Release Blitz + Giveaway: BREATHE (London Love #1) by Sophia Soames

Join author Sophia Soames and Gay Book Promotions in celebrating new release, BREATHE (London Love #1)! Discover more about the hurt/comfort romance and enter in the $15 Amazon gift card giveaway!

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: BREATHE (London Love book 1)

Author: Sophia Soames

Publisher: Self-published

Cover Artist: Christina Stern

Release Date: May 15, 2021

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope: Hurt/Comfort

Themes: Adult entertainment industry, Heartbreak, Found family

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length:  108 758 words/ 300pages

It is a standalone story.

It is Book 1 in the London Love series. 

A companion novella, EXHALE, will be released in May as part of the Love is All 4 anthology. 

Trigger warning/Author note:  This book contains an off-page description of a sexual assault.

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Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |   Amazon US  |   Amazon UK

Blurb

Meet Ryan, aka, Joey Hole, disgraced former adult entertainer with more issues than he can keep track of. His boyfriend left him for an Instagram twink with 150K followers, his Mum wants him out of her spare room and then there's that idiot at college who just won't take no for an answer.

Meet Luke. He was once the rich kid who'd just been gifted his first car, and now he doesn't even own a bike. He's also slumming it in a house full of ungrateful siblings and his first trip to the Food-bank gave him some goddamn emotional scars. Life is getting better though, and he's acing it at college, as well as making some brilliant new friends. Well except for that stuck up twatwaffle Ryan who won't talk to him and refuses to like his brilliant social media posts....

The first book in the new London Series. This series will follow the ups and downs of three couples living extraordinary ordinary London lives.

My headphones blasted music as I walked down the college corridors towards the on-site gym, where our first session today would cover gentle workouts for the older generation, a topic I found intriguing. I liked the idea of giving something back. Not that I had any contact with any of my grandparents. All except for my maternal grandfather had long departed, and I wasn’t even sure he still lived in the country. Family could be an unwelcome obligation, but if there was one thing I would fight for to the death, it was that Olive would never be sent to some goddamn boarding school and would never, fucking ever be looked after by our parents again. That was like…fuck. I was sweating just imagining the horror my little sister would go through. In any circumstance, it would never happen. She had us in her corner now, and we would bloody protect her to the end of the earth.

The gym was busy as always, a few people huddled over by the water dispenser, and there was muffled giggling coming through from the weights room, where I could see all the girls in our class bent over staring at the phone in Danielle’s hand. Well, all except Bridget, who stormed out and barged past me without saying hello.

“What did you do to Bridget?” I asked, squeezing down on the last remaining place on the bench and huffing in disappointment when Danielle pressed the screen against her chest and glared at me like I’d interrupted something private. I probably had, but as always, I didn’t have the sense to care.

“You don’t want to see this,” she said, an odd mix of excited and horrified.

“Why? Is it porn or something?” I didn’t know why I said these things, but Inez looked like she was about to cry.

The other girl, whose name I momentarily couldn’t remember, whispered, “Go on, show him.”

It was a shitty thing to do. A shitty thing to show any human being. Danielle shoved her phone in my face, and right there, filling the entire screen, someone’s arse was being pounded by one of the thickest dicks I’d ever seen. The sound was off, but from the way the owner of the arse was shaking, it must have bloody hurt. Not that the guy attached to the dick seemed to care, letting his thing slide in and out of the slick hole, which gaped and then clenched before the guy brutally shoved his dick back in.

They were two guys, that was clear. A sculpted stomach came into view as the bloke on the bottom was flipped over, and a curved dick bounced against his stomach.

I realised I was blushing, my face flaming in embarrassment. Not for me, because…it was porn. Gay porn, admittedly, but still porn. I really wasn’t into this kind of stuff in public, and anyway, who watched porn with a bunch of girls?

“Put that shit away before Mr Greenwood comes in and has you thrown out. For fuck’s sake, Danielle!”

“You need to watch it to the end,” she insisted, thrusting the phone back in my face.

“I really don’t want to.” I got up to leave, but Inez grabbed my arm and pushed me back down.

“You should know,” she said, turning even paler. “I don’t agree with Danielle showing it, but someone needs to tell him.”

“Tell me what?”

“No, not you. Someone needs to talk to Ryan.”

“For fuck’s sake.” I was in no way a worldly guy, but seriously?

“Ladies, I’m sure as a gay man, Ryan knows where to find gay porn if he feels the need. I’m not going to go tell him that you girls found gay porn on the big ugly web and feel the need to warn him there are men out there who want to stick their dick up his arse.”

“Who wants to stick their dick up my arse?”

That was Ryan, thank God, because I didn’t want to explain this shit on my own.

“The girls found porn on the web, and it’s done something to their brains.”

I was expecting him to laugh, but instead, he turned around and left the room.

“What’s going on?” I called after him as Danielle once again thrust the phone back in my face.

And on the screen was none other than Ryan, sticking his tongue out with a cheeky wink before swallowing some guy’s dick down his throat.

About the Author 

Sophia Soames should be old enough to know better but has barely grown up. She has been known to fangirl over TV shows, has fallen in and out of love with more popstars than she dares to remember, and has a ridiculously high-flying (un-)glamourous real-life job.

Her long-suffering husband just laughs at her antics. Their children are feral. The Au Pair just sighs.

She lives in a creaky old house in rural London, although her heart is still in Scandinavia.

Discovering that the stories in her head make sense when written down has been part of the most hilarious midlife crisis ever, and she hopes it may long continue.

Find me on social media @sophiasoames on all platforms

Christina Stern is a Russian based artist. Quick sketches and portraits drawn in pencil are what she likes to do the most. Her work can be found on @christinastern on Instagram

Aurelia Morris is a cover artist, photographer, Photoshop wiz and eternal fangirl. She works in many mediums under more aliases that she can keep track of.

Social Media Links

Facebook Group: Sophia Soames’ Little Harbour  |  Twitter  |  Instagram 

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Giveaway 

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win

a $15 Amazon gift card with newsletter signup. 

Enter here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1c2e23815/

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts and reviews here

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Robin (Birds of a Feather #1) by Rain Carrington

Author Rain Carrington and Gay Book Promotions visit on the Robin (Birds of a Feather #1) blog tour! Read more about the 'forbidden romance' and enter in the giveaway for a chance to win a print/e-copy of Robin or a $25 gift card giveaway!

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: Robin (Birds of a Feather 1)

Author: Rain Carrington

Publisher: Self-Published

Cover Artist: Rain Carrington

Genre/s:  Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: Forbidden love 

Themes:  Poor little rich boy falls in love with his “brother”

Heat Rating:  4 flames       

Length:  70 000 words

Book 2 pre-order will be available on release day.

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Buy Link

Universal Link

Will Robin ever find the love he’s been denied his entire life?

Blurb 

Coming from wealth but neglected emotionally, Robin Pavasaris flies to Connecticut, in search

of what he’d missed all his life. The love of a parent.

What he got, however, was a wicked stepmother that would rival those in fairy tales and a father succumbed to guilt, silent as he watches his son hurt by another mother figure. Filip Pavasaris is helpless to act. In fact, Robin fears he’ll have no ally in the huge, cold manor.

That’s until his half-brother, Alex, comes home from graduate school. The first time they see one another, it was like Robin had found every dream he hadn’t known he had. Then, he learns their relation and his heart is sore once again.

It doesn’t matter, however, as Alex takes Robin under his wing, teaching him how to survive in the home. The more time they spend together, the more Robin fears he’s falling for his own brother. On top of that, he can never let anyone at Dove’s Landing know he’s gay. Their religion wouldn’t allow a gay son, and he’d lose the millions his mother coveted from his trust fund.

A confession and a kiss breaks everything apart, and Robin runs for his life, and from his heartbreak.

This is an ongoing series, with temporary resolutions at the end of each, along with a few cliffhangers. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS: dubcon/noncon, drug use, and more! Please read the warning inside the book.

Excerpt 

Robin Pavasaris was hurrying to the den near his room where Troy waited, ready to give him his lessons for the day and something else. Troy was tall and handsome, in a geeky way, but still, Robin thought he was perfect. Not to mention he loved the guy.

Their affair had started months previous, right around his eighteenth birthday. Troy and he had flirted for the last couple years of Troy’s employment as his tutor, but he told Robin he could do nothing about it, since Robin was underage. Once Robin hit that magic, invisible marker, they’d kissed, made love, and since then, the lessons had been cut short in favor of spending hours in bed instead.

When he got into the room, there he was, his boyfriend. Well, technically he wasn’t allowed to call Troy that. Officially, he was Robin’s tutor, but he could have his secret.

“Hey,” he purred.

“Shh. Close the door,” Troy chided. After Robin did just that, he rushed to the table in the middle of the room, the big glass and chrome desk pushed to the back of the room near the oversized windows and sat close to Troy.

After a fast kiss on Troy’s succulent lips, Robin whispered, “I missed you.”

Troy was light skinned and marked with a thousand freckles, and Robin was in love with every single one of them. “Stop horsing around, Robin. You have three finals coming up and if you fail, your mother will kill me. She has to show your grades to your father.”

“I know, but I concentrate so much better after we…you know.”

Robin was terribly shy, but with Troy, he felt he could let his hair down a little. Not that his actual hair could be let down, as short as it was, never growing over the tops of his ears, like his mother liked it. The sandy blond color came from his father, as Chelsea’s was strict black, but he did inherit her cat-green eyes.

“Not now,” Troy told him, impatient. “Work first, and if we have time…then we’ll fuck.”

“Don’t say it like that,” Robin pleaded, his romantic sensibilities unable to see anything they were doing as less than the purest form of adoration.

“Fine. We can make love. Get that book open. I already have your assignments lined out from the website.”

After a long sigh of disappointment, Robin set his mind to task, wanting to do what he had to, to make Troy happy.

He didn’t care much if his grades suffered. He’d always been a straight-A student, so if his grades flagged some, it wouldn’t hurt him much. He’d been accepted into a top college, several, in fact, all far from home so he’d never have to visit if he didn’t want to.

The pages of the book were a blur as he read fast, taking in at least most of the information. He studied in his room at night, and thought he was likely ready for his finals, but he’d never disappoint Troy.

“Okay, finish up with that, study those last four pages, they’re big on the exam, then let’s get to trig.”

“Ugh. I hate trig. I have to think too much.”

He finally got laughter from Troy. “I used to say the same thing. It’ll all come in handy once you get to college.” He softened more and asked, “Are you excited? To go?”

“Yes. Very. I still hope you can come with me.”

“I live here, Robin. You need to go, start your life.”

Like every time he said things like that, Robin’s heart squeezed painfully, and he felt tears springing to his eyes, that he quickly blinked away. “You’re…you’re part of my life, Troy.”

“Right now, I am. Robin, I said we’ll talk about this stuff later. Okay?”

Time felt like it was ticking louder and louder in his head, his heart beating right along with it, faster and faster, until he felt like he couldn’t breathe. “It’s always later, Troy, and this is it! There is no more later! I’m going away after the summer and we’ll… we might never see each other again!”

Troy took his face into both hands and stopped Robin’s tirade with a kiss. At first, Robin tried to pull back from the kiss, but like always, Troy’s warmth, the most warmth he’d gotten from another human in his life, won over his pain. He let himself be kissed, tilting his head and letting his breathing finally slow.

When the kiss ended, Troy’s saliva drying on Robin’s lips, he was again lulled into a sense of love and need. “Let’s get back to work, and I promise, Robin, we’ll talk soon.”

About the Author  

I love writing, it's been my dream for many years, and in October of 2013, when my first book went live on Amazon, that dream came true.

Writing love stories that are centered on flawed but lovable characters is my passion. Finding love between people isn't easy, nor should it be. Even in a book, there have to be obstacles for the story to feel real.

I am a mother of three amazing people, and three adorable fur babies. I live in Colorado but love many other places besides my home. One state in particular is New Mexico, the state where I was born has always held a place in my heart.

People and places make my stories what they are. Each character I've written is a part of me in some way. Each place I write is as well. Adventures come in many ways, and each of my stories has taken me on an adventure that I treasure.

Come with me on my adventures and fall in love with my characters, as I have. I promise, you will love the ride.

Author Links

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Page 

Instagram | BookBub | Queeromance 

Goodreads  |  MeWe | Newsletter Sign-up

Giveaway

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win one of the following prizes:

1st: $25 Gift Card

2nd: Print Copy of Robin

3rd: eCopy of Robin

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Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts and reviews here

Exclusive + Giveaway: Better Have Heart (Harrison Campus #2) by Andy Gallo & Anyta Sunday

Authors Andy Gallo and Anyta Sunday, along with A Novel PR, have shared an exclusive from their latest new adult romance, Better Have Heart (Harrison Campus #2) ! read more today and enter in the giveaway for a chance to win 1 of 3 e-copies of Better Have Heart!

Better Have Heart by Andy Gallo and Anyta Sunday

Series: Harrison Campus #2

Publisher: Andy Gallo & Anyta Sunday (Self Published)

Release Date: July 1, 2020

Length:
Print 243 pages, eBook - 60,944 words

Subgenre:

"Better Have Heart" is an enemies to lovers, slow burn M/M romance with a HEA. This New Adult, college, opposite attract, rich-boy poor-boy novel can be read as a standalone.

Start reading now:

https://www.amazon.com/Better-Have-Heart-Harrison-Campus-ebook/dp/B0888QMZ73/



Book synopsis:

They hate everything about each other, so why do they harmonize so well?

Isaiah Nettles wants a chance. A chance to help his family.

The prestigious Gage Scholarship will secure his future. He needs this.
The competition might be hot, but Darren Gage is a golden child.
No way will Isaiah let an entitled rich kid be handed the award.

But what if Darren is more than an entitled rich kid?

Darren Gage wants to be seen. Seen as more than just his name.

The Gage Scholarship will let him shine. He needs this.
Sure, Isaiah is insanely sexy—and right to stand up for himself—but he is the competition.
No way will Darren let just anyone take his legacy.

But what if Isaiah isn’t just anyone?

"Better Have Heart" is an enemies to lovers, slow burn M/M romance with a HEA. This New Adult, college, opposite attract, rich-boy poor-boy novel can be read as a standalone.

A note from the authors:

We want readers to enjoy a good, new adult romance with two MCs who helps each other overcome what’s holding them back from finding love.

Quick one-liners:

1. God. Why were things so complicated? In a perfect world, he’d have leaned over and kissed Darren.
2. “I like sleeping on firm things.” Isaiah smirked, and at this rate, Darren would spend most of the weekend under a cold shower.
3. So, Darren might be hot. Okay, insanely hot. But beneath all that, Isaiah was looking at an aristocratic charmer. The type of man who knew all the right names to drop to get his way.

Exclusive for BMBR:
Darren was the last to arrive.
Everyone else was in the paneled conference room when the assistant led him inside and shut the door.
Soft conversations ended abruptly, adding to the nausea building in his guts. Sucked living up to the expectations of being the namesake and heir to an American dynasty. Sucked that he’d fucked up already by arriving five minutes late.
He schlepped over thick carpet toward the “U” of couches and a long, low table. Dusk poured through the six-foot gridded windows on one side of the plush room, stretching over Jenkins, the Gage Scholar mentors, and—
His step hitched.
Isaiah.
Isaiah regarded him from his position at the edge of the couch. He wore a suit, pale blue shirt, and dark blue tie. The shirt clung against a lean chest, the color soft against his tan skin. His hair was tied back into a ponytail. Not especially long, just long enough to gather with an elastic, judging by the strands that escaped it.
Darren forced himself to keep moving through the sudden crazy hopping in his gut. The guy was as striking as he remembered. Even if, this time, there was nothing soft about his expression. Even if, this time, he looked at Darren with his lips curving into an unimpressed smile.
Darren glanced down at his shorts, light green oxford, and loafers—without socks. Everyone else wore a suit and tie, or at least a collared shirt and sports coat.
He grimaced. Only the scion of MAS Oil thought it appropriate to show up in something they’d wear to class.
At least he’d remembered a belt?
Ah, shit.


Author Information:

Andy Gallo:

Andy Gallo prefers mountains over the beach, coffee over tea, and regardless if you shake it or stir it, he isn’t drinking a martini. He remembers his “good old days” as filled with mullets, disco music, too-short shorts, and too-high socks. Thanks to good shredders and a lack of social media, there is no proof he ever descended into any of those evils.

Andy does not write about personal experiences and no living or deceased ex-boyfriends appear on the pages of his stories. He might subconsciously infuse his characters with some of their less noble qualities, but that is entirely coincidental even if their names are the same. And while Andy leaves the hard sci-fi/fantasy for his alter ego, Andrew, in his mind a touch of the supernatural never derailed a good relationship.

Married and living his own happy every after, Andy helps others find their happy endings in the pages of his stories. He and his husband of more than twenty years spend their days raising their daughter and rubbing elbows with other parents. Embracing his status as the gay dad, Andy sometimes has to remind others that one does want a hint of color even when chasing after their child.

Join my Facebook group for more of your favorite characters and to meet new favorites:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GalloreousReaders/

Website: www.andygallo.com
Email: andy@andygallo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/andygalloauthor

Anyta Sunday:

A bit about me: I'm a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love. Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries. I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy. My books have been translated into German, Italian, French, and Thai.

Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/about-anyta/
Sign up for Anyta's newsletter and receive a free e-book: http://www.anytasunday.com/newsletter-free-e-book/
Join my Facebook group to chat all things Slow Burn Romance:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SlowBurnSundays/

You can also find me here:
www.anytasunday.com

For information about new releases and freebies, follow me on BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anyta-sunday

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Book 2 in the Harrison Campus series - BETTER HAVE HEART - Andy Gallo and Anyta Sunday are giving away 3 e-copies of Better Have Heart! Must be 18 years old to enter and win; open internationally.

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Direct link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/88d45f03136/

Review: Cabin Fever by Roe Horvat

Michael Bourgeon is a talented artist, young and gorgeous, a stinking rich heir from a well-connected family. He’s the infamous libertine behind the most extravagant parties in Manhattan, and his exploits often lead to juicy tabloid stories. Enjoying his wealth and freedom to the fullest, Michael has the world at his feet.

Until someone tries to kill him. Repeatedly. After a security breach among his own staff, he has run out of options where to hide while the FBI hunts the killer.

A high-profile private security expert Vincent Nowak is supposed to provide the miracle solution. And while Michael struggles with nightmares and anxiety due to the looming threat, Vincent becomes not only the ultimately reliable protector, but a wonderful distraction, too…

A small cabin in the woods, a cocky brat with a soft heart, his gruff, controlling bodyguard, and weeks of tension in a confined space.

Based on the original short story "Yes, Daddy".

Sexy, dirty, a bit sweet, and some action. Exactly what I signed up for!

Michael is the spoiled rich kid with a streak of trouble and bad behaviour. He likes to push boundaries, and people’s buttons.

I’ll admit - I really didn’t like Michael as a person as first. But the brat grew on me eventually.

Vincent is stoic, silent, and dependable. He gets the job done. Perfect boyfriend material - or daddy material, in this case.

The complete opposites are thrown together when a contracted killer sets sights on Michael, and Vincent is brought in to be the bodyguard.

From the moment they meet, the men enter a battle of wills. But underneath it all, there’s a palpable want and tension.

With Michael and Vincent holed up in an isolated cabin, there’s nothing to do. Except for Michael to tease. And tease a bit more. And then some more.

Until Vincent’s resolve finally breaks.

Then it’s sex-galore. Page after page of filth.

I was very much so on board with it. The big issue - other than the contracted killer stalking them, of course - is Vincent’s inability to let someone in, and the resulting hot-and-cold routine.

But again and again, Vincent caves to his boy. And soon Michael has his Daddy wrapped around his finger.

Inevitably, the plot catches up and there’s a big action scene. The premise of it all was very flimsy. But I let it slide - the action plot definitely wasn’t the focus of the book.

If you’re looking for some good smut and a sweet Daddy/boy romance, give Cabin Fever a try!

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Don't miss the release blitz for Cabin Fever today!

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

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

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

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

Reviewer: Annery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Audiobook Review: Fighter (Survivor #3) by T.M. Smith

Dedication and smarts have given Blair Cummings a leg up in the Bureau. His job is all-consuming but rewarding. It doesn't leave much time for a love life though, not that Blair believes in love. In his early 30s, he's only ever been in one long-term relationship due to his inability to commit to anything other than his job and his family.

Born into a family that's as successful as they are hateful, Howard Manning Tullor Junior ran so far away from his last name that he wound up in the arms of Satan himself. Freedom comes at a high price but it's one Mannie is willing to pay, setting him on a path that leads him to a quiet, laid-back FBI agent.

Their attraction is unexpected, and yet, welcomed. Blair seems to have finally found something worth fighting for, but Mannie, still haunted by ghosts of the past, wonders if he'll ever be able to move on. The two are working toward their future, but can a budding romance survive when past and present collide?

Listening Length: 5 hours and 51 minutes
Narrator: Nick J. Russo

Reviewer: Shee Reader

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series and couldn’t wait for the audio version of this one to land. I was already invested in Blair and Mannie’s relationship as they crop up in the first two books, and couldn’t wait for their full story. The tale crosses over with the other books in the survivor series and I really like that in a series, that events intertwine as they do in real life, rather than being based on relationships that develop in a consecutive way. Of course, some events follow in sequence, but more than one relationship can develop at once, and I really enjoy the concurrent nature of life replicated in a series of books.

Blair and Mannie have the complications of how they met with Mannie as a victim and Blair the investigator, the fact that they live in different states, and the horrific experiences Mannie has had and can he learn to trust Blair? There is lots of challenge for a new relationship in the story, but much less of the exterior threat that is included in the first two books since one of the villains is in jail and one is dead. The only added threat came from Mannie’s grandfather who turns up near the end of the story.

This is an emotional tale with the struggle for the relationship coming from the characters themselves and whether they can work out their issues, and I found this to be very engaging and I really was rooting for the guys from the outset. My only complaint, If I’m going to be picky, was that Blair seemed a little to good to be true! He had no real character flaws to speak of and as such, this made him a tiny bit one dimensional, but that really is a tiny niggle!

The audio is beautifully performed by Nick J. Russo (as with earlier book in the series) and he does an awesome job again with this book. His characterisation is almost tangible and I love having a good book read to me on my commute to work. Nick does another super job with this lovely emotional book.

Highly recommended.

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

Guest Review: Rules to Break (Davey's Rules #2) by Susan Hawke

Davey’s Rule #91: Daddy never loses faith in his boy.

Bryan Miller is satisfied with his uncomplicated life. He’s a discipline Daddy who’s not in the market for any kind of permanent relationship. And why should he be? Like the waves he surfs in the small beach town he calls home, there’s always another body available to warm his bed when he tires of the current flavor of the week.

Preston Wallace is a snotty rich brat with enough attitude to keep all the Daddies from giving him a chance. He gets it… people are jealous of him for being rich, hot, and fit. It would take a strong Daddy to take him in hand.

A casual conversation on the night of Preston’s twenty-fifth birthday ties these two stubborn men together in a bet right out of the musical My Fair Lady. Can Daddy Bryan turn the obnoxious brat into a dateable boy within a ninety-day timeframe?

Strap in for a roller-coaster of emotions as Bryan takes firm control of a brat who might just need to know someone cares enough to try.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

I hadn’t read Book one in the series before this one, but I sure as heck sought it out and read it after! This book works fine as a stand alone, I just really enjoyed it!

I really love a fake relationship, or a bet that means our two main characters are ‘forced’ into proximity with one another. These two are a perfect match and Bryan’s discipline and developing love are exactly what Preston desperately needs.

The ‘big, gruff, I’m not looking for anything serious type alpha male’ is such a fun trope when the reader can see exactly what the man actually needs, and is delighted to see him get it!

The writing is easy to engage with, and low on heavy angst, although there is plenty of heartache. I felt so much for poor Preston and his clinical (though spoilt) childhood where the domestic staff really were his only family.

The story is engaging and warm, funny and sexy and so bittersweet at times I loved it and looked out the previous book. There’s a whole host of boys who need a daddy to love them, so I’m hopeful of more to come.

This was a charming book, I’d recommend.

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

Tag Team Review: Love Happens Anyway by R.J. Scott

Hiring a boyfriend for Christmas; what can go wrong?

Derek is facing yet another Christmas where his life feels out of control. He has a new career that doesn’t feel like his, and parents who would just love to see him settled down. All he needs is a temporary buffer for the parties he has to attend, and for his parents to leave him alone. Enter, Luke.

Luke is twenty-thousand dollars short for the renovations on Halligans; his family’s bar in New York’s Financial District. A favor for a buddy has him agreeing to play the part of boyfriend to a guy with more money than sense.

But when the spirit of Christmas works its magic on the two men, and they begin to fall for each other, Derek runs scared, and Luke needs space.

It doesn’t matter what obstacles you throw in the way of love, or how much you run in the other direction, because, when you’re least expecting it, whether you want it or not, love happens anyway.

Most everyone loves the fake boyfriend trope and I am right there with them. It can go sideways quickly for me if there is too much angst overshadowing the potential happy, but Love Happens Anyway gave the perfect balance of both characters so there was no overwhelming worry about one of them getting all ridiculous and threatening the HEA I need.

The story is told in dual POV and I honestly don’t think the result would have been nearly as successful without it. Derek is not the most likable character and if I hadn’t had insight into his inner workings and just saw everything from Luke’s view I wouldn’t have been as satisfied with the relationship because I LOVED Luke and would have wanted better for him. I did have a view into Derek though and I appreciated how the author made his dramatics all his. There was no tragic backstory, just a regular loving family (albeit, they were rich as hell) with some dynamics that needed some . . . tweaking (due to the richness) to be able to communicate and really be happy, letting Derek own his confidence for the first time in his life.

So, Derek has some hang-ups that lead him to believe he needs a fake boyfriend for the holidays and Luke is in need of cash and knows a guy, and the two of them come to an agreement to get both of them what they need. Luke is a pretty stoic guy, but Derek’s somewhat fussy personality pushes all his buttons and it’s obvious when he starts to fall for Derek. Luke is everything that Derek fantasized about personified so when they inevitably started getting to know one another by bits and pieces I ate up every little breakthrough.

When the UST is finally resolved Derek opened up pretty quickly and again, without having his POV throughout, it would have been too jarring to be believable, but knowing this was what he wanted all along, it worked. They still had a ways to go to get to an HEA, but the bathtub scene alone is worth the journey.

Family is very important to both MC’s throughout and after all the revelations, the guys wanted to come clean to their families about how they met, etc. I’m glad the author made that a point to cover, it rang true for both Luke and Derek, especially with the epiphany that Derek came to with his family about their own dynamics.

Once you read the story, the cover makes complete sense and it’s really just too sweet for words. I loved how Luke and Derek appreciated each other and Derek really needed that appreciation from someone he loved and the snowman is such the adorable embodiment of that. For all that love Christmas stories and the bonus fake boyfriend theme, this is the perfect holiday story.

This story is as cute as its cover suggests it will be. I agree though, the cover isn't your typical cover from this genre, but I like that and it makes complete sense by the end of the book.

Everyone loves a fake boyfriend trope - don't they? There is something endlessly sweet about knowing they are pretending but that it's going to turn real by the end of the book (I mean what kind of story would it be if it didn't turn real?) . As long as the twists and turns aren't forced angst then you know it's going to be a lovely read, and with an author as talented as RJ Scott there is no worries about cheap-author tactics.

Luke is a great MC, and though Derek is perhaps not so likeable at first glance, Derek suits him; they work well together. There is a dynamic between them that just draws you in.

This is an enjoyable story, one that can be read and loved anytime of the year. This book is not just for Christmas! I recommended it! 

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

Review: Sweet William by Dianne Hartsock

William Wilkerson leads the life of the privileged rich. Head of his father’s shipping business, he indulges to his heart’s content in the pleasures of the flesh with Boston’s finest young men.

That is, until he reunites with Fredrick: his former tutor and the one man who captured his heart.

But William’s father has declared Fredrick off limits. And Fredrick, himself, believes he’s beneath the attention of the Wilkerson heir.

After having lost his current pupil to graduation, and with no prospects of a replacement, Frederick is homeless, hungry, and easy pickings for the men on the docks.

When Frederick is shanghaied into service on William’s own merchant ship, will William discover his plight in time to rescue him?

I loved the premise of this. A tutor who falls in love with his student but class separates them from being together combined with a serration and reunion. It has all the proper checks of a beautiful romance and yet, something was missing.

For me, this was more porn than plot because there is a lot of sex and not a lot of pages.

I did like that we got both POV’s to see that the men were deeply in love with one another and wanted nothing more than to be together. I liked the mini reunion of Frederick our tutor and William his former student and love of his life. I felt the emotions between them after a three year absence and was eager to see them in a private setting where intimacy could be had. What I wasn’t ready for was William to go through all his fuck buddies in every form of sex other than penetration all the while thinking of his dear Freddie while on his way to meet him. I am not saying the dude can’t get it on with who he wants and I get that he is young, only 19 and has a remarkable recovery time but good lord dude. Keep it in your pants.

I adored Freddie and felt awful for him thinking that he was never good enough for William. The whole plot-ish deal at the end was odd and carried out even odder. Maybe this needed to be longer so we could fully see the direction the story was going? I am not sure but it seemed like along with the plot-lite porn we got, we also got a game of pinball tossing the story around and then everything was all tidy with everyone happy and… the end.

I am not sure what else to say. The author does deliver the romance and intimacy that is palpable with Frederick and William, I just wish we didn’t get William’s dick and tongue in everyone‘s mouth and he could have at least stayed celibate for one day for the love of his life.

But… that’s just me.

Audiobook Review: Game Point by M.J. O'Shea

Game, set… match made in heaven.

Spoiled socialite Quinn Valenzuela has no interest in sports or his family’s huge sporting goods empire, Sparta Athletics. So when Quinn learns his grandfather has died and he’s in control of the corporation, no one is more surprised than Quinn himself.

Dedicated COO Porter Davis has little time and less patience for brats like Quinn who have never done a day’s work, but circumstances leave him with little choice. Quinn claims he’s ready to leave partying behind and grow up, but it’ll take more than words to earn Porter’s respect. As it turns out, they can work—and play—together after all. A friends with benefits arrangement makes sense for the two busy men, but are they too different for it to ever develop into more? Not if Quinn can convince Porter he has his head in the game.

Listening Length: 4 hrs 31 min
Narrator: Kenneth Obi

Definitely one of the more enjoyable Dreamspun Desires stories, this went down the hatch with nary a hiccough!


Porter, who is content and happy being the head of operations of one of the top sporting goods conglomerates is understandably devastated when the founder of said company dies suddenly. It’s bad enough that he’s lost his mentor, but when the entire company is left to the prodigal grandson Quinn, no one is more shocked than Porter. Quinn, who has been absent for years, is set to inherit the majority of shares but only if he chooses to stay and step into his grandfather’s position. The thought of the pampered young man being Porter’s boss is enough to make his blood boil!! He simply thinks of Quinn as a spoiled brat with not one responsible bone in his body, and thus wholly ill equipped to do the job. Suffice it to say, pissed off and indignant doesn’t even come close to how Porter feels.


Now granted, Quinn has not been the poster child for initiative and work ethic. Admittedly, he has been living the high life of parties and debauchery but lately, he’s been feeling a bit restless and not so satisfied. Quinn doesn't know why he’s avoided his family for so long, but his grandfather’s death is really just the push he needs for some serious life evaluation, and he’s determined to give this new opportunity a good go. Now, if Quinn can just navigate the sexy COO’s hostile attitude towards him, things might just go his way.


These two not surprisingly, don’t hit it off at all. Somehow though, circumstances force them to lay out the harsh truths and they grudgingly agree to give each other a chance, and lo and behold, both are amazed at just how well their strengths and assets work together. It doesn’t take long for them to establish a great working relationship, one that is busy and stressful and fulfilling, and perhaps could benefit from blowing off some much needed steam. With. Each. Other. Yep!


Narrated by Kenneth Obi, this was my first listening experience with him, and it went just as smoothly as the story did. Overall, Game Point was pretty much angst free, with the obligatory denial of feelings where perhaps that denial carries on just a tad too long. However, it really was a sweet story of enemies to friends to lovers (with a touch of age gap, a dollop of opposites attract, and a dash of sexy). O’Shea typically excels at such fluff, so fans of hers shouldn't have much complaint if at all, with this easy breezy read.


Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Son of Money by Brandon Witt

Randall Morgan, youngest son of one of Seattle’s wealthiest families, rejected his family’s money to live free of their control and pursue his career as a photographer. To make ends meet, Randall does erotic photography and massage—a secret he keeps from his family so he can remain a part of his young niece’s life. But the price of that relationship is high, and Randall is once more slipping under his family’s thumb.

Noah Carroll is the spokesperson for the Seattle Humane Society, and the city holds a special place in his heart. When fate intervenes during a pet adoption, Noah finds himself face-to-face with his first love—Randall.

While Noah and Randall are not the teenagers they once were, the flame of a first kiss long ago draws them together. Their romance is beginning to grow, but someone is out to destroy Randall and expose all he keeps hidden.

When secrets and rumors thrust Randall into the public eye, his relationship with Noah isn’t the only thing that comes under threat.

This is my first Brandon Witt book and it’s like nothing I expected it to be.

But I loved it nonetheless.

It wasn’t the typical love story. Suffice it to say, the romance is “solved” during the first 40% (or less). No, it’s not that the following 60% is there for nothing, just to reach the length of an average novel.

The reason why is that Noah and Randall knew each other when they were teens. They had their first kiss at 13 and have never forgotten each other ever since.

“It’s just that it’s you, you know?” He shrugged, and I thought he was going to look away, but he didn’t. “I’ve always known you were the one. I wasn’t sure if you’d ever come back into my life or not, but that didn’t change anything. And then you did. Out of the blue. With no forcing the situation on either of our parts.”

Randall decides to buy a dog. Not because he longs for some canine company, but to satisfy his niece’s wishes. She’s not allowed to have a dog at home, so Randall decides to make her happy adopting it himself. And so he goes to the animal refuge his mother is holding a benefit for.

And there he meets Noah.

A grown-up Noah.

Was there an application to take him home?

As if.

He comes home with a rather ugly dog called Harper. I fell in love with the dog, too.

I must say Randall sense of humor amused me since the very beginning. He’s a witty man indeed.

Promise me to call him if I had problems? Call Noah Carroll. Yeah. I had no issue with that. Hell, sign me up for ten dogs – that would guarantee a problem and a phone call. “Sure. I promise”.

So, as I mentioned above, the romance develops very quickly. Insta-love? For some reason, I didn’t really care here. It’s not just the “old” flame of love they experienced in their early youth, but I really could feel their attraction and their chemistry. I could feel them complementing each other and that “destiny” awaiting them.

And I was enchanted with Noah since the very first page he enters the scene.

“You ask that after you kiss me.”

“Like I said, it didn’t look like you two were together to me.”

“And if we are?”

He shrugged. “You won’t be anymore.”

Another bark of laughter. “Wow. Not sure if that’s arrogance or supreme confidence.”

“Oh, sorry. I don’t mean it that way.” Noah looked abashed. “So are you? Are you together?”

I shook my head. “No. Definitely not.”

“Good.”

Noah and Randall don’t waste the time with big misunderstandings or with holding their feelings back just because. They are honest with themselves and with the other one, naked emotions on the surface. There is no sense in hiding when they both know what they are looking for. It was that way the whole while and I really appreciate the author didn’t beat around the bush just for the sake of it.

“Sorry, I’ll cut it out. I’m just nervous and really happy. Did I mention nervous?”

“Why are you nervous if you’re so sure about everything?”

“We’re human. We can fuck up what’s meant to be.”

The words made my heart hurt, which seemed ridiculous. “And we’re meant to be?”

He simply nodded. No other assurance or clever quip.

One thing is true: there are not many sex scenes, or at least, explicit sex scenes. I must say I was a little disappointed with this because there clearly are sparks between them two and I really wanted to see more than a glimpse of this. What a pity. Still, there is no time to get bored so I didn’t miss it too much.

I liked the photographer’s aura in the book. How the sessions are. How casual photos can be exactly what oneself is looking for. How that person feels something in the air and foresees a life-changing moment close to come for his camera to capture. How the following process is displayed in order to emphasize the best aspects of the photo. And Randall himself in that role.

Noah drives his proverbial ark: an animal refuge. It can be kind of forced but I could really picture him taking care of abandoned dogs and finding them a home. I really liked the method to find the perfect match for every person. Or, better said, the perfect match for every dog.

Religion takes an important place here. It’s not that we find bigoted people left and right, but it was what drove Noah and Randall apart when they were teens. Noah’s family is devoted to charity and helps people from socially disavantaged environments, which leads them to travel very far away when their sabbatical year ends. I liked this aspect of the story and how it shapes Noah’s character throughout the years.

Noah’s gaze sharpened, seeing me again. “And God took you. I couldn’t have you.”

So, which is the real “conflict” there? A myriad of things that are indeed the same: crappy people. Randall is a professional photographer but to make ends meet he combines his dream job with massage and erotic photograph sessions. Randall loves sex, so he had no problem in indulging himself if the occasion arises and he was attracted enough to the men who paid for his services. That earns him a “slutty” reputation when one of his clients decides to cause a big scene out of it, just out of spite.

And Randall’s family is not supporting at all. In fact it’s one of those with whom you wish not to find enemies in your life because you already have your family for that. The Morgans are portrayed as a disgustingly rich and powerful family with a few skeletons in the closet. Translation: they were truly fucked up.

The father is a manipulating bastard who manhandles his other son Dustin at his will. The mother was a social climber who is all the time looking down her nose at anyone who doesn’t meet her standards. She doesn’t exactly make an effort to include Dustin’s wife, Kayla, in the family. Kayla is the so-called “trophy wife” but she still struggles with that definition and with giving her daughter Bailey some kind of good example, but can’t avoid Bailey from being expected to behave as an adult in this constrained environment. Her uncle Randall is the only one who lets her be a child.

So when the shit really hits the fan, lots of conflicts appear and Noah and Randall have to find it in themselves to overcome all these obstacles and difficulties in order to build a new life together. I liked seeing how their relationship is put to test and how they manage to solve things and go on with their life. Noah puts lots on faith on them, whereas Randall is a bit more insecure. Despite reading his feelings well, he’s scared of “fucking up what’s meant to me”.

This is my first experience with Brandon Witt and I must say it was a good beginning.

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