Blog Tour + Giveaway: Gideon's Wish by Byran T. Clark

Author Bryan T. Clark and Other Worlds Ink visit today on the Gideon's Wish blog tour! Discover more about the contemporary romance and enter in the $20 Amazon gift card giveaway!

Bryan T. Clark has a new MM contemporary romance out: Gideon's Wish. And there's a giveaway!

He might be Mr. Right, but their timing is all kinds of wrong…

Gideon Miller is done letting his heart do the thinking for him. Been there, done that, still has the emotional scars to prove it. Besides, he’s leaving Los Angeles soon. There’d be no point in starting up a new romance now. But when he meets the off-the-charts sexy, ex-military man next door, Gideon starts to question everything…

Isaiah Williams needs a fresh start. With his time in the Navy—and a painful, toxic relationship—behind him, he’s ready to start a new life. Now all he has to do is figure out how to keep his matchmaking mother out of his business…and how to not fall for his sweet, nerdy, and entirely too attractive neighbor…

They’re complete opposites with nothing but trust issues in common. Their timing? Terrible. And yet…none of that matters when they’re together. Will love be enough to get Gideon and Isaiah to happily ever after? Or are they destined to remain star-crossed?

“Gideon’s Wish, a standalone, steamy, lightly angsty, M/M contemporary romance, features a loveable, openly gay handyman and the not-so-openly gay alpha male of his dreams. HEA guaranteed. Download today and get ready to fall in love with your next favorite read.”

Get It On Amazon

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Giveaway

Bryan is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47182/?

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Excerpt

“Your dad and I are so proud of you and the work you’ve done on the house. I admit, I thought your dad was crazy to want to take the loan out to do this…But it really looks nice.”

He knew she was referring to the latest pictures he’d sent her. Although he’d spent every bit of the twenty grand from the home equity loan they’d taken out for the project, they saved so much money in labor by him doing the work himself.

Gideon groaned into the receiver. He hated talking money with her. It was always ‘we can’t afford that.’ “Well, I wanted to talk to you and Dad about the master bathroom. I was thinking we should redo the bathroom before we put it back up for rent. I can pay for it with the money I’m making, and…” The sound of a door closing caused Gideon to look over his shoulders, out the window, and into the carport that he and his neighbor, Daisy, shared.

Jesus! Gideon’s lower jaw dropped as he stared at the young man coming out of Daisy’s house holding a trash bag. Shirtless, his gorgeous brown chest muscles were like two rounded mountains.

As the guy walked across the carport, Gideon’s eyes traced down his picture-perfect six-pack abs to a tapered waist and strong thighs. He had the classic military hair cut, trimmed short all the way around except for the top of his head.

“Hold on! Your father’s walking in. Talk to him about that. I love you!”

“I love you, too,” he tried to say before she was gone. As he waited for his dad to get on the phone, Gideon now remembered Daisy saying last week that her son, Isaiah, was coming home and would be staying with her until he got on his feet. Was this who this gorgeous specimen of a man was?

Gideon’s gaze fell below the guy's waist. Holy shit! What the hell is that swinging in his black nylon gym shorts? Obviously, commando under the tight shorts, the sheer size of it sent blood flooding into Gideon’s own groin.

The man’s warm chestnut skin tone complimented his black hair and thin, neatly-trimmed mustache that dropped to his jaw line. If this was indeed Isaiah, he was way better-looking than his brothers and in great shape. He was all kinds of sexy.

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Author Bio

Bryan T. Clark is a hopeless, perpetual, unceasing, relentless, unremitting, persistent, interminable romantic. He is a voracious reader who is blessed with an innate love of writing and who, after over 30 years, remains madly in love with the man of his dreams. So, it is no surprise then, that his passion in life is writing captivating and engaging romantic dramas about men who love men. He is committed to bringing his readers stories of real life, with multicultural characters, riveting plots, and of course, what we all desire…ever-lasting love. A multi-published, Rainbow Award winning author and a 2x LAMBDA Literary Finalist, he is also a funny, loving, family-oriented, and a proud member of the LGBTQ community. He is the founder of Cornbread Publishing Inc. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Bryan and his husband of thirty-six years have made their home and life in the Central Valley of California.

Author Website: https://www.btclark.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/btclarkauthor

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/BryanTClarkx2

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romanceauthor

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53309216-far-away

Review: The Sex Coach by Garrett Leigh

The teacher and the student. The stable hand and the single dad. First times and friendship turn to love.

Toby
There’s nothing attractive about a twenty-four year old virgin, especially not one who blushes every time a hot dude looks his way. But I can’t help the heat that ripples through me every time I see Cole Maguire. And the clench of my heart when I realise how unhappy he is. He’s a city boy with a baby on his hip—we have nothing in common—but if he can teach me how to own my sexuality, perhaps I can teach him he’s worth loving.

Cole
I don’t like horses. But I love my daughter, and there’s nothing I won’t do for her, including leaving the city for life on a farm. I’m ready for that, but I’m not ready for blushing stable hands who make my heart race and my blood run hot. Toby has no idea how beautiful he is. I can teach him that, if he can handle the heat, but after one night with him…damn.

Maybe it’s me that has a lot to learn.

Tender, not too angsty, and no major drama - it’s the lighter side of Garrett Leigh!

This book is a spin-off of the Skins series. I thought the book worked fine as a stand-alone, but I probably missed some nuances in the relationships of the side characters. Regardless, I didn’t feel that I was missing anything major.

‘The Sex Coach’ follows Toby, the jack-of-all-trades at horse sanctuary/health retreat Whisper Farm and 24-year-old virgin, and Cole, new physiotherapist and father of a baby girl.

From the moment the two meet, they both feel an undeniable attraction. But it’s not one they act on immediately - Toby’s nervous about sex, and Cole has to put his daughter first.

I absolutely adored Toby. He’s a complete sweetheart - a bit shy and awkward, and so kind and just nice. And he loves animals. Yes, my heart did go aflutter a few times!

Cole was a bit more difficult to connect to. His approach to life (and to Toby, at times) was often quite...mopey. And I just didn’t really get why that was.

Garrett Leigh often writes troubled men, but their backgrounds are fleshed out and understandable. In this case, I never understood why Cole felt the way he did.

That being said, I liked how devoted Cole was to his daughter. 10/10 for good co-parenting.

I also loved how patient Cole was with Toby. He respected Toby’s boundaries, and made sure that whatever they tried was on Toby’s terms.

And was it ever some hot sexual discovery! These two take to experimenting pretty enthusiastically.

The emotional connection grows gradually. Toby and Cole start off as friends, then friends with benefits, and eventually they’re falling for each other.

Though they do have to work through some hangups, it was never too dramatic.

The best part of Cole and Toby’s relationship was how simple their feelings for each other were - just some wholesome heart eyes and boners. Entirely wholesome!

Overall, this was a fairly easy and enjoyable read, if not necessarily a grand romance. If you’re looking for an MM romance set on a farm by the Cornwall coast, give ‘The Sex Coach’ a try.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Where Love Grows by Jay Northcote

When two broken men look to each other for help, an unexpected romance blooms.

Stephen’s home, deep in the heart of the Welsh valleys, suits his reclusive nature. However, as he recovers from illness, he’s struggling to manage alone. As nature reclaims the land he’s poured his heart into cultivating, he becomes increasingly unhappy. His only outlet is his blog, where he documents the decline of the garden that had been his pride and joy.

Luke is more used to a concrete jungle. He was a high-flyer, living and working in London, until addiction sent him into free fall. Now on the road to recovery, he still wants to make some changes, but he’s unsure where to find the purpose and fulfilment he craves.

A mutual acquaintance suggests Luke visits Stephen to help him out for a while, and a seed of hope is planted. From prickly beginnings, shoots of friendship emerge, blossoming into a deeper connection when they act on their mutual attraction.

This was only ever supposed to be a temporary arrangement, and soon Stephen will be able to manage on his own again. But both men need each other in ways they’re afraid to admit. If their love is going to last for more than one season, they’ll need to find the courage to be honest.

This book is a standalone read with a satisfying happy ending.

Sweet with a bit of angst, though a bit too slow at times.

Stephen and Luke struggle with two very different things, but both men look to the Welsh countryside for healing.

Stephen is trying to get his life back from the debilitating onset of Guillain-Baré syndrome, while Luke is a recovering alcoholic who’s hit rock bottom.

A mutual friend puts the two men in touch - Luke can help Stephen to rejuvenate his ruined garden, and the garden can give Luke the peace and focus he needs.

Their initial meeting isn’t promising at all. Luke relies heavily on drink to feel at ease, and Stephen gives a less-than-happy welcome.

But over the days that follow, slowly, very slowly, Stephen and Luke develop a friendship. Shared meals, days working in the garden, and quiet nights with the cats become a routine.

Though I thought the story dragged at times, particularly with the gardening, I really enjoyed the muted tone and Luke and Stephen’s sweet dynamic in the Welsh countryside.

And beneath it all there’s an underlying attraction that becomes more and more difficult to ignore.

The romance here isn’t easy. Both men have been burned, and they’re hesitant to take things to the next step.

Stephen especially becomes the roadblock. He repeatedly pushes Luke away, even before anything romantic happens. I really could have done with less of Stephen’s prickliness. It just wasn’t a good look!

But once Stephen gets his head out of his ass and lets Luke love him and lets himself love Luke the way they deserve, the happy ending was all kinds of sweet.

If you’re looking for a quiet romance between two men in need of healing, give ‘Where Love Grows’ a try!

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Clean Break (Farm College #2) by Erin McLellan

Erin McLellan and A Novel Take PR visit on the Clean Break (Farm College #2) blog tour! LEarn more about the contemporary romance and enter in the giveaway to win a choice of one of her back list titles (reader’s choice!) plus $5 Amazon gift card!

A romantic story about two men with opposing life plans find a way back to each other.

Clean Break by Erin McLellan

Series: Farm College Series #2

Publisher: Self-published

Release Date (Print & Ebook): March 19, 2019

Subgenre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, College Romance, M/M

Warnings: explicit sex including mild kink; explicit language; instances and /or discussion of racism, homophobia, and transphobia; depiction of anxiety and OCD; consumption of alcohol; character with a deceased parent; lots of insects.

For more info about these warnings: http://smarturl.it/cleanbreakcws

Purchase here: https://books2read.com/cleanbreakmclellan

Book synopsis:

Connor’s To-Do List:

• Learn to accept my future on the family farm
• Be social, to a degree
• Make a secret bucket list
• Have a real conversation with Travis Bradford

Travis’s To-Do List:

• Get into my top law school
• Get the hell out of Elkville, Oklahoma
• Stay focused on my dreams and goals—no crushes, no distractions
• Get spanked by hot and perfectly fussy farm boy, Connor Blume

Travis and Connor do not like each other, but after being paired together in Entomology 101, their mutual hostility explodes into secret after-class hookups and unexpected feelings. With graduation looming near and their careers taking them in different directions, they’ll have to decide if a future together is worth adjusting their to-do lists and letting go of their carefully laid plans.

Excerpt

TRAVIS

“I’ve never done this before,” he whispered, stroking his thumb down my crack through my briefs. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“What feels right?”
I wasn’t sure if that made any sense, but my brain was full of static. I wasn’t with it enough to have this conversation coherently, not if he kept touching my ass like that.
He hummed and kneeled beside me on the bed, caressing and squeezing my butt until my eyelids drooped shut from the attention. I was practically purring.
As my body went boneless, he brought his hand down hard onto my left ass cheek. I gasped, a piercing sound that was as loud as his palm hitting my flesh. Then I thrust against the bed as the heat from his slap spread through me.
“Oh. Wow.” His voice was so awed that I almost rolled over so I could see it mirrored on his face, but before I could move, he spanked me again.
I shuddered and let him at me. He played for a while, alternating between spanking me lightly and gripping my ass, testing it like he was examining a piece of fruit at the grocery store. It made me feel dirty, but in the best possible way.
My briefs held the warmth from each smack close to my skin, and within minutes, I was humping the bed. Spanking usually made me hot, made me have to fight orgasm if my dick was touching literally anything at the same time. I craved it. The sharpness of the sting as it spread on my skin, the sound, the lift and jiggle of my ass—it all coalesced into one perfect moment.
So close.
“Don’t come yet,” he warned.
“I won’t.” Damn. Talk about a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep.
His hand came down with more force, right on the crease of my ass and thigh, and I ripped his bedding off the corner of the mattress. The pain knocked something loose in me, and I fell into that shiny place I craved but rarely reached, where everything was amplified.
“Harder. Connor, oh fuck.” He wasn’t giving me a break now, and I started to babble, my breath hitching. “So good. So good . . . Connor. Oh fuck, I want you so bad . . . Hated seeing David with his hands on you . . . Hated when he almost made you smile . . . Harder.”

Why Entomology 101?

Welcome to the blog tour for Clean Break, a m/m college romance between two men whose life plans are taking them in opposite directions. This story is sweet, slightly angsty, and a little kinky. I’m so excited to share a bit about my new release with you. There’s also a giveaway at the end of the post!

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Trigger Warning: Insects

In Clean Break, the heroes, Travis and Connor, reconnect when they’re paired together in Entomology 101. One of the assignments in that class is to take home a Madagascar hissing cockroach to observe. I never expected this aspect of the book to a big deal. Mostly, I thought it was funny (all the cockroach puns). But of course, the fact that the characters each have a huge-ass cockroach in their bedrooms at all moments is kind of a big deal. It should also dampen their desire for each other (because YUCK), but it doesn’t. They kind of forget the cockroaches are there. Oops. To ease your minds, the cockroaches never escape. They stay in their small enclosures through the whole story. And they play a very small part of the plot. Whew, glad that’s out of the way.

Now, you might ask why I included them. That’s a fair question, and one I’ve asked myself a lot recently. Here’s my answer.

When I was a freshman in college, I took an entry-level entomology class with two of my best friends. This class fulfilled a science credit for me. I hated science (English major here), and this class was attended by a lot of non-majors because it was fun and easy.

We had two large assignments in that class. One was a Madagascar hissing cockroach observation paper. The other was a group project to create a fake newly-discovered bug species and present it to the class.

An aside: for the make-believe bug assignment, we convinced the one boy in our group to dress up as our newly-discovered species (he was something like 6’4”, it was hilarious) rather than constructing our bug out of egg cartons and milk jugs like everyone else. When we presented *him* to the class, my friend, Meredith, announced that we’d be able to hear the insect’s mating cry. He obliged by screeching very loudly.

Anyway, the Madagascar hissing cockroach assignment in Clean Break is modeled after the cockroach assignment in my entomology class. I had a huge cockroach in a clear enclosure in my dorm room throughout the second semester of my freshman year. So did several of my friends. Surprisingly, it did not affect our love or social lives at all. We mostly forgot they were there. Except when they hissed (they do actually hiss).

While writing this series, I’ve based a lot of small things on my college experience. Two of Travis’s classes are modeled on my favorite literature classes—Women in Literature and Literature of the New American West. The Lumberyard looks like my favorite bar, which wasn’t a gay bar but was super fun. The crappy rental house Travis and Joel live in is very loosely based on the house I lived in with my best friends after we moved out of the dorms. And my entomology class left an impression on me. If I hadn’t been an English major, I could have seen myself as an entomology major. During that class, I held tarantulas and millipedes. I kept a cockroach in my bedroom. I made life-long friends.

Travis and Connor do not hold tarantulas or millipedes, but they do keep cockroaches in their bedrooms. College is a time to try new things, after all. And in each other, they find a love that can last a lifetime.


About the Author:

Erin McLellan is the author of several contemporary romances, all of which have characters who are complex, goodhearted, and a little quirky. She likes her stories to have a sexy spark and a happily ever after. Originally from Oklahoma, she currently lives in Alaska and spends her time dreaming up love stories set in the Great Plains. She is a lover of chocolate, college sports, antiquing, Dr Pepper, and binge-worthy TV shows. Erin is a member of Romance Writers of America and its Alaska chapter.

Connect with Erin:

Website: https://www.erinmclellan.com
GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16700859.Erin_McLellan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/emclellanwrites
FB: https://www.facebook.com/authorerinmclellan
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/244545999752447/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinmclellanwrites/
Newsletter: http://smarturl.it/mclellannewsletter

Giveaway: 

To celebrate the release of Clean Break, Erin McLellan is giving one lucky winner a choice of one of her back list titles (reader’s choice!) plus $5 Amazon gift card

Giveaway Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/88d45f0386/

***Please note: To celebrate the upcoming release of Clean Break, the first book in the series, Controlled Burn, has been discounted to $0.99 (USD)!

Pick up this sexy, angsty m/m college romance now!

https://www.amazon.com/Controlled-Burn-Farm-College-Book-ebook/dp/B07GNFFTVT/ref=sr_1_3?qid=1552359977&refinements=p_27%3AErin+McLellan&s=digital-text&sr=1-3&text=Erin+McLellan

Audiobook Review: Service with a Smirk (At Your Service #2) by Ariel Tachna

Pascal Larocque, a waiter at a high-end Montréal restaurant, knows what it means to love—and he knows what it means to lose. He buried the man he expected to spend his life with years ago. He’s perfectly happy with his solitude, or so he tells his friends. But a chance encounter in a neighborhood bar followed by a run-in at his apartment building turns his world upside down. 

Mathias Perras is twenty-four, newly arrived in Montréal, and works two jobs so he can live on rue Sainte-Catherine in the heart of the gay district. During the day, he’s on a fast track to management at the Banque de Montréal. At night, he waits tables at a gay bar down the street. He’s burning the candle at both ends, but it will be worth it when his career takes off and he has the life he’s always dreamed of. When he meets Pascal, one more piece of that dream slots into place. Pascal is everything he wants in a lover: older, self-assured, established in his life and his career. But Pascal doesn’t look at him twice. What’s a boy have to do to get a little action?

Narrated by Jeff Gelder
Listening Time: 6 hrs. 51 min.

Based on the title alone I was expecting something light hearted with a meet cute and a delicious May/December romance to sink my reading teeth into.

Based on the blurb, I was expecting the above, with a side of angst as Pascal has lost the man he thought of as the love of his life and Mathias was going to have to put the time in to convince Pascal to live again.

Cool. I'm in.

And I got that, but the journey was a lot more painful than I expected. By painful I mean, Mathias had to work too hard and I was never really convinced that Pascal was the man for him. Between Pascal’s reticence to give love another go and the formal narration of his speech, I just never really warmed up to the guy. I couldn’t see what his appeal was beyond his physical description and Mathias’ attraction to older men.

Mathias was a good guy. He was constantly being referred to as being too young for basically everything, but he worked his ass off for his goals and I don’t think he got nearly the respect he deserved. His flirtations towards Pascal were very normal and Pascal pushed him away at every opportunity. And then, Pascal would pull him back in. I honestly felt bad for Mathias. Pascal took a long time to explain to Mathias why he was gun-shy to the whole relationship thing and while it is Pascal’s private business, when it gets in the way of a possible relationship and effects how you treat another person, well, Mathias deserved to know. Instead Mathias was left swinging in the wind on more than one occasion.

When they finally got some things out in the open and agreed to take it slow-ish, it was a relief. Mathias unexpectedly got off work early one night and paid Pascal a visit, one thing led to another and an extremely hot encounter was had. Finally, these two were connecting! And then, after it all, Pascal scolded Mathias for moving too fast and for not respecting Pascal’s wishes. Excuse me, my dude. You could have said no at any point, you did not and you encouraged the encounter. Please stop putting your baggage on Mathias, that's not fair. I love, love, LOVE, the May/December trope when it works, but frankly, this pissed me off and killed it for me.

Things took a turn for the weird when Mathias met Pascal’s family and then later when he saw Pascal interacting with some regulars at the restaurant he works. Those reactions were off putting, especially the restaurant one. It was oddly thrown in there and while it made Mathias seem just as dramatic as Pascal it was a balancing act I could have done without.

The narration seemed to fit the characters and maybe my perception of Pascal was put off by his formal French tone, I can’t be sure, since I’ve listened to and not read the story. Either way I never felt an HEA was in the works for these two even though I was told otherwise. They were portrayed as happy though, so good on them.

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

Review: Heartache & Hoofbeats (Stallion Ridge #1) by Maz Maddox

Like all centaur shifters, Sheriff Calhoun is the epitome of honor. He protects his small town of Stallion Ridge and its people from any threat large or small.

When word comes in that the notorious Iron Bandits are making a play for a train in his territory he’s both livid and invigorated. If anyone can bring these thieves to justice it’s him and his crew.

What he did not expect was having a charming, whiskey-eyed outlaw dumped in his lap that challenged everything he thought he knew.

Good ole western fun, full of bad guys and stand offs and a lawman with a heart of gold and a criminal with the best intentions.

Centaur Sheriff Cal takes pride in upholding the law, so it’s no surprise when he and his fellow deputies interrupt a train robbery. Their prize? Jesse, who claims he’s just a transient helper to the notorious Iron Bandits and not an active participant ever, in the murder of many innocents.

However, the sheriff only sees guilt by association despite Jesse’s noble reasons for robbing the rich, and Cal has no choice but to alert the higher authorities that he has one of their most wanted. While waiting for a verdict, Jesse isn’t going to take his dire situation lying down. What ensues is a push pull that’s full of goading, teasing, manipulating, all of which slowly changes shared disdain to lust to actual feelings.

So expect some pretty darn hot UST which eventually, very nicely morphs into some pretty darn hot smexy. Um, human with centaur proportions anyone?? You know exactly what I’m saying...

Overall, the banter and the back and forth between Jesse and Cal (and all the other characters) were entertaining fun as Jesse knows just how to push everyone’s buttons and gets himself into quite the hairy situations. Throw in some angsty background for both Jesse and Cal, and they connect on their mutual hurts and long for some mutual comfort.

Thus, if you like fantastical creatures (that also include various shape shifters, a merman, and a Minotaur) with your realistic settings, mixed with the wild wild west, then I think this will suit your fancy!


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

Review: Jingle Spell by Chris Ethan

It’s the most horrible time of the year.

Smooches under mistletoes and tacky reindeer decorations. 

Newly single, Davey has had enough of wasting his love and having his heart broken. Better to be single, he decides. No more dates. No more falling in love. No more dreaming of happy ever afters. Those are for movies.

He’s resolute.

And then Avery steps into his life, bringing care, compassion, and tenderness in his path.

Davey’s so tempted to hope again. But can an online date and a brief encounter turn into anything other than an ephemeral sexual encounter?

Is there a future for them? Will Avery stay? And most importantly, can Davey bear to offer up his heart to the season’s love—just one more time?

Jingle Spell is a relatively angst free May-December Christmas romance between one MC who has given up on finding lasting romance (May) and one who has recently gotten out of a long term relationship (December).

Davey is a retail worker who hates his job, which is fair at the holidays, but I really wished he wasn’t such a bitch about it. There is plenty to hate about working retail without bugging his manager ad nauseum about time off and always being late. It made him seem too immature and hard to believe he was already giving up on romance. He didn’t have the greatest track record, which seemed pretty normal for his youth to be honest.

Davey muddles through his shift, nothing too much seems to happen and when he gets home he hits up a dating app because he’s a pretty lonely guy. He finds someone to meet up with and it turns out to be a customer he had in his line that day at work. They recognized one another, were pretty happy to see one another again and had a very nice date. I had hoped they would have had more of a connection when they met at the store earlier in the day, but nothing of significance happened and the description of them interacting was just a thing that happened rather than a meet-cute. It was an opportunity missed that would have given their connection more meaning.

The two spent time getting to know one another and did all the sweet dating things. It was obvious they were falling for one another and I liked their interactions even if their banter was a little stiff. It was good to learn more about Davey’s history and it explained a little bit about why Davey really just wanted to love and be loved.

While I said the story was relatively angst free there was a moment when Avery’s past came back around and it was a bit of a heartbreaker for Davey. It was relatively brief but kind of crappy of Avery. He redeemed himself, mostly. It was just a little quick, I wasn’t ready to forgive him just yet, but he has some pretty damn good words and they were definitely going to get back together, so Davey did what was best for Davey.

I do believe in the HEA for them even though their time together was short from meeting to I love you’s. I would have liked an epilogue, mostly for Davey. He wasn’t happy with his job and didn’t seem to have quality friends, so reading about him maturing and going for some happiness in all aspects of his life, with Avery’s support, would have been a perfect end.

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

Review: Fangs and Catnip (Dead and Breakfast #1) by Julia Talbot

A romance worth fighting for—tooth and claw.

Solitary vampire Fallon Underwood gets all the social interaction he needs being the silent partner at the Dead and Breakfast B and B high in the Colorado mountains. Change is hard for Fallon, so when his business partner, Tanner, suggests hiring a new manager for the inn, he’s adamant that they don’t need help, especially not in the form of bouncy werecat Carter Hughes.

Carter is a happy-go-lucky kitty, and he loves the hospitality industry, so the D and B ought to be a great place for him. He falls for Fallon as soon as he picks up one of Fallon’s novels and begins to woo the vamp with gifts. When Fallon finally succumbs to Carter’s feline charms, the results are unexpected, to say the least. Their mating will have irreversible consequences—for their bodies and their hearts.

“Tell me a story?”

“What kind of story, sweet? A fairy tale?”

“Once upon a time,” he started, amused to the core.

“Oh, I’m good at those. Once upon a time, there was a werekitty. He came to save a vampire from himself.”

That quote really does sum up this sweet and supernaturally packed book.

Told through dual POV’s, this story begins as we meet werebear Tanner who runs the Dead and Breakfast B and B with his silent vampy partner Fallon. Though Tanner has help with a night manager and a cook for the guests, Tanner is exhausted and his bear would love to get some additional sleep during the winter. When Tanner gets Fallon to agree to hire help, he picks the best candidate to interview and ends up hiring him.

Fallon Underwood is one grumpy and gloomy vamp who is also one hell of a horror author. Housed in the top floor of the B and B, Fallon is a silent and stoic partner of the business, allowing Tanner to handle the day to day giving their menagerie of supernatural guests the best treatment the Colorado mountains can offer. When his best friend comes to him begging for help, Fallon gives in though he can’t quite agree with Tanners choice of a werekitty, but at least it’s not a mummy right?

Carter Hughes is the equivalent to Tigger with his kitty bounce and his sometimes very juvenile way of talking and thinking. Though his speech sometimes drove me nuts, Carter is a smart and caring man who just happens to think Fallon is stunning. Not only does he admire the vamps looks but when Carter gets his puma paws on Fallon’s books, he devours all of them in a matter of days and is head over heels for the author.

This was really sweet. I like that Fallon is all “I’m too old. Too set in my ways. I can’t be with a young cat that bounces” and all that denial he has going for him. When in truth, Fallon is drawn to Carter in ways he can’t quite understand. When Carter starts to woo Fallon with thoughtful gifts, Fallon tries to put a stop to it and let Carter down easy even though that’s not what he real wants to do. But with one whispered apology through a closed door and an overhead fanatic review of Fallon’s work by Carter has the vamp finally deciding that denial really is just a river in Egypt he doesn’t want to go down anymore.

These two were as cute as a vamp and a cat can be. I liked the take on Mates between different beings and how each of them handled it. I adored Carter in his shift and how Fallon saw him as well. Though there is trouble with their mating and all the biting (there is A LOT of biting!) that’s going on, neither man knew it what was going on and it does cause a bit of angst in the book. The angst, for me was unnecessary as it made the story drag on when it could have been dealt with sooner with the doctor but, whatever.

The guests at the B and B are so much fun to read about they really added depth to the story. I loved how many different creatures show up and how they B and B caters to their special needs. It really is a fun place to visit while reading this romance and I truly hope that with this being listed as the Dead and Breakfast series that a certain wolf gets a book possible with a certain doctor? Maybe?

Audiobook Review: Dare to Hope (All Cocks #4) by T.M. Smith

Tristan is the second oldest of the Brennan brothers and the odd man out. Most of the Brennan men have careers in law enforcement, but as a psychiatrist, Tristan chooses to help people in a different way. Quiet and restrained, he is content to hover in the background of his more gregarious brothers. Then he meets two men, each broken and damaged from losses beyond their control.

Gabriel Simenson is mourning his lover's death. The random act of violence that took Gio's life has left everyone at All Cocks reeling. The only thing keeping Gabe from drowning in misery is the friendship he's forged with Micah, the newest model at All Cocks. He continues to struggle, and at the urging of his All Cocks family Gabe agrees to counseling with Tristan under one condition: Micah must go with him.

Micah Solo can relate to unbearable loss, having lost his leg and so much more in Iraq. The past two years he has been alone, adrift and vulnerable - the memories of war haunting his dreams, spilling over into his daily life. At All Cocks, Micah has found the acceptance he craves and the family he lost, but still he yearns for happiness and peace within.

The friendship between the three is instant, the mutual attraction evident. They circle each other, wanting more, yet unsure if it is truly possible. Is life the mundane reality they've each come to accept for themselves or do they dare to hope?

The All Cocks Stories is a series set within the world of online gay porn. Micah's PTSD is told in detail, including flashbacks to his time in Iraq.

Listening Length: 6 hours and 13 minutes
Narrator: Joel Leslie

Reviewer: Shee Reader

This is book 4 in the All Cocks series (set in the world of gay porn) but is easily accessible as a stand alone

The book tells the story of Tristan (the second oldest Brennan brother) who works as a psychiatrist. He professionally helps two lovely guys who work at All Cocks making porn movies. Gabriel is mourning the tragic and sudden loss of his lover in a shooting, and Micah is a wounded veteran who suffers PTSD from his time in Iraq where he and his troop were ambushed. Micah was the only survivor, losing his leg and suffering terrible PTSD flashbacks.

Micah and Gabe are best friends, and have developed a super close bond in the year they have lived together in the house where All Cocks is often filmed. Tristan has been helping Gabe, and Gabe encourages Micah to see him too. The three men make fast friends, but there's an attraction too. Can they work through their issues and Dare to Hope for more?

This is a lovely story, with a moving background. Micah’s flashbacks are realistic and emotive, and Gabe’s grief is almost tangible. Tristan helps them both individually, but fights his attraction to both men, believing they’ll be better off without him around. The complexities of the relationships with each other are enthralling. The menage aspect makes the will-they wont-they so much more complex, and the demons each man is fighting make is even more challenging. That said, it wasn’t an overly angst-y book, and was very enjoyable to listen to. So much so, that I stayed awake until 4am one morning to listen to the end!

Joel Leslie does an outstanding job with what must have been a tricky story to narrate. There are three leading men for starters, and more emotional baggage than five strong men could carry! His voices were warm, engaging, and clear. He gave super intonation and characterisation. and was a joy to listen to.

The HEA was lovely, and I’ll be sure to look up the audio books of the first three books in the series to get the down-low on all the Brennan brothers, and All Cocks boys!

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

Review: Nachos & Hash (Mary's Boys #1) by Brandon Witt

Darwin Michaels is living his dreams in the Mile High City. While Denver offers the perfect job, scrumptious dining, and whirlwind dating options, Darwin is losing hope he’ll find the right man to spark his interest for more than a one-night stand—until he sets eyes on Cody Russell.

Cody has just accomplished his life’s goal—get the hell out of Kansas. In one fell swoop, he lands a job at Hamburger Mary’s and gets a newfound family and the chance to be with other gay people! All that’s missing is someone special. But when Darwin shows his interest, Cody is sure it’s too good to be true. After all, what can Darwin possibly see in the high school dropout serving him nachos?

As Darwin falls in love, Cody struggles to realize his worth. When his past threatens the fragile life he is building, Cody spirals into a moment of dark desperation. But Darwin is determined to show Cody that love and family and home are there for him… will Cody accept what is offered?

 “You sure you don’t want something besides nachos?  I know it’s good to be a cheap date and all, but you’re cute enough to earn a real dinner.”

Darwin’s on the latest of a long string of dates from hell and it’s taking all that is in him not to run screaming from the table.  He’s got his life in order, college, grad school, a successful career and he’s ready to take that next step.  He’s been searching for the man who will help him achieve his dream of the house with a picket fence, the husband and 3.5 kids but after this latest disaster of a date he’s about ready to swear off men for good.  Or for at least a little while.  Fortunately, his newfound resolve is derailed by the adorable little twink of a waiter at Hamburger Mary’s.

“Do we really have to play Britney every night?”

“Of course we do!  She’s like the original diva.  Without her, there’d be no Selena Gomez or Demi Lovato.”

There’s just something about Cody that Darwin can’t seem to resist.  He’s immediately enamored with the little cutie and though he has some reservations about Cody’s age he decides to stick around and get to know him better.

I have a confession to make.  This is my first Brandon Witt book and I have to say… I liked it.  Quite a bit in fact.  I went into this book not knowing anything about the way Witt writes and I was pleased by what I discovered.  By the blurb and the cover I was expecting a light romantic comedy and I got that for the most part, but I also got a whole lot more. 

For me, the overall theme of this book is perspective.  How one person views something is not necessarily how everyone else will see it.  This was clearest to me when Darwin and Cody were discussing their hopes and dreams.  How shocked Darwin was when he found out about Cody’s dreams!  He couldn’t fathom how Cody could be happy with what he wanted out of life and it made him look at it from Cody’s perspective.

There are some darker moments in this story that I won’t get into (I don’t want to spoil anything) and it touched on some very sensitive subjects that had me waiting for the incredible angst but, thankfully, it wasn’t too angsty.

I know some, once they read this, will say it was too ‘insta-love’ between Cody and Darwin and while, yes, they seemed to get together at breakneck speed and the ‘I love yous’ came soon after they got together, it really worked for this story.  It felt organic to me, like it was a natural progression.  I believed in their love.  And for those who say there’s no such thing as love at first sight?  Well, let me just tell you… I met my husband in a bar while he was on a date with another woman.  I could literally feel the connection between us from the moment our eyes met.  He ended up ditching his date and went home with me that night and never left.  Yes, that’s right, we moved in together the day we met.  Now, here we are almost 21 years later.  There is such a thing as love at first sight.  I’ve seen it.  Hell, I’m proof of it!

If you’re looking for a feel good romance with a bit, but not too much, angst that delves deeper than what is just on the surface, look no further than this book.  I think it’s safe to say that I will be reading a lot more of Witt’s work in the very near future.  I see you now, Mr. Witt, and I can’t wait to get my hands on book two! 

Dreamspinner Press
Goodreads

Review: Block and Strike by Kelly Jensen

Jacob Kendricks is three months out of prison, estranged from his daughter, and ready to get his life on track. Taking care of the bum curled up on his doorstep isn’t part of the plan. When he realizes the man has been assaulted, Jake takes him to the hospital, where he learns that Max is his downstairs neighbor… and that he could really use a friend. Keeping Max in the friend-zone would be easier if he wasn’t so damned cute.

Maxwell Wilson has been bullied for years, and the only person who ever cared lives too far away to come to his rescue. Now his upstairs neighbor is offering support. Max remains cautious, suspecting he is little more than a project for the handsome Jake. When he learns Jake has had boyfriends as well as girlfriends, Max has to reevaluate his priorities—and muster the courage to take a chance at love.

Just when a happy future is within their grasp, life knocks them back down. A devastating blow leaves Max lower than ever and Jake wrestling with regret. They both have to find the strength to stand on their own before they can stand together.

Recently released from prison, Jake Kendricks is focused on getting his life back on track, and being able to be a part of his daughter’s life. He’s working hard to stay out of trouble, but that becomes difficult when he finds his downstairs neighbour, Max Wilson, has been assaulted on their doorstep.

As Max slowly heals, Jake finds himself falling for the quiet younger man. Max feels the same, finding in Jake the happiness he’s never had. But both men have their demons, and Jake’s past comes knocking before the two can have their happy ending.

I’m a big fan of Kelly Jensen and Jenn Burke’s sci-fi Chaos Station series, so I was excited to read a contemporary MM book from Jensen. ‘Block and Strike’ delivers a solid slow-burn hurt/comfort contemporary gay romance.

Jake’s story is revealed slowly. The circumstances of his imprisonment and family life aren’t very clear at first, so I just had to trust that he didn’t do something that I would find completely unforgivable.

Jake was in no way the stereotypical angry-at-the-world character that I often find in MM books dealing with prison, but was instead well-rounded and multi-dimensional. He won me over with his underlying need to protect and care for his loved ones. Underneath the hard exterior was a big old softie.

Max was in so many ways the complete opposite of Jake. He needed someone on his team, someone who would put him first. He struggles with his sexuality and self-esteem. I wanted to wrap him up in a blanket. But whatever his setbacks might have been, he was in no way a doormat. He had an inner strength that just needed some flaming.

I think what I liked most about this book is how imperfect the MCs were. They made mistakes, which made them realistic and ordinary. I had no trouble connecting to either Max or Jake.

The romance is very gradual and felt entirely authentic. Jake and Max become friends before becoming anything more. They connect through shared self-defence classes and quiet dinners. The emotional and physical chemistry is certainly there in the background, but the MCs take it slow.

I thought the pacing worked well. It made the romance believable. I got to really see Jake and Max fall in love. They had had their stumbling blocks, but I had no worries that they would make things work. It wasn’t easy, but Max and Jake build each other up and defy the odds.

However, I wasn’t a fan of the family drama, with Kate, Jake’s ex, and Dominic. I get that it isn’t always the case, but “once an abuser, always an abuser” is hard to ignore. Particularly because I wasn’t convinced that Dominic had really changed. It just seemed like the classic abuse cycle, with the victim unable to leave and the abuser making empty promises.

Also, I didn’t like that the men who hurt Max got away with it. Everything was just swept under the rug, which left a bitter taste.

Overall though, I enjoyed ‘Block and Strike’. I could have done without the family drama, but the slow burn romance was the mix of sweet yet angsty that I look for. It was an often painful journey, but Jake and Max get their brilliant happy ever after.

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Review: Summer Lessons (Winter Ball #2) by Amy Lane

Mason Hayes’s love life has a long history of losers who don’t see that Mason’s heart is as deep and tender as his mouth is awkward. He wants kindness, he wants love—and he wants someone who thinks sex is as fantastic as he does. When Terry Jefferson first asks him out, Mason thinks it’s a fluke: Mason is too old, too boring, and too blurty to interest someone as young and hot as his friend’s soccer teammate.

The truth is much more painful: Mason and Terry are perfectly compatible, and they totally get each other, but Terry is still living with his toxic, suffocating parent and Mason doesn’t want to be a sugar daddy. Watching Terry struggle to find himself is a long lesson in patience, but Mason needs to trust that the end result will be worth it, because finally, he’s found a man worth sharing his heart with.

Mason Hayes’ tendency to blurt things out without thinking has made relationships difficult. All Mason wants is someone to laugh with, to care for, and someone who enjoys sex as much as he does. When he first meets Terry Jefferson, Mason is skeptical. Terry is much younger, and still in the closet. But the attraction between them is undeniable.


It doesn’t take long for Mason to begin falling for Terry. But Terry doesn’t want a relationship, even if Mason is the best man he’s ever met. Things are made even more complicated by Terry’s sense of duty towards his hateful and controlling mother. The two can’t be happy until Terry learns that it’s okay to love another man, and that being family doesn’t give anyone the right to stomp all over his life.


I liked Mason in Winter Ball. His foot-in-mouth disease made for hilarious moments. Mason’s funny gaffes continue in ‘Summer Lessons’, and I liked getting to know more about him. He’s a genuinely nice person, so it didn’t take any effort at all to root for him.


Terry takes a bit more getting used to. He’s unsure of himself, and his place in the world. Some of that comes down to age, but it’s more so due to the affects of his emotionally-abusive mother. Even though I could sympathize with him, there were points when I wasn’t too fond of him.


Terry plays hot-and-cold with Mason for most of the book. It hurts both himself and Mason, and it got old pretty fast.


But even so, I wanted the relationship to work out. They were just so sweet together, and clearly made each other much happier people. I liked their early dates, which involved them trying to teach each other their favourite sports. It doesn’t go so well, but it gave the two an excuse to be together more often.

Plus, the two were killer in the bedroom. Mason loves to let go in the bedroom, something that his previous lovers haven’t always appreciated. Terry has no issue with that at all, giving as good as he gets. The two definitely didn’t lack in the sexual chemistry department.


Family plays a big role in this book. Mason’s housemate is his younger bipolar brother, Dane. Working with Dane to keep his medications and environment stable is exhausting, but Mason would do anything for Dane. The bond between the brothers was really something special.


Terry’s mother is the biggest stumbling block in his life. She’s held him back from moving on, and from accepting himself. I could understand Terry’s struggle, but I honestly wouldn’t have minded if he’d left the nasty woman behind without a second thought. I really liked seeing how being with Mason gave Terry the confidence in himself that he needed to finally break free.


I wasn’t a big fan of the drama at the end of the book. I think it’s an overused plot device in MM, especially when there’s an age gap between the MCs. It felt too contrived and unnecessary, and left me a tad annoyed.


Even so, I was happy with the way things ended. The epilogue reassured me that Mason and Terry definitely have what it takes to make it in the long-run.


Overall, I enjoyed ‘Summer Lessons’. It’s not one of Amy Lane’s killer angst-fests, but there’s a good dose of angst, with some hot sex and a sweet HEA. Recommended if you’re looking for a contemporary MM romance with some feels!

Find on Dreamspinner Press or  Goodreads

Review: Third Mate (River Wolf Pack, #3) by Rebecca James

Sequel to Second Alpha

The winds of change are blowing through the River Wolf Pack compound. River, the pack alpha, has allowed rogue wolves, a coyote shifter, and humans to join the pack. Then there’s the twin girls that Josiah, River’s mate, has given birth to. A movement to return to more traditional werewolf ways is gaining momentum.

In exchange for Leo’s help, Stone offers him the position of second alpha should Stone succeed in usurping River as pack alpha. Leo has his own problems -- his desire to rise within the pack wars with his dislike of Stone. With the addition of Sam and Foster into the mix, Leo’s personal life is no less complex.

Jax knows he must make a difficult decision before he’s turned out of the compound. Should he remain human or accept David’s bite? He loves the alpha wolf, but he also has ties to the human world, ones he doesn’t want to sever. When David discovers Brooks is considering mating Stone, David determines to prevent it. Can Jax provide a solution to Brooks’s problem even if it means sacrificing his own happiness?

Can River remain in charge of an increasingly fractured pack? Does he even want to?

This book contains three different, but overlapping stories told from four different POV’s, and I devoured this in just a couple of hours!! I was so enthralled in all these characters lives and stories I just couldn’t put it down! So why the lower rating? There was just too much story to it fit into a normal length novel.This means we end up getting a shortened version of each story, which, while still enjoyable, isn’t what I would’ve preferred.

It'll probably be easier to highlight each story, as they all focused on different characters but everything was told along the same timeline. This means we would end a chapter on one story but not get back to those characters for a few chapters, and because the progress of the story was constantly moving forward, we miss important relationship developments. This was probably a bit of a rate remover for me.

Josiah and River’s story was probably my least favourite of this book. River is dealing with an impending uprising due to his decisions to harbour outcasts and willingness to talk with humans. Also the birth of his and Josiah twin girls (there are no females among werewolves) have left him out of favour with many of his pack. This tension was an underlying theme throughout all the stories. It was nice seeing some of Josiah’s POV again, and he and River were as hot as ever, but with the other two stories holding my interest, I was happy we saw these two less.

The next story was David and Jax. This ended up being my favourite, probably because it evoked a lot of different emotions in me. Frustration, anger, understanding, sympathy, joy….. so many. David and Jax pretty much pick up where they left off in Second Alpha. They are both secure in their love for each other, but they literally can’t live in each other's world. What makes things worse in this book is Jax has decided he doesn’t want to be a werewolf, so he’ll never be accepted by the pack, and David will never be able to have children.

This story above all others should have been it's own novel, but instead it gets the least page time. Like I said, so many emotions, and all of them conveyed really well, but a lot of really important events were told as a series of highlights which just got me frustrated.

Sam, Leo and Foster: this story started out being my favourite, but while I loved them to begin with, once the ‘consummating’ occurred, it sort of fizzled. Sam and Foster (who we met in Second Alpha) are both outsiders and have been welcomed into the pack by River. They’re like brothers to each other…. brothers who occasionally suck each other off. Then there's Leo, the alpha. He finds both Sam and Foster attractive, but hasn't ever pictured himself having anything other than a beta mate. I can’t give too much away, but I enjoyed reading about how all these individual relationships progressed, and I did not pick how it was going to end.

As before, all of the sex is insanely hot! I also really really liked how none of the story lines ended how I thought they would, but everything still ended well. I think there is room for more in the series, which I’ll definitely be interested in reading.

Each of the three stories were entertaining, and each had elements of a great story, however it would’ve been much better if they were individually written so things didn’t feel as rushed.

Find more info on Goodreads!