulin now has to hunt and trap the White Mountains of Arizona, as his father had taught him, all alone. It’s a lonely existence, until one morning, while checking his trap line, Crow finds more than a rabbit in a snare. He stumbles across the outlaw Jack Wittington lying half dead in the wilds. He takes the wanted man in, heals him, and in return for saving his life, the smooth-talking criminal invites Crow to join his family. Starved for human interaction and a father figure, Crow leaves the mountains behind for what he assumes will be a brighter future.

Six years pass. Crow is now a man, as well as a member of the Wittington Gang. He may be considered an outlaw, but his father’s morals are warring loudly with the lifestyle of his adopted family. When the gang decides to rob a train, Crow has no choice but to go along to keep a tight rein on the more bloodthirsty members. It doesn’t take long for the scheme to go horribly astray.

Instead of gold-filled coffers, the gang finds Spencer Haughton, son of cattle baron and railroad tycoon Woodford Haughton, cowering in the family’s opulent private car. The outlaws grab the sickly heir in hopes of ransoming him off. Things then go from bad to worse for them when the law rides down on the Wittington hideout and Crow is given Spencer to hide until the ransom is paid. The pretty young man is nothing at all like anyone Crow has ever met before. Delicate, refined, well-educated, and possessed of a singing voice to rival the songs of the birds in the trees, Crow slowly finds himself falling for the winsome rich boy. But can two such opposite souls find the love they’re both seeking in each other’s arms?


USA Today Bestselling Author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Dr. Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Love's Bloom Collection by Megan Slayer and Elizabeth Hollows

Join authors Megan Slayer and Elizabeth Hollows as they celebrate their MM contribution to Pride Publishing's Love's Bloom Collection: Love Next Door and Garden of Cupid! Find out more about the neighbor romances and enter in the giveaway to win a LOVELY GIFT PACKAGE AND GET A FIRST FOR ROMANCE GIFT CARD! 

Love's Bloom Collection

Spring is a time of renewal, of new life and new love. Maybe it’s a spring fling, or a second chance at love! This is a collection of Spring-themed stories, where new relationships grow and love blooms.

Garden of Cupid by Elizabeth Hollows  

 

Will doesn’t want a relationship. Blain isn’t looking for a boyfriend. But with an old lady playing Cupid, how can they ignore a chance at love?

Will Brewer is a shy artist living with only his cat for company. He’s not good with people and even worse with relationships. He isn’t looking for a boyfriend. He just wants to paint. In fact, he would happily be living the life of a hermit if his eighty-year-old neighbor, Mrs. O’Grady, wasn’t constantly roping him into tasks around her house.

And he isn’t the only one she’s preying on.

The new and gorgeous mechanic Blain Stewart has just moved in next door. Where Will feels like an awkward fool around Blain, the mechanic finds him adorable.

Blain has just ended a bad long-term relationship with a high-maintenance man who didn’t understand him. He feels like he’s starting all over again and he’s hesitant for his fresh start to include the talented and charming Will.

But when Mrs. O’Grady asks them to plant some flowers in her garden, the tension between them skyrockets.

They both think friendship would be safer than a new romance. But when attraction, connection and an enthusiastic old lady are pushing them together, can they resist?

Add to Goodreads | Choose Your Store | First For Romance

Love Next Door by Megan Slayer

Can three tiny kittens really bring these two men together and prove love can bloom despite the chilly spring days?

Tommy Davis considered himself a loner. He spent his days writing and running, all while keeping everyone else at bay. That is, until he discovers three kittens abandoned in his shrubbery. His fatherly instincts kick in, and he goes to the one person he knows can help—his sexy-as-sin next-door neighbor who happens to be a veterinarian.

Matthew James wasn’t looking for love, but the moment Tommy shows up on his doorstep, he can’t send him away. He’s had a thing for Tommy since the first time he saw him, but his shyness has kept him from making a move.

The melting snow, blossoming flowers and a trio of kittens could be more than the guys can handle, but they just might be the push Matthew needs to find his forever with Tommy.

Reader advisory: This book contains references of past sexual assault and mentions of an abusive ex.

Add to Goodreads | Choose Your Store | First For Romance

About the Authors

Elizabeth Hollows

Elizabeth Hollows is an Australian writer of LGBT love stories specializing in homosexual or lesbian romance.

Her preferred genres are fantasy, science fiction and contemporary/modern.

She has been writing since she was twelve, but has spent the last few years writing romance stories and discovering a passion for LGBT romance.

When Elizabeth is not writing she embroiders, reads and plots her next novel. She is a fan of the winter months and always has a book in her handbag and a cup of tea nearby.

You can find Elizabeth at her website here

 

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Find out more about Megan on her website, and sign up for the newsletter here. You can also check out her Blog, Amazon Author Page, Bookbub and Instagram.

Giveaway

Enter to win a fabulous gift package and get a First For Romance Gift Card!

Love's Bloom Giveaway

THE LOVE'S BLOOM AUTHORS ARE GIVING AWAY THIS FABULOUS PRIZE TO ONE LUCKY WINNER. ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A LOVELY GIFT PACKAGE AND GET A FIRST FOR ROMANCE GIFT CARD! Notice: This competition ends on 20TH April 2021 at 5pm GMT. Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group.

Guest Review: The Last One to Let You Down by K.L. Hiers

Thomas Hill is a lonely embalmer who's in some big trouble – his ex-boyfriend has been forcing him to illegally sell dangerous chemicals with no signs of stopping, and Tom doesn't know what to do. His situation gets even more complicated when Cypress Holmes, a smoking hot local florist, walks in on Tom making a deal. Cypress agrees to keep quiet, but his silence comes at a price.

Dinner and watching movies together is a strange price to pay, but Tom loves spending time with Cypress. As they grow closer and feelings begin to blossom, they discover that Tom's ex-boyfriend might be into more than just drugs – he might also be a murderer.

Author’s Note: This book includes intense sexual scenes, rough spankings, and depictions of death and embalming as they relate to the funeral industry. If this material offends or may upset you, please don’t read this book.




Reviewer: Annery

If you’re looking for something different, off the beaten path, you're in good hands with K. L. Hiers and in this offering she doesn’t disappoint.

Thomas Hills is an embalmer, a perfectionist of his craft, with perhaps too much empathy for his clients, the dead and the living. As a result he finds himself at thirty five (35) as lonely as a dog without his master. Luckily there is one not too far away.

Cypress Holmes is that master. He’s forty one (41) the owner, florist, and current delivery person of Doyle’s Flowers. His frequent trips to Crosby-Ayers Funeral Home has fostered admiration between him and Thomas, though self-effacing, shy, low self esteem Thomas thinks it’s one sided. It’s not.

There’s lots to love in this story. I’ll start with that.

Here’s a description of Thomas: “He was quite pale with chin length mousy brown hair, and his big blue eyes gave him an owlish appearance.” (Made me think of the late David Foster Wallace). He has no washboard abs or eyes to drown in. He’s not rich or possessed of any superpower save that he’s good at his job and proud of it.

Cypress is a Black man living in America today. He comes from a good and loving family, is the proprietor of his own business and has no back story of misery & woe. He is smart, self sufficient, knows who he is and what he wants. Who he wants is Thomas. He wants to watch Tom come apart and fly under his tender ministrations. Yes, this is a BDSM romance, some pain to bring you pleasure, and pleasure was had by those involved. I confess to being fastidious about Doms but I generally liked Cypress. He treats Tom as the adult he is, confining their bedroom dynamics to that, the bedroom. He never tries to manage Tom’s professional life, showing only the logical care and concern any romantic partner would.

Usually I’m leery of BDSM as a substitute for therapy, but that wasn’t the case here. What Cypress gives Tom is a way to channel the grief he bottles up after dealing with the dead & the bereaved, guidance to structure his time, and something to look forward to after long hard hours of soul crushing work. If this “help” comes in the form of sexual bliss Tom’s not complaining.

I would certainly recommend this for those wanting a romance rooted in an adult relationship between recognizable modern humans, inhabitants of a diverse society. I loved that aspect and Tom & Cypress as a couple. Their square pegs fit in each other's round holes.

What I didn’t like were things that I think can easily be remedied by stricter editing:
*** The perhaps excessive rendering of mmhmm & hmm was distracting
*** IMO the side plot shenanigans at the funeral home weren’t what brought Tom & Cypress together, nor were they central to the story. Maybe less about them.
*** The author is an embalmer, and it shows in the meticulous, detailed, and knowledgeable way she describes Tom’s work. I greatly appreciated the accuracy but I also feel that some of it, when it’s a reiteration, could’ve been scaled back. It would tighten the story and allow it to hone more sharply on Tom & Cypress’s relationship where it deserves to be.

Recommended. Enjoy. xoxo

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



Cover Reveal + Giveaway: The Last One to Let You Down by K.L. Hiers

Author K.L. Hiers and Gay Book Promotions reveal the beautiful cover for upcoming contemporary BDSM romance, The Last One to Let You Down! Read more about the romance and enter in the giveaway where you could win: a $25 Amazon Gift Card or one of five e-book copies of The Last One to Let You Down

COVER REVEAL

Book Title: The Last One to Let You Down

Author: K.L. Hiers

Publisher: Self-Published

Cover Artist: Covers by Jo 

Release Date: November 13, 2020

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance, BDSM Romance

Trope/s: Funeral Director/Florist Romance, Blackmail Leads to Love, BDSM Virgin

Themes: Personal Growth, Dealing with Death, Difficult Jobs, Learning to Love Yourself

Heat Rating: 5 flames

Length: 102 000 words

It is a standalone story.

 

Buy Links - Available for Pre-Order

Amazon US   |   Amazon UK 

 




Blurb

Thomas Hills is a lonely embalmer who's in some big trouble. His ex-boyfriend has been forcing him to illegally sell dangerous chemicals with no signs of stopping, and Tom doesn't know what to do. His situation gets even more complicated when Cypress Holmes, a smoking hot local florist, walks in on Tom making a deal. Cypress agrees to keep quiet, but his silence comes at a price.

He wants Tom to do exactly as he says and to give him complete and total control over his body at all times. Tom now has no choice but to obey Cypress' every command to stay out of jail. But when Cyprus starts spanking him and tying him up, he realizes he doesn't mind the rough treatment at all. With or without the threat of blackmail hanging over his head, he likes what Cypress does to him... and he doesn't want it to stop.

Author’s Note: This book includes intense sexual scenes, rough spankings, and depictions of death and embalming as they relate to the funeral industry. If this material offends or may upset you, please don’t read this book.



Excerpt

“What do you want? Money?” Tom scoffed, huffing in frustration.

“Well,” Cypress said, “you did just take a very serious stack of cash. I am a pretty big fan of money.”

“I can’t give you that! It’s for—” Tom stopped before he said too much, quickly correcting himself. “It’s not even mine, okay? I can’t do that. I don’t have any money to give you. There has to be something else.”

“Right. How about you just drop down on your pretty knees right now and suck my dick then?” Cypress rolled his eyes.

Tom’s loins were assaulted by a sudden surge of heat, and he stared at Cypress’ crotch as his mouth reflexively watered. He’d heard Cypress say that before, to Gerald of all people, and Tom knew he was probably joking.

But if that’s really all it would take...

“Fine,” Tom muttered through gritted teeth. “I’ll do it.”

“Come on,” Cypress was still chiding him, apparently deaf to Tom’s offer. “You really don’t expect me to believe that you don’t get some kinda cut from that—”

Tom raised his voice, snapping, “Hey! I said, I’ll do it!”

“What?” Cypress blinked.

“Suck your dick,” Tom replied, already starting to kneel before he could change his mind. He’d had some pretty rough one night stands before. This wasn’t so different. He could do this, get Cypress off his back, and stay out of jail.

“Stop,” Cypress said, his thick hand grabbing Tom’s shoulder.

“What?” Tom was instantly embarrassed. Oh, this was such a stupid idea. He should have never even tried it. As Cypress held him in place, the very air around them felt charged. He looked at Cypress’ lips, felt the heat of his grip, and he knew something had shifted between them.

Something was happening.

Tom’s face was getting hot, and he gasped when Cypress pulled him in for a fierce kiss. He didn’t even care how it made his busted mouth sting, its burn lost in the passion of their colliding lips. He was actually kissing Cypress, right there in the hallway.

The brewing energy ignited instantly, and Tom was helpless in Cypress’ powerful embrace. He gave himself over completely, groaning loudly when Cypress’ tongue slid inside his mouth. The kiss was deep, hot, and it sent all the right signals to every inch of Tom’s body.

“You’re not sucking me without at least first fuckin’ kissing me,” Cypress murmured, his fingers raking through Tom’s hair and holding him firmly. “You got it?”

“Yeah,” Tom said, panting hard. The way Cypress was so boldly taking charge had no right to be this exciting. Tom had had some bossy lovers before, but no one could compare to the dominance that Cypress was exuding right now.

His reserved attitude had been swallowed up by a hard gaze and an unrelenting aura. Impossibly, he seemed taller than before, and no one had made Tom’s knees quake like this with just a kiss.

“Now,” Cypress said firmly, “you’re going to suck my cock and swallow down what I give you. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” Tom gasped sharply when Cypress’ grip tightened in his hair.

“Yes... what?” Cypress challenged expectantly.

Tom wasn’t sure how, but he knew immediately what to say, shivering as he replied:

“Yes, sir.”



About the Author

K.L. “Kat” Hiers is an embalmer, restorative artist, and queer writer. Licensed in both funeral directing and funeral service, she’s been working in the death industry for nearly a decade. Her first love was always telling stories, and she has been writing for over twenty years, penning her very first book at just eight years old. Publishers generally do not accept manuscripts in Hello Kitty notebooks, however, but she never gave up.

Following the success of her first novel, Cold Hard Cash, she now enjoys writing professionally, focusing on spinning tales of sultry passion, exotic worlds, and emotional journeys. She loves attending horror movie conventions and indulging in cosplay of her favorite characters. She lives in Zebulon, NC, with her husband and their children, some of whom have paws and a few that only pretend to because they think it’s cute.

 

Author Links

Blog/Website  |   Facebook  |  Instagram  |   Newsletter Sign-up

 

Giveaway   

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

a $25 Amazon Gift Card

or

one of five e-book copies of The Last One to Let You Down.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 


   

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

 

Guest Review: My Other Half (Must Love Dogs #4) by Megan Slayer

A pet adoption leading to lasting love?

Kelly Haas thought he’d lost everything when his first dog, Sally, passed away. He wasn’t looking for a new pup, but couldn’t resist checking the local rescues. One look at Louie and Kelly knew he’d found the right dog—a happy bagle. When Kelly meets the man running the rescue, he realizes he’s smitten with Rob, too.

Rob McMann isn’t the type of man to fall for a potential animal adopter, but he still believes in happy endings for the animals—and himself. Kelly isn’t like the other adopters. He knows how to get Rob, a perpetual loner, to come out of himself. He can be open with Kelly, but he leans on him hard when he hits a low time in his life.

Can these two find the love they deserve while raising four dogs, or are they destined to just be friends?

Reader advisory: This book contains expressions of homophobia, references to the death of beloved pet, and abusive exes.



Review: Shee Reader

This book was an adorable sweet little hug of a read!

It was a gentle tale of two men who had both been shortchanged by their previous relationships and found the other half they were missing. It was low in angst, high in cute, and lots of lovely doggy adoption thrown in.

I enjoyed it so much, I devoured it in one sitting. The current uncertain times mean a nice easy read is just what the dog-tor ordered haha!

Kelly’s loss of Sally was so real it was tangible, the worst side effect of loving your hound is losing them, and the grief was real for me as a reader. To see Kelly fall in love with a new dog and a new guy is just story book perfection.

Recommended.

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




Audiobook Review: Kiss Me Again by Garrett Leigh

Tree surgeon Aidan Drummond is content with his own company. He works alone, and lives alone, and it doesn’t occur to him to want anything else until a life-changing accident lands him in hospital. Then a glimpse of the beautiful boy in the opposite bed changes everything.

Ludo Giordano is trapped on the ward with a bunch of old men. His mind plays tricks on him, keeping him awake. Then late one night, a new face brings a welcome distraction. Their unlikely friendship is addictive. And, like most things in Ludo’s life, temporary.

Back in the real world, Aidan’s monochrome existence is no longer enough. He craves the colour Ludo brought him, and when a chance meeting brings them back together, before long, they’re inseparable again.

But bliss comes with complications. Aidan is on the road to recovery, but Ludo has been unwell his entire life, and that’s not going to change. Aidan can kiss him as much as he likes, but if he can’t help Ludo when he needs him most, they don’t stand a chance.

Listening Length: 5 hours and 41 minutes
Narrator: Dan Calley


‘Kiss Me Again’ is classic Garrett Leigh - complex characters, gritty yet realistic situations, and an incredibly romantic love story.

The excellent narration by Dan Calley made the book even more enjoyable! This is the first time I’ve listened to an audiobook read by him, and I would definitely do so again.

Aidan and Ludo meet under less-than-desirable circumstances - the hospital, to be exact. From the moment the two men look over at each other, they’re drawn together, no matter the situation they’re in.

Habitually-cranky Aidan softens for Ludo, and Ludo’s mind calms when he’s with Aidan.

While Aidan slowly recovers from his life-changing injuries and Ludo’s mind returns to a semblance of “normal”, their mutual friendship becomes a lifeline.

And slowly, it becomes more. I was all heart eyes while the two fell for each other. This is a book where you can really see the characters on the path to love.

The bubble they live in bursts once Ludo and Aidan are discharged from the hospital. Building a real and solid relationship takes work, and it’s even harder when both men have some major hang-ups or limitations.

Garrett Leigh doesn’t pull any punches here. As always, she portrays disabilities - both mental and physical - in all their harsh realities.

But despite the up-hill battle, Aidan and Ludo keep finding their way back to each other. I loved how the two men did whatever needed to be done to make things work, despite the odds.

And I loved what Ludo and Aidan did for each other. They brought colour and joy to each other where before things had been beige.

But most importantly, the two men support one another. And that might be a really simple thing, but it’s something neither Ludo or Aidan had, and something they desperately needed.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Kiss Me Again’. Aidan and Ludo’s story is sometimes harsh and definitely angsty, but their happy ever after is so worth it!



A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.


Review: Love Has No Direction (Love Can't #3) by Kim Fielding

Yet another series of poor decisions lands Parker Levin back in his mother’s house, working at her coffee shop, and feeling like a failure. Then he learns his ex-boyfriend has died by suicide and things go from bad to worse. When he meets a handsome stranger, he doesn’t have much left to lose.

Ten years ago Westley Anker made a grave mistake. Since then he’s lived in near isolation, supporting himself by making custom furniture and only rarely connecting with other people. When he attempts to make amends, he encounters Parker, a beautiful and colorful young man, and he agrees to Parker’s impulsive request to join him.

Together, Parker and Wes find quick friendship and fierce attraction. But Wes’s past demons haunt his footsteps, and Parker’s struggle to plan a future has him stumbling through life. Then they uncover evidence that suggests Parker’s ex’s death might not have been a straightforward suicide, and every path seems to lead to dead ends and destruction. Can Parker and Wes find their way to lasting love when the route is hidden?


Parker and Wes become friends under some odd circumstances. But they understand each other right off the bat.

Neither man really fits into society, and definitely not into society’s idea of productive and functional.

Yet the qualities that make them different are also what make them special, and what drew each man to the other.

Parker has never been able to commit to anything for long, but he’s spontaneous and lives for the joy of the moment. He sees the best in people, and wears his heart on his sleeve.

Wes is reserved and withdrawn, but he’s also incredibly dependable and solid. He doesn’t consider many people to be his own, but he’s fiercely loyal to those who are.

It would be easy to fall a little for the men as individuals, but even more so seeing how Wes and Parker complete each other.

The set-up to their relationship is admittedly out of left field and unrealistic. Parker ends up staying at Wes’ secluded property in Oregon while they’re still complete strangers to each other.

Was it a safe decision? Absolutely not. But Wes was determined to be there for Parker right from the beginning.

And that really is how these two start - as friends. Yes there’s an attraction there, but they don’t give into it too quickly.

Instead, they learn about each other. And give each other a shoulder to lean on.

For Wes, Parker became a reason to come out of his shell and finally accept that he deserved happiness in life. And for Parker, Wes helped him rebuild confidence in himself and his place in the world.

And I absolutely loved the lead-up to the inevitable conclusion. The Pacific Northwest is one of my favourite regions, so it was a treat to revisit some sites with Wes and Parker.

It was a lovely slow-burn romance!

Interspersed within Parker and Wes’ story is a murder mystery involving Parker’s ex. Frankly, I could have done without the nonsensical storyline. It served no value, and just muddied the waters in the end.

That being said, I still enjoyed ‘Love Has No Direction’. Give this a try if you’re looking for a slow-burn MM romance with complex characters, and a side of criminal drama.





A review copy was provided.



Guest Review: Kiss Me Again by Garrett Leigh

Tree surgeon Aidan Drummond is content with his own company. He works alone, and lives alone, and it doesn’t occur to him to want anything else until a life-changing accident lands him in hospital. Then a glimpse of the beautiful boy in the opposite bed changes everything.

Ludo Giordano is trapped on the ward with a bunch of old men. His mind plays tricks on him, keeping him awake. Then late one night, a new face brings a welcome distraction. Their unlikely friendship is addictive. And, like most things in Ludo’s life, temporary.

Back in the real world, Aidan’s monochrome existence is no longer enough. He craves the colour Ludo brought him, and when a chance meeting brings them back together, before long, they’re inseparable again.

But bliss comes with complications. Aidan is on the road to recovery, but Ludo has been unwell his entire life, and that’s not going to change. Aidan can kiss him as much as he likes, but if he can’t help Ludo when he needs him most, they don’t stand a chance.


Reviewer: Annika

Kiss Me Again is not a happy story. It’s almost bleak and subdued in a way. Just like Aidan and Ludo are. There’s not much happiness or warmth really, the pages are loaded with pain, angst and struggle. It was well written as you could feel the despair coming of the pages. At times it nearly drowned you too. Just like it did Aidan and Ludo.

Garrett Leigh has a way with words. The way she painted Aidan and Ludo, their feelings and the world they saw. She pulled you in, made you walk among the trees marveling at them. Made you a part of Aidan and Ludo’s lives. I almost want to say existence – at least in Aidan’s case.

Their romance scares me just a little bit. They are both tethering on a cliffs edge and a whiff of air can make them tumble over. You can’t doubt their connection, or obsession with each other. They both have this innate instinct about what the other needs. It was there from the moment they met, lying beside each other in the hospital. Yet at the same time, theirs is a romance that have the power to really and truly shatter each other beyond repair if something goes wrong.

Many books depicting disabled or mentally ill characters still have this light and hopeful fell to them. This “I’m going to conquer the world” mentality. Kiss Me Again was on the other side of the spectrum. The harsh reality of it. Where a single thought has the ability to send you down the rabbit hole without a clear way up. Where you can’t trust what you see and hear. It was humbling to learn of the struggles that others don’t or won’t see.

I don’t think that this is a book that I will go back and read again, but it is one I’m glad to have read. It stands out for all the right reasons.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review




Audiobook Review: The Law of Attraction by Jay Northcote

When a professional relationship turns personal, it’s impossible to resist the law of attraction.

Alec Rowland is a high-flying lawyer in a London firm whose career is his life. He doesn’t have time for relationships and his sexuality is a closely guarded secret. After picking up a cute guy on a Friday night, Alec’s world is rocked to its foundations when his one night stand shows up in the office on Monday morning—as the new temp on his team.

Ed Piper is desperate to prove himself in his new job. The last thing he needs is to be distracted by a crush on his boss. It’s hard to ignore the attraction he feels, even though Alec’s a difficult bastard to work for.

Both men strive to maintain a professional relationship, but tempers fray, passions ignite, and soon they’re both falling hard and fast. If they’re ever going to find a way to be together, Alec needs to be honest about who he really is because Ed won’t go back in the closet for anyone.

Narrator: Matthew Lloyd Davies
Listening Length: 6 hours 7 minutes



Office romance and an 'ice man' melts, it's what sold me into purchasing this.

Oh and the added bonus of Matthew Lloyd Davies purring in my ear. He's by far one of my favorite narrators and he didn't disappoint me in The Law of Attraction.

Northcote wrote a solid love story featuring Alec, an icy, closeted upper class lawyer who hides so much it makes him bitter and standoffish. A hookup from a club turned out to be his new younger subordinate, Ed. Ed and Alec have great sexual chemistry and it helped keep the pace going as underneath it all, it's a simple romance with real life situations: boss/employee interactions and coming out of the closet and coming to terms with your sexuality.

The story swam in the 3.75 - 4 Hearts range. Solid enough romance, not the most memorable but left me with a pleasant feeling once I got to the end. There wasn't over the top behavior or extreme dramatics.

The narration though... that was 4.5 Hearts!

Matthew Lloyd Davies.

Listen, he does it for me as a narrator.

I just-




He does accents, ad libs and gives a richness to the characters, all of the characters. I love how he took the time to give memorable voices, even the minor intonations made a difference in making it an auditory experience to enjoy.

Recommended for listeners who like their romance without much fuss, steamy interactions and a closed off person getting their chance to fall in love.