Review: One Too Many (Mystic Tattoos #1) by Bailey Bradford

Don’t discount the mystic powers in the world…

Casey has spent most of his adult life building a successful business. His mother has been on him to settle down with a good man. Casey would, but he hasn’t had time to look for one. On his fortieth birthday, he goes out with friends and gets drunk—and has one too many.

When he wakes up in the morning, there’s a sexy, strange man in his home and a new, kind of painful tattoo on Casey’s chest. He doesn’t remember what happened the night before, but it doesn’t take him long to realize that the stranger, Ed, is someone he wants to get to know much better.

Now, if the fates and stars and all that mystical stuff will align, Casey and Ed might have their Happily Ever After, with the help of a mysterious tattoo artist and a vanishing tattoo shop.

Goodness. This one heck of a hot book.

You have to take into consideration that this is a book with a supernatural element or you won’t enjoy it and though it’s short on pages, there is enough to enjoy.

Told through the dual POV of Ed and Casey, we meet the men the morning after they meet. A drunk Casey out for his 40th birthday celebration calls for a ride – enter Ed – and tells Ed to take him to a new tattoo shop he heard about, Mystic Tattoo. Not only does Ed to what he’s told he also takes care of a drunk Casey by taking him home and putting him to bed.

Ed is one hell of a good guy and I liked him from the start. He is too old for one night stands but there is a pull with Casey that he can’t deny. When Casey wakes up and is totes adorable all frazzled wondering just WTF happened, we begin to get the pieces of the night before.

Casey has no clue why he got a tattoo and Ed lets him know that we was sober AF once he walked into the shop. Ed has an interesting tattoo as well, one almost identical to Casey’s and the mystery starts to make a bit of sense.

I really liked how forward the men were with one another. They just met but you can’t deny the attraction and Ed lays it on the table for Casey. He wants a chance at more with him if Casey can offer it and from there, we begin their courtship and relationship.

Let me pause for station identification to just say this so I can grab a fan and a drink. This book was UNF as all get out. I mean, let me leave you with this…

“You’ve got the perfect ass,” Ed told him. “Just big enough, soft enough, so sweet.” He squeezed and kneaded said ass as he spoke. “I want to eat you out, Casey. I want to taste you and tongue-fuck you until you’re ready to come, then I want to flip you around and suck you dry.”

*grunts*

Anyway.

The book spans a good half a year with the men navigating their way through their new romance all while trying to go back to the tattoo shop where Casey was inked but… they can’t seem to find it. *enter creepy music* The search for Mystic Tattoo was interesting and when it’s found, when we meet Gene the tattoo artist… well it was a bit over the top but I liked it.

The end was super sweet and goodness was it sexy, but that epilogue left me a bit wanting. Maybe I wanted more or maybe it was because what the tattoos were that I didn’t totally like but at the end, I would read more of this series to see what other ideas Gene has up his sleeve.

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Book Blitz + Giveaway: Light Up the Dark by Suki Fleet

Suki Fleet and Signal Boost Promotions are blitzing us today to celebrate "Light Up the Dark"! Check out the book's info and don't forget to enter the AWESOME giveaway! An ebook copy of Foxes is up for grabs!

Light Up The Dark - Suki Fleet

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Cover Design: Natasha Snow 

Blurb

For two years Nicky has wandered the dark empty corridors of the overgrown Thorn Hall, unseen and untouched, feeling like a ghost. His only company, the cold man who promised to keep him safe from harm, Lance.

But when Lance dies, Nicky’s assurance of safety disintegrates and his world suddenly becomes a lot more real and a lot more dangerous. Scared to leave the house, Nicky longs for daylight. He employs a gardener to clear the over-grown bushes and vines that have nearly swallowed Thorn Hall whole.

The last thing Nicky expects a little light to do is show him something to fight for.

Eighteen months in a young offenders’ institute has taught Cai two things: he occupies the playful puppy end of the How Dangerous Are You? spectrum, and he has an unfortunate knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Desperate for a job, he takes the first offer he gets. Even though Thorn Hall creeps the hell out of him and he barely knows one end of a pair of garden shears from the other.

Things start to fall apart when Cai is drawn into Nicky’s strange world of sticky notes and secrets. Cai finds he is now a target, blamed for a crime he didn’t commit. Desperate not to go back to prison, he digs deep and risks all the good things in life to help Nicky run.

But now Nicky has someone he wants to protect, he knows he can’t run any more.

Excerpt

Cai asked, “Want me to take you home?”

Nicky nodded.

The drive back was barely traumatic at all.

Cai pulled up in front of the house. The quiet when he turned the engine off was profound. Nicky wasn’t sure what broken impulse made him disturb it. “I didn’t know that was going to happened.”

“I kind of gathered that.” Cai turned in his seat but Nicky made no move to look at him. “I….” Cai took a deep breath. “You look like you need a hug but I also kind of want to keep all my limbs and, you know, most of my teeth. I’m not a big fan of pain of any sort, just so you know.”

Staring at his hands, Nicky snorted back a laugh, then scowled, annoyed that the sound had burst out of him before he could stop it.

Cai sat watching him, not moving.

“Stop staring at me, and get it over with, then,” Nicky huffed.

Even though he was expecting it, he still nearly leapt out of his skin when Cai’s big palm circled his shoulder.

Cai stopped. “You sure about—”

“Yes,” he hissed. “I’m just… sensitive to stuff sometimes.” That was an understatement. Closing his eyes, he held himself still and didn’t breathe as Cai’s arms came around him in the gentlest hug he’d ever experienced. He would not lean into it, nope, no chance. But he wanted to. He badly, badly wanted to.

After less than ten seconds, Cai began to move away. Nicky didn’t want that either. Gripping the front of Cai’s T-shirt, Nicky pulled him back. And Cai let himself be pulled.

Up close, Cai smelled of the inside of his van, of rain water, sex and sweat. He smelled ridiculously safe. Steady and strong, his heart thumped against Nicky’s shoulder as their bodies pressed awkwardly around the gearstick.

“One minute,” Nicky whispered, his grip tightening on the material in his fist.

“One minute,” Cai agreed.

They remained locked together until Nicky’s hand began to ache, and even Cai’s warmth couldn’t keep him from shivering in the chilly night air.

“Your van is draughty as hell,” Nicky murmured, holding his mouth open against the soft material of Cai’s top, even though it was in desperate need of a wash.

“It’s falling apart,” Cai agreed. “But it was cheap, and it runs on fresh air.” He shifted back a little and the scruff on his chin rubbed across Nicky’s ear. “I’m sorry things happened the way they did earlier. We should have probably just… done this.”

This would never have happened, though. The only reason it was happening now was because…. Nicky shook his head. He had no idea why they were doing what they were doing. “It’s been two years since anyone’s… touched me.” The words just came out. He wished he could swallow them back down. Saying them aloud made him feel empty and alone. He’d never been the most tactile person but, fuck, he never imagined how much he’d miss being held.

Cai, of course, got the wrong end of the stick. “Two years without any… sex?”

“Is that all you think about?”

Cai tried to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “No, not at all. The entire time I was in the YOI, holding someone like this would have been enough. I missed sex, obviously, but I missed cuddling more. Weird, eh?”

Nicky blinked at him, trying to figure him out. “So how long since you’ve fucked around with someone?”

“Before today? More than eighteen months.” Now Cai was smiling. It made Nicky feel weird. Good weird. Really good weird. “No wonder we went too far if we were both kinda gagging for it.”

Gagging for it? Nicky rolled his eyes. Then he turned his head and met Cai’s gaze close up. “Was it too far?”

Looking shocked, but amused, Cai pulled away entirely. Nicky missed his warmth. Wanted to drag him back. “You confuse the hell out of me, you know.”

“Thought you’d have figured out by now that I’m kind of messed up.”

Dropping his head back down and sending a warm rush of breath tingling down Nicky’s spine, Cai murmured, “Thought you’d have figured out by now that I don’t care what you think you are. I like you too much.”

A soft knock on the passenger window made them both jump.

Adrenaline surged through Nicky’s veins and instinctively he ducked and dragged Cai down with him into the foot well. Slinging his arm over Cai’s head, he readied himself to shield them from a blow that didn’t come.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s Loz.” Cai pushed himself upright.

Heart still racing, Nicky loosened his grip on Cai’s T-shirt and turned.

Face pressed up against the window, Loz looked between them and grinned like a satisfied fox. Oh, perfect. Just perfect.

Author Bio

Award Winning Author. Prolific Reader (though less prolific than she'd like). Lover of angst, romance and unexpected love stories.

Suki Fleet writes lyrical stories about memorable characters, and believes everyone should have a chance at a happy ending.

Her first novel This is Not a Love Story won Best Gay Debut in the 2014 Rainbow Awards, and was a finalist in the 2015 Lambda Awards.

Links
Email: sukifleet@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/suki_fleet
https://www.facebook.com/suki.fleet.3
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7919609.Suki_Fleet
http://sukifleet.tumblr.com
http://sukifleet.wordpress.com
https://twitter.com/SukiFleet?lang=en

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Guest Review: The Wrong King of Angel by Ruby Moone

A reluctant angel, three not terribly wise men, two gorgeous men on a starlit chase to find a child ... It can only be Christmas.

It’s Christmas 1817 and Captain Charles Farrington has accepted that he is destined to live alone. That is, until Christmas Eve, when a startlingly handsome man crashes into his home and his life.

Harry Valentine is a man on the run. A man with secrets. He hasn’t time to fall for the angel who rescued him and, in any case, he knows that once Charlie realises the truth about him, there will be no future for them.

Harry’s warmth makes Charles face up to the demons in his past and shows him that he can have a family. All he has to do is persuade Harry to stay. But Charlie knows that, despite whatever Harry says, he’s the wrong kind of angel for happy endings.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

Charles Farrington, retired army officer, has resigned himself to being alone, his predilections not being accepted as normal in his place or time.

He is settled in on a stormy Christmas Eve with a blazing fire, food left by his housekeeper and the blanket of snow over his cottage in North Yorkshire. Charles is dreaming of having a special man to share the festivities and his home, when, as if he conjured the man himself, there was banging at the door. On opening it, Charles sees the most beautiful man he has ever seen, frozen almost to death and soaked through, but beautiful nonetheless.

Henry Wilson (calling himself Harry Valentine) has endured many ordeals, the most recent of which brings him to Charles’ door. He is so close to dying of cold that he dreams a beautiful angel who kisses him with passion and saves him from the storm. As Henry wakes to see Charles is very real and carries a tray of food, Henry fears the angel will beat him for the kiss, but is shocked to see lust and want on the lovely man’s face.

The story leaps on from here at a good pace, it’s a fast and satisfying read, with easy to accept historical details even if the reader doesn’t often engage in historical MM romance. It’s not a trope I look for often but this one is highly enjoyable!

Harry starts off his engagement with Charles telling one lie after another, but as the heat flares between them, and Harry’s past arrives on Charles’ threshold, the truths come out thick and fast. Charles is a delightful hero to Harry and quickly gets embroiled, much to Harry’s delight, Charles is his angel.

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

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Guest Review: Oops, Caught (Expanding Horizon #1) by Alli Reshi

Mark Noland can’t figure out how he got into such a fix. How does an ex-mercenary (okay, an almost-reformed mercenary) get himself caught, stuck in a holding cell, on a hostile alien planet? Held captive by strange bug-like creatures who’d just as soon eat him as look at him. How can a simple mission go so awry? To make matters worse, Noland’s not alone. His fellow prisoner, a certain high-ranking, elite Stella officer holds him responsible for their failed plan. Yeah, it was supposed to be a quick in and quick out sort of mission. But no… Officer Gavnson just can’t let it go.

It’s not so easy trying to plan an escape when Noland keeps getting distracted by how his mission partner so very nicely fills out his uniform. And he suspects Gavnson is hiding something, too. As tensions run high, secrets are revealed that will change the both of them. There’s nothing like gunfights and running for your life to make that special bond.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

Oops, Caught opens in a prison cell on a far off planet inhabited by giant horned insects that eat humanoids who have annoyed them! What an opening! I was dropped right into the story from the outset. The pair of prisoners are our main characters: Noland a mostly reformed mercenary, and Gavnson, an Everian, and Stellar Corps officer. They are quite the unlikely couple and the bickering from the outset reminded me of growing up with siblings!

As we get to know our guys better, their heroic characters emerge. Noland is likeable from the outset, and Gavnson’s prickly, stoic service-man nature grew on me as his vulnerabilities unfolded. The escape bid is as brave as it is dangerous and the fact that the sniping between the two men persisted was entertaining. The waspishness quickly turned into sexual tension, no where near as one sided as it appeared at first. The story culminates with the pair traveling in a stolen ship to rendezvous with their teams, in a distinct HFN situation.

The world building was concise and clear. In such a short novel there is no time for a more detailed reveal, but it works well. The enemy were descriptively painted and were quite disgusting!

I enjoyed Alli’s writing style, but I felt the book could easily have been longer. I would have enjoyed more insight into the development of both characters, their life changing experiences and how they met. Lots of these details were tied up as loose ends at the emotional final scene of the story, but more would have been great. Gavnson particularly seemed to do a full and abrupt about-face at the culmination of the tale. in all, this is a very readable MM short sci-fi book.

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Did you see today's Release Blitz stop and giveaway here?

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Oops, Caught (Expanding Horizon #1) by Alli Reshi

Welcome new author Alli Reshi to the stable as she promotes her debut NineStar Press release, Oops, Caught (Expanding Horizon #1)! See our review here! Celebrate with Reshi and tour host, IndiGo Promotions and enter the giveaway for a chance to win any NineStar Press ebook!

Title:  Oops, Caught

Series: Expanding Horizon

Author: Alli Reshi

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: January 2nd

Heat Level: 2 - Fade to Black Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 16500

Genre: Romance, sci-fi, aliens, captivity, action/adventure, shoot-out/gunfire, PTSD/post-traumatic stress, hurt/comfort

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Synopsis

Mark Noland can’t figure out how he got into such a fix. How does an ex-mercenary (okay, an almost-reformed mercenary) get himself caught, stuck in a holding cell, on a hostile alien planet? Held captive by strange bug-like creatures who’d just as soon eat him as look at him. How can a simple mission go so awry? To make matters worse, Noland’s not alone. His fellow prisoner, a certain high-ranking, elite Stella officer holds him responsible for their failed plan. Yeah, it was supposed to be a quick in and quick out sort of mission. But no… Officer Gavnson just can’t let it go.

It’s not so easy trying to plan an escape when Noland keeps getting distracted by how his mission partner so very nicely fills out his uniform. And he suspects Gavnson is hiding something, too. As tensions run high, secrets are revealed that will change the both of them. There’s nothing like gunfights and running for your life to make that special bond.

Excerpt

I sat against a wall, watching as my companion paced the length of the cell. Groaning, I leaned my head against the concrete, bored now that we had been caught and taken out of the main action.

At least I had an excellent view to keep me occupied. I could finally appreciate what everyone liked about a man in uniform. My cellmate’s pants were very complimentary to certain areas of his anatomy. With his hands clasped at his lower back as he paced the room, I had the pleasure of an alternating view of his broad back and the strong frame of his chest.

The stern look almost marred his handsome face as he stared at the locked door, set into a row of bars. But his strong jaw, highlighted by a twitching muscle, somehow added to his appeal. Men usually didn’t interest me as much, but having a galaxy of choice opened one’s view of preferences, and to be honest, I had admired worse.

I wondered what his thoughts on a tall, broad-chested, human man were. Would there be any interest on his part, or did he only prefer his own kind? Maybe he had someone back home. A slim-waisted Resconian woman who cooked him warm dinners. Would that be more to his taste? Then again, maybe being an elite Everian-ranked officer in the Stella Corps galactic military didn’t leave much time for romance. I pushed the thoughts away before I could get too involved in them.

“So, Gavnson. Found our way out of here yet?” I asked, watching him make another pass in front of me as he headed for the left side of the jail cell. He ignored that question, like he’d ignored all the others I’d asked.

Our part of the mission had been a distraction tactic that hadn’t worked as well as I had hoped. In any case, it should have given enough time for the rest of our team to break into the other side of the compound where the data center was located so we could take back the information the Awoknains had stolen. Lists of undercover agents and stealth plans weren’t something you wanted up for grabs among enemies. I knew it would be a matter of time until Ken, my master mechanic and sometimes arsonist, broke us out. Though it seemed Gavnson wasn’t content to be patient.

He reached for one of the hinges at the top of the door. Bolting forward, I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled Gavnson back before he could touch the knot of metal. We slipped off balance, and I tried to take a step back to regain my footing, but it was useless; we tumbled to the floor in a heap. The wind was knocked out of me, and I gasped for air. Gavnson was heavier than he looked.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Noland?” Gavnson yelled. He rolled off me effortlessly and sat up, directing a harsh look at me.

“Saving your ass. Don’t touch those; they’re electrified. Not enough to kill you, but it’s a hell of a shock that’ll give you nasty burns,” I said, wheezing as I sat up. I didn’t miss his flinch, though he tried to hide it. I was instantly curious, but ignored the itch to question. Starting a fight with Gavnson wouldn’t help us break out.

He was silent after his near miss with the electrified hinge. I was glad he was finally sitting still. The constant nervous motion wore on my nerves. No matter how fine an ass he had.

The silence that followed made my skin crawl; it was the quiet before the storm hit. I was tempted to ask Gavnson any random question, but if the tension in his body was anything to go by, he obviously wasn’t much in the mood for conversation.

I stared at the far wall through the bars on the door, hoping Ken would hurry his blue ass up and break us out so we could be done with the job. He had been part of the retrieval team. Footsteps echoed down the hall, headed in our direction, but I didn’t recognize them. There were more corpsmen as part of Gavnson’s team; hopefully, that would be some of them. Luck was not on our side, though. Our insect-like captors now stood in front of our cell, their green skin and horns gleaming.

“You. Up now. Come.” The raspy demands issued from mouths that didn’t move. That would never not be creepy. I didn’t have time to think on that, though; the guards motioned at Gavnson to get up.

“No, you can’t,” I said. I grabbed Gavnson’s shoulder to stop him from moving.

“Why?” The attention of the two guards flicked to me. A simple question with complex implications. Think fast, Noland.

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords

 

Meet the Author

Alli has always had a love for just about any story she can get her hands on. Be it from books, TV, or even video games—if there’s a good story, she will love it. Given that, it’s easy to see how Alli moved on to making stories of her own.

Raised in a small Colorado town, Alli also has a love of the outdoors and enjoys hiking. Nowadays she lives in a bigger city and fits in fine there too, liking how close and comfy everything is. Often at home with her two cats, Alli is never far from her computer, whether for work or for play. She believes the truth is a multifaceted thing and always works to write the world, and subsequently the truth of the world, as she sees it.

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Guest Review: Hanukkah Gifts by Jacob Cheyenne

Twenty-five-year-old TV producer Jared Greenfield loves his big city life -- job, friends, and shopping -- but even with all the fun of big city life, he feels a longing for something, or someone, more. Then, on the very first night of Hanukkah, he spots a handsome, sweaty basketball player at the Jewish Community Center.

Tall, dark, and Orthodox, the young and athletic Shai Goodhart strikes up an easy friendship with Jared, only to discover Jared has very little appreciation for his own Jewish heritage and religion. Determined to enlighten this “Bad Jew,” Shai invites him over for a family Hanukkah celebration.

Then Jared discovers Shai’s deepest secret and the biggest threat to his future. Over the eight days of Hanukkah, deep emotions pull them closer and closer together. Can they ever reach across the divide of their shared culture and fall in love?

Reviewer: Shee Reader

Jared is, by his own admission a bad jew. On the night before Hanukkah at the JCC, he sees a group of young men playing basketball. One in particular catches his eye, a very skilled player and very attractive man with a blue yarmulke on his inky hair, Jared is transfixed.

As he’s hurrying home, he sees the handsome stranger on the subway, and Shai (pronounced ‘shy’) strikes up a conversation. As the men chat on the journey, they discover that they both live in Brooklyn, Shai where all the super religious orthodox jews live. And here we have the heart of our story.

Jared is a TV producer on a huge kids tv show living the New York life, and Shai work for his uncle in an internet business, has a super strict upbringing, and is still living with his parents. As they talk more, it turns out all Shai’s nephews and nieces are huge fans of Jared’s show. Since Jared can organise tickets for the audience, they exchange numbers, and Shai invites Jared home for dinner with the family the next night to celebrate Hanukkah.

After dinner, Shai comes out to Jared, the first time he’s ever told anyone about his true self. As Shai cries all over Jared, he can't even bring himself to use the word gay, and Jared decides to himself that despite the attraction, he will be a good friend to Shai. They arrange to meet up soon, but Shai’s furtive behaviour is a wake up call to Jared. If he allows his feelings for Shai to grow, he’s in for a world of hurt.

Our two men see each other daily through Hanukkah, following the big family party where Jared is introduced to Shai’s betrothed, and including a trip to see Jared’s mom for dinner. After sharing a scorching kiss with Shai, Jared knows he’s falling in love with the beautiful man, and knows it won’t end well. Luckily for us, in the world of the romance novel, there is almost always a HEA, and this book is included!

The writing is light, engaging and it really easy to slip into the story. I cared about the men from the outset and read the whole book in one sitting, so it must have been good! If I have one minor complaint, the ending made me roll my eyes!

I really enjoying this festive treat, and I’ll definitely look out for more by this author. In a world of Christmas craziness, it’s refreshing to get a great Hanukkah story.

I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Find more info on Goodreads!

Sunday Funday Christmas: 2016 Advent Calendar - Bah Humbug | Week 5

Happy New Year Everyone!!! 

2017 lies ahead
With books to be read,
And adventures to be had.
Wishing you all find fulfillment and joy
All year long!


This week we have T.J. Nichols, Noah Willoughby, B.G. Thomas, Charles Payseur, David Connor, and L.A. Merrill!

ICYMI: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5
| Week 6

For vampire Charles Redfort, Christmas is a bitter reminder of the day he was killed by a werewolf. After fleeing the vampire army he was created to serve in, he has lived in exile in England. Once a year he allows himself to tell the truth about his life over dinner. Then he eats the man he’s hired for the night.

Blake Wells is an engineering student by day and escort by night. He works Christmas because he doesn’t want to see his father, and his mother doesn’t want to see him. When he meets Charles, he thinks he’s gotten a bonus present that he can’t wait to unwrap. But as the truth is revealed, Blake will have to think fast to live until morning and convince Charles to give up his lonely life.





SheReadsALot - 4.75 Hearts

"What the hell? I don't do blood play?"
Charles kept him caged in the chair and trapped by the table. "I can assure you I am not playing."

Well...it might be too soon to call it since we have just one more week of our Jizzmas reviews, but this is my FAVE of the bunch! (I've started and faltered with more than you know)

THIS IS HOW I LIKE MY VAMPIRES WRITTEN!

Good lord...hands down one of my fave 2016 vampire reads. And it's just 39 deliciously deviant pages. (And I have so many quotes saved)

Charles is a 400 year old vampire who indulges himself and revels in his baser needs for death, one time of year, Christmas day. He hires a rentboy, Blake and rents out a penthouse suite in a lavish hotel, plans the night accordingly. Blake's escorting to pay his way through college (cliché yes but *shrugs*), has virtually no familial ties and needs the cash his new client offered. What Blake thinks is a jackpot client: not only is he being paid highly, he gets to spend it in a posh hotel and eat a fancy meal.

Only thing is...Blake is Charles' dinner.

I read this author's work in another anthology - A Wolf's Résistance. Nichols writes paranormal/urban fantasy pretty well. Strong hand in setting the scene and I enjoy Nichols' characters and premises. The Vampire's Dinner surpassed what I expected.

Why this was magical? It's the little things that will always get my attention. Here the author portrayed a 400 year old being in present day. Charles spoke formally. He was a warrior, an assassin, not used to being overt. His thoughts read as such. When we're shown his thoughts, I bought it. Blake is scared shitless. BUT he's a rent boy first, where he sells himself and acts to his clients specifications. Blake was the ultimate actor, thought on his feet and used his wits. My kinda rent boy! ;P

The story ends HFN, as I think is fitting for the setting and tone. Any semblance of romance or HEA would ruin the effect the author is going for. The open-ended feel of that fateful night just lends more to the mysterious dark ribbon entwined. Will the bargain actually make it to the agreed upon terms? Can the pair be more than john and client? What's in store for their future? Part of me wants to learn more, but the other part that responded to this story...loves it exactly how it is.

The Jizzmas spirit is nonexistent here. Christmas is just the prop, thankfully in the background.

Not recommended for those who need on page penetrative sex, HEA and definitive romance. Recommended for readers who can handle a little dark, mystery and fangs. Who doesn't like reading about predator and prey having an agreement from time to time?

Don't mind if I do.

I'm definitely checking more of this author's work.

Chelsea - 3.5 Hearts

I liked this one, not the best I’ve read, but most certainly very enjoyable. Charles is a vampire but only allows himself one night to kill his victims, Christmas night. This Christmas his victim will be Blake, an escort trying to get through university with no real family who wants him.

This story takes place all in one night and due to this it only ends in a HFN, if that, and while that is definitely not a preference of mine, it would’ve felt rushed if there was anything more. The good thing is, because of the short time-span we had really nice character development and story progression.

The sexual tension was great and the sexy time at the end was nice and sensual. I would’ve liked an epilogue that showed 2 years later and how their agreement was going, but it was still enjoyable as it was.

Sara - 4.5 Hearts

I really liked this one. I love a good vampire story where they don’t sparkle and Charles, well he kinda reminds me of the vampires I started reading when I was younger or even my most favorite vampire, Spike.

That being said.

I loved the idea of this; a 400 year old vampire giving himself one night, the anniversary of his death to indulge in what he truly is. Charles chooses the night to plan a dinner with a companion and then have the companion for dinner. The idea that Charles cannot eat anymore but tastes the food through his dinner’s blood give way more meaning to the whole wheat grass and pineapple juice deal. You know?

Blake works as an escort to put himself through university and gets way more than he bargained for when he walks into Charles’ hotel room. I liked Blake. I liked that he took what was in front of him and decided to make his own future. He challenged Charles and truly enjoyed being in his company and all that went with it. He gave Charles a chance to be more and what is more romantic than a vampire who wants to not be alone? Le sigh. Yeah. This one was good and I would have loved it to be longer.

Find out more about The Vampire's Dinner on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

Being rich has its advantages, but it is also rife with suffocating pressures and family telling Chandler Buckingham how to live his life. When his assistant offers to help him escape the mounting obligations of the holiday season by running away to Hawaii, Chandler jumps at the chance. Only to find nothing is quite as he’d expected.

Micah Keolu has lived in Hawaii all his life. He has to work two jobs and has little time for a social life, but his loving family and the island beauty around him have given him a heart as big as the ocean. And then one day he rescues a man trapped in an elevator in the building where Micah lives and works maintenance.

The unexpected happens as they find themselves drawn together, only to learn there is more to each other than meets the eye. Can two men from very different worlds find a way to enrich each other’s lives? Maybe the magic of the holidays just might bring them lasting joy!

Sara - 4 Hearts

The title is one of my favorite Christmas songs performed by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters, so of course that was the first thing that came to mind with the title. The second came from the blurb and myself having lived on Maui for two years. I couldn’t resist a Christmas story set in the Sandwich Islands now could I?

This was a lot of fun. Chandler is suffocated under his privilege and needs a break. His best friend and assistant Tim, sets him up in Hawaii under the family radar to get himself together. But where he is setting up, also lives the adorable local Micah who not only rescues Chandler from a stuck elevator but gives the ginger boy a taste of what living Aloha really means.

I loved the bits of the islands in the story. From the food to the thoughts on the folks vacationing - we used to joke you could tell them by the car they rented - to Santa’s big entrance, it took me back to my own time on the island and I appreciated the touch the authors gave.

But really, this was sweet and Chandler’s deal for not liking the holiday was sad to read but man, the way Micah handled it was so swoony. Sigh.

Another fun read from this year's calendar.

Find out more about Mele Kalikimaka on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

Rex Devious (Dr. Devious to meddlesome do-gooders everywhere) can go toe-to-toe with superheroes without blinking an eye. So picking out a Christmas present for his new boyfriend should be no problem. After all, he and Sanjay seem perfect for each other. But with a terrible track record for finding gifts that won’t scare his potential partners away, Rex is paralyzed with insecurity. Until, of course, he decides to change tactics. Instead of having to pick out that perfect present, why not just destroy Christmas altogether? If his nemeses (or his conscience) can’t stop him first, he might just become the supervillain who stole Christmas.






Fantasy Living - 4 Hearts

Rex is hard at work, trying to come up with a plan to destroy Christmas before it is ruined by his clumsy gift that will run Sanj off. All his past gifts have failed to net him a long term relationship and he is tired of trying to find the perfect gift, so he will destroy Christmas before it has a chance to destroy his plan for a relationship. But none of his plans are working. Not when Superheroes keep crashing into his house and ruining his inventions. So the quest for the perfect gift and subsequent break up seems eminent.

This was the sweetest story. A mixed bag of anti-hero behaviours, set in an alternate world where Heroes and Villains are known to the population. Rex is trying to woo Sanj, and destroy Christmas at the same time. While slightly humourous, this is mostly feel good fluff, and Rex doesn’t seem to be a bad guy, even as a Villain. All he wants is a boyfriend who appreciates him as he is.

I thought the plot was great, and the execution was spot on. The writing was tight, and it was very engaging. It certainly presented my current feelings about Christmas this year. The dread of not knowing how to make people happy with gifts that miss the mark. I felt for Rex, and his mission to get Christmas gone, so he could keep his man.

I think anyone who enjoys light fluff, will enjoy this story. It had the perfect balance of Christmas dread, and Christmas cheer. Rex was relatable, and I connected with his plight. A great story to end my 2016 on.

Chelsea - 4.5 Hearts

This was great! I love superhero stories especially when they’re super corny and this one was absolutely perfect!

“I’m so sorry,” Rex said. “I’m guessing that’s Firebrand and Scream Queen here to destroy the device that will cause a massive earthquake, splitting California off from the rest of the country, unless the President grants me sovereignty of these islands and a hundred billion dollars.”
“Oh,” Sanj said. “I’m sorry. Do you need me to go?”

Rex or ‘Dr Devious’ was hilarious. He was all sneaky plans and evil laughs and I enjoyed him immensely. He was also a super sweetheart, not that he’d want to hear that. His biggest hang up with Christmas is that he spends so much time and effort building these elaborate machines for presents, and his partners don’t always… appreciate them.

Sanjay was not as fleshed out, but he was sweet and he really liked Rex, so he was alright with me.

The romance did take a back seat to Rex’s evil plans, but the sex scene at the end was hot and…. oddly funny.

Super enjoyed this one and will definitely read it again next year!

Sara - 4 Hearts

ACK! This was so freaking adorable!
I won’t say much about it as the blurb set it up wonderfully but Rex, our unsure super hero, was so sweet with his worries about getting Sanjay the perfect gift and then trying to destroy Christmas and failing. His epiphany about the holiday and who he would spend it with led to one hell of an amazing present and OMG I WANT ONE! Totally want one.

The end was super sweet and made me giggle. What a fun and new twist to a holiday story.

Jenni Lea - 3.5 Hearts

Well, this was just too adorable for words! I loved the whole supervillain and superhero storyline. It was over the top and ridiculous - just how I like it.

Rex is a supervillain, complete with secret island lair and everything. He's really digging Sanjay though they have only been dating for just a short while. Sanjay is so sweet and loving and is even understanding when Rex's villainous life gets in the way of their time together. Everything seems to be going great until Sanjay brings up Christmas. You see, Rex is a terrible gift giver. Every gift he has given to a significant other in the past has ended in disaster as well as an end to the relationship. He doesn't want to lose Sanjay too so he's understandably terrified of the upcoming holiday.

But does he seek out advice for giving the perfect gift to Sanjay? Of course not! Rex instead decides that since he is such crap at giving gifts and he'll surely lose Sanjay come December 25th, he'll just destroy Christmas altogether. He is a supervillain after all. They do nothing by halves.

This was a funny, imaginative tale that kept me entertained throughout. It was a sweet story and I enjoyed it so very much. Although a short story, it felt complete. I have no complaints. I recommend it to anyone who likes a fun holiday read.

Find out more about How the Supervillain Stole Christmas on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

Ray Fine would like to forget Hanukkah even exists. The holiday holds too many sad memories for the young widower. When he’s paired with new convert Josiah Wilson in a year-long welcoming program at his synagogue, he doesn't know how he’ll get through eight days of celebration, let alone twelve months of guidance.

Josiah has enough on his plate—school, conversion, the holiday concert season—without becoming someone's shoulder to cry on. But when he discovers there's more to his new synagogue buddy’s sadness than a case of the “Hanukkah Blues,” he sets out to show Ray how much there is to live for.

The first blizzard of the season has other plans, though, and Hanukkah might be a lost cause if Ray and Josiah can’t plow through the snow—and their differences. Determined not to lose Ray to his own darkness, Josiah plans to teach him a lesson about the real Miracle of Light—and love.

Sara - 3.5 Hearts

This was a light yet bittersweet story. Not being of the Jewish faith, I can’t say much about the holiday of Chanukah but I did like the way it was presented though I had to look up what a chanukiyah was.

With the death of Ray’s partner Mark, he has been floating along the river of his life doing what he needs to get by. When he is paired with newly converted Josiah to be his buddy, Mark begins to realize all that he stopped doing for himself when Mark passed.

It was bittersweet to read the story told through Ray’s POV. I get the depression he is dealing with down to the closed door of his house and the dust building up. People don’t get that the mess they are seeing sometimes isn’t really a mess but the person’s depression.

Josiah is this light, this hope (perfect for the setting of the story in my opinion) this representation of what life can be like again if Ray can decide he wants to be a part of it.

The bus was an adorable addition to the story and this really was a lovely tale.

Find out more about Don't Let the Light Go Out on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

For dueling radio hosts Deke and Dudley, the battle over Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving. Deke hates the whole season. Dudley is a yuletide overachiever. They put their debate to a vote, inviting audience members to weigh in. The loser must go on a blind date of the winner’s choosing. Dudley decides he wouldn't mind taking the loss, if his blind date, picked by Deke, turns out to be Deke himself. As Christmas gets closer, not only does that fantasy seem unlikely, but everything that can go wrong for Dudley does, including malfunctioning decorations, rancid cookies, and a lost pile of hundreds of handwritten Christmas cards. Just days before Santa's arrival, Dudley’s about to throw in the red and green towel and join all the haters. It’ll take a miracle to change his mind….




Fantasy Living - 4.5 Hearts

This has to be my most favourite Christmas Jizz story so far. Of the eight stories I’ve read, this tops the list.

Dudley has moved towns, and is going through his normal Christmas merriment, while working as a radio personality on the Deke and Dudley Morning Show. Deke is pretty bah humbug about the entire thing, and their witty back and forth on morning radio is the perfect backdrop for this story. Dudley is trying to prove that Christmas is the best time of year, while Deke is trying to prove that more people hate Christmas than enjoy the consumerist holiday. Nothing Dudley does this year is going to plan, and he is starting to feel the bitterness seep in as well.

The for-Christmas/anti-Christmas rhetoric was perfectly balanced, and I really enjoyed getting to know both these characters as they battled it out on Radio. The dialogue was great, and pushed the story along really well. This story was fun, and amusing. The chemistry between Deke and Dudley was easily felt. I wanted Dudley to win, even though I’m firmly on Deke’s side, just because Dudley made the holiday seem so inviting.

If you have been despondent this Christmas, give this story a go. I guarantee you will at least feel a little spark of Christmas adventure as you cheer Dudley along in his quest to prove to Deke that Christmas can be amazing, and filled with joy.

Recommended for all MM romance readers, who enjoy sarcasm, snark, and witty back and forth dialogue.

Sara - 3.5 Hearts

Way cuter than I expected. I am a sucker for redeemable assholes and Deke fits that profile.
I loved the on and off air banter between Dudley and his costar/crush Deke. They are funny and punny and full of UST.

The bet between them almost reminded me of the blog and those of us *waves* who loves Christmas stories and those who are humbug about it. While I adore the season and all it brings, I get where Deke is coming from as well because yeah, it can be overwhelming to try to make everything perfect and jolly.

I didn’t like what Deke did but his budding relationship with Gramps doing it was kinda worth it. I love Dudley’s obsession with Deke’s body hair because I agree with it and his flirting was simply adorable.

At the end, this was just fun and sweet with how the men decide what to do with their holiday cheer and I love that Deke likes garland with toppers and now thinks Christmas rocks.

Find out more about Scrooged Over on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

***Review copies were provided by the publisher.***

See ya next week!

Be there or be square!

Review: Dangerous Waves (Mermen & Magic #3) by L.M. Brown

A blind merman fleeing the sunken city of Atlantis is torn between the family he left behind and the love he swims toward.

When Dax lost his family to a shark attack he swam away from everything he had ever known. Now he has come to Atlantis, hoping to reconnect with those he left behind. When he finds his birth clan torn apart, he realizes his journey is just beginning.

Kai is an Oracle, a blind merman, who only has sight when he has a vision. Atlantis, a sanctuary for so many mer people, is his prison. Desperation drives him to beg the Atlantean Goddess of Love for help.

With the goddess's promise of love to tempt him, Kai persuades Dax to take him along when he leaves the sunken city.

Although Dax has some reservations about traveling through the ocean with a blind merman in tow, he quickly discovers Kai isn't as helpless as he appears. Attraction comes easy, but Kai doesn't seem to feel the same way.

Kai knows he must seduce Dax if he hopes to win his heart, but his inexperience may be his downfall. With Dax's former lover at the end of their journey, he knows time is running out.

A goddess can only help so much, especially when another immortal would see them part. If the two stubborn mermen want a life together, they will have to learn to communicate and fight for their love.

Back again for L.M. Brown's mermen!

(You know if I return to a series more than once, I've been hooked)

The last 2016 review on the blog is all about the fantasy. (Hey, this is me we're talking about-it's a fave genre)

L.M. Brown has created quite the world in the Merman & Magic series--readers visit the sunken island of Atlantis, inhabited with merfolk and sea creatures. Plus there's mythology thrown in with an interesting cast of god/goddess side characters that add a sense of magical instability in the tales. The gods are awakening from their stasis...the world doesn't know what it's in for.

In the third installment, Dangerous Waves, the prophetic Oracle mer family are the focus as well as Dax was the ex-lover from book #1. The Oracles are a group of three merfolk who are blind due to their psychic-like abilities. They are blinded once their get their powers at puberty, meaning they are virgins and must remain untouched. Kai, the Oracle of the present and protagonist, longs for a love to call his own, even though it's forbidden. He calls for help from the meddling goddess of love, Medina.

If you've been following along in the series (and I strongly suggest reading in order), then you know mer people are highly sexual. The Oracles aren't allowed any freedoms, basically prisoners in the kingdom of Atlantis. Enter the highly sexual Dax, the former lover of book #1's Kyle. Dax starts the book as the third in a temporary menage, a loner among yet another nomadic tribe that wants to move to Atlantis for stability.

Medina sense Dax's and Kai's fate and meddles in the only way she knows how.

It's hyper sexual vs. virginity, Dax and Kai couldn't be more different experience wise. But their chemistry is electric.

I like the route the author took with these two. It wasn't automatic jumping of bones, no sexy times happen until the last quarter of the book. The men get to know each other through a ocean road trip. Kai finally gets to experience life while traveling to England to help Dax check in on his former lover.

On the road, the two start opening up and learning about a common theme they seem to share, loners. But Dax thinks with his cock (that hasn't changed since book 1) and any time I fins myself liking him, he'd remember to be the jerk from book #1. He viewed sex as sex, Kai was a romantic. warning there is a sex scene with a MC and another person. That didn't piss me off. It wasn't cheating, but usually that's first third behavior of a novel, not so late in the game as the MC's start to get closer. I liked it. It remained true to his character.

It didn't read like insta-love, though the romantic aspect read short when coming to the romantic aspect. It took one of the men a little longer to realize his feelings. I felt it could have been played up just a little more for him.

Why this isn't 5 Hearts The goddess Medina seemed to be a main player in the beginning and them quiets (when hinted to being super powerful) and then shows up to not make much of an impact. The gods awakening is another larger series ARC but compared to the last two books, Dangerous Waves was weaker. We get to meet 2 new gods, add to Medina and series mainstays, Cari & Caspian, it's starting to get crowded. There are hints of conflicts to come, but it'd be nice if they were a little more defined. And the big conflict in the end? It was solved by a different being instead off the one who went to help. Something about the entire thing read anticlimactic.

Overall, a fun read.

There's opposites attract, mythology and magical hijinks. Plus, I'm enjoying the characters. I can't wait to read about Delwyn (Oracle of the past) in the future.

Not my fave pairing of the partnerships...but close.

If you're looking for a lighter urban fantasy series to try, I recommend giving the Mermen & Magic series a try.

Find on Goodreads!

Interested in learning more about the series?

Review of Book #1
Review of Book #2

Review: Omega Studies by Casey Cameron

Matt Guerrero is ready for the freedom that college brings: freedom from his family, and the pressures of being an omega in an alpha's world. So when the school assigns him an alpha "mentor," he can think of nothing he wants less than a mandatory babysitter...no matter how hot the guy is.

Derek Fisher just wants to play it safe after a serious mistake almost cost him everything last year, but it's hard to keep his head down when his assigned omega keeps making trouble. He's never been into guys before, but Matt is attractive, smart, and funny, and spending time with him is seriously distracting. Derek wants more, but giving in to his desires could put everything at risk all over again.

When Matt uncovers a plot that could tear the school apart, he's all in--on fighting it, and on his relationship with Derek. Derek won't let him do it alone, but they'll have to fight the school administration and a ghost from Derek's past before they can be together the way Derek truly wants: as alpha and omega.

This is a 57,000 word stand-alone steamy gay romance with lots of heat, non-shifter alpha/omega dynamics, and a happily ever after ending with no cliffhangers.

This is the second book I’ve read from Casey Cameron and I still really love the world she’s built. So we have human Alphas, Betas and Omegas and all in a modern setting. In this particular story we have Matt who is an Omega and is a passionate advocate for Omega rights. He’s in his first year of college at a newly integrated A/B/O college and is annoyed as hell to realise every Omega has been assigned an Alpha to virtually babysit them. Derrek is Matt’s assigned Alpha and while he’s never identified as bisexual he’s immediately drawn to Matt’s intoxicating scent.

I found Matt quite a hard character to like at first. He’s obviously passionate about his cause but it's caused him to be very cynical of anything good to do with his biology or alphas in general. Matt takes a really long time to warm up to Derrek, probably because he’s constantly blaming Derrek for things he didn’t do and all based on his generalisation of Alphas being meatheads.

Despite that, I did really like these two together. Once they're together Matt’s tune changes and he really does like and respect Derrek. They work well as a couple and despite some dramatic reactions from Matt they actually do talk about their issues and keep moving forward together.

Now for those of you who are dying to know, never fear KNOTTING is here!!! Alot. Like a lot of knotting is done and its pretty damn yummy!!

There wasn’t alot I didn’t like about this story actually, Matt was probably the most annoying aspect, but everything flowed nicely and I really enjoyed Matt and Derrek once they were together. I think I’ll be coming back to Cameron when I want a A/O story with a twist.

Add on Goodreads!

Release Blitz + Giveaway: 2016 Top Ten Gay Romance - Various Authors from JMS Books

JMS Books releases the 2016 Top Ten Gay Romance Anthology today! Read below for more information and enter the giveaway to win an eBook copy of JMS Books' 2015 Top Ten Gay Romance Anthology!

2016 Top Ten Gay Romance - Various Authors

Release: December 31 2016

Publisher: JMS Books

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | JMS Books

Blurb

2016 Top Ten Gay Romance brings together the best-selling short stories published by JMS Books that year.

From first love to true love, from submission to sensual, from heat to sweet and everything in between, the couples in these stories are sure to keep you turning the pages as you fall in love with them.The 10 stories in this head-over-heels collection go beyond bedtime reading. Whether happily ever after or happy for now, there’s an ending for everyone in here!

Contains the stories:

· Me and My Big Mouth by Becky Black
· Captive by T.A. Creech
· Love Lost, Love Found by Rebecca James
· Accidentally His by Shawn Lane
· A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips, and Thou by J.L. Merrow
· For the Last Time by A.R. Moler
· First and Goal by Terry O'Reilly
· It's Not Yule, It's Me by Michael P. Thomas
· In His Line of Work by Tinnean
· And This is Ed by J.D. Walker

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Review: Detective Fox and the Christmas Caper (Dick and the Sidekick #1) by Isobel Starling

Every good Dick needs a sidekick…

Actor Tom Lewis’s world came crashing down when a honey trap and tabloid exposé outed him and put pay to his flourishing career. The housewives favourite was most well-known for his role as ‘Detective Fox’ in the quaint British series Malmesbury Murders. But after the media speculation about his sexuality, the show is in hiatus and Tom hasn’t worked six months.

Now things are getting serious, the money he made from M.M is running out and he needs a job desperately. So when Tom’s agent offers him a six week seasonal acting job, he reluctantly agrees… and takes on the role of Santa for a top London department store. 

This decision changes Tom’s luck. Not only will he have an income for the holiday season, he’ll also be working with a very sexy young elf that he spotted at the auditions, named Eli Mason. 

While on a break Tom overhears two unidentified store workers discussing a ‘job to get a little Christmas bonus”. He realizes the job is of the illegal sort. Now, Tom could call the police, but then again, wouldn’t it be great for his flagging career if Detective Fox saved the day.

So Fox is on the case, and as every good Dick needs a sidekick, Tom decides Eli will fit the role, in more ways than one.”

I had a lot of fun reading this Christmas novella. It’s got humor, steam, a bit of mystery and did I mention steam? Detective Fox definitely read like the first in a series to me. Not that that is a bad thing, but there was necessary setup to the characters, plus the mystery plus the lead in to further episodes to cover in a novella length story, so much was touched on without a ton of detail. Again, not a bad thing and I’m hoping the bits I want more of will be further explored in coming tales. If they are, then I can see this as being the kind of series you want to reread once you get to know everyone and the whole series will end up balanced and complete.

The mystery isn’t overly mysterious and for me that worked considering the detectives here were not detectives by any means, so anything more complex would have been too unbelievable considering the time that was dedicated to solving the Christmas crime. The fun was in Tom, Eli and their band of merry elves working together to figure out how to be heroes so they can get a little face time. Tom is an actor after all and while I wouldn’t exactly say he’d been disgraced, he did have a serious slump going on with his recent scandal in the press.

I liked reading about Eli and Tom together and feel like we are just at the beginning of something with them. That pacing worked well even though that is a big part of the bits I want more of. If their relationship evolves how I’m hoping, the progression of their togetherness will be better than any mystery, and then the mystery can be a fun vehicle to move these guys forward. There is some delicious kink that the author tapped into that was a total treat and I most definitely need more of that. What I read was complete but because I loved the unexpected avenue the author went down with Tom and Eli, it felt like such a tease which has got me hooked and ready to read book two.

For more information on Detective Fox and the Christmas Caper, check it out on Goodreads.

Buy Links

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1889QP

Barnes and Nobel

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1124865786?ean=2940153783772

ibooks

https://itunes.apple.com/id1166116268

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/672621

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