NSFW Review: The Salt of Your Tears by M. Caspian

Three works of m/m erotica from M. Caspian

In His Skin: Harrison offers Dylan the world. All he asks in return is Dylan follow a few simple rules. 10,731 words

Asking For It: Cole was looking for one night of casual sex. Garrett's going to give Cole everything he thought he couldn't have. 7059 words

A Song in the Blood: Corran MacKenzie signed up to fight a war that wasn't his. In the desert he found Sephtis. And his fate. 6522 words

Averaged!

For the dudes and dudettes who like it extremely dark and kinky!
Twisted folks step right on up!


In His Skin - 4 Hearts

A mute submissive is given the world by his Master, but it comes with a price.

Warning: do not enter if you can't handle pain play, blood play, sharing amongst partners and piercing certain sensitive parts.

Dylan yearns to please his master Harrison. He tries his hardest to follow his rules and be the best that he can be. But he yearns for something...the sea.

Dylan doesn't have to cook or clean. All he has to do is please Harrison, obviously in the bedroom. Though he never utters a word throughout the story, Dylan's thoughts and emotions were very present. The story is slightly mysterious as well as erotic. Who Dylan is and how he came to be with Harrison is the leading the question that pulled me into the story.

I'm not one for pain play, so not on #TeamPain. (#Team Lube represent!) But the verbal humiliation helped ease my squickiness. And when  Harrison and Dylan are alone together, the trademark Caspian possessiveness came tot he forefront, where hot breaths and threats are prevalent.

"Did your hole get enough tonight? Oh, no, wait, it didn't because I haven't fucked you yet. Only me, you hear me? It's only me who gets to have you."

That I liked. I figured out the mystery close to the end. The writing read poetic and a little somber at times. But I was super happy with the concept. It's my kind of paranormal.

At the end, Dylan prioritized what he needed the most. I'd like to think was a HEA.

Please heed the warnings before trying.

Asking For It - 5 Hearts

CHEESUS AND CRACKERS! THIS IS LIKE IT WAS WRITTEN FOR ME!

7+k words - I kid you not, I have about half of this story highlighted.  

"Bet you want it all the time, don't you, a boy like you? I'll have to visit you at work on your lunch break, gag you and tie your hands in the men's room, turn you around in a stall and fuck you 'til you're crying, then make you go back to your afternoon meeting with my seed dripping out of you."

All my favorites words came to play: cockslut, cunt, fuckboy!

Pornupcopia jackpot! Filth! Smut at its finest!

Cole needs. He needs bad. The 22 year old has been a good boy. He's repressed at work, doesn't try to explore the kink, the need in him. And when he tries to finally do something about it with a date with a Daddy type from online, he doesn't meet with much success.

Or does he?

"Your eyes are hungry, did you know that?"

Bar owner and bartender Garrett sees everything that night. And answers the body call Cole has going on.

"But you still need, don't you? It's okay boy. You've found me now."

Semi-public sex, humiliation dirty talk, possessive alpha Dom...I just don't where to begin on the high points.

The thrill Cole feels, the slight, miniscule dub-con feel to it all...oh the words.

If only that pool table could talk.

"I can't wait to fuck you raw, watch you push my cum out, see it dripping out of your hole."

Cole gets shown, owned and is so satisfied by Garret, any reservation has flew the coop.

And I imagine a very cum filled happy ending. From random hookup to lasting D/s relationship...

Aces in my book! ;)
Re-read worthy for sure!


A Song in the Blood - 4.5 Hearts

Where a masochist with a penchant for blood play finally meets his match.

Here's the thing. I started this a little confuzzled.

Then as I read along I realized this was “It is Our Bounden Duty To Protect The Empire”. (Love this new title BTW) and the tags helped make it clearer.

The tags: gun play, extreme violence, paranormal, power exchange, HEA, historical setting, Kiwi MC, extreme violence. All acts are consensual by the way.

Set after the turn of the 20th century, Corran McKenzie is a Kiwi soldier slowly dying in the African desert. He's picked up a friend by the name of Sephtis. And Sephtis watches and goads the young man as his will to live keeps him going.

Now if you look up the name Sephtis, you'll see exactly who Septhis is. Or I should say what he represents. Clever, clever, author. (It's a reason why I rated so high) We get a case study of Corran's life and the start of when he craved real pain and couldn't have his needs fulfilled.

"Your want is delicious."

All he needs is to make it hurt, to bleed.

Sephtis scratches that unfathomable itch. The story starts in 1902 and carries on into present day. There are erotic moments and scenes...like this:

Add that to the mindfuckery and it's a hot little number.

"Did you know your soul hungers? No wonder I heard you all the way out here in the middle of nowhere."

It reminded me of Deckard's "Better The Devil You Know", which had similar depravity, a witty entity and crisp writing.

Recommended for readers who can actually handle the tags, DMC and those who like extreme dark mixed in with their kink.

Find on Goodreads!

Review: Wild Rose, Silent Snow by Angel Martinez

A huge bear at the door, a handsome, naked stranger in the snow, magic fish, enchanted beards – and Rowan thought his life was odd before. 

Content with the quiet isolation of their lake house, Snowden and Rowan Hadley survive on summer jobs and winter hunting, unable to move on since their parents died. Their peace is shattered by a strange, human-acclimated bear who insists on following Rowan like a giant hunting dog and then again by the discovery of a naked, surly stranger in the snow.

Both bear and man lead the Hadley brothers into a strange, surreal world where sorcery and RPG software intertwine. Curses and magical traps lie in wait around every turn. Rowan and Snowden will need to adjust their view of how the world works, and quickly, if they want to live through the process of rescuing their enchanted princes.

Wild Rose, Silent Snow is a retelling of Snow White and Rose Red which I was not familiar with before reading, but I googled right after I finished and it made me appreciate the author’s version all the more. I love that she picked a somewhat lesser known tale and built Snowden and Rowan’s story up from there.

The MC’s in Wild Rose, Silent Snow ticked off every single one of my boxes and I fell hard for them and their stories from the get-go. Snowden and Rowan are fraternal twin brothers who live alone in the woods on the family property. Their existence is a struggle and from the beginning the reader can’t help but wonder why they don’t just up and leave. It’s slowly revealed throughout the tale why they stay together and why they need one another so much. It’s something you really have to read to appreciate, and I will only say, read it, the author did a stellar job of making the lives of Snowden and Rowan completely believable.

The story follows the fairy tale pretty well and the tweaks the author made to accommodate the modern setting fit with the environment the two lived in. The characters are far from perfect and that’s what makes them so good. I loved Rowan’s connection with his bear and the balance with Snowden’s reluctance to let a bear stay in their cabin made the improbable believable.

The personalities and selflessness of the MC’s is what makes this story so good. Snowden and Rowan are as good as they come. I loved their quiet life and how they put the other first because that’s what a good brother and a gentleman does. The way they communicate with so few words said more than pages worth of dialog ever could. Reading Arcadius’ progression from a bear to a man worthy of Rowan made me swoon. It wasn’t easy, but the two of them together just made sense.

The only thing I would have liked was more of Snowden and Griffin. It’s not like anything was missing by any stretch, Snow just made me swoon with his quiet conviction and I selfishly would have loved to have read more of he and Griffin together.

Wild Rose, Silent Snow is everything I love about fairy tale retellings. The story is character driven and the fantastical pieces aren’t overdone so there is just enough mystery to let the reader feel the revelations along with the characters. Getting the balance just so can’t be easy but the author got it spot on for me in this one.

For more information on this edition of Wild Rose, Silent Snow, check it out on Goodreads.

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

Release Blitz: Point Shot Trilogy Box Set by V.L. Locey

Please welcome V.L. Locey to the clubhouse as they celebrate the release of Point Shot Trilogy Boxset! Check out the R-Rated Excerpt and enter in the Point Set Trilogy eBook giveaway!

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Two Man Advantage

Victor Kalinski, all-star forward for the Boston Barracudas, is one of the biggest jerks in professional hockey. Before long his aggressive attitude gets him shipped off to play in the minor leagues.

Furious, he takes to the ice with equal amounts of skill and scathing sarcasm, which doesn’t win him any friends—except for good-natured alternate captain Daniel Arou. He won’t take any of Vic’s crap, and he won’t take no for an answer.

But Vic’s troublemaking is pulling his career one way while Dan’s talent is pushing his in the other. However much they scorch the sheets, they might soon be separated by more than Vic’s fear of being hurt.

Game Misconduct

Life has been treating Victor Kalinski well, which is a surprise for the ginger-haired forward with the venomous tongue. His career is somewhat stable, at least for another season. His relationship with Cougars alternate captain Dan Arou is deepening, despite the fact that Daniel has yet to come out of the closet.

It’s typical Kalinski luck when a puck bunny he shared a drunken night with several months ago slaps him with a paternity suit. Despite the sizzling passion and painfully heartfelt connection between them, Dan doesn’t take the news well, and heads back to Canada alone.

If he wants to make things right and win back the man he loves, Vic has no choice but to swallow his pride—and nobody’s prouder than hotheaded, ego-driven Victor Kalinski.

Full Strength


What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, Victor Kalinski was one of the best and most controversial ice hockey players in the pros. This year he’s playing in the minors, has a paternity case pending, and has just been vindictively outed to the world by one of his own teammates.

But he seems to find life in the tiny town of Cayuga to his liking. A large part of that is Dan Arou, the Cougars’ alternate captain and the man who now holds Victor’s heart. Surely venomous, viper-tongued Victor hasn’t been mellowed by love!

Well, perhaps a little. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t intend to get sweet revenge on those who’ve hurt the man he loves and the friends he’s somehow made along the way.

R-Rated Excerpt (From Two Man Advantage)

Lying beside him in the dark, I was thinking about getting under the covers to suck him off when he asked me what I thought about the team.
I shrugged the shoulder his dark head rested on. “They suck, man.” I ran my tongue over my teeth.
“Think so, do you?” he enquired. “I hate that sound you make when you suck air through your teeth.”
“Um, yah,” I snorted, my palm resting on his shoulder. “I mean, no offense, but if not for you that bunch of losers wouldn’t have the few wins they do. And tough shit about the teeth sounds.”
Dan’s exhalation blew over my nipple. It puckered up into a tiny pink bead. I really wanted to get oral on this man. He seemed to be chatty, though. I didn’t dare comment on how girly that was. My ass was still recovering from the last slur against his manhood I’d made.
“You’re right,” he confessed, sitting up against my wishes to turn on the light. I squeezed my eyes shut and bitched about the wattage. “You think you could help us out?”
My nose wrinkled. “Dan, man, look, maybe if I were going to be here for the season, yeah, I’d be happy to pass along what tricks I’ve learned. But this trip is just for a week or two.” I had hoped he would drop it as soon as I weaseled around. He didn’t. His blue eyes stayed glued to me. “Arou, man, don’t make this harder than it is. Why don’t you just turn out the light, lie down and let me get you off again?”
I saw the desire flare up in his gaze. “I’d consider it a favor if you gave the other guys a hand. They’re buddies, you know?”
“Whose buddies? Not mine. They all fucking hate me,” I countered, pulling him back to the bed.
He flopped down with a sigh of exasperation. I rolled over him and began tasting his neck. He was just as bound up in this crazy thing we shared as I was. His neck and jaw tightened as he worked to fight the fire trail where my tongue and lips moved over him, but the nudge of his erection against my stomach showed he couldn’t control the need for me any more than I could handle my need for him.
“That’s because you’re a dick,” he ground out as I tongued his navel.
I agreed, then licked a long trail across his belly.

Author Bio

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and two Jersey steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and GoodReads.

Website: http://vlloceyauthor.com/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/VL-Locey/124405447678452
Twitter- https://twitter.com/vllocey
Pinterest-http://www.pinterest.com/vllocey/
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807700.V_L_Locey
My blog- http://thoughtsfromayodelinggoatherder.blogspot.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions

Review: When It All Falls Down by Tanya Chris

Maybe Charlie should have waited until he graduated high school before coming out, because since that revelation there’s been a growing distance between him and his friends. Charlie’s tough, though. He doesn’t mind eating lunch alone or watching his former gang interact with their new best buddy. What he does mind is seeing Drew Lavoitt suffer the same fate.

Drew didn’t come out. As far as he, or anyone else knows, he’s straight. What Drew did is accidentally hit and kill a little girl. Now the boy who was voted Most Popular, and who Charlie has maybe had a crush on since eighth grade, faces financial ruin, expulsion, and the fear that if he’s not everything, he’s not enough.
Popularity, wealth, acclaim—these things are easily lost. In each other’s arms, Drew and Charlie find something that can’t be taken from them. Together the two build a foundation on which they can re-create their lives.

My Kindle notes say: Great story, happy vibe, positive vibe, and I think this sums up the book nicely. It seems from the blurb that this could be a real drama driven book, with teen angst all over the place - but it wasn't. Whilst some of the events in this story were sad and some difficult to deal with, the story as a whole was positive. It showed how people, in this case teens, cope and deal with circumstances beyond their control. 

The character of Charlie was interesting to me. Often we see how bad coming out is for teens, in this book though, Charlie, for the most part, actually expected a worse reaction from people than what he got. I know that this is far, far from the experience of many people coming out. It gives me hope though, that the future of GBLTQ people is better than that of the past. My first reaction was to think that such positivity was unrealistic - then I thought about all the prom proposal videos that circle each year featuring GBLTQ youth and I realised that things are getting better. 

Younger generations, for a good part, don't discriminate. They stand behind their peers and celebrate the diversity of their generation. (Too) slowly things are changing for the better. Or at least they have been, but this is a book review, not a political statement. My point is, that Charlie expected negativity when he came out. He actually read it in places that it wasn't, in his group of friends, with his father... His expectations were of the worst, and it didn't turn out that way. I really hope that this is the case for the very near future.

Drew, I felt incredibly sorry for. He'd accidentally killed a 6 year old, through no fault of his own. An unpreventable accident - how devastating this must be. I've driven for 22 years and I've yet to enjoy it for exactly that reason, the fear of the damage a car can do in a moment of time. I can't imagine the enormous pressure and guilt (that most useless of emotions) Drew is under. He is coming to terms with it, so is his family and the people where they live. My heart ached for him.Then Charlie - brave and strong and hating seeing Drew on his own - spoke to Drew and changed the course of both their lives. 

A really great story, I would recommend this to romance lovers and YA fans.

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
For more information see Goodreads.

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Momo, My Everything by Posy Roberts

Posy Roberts and Signal Boost Promotions are celebrating her re-release of Momo My Everything today! Check out the book info and enter in the Posy Roberts backlist giveaway! 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK


Publisher: Labyrinth Bound Press


Length: 27,000 words


Cover Image: Igor Madjinca

Photo Editing: Posy Roberts


Cover Typography: Natasha Snow


Blurb


William Harris is a reserved man, private and guarded. He has no one to go home to. He’s never found a man worth sticking around for. He’s never been in love. And he’s convinced he’s happy with his lone-wolf life.


Nate Kelly is William’s opposite, social and easy going. He comes into William’s life as the elegant geisha Momo. When William realizes Momo is a man in drag, he’s captivated.


From their first date, William’s world changes. Nate is nothing like his usual type. And William soon finds out being with this carefree man means always being on display and attracting attention, which makes him want to retreat. He tries to keep Nate at arm’s length, but it’s no use. Nate’s transformed his life in a matter of months and keeps drawing him back in.


If they stand a chance, William has to be comfortable standing next to someone so at home in the limelight. Their future together and William’s happiness depend on it. Is Nate the man finally worth giving up William’s solitary existence? Is he worth sticking around for?


*Extensively reworked from the short story, The Measure of a Man.


Author Bio


Posy Roberts writes about the realistic struggles of men looking for love. Whether her characters are family men, drag queens, or lonely men searching for connections, they all find a home in her stories.


Posy is a Jill of all trades and master of the drill and paintbrush. She’s married to a partner who makes sure she doesn’t forget to eat or sleep during her writing frenzies. Her daughter, a budding author and cinematographer, helps her come up with character names. For fun, Posy enjoys crafting, hiking, and singing spontaneously about the mundane, just to make regular life more interesting.


Facebook Reader’s Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/757618490928296/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/6YnZL

Queeromance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/posy-roberts/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/posy-roberts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6550149.Posy_Roberts

Website: http://posyroberts.com

Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/posyroberts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/posyroberts

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions

Tag Team Review: Snowblind by Eli Easton

Snow, steam, and secrets.

The latest snowstorm carries something unexpected to the doorstep of Hutch’s secluded Alaskan cabin: a stranger named Jude, the most beautiful man Hutch has ever seen. Jude says he’s in the area for a ski trip and that he fled a domineering lover, thinking he could make it into town. But Hutch is a suspicious SOB and treats his unwanted guest warily. The problem is Jude isn’t just gorgeous, he’s funny and smart and flirtatious.

Two gay men snowed in for three days—things happen. Really good things. By the time the storm clears, Hutch finds himself a little too attached to Jude Devereaux, San Francisco-based male model. But is Jude what he claims to be? Or is he entangled in the secrets Hutch moved to Alaska to escape?


SheReadsALot - 4.25 Hearts

Dreamspun Desires aka cracky fluff has another home run with Snowblind by Eli Easton.

Me= when a new Dreamspun title is released

What fun romance tropes to find from the latest Dreamspun treasure? Stranded in a snowy cabin mixed with a damaged hero and disguise.

Delicious.

My favorite of the house line (so far) happens to be by this same author, so this book had big shoes to fill. A total 180 from The Stolen Suitor, this book toed the line of cracky fluff with dashes of realism. If this isn't your first time with the line, you know to expect some cheese, some sugar and fluff.

All founded in this novel.

Set in Alaska, Hutch is a damaged solitary former Marine (oohrah!) with a lot of baggage and not a lot of patience for others. He's suspicious of a nearly frostbitten stranger that falls on his property. He has a secluded cabin for a reason and is on high alert with the frozen man's arrival. The frozen man being model Jude Devereaux. Jude thaws...and so does Hutch. The story for the first half is all Hutch's POV.

What is it about their connection he wonders. Is it the fact they're stuck in a blizzard and have no chance for escape? Maybe the need for companionship? Whatever the circumstances, the men are trapped in that house for three days.

And what a hot three days it was...

I'm sure you heard all about it.

But sex only this story is not. It has quite a twisty plot. And the twists and turns change from instalove/stranded highs to betrayal, action, murder, gun fights...

Dudes, it was a wild and crazy ride.

The story doesn't feature Jude's POV until 51%. And once it does, the story twists even more. I got swept away in the cabin fever feelings and could almost but the love. See, it wasn't instantaneous ILY's but close. And the author did a decent job portraying the men's inner thoughts as to what drove them for the crazy actions.

I'll keep all the crazy plot twists to a minimum as to not spoil the read. Because even if you guess what went down, you get the scope of it until you read it.

How's the sex? Hot when it's there, even the fade to black/non-graphic interludes were hot. In the bedroom, the men don't lack the chemistry. For what is allowed in the house line, I found it to be hot.

How's the fluff? Not as fluffy and sugary, but it's there. A little heavier in the whipped sweet fluff in the second half.

It's a close second to my fave, just because there were moments when my fluff bubble popped. And I questioned Hutch's motives once or twice.

The extreme climes, the action, the subterfuge and intrigue....the romance. It all in all made it a satisfying read.

Recommended for fans of the cracky fluff, who like hot alpha men who are more on the silent side. But when it comes to their men, you can hear them loud and clear!

Adam - 3 Hearts

Hutch likes his secluded life in the Alaskan mountains. When a gorgeous man stumbles onto his property in the middle of a snowstorm, Hutch is wary. But Jude’s easy nature and good looks disarm Hutch.

They spend the following days steaming up the windows while a storm rages outside. The end of the storm not only brings with it Jude’s departure, but also reveals secrets that threaten the tentative relationship beginning between himself and Hutch.

I thought this would a fairly predictable book. But about a third-way in, Easton throws in some big twists and turns and the plot really took off. It was a gamble to take the book in the direction the author chose to, but overall I think it was pulled off pretty well.

The first third of the book is what you would expect.

Hutch, a solitary and taciturn man, has a suspicious nature, but he can’t deny how attractive Jude is. Hutch comes off as a hard man at first, but underneath he’s a big old softie.

We don’t get Jude’s POV at first, so it’s a bit harder to figure him out. But it’s clear that he’s more than willing to drop his pants for Hutch.

The two try to keep it professional at first, but that doesn’t last long. The sex was killer. Hutch likes it rough, and Jude gives as good as he gets. The wall sex was a bonus!

The romance is borderline insta-love. Once the two give into their bodies’ urges, their hearts follow quickly. Ordinarily, I’m not a fan of insta-love, but this is a Dreamspun Desires book, so I could overlook that. Plus, I felt that the two really did belong together.

So the book’s moving along in a fluffy manner when Easton decides to mix things up. I’m not going to give away too much, but I’ll say that if you were looking for a slow and easy book, this isn’t it.

Because out of nowhere we get weapons stockpiles, a conspiracy, and loads of drama and secrets. And gunfights. Lots of gunfights.

And through it all, Hutch and Jude prove that what’s between them wasn’t just the result of temporarily being snowed in. They do get their HEA, and it’s exactly the sweet and fluffy kind I’d expect from a Dreamspun Desires book.

‘Snowblind’ ended up being very different from what I was expecting, but it was still a fun read. At times the plot was a bit too trope-y and cheesy for my liking, but overall I got the hot sex and fluffy ending that I was looking for.



Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Review: The Virgin Manny (The Mannies #1) by Amy Lane

Growing up and falling in love...

Sometimes family is a blessing and a curse. When Tino Robbins is roped into helping his sister deliver premade dinners when he should be studying for finals, he’s pretty sure it's the latter! But one delivery might change everything.

Channing Lowell’s charmed life changes when his sister dies and leaves him her seven-year-old son. He’s committed to doing what's best for Sammy… but he’s going to need a lot of help. When Tino lands on his porch, Channing is determined to recruit him to Team Sammy.

Tino plans to make his education count—even if that means avoiding a relationship—but as he falls harder and harder for his boss, he starts to wonder: Does he have to leave his newly forged family behind in order live his promising tomorrow?

I am going to warn you, this review could end in you catching a bit of the adorbs because this book was so stupidly cute, adorable and yes romantic that I can’t handle it. I am totally turning into Agnes from Despicable Me right now over this book. Yup, it was that fluffy.

When I saw Amy Lane was jumping on the Dreamspun Desires train I had to get on board and fast. Honestly, there hasn’t been a book of hers that I haven’t liked or that has not given me all sorts of emotions and this gets tucked on the shelf with the rest of her stories I adore.  It gets its own tag though because where I associate Amy Lane with major angst, this was fluffy AF with no angst in sight.

Martin “Tino” Robbins was at the right place at the right time and it pays off in spades. You see, Tino is an amazing young man of 22 yrs who is only weeks away from graduating college but when his sister needs help with her dinner delivery service, of course he is going to step up and help out. When he’s sent to the posh neighborhood of Granite Bay, delivering dinners mostly to housekeepers at the door, he is surprised when a gorgeous man answers on his last delivery and the 7 year old boy who is at his heels.

The meet cute of Tino and Channing was just that… CUTE. It was adorable and set the tone for what would become their relationship throughout the book.

Channing Lowell is in over his head at the age of 32 with his nephew after the death of his sister a month ago. He and Sammy have always had a great relationship but things change when you go from Uncle to pseudo parent and have no clue what you are doing. When Tino shows up, he and Sammy have an instant connection that Channing notices and makes Tino an offer: become Sammy’s Manny over the summer and Channing will pay off Tino’s school loans. How can a dude refuse, right? Of course, the UST is present fast with these two and while Tino doesn’t realize the signals he’s sending Channing, Channing picks up on it and puts his offers on the table.

I liked that Channing offers Tino a huge opportunity, but Channing isn’t doing it to get into Tino’s jeans, or sleep pants or even briefs, he truly needs help with Sammy and the evil housekeeper Mirella that he latches on when he sees promise in Tino. AND… I like that Tino doesn’t jump at the job simply because of the money because he has ethics and morals and really needs to think before he decides. Neither Channing nor Tino are helpless. Just because Tino is a virgin and in student loan debt doesn’t make him a doormat, and just because Channing is rich and has available means, doesn’t mean he will take advantage of situations. Both men are just lost and need help and thank goodness they find it on one another. It helps that Channing tells him he can research him and his company to see what sort of business man he is and that Channing will be doing the same with Tino. It also freaking helps that Channing really is amazing and does the right thing by just about everyone he comes in contact with. The deal with Artie was beautiful and so sweet that I would have quit the damn Panini job just like Tino did because of it.

What this story really has is the sweet romance that I’ve come to expect from this series. It’s that feeling I adore about romance, that finding someone you genuinely like as a person in oh so many ways and falling head over feet for them. This is one of those curl up with a good book and fall in love stories and I curled up until way past my bedtime reading about Channing and Tino and let me tell you, I don’t do that for every book. They took the time to get to know one another, to become friends before they became lovers and more and it made for a wonderful romance.

So anyway, back to the gush fest.

Tino obviously takes the Manny position to take care of Sammy, being his taxi and really becoming a united front with Channing in making decisions for Sammy as well as consequences as they allow the boy to grieve the loss of his mother and move forward with his life. It really was sweet how much Channing wants for Sammy and how much he depends on Tino to simply be there for both of them. But the UST moments that yeah were killing Channing AND killing me gave me the feelings I needed and kept me reading nonstop.

Speaking of moments… Jacob blurting out Tino’s virginity, Tino learning about Channing’s bisexuality, Channing’s confessions over breakfast and promising Tino that he can wait, Tino taking his damn time deciding what he wants and all that comes before, during and after those moments have me grinning like a lovesick fool because they were special and boy did they make me feel. Sigh. Yeah, this was a good one and I really should stop rambling now.

The additional story line of Tino’s sister was a bit over the top but not as OTT as the whole housekeeper/security guard deal but both lead to moments I adored so all is forgiven. Really, this could have been a Lifetime or Hallmark Saturday night movie if only either network would move to the non-straight side of romance. *taps foot impatiently*

So, the Virgin Manny had it all. Meet cutes that truly were cute. UST up the wazoo with an older man/boss and a younger man/employee. And adorable 7 year old who is really good at higher math but not so good at bartending, cultural sensitivity and sex-ed but loves his Uncle and Tino. An older man who is willing to take it slow and wait for the man he wants and a younger man, who wants to make his own way in the world but fall in love with the one who will wait for him. And emotions of all sorts that gave me truly feelings down to my toes…

Oops, rambling Red was supposed to stop but got on a roll.

This was good and I can’t wait for what comes next in the series. I am kinda hoping the next book is Taylor because that boy needs a firm hand… *nods*

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Review: Boots by Angel Martinez

Willem’s lost his job and his boyfriend, and now possibly his mind when his cat calls him a nitwit.

Willem’s father never approved of his artistic talents, his choices in life, or the fact that he’s gay. When the only thing Horst leaves to Willem is the family cat, he thinks it’s his father’s last insult from the grave. That is, until the cat starts talking to him.

Though Willem’s lost his boyfriend, his home, and his job, Kasha, who claims to be a magic cat, reassures him that all will be well. All he needs is Willem’s trust and a good pair of boots. But giving boots to a talking cat has unexpected consequences when odd events ambush Willem at every turn, such as the appearance of a handsome stranger in his arms at night. While he begins to suspect Kasha’s plans might be dangerous for all involved, how can he distrust such a charming kitty in cowboy boots?

Angel Martinez writes retellings of fairy tales exactly how I like them. They lean a little toward the dark side and the romance is hard fought for the MC’s.

The author does more than just retell a tale too. She gives the characters some real depth so the story stands on its own while respectfully paying homage to a classic. While Boots was set in a contemporary timeframe it read timelessly giving it a fantastical quality that is an absolute necessity for a fairy tale. I like to get a little lost in my fairy tales, as in, I don’t want to be stuck in a time period, the magic should be able to translate to any setting and Angel Martinez makes that work in Boots.

So, Willem has had a real string of bad luck and he’s basically come home out of necessity after his father’s death, but he also has his pride so he’s not taking hand-outs from anyone. He and his brothers are close-ish and the bros were periphery characters, but the dynamics they shared explained a lot about Willem and his more solitary nature. Willem inherits the old Tom cat his father owned, Puss, and has plans to leave the kit kat with his brother as Willem is homeless now, but Puss is having none of it and he sets off with Willem as they look for a place to settle.

Well, the settling comes eventually, because Willem is really pretty lost, cold and is just trudging along when Puss speaks up and informs Willem it’s time to get a move on out of the weather and knows a place where they can crash. Of course Willem thinks he’s probably lost his marbles since the cat is talking to him, but they work that out as they are supposed to do because it’s time to move the story along. Willem has lusty dreams about a beautiful man who is with him at night and HEY, guess who that turns out to be??? You get one guess.

Once the stage is set and the two get to know one another, I fell for the story pretty hard. The characters really did it for me in this one and it made me look up more by this author and I queued up Wild Rose, Silent Snow to read right after this one (review soon on the blog for that one too, spoiler alert, LOVED it.) Anywho, Willem is The MC I like to read about. His basic character is my all-encompassing book boyfriend. Willem is a big, strong dude with rough hands and no clue how appealing he is. He’s also the epitome of a gentleman without even trying, his heart just knows what’s right and his empathy can’t help but rule his actions. He can also be a dirty little minx in the sack and the steamy parts of Boots were so very hot and sweet.

Now Kasha (Puss/Boots) is the perfect, perfect, perfect match for Willem. He’s snarky and strong on the outside, but inside he’s had centuries of loneliness as he serves his series of masters and he’s let his strong will break all the rules and get him in hot water with the Goddesses in charge of all the things. The two of them grow closer and while Willem is a simple man who follows his feels, Kasha has a world of hurt under his belt and he can’t even begin to believe that he could have a forever with Willem. He is convinced that their ending is inevitable so all he wants is to make sure that Willem gets an HEA somehow. Thing is Willem wants an HEA with Kasha but there are all manner of crazy ass battling that has to happen first with nasty ass beings, as is necessary in a quality fairy tale because someone has to be a hero here after all.

The HEA happens and it doesn’t come easy or without sacrifice, but it fit with the story so well and these guys deserved it. Half the pleasure in reading this one was in the dynamics between Willem and Kasha as Kasha adjusted to Willem’s moral nature. It was terribly sweet and also broke my heart as they worked through their moments. Those times were the only glimpses we got into some of Kasha’s painful past and reading Willem’s realizations as he watched Kasha’s reaction to “getting in trouble” killed me to death in the best way. Those were the moments that solidified these two as a forever couple for me.

For more information about Boots by Angel Martinez, check it out on Goodreads.

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

Review: We Met in Dreams by Rowan McAllister

In Victorian London, during a prolonged and pernicious fog, fantasy and reality are about to collide—at least in one man’s troubled mind.

A childhood fever left Arthur Middleton, Viscount Campden, seeing and hearing things no one else does, afraid of the world outside, and unable to function as a true peer of the realm. To protect him from himself—and to protect others from him—he spends his days heavily medicated and locked in his rooms, and his nights in darkness and solitude, tormented by visions, until a stranger appears.

This apparition is different. Fox says he’s a thief and not an entirely good sort of man, yet he returns night after night to ease Arthur’s loneliness without asking for anything in return. Fox might be the key that sets Arthur free, or he might deliver the final blow to Arthur’s tenuous grasp on sanity. Either way, real or imaginary, Arthur needs him too much to care.

Fox is only one of the many secrets and specters haunting Campden House, and Arthur will have to face them all in order to live the life of his dreams.

Suffering from hallucinations since childhood, Arthur Middleton, Viscount Campden, has lived locked up in his rooms for a decade. It’s for his safety, so he doesn’t mind too much. That is until the latest apparition to visit him turns out to be a fascinating character.

The man introduces himself as Fox and insists that he’s a real man. Arthur doesn’t believe him, but every visit from Fox makes his yearning for a life beyond his rooms, and for Fox, grow.

This is my first read by Rowan McAllister, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a wonderfully written book. The prose was evocative without becoming purple, and sucked me right into the story.

It would be hard not to feel for Arthur. His life is a cycle of laudanum, sleeping, reading, self-loathing, and hallucinations. But what’s also obvious from the beginning is Arthur’s resilience. He refuses to let his illness beat him.

Arthur and Fox’s first meeting was a mix of cute and funny. Fox is a gentleman thief, imitating Robin Hood. The book is told from Arthur’s POV, so readers’ only see Fox through Arthur’s eyes. Even so, it’s clear from the beginning that Fox sees Arthur as an equal, not an invalid.

The two are attracted to each other from their first meeting, but it takes them a long time to act on it. They become friends before they become lovers. Fox sneaks into Arthur’s room a few nights a week, and the two spend their time talking, and playing the piano and chess.

I couldn’t help but grin each time Fox showed up in Arthur’s room. Arthur would be filled with so much joy, and Fox clearly couldn’t keep himself away. Fox became Arthur’s personal cheerleader.

Once the two finally give in to the attraction between them, they don’t hold back from each other, either physically or emotionally.

The big stumbling block in the relationship is, of course, Arthur’s illness. Frankly, I didn’t get a clear understanding of exactly what caused Arthur’s periodic hallucinations or how they were cured. There’s an odd paranormal angle too.

The characters in the book didn’t understand either, which made sense given the book is set in the mid-1800s. So I wasn’t as bothered by the ambiguity as I might have been.

However, I thought too much happened in the last 20%. Considering everything that Arthur and Fox had already gone through, it was overkill to put them through even more. The story could have worked just as well without the extra drama at the end.

But that didn’t detract from how much I enjoyed this book. Arthur does get better, and he and Fox do finally get their happy ever after. It’s a HEA that takes into account that they’re two gay men in Victorian England, but it’s a happy ending nonetheless.

If you’re looking for a historical MM with a fair bit of angst but an incredibly sweet romance, I’d recommend ‘We Met in Dreams’!

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Don't miss the We Met in Dreams blog tour stop here

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Time by Eden Darry

Celebrate with Eden Darry and IndiGo Marketing on the Time Blog Tour! Darry shares an excerpt and an exclusive look at her writing playlist! And a chance to win your choice of eBook from NineStar Press! Good luck!

Title:  Time:

Author: Eden Darry

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: February 27

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Female/Female

Length: 56800

Genre: Romance, NineStar Press, LGBT, lesbian, romance, addiction, drug use, celebrities, coming out, reunited, farming, prison

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

Shannon is a young talented movie star celebrating the release of her new blockbuster. Jay is struggling to rebuild her life and hiding a dark secret. They meet and spend two nights together, forging a connection that neither can let go. With their lives heading in different directions, they agree not to stay in touch.

Ten years later, with their fortunes reversed, they meet again and neither has been able to forget the other. Will this time be different? Can they have a real chance at love? Or will Jay’s secret and a tragic event pull them apart again?

Excerpt

Time
Eden Darry © 2017
All Rights Reserved



Jesus, what I am I doing here? Jay spun around on her stool, and came face-to-face with a nervous dark-haired woman.

“Hi, I’m Claire.” Clearing her throat, Claire extended her hand and waited. Jay watched Claire’s hand as it hovered awkwardly between them before she dropped it limply to her side. Jay had no intention of shaking.

“My employer has asked me to come downstairs and invite you to join her for a drink.” Claire looked uncomfortable.

“What are you, her pimp? Who’s your employer?”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. I’ll need you to sign a nondisclosure agreement first. My employer is a well-known celebrity.”

Claire’s voice was tinged with pride, despite the strange situation.

“You’re kidding?” Jay smiled humourlessly. “A nondisclosure agreement?”

“Yes—” Claire nodded. “—to prevent any negative press coming to light.”

“Listen, love.” She leaned forward on the stool, bringing her face close to the other woman and doing her best to be condescending. “I’m not interested, okay?”

Claire flinched. She obviously wasn’t used to being told no.

“Maybe you should think about it? My employer—”

“I’m not for sale. It doesn’t matter who’s paying. Understand?”

Something in her eyes must have convinced Claire. Nodding, she backed away and hurried off.

Jesus, a nondisclosure agreement? Time really does march on. She could remember when you bought someone a drink, made small talk for an hour, then went back to her place. Of course, she’d never had a celebrity want to shag her before. Jay wondered briefly who it might be. As if you would even know. It’s not like you’ve kept up to date with show business since you’ve been away. Even before, when other girls were poring over gossip magazines, she read books about gardening.

Before. That was how she thought of it now. There was before, when things had all looked bright and filled with promise, and now.

Now was something she didn’t really want to dwell on too much.

She nursed the beer for a few minutes longer, unsure why she didn’t just leave.

“Hey.” A soft American voice roused her from her thoughts. “Did you really call my assistant a pimp?”

The voice alone got her blood up. Husky and low, it had to be the sexiest voice she’d ever heard.

She turned slowly on her stool, taking in the woman before her. Long, wavy, golden-brown hair, and large grey eyes. Surprisingly, Jay knew who she was. Shannon Somebody—she couldn’t remember her last name. Jay raked her gaze over the woman’s body and lingered purposely on the full, creamy swell of breasts. Jesus, she is hot.

*****

Shannon usually got pissed off when someone blatantly stared at her tits. She wasn’t sure why it didn’t bother her this time. Even from another woman, it should have. Maybe because the woman ogling her was the same woman who’d just turned her down.

“So, are you going to answer me, or just carrying on fucking me with your eyes?” Shannon asked as she slid onto the barstool beside the woman, pushing her tits out a little more. That’s right. Have a good look at what you just turned down.

When Claire had come back, flustered and embarrassed, and relayed her conversation with the hot barfly, Shannon hadn’t hesitated in marching downstairs. It wasn’t often she got turned down—in fact, she couldn’t remember it ever happening before.

Who the hell does she think she is? Calling my assistant a pimp? Shannon caught herself at the bottom of the stairs. The woman was still on her stool looking moodily around the room with a slight air of bored arrogance which, to her surprise, Shannon found appealing. She felt the familiar tingle between her legs and decided maybe this prey would be worth chasing.

“Drink?” the woman asked, ignoring Shannon’s eye-fucking comment with a half-smile on her full lips.

“Honey, my drink costs eighty pounds a glass,” Shannon replied. She leaned forward and offered another view of her chest. To the woman’s credit, this time her eyes didn’t leave Shannon’s face.

“Fuck that then. You can buy me drink.”

Shannon frowned. She didn’t know what to say because this never happened either. The woman broke into a smile, and it was like the clouds had parted—she looked even sexier when she smiled.

Shannon grinned in return.

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords

Book Playlist

I listened to tons of songs when I wrote, rewrote and edited Time. If I gave you the entire list, it'd take you days to get through them all so I've put a selection of them on YouTube. These are some of my favourites and probably best reflect what I wanted to achieve when I wrote the book.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa9mq0SetLrTL5gtXC-ATTyGp9nLCQ7v4

Meet the Author

Eden lives in London with her partner and their small, earless rescue cat. She runs her own business, and when she’s not working or writing, can usually be found rowing up and down the Thames.

Twitter | Goodreads

Tour Schedule

2/27 - Books,Dreams,Life

2/27 - Boy Meets Boy Reviews

2/28 - Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

2/28 - Molly Lolly; Reader, Reviewer, Lover of Words

3/1 - Divine Magazine

3/1 - Erotica For All

3/2 - Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews

3/3 - Happily Ever Chapter

3/4 - Love Bytes Reviews

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Save

Tag Team Review: Until You (At First Sight #3) by T.J. Klune

Sequel to The Queen & the Homo Jock King

Together with their families and friends

Paul Auster

and

Vincent Taylor

request the honor of your company at the celebration of their marriage.







Jet and Jem's Fuck Yeah Super Awesome Buddy Read Reviews
 
Tag team review y'all!

Jenni Lea and Ann both dove on this one as soon as it crossed the threshold into the clubhouse. T.J. Klune is a favorite here among unicorns and a freakin' wedding between Vince and Paul??? Please, how does one NOT get all up in that?

Come join the love fest . . . .

Jenni Lea ------ 5 Hearts

This was everything that I could have ever wished for from this series.  Vince is finally going to make an honest man out of Paul and we're invited to the shenanigans... er, I mean wedding.  It was fabulously awkward and adorable and I laughed the whole way through.

Vince is the most amazing guy.  He has no brain-to-mouth filter.  The words that come out of that boy's mouth... guh!  I was swooning right next to Paul.

"You're a little weird."
He shrugged.  "Probably.  But that's okay.  Being a little weird got me you, so I don't really care about that sort of thing."

This was a riot.  From nana's shenanigans to Sandy and Corey/Kori's "bro-isms" I was hyperventilating from laughter.  The situations the Scooby gang get themselves into are side-splitting hilarious.  Klune is a comedy master.  And when I wasn't rolling on the floor in hysterics I was shedding tears of joy over all the heartfelt moments between everyone, especially those moments between Paul and his dad.  That was beautiful!

I loved every bit of this story.  Every single bit.  But what I loved most about this story was Sexy Paul.  If you read this book for nothing else, read it for Sexy Paul.   Sexy Paul is my spirit animal.

I knew, just like everyone else, that wearing sunglasses at night immediately made a person at least forty-two percent hotter than if they went without them.

I think Corey Hart would agree with you on that one, Sexy Paul.

Sexy Paul is... well, I can't even describe what he is, he's that epic.  He is in a class by himself.  You see, Sexy Paul is the result of mixing one normal, every day Paul Auster with the evil brew that is Jagermeister.  The more you mix, the stronger the transformation.  And it. Is. Magical.

"Whoa," I said as I immediately posed because I was too legit to quit.  "Hey guys.  Sexy Paul is here.  You're welcome."
People cheered at that.  Of course they did.  I was amazing.

 Fuck yeah you are, you sexy beast!

Seriously, y'all.  If you've read Tell Me It's Real and The Queen & the Homo Jock King then you don't want to miss out on this book.  It was everything!  And if you haven't read this series yet, why the fuck not?  What the hell are you waiting for?




Ann ------ 5 Hearts

The pure sassy love that these characters have is the stuff that every family should aspire to.

There are really only two words I need to say to convince you that you NEED to read Until You as soon as possible. SEXY PAUL. You haven’t lived until you’ve met Sexy Paul.




In his mind he's JGL, in reality he's more Bobby Moynihan, which is all the better and so perfect Paul. Sexy Paul is so not ‘everyday Paul’, he is, in short, a magnificent beast and I love him. So does Vince and that’s what’s most important.

A wedding between Paul and Vince, from the planning to the actual nuptials is exactly as insane and magical as you would expect. Paul and Sandy are . . . well, they are Paul and Sandy and Vince, Vince is the rock that Paul needs desperately. Vince is the one that keeps the perspective on becoming an official part of the Auster family and legally Paul’s forever and always. He’s so ridiculously and accidentally romantic that I was reminded all over again why Paul is so madly in love with him. He made me swoon by just saying his feels out loud and he had NO idea how amazing his words were.

I had so many favorite parts, on top of meeting Sexy Paul, that I’ll be rereading this whole treasure again. And listening to the audio again. Just all of it, again. But, I’ve got to say, the most truly Vince/Paul moments were all about their wedding vows. They planned on writing them themselves and the goal was to make the other hubs weep like a motherfucker. It was pure gold and the buildup lived up to the execution beautifully. That included the obligatory smack-talk that came upon vow reading completion.

But, the bestest thing about Until You is how all the characters were brought together. Everyone had some ‘special’ page time. Even though the focus is Vince and Paul, every character had a voice and it really gave each of them even more depth. There were no real secondary characters, everyone was important and all of those moments made Until You so much more than just a romantic comedy. Love, in all its forms, was represented and I ate up all those little vignettes. The balance between OTT shenanigans and heartfelt emotions was sublime. Bring it in my bitches.





 And of course, SEXY PAUL.


Head over to Dreamspinner Press to pick up your copy.

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