Release Blitz + Giveaway: Shelton in Love by Dianne Hartsock

Author Dianne Hartsock and IndiGo Marketing returns with new release blitz for contemporary romance, Shelton in Love! Find out more about the friends to lovers romance and enter in the $10 NineStar Press credit giveaway!

Title: Shelton in Love

Author: Dianne Hartsock

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 06/14/2021

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 58700

Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, friends to lovers, marriage, contemporary, roommate

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Description

Shelton is falling hard for his best friend and roommate, finding Nevil’s dark good looks and moments of gentleness almost impossible to resist. But Nevil is more interested in affairs of the body than the heart. As Shelton’s desire for the man grows, he wonders if he can change Nevil’s mind. But does he even want to? Nevil might not stay once he learns Shelton’s secret, and then his loneliness would be complete.

Shelton in Love is told in five stories spanning two and a half years of Shelton and Nevil’s relationship, the ups and downs, trials and celebrations, with a promise, a separation, a frantic return, temptation and a final triumph. Sometimes Shelton finds it difficult to love a beautiful man, but Nevil is worth the effort.

Excerpt

Shelton in Love
Dianne Hartsock © 2021
All Rights Reserved

Shelton ignored the flutter in his stomach he always experienced when invited into Nevil’s room and settled back into the cushions of the chair. “Who’s the lucky color?” he asked, trying to feign indifference.

Nevil drew a pair of socks from the top drawer of the bureau at random. “Ah, the gray ones.”

“What? Percy again? Didn’t you have him earlier in the week?”

“So what? These socks have never let me down,” Nevil countered and rubbed the soft wool against his cheek, purring like a happy kitten.

Shelton’s stomach knotted at the decadent smile on Nevil’s face. Nevil had made it clear when they had first met he’d enjoy sleeping with him. The jealousy eating Shelton now was his own fault, but was it wrong of him to want more from Nevil than a passing fling?

He shoved away the thought of sharing a meaningful relationship with Nevil, knowing it could never happen. However, the desire made Nevil’s flirtation all the more hurtful. “Fine, but if you make the man fall in love with you, you can buy us an answering machine and listen to his calls when I’m not home. I don’t want to hear him whine when you break it off.”

Nevil looked at him, raising a finely arched brow. “Who says I’ll break it off?”

“Get real. You’ll be bored in less than a week. Remember Daniel Pratte? You scarcely managed six days with him after swearing to all who’d listen you’d love him forever. He called for weeks after you told him it was over, hoping you’d be the one to pick up the phone. Admittedly, he was a bit of a prig, but I’m the one who had to listen to him sobbing his heart out. I refuse to do that with Percy.”

“Danny wasn’t the right man for me. I haven’t made up my mind about Percy.” Nevil unknowingly twisted the knife deeper into Shelton’s heart. Shelton held his breath when Nevil sat back against the headboard and lifted his foot onto the bed, pushing up the cuff of his tan Dockers. Moistening his lips, Shelton fought his attraction as he watched Nevil pull the sock over his foot and up a muscular calf. He was a faithful jogger and in May already had the beginnings of a fabulous tan.

Shelton’s treacherous gaze followed the fine dark hair up Nevil’s leg until it disappeared under the cuff of his pants. Captivated, his gaze continued upward to where the fabric tented nicely at the juncture of his thighs. His heart skipped a beat when Nevil shifted on the bed and the material pressed against a definite bulge.

Panicked, he raised his head, hoping Nevil hadn’t observed his interest. Nevil’s beautiful blue-green eyes watched him; then Nevil cocked an eyebrow. Shelton pushed to his feet from the chair, his face burning at Nevil’s slightly mocking smile. “I’m going to make a sandwich. Do you want one?”

“No, thanks. I need to save room for dessert,” Nevil reminded him as his tongue flicked over his lips. An image of Percy’s nicely rounded butt in tight jeans flashed through Shelton’s mind.

“Suit yourself,” Shelton muttered, watching as Nevil crossed his legs to leisurely pull on the second sock. Tearing his gaze from the provocative sight before acting on the impulse to join Nevil on the bed and strip him of clothing, Shelton left the room and stomped to the kitchen, grabbing meat and cheese from the refrigerator. He swore under his breath as he slathered mayonnaise on the bread, hating Percy and every other man represented in the myriad of colored socks in Nevil’s top drawer.

Eating at the counter, he glanced up to find Nevil leaning against the door frame watching him. Shelton wondered what the thoughtful look on his face meant.

“Do you have plans?” Nevil asked after a moment.

“Tera wants to do a photo shoot down by the lake.”

“Now? The sun will be down in an hour.”

Shelton shrugged. “She’s your sister. Think you can talk your twin out of a course of action when she’s made up her mind to do it? I can’t.”

Nevil snorted. “Neither can I.” He straightened. “Well, I’m off. See you later, darling,” he said as if they were a couple. Shelton felt the blood mount in his cheeks, infuriated by his callousness. Nevil had to be aware of his feelings for him. Why did he feel it was necessary to flaunt his lovers in his face?

Remembering the sandwich in his hands, he glowered at it, no longer hungry. Climbing off the stool, he tossed the sandwich in the garbage under the sink, wrinkling his nose at the ripe odor that wafted from the canister.

Shelton’s shoulders slumped, and he leaned a hip against the counter, discouraged. Maybe it was time to admit defeat and move out. He and Nevil had become friends when his firm had hired Nevil’s architectural company to design their new office building. They’d moved in together when the project was completed, Shelton finding Nevil’s dark good looks, dry humor, and moments of gentleness on the edge of irresistible.

He’d hoped that with proximity, the attraction between them would grow into a more lasting connection. He let out a dejected breath, realizing it was his own fault it hadn’t. Shelton had never shared with Nevil the true reason why he wouldn’t sleep with him.

I’m afraid. It’s that simple.

Purchase

NineStar Press | Books2Read

Meet the Author

Dianne is the author of paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, m/m romance, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind. She lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. She says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee warming her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

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Release Blitz + Giveaway: Legally Wed by Rick R. Reed

Join author Rick R. Reed and IndiGo Marketing in celebration of new release, Legally Wed! Learn more about the second chance romance and enter in the $10 NineStar Press credit giveaway!

Title: Legally Wed

Author: Rick R. Reed

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: April 27, 2020

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 68600

Genre: Contemporary, elementary teacher, gay marriage, grief, Lake Union, men with pets, receptionist, romance, same-sex marriage, Seattle, second chances, Washington State, wedding planner

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Synopsis

Love comes along when you least expect it.

That’s what Duncan Taylor’s sister, Scout, tells him. Scout has everything Duncan wants―a happy life with a wonderful husband. Now that Seattle has made gay marriage legal, Duncan knows he can have the same thing. But when he proposes to his boyfriend Tucker, he doesn’t get the answer he hoped for. Tucker’s refusal is another misstep in a long line of failed romances. Despairing, Duncan thinks of all the loving unions in his life―and how every one of them is straight. Maybe he could be happy, if not sexually compatible, with a woman. When zany, gay-man-loving Marilyn Samples waltzes into his life, he thinks he may have found his answer.

Determined to settle, Duncan forgets his sister’s wisdom about love and begins planning a wedding with Marilyn. But life throws Duncan a curveball. When he meets wedding planner Peter Dalrymple, unexpected sparks ignite. Neither man knows how long he can resist his powerful attraction to the other. For sure, there’s a wedding in the future. But whose?

Excerpt

Legally Wed
Rick R. Reed © 2020
All Rights Reserved

Same-sex marriage had just become legal in Washington State, and Duncan Taylor didn’t plan on wasting any time. He had been dating Tucker McBride for more than three years, and ever since the possibility of marriage had become more than just a pipe dream, it was all Duncan could think of. He thought of it as he gazed out the windows of his houseboat on Lake Union on days both sunny and gray (since it was late autumn, there were a lot more of the latter); he thought of it as he stood before his classroom of fourth graders at Cascade Elementary School. He thought of it when he woke up in the morning and before he fell asleep at night.

For Duncan, marriage was the peak, the happy ending, the icing on the cake, the culmination of one’s heart’s desire, a commitment of a lifetime, the joining of two souls. For Duncan, it was landing among the stars.

And for Duncan, who would turn thirty-eight on his next birthday, it was also something he had never dared dream would be possible for him.

Now, too excited to sleep, he was thinking about it—hard—once again. It was just past midnight on December 6, 2012, and the local TV news had preempted its regular programming to take viewers live to Seattle City Hall, where couples were forming a serpentine line to be among the first in the state to be issued their marriage licenses—couples who had also for far too long believed this right would be one they would never be afforded. Many clung close together to ward off the chill, but Duncan knew their reasons for canoodling went far deeper than that.

The mood, in spite of the darkness pressing in all around, was festive. There was a group serenading the couples in line, singing “Going to the Chapel.” Champagne corks popped in the background. Laughter.

Duncan couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he watched all the male-male and female-female couples in the line, their moods of jubilation, of love, of triumph, traveling through to him even here on his houseboat only a couple of miles north of downtown. Duncan wiped tears from his eyes as he saw not only the couples but also all the supporters, city workers, and volunteers who had crowded together outside city hall to wish the new couples well, to share in the happiness of the historic moment.

And then Duncan couldn’t help it; he fell into all-out blubbering as the first couple to get their license emerged from city hall. Eighty-five-year-old Pete-e Petersen and her partner and soon-to-be-wife, Jane Abbott Lighty, were all smiles when a reporter asked them how they felt.

“We waited a long time. We’ve been together thirty-five years never thinking we’d get a legal marriage. Now I feel so joyous I can’t hardly stand it,” Pete-e said.

It was such a special moment, and it was all Duncan could do not to pick up the phone and call Tucker and casually say something like, “Hey honey, you want to get married?”

But he knew he had to wait even if patience was a virtue Duncan had in short supply. On Sunday, when the first marriages would take place, he planned on bringing Tucker to their favorite restaurant, an unpretentious little joint on Capitol Hill called Olympia Pizza. There, amid the darkened and—for them—romantic interior with the smells of garlic, basil, and tomato sauce surrounding them, Duncan would propose, saying something clever like:

“I’m thinking about changing my Facebook relationship status to ‘engaged.’ Would you mind?”

In his mind, Tucker would chuckle and then rub at the tuft of blond hair that grew from his chin, regarding Duncan with his dark-blue eyes. Duncan could see the flicker of the candle lighting up his man’s features as he held the silence for a few moments, building the suspense. Then he would say something like, “I think I’ll change mine too.”

That would be one way it could play out—very twenty-first century.

Duncan would then imagine all his friends and family congratulating the newly minted fiancés with “Likes” and words of encouragement and shared happiness. Maybe he could get their waiter to take a picture of them, holding hands over a sausage and mushroom pie, right after the moment when they went from two guys dating to two guys anticipating…marriage.

Duncan found himself wiping yet another tear from his eye. Sunday was going to be perfect.

Purchase

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Meet the Author

Real Men. True Love.

Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifty works of published fiction. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist. Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…” Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his husband, Bruce, and their fierce Chihuahua/Shiba Inu mix, Kodi.

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Review: Building Forever (The Rebuilding Year #2.5) by Kaje Harper

Four years ago, Ryan and John decided they'd wait to get married until it came with full legal equality. Now, thanks to the Supreme Court, that historic moment has finally arrived. But three hundred miles separate Ryan's hectic residency from John's busy campus job. With a son in college, a daughter choosing her future, and a rambunctious Irish Setter needing attention, planning a wedding isn't simple.

Of course, even the most perfect ceremony can't solve all their problems. What does it take to build forever?

Fans of this author, especially those of this series, will not be disappointed with this addition.

I think what I like about Kaje Harper's writing is the realness it possesses. Even her stories that veer far from reality (werewolves for example) contain an essence of truth and realism within the characters. Reactions, feelings, actions are all relatable and that is what gives this author's style heart. It's exactly what I can't get enough of when I read her books.

Gay marriage has been a long time coming in many (most) countries, and the fight for the right to wed has been particularly well documented in the USA - a country supposedly at the forefront of modern civilisation. Anyone who sees any news knows that though this is a right won it is constantly under threat. I think this is why this story had such heart for me. I'm lucky enough to be heterosexual; lucky because my rights do not have to be fought for, they are there already, and when I wanted to get married (albeit I'm not in/from the US) there was no question that I could. Ryan and John did not have that luxury - and, while they may be fictional, they represent millions who aren't. Kaje could have made this series overtly political. Overtly a fight. Overtly a drama. But she didn't; she made it a series about two men in love who want to get married. For me this made the underlying difficulty, the unfair wait for others to recognise Ryan and John's right to have the same equality in that love, even more poignant. In this case, I think, less is more. The series showed the reality of the situation and that wait was heartbreaking in its unfairness and inequality.

The issues in this book specifically were those that face many couples, regardless of sexuality. The practicalities of arranging a wedding. The who, what, where and how. The minutiae - and I loved it because the minutiae meant that Ryan and John's rights were recognised by law as the same as everyone else's.

Kaje Harper is a go-to, must read author for me and this book is no exception. If you haven't already, you really need to check out this author's writing.

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

Tag Team Review: Until You (At First Sight #3) by T.J. Klune

Sequel to The Queen & the Homo Jock King

Together with their families and friends

Paul Auster

and

Vincent Taylor

request the honor of your company at the celebration of their marriage.







Jet and Jem's Fuck Yeah Super Awesome Buddy Read Reviews
 
Tag team review y'all!

Jenni Lea and Ann both dove on this one as soon as it crossed the threshold into the clubhouse. T.J. Klune is a favorite here among unicorns and a freakin' wedding between Vince and Paul??? Please, how does one NOT get all up in that?

Come join the love fest . . . .

Jenni Lea ------ 5 Hearts

This was everything that I could have ever wished for from this series.  Vince is finally going to make an honest man out of Paul and we're invited to the shenanigans... er, I mean wedding.  It was fabulously awkward and adorable and I laughed the whole way through.

Vince is the most amazing guy.  He has no brain-to-mouth filter.  The words that come out of that boy's mouth... guh!  I was swooning right next to Paul.

"You're a little weird."
He shrugged.  "Probably.  But that's okay.  Being a little weird got me you, so I don't really care about that sort of thing."

This was a riot.  From nana's shenanigans to Sandy and Corey/Kori's "bro-isms" I was hyperventilating from laughter.  The situations the Scooby gang get themselves into are side-splitting hilarious.  Klune is a comedy master.  And when I wasn't rolling on the floor in hysterics I was shedding tears of joy over all the heartfelt moments between everyone, especially those moments between Paul and his dad.  That was beautiful!

I loved every bit of this story.  Every single bit.  But what I loved most about this story was Sexy Paul.  If you read this book for nothing else, read it for Sexy Paul.   Sexy Paul is my spirit animal.

I knew, just like everyone else, that wearing sunglasses at night immediately made a person at least forty-two percent hotter than if they went without them.

I think Corey Hart would agree with you on that one, Sexy Paul.

Sexy Paul is... well, I can't even describe what he is, he's that epic.  He is in a class by himself.  You see, Sexy Paul is the result of mixing one normal, every day Paul Auster with the evil brew that is Jagermeister.  The more you mix, the stronger the transformation.  And it. Is. Magical.

"Whoa," I said as I immediately posed because I was too legit to quit.  "Hey guys.  Sexy Paul is here.  You're welcome."
People cheered at that.  Of course they did.  I was amazing.

 Fuck yeah you are, you sexy beast!

Seriously, y'all.  If you've read Tell Me It's Real and The Queen & the Homo Jock King then you don't want to miss out on this book.  It was everything!  And if you haven't read this series yet, why the fuck not?  What the hell are you waiting for?




Ann ------ 5 Hearts

The pure sassy love that these characters have is the stuff that every family should aspire to.

There are really only two words I need to say to convince you that you NEED to read Until You as soon as possible. SEXY PAUL. You haven’t lived until you’ve met Sexy Paul.




In his mind he's JGL, in reality he's more Bobby Moynihan, which is all the better and so perfect Paul. Sexy Paul is so not ‘everyday Paul’, he is, in short, a magnificent beast and I love him. So does Vince and that’s what’s most important.

A wedding between Paul and Vince, from the planning to the actual nuptials is exactly as insane and magical as you would expect. Paul and Sandy are . . . well, they are Paul and Sandy and Vince, Vince is the rock that Paul needs desperately. Vince is the one that keeps the perspective on becoming an official part of the Auster family and legally Paul’s forever and always. He’s so ridiculously and accidentally romantic that I was reminded all over again why Paul is so madly in love with him. He made me swoon by just saying his feels out loud and he had NO idea how amazing his words were.

I had so many favorite parts, on top of meeting Sexy Paul, that I’ll be rereading this whole treasure again. And listening to the audio again. Just all of it, again. But, I’ve got to say, the most truly Vince/Paul moments were all about their wedding vows. They planned on writing them themselves and the goal was to make the other hubs weep like a motherfucker. It was pure gold and the buildup lived up to the execution beautifully. That included the obligatory smack-talk that came upon vow reading completion.

But, the bestest thing about Until You is how all the characters were brought together. Everyone had some ‘special’ page time. Even though the focus is Vince and Paul, every character had a voice and it really gave each of them even more depth. There were no real secondary characters, everyone was important and all of those moments made Until You so much more than just a romantic comedy. Love, in all its forms, was represented and I ate up all those little vignettes. The balance between OTT shenanigans and heartfelt emotions was sublime. Bring it in my bitches.





 And of course, SEXY PAUL.


Head over to Dreamspinner Press to pick up your copy.

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

Review and author visit: The Marrying Kind by Jay Northcote.

Today I review The Marrying Kind by Jay Northcote. Jay popped by to leave an extract from the book and buy links, so you can see what I thought, read the extract and if it tickles your fancy head straight over to pick up your own copy!!Simples.

Nathan wants to put a ring on it, but is Owen the marrying kind?

Two years on from their first date, Owen and Nathan are living together and life is good—except they’re not on the same page about marriage.

A traditionalist at heart, Nathan wants it all: the wedding, the vows, and a pair of matching rings. Owen, on the other hand, believes marriage is old-fashioned and unnecessary. They don’t need a wedding to prove their commitment to each other. Love should be enough on its own.

All it takes is one moment of weakness on a night out to force the issue. Owen finds himself engaged after a half-drunk proposal, and Nathan’s enthusiasm sweeps him along. But as the big day approaches, the mounting tension finally combusts.

If he’s going to save their relationship, Owen will need to decide once and for all if he’s truly the marrying kind. 

I know when I pick up a Jay Northcote story I'm going to enjoy it. I have to admit though, I was a teeny tiny bit apprehensive about reading this one. I love the thrill of characters first falling in love and think it takes real skill to write about established couples. Not that I think Jay doesn't have that skill, but...well, you know when you pick up a sequel and it's not quite all that?  I was worried...I shouldn't have been though!

I loved reading the story of Owen and Nathan's continuing romance and the next steps towards marriage. I have to admit that some of it resonated so clearly with myself and my husband when we got married, he really is not one for weddings at all. All that fuss and money - not his scene. (We ended up getting married just the two of us in Austria and it was beautiful and romantic and I loved every second of it)). So I could understand Owen's feelings, as well as Nathan's. 

I loved the fact that, despite their different worries, it was so clear throughout this story that they were still very much in love with each other. THAT is marriage. Different feelings but eventually working together to make it work. In fact this was what really resonated with me. The love I felt these two shared. I also liked the fact that Jay Northcote didn't resort to a big misunderstanding and go down that route. Okay, there were arguments - that's a part of life. There was ways things could have been resolved more easily...if we lived in a perfect world and I'm glad even this book world isn't perfect because it is real. And the reality is that love wins. 

Somewhere about 70% my heart stopped for one icy minute. I wasn't sure, couldn't quite say how things would end...

But despite that (because of that?) I truly enjoyed this book. Nathan and Owen will stay with me for a while because at the end of the day they love each other and I love love. Another winner from this author, for me anyway.

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

Series info: 

The Marrying Kind is a sequel to The Dating Game. It continues Owen and Nathan's story, so I recommend you read The Dating Game first. I have no firm plans for more stories about Owen and Nathan. The Marrying Kind has a definite happy ending, so please consider their story complete for now.

Excerpt: 

Nathan glanced surreptitiously at Owen sitting beside him as Jack and Simon spoke their vows. Jack’s voice was quiet but sure, and Simon’s rang out clearly over the assembled crowd.

Owen’s gaze was fixed on the couple, and his eyes were suspiciously bright. As Nathan watched, Owen cleared his throat and wiped what Nathan assumed was a tear out of the corner of his eye.

Nathan suppressed a smile and turned his attention back to the groom and groom. So much for Owen’s protests that he didn’t see the point in weddings and that they were outdated, pointless events that were stupid even for straight couples unless they were religious. Even if he didn’t believe in the principle of marriage—gay or otherwise—it was nice to see he wasn’t totally immune to the emotion of the occasion. Nathan was going to enjoy taking the piss out of Owen later. But in the meantime, he reached for Owen’s hand and squeezed. Owen squeezed back.

Nathan’s eyes were moist too by the time they’d finished. The part where the celebrant said “I now pronounce you husband and husband” really set him off. Simon looked so utterly radiant after he and Jack finally stopped kissing and turned to face the wedding guests, hand in hand. Jack was flushed and awkward compared to Simon. He obviously wasn’t happy being the centre of attention, unlike his new husband, but his smile was genuine and the joy rolled off both of them, touching everyone in the room.

Nathan sighed. Owen’s hand was still in his. Their fingers were tangled together casually—just like their lives. They’d been in a relationship for over two years now, living together for half of that, and Nathan had never been happier. But looking at Simon and Jack, he wanted more. He wanted that. But he was afraid to ask Owen, because he was pretty sure what his answer would be, and it wouldn’t be the one Nathan hoped for.

Title: The Marrying Kind

Series: Owen & Nathan – part 2

Author: Jay Northcote

Genre: contemporary m/m romance

Length: 35,000 words approx

Release date: Friday 17th April 2015

Publisher: self-published (Jaybird Press)

Editor: Sue Adams

Cover artist: Garrett Leigh

Buy links:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VXB8WHI

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-themarryingkind-1780025-149.html

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/534516

Author Bio:

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats.

She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

www.jaynorthcote.com

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Facebook profile

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Jay’s books

Review: Objects in the Rearview Mirror (Memoirs of the Human Wraiths #2) by F.E. Feeley Jr.

Memoirs of the Human Wraiths

Their new home on Frederick Street in Clay Center, Kansas, was supposed to give writer Jonathan David and his husband, clinical psychologist Dr. Eddie Dorman, an opportunity to enjoy married life. Jonathan has just released his first major bestseller, and he hopes to finally escape his traumatic past and find the quiet existence he has always craved. Eddie has taken a job at the Kansas State University psychology department, and they intend to begin anew.

They have barely settled in when the nightmare begins. Noises, disembodied voices, and mysterious apparitions make Jonathan’s life hell. Part of the house has decided to bare its teeth, show its jagged edges, and bring back the worst of Jonathan’s past. At first, Eddie cannot perceive the spectral events and fears for his husband’s sanity. When he’s also affected by the haunting, he’s unsure of what to do but refuses to be beaten.

Together, they seek a way to fight the forces trying to tear them apart. The world is a frightening place, but confronting their fears plunges Jonathan and Eddie into absolute horror.

This book is the perfect melding of a classic ghost story, a true love story and a psychological drama all wrapped up in an incredibly well written package.

  Objects in the Rearview Mirror is ultimately a story about fear and what damage fear can do in both this world and the next. There are two stories going on in this book plus the house that brings them together. It starts with a heartbreaking prologue that tells the fate of Alan Pemberly in 1975. That alone had me hooked and the tale of Alan’s aborted homecoming sets up the connection between Alan in 1975 and Jonathan and Eddie in 2013.

Jonathan and Eddie are a married couple who have moved to Clay Center, Kansas to make a fresh start. It was refreshing reading about an established couple who are so obviously committed to each other. There are allusions to troubles in their past, but nothing that most normal couples don’t deal with for the most part. They do have a couple of major issues that set them apart though. Firstly, Jonathan has an incredibly painful past that Eddie, being a licensed clinical psychiatrist, had tried so hard to help Jonathan work through. The fact that Eddie is a mental health professional is a bit of a blessing and a curse. He definitely has helped Jonathan put the pains in the “rearview mirror” but that doesn’t make them go away. Secondly, the house they have moved to seems to have all the classic symptoms of a haunted house. Strange things start happening very subtly at first and the bumps in the night are written so well that the creep factor was perfect.

Turns out the house Jonathan and Eddie have moved into is the same house that Alan Pemberly grew up in. The painful upbringing of both Jonathan and Alan causes an unnatural connection to form between them and this is where the really great psychological drama comes in. Jonathan has been wandering for years, never settling and this is something that has been hanging over his relationship with Eddie for a long time.

“ . . . his lover wasn’t wandering toward something in the hopes of finding new and exciting things; he was wandering away from something that followed him like a shadow attached to his feet, always just a step behind him.”

When the supernatural starts happening at home it’s almost too easy to blame Jonathan’s past and how he deals with it. Being a psychiatrist it’s natural for Eddie to head that direction, Jonathan must be having some sort of breakdown, even though Eddie has witnessed some crazy events himself. Jonathan begins to doubt himself, Eddie begins to doubt himself and the fear of what all this means is driving a wedge between them. Jonathan could only ever show his vulnerability to Eddie and now showing that vulnerability felt like a threat to his sanity. Throughout though, I never doubted their love and commitment to each other and that made the fear more real, I was anxious for them. There were a couple of really painful conversations and damn if those didn’t hurt to read. They were completely realistic though and I think that’s what made the whole paranormal aspect of the story work so well.

The supporting characters really added to the story and next door neighbor, Maggie was a calming force and wealth of knowledge to them both. Jonah was quite the sage who was a later addition to the tale, but his conversation with Jonathan alone is worth a mention. He tells Jonathan,

“I am going to give you some fatherly advice: when this is over, when all this is done, stop looking backward. Life isn’t lived in that direction. Your future isn’t in that direction. It’s forward, out into the horizon ahead of you. Stop clinging to dead things – they’ll drag you down with them and will destroy everything you two have worked so hard to create. You’ve got a man in there that loves you. He’s in the here and now.”

The journey through the rearview mirror has to be read and I don’t want to spoil any of the uber creepy moments for you. I honestly could not put this down until I knew how the story would resolve and I was really impressed how it all came together. Heroes were made and happy endings were had, and they didn’t come easy, but man, what a ride.

The epilogue is a very sweet wrap up and gives a nod to the series here which I love because it means the author is planning on more stories. I loved his one too much to be done.

Review: I Don't: A Christmas Wish by Kari Gregg

At least he isn’t pregnant.

Seth Murphy campaigned for Maryland’s Question Six, wildly celebrating the Election Day victory for marriage equality. Divorce attorney and live-in boyfriend Owen, however, believes just as passionately that the gay community should focus on a plurality of equal rights protections instead of allocating so many resources and man-hours to one hot button issue.

Owen won’t marry Seth.

Relationship deteriorating, the couple visits the Murphy farm outside Brunswick for Christmas. Seth’s family never considered that Seth and Owen wouldn’t be first in line for a marriage license as soon as same-sex marriage passed. When they find out there won’t be a wedding, their season of miracles is invaded by pornographic gingerbread cookies, frowning church ladies, and a determined father with a tactical assault shotgun.

Neither Seth, Owen, nor their love may survive the family holiday circus to say, “I don’t.”

If you want a lovely, romantic Christmas story then this is a great one to choose.Seth and Owen are in love. They are in luuuurrrve - so why won't Owen marry Seth now it's legal? He has his reasons, he's very honest about them with Seth but he hasn't quite taken into account Seth's family.

I loved Seth from the start, his feelings for Owen were so apparent and he knew Owen felt the same way, but there is an underlying doubt now. It is often the 'getting together' stories that are the ones that set my heart racing, the will they/won't they of the romantic chase, Seth and Owen are an established couple, yet this book still retains that feeling of anticipation. There relationship was great and even though Seth is upset about Owen's refusal to marry him he sticks up for him with the family.

Owen - well you think you'd want to hate him right? He's breaking poor Seth's heart...but you don't. He's lovely and his feelings for Seth are so apparent, he shows him he loves him all the time - it's just he is a man of principles. BUT, and this is important, he's also not afraid to learn and change.

The family - well there's a comedy that was just itching to be written. Seth's family, the matriarch - refusing to let any kind of shenanigans go on under her roof before a marriage has taken place (despite the fact that when the maths is done there isn't 9 months between her wedding and birth of the first born). The Patriarch with his shotgun who really only carries out the mum's orders. The homophobic younger sister who thinks her life is so perfect with her upcoming nuptials. The cousin who decorates the gingerbread people with all their bits and bobs on display. The grandmother, who liked to be extreme and shock her daughter.I loved this family, it was vaguely reminiscent of the family in the sitcom Bread, though of course only those of you old enough and British enough will be likely to remember that show. Nothing says Christmas cheer to me like an eccentric family.

There really isn't much that I didn't like about this book - in fact the only thing for me was the shot gun scene at the end. I felt uneasy with a gun being waved around in a house full of people, especially children. (That's not to say I didn't like the shotgun jokes running through it). It's a small niggle, after all they are fictional people, ti just made me uneasy. This book is definitely getting a re-read each Christmas, there's nothing like some snowy, Christmassy love to get you feeling seasonal.