Book Blast + Giveaway: CLUBBED TWO: Anxiety, Anger, Activism by Robert A. Karl

 

Author Robert A. Karl and Gay Book Promotions share info on LGBTQ Historical Fiction released earlier this year, CLUBBED TWO: Anxiety, Anger, Activism! Find out more and enter in the $25 Amazon Gift Card giveaway! Good luck!

BOOK BLAST

Book Title: CLUBBED TWO: Anxiety, Anger, Activism

Author: Robert A. Karl

Cover Artist: Nirkri with original art by Alejandro Mesurado 

Release Date: January 31, 2022

Genre: LGBTQ Historical Fiction

Themes: LGBTQ Pride; Diversity; Disability Awareness and Acceptance; Interracial Love; 1980s Queer Fashions and Fads; Ageism, Infidelity, AIDS Activism

Heat Rating:  4 flames   

Length:  81 516 words/ 291 pages

It is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK 

Every day is a good day to be gay.

Blurb

CLUBBED TWO is historical fiction, set in Philadelphia from 1982 to 1992. Club Sanctuary can be seen as a metaphor for the greater LGBTQ community, but it is written as a real place, with characters who are fabulous, funny and flawed.

The author combines historical characters and events with fictional ones, creating a story that's entertaining, informative and emotional. The love story between the two main characters, Joey and Henry, serves as a vehicle for connecting the stories of diverse, Queer characters.

This second book in the CLUBBED series continues the story as the LGBTQ community fights prejudice and ignorance in an effort to be recognized as people worthy of respect. Will the community be torn apart by fear, or will they come together to support PWAs? (People With AIDS)

Experience the drama, the beauty, and the excitement as well as the music, fashion and fads of the 80s with CLUBBED TWO: Anxiety, Anger, Activism. 

Excerpt 

When he let himself into Kirk’s room, he found Kirk sitting on a small sofa in front of a 13-inch black and white TV with no cable. The picture was fuzzy and the volume was low while a rerun of Happy Days was on.

“Just put the box on the coffee table and we can eat here. And keep out two beers and put the rest in the fridge.”

Kirk proceeded to eat, with no hint that anything sexual was about to take place between them. This felt awkward to Jando who didn’t really know how to act on a date. He was used to quick fuck-n-sucks, usually in a public place like The Hole at the club. So, he copied what Kirk did. He figured Kirk knew how to act better than he did.

After a few minutes, there was only one slice of pizza left. Kirk looked at the young Puerto Rican guy sitting next to him with a mischievous grin.

“Hey Bae, you know what I always wanted to do?”

“Please don’t tell me you always wanted to smash a guy in the mouth with a slice,” Jando joked.

“No, not that. But you know how in the movies, a couple will share something they’re eating, until they end up mouth-to-mouth. And then they have to decide whether to kiss or what they’re gonna do next?”

“Yeah,” Jando said. And not just people do that. Remember in that cartoon where Lady and the Tramp were eating spaghetti?”

Kirk laughed, actually snorting a little as he thought about that famous scene.

“If you’re the Lady, I guess that makes me the Tramp,” Kirk said, still laughing.

“You wanna try it?” Kirk asked, reaching for the final slice, trimming it into a very slim slice and pointing the uncrusted end towards Jando’s mouth.

Kirk closed his eyes and started to eat the crust on his side of the slice. He felt the pull as Jando joined him, taking small bites of the other side.

Kirk started laughing again. “Damn! I didn’t think about that we actually have to stop to chew.”

Now both of them were laughing, as Kirk continued to hold the slice in mid-air between their two mouths.

“Keep going, Bae. Keep going.”

With gooey cheese dripping down and various pieces of pepperoni, green peppers, onions and mushrooms falling, and while they tried to keep from laughing, their mouths continued to inch closer. 

Finishing the slice, they were both chewing as their lips finally brushed up against each other’s. 

Swallowing hard, Kirk took the lead and kissed Alejandro forcefully. He pushed Jando back so he was prone on the sofa as he slid his tongue into Jando’s mouth, tasting the pizza but also the sweetness of Jando’s lips and tongue. Jando returned the favor, kissing with a passion that he’d been holding back for a few hours, needing some release soon. 

“I wanna do this right. Let’s go in the bedroom,” Kirk whispered, lifting himself off Jando’s writhing body. “And bring the beers with you,” Kirk reminded him as he took hold of a walking cane that was next to the sofa, unnoticed by his Bae.

About the Author 

Robert A. Karl is a native son of Philadelphia, PA, a retired educator, a queer author, and the proud Gay Dog Dad to Zuna, the Awesome Boston Terrier. He now resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he enjoys the beauty and culture of La Isla del Encanto, The Island of Enchantment.

Social Media Links

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Giveaway 

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Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

Review: Jude (Lucky #3) by Garrett Leigh

Isha has spent the last year watching his BFF get his happily-ever-after. He’s proud of Dom, but…it hurts to see him so free while Isha’s love life is still on lockdown. Only Isha’s ex-wife knows the secret that he’s kept caged for so long—that he’s queer too, and he’s lonely.

Jude’s too chained to his work to notice what he’s missing by being terminally single, but a new face in the village soon catches his attention. City boy Isha is gorgeous, and when he starts to haunt Jude’s reptile shop as well as the hook-up app on his phone, he's a welcome distraction from Jude’s business problems.

For a control freak like Isha, letting Jude under his skin is an existential meltdown, but Jude’s not in the market to be anyone’s queer crisis, not when he’s facing troubles of his own. Unlocking their lives could push both men apart forever, but it might be a risk worth taking if sharing is the key to their happy future.

I actually ended up enjoying this one more than I initially thought I would. Because snakes. Actually, snakes, bearded dragons, leopard geckos... you name it and in case you're wondering, I'm not a fan. However, I did end up learning a couple things about these creatures and I always enjoy that.

In true Garrett Leigh fashion there is much angst and pain in Jude and Isha's journey. Isha is queer and in the closet to everyone except his ex-wife/best friend. For years he's been perfectly fine with his occasional Grindr hookups then along comes Jude and throws everything off-kilter.

Jude is a struggling pet shop owner and a bit... eccentric. I actually really like Jude but he does have a hard time communicating as does Isha which makes the push/pull extra push/pull-y.

They do clearly have some sort of voodoo connection between them that defies explanation and I'm fine with that. Where things got dicey was Isha's closetedness. I honestly couldn't understand why it was such a huge deal. His entire circle of friends are queer, his kids are young enough that they're going to take it in stride and keep on loving him just as much as ever and his ex-wife already knows and accepts him so... *scratches head*?????

BUT, I will say I understand people get things in their head for whatever reason and it's difficult to shift out of that mentality; however, that obscurity doesn't translate well in the written word here especially considering the whole situation was over and done with in the blink of an eye without a backwards glance giving the whole thing an air of contrivance.

Jude ends happily with Isha making the adjustment to blissful domesticity in the epilogue and I enjoyed watching them find their way. Though I would've appreciated a little more happy than the epilogue.

Definitely doesn't compare to Lucky but still an absorbing hurt/comfort romance that stays true to Ms. Leigh's form and one I would recommend to fans of her work.

A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Blog Tour: The Pet and His Duke (Virasana Empire) by Beryll & Osiris Brackhaus

Welcome authors Beryll & Osiris Brackhaus who are joined by Other Worlds Ink to promote their new sci-fi romance, The Pet and His Duke. Find out more & read an excerpt too!

Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus has a new MM sci fi space opera romance out: "The Pet and His Duke."

Robert is a pet, a human pleasure slave, and well past his prime.


So when teenage Duke Thomar of Aylian buys him via mail order, Robert first suspects a dreadful misunderstanding. The duke is young, handsome and headstrong, and the very last thing he needs while struggling to secure his reign over his planet is an aging bargain bin pet by his side.

Only, the more time Robert spends with Thomar, the more he learns that the young duke rarely makes mistakes. Unless, of course, Thomar dashes off on one of his mad adventures, which Robert increasingly becomes a part of…


‘The Pet and his Duke’ is a standalone m/m romance novel in the ‘Virasana Empire’ universe. Written by Rainbow Book Award winners Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus, it is a story of self-determination and love, and Happily-Ever-Afters in the most unlikely places.



Publisher | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | QueeRomance Ink | Smashwords | Goodreads

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Excerpt

Robert looked up from his latest romance novel as the door to the Ducal Suite opened to admit his master.

He was seated in his armchair at the burning fireplace, huddled under a woollen blanket. Early autumn in the capital of Aylian was usually pleasantly mild, but this year had brought an uncomfortable chill to Toraskah.

Thomar had explained that this was a problem caused by the Eigenrealität-bubble of the Aliaerean Realms leaking through the demon portal above them, messing with the climate. Whatever that meant. Apparently someone very important named Lady Beverly was working hard on correcting the issue, but it was all very complicated and would not be fixed before this winter, which promised to actually bring snow to the capital, a rare occurrence indeed.

All Robert had understood was that it was fucking cold, would get even colder, and would stay that way for a few months.

Blinking somewhat owlishly through his reading glasses, Robert watched his master carry a huge bowl filled with various types of fruit over to him. Thomar was home from work early and that usually meant he was so fed up with his duties that he was only left with the choice to either walk out or start shooting people. However, his smile looked decidedly indecent and made Robert discount that theory.

Thomar placed the bowl of fruit on the low sidetable next to Robert's armchair. He pushed Robert's feet off the footstool and inappropriately settled himself there, smiling up at his pet.

Robert carefully took off his reading glasses and placed them on the table with his book. His master obviously wanted something, and as usual, Robert wasn't sure what it was.

"How was your day, my lord?“ he tried to gauge Thomar's mood.

"Pretty nice, actually.“ Thomar drew a vicious-looking N'Ptalini dagger from a concealed compartment in his left boot, picked up a lima fruit from the bowl and started peeling it. "I was stuck in a meeting between Bishop Claudius of the Belligra and demon Ambassador Brassion for the last three hours and got to listen to them yelling at each other while entirely ignoring me.“ He dropped the lima peel to the ground, cut a fillet out of the ripe fruit and noisily sucked it off his blade. „I don't think they have noticed that I left.“

"I see.“ It was of course exceedingly impolite for the Duke to slip away like that, but Thomar knew that perfectly well himself.

"So, I thought I'd come home and see how my favourite pet is doing.“ Thomar discarded the rest of the peeled lima and picked up a mango instead. Again his dagger went to work, this time with juice dripping over his fingers.

"I'm good, thank you, my lord,“ Robert replied politely. He was not sure where his master was leading with this seemingly innocent conversation.

"You do look a bit cold.“ Thomar eyed him thoughtfully, licking mango juice off his fingers. "I've been wondering if we should find someone to fix the palace’s central heating.“ He popped a piece of mango into his mouth and continued sucking on his fingers with obvious relish. "Not sure if it's worth the effort if the climate is fixed by next winter though.“

"I'm sure we can make do until then.“ It was kind of hard to concentrate on the conversation when his master was such a pleasant distraction.

"Yeah, you're probably right.“ Thomar discarded the half-eaten mango as well, along with the dagger, and started rummaging in the fruit bowl until he produced an already cut piece of melon. "And the cold has some advantages too, eh? Snuggled up under blankets, sharing warmth...“

Thomar bit into the piece. Melon juice ran down his chin and he spent some time mopping it up with his fingers and licking them clean.

Robert watched hypnotised. He was slowly getting an idea of what his master wanted but he felt it was safer to ask first. Only how to phrase that question?

"So... anything in particular I can do for you tonight, my lord?“ he finally asked, while Thomar picked up a handful of strawberries from the bowl.

"Hm... actually... yes.“ Thomar lasciviously licked the first fruit and bit off half of it. "You know... I enjoyed that afternoon on the first day of our vacation.“ He sucked the juice from the rest of the strawberry. "When you ordered me onto the bed and fucked me so hard I thought you'd split me in half.“

Robert gave an undignified, half-choked sound. Pounding his master hard while half-crazed with lust was one thing. Having his master talk about it and demand more of it was another thing altogether. Then again, Thomar was doing a great job of getting him to that half-crazed state again.

"You seem to need some inspiration...“ The next strawberry followed, this time including Thomar licking red juice off his lips with his terribly agile tongue.

By now, the blanket as well as the fire seemed way too hot for Robert's liking. He felt heat pool in his groin as Thomar grinned up at him, sinfully sexy in his black uniform and that innocent face with eyes that promised pleasure as far from innocent as possible.

"You think you can repeat that performance?“ Thomar asked, turning his attention back to the bowl of fruit.

This time he reached for a banana, but Robert's hand shot out and grabbed his wrist before he could pick it up. Discarding any kind of careful considerations, Robert got to his feet and pulled his master against himself forcefully. He was rewarded with a breathless laugh full of delight. He covered Thomar's mouth in a demanding kiss and tasted the unexpected fruit cocktail with Thomar's own taste the cherry on top.

---

Author Bios

We are Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus, a couple currently living our happily ever after in the very heart of Germany, under the stern but loving surveillance of our cat.

Both of us are voracious but picky readers, we love telling stories and drinking tea, good food and the occasional violent movie. Together, we write novels of adventure and romance, hoping to share a little of our happiness with our readers.

Beryll

An artist by heart, Beryll was writing stories even before she knew what letters were. As easily inspired as she is frustrated, her own work is never good enough (in her eyes). A perfectionist in the best and worst sense of the word at the same time and the driving creative force of our duo.

Osiris

An entertainer and craftsman in his approach to writing, Osiris is the down-to-earth, practical part of our duo. Broadly interested in almost every subject and skill, with a sunny mood and caring personality, he strives to bring the human nature into focus of each of his stories.

Author Website: http://www.brackhaus.com/

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011014541510

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

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

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6427435.Osiris_Brackhaus

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Osiris-Brackhaus/e/B00IVTRO2E

Blog Tour: Unexpected (Inked #3) by K.M. Neuhold

Author K.M. Neuhold and Vibrant Promotions visit on the Unexpected (Inked #3) blog tour today! Learn more about the latest in the series today!

Unexpected

Inked Series, Book 3

KM Neuhold

M/M Menage Romance

Release Date: 12.26.19

Blurb

Kyle needed a place to stay, he never thought it would turn into so much more.

So, your gorgeous boss, Maverick, and his yummy husband, Ari, are letting you stay with them while you get back on your feet? Here are a few simple tips:

Don’t call his husband Daddy. I know it’ll be difficult, but seriously, don’t.

Don’t leave a pair of red, lacy panties in their bed.

If you hear interesting noises from their bedroom in the middle of the night, don’t peek in. Don’t.

And most importantly, don’t fall in love.

Follow these tips and everything should go as expected.

**This book is the third book in the Inked series, which is a spin-off of the Heathens Ink series, but it CAN be read as a stand-alone. Unexpected is a super sweet, steamy MMM story with low angst and very light Daddy kink.

mybook.to/UnexpectedInked

Excerpt

Ari ripped into me, and I don’t blame him. If anything, I think he went too easy on me and forgave me too quickly. If I hadn’t forgotten my laptop in my office, would I have ever known Kyle was sleeping there? He said he wasn’t planning to stay long, so what was his plan? Sleeping in his car? Going to a homeless shelter? Sleeping on the street?

Bile rises in my throat, my appetite completely gone.

Ari is telling Kyle about his many jobs, and I take a second to look at the kid. I’ve never seen him without makeup on. He looks like a completely different person. He’s still beautiful, but in a more understated kind of way. You might look past him on the street, and what a tragedy that would be.

I shake off the thought. I made him homeless, and now I’m checking him out. I think that earns me a first class ticket on the trip to hell I’ve already been booked for.

I push the food around on my plate until the two of them are finished eating, then I gather all the dishes.

“You don’t have to clean up after me,” Kyle argues as I pick up his silverware to take to the sink to wash.

“Consider it part of my penance,” I answer dryly.

“You don’t need any penance. I told you it’s fine.”

I don’t bother to respond, because I think all three of us know it’s far from fine.

In spite of my insistence that I can take care of everything, Ari wipes down the counters and puts away the dishes once they’re washed and dried while Kyle slides onto the floor and sits cross-legged petting Piglet. He looks so young sitting on the floor with the dog in his lap, his face clean and a hint of red under his eyes that suggests he cried recently.

My chest aches at the sight—with guilt and something else I can’t put my finger on. Ari’s lips pressing against my shoulder startles me, and I turn my head to give my husband an apologetic smile. He raises his eyebrows at me in an unspoken question that I can’t quite decipher. Is he wondering what I’m thinking? Why I haven’t told him more about Kyle? If I was checking out Kyle? I’m not sure I have a good answer for any of those things.

Author K.M. Neuhold is a complete romance junkie, a total sap in every way. She started her journey as an author in new adult, MF romance, but after a chance reading of an MM book she was completely hooked on everything about lovely- and sometimes damaged- men finding their Happily Ever After together. She has a strong passion for writing characters with a lot of heart and soul, and a bit of humor as well. And she fully admits that her OCD tendencies of making sure every side character has a full backstory will likely always lead to every book having a spin-off or series. When she's not writing she's a lion tamer, an astronaut, and a superhero...just kidding, she's likely watching Netflix and snuggling with her husky while her amazing husband brings her coffee.

linktr.ee/KMNeuhold

Review: Twice Shy (New Milton #3) by Sally Malcolm

The last thing Joel Morgan wants is to fall in love again. Scarred by his failed marriage, Joel’s determined to keep his life emotionally stable—which means taking a job teaching fourth grade, fixing up his house on weekends, and avoiding absolutely all romantic entanglements. And he's doing great.

Until he meets sweet but struggling single dad, Ollie Snow.

Following the tragic death of his sister and her husband two years earlier, Ollie became the legal guardian of their two young sons—much to the horror of the boys’ conservative grandparents. They think Ollie’s too young and too gay to raise their grandsons. So to prove them wrong, Ollie’s determined to parent the boys without anyone’s help.

Until he meets reserved but caring teacher, Joel Morgan.

As the only two men in the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, Joel and Ollie are thrown together over a series of fundraising events and somewhere between the Beach Fun Run and the Christmas Market they fall in love. But Ollie has another reason for moving to New Milton—a reason he’s keeping close to his chest—and Joel’s wounded heart won’t trust a man with secrets. Dare they hope for a future together, or will their past hurts keep them apart forever?

I'm so SOOOOOOO happy I found this series; it's like slipping into my coziest slippers and jim jams then having a cup of hot chocolate with Malcolm providing the perfect book to round out the picture of bliss. I just know it's going to be enjoyable. I thank everyone on Goodreads who pushed Perfect Day, Love Around the Corner and Between the Lines through my feed, enticing me because the quaint little town of New Milton has rapidly become a favorite place to visit.

I've come to count on Malcolm to give little updates of previous and recurrent characters, something I find extremely comforting. While reading Twice Shy I found myself thinking, 'I can't wait to catch up with Joel and Ollie in the future'. Though it's not entirely necessary to read the previous books... why would you not? Perfect Day continues to be one of my all time faves. You don't want to miss that one!

Without fail I become invested in her characters and these two were no different. Hurt/comfort is certainly in her wheelhouse with on point characterizations and genuine emotion that creates dimension and depth. Both Joel and Ollie are hurting and in desperate need of copious amounts of comfort.

Luckily they bump into each other at a PTA meeting and spark which proceeds to grow into something more little by little. Their age difference, at face value, seems slight but those eight years were significant ones for Joel.

Joel's marriage imploded four years ago due in large part to his coming out to his wife as bisexual. She was vicious to the point of his deciding to move and change careers in an effort to put distance between himself and that life. I found his reluctance to out himself authentic but be forewarned there are numerous fits and starts between them and some may tire of Joel's closetedness.

Whereas Ollie at 24 has become the parent of his sister's two young boys after she and her husband were killed suddenly in an auto accident. It's been a struggle in more ways than one for him but he tries SO HARD to be the best dad he can be to Luis and Rory. He does a fantastic job in my opinion but he does not have an abundance of confidence in his parenting skills which resonated with me and made me want to hug him.

The loneliness they feel permeates their unique perspectives but they are also gun-shy of being rejected. That honest vulnerability made their journey to HEA both hard-earned and rewarding as a reader. Another bonus in their favor was the sexiness factor which was turn up a notch or three in this installment. Chemistry is not in short supply.

As I said to a friend recently, bottom line, I like the way Malcolm's writing makes me feel. It's smart, emotively saturated, accessible and I daresay conveys a homey anachronism all of which have vaulted her to rarified auto-buy status.

Recommended!

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Don't Bring a Cannibal to Dinner (A Cox Fairytale #3) by James Cox

What are you willing to sacrifice for true love?

Harris and Grant are both raised in an orphanage. They’ve known the cruelty of beatings, starvation and falling in love. When they run away into the dark woods, they come across a cottage made completely of sweet treats. What could one taste hurt? It stirs the handsome witch that lives inside. Fearing his wrath, they run straight into the brutal orphanage owner. Their unlikely hero is none other than the witch but does the handsome magician want to save them or devour them? As it turns out, a bit of both.

When the cottage the witch is bound to is set on fire, the guys must a make a terrible decision. For the only way the witch can be free is by eating one of their hearts.

The COX took me on quite a ride in less than 75 pages here. Plus I’m a huge sucker for a fairytale and Don’t Bring a Cannibal to Dinner is reminiscent of the classic originals that have a much darker side and that entertain me to no end.

Harris and Grant have been living a brutal existence in an orphanage that had no business taking care of children. The two have been one anothers only hope since they met as kids. The two are complete opposites and the dynamic between the two of them made for a sweet budding romance amidst all the misery.

Grant is big and strong, he’s survived by his wits and brawn and he lives to protect his best friend Harris. Harris is gentle and kind and he’s survived by flying under the radar. The two have grown up together and now that they are both on the cusp of adulthood, their relationship is evolving and while it’s obvious to the reader, the two of them are just figuring out as they go, that the love they feel towards one another is actually reciprocated.

Grant is close to aging out of the orphanage, but Harris is a month behind and there’s no way Grant is going to leave him there alone. So, the two of them make a break for it and their escape into the woods was very fairytale worthy. Spooky woods, hungry wolves, the specter of witches out there in the dark, it was all a great setup to the next chapter of their adventure.

Enter the witch!

So, Dec was not what I expected. I liked the guy. He was cursed and his story, once he told it, was quite sad. I really didn’t know where the story was going to go once he was introduced because he was a sympathetic character and I was getting kind of attached to him.

 In the meantime, Grant and Harris are taking the full plunge into love and learning what that means emotionally and physically. It was a different set of circumstances than any COX characters that I have met in the past in that, these guys know virtually nothing going into this. It was really sweet and pretty damn steamy, reading them fumble their way through all the firsts that come with truly loving another person.

And then things went dark and sideways, just like I like. So, as I said, where is Dec going to go in this story? It would have been way too easy to make him a pure baddy from the get-go, so I appreciated the twist and the truly heartbreaking direction the story took. While I didn’t love it emotionally, I was thankful for the story taking me down that dark road, That’s the bit that gave me the old school fairytale feel I love. I had that great love/hate feeling when I was reading. I may not have been happy, but me being happy was not the point, a good story is the point and this made the story great.

But, the more modern fairytale is there too and a hard earned HEA was had by Grant and Harris. The ending was a welcome conclusion and showed how much the two had grown after everything they had been through. The wrap up was a truly fairytale level HEA and the bittersweet contrast between Dec’s story and Harris and Grant’s is balanced and makes for a perfect “The End”.

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

Guest Review: Trusting Him (The Retreat #2) by L.M. Somerton

Trust is hard earned and all too easy to lose.

Luke Redding’s military background is an asset when it comes to managing The Retreat, but it hasn’t helped him find the submissive he longs for. A secluded life in the New Forest, witnessing a stream of happy couples playing out their fantasies, doesn’t provide much opportunity to develop a relationship either. When a friend’s manipulations lead to him taking on silver-haired Skye as a trainee sub, Luke finds it hard to trust in his own ability to provide the guidance Skye needs.

Skye Ingham wants to explore his submissive nature but the noise and crowds at The Underground are overwhelming. He can’t believe his luck to be taken under Luke’s wing and offered a job at The Retreat. As Luke tests his boundaries, Skye trusts him implicitly, but how can he convince his new Dominant to have faith in himself?

Amid the bustle and excitement of a big house party at The Retreat, Luke and Skye edge their way towards a deeper understanding of each other’s needs and desires. But it will take a final leap of faith to secure their future and open a path to love.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

I had not read book 1 in the series, this book works well as a stand alone.

We meet Skye working as a server in The Underground where he finds the hustle and bustle hard to cope with. Luke hits every one of Skye’s hot buttons, and if reciprocated, this could be a match made in heaven. Luke is a strong man doing his job well, and finding being in a secluded forest location where people come to celebrate their love makes it pretty hard to meet a love of his own.

Skye is intriguing though, and interesting with his silver hair, and he wants Luke to be his Dom and maybe master…

Luke is a very busy, efficient man who is enthralled by Skye from the outset. I loved reading their relationship flourish as they both learn to trust and to love. I also adored the setting in the Retreat, there are so many interesting characters working there, and I enjoyed seeing the visitors enjoying their stays at the kinky retreat. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I’ve subsequently been back to read the first book, and look forward to many more in the series.

Highly recommended.

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

Giveaway + Release Blitz: Match Grade - Criminal Delights: Assassins by G.B. Gordon

Celebrate the release of Match Grade with author G.B. Gordon & Signal Boost Promotions. Find out more about this dark romance, read an excerpt & enter in the giveaway for a backlist ebook from the author! Good luck!

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Length: 156 pages

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Blurb

SOME MATCHES SPARK AN INFERNO


Eirik Haldurson is a hitman. Kidnapped at age five and cruelly trained by his captor, he is today one of the most sought-after contract killers alive. Emotional distance from his targets, brutally beaten into him until it became second nature, is now the only way he can function. Lately though, that distance has started to elude him.

And when a Colombian drug cartel contracts Eirik to take out ex-soldier-turned-vigilante, Matt Moreno, distance is suddenly as close as heat to fire. And all hell breaks loose.


This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.

Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.

Excerpt

Match Grade -- high precision firearms, ammunition, or other devices suitable for a competitive match

CHAPTER ONE

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

-Sun Tzu

Eirik had been ready to close the contract yesterday, but no one should have to die in the rain. Today the sky was a bright blue, so the last thing the target would feel would be the sun on her face. Irrelevant.


He quickly checked his wardrobe in the mirror to make sure nothing was out of place. He'd picked the navy blue suit and coat. They were perfect to blend in with the hundreds of business people attending the conference. Or the thousands milling about on the plaza of the office building across the road. Ants. Point was, he would be neither well-dressed, nor shabby enough to be remembered by any one of them. Not to be remembered was the goal.


He pulled his shirt cuffs out below the hem of his jacket sleeves, then slipped his coat on and pocketed the micro syringe he'd filled earlier. The target would be walking across the plaza at 12:15. She was always on time. He liked that about her. There wasn't much else he'd learned to like in the week he'd been studying her movements. She was pissy with baristas and servers, and never had the time of day for the porter in her building.


Focus. This wasn't about likes; it was a contract, nothing personal.


Not liking her made it easier, though. Don't think about targets as people. Gunnar's cardinal rule. How was his brain always forgetting that?


He went over the plan in the elevator. Not because it was complicated or involved in any way, but simply because that was what he did. Good planning made for a smooth contract solution, and he liked smooth. Smooth kept him alive and out of prison.


As the doors opened, he assumed the slightly hunched posture that made his height less conspicuous, then melted into the crowd.


The lobby was packed with a busload of tourists hovering on small islands of luggage he maneuvered around, giving everyone as wide a berth as possible.


"Mr. Kennedy! Good morning! Mr. Kennedy?"


He was almost at the door before a tiny alarm went off in his brain and he remembered that he was Paul Kennedy this weekend, a trader from Butt-fuck, Indiana. Get with the program already, brain.

He turned back toward the reception desk with an apologetic smile and a tap against his temple. "Sorry, my mind was elsewhere."


"No worries." The receptionist handed him a note. "Your office called, Sir. They're asking for a call back."


"Thank you." The office meant the client. And the client was not supposed to call the hotel unless it was an emergency. Eirik crumpled up the note and dropped it in his pocket as he got his phone out. There was a corner behind a planter, away from the tourists, that promised a little more quiet, and he made his way over as he dialled the number he'd memorized.


"Where the fuck are you?" the voice with the heavy Spanish accent said without greeting. "Is it done? What's keeping you?"


"Having to call you back is keeping me," he said quietly. "What's the emergency?"


"Mierda. Call me immediately when you're done." The line went dead.


He inhaled a long breath, counted to ten, then slowly let it out. People who couldn't stick to the plan were top of his shit-list. It doesn't matter. It doesn't change anything. Don't get riled up. You have a job to do.


He checked his watch. 12:07. Eight minutes to rendezvous. He needed to get a move on. He wanted to be in place and have ample time to identify the target. There was a sweet spot just to the left of the plaza's center where the stream of people was thickest between the planted area on the edge and the fountain in the middle. That was where he needed to be.


#


The sunshine was a welcome change from the raw, grey week that had led into October. And for once the Windy City was pleasantly calm. It meant he could choose his position without having to stay out of water spray. People would notice a man oblivious of getting soaked by a fountain. To be noticed meant to be remembered. You're walking too tall, boy. An assassin has to be like a ghost--unseen and unheard.


Well, Gunnar was a ghost now. Eirik just wished his voice had died with the man. But it was always there, still as commanding now as it had been in life. Eirik was used to it reminding him of the technicalities of his job: trajectories, method, weather... Though lately it was displaying a disturbing fixation with Eirik's frame of mind.


He kept his eyes on the entrance of the building over the rim of his phone. Standing with nothing to do would attract attention.


12:14--if she didn't show today, he would try again tomorrow. Nope, there she was, hurrying across the plaza to the little cafe where she ate her lunch. Eirik kept the phone up and started walking.


Gunnar clutching at his throat with both hands as the blood spurted through his fingers.


The memory shockingly unexpected, and vivid enough to blind him. He shook his head like a man emerging from water to get rid of it.


Five steps to target. His free hand dove into his pocket and closed around the syringe, thumb on the shortened plunger. The micro needle barely registered with most people. She wouldn't know anything was wrong until she was already sitting at her table, eating her lunch. And then it would be too late.


He walked straight into her. "Oh Jesus, I'm so sorry." Both arms out to catch her, needle into the meaty part of the arm.


The boy losing his grip on the grocery bag when the shot rang out, oranges rolling everywhere. The father dropping to his knees, a red mark like a third eye between his brows, the back of the head disintegrating in a spray of debris.


"...you're going, you dumb ox!" Her shrill insult brought him back. Shit, he couldn't deal with memory flashes now. He needed his eyes and ears in the present, not the past.


"Sorry again. That was entirely my fault."


You have to pay more attention, Rikki. Don't read and walk at the same time.


Eirik barely stopped himself from clapping his hands over his ears to keep his mother's voice out. More ghosts. But this one was more recent. And much more distracting. He didn't have to fake his confusion, or how shaken he was.


"You're darn right it was." She shrugged his hands off and took a step away. "One of these days those stupid phones are going to kill someone."


One of these days? He didn't say that, though. Stood there, contrite without commenting. Without looking back at her. Trying to will his brain into compliance.


Finally she turned away. She would remember him, but it didn't matter. She wouldn't be around to answer questions.


He watched her enter the cafe, then pocketed his phone and the tiny syringe that was perfectly invisible in his palm.


His hand was shaking.


Why the fuck was his hand shaking?


With a glance around he assured himself that no one else was watching, then strode to the other end of the plaza. And further. He couldn't remember where he'd planned to go after. All he could do was walk, walk away from the ghosts of the past, the shaking hands. Like a wounded animal, he was looking for a cave to hide out in until he was better. Because he would get better. Right?

G.B.Gordon worked as a packer, landscaper, waiter, and coach before going back to school to major in linguistics and, at 35, switch to less backbreaking monetary pursuits like translating, editing, and writing.


Having lived in various parts of the world, Gordon is now happily ensconced in suburban Ontario with the best of all husbands.

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Release Blitz + Giveaway: Wrong Way Home (Criminal Delights: Taken) by K.A. Merikan

Join authors K.A. Merikan & Signal Boost Promotions in the release blitz celebration of Wrong Way Home (Criminal Delights: Taken). Find out more about this dark romance & enter in the giveaway of a backlist ebook of your choosing!

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link - Exclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited

Length: 70,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Blurb

— ONE WRONG TURN. ONE RIGHT MAN. —


Colin. Rule-follower. Future doctor. Witness to murder. Captive.

Taron. Survivalist. Mute. Murderer. Captor.


Like every other weekend, Colin is on his way home from university, but he’s taunted by the notion that he never takes risks in life and always follows the beaten path. On impulse, he decides to take a different route. Just this one time. What he doesn’t realize is that it’s the last time he has a choice.

He ends up taking a detour into the darkest pit of horror, abducted by a silent, imposing man with a blood-stained axe. But what seems like his worst nightmare might just prove to be a path to the kind of freedom Colin never knew existed.


Taron has lived alone for years. His land, his rules. He’d given up on company long ago. After all, attachment is a liability. He deals with his problems on his own, but the night he needs to dispose of an enemy, he ends up with a witness to his crime.


The last thing Taron needs is a nuisance of a captive. Colin doesn’t deserve death for setting foot on Taron’s land, but keeping him isn’t optimal either. It’s only when he finds out the city boy is gay that an altogether different option arises. One that isn’t right, yet tempts him every time Colin’s pretty eyes glare at him from the cage.


*


“When Taron looped the heavy metal collar around the slender neck and closed the padlock, his body throbbed with the excitement of knowing he owned this boy.
Was it wrong? Yes, yes it was.
Was it so, so good? Definitely.”


Themes: prepping, alternative lifestyles, disability, crime, loneliness, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fish out of water, opposites attract, abduction, Stockholm syndrome, family issues

Genre: Dark, thriller M/M romance

Heat level: Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes


This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.

Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.

K.A. Merikan are a team of writers who try not to suck at adulting, with some success. Always eager to explore the murky waters of the weird and wonderful, K.A. Merikan don’t follow fixed formulas and want each of their books to be a surprise for those who choose to hop on for the ride.


K.A. Merikan have a few sweeter M/M romances as well, but they specialize in the dark, dirty, and dangerous side of M/M, full of bikers, bad boys, mafiosi, and scorching hot romance.


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Audiobook Review: Love You So Special (Love You So Stories #3) by Tara Lain

Can a man’s secret yearnings be revealed in a tank full of fish?

Artie Haynes knows he’s nothing special, with just-your-regular-brown hair, a solid plumber’s job, not much education, and a family that can barely get off the couch. But Artie has quirks—like his love of tropical fish, a landlord who’s a professor of existentialism, a passion for the amazing piano music he hears at a concert hall while he’s fixing the bathrooms—and the fact that he’s never come out as gay and probably never will. But when he’s hired to build a guesthouse for the pianist whose music enchanted him, Artie is swept up into an unimaginable world.

Francois Desmarais may be famous, rich, and revered as one of the world’s great classical composers and pianists, but he’s soothed and challenged by the inquisitive, stalwart, protective man in his back yard. When Francois’s terrible fear of crowds turns into a dangerous plot, Artie can stay in the closet or prove just how special he is.

Narrated by Ry Forest
Run Time 5 Hours, 18 Minutes

Oh my.

 This story (and the narrator) spoke to the squishy underbelly of my heart. The bit that soaks up all the romance candy regardless of realism, in fact, that’s the bit that thrives on the fantastical OTT bits of romance. Tara Lain knows how to write those stories for me. They aren’t crazy OTT by any means, but they are heavy on the rom-com feel so they are really fun to escape into and just flow with the love. The Love You So series is all of this in a pretty, pretty nutshell.

Firstly, there is Artie, he is one of my favorite kinds of MCs. Artie is humble, solid and his heart is too big not to be in love. He’s a plumber by trade, but an overall handy and responsible guy who ends up being the foreman on a remodel at the home of Francois. Francois is a world renowned composer and pianist whose mother is his manager and he lives under her heavy control of his career and life. Artie is in the closet out of fear of disappointing his family (who he supports financially) while Francois is out with no apologies about who he loves. If opposites attract is your treat, then this is your story.

Artie first falls in love with Francois’ music and as the two spend time together he begins to love Francois the person and the feelings are reciprocated. I loved reading about the two of them together. Artie is so protective of Francois, but in a sweet and respectful way that allows Francois to still have strength and pride. Francois is endlessly supportive of Artie when he considers coming out in his own time. The two of them really were made for each other regardless of their different backgrounds.

The narrator owns these characters so well. This is the first time I’ve heard Ry Forest, and after I listened to Love You So Special, I filled my audible cart with the rest of the stories he narrated, all by Tara Lain. It was a lovely week of bingeing. He captured the sweet charm of Artie and his Francois was a kick that kept with the spirit of the series. Francois has a French accent (stating what is pretty obvious here, but I want you to know where I’m going) and it is slightly reminiscent of Jean Girard talking to Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights which amused me to no end. It wasn’t so much that it drew me from the story, but it was just enough to keep in the vein of the rom-com, slightly OTT theme. I loved when the two of them would banter, it was a kick to listen to.

The story took a weird turn with some stalker fans of Francois and honestly it didn’t need to go there. That was the only moment that was legit OTT and the story had enough meat without it. I didn’t need that distraction from Artie and Francois as a couple.

The family angst that could have been, on both sides, wasn’t and that was fine. That’s where the realism isn’t a thing, but I wasn’t here for that and I wasn’t expecting it, so I mentally acknowledged it and went back to wallowing in Francois’ accent and Artie’s sweet, sweet heart.

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