Audiobook Review: Until Forever Comes (Mates #2) by Cardeno C.

A sensitive wolf shifter and a vicious vampire challenge history, greed, and the very fabric of their beings in order to stay together until forever comes.

Plagued by pain and weakness all his life, Ethan Abbatt is a wolf shifter who can't shift. Hoping to find an honorable death by joining his packmates in a vampire attack, Ethan instead learns two things: Draining his blood releases his pain and his wolf, and he has a true mate: a vampire named Miguel.

More than four centuries old, strong, powerful, and vicious, Miguel Rodriguez walks through life as a shadow, without happiness or affection. When a young shifter tells Miguel they're true mates, destined to be together, Miguel sends him away. But Ethan is persistent, and being together comes so naturally that Miguel can't resist for long. The challenge is keeping themselves alive so they can stay by each other's side until forever comes.

Narrated by: Charlie David
Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins

I read/listened to this series out of order. I first met Miguel and Ethan in To Touch You when Yoram needed a bit of mentoring about his blood situation from his favorite uncles. When Yoram meets Salvatore and realizes there is a solution to his blood problem as well as Salvatore being Yoram’s true mate, Miguel and Ethan were front and center giving guidance to the new couple and how to navigate their shifter/vampire mating. I knew then I needed to meet Ethan and Miguel and was not disappointed in their story at all.

“I’ve been alone for a long time, even before I was turned. Why, all of a sudden, did I feel like something was missing just because you weren’t in my bed?”

I loved this. Know that now so you won’t be surprised when I fangirl all over this review. I love the way Cardeno C. writes shifters and when you pair that with the talent of Charlie David as a narrator you are given one hell of a romantic story.

Knowing a bit of who Ethan and Miguel were, I was excited to start this book. I had to know how they met and how they figured out Ethan - and his blood - were made for Miguel and how Miguel would handle being mated/bonded to a shifter. The way they met was action packed and held so much emotion. It was great that they had chemistry instantly and simply being around Miguel changed Ethan’s life forever.

Poor Ethan. He’s lived his life thinking he was always less than and that something was wrong with him because he couldn’t shift into his wolf like everyone else. Top that with his body seeming to make too much blood that he had to resort to cutting to relieve the pressure on his body and his heart was so sad to read but Ethan just needed the one thing, the one man to change his life…

Miguel. Goodness but I’ve always had a soft sport for a vampire with a conscience. I blame Buffy for giving me Angel and I love it when they have this moral compass they have created and live by. Miguel has been through so much in his 400 years as a vampire and learning how he was turned broke my heart. He needs someone to take care of, he needs someone to be his and his only and he needs someone who can not only match his hunger but satiate it in every way.

These two were super swoony. This focuses more on the couple than the pack or vampire dynamics so we get a lot of time spent with Miguel and Ethan together and it really allows the intimacy to be felt. We know through Ethan they are true mates and later learn what it means for a vampire to be bonded to the one who give them blood and that is where the title comes in. I have a thing about titles and what they mean to the book and this one, it means everything.

“Heaven help me, but I want you to stay with me. But, Ethan, I will let you go if you say the word. I will never harm you.” He paused, looking deeply into my eyes. “You don’t need to run away from me. Just say the word and I’ll return you safely to your pack.”

“I wasn’t running away,”

“Okay,” he mumbled against my mouth and then nibbled on my lower lip. “I’m glad, But if you change your mind, wolf, it’s an open-ended offer. I’ll get you where you want to be safely, even—” His voice cracked, and could feel his heart racing. “Even if it isn’t with me.”

This is the first romance I have listened to and not read before and I had a blast with it and no trouble following along. Charlie David is an amazing narrator, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. As a young girl, I used to listen to mysteries and detective stories on the radio with my late father and loved the differential voices between characters. Sure, back then there were numerous actors bring the characters to life with nothing but their voice but Charlie David accomplishes that with his alone. Miguel came to life in this book and Ethan right along with him. I adored their voices and honestly, Miguel whispering in my/Ethan’s ear was so sexy. There is something so organic with Charlie David’s delivery of this characters that allows a deep intimacy with the romance. You’re not just listening to a story being told, you are part of that story. David isn’t just a narrator, he’s a true voice actor and that makes a difference.

The back and forth between Ethan’s pack and Miguel, the shifters distrust of Vampires and Miguel's knowledge of what shifters have been doing for hundreds of years brings the drama to this book as Ethan’s pack fights to keep their land in Kfarkattan. That gives us a good deal of pack relations within the story as well as some dealings with vampires that becomes action packed, violent and bloody which was perfect for this story. People, shifters, vampires just everyone needs to learn, you don’t separate mates. Goodnes.

That epilogue was exactly what I needed to wrap this story up even though I met Ethan and Miguel around that time in book four, it was still swoony and perfect.

This was so much fun and so super romantic. Cardeno C and Charlie David are a fantastic match when it comes to romance authors and narrators. I have enjoyed listening to the first two books in this series now and am eager to move on to book three.

Review: Sweet Nothings (Amuse Bouche #1) by T. Neilson

Will a bitter bite from the past spoil a sweet romance?

Tristan Love, the youngest of seven brothers, is back in his hometown. He’s left the New York food scene and an abusive relationship behind him, but he holds his love of French pastries close to his heart and is determined to put his skills to use in a bakery of his own.

Returning to his childhood home means his meddlesome brother Simon will butt into his business, but before the bakery even opens its doors, Tristan’s delectable creations have the town’s mouths watering, and Jake, a cute mechanic, asks Tristan out. It all seems worthwhile….

That is, until the bakery burns down, Jake’s criminal past comes to light, and Tristan’s nasty ex rears his head where he is decidedly not wanted.

Take the title to heart when it comes to this book because it’s super sweet. Like so sweet it made my teeth hurt but I’ve got a thing for sugary romances.

I love books that deal with food and the people that create either baked goods or epic masterpieces in the kitchen. Even as a vegan veteran of 23 years, I find creative people intriguing with how they can take simple ingredients and make amazing meals that blow people's minds and pallets.

When we meet Tristan Love, he is on the road toward his hometown of Lake Balmoral after leaving his fiance in New York with nothing but the ring and a note. Tristan has had it with Christopher and his control issues and is ready to move back home, open his own bakery and start again. When he stops in for a few grocery ingredients before moving onto this rented cabin, he has an awkward but adorable meet cute with a handsome stranger who doesn’t flinch at Tristan’s lack of flirting ability at that exact moment. That stranger is Jake and what better name could a MC have for me to have a crush on?

Jake is amazing. You know from the blurb and everyone in town talking about him that Jake has a past and Jake has been in jail. We don't immediately know why but we are told that Jake has a white knight complex so whatever happened, I was sure Jake wasn’t the one who did it. He just took the fall. And speaking of taking the fall, I loved watching him go after Tristan regardless of the threats the Love brothers or the coffee shop owners toss at him. Jake knows he has done his time, knows that what is in the past can stay there and he knows that he can be good for Tristan. It’s a good thing Tristan knows that too and hates the way his brothers try to run his life.

I had so much fun with this book. I loved being in Tristan’s head while he figures out how to start his own business and not have his heard of older brothers butting their way in to fix things. Tristan is the youngest of seven brothers and having lost his father when he was six, his brothers have always tried to step in and be there for him. But they need to learn Tristan is a grown man and can make his own decisions, even if they don’t know the full truth behind why he made them.

This story is so damn sweet but it does have a bit of darkness to it regarding both Tristan’s and Jake’s pasts. I was ready for some of Jake’s but a few things hurt and when we find out why Tristan left, it broke my heart. I did love who he told about it first and when his brothers find out, their response was heartwarming.

Simon is mentioned in the blurb and he is one of the brothers who is mostly in the story. I am happy that he will be next to get a book, even though I thought it would be Nate, but Simon is so grumpy it will be great to see him get knocked on his butt by love.

Sweet Nothings was such a fun read. The connection between Jake and Tristan is so strong from the beginning and both men were respectful of how fast the relationship moved but they talked about it and decided they were both on board. They really put surfaces to great use in Tristan’s bakery and I hope we get to see them rebuilding the bakery after the fire in the next book.

Release Bltz + Giveaway: On a Summer Night by Gabriel D. Vidrine

Celebrate the release of On a Summer Night with author Gabriel D. Vidrine and IndiGo Marketing! Learn more about the QUILTBAG story and enter in the $10 NineStar Press credit giveaway!

Title:  On a Summer Night

Author: Gabriel D. Vidrine

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: April 2, 2018

Heat Level: 1 - No Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 56200

Genre: Contemporary, LGBT, contemporary, YA, trans, bisexual, asexual, coming-of-age, coming out, family drama, HFN, #ownvoices

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Synopsis

Fourteen-year-old Casey is determined to have fun this summer going to camp with his best friend, Ella. His overprotective mother frets that attending this one instead of trans camp like he’s always done will cause problems, but Casey has his heart set on going stealth anyway.

His mom just might be right.

All Ella wants is love for her best friend, and she’s determined to set him up with someone, despite Casey’s protests that he just wants to have fun, not get involved in a summer romance. But things get complicated when camp bully Ryan focuses his energies on the two friends. At least Casey’s cute bunkmate, Gavin, appears interested in getting to know him better, making Casey rethink the whole romance thing.

Until he finds out Gavin and Ryan are good friends.

Summer camp turns into so much more when Casey has to decide if Gavin is worth pursuing, friend of a bully or not.

There’s just one more problem: Ryan knows Casey is transgender.

Excerpt

On a Summer Night
Gabriel D. Vidrine © 2018
All Rights Reserved

“Do you have your socks?” my mother called up the stairs.

“Yes, mother!” I shouted back down at her. Of course I had socks. But I double-checked the large footlocker anyway, scrabbling through it until I found them. They were buried under my binders, but there they were.

“Don’t forget towels!” came another shout up the stairs.

She knew me well. I always forgot something. I went back to my bathroom and rummaged around in the linen closet until I found enough towels for the trip.

When I got back to my room, Mom was staring down into my trunk, her hands on her hips. “Anything else?” she asked, eyeing how much was in it.

“I hope not.”

I tossed the towels in the trunk, only to be crushed into a hug from her. “I’m going to miss you Casey,” she said into my hair.

I patted her awkwardly. She meant well, but ever since I announced my desire to transition two years ago when I turned twelve, she’d gotten super overprotective and clingy. “I’ll miss you too, Mom.” I did mean it, but it was going to be a relief to be away from her for almost two weeks. Even though I’d never been away from my parents that long before, not even at trans camp.

She squeezed me harder until I gasped and then let me go. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“For the millionth time, yes,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Okay. I’ll get your dad to get this down the stairs,” she said, and then she was gone in a whirl of brown hair and scarves.

I shook my head at her back and pulled out my phone to text my best friend, Ella.

Me: Almost ready. U?

I knew she wouldn’t answer right away (she actually hated her phone, the weirdo), so I nervously went through my list again to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. I needed a distraction.

While I was rummaging, my dad, a big guy who had prematurely gone bald so he always wore an ugly hat, had lumbered up the stairs and was frowning down at my trunk. “Are you sure you need all that?” His voice was very deep.

“Yeah, Dad.” My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it. “It’s almost two weeks.”

“Twelve days,” he said.

“Yeah, I know.” I scratched at my head, slightly embarrassed to talk about my transition stuff with my dad. “I, you know, need some extra stuff.” I thought of the binders lying next to my socks.

He glanced at me and nodded, and then looked quickly away. He hadn’t been as supportive of my transition as my mom. When I first told him, he blurted, “But you’re a girl.”

We stood there in awkward silence for a moment as I wondered what I should say to him, father to son. But he hadn’t yet called me his son.

He cleared his throat, still not looking at me, and then crouched and heaved up the trunk onto a roller cart he’d carried up the stairs. It was going to be a pain getting it down on the cart, but at least he wouldn’t kill his back picking it up this way.

I helped him maneuver it down the stairs, wishing not for the first time I could start hormones. I wanted to be as strong as my dad, but I wasn’t old enough yet. Well, I was, but my parents wouldn’t approve it until I was sixteen. I figured Dad was the one holding out, because Mom would give me whatever I wanted.

Two more years.

When we finally got the trunk down the stairs, I pulled my phone out. Ella had texted back.

Ella: Yeah, loading the car. Are you ready?

Me: Yes! Just gotta say bye.

Ella: We’ll be there soon.

“Ella and her parents are going to be here soon,” I told my parents.

Mom had argued long and hard about how I was getting to camp. She wanted to take me, but I wanted to go with Ella and her parents. My friend and her brother had been going to this camp for years, and her parents knew exactly how to get there. Mom pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. “Okay. Are you sure you have it all?”

Annoyance flared up. “Yes!” I said.

“Don’t take that tone with your mother,” Dad warned.

I closed my mouth and let the anger subside. It wouldn’t do to get into an argument with them now. They’d probably not let me go, whether or not they had already paid for my spot. And summer camp wasn’t cheap; I’d seen prices on the website.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, and Mom pulled me into another hug.

“Be safe, okay?” she said. “I wish you wanted to go to the trans camp instead.”

“Mom, please!”

“Okay, okay, I know. You want to go to regular camp like any regular boy.”

“I went to trans camp last year,” I said.

“I know, and you loved it. That’s why I wish you’d go again.”

“Stop worrying so much, Mom,” I told her. “The kids won’t hurt me.”

She didn’t look convinced when she finally let me go. It was true; trans camp had been fantastic. But everyone there knew I was trans. I wanted to go someplace where I didn’t always feel trans. I knew it was impossible, but I wanted a shot at it. All the other kids at trans camp had loved it, because they’d said they could shed their trans identity there. Since everyone was trans, we got to talk about other things. It made it less special, which was, in reality, a relief.

And that was the problem for me. I just wanted to be like any other boy. And all the other boys went to summer camp like the one I was going to, not to trans camp. I wanted to be a boy with the other boys.

Purchase

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

Meet the Author

Gabriel D. Vidrine is a trans masculine scientist, dancer, and writer but is working towards reversing that order. They teach and perform belly dance all over the country, but still manage to cram in writing time whenever and wherever possible.

They are an avid reader and writer, and love science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal romance, but will give any genre a try.

Gabriel lives with their husband, video game systems, and ridiculous cat, Selina, in Chicago, IL.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Review: Kiss Me Forever by M.J. O'Shea

Forever is too long to be alone.

Professor Avery Cook has spent his career researching the mysterious side of New Orleans. Superstitions, legends, and lore—Avery has an academic explanation for all of them….

Until one night when he walks into a bar and his life changes.

In a sea of impossibly beautiful people, Tyson stands out, and he sweeps Avery off his feet with his old-world charm and romanticism. But there’s a darkness in Tyson too, and Avery discovers Tyson is part of a world he thought existed only in books and stories—the paranormal tales he studies at the university.

Tyson’s been lonely for a long time, and he’s falling in love with Avery. But his past is a long one, and it’s full of enemies and danger. The best way to keep Avery safe is to push him away….

I will state now that I have never met a MJ O’Shea book that I didn’t like. There is something about the way she writes that makes me think we get one another because I always find myself entertained and in love with her romance.

So this book, I was way curious about it because it’s a Dreamspun Beyond book so we are getting the paranormal but the blurb doesn’t state what form of paranormal Tyson will be and that makes this a fascinating read.

With the story taking place in modern day New Orleans and Avery being a professor of humanities with a strong focus on paranormal activities or myths and legends, it wasn’t hard for me to picture the setting. I am going to put this out there now, I am a huge fan of the American Horror Story series and season three, Coven, was my favorite. And guess what? It also took place in New Orleans. Just thinking about the setting, the house that the witches lived in and thinking of Tyson’s house and a few other characters mentioned in the story that should be dead--but aren’t--reminded me of a light and fluffy version of American Horror Story complete with my own Kyle/Tate. Yup, Tyson in this book is going to be a version of a very blond Evan Peters. Don’t judge me, I have a thing for him.

Anyway.

Told from the dual POV’s of Avery and Tyson, we know that their day to day is pretty well, boring. Avery goes about his day with teaching and hanging out with friends when he has the chance. As a young genius, he’s gone to college and graduated early and he even has written his own book that is a required text for his class. But Avery has been waiting for that one moment to arrive when he knows his life will never be the same and he won’t want it any other way.

Now Tyson, we know he is something and from the beginning we know his housekeeper is as well and we know it all has something to do with the tea why they don’t age or die. The tea is the key but we don’t get to know all about it, what it does and what Tyson is until further into the book. But the cover for this story works and I love that it does. The title does too and that makes this ginger so very happy. But Tyson is an old soul, literally who lives a mundane life to sustain his immorality and yet, he’s searching for more and this time, he doesn’t need to feel itchy and move to a new town to find it.

So the story was absolutely fun and engaging. I like how Avery and Tyson meet and what the bar comes to mean in this world of things that go bump in the night. The chemistry is there from the start with these two and they are super cute about all of it. I adored how much Tyson is willing to sacrifice to be with Avery in the way Avery deserves even if it means he doesn’t stay on his tea regimen. Tyson and Avery are both in over the heads and head over heels for the other. But there are dark forces out there that Tyson has tangled with that will stress what they have together.

Wow. Have I said anything? I am rambling I know. The book was a lot of fun. Finding out what Tyson is when he tells Avery his secret also let us in on what everyone else at the bar etc was eye opening. So many creatures Avery has researched and studied are suddenly tangible and I think he handled it pretty well. Tyson on the other hand, you’t think someone as old as he was would be able to handle a relationship better but then again, Tyson has never been in love the way he is with Avery, so he’s sacred and we do dumb things when we are scared.

Through it all, Tyson and Avery find themselves swept into a romance between two worlds that has more than enough power to sustain their love. They just need to get on the right page and move forward, together.

The end came with the ultimate decision I hoped would be made with Tyson and Avery, though I wasn't expecting who would be the one to change. It was great though that both men are willing to go all in, and I do mean all in to be with the other. Also, Tyson’s gift to Avery and where Avery puts it made me giggle. These two really were adorable and I loved being a witness to their story.

Audiobook Review: Under the Boardwalk by Felice Stevens

Beneath the famous Brooklyn landmark, love is hidden but not denied:

All his life, Alexi Kharpov has dreamed of traveling to unknown exciting places instead of working at his family’s frozen custard stand on the famous Coney Island boardwalk. Every year is the same until a gorgeous man picks a spot in front of his stand to sing, captivating him with his beautiful voice. After two summers of listening, it might finally be time for him to cross that boardwalk and take a chance.

Opera singer Cameron Maxwell has traveled the world, but the sight of the beautiful man serving custard to tourists touches his heart like nothing ever has before. A summer fling might be exactly what he needs to put his problems out of his mind, but the last thing Cam expects is to want the summer to last forever.

It’s a season of discovery for both men who learn to dig deep within their heads and hearts to decide whether secrets old and new should remain buried, or if love is too important to keep hidden under the boardwalk.

Listening Length: 3 hours and 56 minutes
Narrator: Nick J. Russo

If you want something sweet and short with a good dash of sexy, then check this out!

This starts off with Alexi, an endearing character who’s quiet and unassuming and basically a dreamer. Alexi desires to leave his family’s frozen custard business for adventure and worries his traditional Russian relatives won’t understand why. He also fears his family wouldn't understand or accept his sexuality and thus, he’s just anxious to finish college so he can start exploring all that is beyond Brooklyn. However, things change when his crush from across the boardwalk says hello.

Cameron is a music teacher who spends his time off doing what he loves, and that’s singing. He’s had more than his fair share of traveling the world, and he’s now content to spend his lazy summers performing along Coney Island. Cameron’s not blind to the gorgeous custard guy from afar, so when he notices Alexi’s interest, it’s just the nudge he needs to make a move.

Though they each approach this whirlwind summer fling with no expectations, both Alexi and Cameron quickly realize that they are falling hard and fast - all of which is exhilarating and scary. Problem is, Alexi really has no plan to stay for the long run.

Narrated by the lovely Nick J. Russo, he nicely brings an endearing vulnerability to Alexi and a kind confidence to Cameron. For me, Russo always gets the emotions just right, and he never falls short during the smexy times. Yep!

Again, these two were really quite lovely together. Things may be moving at warp speed but Alexi and Cameron talk, they support the other, and they’re not going to hold back. Overall, a very enjoyable story that’s not too angsty, with truly likeable characters who take a chance on each other and win! Enjoy!


Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Consorting with Dragons: Expanded Edition by Sera Trevor

At last, the novel-length expansion of the award-winning novella!

Lord Jasen of Grumhul, an impoverished young nobleman, has come to the Draelands to find a rich husband to help pay his father's debts. To the shock of everyone, he ends up attracting the attention of King Rilvor himself, and the dragons who control the magic in the land. Becoming royalty wasn’t something Jasen either expected or wanted, but he can’t control his growing feelings for kind and handsome king. Scheming factions at Court conspire to keep him from Rilvor’s side, and now Jasen has to decide if the chance at true love with Rilvor is worth the burden of being the husband of a king.

This sweet and funny Cinderfella romance is complete at ~85000 words and ends in a solid HEA. After all, true love always wins in fairy tales!

Back in 2014 when I read the original version of this story I was overjoyed with the dragons and world building of this slow burn, Cinderfella romance. What Sera Trevor has done with the expansion of that story is wonderfully cinematic making it was again a delight to read.

Jasen tells the story of his falling in love with King Rilvor despite all the pomp and circumstance he's subjected to at Court. Jasen hails from Grumhul which eschews high customs. The Grummish are practical people who aren't afraid of hard work and love their mudball (sounds similar to soccer), but his father has drank and gambled away their money which puts Jasen in the position of trying to secure a wealthy husband to sustain them. Somehow his father secures a highly coveted place for him at Court and lays on the 'your poor ole dad' pretty thick as encouragement.

One of the things I really liked about Court is the lack of heteronormativity. It seems counterintuitive given how rigid the protocols are but a bright spot in an otherwise uncompromising society never hurt anyone, right?

All the provinces in the Allied Realm send their most eligible daughters and sons to the Draelands annually to strengthen bonds through marriages, but also to increase power. Many of these nobles are dragon blessed which gives them some sort of magical ability; that ability can intensify if the marriage is a strong one.

Since Grumhul has no dragons Jasen is automatically believed to be a poor match and certainly not worthy of the King's affections. The King, however, did not get the memo because he is smitten upon first meeting. Jasen, after being called by Tasenred (one of the dragons) and wandering the grounds, has no idea who the King is whence they meet. He's in his low country attire and quite plainspoken all of which Rilvor finds refreshing.

Tasenred is my favorite. There are other dragons but Tasenred is one pushy dragon and I hearted the bejeezus out of him. He takes a shine to Jasen and their connection was heartwarming to read.

The role the dragons play in this realm was marvelous and something that didn't stand out in the original version.

The Court and its protocols were also explained much better too. Court is largely a popularity club reminiscent of the ton, complete with corsets, ridiculously high heels and hairstyles, balls, organized activities, all of which are supervised and exceedingly proper with the requisite backbiting and jockeying for place, and yet somehow Jasen still forges some lifelong friendships. The secondary characters of Princess Polina, Lady Risyda and many of the tertiary characters like Lady Isalei and Larely played a larger role.

Nevertheless, Jasen isn't really cut out for Court. He plays along and does as told, but he is Grummish through and through, preferring to be outdoors, playing mudball or doing something useful which oftentimes prompts him to sneak out of the castle and made for some entertaining scenes.

Generally speaking, I like my romances when the MCs spend a significant amount of time together and while Rilvor and Jasen spend some time together, I craved more. They have chemistry and a few heart to heart conversations were had, but their relationship isn't well developed, instead relying on the de rigueur fairy tale instalove.

Jasen comes into his own, but he did run a little hot and cold, sometimes seemingly self-possessed and others harried. His thoughtfulness and diligence in deciding whether or not he was suited for the responsibilities of Lord Consort to Rilvor are what won me over. I also liked that he stayed true to himself AND that Rilvor loved him because of all those qualities.

If there were to be a follow up I would be interested in seeing where their story goes, because I'm smitten with the world Sera Trevor has built. If you're in the mood for a sweet, high fantasy, no sex fairy tale then give Consorting with Dragons a try. There are new twists and turns in the narrative, so this is definitely not the same story from the DRitC event.

It's still 99¢ on Amazon if you pre-order it too!

An ARC was provided by the author.

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Soul To Keep (Rented Heart #2) by Garrett Leigh

Celebrate the release of Soul to Keep (Rented Heart #2) with author Garrett Leigh and Signal boost Promotions! Learn more about the contemporary romance! Enter in the giveaway! Three winners will have a choice from Garrett Leigh's back list!

Universal Buy Link

Length: 62,000 words

Cover Design: Black Jazz Design

Rented Heart Series

Rented Heart (Book #1) - Universal Buy Link

Blurb

Recovering addict Jamie Yorke has returned to England from California. With no home or family to speak of, he sticks a pin in a map and finds a small town in the Derbyshire Peak District. Matlock Bath is a quiet place—he just needs to get there, keep his head down, and stay clean. Simple, right? Until a chance meeting on the flight home alters the course of his so-called life forever.


Ex-Army medic Marc Ramsey is recovering from life-changing combat injuries while pulling nights as a trauma specialist at the local hospital. Keeping busy is a habit he can’t quit, but when Jamie—so wild and beautiful—bursts into his life, working himself into the ground isn’t as compelling as it used to be.


?Marc falls hard, but chaos lurks behind Jamie’s fragile facade. He’s winning his battle against addiction, but another old foe is slowly consuming him. Both men have weathered many storms, but the path to the peace they deserve might prove the roughest ride yet.

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Fox Love Press.


Garrett's debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.


When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.


Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with photographer Dan Burgess.

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Blog Tour: Nobody's Prince Charming by Aimee Nicole Walker

Welcome Aimee Nicole Walker! Find out more about her latest and read an excerpt of Nobody's Prince Charming!

NOBODY’S PRINCE CHARMING

AIMEE NICOLE WALKER

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 03.23.18

COVER DESIGN: JAY AHEER/ Simply Defined Art

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER: WANDER AGUIAR

BLURB

Fire and ice. Oil and water. Vodka and decisions. That’s what Darren McCoy and Wren Davison are: two opposites that shouldn’t mix well. Dare believes in fairy tales, true love, and happily ever after. Wren believes in fast cars, freedom, and no-strings sex. What can these two men possibly have in common? A magnetic pull strong enough to obliterate logic and reason.

For more than a year, Dare and Wren have worked together at the Curl Up and Dye Salon. Dare has pursued the mysterious, brooding man, and Wren has resisted his provocative charm. Then one day, something happens that allows the men to see each other in a new light. Wren learns that Dare hides a heavy heart behind his brilliant smile. Dare realizes that beneath Wren’s gruff exterior beats the heart of a prince.

Passions ignite once the men stop fighting their attraction, but will it be enough to overcome their differences? Is Wren the prince that Dare is looking for? Can Dare teach Wren that true love does exist?

Nobody’s Prince charming is a modern-day fairy tale where some princes ride Harleys, and castle walls are built to scale. It is the third book in the Road to Blissville series but can be read as a standalone book. This book contains sexually explicit material and is intended for adults eighteen and over.

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EXCERPT

We didn’t say anything on our way up to Dare’s room because neither of us wanted to risk waking Ralph. We were lucky that we didn’t get caught when we pulled that stunt in the laundry room. Okay, the stunt that I pulled. I knew that Ralph liked me, and I even suspected he knew that his grandson had become very important to me, but that didn’t give me the right to be disrespectful in his home. It wasn’t because we were gay either. I would’ve felt the same if we were a straight couple sneaking up to… Couple? I rolled the word around in my head a few times, expecting a negative thought to refute its validity but none came. I discovered I liked the way the word felt, sounded, and even tasted on my tongue. Just because I didn’t speak it out loud didn’t mean it was less true.

When we got to Dare’s room, we silently undressed each other in between soft kisses in the muted light from the lamp on the bedside table. The mood between us was different like we both had realized something important that day: what we shared was poignant and real. There was a confidence in Dare’s hands when he touched me and in his eyes when he looked at me. Did he see and feel the same changes in me?

Even my arousal was different. Rather than the all-consuming fire, it was a slow-burning flame that never seemed to diminish or burn out. It vibrated through me like normal, but new emotions joined the passion: tenderness and a desire for something I didn’t deserve and shouldn’t want. I’d been stingy with my heart for my entire life, giving it only to my mom who had died and a boy who was nearly rejected by his family for loving me. My mom didn’t choose to willingly leave me, but the boy did. I didn’t blame him, but it still hurt, especially when our breakup was only a few months after my mom’s death. I had no one in the world I could count on until I met Jimmy and Danny. I sure as hell couldn’t count on Falcon. Just thinking about him brought on a fresh wave of exhaustion, which killed my arousal.

Dare didn’t seem to mind. He pulled back the sheets and blankets then gestured for me to climb inside. He joined me after I got situated then turned off the light before he rolled over and lay his head on my chest. In the dark, it was easier to find the words that I couldn’t speak to anyone else. Hell, Jimmy and Danny didn’t even know that Falcon was my sperm donor, yet here I was about to tell Dare everything.

“Wren,” he said softly in the darkness. “You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to, okay? If you do want to talk, I promise you that nothing you say will leave this room.”

“I know, Sparkles.” I trailed my hands up and down his back, finding comfort in the rhythm and already familiar feel of my fingers bumping along his spine. “You’d never betray my trust.” I knew it as certain as the sun would rise in the east. No matter what happened between us, Dare would keep my confidence. “Once upon a time,” I began to lighten the mood. I expected Dare to snort, but he giggled. “What?”

“That’s a phrase I use frequently in my head. I tend to work everyday events into fairy tales.”

“Yeah? Who am I?” I asked.

“Prince Charming, duh. Only with longer hair, biker boots, and a beefier body. My prince rides a Harley instead of a horse.”

“Sparkles, I’m nobody’s Prince Charming.”

“You don’t get to decide that,” he said in a singsong voice. “I decide who my Prince Charming is and no one else.”

I ignored the fluttering in my stomach and dug deep for a gruff response. “Fine, but don’t say that I didn’t warn you.”

“Once upon a time…” Dare prompted.

I am a wife and mother to three kids, three dogs, and a cat. When I’m not dreaming up stories, I like to lose myself in a good book, cook or bake. I’m a girly tomboy who paints her fingernails while watching sports and yelling at the referees. I will always choose the book over the movie. I believe in happily-ever- after. Love inspires everything that I do. Music keeps me sane.

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Review: Oscar (Leopard's Spots #2) by Bailey Bradford

One sexy wolf is determined to show a grouchy kitty just how perfect they are for each other.

Oscar Travis has always been different, and not just because he’s a snow leopard shifter. Petite and pretty in a family where even the women are bigger and stronger than he is, Oscar has been protected by them—except for the times when no one could keep him safe. When he had to take another shifter’s life to protect his own family, Oscar’s world became a scarier place, at least in his head, not that he’s going to let his family know that. He will, however, help his dad Henry hunt down the cougar shifter who is trying to destroy one of Oscar’s own, his brother-in-law, Lyndon.

Which is why Oscar finds himself in San Antonio. Curiosity—always Oscar’s potential downfall—is the reason he’s in one of the city’s biggest gay nightclubs. And it’s his bad luck that he is cornered by four obnoxious shifters who are out to ruin his night. Josiah Baker has other plans for Oscar, plans of mates and forever, but once he makes sure his kitten is safe, he’s ditched like a bad memory. Good thing he’s a shifter too, and a determined one who doesn’t shy away from Oscar’s attitude. He sees the hurting man behind the pretty façade, and no one is going to keep him and Oscar from the happy ending they deserve.

Insta stories are not really my thing as a general rule. Fated Mate stories are even less appealing. But… for some reason this series is a lot of fun. It has a serious story arc but it is still light and fluffy with some decent humour and a lot of sexy times. I’ve slowed down on my erotica reading, but I can still enjoy them every now and then. Oscar is one of those times when I enjoyed the heck out of erotic content.

Beware, if you haven’t read book one, this will contain spoilers from Levi.

Oscar is still traumatised from having to kill Lyndon’s brother, but is really trying to hide it from his family while accompanying his dad, in search of Lyndon’s father, to try and get the Tavares siblings to stop trying to kill each other.

On a night out during a brief reprieve from searching, Oscar makes his way to a gay bar in the hopes he’ll get lucky with at least some sexy dancing and a kiss. Enter Josiah, a wolf shifter who comes to Oscar’s aid when a group of wolves try to back Oscar into a corner. Oscar is equal parts furious, and intoxicated by the encounter, and Josiah is silently celebrating for finally finding his mate.

These two are sexy together. I enjoyed their exchanges. They seem to get each other quickly, thanks to the mental bond that has clicked into place, which enables them to read each others thoughts. There is no battle for dominance, and they seem to both just enjoy being together and basking in the sexual chemistry that is happening in their newly formed relationship.

Some of the relationship building was too fast for me. While I get insta-lust, it felt like the mind reading thing created a shortcut for the getting to know you part, which is part of my joy with romance. Looking at it from an erotica point of view, it works fine, but I would have liked more in that space than just the sex.

This is fairly fast paced with the action part of the story. The good thing about it is that Oscar starts to settle into a new role within the family that suits him much better than the role he had.

Josiah just wants to be in Oscar’s orbit and that is really sweet. This story is next to zero relationship angst, which works for me just fine but may be too easy for others.

The larger series arc is interesting, and I’m curious how that will evolve. I like that this small isolated family of Snow Leopards are finally branching out and seeing how they fit in the shifter world.

If you’re into light sexy reads, this definitely fits, and is a great way to lift ones mood if you’re having a rough time. Complete erotic escapism with a decent action plot to round it out. I’d recommend this to most readers.

A review copy was provided for an honest opinion.

Review: Livingston (Trenton Security #1) by J.M. Dabney

He was the Beast without the escape clause.

Francis “Liv” Livingston was a beast. No matter if he wore a perfectly tailored suit or if he was in his tactical gear, people avoided looking at him. He was always first to volunteer for the jobs only a person with a death wish wanted. Tomorrows weren’t guaranteed. His boss had come to him and told him he needed him for a job. Linus knew the jobs he liked, but when he opened the file, it all went to hell.

Beauty was only skin deep.

Fielding Haskell made his way in the world on his looks. He’d earned his first film role before he could read a script. He didn’t want the fame. He wanted to go to college. He wanted a man who didn’t look at him and see how pretty he was. Unfortunately, a so-called fan only cared how attractive he was, and it earned him a personal bodyguard and a vacation. He looked forward to the break until he met the man in charge of his safety and wondered if the danger he left was worth dealing with a sudden attraction to a man who was colder than ice.

I’m going to start this off with some warnings and information that I wish I had prior to diving in. This read is full of Daddy kink. The MCs and secondary characters are all part of the lifestyle and it's a huge element of the story. There’s also a fisting scene that isn’t super graphic but worth noting. There are triggers for abuse, stalking, and mentions of prior suicide attempts.

Still here?

Daddy kink and fisting aren’t my kinks of choice but I still somewhat enjoyed this read. Both Fielding and Livingston were very likable with heartbreaking backstories that had me cheering for them along the way.

Livingston was born into an environment where “love came in shades of blue and black, fading to a deceptively pretty purple and a sick greenish-yellow.” After a horrific childhood ripe with abuse and time in the military, he works for a security company. Livingston lives his life waiting, hoping for it to end. He’s scarred from head to toe on half his body and accepts that he’ll never find someone that will look past his beastly exterior.

Fielding is a 23 year old actor that has never truly lived. He’s beautiful and on a very short leash with zero freedom. Fielding is starved, denied relationships, micromanaged, and has a keeper 24/7. No chocolate for two years? *gasp* #fuckthatnoise! He also has a very aggressive stalker which is how he’s placed in the care of Livingston, his new bodyguard.

Both men are broken and hesitant to reach for more. They are immediately attracted to each other but Livingston has a difficult time getting past his hangups and the 15 year age gap to move on. Things obviously heat up for the men and Livingston gets his boy while trying to suss out a stalker. They have a few bumps in the road while Livingston tries to do what’s right. Eventually they get their Daddy/boy situation resolved for a predictable HEA.

Here are my issues: I felt like I was entering a story that had already started. There was a lack of depth and shortfalls in character and plot development. Many things are rushed, especially the Daddy/boy dynamic without being fully realized. I *think* it’s due to the fact that the secondary characters already had their stories told. However, this is supposed to be a standalone and the first of a new series. A little warning about reading order would go a long way for clarity. I didn’t read the other books by this author and therefore can’t speak on whether it would have provided the foundational depth that Livingston is lacking.

As I mentioned above, I was still able to find pieces to enjoy. The stalker storyline held my attention and I was invested in the outcome of Livingston and Fielding. This story isn’t for the squeamish but I’d recommend it to those that have already read the previous books about the secondary characters.

*skips off to eat chocolate*

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Rended Hearts by Riza Curtis

Celebrate the release of Rended Hearts with author Riza Curtis and Signal Boost Promotions! Learn more about the witch/shifter mate romance today! Enter in the $10 Amazon gift card giveaway!

Universal Buy Links

Length: 35,000 words approx.

Blurb

After a life on the run, witch Gabriel just wants to enjoy having a home. He’s perfectly happy pottering around his garden and using magic to quietly help people. Then the Alpha of the local wolf pack is attacked by a member of the local coven, and everything changes. There’s no love lost between the witch and the wolves, but Gabriel saves the life of the Alpha in an attempt to keep the peace.


Simon finds his mate in the witch that saves his life, but the coven is coming for Gabriel, and they don’t care who gets in their way...

Excerpt

“That’s better.” Simon couldn’t help his own smile after seeing Gabriel’s joy. His face was flushed pink from laughing, and he looked radiant in the soft light of the clinic.


“What is?”


Simon took a chance and moved closer. Gabriel’s eyes widened as he startled, but he didn’t seem alarmed. “Seeing you smile.”


Gabriel flushed a deeper red, a hint of confusion displayed on his face.


Simon took another step closer so that he was face-to-face with a flustered Gabriel. He brought his hand up to gently touch the side of the Gabriel’s face. His skin was softer than Simon had thought possible.


“Are you—” Gabriel broke off the sentence and moved back. Simon dropped his hand immediately. He didn’t want to make Gabriel uncomfortable.


Gabriel glanced at Simon and took a hesitant breath. Simon tried to look reassuring.


“Forgive me if I’m wrong, but you’re flirting with me? Why?”


Simon chuckled. Gabriel was adorable. “Because I like you.”


Gabriel frowned before glancing away. He didn’t seem satisfied with the answer.


“But wolves have mates,” he interjected.


Simon’s eyes widened momentarily. He hadn’t thought Gabriel would know about mates, but maybe this would be a good thing—maybe Gabriel would be more receptive, more understanding about the situation.


“Why do you think I am flirting with you?” Simon asked, dropping his voice to no louder than a whisper, soft and alluring.


Gabriel inhaled sharply, and his eyes widened. “Surely not?”


Simon didn’t know if that was positive or negative, but he couldn’t take it back now. He nodded, moving closer and crowding Gabriel against the wall.


“Don’t you feel it too?” he asked. “My mate?”

Author Bio

Riza began writing stories at a young age to the a?n?n?o?y?a?n?c?e? delight of anyone she could b?u?l?l?y? persuade to read them. Now somewhat older, if not wiser, things haven't really changed.


Riza lives in England where they enjoy adding extra letters to words, tea, and discussing the weather (it's always raining). She has a FdSci in Manufacturing Engineering and is currently working towards her BEng. When she's not writing, studying or doing her day job, Riza is obsessed with target archery and enjoys shooting barebow.

www.rizacurtis.com

Twitter: @rizacurtis

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