Review: To Hell You Ride by Julia Talbot

Second Edition

Big Roy is a hard-rock miner with a not-so-secret love for the theater, so when he hears a new troupe of actors are coming to the Telluride Opera House to put on a Shakespeare play, he saddles his mule and makes the trek into town to see it. The play doesn’t disappoint, but the beautiful lead actor, Edward Clancy, certainly does. Clancy is rude and arrogant, and Roy figures he’d never have a chance with such a man. He’s wrong, because Clancy needs some entertainment himself, being stuck in a hellish mining town for the long, snowy winter. Come spring, though, Clancy knows he’s going to want to move on, and he thinks Roy will be easy to forget. Then tragedy hits, and Clancy has to rethink his entire life. Can these two strike gold?

First Edition Published by SCREWDRIVER An imprint of Torquere Press, January 2007.

Roy is a huge fan of the theatre and attends as often as his meagre earnings as a miner will allow. One evening he attends a Shakespeare play and is instantly lustful over the lead actor, Sir Edward Clancy, until he has a poor encounter the next morning while meeting the local journalist to share his review of the play.

Clancy has no time for anyone but those he chooses as bedpartners, but a bad review from Roy makes Clancy livid and determined to get a retraction, at any cost. Even if he has to trudge up a mountain on a mule and demand it from the unsightly oaf who uttered the fateful words against him.

This is fun, witty, and light. Roy and Clancy manage to make their time together work, even when they fight. They have good chemistry and strong personalities. Clancy being stuck for the winter in a small town makes for entertainment on its own. Roy has to squash hopes for a future as Clancy continues to insist that once the snow melts he is off to sunnier places. Clancy is in denial and even though he has some *feelings* his plans will not change.

“Nonsense. I will not run after the man.” Clancy sat on the bed ticking, hand on the post. “Really, what good would it do? We’re not at all suited.”
“No. He love you. You love you. Only thing you have in common.”
Clancy glared. “That is quite enough out of you. Don’t you have a new job to attend?” “Tomorrow.”
“Well, I think you should go now.” He bounced up again and began filling his trunk.

I loved the way this story evolved. Clancy was endearing in his self-obsession. Roy was just the man to match his stubbornness and while not educated, he is a force with the witty banter and retorts. Clancy thought he had Roy pegged, and could outwit him, but no sir, Roy could match him with an equally sharp tongue and quick mind.

I like this style of writing, and found the setting and plot engaging. Even though Clancy is vein and self-involved he was a really enjoyable character to read. Roy was loveable, and didn’t allow Clancy to stomp on him. He was a mix between firm about his place and giving enough to enjoy his time with Clancy.

Their chemistry was steamy, and their relationship building was wild and at times conflict ridden. I loved them both equally, for very different reasons.

If I’m in the mood for something from the past, Julia Talbot is a sure bet for me. Even if you’re not a fan of historical romance, this is worth it for the sass.

a review copy was provided for an honest opinion.

Review: The Forest of Dark Delights (A Cox Fairytale #1) by James Cox

After the beast became human, Belle turned into the animal.

We all know the story. The dangerous and ugly Beast finds his true love in Belle. After a horrific fight with Gaston, the beast is finally transformed back into a man. What happens after that? It’s almost two years later and Belle is no longer the sweet woman the Beast fell in love with. She sweeps into towns with her ruthless army to pillage every book she can find and add it to her library. Beast is lonely, saddened by the lover he can’t understand but soon an old enemy returns to the castle.

Gaston is not the man he used to be. He made a promise to himself when he survived that fall, broken but alive. He’d make his amends to the beast. Someway, somehow.

When Gaston and Beast start a forbidden romance, the evil that is Belle returns to the castle…

Well I can't decide if it was a mistake to read this book or not. I adore Beauty and the Beast and now I may never be able to watch those movies the same ever again. I mean Belle turns into the most psychotic book hoarder in history! Who knew?

If the town did not agree to give up their books she’d send in her army. They’d take care of the villagers, steal the books, then burn the buildings to the ground.

So Belles gone crazy and Adam is at a loss of what to do for the woman he was once so in love with, therefore he has once again become a recluse within his castle. Then Gaston comes along, offering to help until Adam can forgive him for almost killing Adam 2 years prior (remember the knife to the back on the tower!). One of the ways Gaston can help out is by offering to elevate Adams mood…. If you know what I mean *waggles eyebrows*.

As it turns out big Gaston is a big ol’ bottom and Adam is quite the rough dominant. I was not disappointed by the sex!

Adam pushed a little deeper then pulled out and gave the area another spit. He wasn’t a gentleman, not tonight. Tonight, he was the beast. Adam thrust forward, urging half his length in Gaston. The man tangled in shackles groaned and winced. “Take me,” Adam whispered.

Then there was some serious face fucking. It was all very fairytale like….not.

I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of Gaston's character and the development between Adam and himself. It took a while for them to be more than convenient fuck buddies, but they got there in the end and I really enjoyed all of it!

So was this whole story more than slightly ridiculous? Yes absolutely. Did that make it all the more better? Yes absolutely. This is not the type of story to take to seriously, so only go into this if you're after some silly, sexy fun!

If you want to read something different, fun and sexy as hell, this is probably the book for you, but be prepared it will ruin Beauty and Beast for you.

I am soooo eagerly anticipating the rest of the series!

Review: Under Pressure (No Pressure, No Diamonds #1) by Kara Greenan

In the dangerous world of high profile theft, love is often a fantasy the wealthy and naive are sold. Grifter Sebastian Walker sells love like nobody else, leaving a trail of vacated bank accounts, empty champagne bottles and broken hearts in his wake. The one heart he never meant to break was London’s.

Considered by many to be the greatest thief of his age, London favours a minimalist life, devoid even of a surname. He lives for the next job, liberating art from museum walls and prized treasures from collector’s vaults. When he and Sebastian collide in Venice on a con to steal a priceless copy of Michelangelo's David, the unthinkable happens: they begin to fall in love.

A long, lonely year later, Sebastian emerges as a new member of London’s team of world-class thieves. London knows he can’t trust him. Sebastian lies, better than anyone else, for a living. Sebastian wonders how he could ever entrust something as precious as his heart to a born thief. But as they team up for another perilous heist, they discover the true value might not be in the diamonds they’re stealing, but in each other.

There is something about a story that has a MC who is a thief that gets me. It’s the romanticizing of someone doing something so blatantly illegal and how much they get off on the thrill of it all. Them getting off helps this reader engage in the story and if you toss is a grifter, a professional con man as the thief’s love interest well then, just call me a goner. This book, this romance, this heist… I was gone for it so damn fast.

London is a thief, Sebastian a professional liar. Long story short, they'd never work out.

Told in dual POV’s as well as past/present storytelling, we get the story of London and Sebastian. As we first meet London, he is doing what he does best… balancing and planning as any young and infamous cat burglar would do when a huge heist is his next job. With his team of intelligent and bad ass misfits (Amelia, Hale and Frankie) they have the perfect plan to steal diamonds but are sadly missing one important piece; someone to distract the guards. When Frankie suggests they call in Sebastian Walker, London throws a fit and crawls out a window. Literally. He is all about taking the high road or at least the highest roads possible to get around town and he wants to get as far away from the idea of being near Sebastian again. Though he doth protest, he does it too much and we get the why of London’s unwillingness to work with Sebastian.

You see, London and Sebastian met on a job a year ago in Venice and while the men attempted to stay professional, that didn’t last long at all. I love that the story is told in both tenses as we see how the men are today and then we find out what really happened in Venice. We know from London, Sebastian walked away with only a word on a notepad and kinda broke London’s heart since he thought they were more than just sex. But after Sebastian walked away, London now wonders if their short term romance was just one of Sebastian’s cons.

Goodness. I loved being in both men’s heads seeing as how much they are lusting and longing after one another. Getting their first meeting from Sebastian’s POV we know there is the bit of hero worship for London as he is well known for his talents and we also know that Sebastian is good a being a grifter because he is devastatingly handsome and loves what he does. Actually, everyone on the team absolutely loves what they do even though it’s illegal and that made this so much fun.

Psst… If you are looking for a comparison for this book, this Ocean’s Eleven but, well better. To me anyway.

So, there is history between Sebastian and London and while we have the angst in the present, wondering if London will let his guard down to the pleading (seriously, I melt every time Sebastian says, or um, begs Please to London) and the story of why they are in the current position from the past. As we go back and forth, we learn so much about each of these men and why they’ve become criminals. Both London and Sebastian have less than stellar childhoods though one could argue Sebastian, with his ridiculous name with the fancy title had it better but that is just surface judgment. Regardless, the push and pull of the sexual tension and trust between these two was amazing. The chemistry was off the charts and the sensuality and just downright sexiness of both of them together, was smoking!

Honestly. There are some ridiculously hot scenes in this book that are totally rimming, I mean winning from every corner of UNF you can think of. I love what London likes and that Sebastian likes doing what London likes because it’s hot. Every freaking time it is and good lord, you can’t go wrong with the winning. *winks*

The heist is almost another character in this story and it’s so detailed, smart and action packed I couldn’t get enough. Even the other jobs they do before and the recon so they can learn to work as a team were so entertaining.  I mean, who knew running away from cops on rooftops and gondolas could be ultimate foreplay?  

We aren’t supposed to be seen. When you grift, all the focus is literally on you, that’s the whole con.

At the heart of this love story though is the trust between London and Sebastian that has disappeared. Yes, both men are criminals but you have London who is a cat burglar and Sebastian who is a con man. How would it even work for these two to have a relationship??? That lies solely in the artful storytelling of the author and I have to say she knocked it out of the park! I was worried really about them up until that last chapter and then she just knocked me on my ass and made me get way too emotional for a Tuesday at work.

Wow. What a fabulous debut from Kara Greenan. A fabulous start to a new series that I hope has Sebastian and London at each other’s throats and in each other’s hearts for a very long time.

Bring on book two. I’m ready.

Audiobook Review: What’s in a Name? (Foothills Pride #1) by Pat Henshaw

Barista Jimmy Patterson thinks it's a good idea to get rip-roaring drunk on his birthday after he’s dumped by his boyfriend. When the burly owner of Stonewall’s Saloon rescues Jimmy, the night starts to look up.

Now Jimmy just wants to know the bartender's first name since he's worn a different name tag every time Jimmy's seen him. "Guy" Stone gives Jimmy seven guesses, one for each night he takes Jimmy out on a date.

While Jimmy’s trying to come up with his name, he's distracted by the destruction of his coffee shop and what looks more and more like a hate crime.

Listening Length: 2 hours and 49 minutes
Narrator: David Ross

Jimmy Patterson has dumped his boyfriend for cheating on Jimmy’s birthday, and seems to have attached himself to a bartender who wears a different name tag every night at Stonewall. This was a pretty intriguing concept. Jimmy has to guess what the guys name is in seven guesses, each name to be guessed after a date with “Guy”.

I enjoyed the way this relationship developed and the way “Guy” was a stable support for Jimmy while things were going wrong in his business life. Jimmy is trying to open up another Coffee shop but he is getting resistence, and what appears to be a hate crime is perpetrated on his existing shop.

What I loved most about this, is that Jimmy still managed to stay upbeat about everything and had fun with “Guy” while organising his life without his ex in it. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he got all stormy about his ex being a cheater, or his shop being trashed, but he picked himself up quickly and got on with succeeding. That’s not to say he was unaffected, he just gave off the impression that sometimes shit happens, and it shouldn’t stop him from doing what he set out to do.

The guessing game was fun, if a little cheesy. Their chemistry was beautiful, regardless of whether a real name was known. “Guy” was still authentic and passionate, real and practical. There was no subterfuge or mystery with anything else about him. What was presented was honest, and refreshingly straightforward.

David Ross, of course, is a wonderful narrator, and gave depth to the characters in this story. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of his voice as a storyteller. Great voice acting is a skill I would never be able to master, and he does a superb job of bringing life to even the most mundane character in this book.

Fun and flirty, with some serious content thrown in for depth, this was a great short story to listen to while I did boring cleaning chores around my house.

Recommended for all MM romance readers.

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Review: Adrift (Staying Afloat #1) by Isabelle Adler

Some jobs are just too good to be true.

Captain Matt Spears learns this the hard way after a mysterious employer hires his ship to hunt down an ancient alien artifact but insists on providing his own pilot. Ryce Faine is handsome and smart, but Matt has rarely met anyone more obnoxious. With tensions running high, it isn’t until they are attacked by the hostile Alraki that Matt grudgingly begins to respect Ryce’s superior skills, respect that transforms into a tentative attraction.

Little did he know that their biggest challenge would be reaching their destination, an abandoned alien base located on a distant moon amid a dense asteroid field. But when Matt learns that Ryce isn’t completely who he says he is and the artifact is more than he bargained for, he is faced with a difficult choice. One that might change the balance of forces in the known galaxy.

Matt doesn’t take well to moral dilemmas; he prefers the easy way out. But that might not be possible anymore, when his past comes back to haunt him at the worst possible moment. When faced with a notorious pirate carrying a personal grudge, the fragile connection Matt has formed with Ryce might be the only thing that he can count on to save them both.

As a Sci-Fi story, Adrift was a fun action adventure story. I really enjoyed the world building of this intergalactic piece. The characters were clean cut and well defined, including the secondary characters on Matt’s ship. Everyone had distinctive personalities and roles within the story. There was no pointless dialogue that didn’t lead anywhere. Character development was good for a short story.

I really liked the pacing, and the way this story gave pieces when needed but didn’t blow the whole story too soon. I had fun with Matt’s personality, and his antagonism of Ryce. Ryce appeared to be a bit of a stick in the mud, and I appreciated how Matt just went ahead and teased him anyway. We eventually find out more about Ryce and his purpose in the story, but not for a while, which makes Matt’s teasing, wicked thoughts, and antagonism important. It kept me engaged with Ryce as a character.

The plot was interesting and detailed. There were some elements that weren’t perfect but it wasn’t overly noticeable. Some questions were left unanswered but they were hinted at throughout the journey.

While this has adequate action, and lots of adventure (and really cool concepts), it isn’t a romance. While there is a thread, or a suggestion, there isn’t any action for Ryce and Matt. Readers who are okay with this, and are mostly about the adventure, will enjoy the story. I certainly did. I will be looking out for the next book in this series.

Recommended to Sci-Fi readers, or someone looking to branch out into this genre. Not recommended for those who must have a romance story within the plot of their novels.

A review copy was provided for an honest opinion

Find on Goodreads!

Audiobook Review: Ace in the Hole (Wild Cards #1) by Ava Drake, Narrated by John Solo

Surveillance, seduction, and extra-dirty politics.

Christian Chatsworth-Brandeis has a problem. A huge one. The US senator he works for has run away with his latest mistress on the eve of a make-or-break fund-raising event, and it’s up to him to cover his boss’s irresponsible tracks.

Stone Jackson, the senator’s new bodyguard, looks enough like the senator that, with some extensive grooming, he might pass for Senator Lacey. Christian and Stone hatch a plan to fool everyone by substituting Stone for the senator, but Miami madness and the incendiary heat between them are throwing obstacles in their way. It’s a race to find the senator and pull off the con of the century before the attraction between them spins completely out of control.

Listening Length: 5 hours 43 Minutes
Narrator: John Solo

Well that was some fun shenanigans. Slightly unbelievable, but fun nonetheless. 

I knew what I was getting into when I picked up this book from the Dreamspun series. I knew it was going to be Harlequin-esque and I went with it. I can say I'm glad I took a chance on this series.

Christian worked for a d-bag senator. There was a death threat to him so they hired Stone as a bodyguard. When the senator took off without a word with his mistress, Stone was used as a fill-in for speeches and whatnot. Since he just happened to look so much like the senator.  

This forced Stone and Christian to work pret-ty close. Which, of course, only ramped up the delicious sexual tension. They were really great together and I loved their chemistry. 

There was some family angst and some drama surrounding their relationship. Especially since Stone wasn't going to be around forever. Once this job for the senator was done, he was done. But even that angst was light. This was mostly a fun and fluffy romance. 

John Solo did a nice job narrating. He had good voices and intonation which made for an enjoyable listen. He's a narrator I'll be looking for in the future. 

Ace in the Hole was my first from the Dreamspun series and it won't be my last. They're perfect for a light and fluffy romance. 

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads and Dreamspinner Press. 

Review: Hearts of Darkness by Andrea Speed

Kaede Hiyashi is sick and tired of living in the shadow of his father, supervillain Doctor Terror. Brilliant but crazy, Doctor Terror sends his son to Corwyn, California, for reasons Kaede can’t imagine. Sent to accompany and protect him is Ash, a genetically modified supersoldier raised and trained by an infamous death cult.

Corwyn is lousy with superheroes, led by the obnoxious Dark Justice. Kaede finds himself dancing around Dark Justice as he digs into his father’s mysterious business and teaches his socially awkward—but physically lethal—bodyguard to acclimate to “normal” life. Can these two wacky supervillains figure out what Doctor Terror wants them to do, solve the riddle of the villain known as Black Hand, and keep Dark Justice from raining on their bloody parade? The course of love—and world domination—never did run smooth.

Action. Humor. Supervillians. And snuggling. Oh, the snuggles! I'm such a sucker for the cuteness.

Kaede's the son of the Supervillain, Doctor Terror. Doctor Terror sent Kaede a bodyguard, Ash, when he sent Kaede off to Corwyn. All for his super secret master plan, of course. *insert Supervillian laugh*

Corwyn was full of Heroes and Villians. They're all ridiculous. And what I loved most is that Kaede knew exactly how ridiculous they all really were. He loathed them. Kaede was tired of being compared to his father and people assuming that he was as evil as Doctor Terror. When the Heroes and Villains confronted Kaede, he didn't take them seriously and laughed in their faces, while simultaneously kicking all their asses. He was completely awesome. He came off as very "whatever" about everything, but was brilliant at the same time. He toyed with them, made them think he was clueless... little did they know he had a secret weapon. Ash.

"For a killing machine, Ash was goddamn cute."

Yes. He absolutely was. I love an adorably clueless virgin, and Ash was exactly that. Plus, he was totally badass. He was genetically engineered by Doctor Terror to be practically invincible. Because of all the training growing up, he had no social skills. He's a little on the awkward side and it was adorable. I'm not sure how a killing machine can be so endearing, but Andrea Speed has made it so. 

Ash was curious about Kaede and all the things he made Ash feel. The feelings in his pants, if we're going to be specific. Being the generous soul that he is, Kaede helped him explore all things physical. The sex scenes were not explicit at all. They were mostly fade-to-black, but they were so damn cute that I didn't even care. I was in it for the sweetness and the cuddling because it gave me all the mushy feels.

I really liked the whole vibe of this story. Kaede was immersed in the Superhero and Supervillian drama, even though he didn't want to be. He basically thought they were a bunch of dumbasses. I kind of felt the same way. It's like I knew everything was ridiculous, but at the same time it wasn't because I was so into the plot. The story made fun of itself and I liked that.

I loved, loved the ending. Kaede being a brilliant Supervillian mastermind and Ash kicking asses everywhere he turned. I hope there's a sequel. I have to know what happens next.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads and DSP Publications.

Review: The Pill Bugs of Time (Offbeat Crimes #2) by Angel Martinez

Relationship and communication issues plague Officer Vikash Soren, but those are nothing compared to facing stick-throwing tumbleweeds, pill bugs and…time travel?

Vikash Soren, the perfect police officer except for his odd paranormal ability, never seems to lose his temper. Always serene and competent, he’s taken on the role of mediator in a squad room full of misfits. But on the inside, he’s a mess. Unable to tell his police partner that he loves him, Vikash struggles silently, terrified of losing Kyle as a lover, partner and friend.

But life in the 77th Precinct doesn’t leave much room for internal reflection. A confrontation with a stick-throwing tumbleweed in Fairmount Park leads to bizarre consequences involving pill bugs, statues and…time travel? If Vikash manages to survive the week and stay in one point in time, he might be able to address normal things like relationship problems. He just needs Kyle to have a little more patience. Maybe a few centuries’ worth.

So much fun! I think I said that about the first book... well, it still applies! I am 100% in with this series after this second installment. I liked the first book, but I loved this second book. 

The story is told from Vikash's point of view, which I really liked. He's still in the closet and fearful of anyone knowing he and Kyle are together. The POV switch really worked here. I think Vikash would have come off as really cold and unlikable if I wasn't able to see what was going on in that serious head of his. While I still wanted to strangle him every time he jumped at the slightest touch with Kyle in public, I don't know that I could've forgiven him if there wasn't any insight from his POV.

The mystery. OMG. So, there are pill bugs latching themselves onto people. Their venom? It causes time travel. I can't get over the quirkiness of this world and I totally love it. It was a crazy ride traveling to different time periods with Vikash. It all moved a little fast. I would have liked a couple more time traveling scenes and maybe a little more mystery in the case. The pacing was really quick and while the story kept me super engaged, it felt rushed.

I simply adore Vikash and Kyle. Their chemistry and their humor is spot on. They are a fantastic duo and I'm so happy with the direction of their relationship. Even though the world-building is a little out there, these guys felt so real. They have real problems and they way they dealt with them felt so natural.

We have the same cast of wacky characters from the first book, snark and humor, and a lovely relationship between two paranormal misfits. I can't wait to get my hands on more of this series. 

Goodness. I hope there's another book coming. Please and thank you.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads.

Review: Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters (Offbeat Crimes #1) by Angel Martinez

Kyle Monroe, his irritating new partner and their fellow freaks at the 77th Precinct must learn to work together to stop a vicious murderer that might not even be human.
 
Kyle Monroe’s encounter with a strange, gelatinous creature in an alley leaves him scarred and forever changed, revealing odd abilities he wishes he didn’t have and earning him reassignment to a precinct where all the cops have defective paranormal abilities.

Just as he’s starting to adjust to his fellow misfit squad mates, Kyle’s new partner arrives. Tall, physically perfect, reserved and claiming he has no broken psychic talents, Vikash Soren irritates Kyle in every way. But as much as he’d like to hate Vikash, Kyle finds himself oddly drawn to him, their non-abilities meshing in unexpected ways. If they can learn to work together, they might be able to stop the mysterious killer who has been leaving mutilated bodies along the banks of the Schuylkill.

 

This was all kinds of fun. Full of wacky, offbeat characters, snark, and paranormal shenanigans. 

Kyle Monroe is a detective in the 77th precinct. They specialize in crimes of the non-human variety. They are staffed with an odd bunch of detectives who have some odd talents. There's a vampire who can only drink "skim" blood, a teleporter who can only teleport fruits, and a lizard man who can't talk, just to name a few. Kyle is able to absorb the abilities of others, but isn't able to control this ability. So they are quite the bunch and make for some entertaining scenes, to say the least. 

Kyle is partnered with the newest detective, Vikash. He's tall, handsome, and claims he doesn't have any paranormal abilities. During the course of their first investigation Kyle is thoroughly annoyed with Vikash. They don't get along too well, which leads to some fun and snarky banter. 

Their romance happened rather quickly, but that's kind of to be expected in a novella. It worked for me though. Kyle was hesitantly attracted to Vikash, not knowing were he stood on the sexuality scale and all. But when he found out that Vikash was attracted to him as well... they had some hotness happening.

The ending was a little rushed and some loose ends were left unexplained. Don't get me wrong, it was just as wacky and crazy as the rest of the book. Where Angel Martinez comes up with this stuff, I'll never know. But a little more explanation would have been nice.

Like I said, Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters was just plain fun. There were some laugh out loud moments, mixed with a bit of mystery, and a sweet romance.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads. 

Check out our author visit and chat about Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters here

Review: The Pirate Fairy by A.J. Llewellyn

Denny Derrick Dalton is the most feared pirate on the high seas, but he’s not a bad guy. He’s just having a very bad day…

It’s 1841 and the high seas are a dangerous place for anybody. Denny Derrick Dalton’s the most feared pirate in the choppy waters, but his risky reputation takes a hit when a wicked old witch curses him and gives him a pair of fairy wings. It’s hard to boss your crew around when you look ridiculous. Not only that, he has no idea how to fly.

Denny’s depressed. The witch, hiding as sweet Princess Fortunata, has left his ship and taken her brother, Prince Merritt, the man Derrick deeply loves, with her. Can his luck get any worse? Oh yes, it can. His crew mutinies and sells him to a slave ship.

But it’s not just any slave ship. This one’s bewitched, and Denny’s soon taken to a magical court where he must explain his rotten behavior and fight for his life.

But can he save himself to rescue Merritt, who’s at the mercy of his wicked sister’s magic?

Reader Advisory: This book features a BDSM scene.

When a book says it's about a pirate turned into a fairy and sold to a slave ship, I just know I'm in for a good time.

And I was. It was so much fun.

Denny Derrick Dalton is Captain of the La-Di-Da. He's the most feared pirate on the high seas but he's mostly just misunderstood. He's a really good guy, once you get to know him.

On trial for piracy, he'll have to defend his actions and convince the jury not to kill him, all the while learning how to use his newly acquired fairy wings, devise a way to find his long lost sister, and rescue the love of his life, Prince Merrick, from the evil witch that cursed him in the first place.

It's a very silly story that manages to balance a little bit of gravity with a whole lot of absurd, and just when you think you have it all figured out, think again.

If you're worried about it being a historical setting, don't. It doesn't feel historical in the slightest. It's historical light, with the feel of contemporary, and a huge amount of fantasy weaved throughout.

Every time I thought to myself that this read couldn't get any better - it did. (It reached stratosphere when the Kinbaku-bi scene came on page.)

I was a little over halfway through when I thought to myself, You know, the only thing that could make this better would be a dragon. Can you guess what showed up a few pages later? A sea dragon/creature/thing.

There's a whole minefield of silly and awesomeness in this book, and I refuse to spoil any of it for you.

But there are a couple of things to keep in mind:

This is meant to be a silly, fun read. Don't think too deeply on the details. Like, when they tell you that a fairy is immortal, but that every alcoholic drink takes a year off their life. Try to keep from doing the math. What's infinity minus 200?

And there's no doubt that Denny Derrick Dalton is in love with his Prince and desperate to be reunited with him. Sure, he's going to reminisce in great detail about experiences with someone in his past, and sure he's going to give really good head to that bumblebee guy over there, because he's gotta pay him back somehow, right? Denny LOVES sex. Even if you don't like to read about your MC getting it on with other people, go on this ride with Denny. Trust me, it'll be worth it.

This read was just all around good fun. I wanted a little more from the ending - there were bits and pieces left unresolved, but this wasn't exactly a deep story, so it doesn't really matter.

There's a man with a tail of a fox, centaurs, good witches, bad witches, self duplicating money, and a whole Island filled with things guaranteed to make you smile.

His beautiful ship surged forward toward the doomed vessels and he smiled widely until he glimpsed one of his crew running past him. As soon as the man became aware of Denny's scrutiny he gave a strange whimpering sound, clapped a hand over his badly swollen right ear and tiptoed backward away from Denny.

"What's he doing? And what happened to his ear?" Deny demanded of Rigby who sighed.

"You don't remember?"
"No. What am I supposed to remember?"
"You tried to have sex with his ear last night."
"I- What?"
"You heard. You broke into his bunk and tried sticking your cock in his ear. I had to thunk you over the head to get you to stop."

Are you smiling yet?

If you're in the mood for a fun afternoon read, this is the book for you.

Highly recommended.

Add to your Goodreads shelf!

Review: Naughty Cupid by Deanna Wadsworth

2nd Edition

The name’s Lio, and you may have read the beginning of my story in A Cupid’s Wager. Well, hold on to your hats, because there’s more to tell about your favorite cupid working in the Gay Division of the Inter-Dimensional Association of Cupids.

Remember Ethan? That Aztec god of the winds who busted me shooting a closeted human with a gay lust arrow? Yeah, I haven’t been able to forget him either. Even though I have a rule against getting it on with other supernaturals—especially ones working for the Straight Division—my magic is drawn to Ethan and all his tattoos and piercings in a way I cannot control.

But after that night of mind-numbing sex, now I gotta face my evil ex-boyfriend and a suspension by the IDAC for “misplacing” arrows. They took my quiver, and I have to figure out how to get my arrow privileges back before they’re taken forever.

Ethan seems to think he can help me, but I don’t know how anybody can make this cupid believe in love again.

First Edition published as A Cupid's Wager by Dreamspinner Press, 2014.

It ended!

And now I'm sad.

Because this book? It was so much more than what I was expecting. I thought I'd pick up where we left off in A Cupid's Wager and there'd be more snarky, sexy fun.

And there was.

But it was a punch in the feels as well. (I was not expecting to need tissues.) It’s a broken man with a broken heart, a best friend with unquestionable loyalty, and a chance at happiness for someone who really deserves it.

It’s also snarky, and sexy, and completely entertaining.

Lio hides behind walls of humor and sarcasm. He refuses to take things seriously, keeps everyone at a distance, and has lost his faith in love. That's a big deal if you're a cupid. Deep down there is a part of him that wants to believe, but he's older and wiser than the young cupid he once was - the one that put their trust in the wrong love and nearly died in the process. It's a hard lesson learned, and a mistake he refuses to make again.

Ethan is powerful. He’s a proud and fierce warrior, an Aztec god of wind, and despite all of his tattoos and piercings, can rock kohl eyeliner like nobody’s business. He’s intimidating on the outside, but caring and tender on the inside. He's like a big, Aztec kitten.

He’s known the truth about his connection to Lio for longer than Lio can imagine, but denied it. The results of which cost Lio dearly. Now, he’s seizing his opportunity to make things right, and convince the cupid how real their love can be.

It’s hard to believe this story only spans about 5 days because of how patient Ethan is with Lio. Every gentle touch and whispered praise cracks open the safe around Lio’s heart. It’s instalove, all the way, but if there was ever the case of instalove working, it’s soul mates, amiright?

This was really well written and took me completely by surprise. I wanted more. Not because I thought it was lacking, but because I didn’t want to let them go.

It's more than Ethan trying to show Lio how to love again. It's about Lio realizing how important that is in the grand scheme of things. He is a cupid after all, and his arrows are on the line unless he can convince the higher ups that he takes his job seriously and wants to be a better cupid.

Ethan and Lio are great together, and the supporting cast is just as delightful - Walter is a bundle of epic, and Ethan's got a twin - a very fun loving twin.

I did experience a little frustration with this read. Ethan has a knack for withholding information from Lio. He's pretty good at putting off conversations or conveniently leaving key points out, and it left me, as the reader, feeling like I was just as much in the dark as Lio was.

But, it all worked out in the end though, so who am I to complain?

If you like a smidgen of mythology mixed in with contemporary paranormal, and you're looking for a fun read with feels, this is the book for you.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

Did you check out our author visit and her GIVEAWAY here today?

Review: Will & Patrick Wake Up Married (Wake Up Married #1) by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths

Join the fun in this vibrant first installment of the new romantic comedy serial by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!

After a drunken night of hot sex in Vegas, strangers Will Patterson and Dr. Patrick McCloud wake up married. A quickie divorce is the most obvious way out—unless you’re the heir of a staunchly Catholic mafia boss with a draconian position on the sanctity of marriage.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Will and Patrick don't like it, or each other, but they have to make the best of it until they can find another way out of their marriage. To ensure the trust fund Will's charitable foundation relies on isn't revoked by his mobster grandfather, he and Patrick travel to Will’s hometown of Healing, South Dakota, posing as a newlywed couple in the throes of true love at first sight.

Complicating their scheme are Will’s unresolved feelings for his all-too-recent ex-boyfriend Ryan, and Patrick’s desire to get back to the only thing that really matters to him in life: neurosurgery. Will they fool everyone? Or will the mafia get wind that their marriage is a fake? Throw their simmering attraction into the mix and all bets are off!

Episode 1 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.

YES! I've been DNF'ing books left and right, and what I have been finishing has been 3 stars. Will & Patrick brought be out of my funk and I'm probably going to be reading these back to back.

Will & Patrick Wake Up Married is funny and ridiculously entertaining. But it's also more than that.

In this first installment we're introduced to the characters and the situation they've found themselves in. When they wake up Will doesn't remember much from their night together and neither did Patrick, until they noticed the wedding bands on their hands.

Things start to come back in pieces. Will remembers the phone call from his jerkface boyfriend. He remembers getting drunk and meeting Patrick. Patrick remembers meeting Will in a bar. Taking him to his room and plowing him for hours. They remember how hot they were together and how compatible they felt.

Too bad sober reality didn't meet their drunken standards. They don't get along at all. Divorce only makes sense right? Not when your from a mob family and if you get a divorce you lose everything. Until they can figure things out, they have to stay together. Fake it 'til you make it.

While the two guys didn't get along at all and there wasn't any sexy times between them (other than glimpses from their drunken night together), I really loved them. There's a lot of depth to each of them. The authors created two very different characters that I fell in love with.

I feel for Will. The poor guy can't catch a break. I just want to hold him. He needs hugs. Lots of hugs and love. He's so insecure and that last thing he needs is another mess up. Actually, the last thing he needs is Patrick constantly reminding him of his mess ups.

Patrick is a jerk. Class A. But he's so darn likable! It's annoying, really. I shouldn't love him like I do. But he recognizes his jerkishness. He also recognizes that his frankness probably has an underlying reason. I'm glad he sees that he can be outright rude sometimes, now I'm curious to know what he does about it.

Will & Patrick are nothing short of awesome together. And they're not even really together yet! I'm excited to read more. Which I will be doing right about... now.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads.
 

Review: Our Place Among the Stars by James Cox

Sequel to Dick, It's What's for Dinner.

The pleasure ship is coming to your area...

I’m Mickale Stone, coming to you from the middle of space. The famous Three Guys Pleasure Ship will be coming to your planet in one week! We have some of the best dance shows in the entire colonized planet system, a delicious three-course meal by the famous Vernon McSpire and all your servers will be stripping. There are stunning views as you dine over your planet. You can even book a room for the night so you can make love among the stars. (Limited space, must bring your own lover as one will not be provided.)

Have a romantic, once in a lifetime experience on The Three Guys Pleasure Ship. Book your tickets today!

Breann - 

Short. Sexy. Fun.

Vern, Ale, and Rei finally achieved their dream jobs with The Three Guys Pleasure Ship. Vern gets to cook for their guests, Ale serves the drinks, while Rei gets to pilot the ship. They rolled all their passions into one business and get to do what they love best. Besides each other, that is.

It was awesome to see the guys post-HEA and really living out their dream and what they set out to accomplish together. I really enjoyed them getting together in the first book, Dick, It's What's For Dinner, so of course I wanted more of these guys.  

Not everything ran completely smooth and there was a bit of action and sci-fi adventure, but this was mostly a sexy and fun ride. I love that the story doesn't take itself too seriously. There's world-building and I got a clear picture of the setting and story, but it wasn't bogged down with details. I think James Cox does consistently does this really well. 

This is perfect for something quick and can be read in one sitting. I do recommend reading book one first, but I'm pretty sure that won't be a hardship. 

 
Ann -

What to do after having delicious Dick for Dinner? Hmmmmmm . . . You head to the stars with The COX that’s what you do for dessert. Our Place Among the Stars is a the perfect epilogue to Dick, It’s What’s for Dinner. The guys had a lot happen to them at the end of their story, so this installment let me wrap my brain around their HEA and wallow in the feels a bit. I like how James writes feelings for his character. He says a lot with a few words and it really sounds honest for how his characters would speak.

There was still excitement, that’s what James does, but he balances the story with the setting really well. I got a great visual but the story wasn’t buried in detail which is pretty necessary for a short story. The ending was so good and James really knows how to write a menage scene that’s yummy dirty and still gives the connection between the characters.



For more info on Our Place Among the Stars, check it out on Goodreads.

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

Review & GIVEAWAY: Dick, It's What's for Dinner by James Cox

A criminal, a pilot, and an aspiring chef dance in a stripper bar at the center of the universe...

Six months on a military ship with my two friends, cooking food for the crew in nothing but skimpy shorts, what could possibly go wrong? Let’s see, our friendship starts to turn sexual. We agree to cook naked for extra money. One friend turns out to be a thief, the other is facing his shyness to admit he loves me, and atop all that, we’re thrust into the middle of a war. I was a dreamer trying to conquer my wish of being a chef, not some space fighter. How were we going to survive in combat conditions?

My best advice: Watch out for boiling water while cooking naked on a spaceship. Oh, and once in a while, play the hero.

*****

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below! It's your chance to win an ebook copy from James' backlist. The only problem is... what to choose?!

*****

Breann

Oh, for the love of balls, this was fun. 

Vern, Ale and Rei are besties and they work at a bar where they shake their sexy asses to pay the bills. When they receive a job offer they can't refuse, they hope to be able to pursue their dream jobs with the large payout they're promised. In Vern's case, he loves to cook and dreams of being a chef. Luckily, the job offers him this opportunity. But with naked dancing. And a little chef hat on his penis. No joke.

I loved the sci-fi world building. I could clearly picture everything, but was never confused. It was an easy read, which is uncommon for a sci-fi romance, IMO. It also helped that Vern was so completely likable. The story was from his POV and I loved being inside his head.

As the guys work their new job, they start to push their unspoken boundaries a bit. All for the sexy show, of course, nothing more. Until it's not all for show and their real feelings come to the surface. They all had feelings for each other before there was touching involved, but it was never discussed and the guys kept it all to themselves. Given the premise and the title, I was surprised by how much I felt from these guys. This wasn't only some fun sci-fi erotica (although, it was that) but there was definitely a great romance between Vern, Ale and Rei. I was especially surprised by Ale. The big guy is just a soft marshmallow inside and he ended up stealing the show for me.

Fun, flirty, with a bit of an emotional punch. Definitely my fave from James Cox, thus far.



Ann

So, when James Cox invited members of the clubhouse over to his pad to have dinner, more specifically, Dick for Dinner, Breann and I tripped over each other heading out the clubhouse door.

James always provides a fun sci-fi adventure and this one is no exception. Once you get past your appreciation of the title of course :D.

The world building was detailed without being overcomplicated making it easy to dive right into the story and understand where the characters are coming from. The story is written from Vern’s perspective and his character was extremely likable, charming and deliciously horny. He’s an aspiring chef who’s working as a stripper/waiter to earn enough to finish his training. He works closely with Ale and Rei. Ale is a big ol’ hunk of a man that Vern has a crush on and he’s a bit of a mystery. Rei is a pilot in training who’s working his way through training just like Vern. The three have great chemistry on the surface and once the story really gets going the physical attraction moves into something much sweeter and deeper. James threw in just enough feels to take the story from pure sci-fi campy fun to something more.

James writes a damn fine menage relationship. His characters are all very unique so you don’t get them muddled during sexy times and he doesn’t discount the feelings that each has for one another. They are different, but no less important. Vern feels differently for Ale than he does for Rei, doesn’t make it any less significant, but it’s unique and I think that’s why they work for me.

The adventure was great fun and his hero’s always have the charm and “accidental luck” that make them great to read. They aren’t perfect and no victory comes easy, that’s what makes them all the more heroic in my book. They are regular horny guys in an extraordinary situation.
The ending was delicious as I was expecting from the title and I liked reading how the guys had evolved and come together after all the shenanigans were played out.

A couple of fave sentences, because I always highlight the hell out of James’s sentences:

“Ale was a sight that made cocks harden and weep.”

“His long legs ate up the space much like I wanted to eat his dick.”

“His cheeks were the shade of a hard-spanked ass.”

For more info on Dick, It's What's for Dinner, check it out on Goodreads.

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

Enter to win an ebook copy from James Cox's backlist! Simply comment below with your name and a way of contacting you (email, twitter, Goodreads, etc). The giveaway will end on Monday, January 4th 9PM PST when a winner will be randomly drawn. Please respond to the winning email within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. GOOD LUCK!