Review: His Needs by Kris T. Bethke

When State Trooper Travis Kinslow is injured right before Thanksgiving, the only positive is that for once he won’t be working during the holidays. Since he has no family, Travis was absorbed into his best friend, Joe’s, and he considers them as good as his own. Everyone except Joe’s brother Noah. Travis has been in love with the younger man for much of his life, but he’s always kept his distance.

As an ER nurse, Noah is a caretaker by nature. When his brother’s best friend is hurt, he’s happy to help Travis while he heals. He’s only ever allowed himself to think of Travis as the next best thing to an older brother, but by the light of the Christmas tree, Noah finally sees Travis’s true feelings. And in that moment, everything changes.

When faced with opposition and a Christmas nothing like they imagined, will their hopes for the future be enough to carry them through?

***Sings from highest mountain***
 Friends to lovers, friends to lovers..... That's my jam!

Ha ha! seriously, it is my favourite trope, for many reasons, so I love when I pick up a book where the MCs are friends. Strictly speaking, Travis is best friends with Noah's brother, Joe, but he's almost like one of the family. In fact, he's so much part of the family that it causes problems as their relationship develops.

This is a perfect holiday story (and don't we need a little of that in our lives now that the January gloom has hit?) The sweet romance, friends-to-lovers, a bit of angst and upset but love conquers all. Well, not all, but it starts to win the way. Sometimes this is just the kind of book I want to read. The whole, family-centric core of the story really floats my boat. Travis doesn't have a family - Joe's family is his family. Joe's mom bosses him around like one of her own children. The children banter like siblings or close friends, I love it.

I also loved how, something that has been hidden/unseen for twenty-odd years suddenly blossoms. I loved Travis's relationship development with Noah. It was a little corny, but I liked the whole he suddenly realises how Travis feels in front of the Christmas tree. It brought a soppy smile to my face. I liked how it didn't diminish the friendship between Joe and Travis - but it still challenged it a little. Anything like that is going to change the known boundaries of friendship or brotherly love. I also had a love/hate relationship to Noah's mom's reaction. It felt extreme in a way... but I could understand, from her characters POV, how she felt. I didn't agree, but to me it showed how much she considered Travis part of the family.

So, yeah, I liked this story, it was just gooey enough.

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

For more information, see Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads.

Giveaway + Blog Tour: Afraid to Fly (Anchor Point #2) by L.A. Witt

The Afraid to Fly tour is buzzing the clubhouse tower today. Don't miss out on the Riptide Credit Giveaway below! Win $10 in Riptide Publishing credit and two books of choice from L.A. Witt’s backlist!

About L.A. Witt

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut…

Website: http://www.gallagherwitt.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GallagherWitt

About Afraid to Fly

Once a fearless fighter pilot, Commander Travis Wilson is now confined to a desk. It’s been eight years since the near-fatal crash that grounded him, and it still rules his life thanks to relentless back pain.

Lieutenant Commander Clint Fraser almost drowned in a bottle after a highly classified catastrophe while piloting a drone. His downward spiral cost him his marriage and kids, but he’s sober now and getting his life back on track. He’s traded drones for a desk, and he’s determined to reconcile with his kids and navigate the choppy waters of PTSD.

Clint has been on Travis’s radar ever since he transferred to Anchor Point. When Clint comes out to his colleagues, it’s a disaster, but there’s a silver lining: now that Travis knows Clint is into men, the chemistry between them explodes.

It’s all fun and games until emotions get involved. Clint’s never been in love with a man before. Travis has, and a decade later, that tragic ending still haunts him. Clint needs to coax him past his fear of crashing and burning again, or their love will be grounded before takeoff.

Afraid to Fly is available January 16^th from Riptide Publishing.

To celebrate the release of Afraid to Fly, one lucky winner will receive $10 in Riptide Publishing credit and two books of choice from L.A. Witt’s backlist! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 21, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Review: Boyfriend Goals by Clancy Nacht and Thursday Euclid

What happens when a nerd and a jock pretend to be dating for the summer? Social justice whiz Trev needs to convince his parents that his bisexuality isn't a phase, and swim team star Lee needs somewhere to stay until the new semester starts. Forced together for three months at a Vermont lake house with Trev's family, the boys influence each other in unexpected ways, and despite their differences, a real bond begins to form. What will it take for a fake odd couple to become a real one?

Aw, well aren't Lee and Trev just the cutest. 

Trev came out to his family as bi and they kind of brushed it off as a phase. Trev is not the kind of person to take things lightly and will not have his family thinking his sexuality is nothing more than a phase. He decided to take a fake boyfriend back home to convince his family of the validity of his bisexuality. That fake boyfriend is Lee. They meet through a mutual friend and since Lee needs a place to stay over the summer, fake boyfriends seems like the perfect solution.  

I always love a good fake boyfriends trope. There's good tension as the lines between fake and real start to blur. I loved the way their relationship grew over the summer and how they understood each other. They were so adorable and there was snuggling. Lots of snuggles. I'm a big fan of the not-so-innocent snuggling.

Trev isn't exactly a people person. He could be a bit harsh and found his foot in his mouth more than once. But Lee learned how to see through that and really knew Trev. Lee had his own burdens and found support with Trev and his family. Trev's parents aren't exactly the most loving, but they have good intentions and were there for both guys when it really mattered. I do wish there was more showing instead of telling. There was a lot of talk about Trev's lack of people skills and struggles with forming real relationships. Don't tell me all about it, show me. But it wasn't enough to take away my enjoyment of their story. 

I loved all the sweetness this NA romance had to offer. Highly recommended for something low-angst to pull on your heartstrings. 

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads.

Review: The Unlikely Prospect (States of Love) by Lex Chase

In Prospect Harbor, Maine, lobsterman Harper Cook has always loved the sea. He and his two brothers work the harbor waters, in a fishing village of one thousand where everybody knows everybody else’s business and nobody wants to be different.

When it’s time for the annual Men of Maine pinup calendar, Harper’s brothers eagerly volunteer him. Harper isn’t thrilled to bare it all to raise money for an elementary school playground—until he meets out-and-proud Los Angeles out-a-statah Sean Blackburn: the highly available first-grade teacher with Hollywood heartthrob looks.

Harper has no desire to ever stand out from the crowd, but Sean persists and earns Harper’s friendship. Through Sean, Harper opens up to new possibilities. Things get steamy, but Harper still protects his heart. Though the right pressure in the right place might crack even a loner lobsterman out of his shell.


States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.

Like shedding lobsters, it was time for Harper Cook to come out of his shell.

Harper Cook is a simple man, he lives in a small simple Maine town working on his family’s boat as a lobsterman. Harper is a man who is loyal to his family and when his brother Joe signs him up for the Men of Maine Calendar to raise money for a new playground at his niece's school, Harper agrees. When his brother tells him that he’ll have to go see the new 1st grade teacher who is putting the calendar together and I who is “like” Harper, he gets frustrated. When Harper learns that he’ll be Mr. December in the calendar and that he’ll be sporting his birthday suit… well Harper doesn’t back down.

I adored Harper. He’s a good man but socially awkward in the most endearing way. I loved being in his head as he accepted yet wrestled with his sexuality. From his dreams of love at first sight to his “high school hormones” and vast amounts of conditioner he goes through, Harper is a 40 year old man who has never explored his sexuality… with another man. BUT when he meets Sean Blackburn, the 1st grade teacher and wrangler of the Men of Maine calendar, Harper decides to open up and see where things go.

Harper Cook never had a damned thing to be embarrassed about. As far as anyone knew, anyway. His mumma—God bless her resting soul—she’d taken his quiet ways as dignity instead of awkward shyness. He’d open up when it was time.

Sean was a fantastic character. He’s so patient and accepting with Harper that you can’t help but fall for him and fall fast. Their trip out on the boat was so much fun. From Sean posting pics of Harper to what happens before they get rescued, I was on board and ready for more. Sean, he sees Harper and gets not only his awkwardness but that Harper is a virgin and needs a few lessons… yep, lessons.

“You’re fascinating,” Sean said, and Harper met his gaze in confusion. “Don’t think I don’t see it.”

Harper's brothers really are amazing. I loved how Joe gave him the push by saying Harper would do the calendar and basically set up his brother with Sean. The scene after the rather detailed lobster cracking (a bit that I skimmed because my stomach and heart couldn’t take it) when Danny and Joe show up and how they instantly included Sean in the ribbing warmed my heart. They are always in the corner of their brother and only want the best for him.

Yeah, this was sweet story and also, sexy as hell! *whistles* What Sean and Harper get up to; what Sean does, what he makes Harper ask for and what Harper needs was nothing short of sexy. Sean has a dirty mouth and even Harper has a few moments. But again, while it was really sexy there was so much intimacy and emotion that felt so true for the romance.

This book is a sort of sexual coming of age with a 40 year old man and it’s wonderful. Not only the exploration of Harper and his sexuality but the character exploration of Harper as a man with a creative mind. Goodness, I am rambling.

I will just say, I have the biggest, cheesiest and sappiest look/grin on my face from that end. What a wonderful and romantic way to end a story about two men with such character finding their way to one another. Just… perfect. Le sigh.

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Giveaway + Blog Tour: Finding Your Feet (Toronto Connections #2) by Cass Lennox

The Finding Your Feet tour is here today! Be sure to enter to win the $15 Riptide Credit Giveaway!

About Cass Lennox

Cass Lennox is a permanent expat who has lived in more countries than she cares to admit to and suffers from a chronic case of wanderlust as a result. She started writing stories at the tender age of eleven, but would be the first to say that the early years are best left forgotten and unread. A great believer in happy endings, she arrived at queer romance via fantasy, science fiction, literary fiction, and manga, and she can’t believe it took her that long. Her specialties are diverse characters, gooey happy ever afters, and brownies. She’s currently sequestered in a valley in southeast England.

Connect with Cass:

• Blog: casslennox.wordpress.com/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/Cass-Lennox-1704635609768647/
• Twitter: twitter.com/CassLennox

About Finding Your Feet

While on holiday in Toronto, Evie Whitmore planned to sightsee and meet other asexuals, not audition for a dance competition. Now she’s representing Toronto’s newest queer dance studio, despite never having danced before. Not only does she have to spend hours learning her routine, she has to do it with one of the grumpiest men she’s ever met. Tyler turns out to be more than a dedicated dancer, though—he might be the kind of man who can sweep her off her feet, literally and figuratively.

Tyler Davis has spent the last year recovering from an emotionally abusive relationship. So he doesn’t need to be pushed into a rushed routine for a dumb competition. Ticking major representation boxes for being trans and biracial isn’t why he went into dance. But Evie turns out to be a dream student. In fact, she helps him remember just how good partnering can be, in all senses of the word. Teaching her the routine, however, raises ghosts for him, ones he’s not sure he can handle.

Plans change, and people change with them. Learning a few steps is one thing; learning to trust again is another entirely.

Available from Riptide Publishing. http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/finding-your-feet

To celebrate the release of Finding Your Feet, one lucky winner will receive $15 in Riptide Publishing credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 21, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Review: The Dom of Peculiar Places (Sons of Outlaws #2) by James Cox

Twenty years after the Outlaw MC Series…

their children may not know the cost of war but they will know terror when mars starts to reject humanity... Roark is Mayhem’s son and earned his place in the club. He’s a dominant that has a constant eye on the new prospect, Henry. Roark is horny and needs to pound something, be it flesh or a warm hole. He’s looking forward to bossing the new guy around. It all goes to hell when the quake rocks mars and they’re trapped underground. As if being trapped isn’t bad enough, they overhear a plot to kill an MC member. This Dom of Peculiar places has limited time to get free, get laid and save the day.

A prospect that joins the club for unexpected reasons meets a biker that has an unhealthy obsession with him and things will get dirty. Get the lube, bring the blindfold, don’t forget the restraints. Roark doesn’t play, he takes control. And when Roark finally gets Henry under him, not even a dying planet will stop him from finding his sticky, happy ending.

The Dom of Peculiar Places is the second in the Sons of Outlaws series and the second series set on Mars with the Outlaw MC. The Sons of Outlaws picks up with the second generation of badass bikers and I’m digging on this series as much as I did the original. So far, it’s not as intensely hardcore as the Outlaw MC’s, but that makes sense since we were dropped in with the original Outlaws in the middle of a revolution. But the tension is building in this series as Mars itself seems to be rebelling against its inhabitants. I like how the pacing is different in the second set so the series feels familiar and unique at the same time.

In the Dom, we get to know Roark, Mayhem’s son and the prospect, Henry. Roark has become enamored of Henry but has kept him at arm’s length because Roark is really not a relationship kind of guy. Or so he tells himself at the beginning. That doesn’t mean he can’t ogle those sweet prospect buns though. And, oh Roark. He’s exactly the kind of alpha character I love to read about. Like the rest of the Outlaw MC, both first generation and second, Roark is a total badass. Imagine if Mayhem and Whip could mix up their DNA, they would get a Roark. Mayhem is still Mayhem and thankfully there’s Torrin, who’s all reasonable and parental giving Mayhem the balance he needs to be a big softy underneath all the badassery.

That’s what I love, the big softy underneath. Roark definitely seems to be the one in control here, but in reality it’s his feels for Henry that end up being the driving force in Roark’s life. It was really cute actually how Roark kept trying to talk himself out of his feelings for Henry, like, as if that could be a thing. Roark is still all tough guy and Dom-ish, but his actions are sweet as pie when it comes to Henry’s care and comfort. I swooned repeatedly over the little moments and Henry is a pretty smart cookie and he could see through Roark pretty easily too.

Henry was a great character. He’s had a tough life and his health is suffering with the environment on Mars. An earthquake puts the two together alone initially and while I wouldn’t necessarily call a natural disaster a meet-cute, that’s basically what it is in the world of a James Cox book and it works for these characters perfectly. Roark and Henry would have gotten together eventually, I’m sure, but there’s nothing like a catastrophe to put your shit into perspective. I don’t think Roark could manage a relationship with just anyone, he definitely needed someone like Henry, tough yet tender with a snarky, smart-ass wit that kept Roark on his toes. I loved their banter and Henry loved getting ‘punished’ for that smart mouth of his. James knows how to keep a reader on their toes by taking a scene and turning it 180 and giving the reader an unexpected (and highly enjoyable) moment. For instance, the scene in the cave, near the beginning; it wasn’t what I was expecting and I loved it all the more for not following a formula.

I was a really big fan of the chemistry between these two. While Roark is the dominant one during playtime and Henry eats up every minute of it, the care and concern outside of those moments showed how much Henry had Roark wrapped around his little finger without even trying. The balance gave their relationship a lot of depth for a 108 page book that also has the planet falling apart at the same time.

I’m all set for the next in the series, “Suck the Savage Beast”. Have you read the blurb for that one??? The Sons of Outlaws series is a deliciously entertaining escape and I can’t recommend the trip enough.

For more information about the Dom of Peculiar Places and all the Outlaws, check them out on Goodreads.

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

Tag Team Review: The Impossible Boy by Anna Martin

This is not your average love story.

Ben Easton is not your average romantic hero. He’s a tattooed, badass, wannabe rock star, working in a perfectly horrible dive bar in Camden Town. His life is good, and he’s totally unprepared for how one man will turn it upside down.

Stan isn’t your average heroine. As a gender-fluid man, he proudly wears his blond hair long, his heels sky-high, and his makeup perfectly executed. A fashion industry prodigy, Stan is in London after stints working in Italy and New York City, and he quickly falls for Ben’s devil-may-care attitude and the warm, soft heart Ben hides behind it.

Beneath the perfect, elegant exterior, Stan has plenty of scars from teenage battles with anorexia. And it only takes the slightest slip for his demons to rush back in while Ben is away touring with his band. With the band on the brink of a breakthrough, Ben is forced to find a way to balance the opportunity of a lifetime with caring for his beautiful boyfriend.

It's a double Aussie tag team review! Both rated that same...#mindmeld? ;)

Fantasy Living - 4 Hearts

Buddy Read with my fellow Aussie reviewer Chelsea. Thank you Chelsea for reading my email musings as we read through this book.

This story between Stan and Ben was the sweetest love story. Told in two parts, part one focuses on Stan moving to London and meeting Ben, them getting together and falling in love. While this relationship is developing, Ben’s band with his friends is starting to get noticed, and Stan has some secrets he needs to reveal to go to that next level of commitment.

My first thought was this was fluffy and light, and way too easy. The relationship between Stan and Ben was seamless. Stan being genderfluid was expecting some issues with Ben’s level of acceptance, but Ben didn’t seem to bat an eye, no matter how feminine, or masculine Stan dressed or behaved. Ben loved it all, and Stan thrived with being himself.

I felt a little disconnected with their first love scene. I enjoyed the chemistry up to that point, and thought they could have waited longer for their first time together. Ben appeared to want to wait, whereas Stan wasn’t fussed either way. When they did get to that point, I didn’t really feel their connection during the act. It put me off a little bit, but I understand it’s purpose (pay close attention readers). I was beginning to write this off as fluffy goodness, but not really my usual preference of reading, until I got to Part 2.

This is where the story turned from an easy romance, to something more. It is also where people may be most triggered. This is where Stan’s past becomes his present, and there is a real battle for survival. I loved the turn in the plot, making it much more weighty and complex. I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the content of Part 2, and couldn’t put it down. The challenges this couple came up against were difficult, but something relatable and real. I appreciated that there wasn’t a huge amount of angst to carry this story, even with their issues. It was real and raw. It flowed well with what was presented as part of life.

Tone was a really beautiful surprise. He started off being the vulgar friend, who said stuff just to make a spectacle of himself, but he really pulled through as a reliable friend and ally when this couple needed him the most. His story was intriguing and I wanted more from him. He is a special man, and deserves great things.

The writing style was lovely, and a lot of attention was given to ensuring the plot was tight. The medical content while Stan is dealing with his Anorexia may be triggering to some people, but I’m glad it is in there. It is important not to dismiss mental health issues, or pretend that these issues aren’t lifelong and can be triggered back into the present.

While there were a few question marks for me regarding the reality of immigration, visas, and work sponsorship in the UK, the feelings evoked from the narrative distracted me enough not to pay much attention to it. There was also a little bit of a boys club feel to the story, and some problematic dialogue exchanges, but again, not enough for me to be completely distracted or put off my reading, just that back of mind awareness of it.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a low angst romance with relatable characters.

Chelsea - 4 Hearts

“I think I’m falling in love, Stan.”
“I think I am too.”

I was so looking forward to reading this, I adore gender-fluid characters. I find their strength is always so inspiring and….. quite simply... I love men in dresses!

What really made this book was the characters. Both Ben and Stan are such unique and complicated people but I’ll start with Stan.

Stan is only 22 but has lived the life of a 40 year old. He was born in Russia, where being homosexual was ‘not spoken of’, let alone being gender-fluid or transgender. He had a lot of growing up and self discovery to do very fast. He’s also stunningly beautiful and was drawn to the fashion industry.

Stan. Jesus, that man could start wars. Like a modern-day Helen of Troy. It seemed like everything had come together when his DNA was being formed— the angels were singing and created a perfect balance of cheekbones, angled jaw, sparkling grey eyes, and long, long blond hair. Like a fucking mermaid.

Being in the fashion industry doesn’t help when he’s already suffered from anorexia at the young age of 13, which unfortunately is relatively common for gay adolescents. He is confronted with his illness in part two of the book, but despite this the story isn’t heavy on the angst. Stan is an optimist and is always wanting to improve and better his life, and he does that with Ben.

Ben, oh Ben you are my new book boyfriend, although you may need to fight it out with Tone because he is freakin amazing!

“You’re a nice guy. And a mate. And a really hot girl, which is confusing, but I won’t make a pass at you ’cos Ben would knock my teeth out if I tried.”

Ben is such a normal guy, he swears, he's messy, he doesn’t have much ambition in his life and is happy just cruising along. But he’s completely unfazed by Stan and loves him wholeheartedly from the beginning.

“He sees the girl and likes her, and can touch the boy and like him too. He doesn’t try and make me ‘fit’ into any tick-box category. He just lets me be.”

This isn’t insta-love though. This relationship takes a good realistic pace for people who just click well together.

The first half of the book was super sweet and I enjoyed it… but it was just too slow for me. Not much happened, there was no conflict or anything amazingly interesting developing in their relationship. I didn't always feel the emotion coming from Stan and Ben. I felt like I was reading about it at times instead of experiencing it, if that makes sense. The second half was better, with much more emotion evident from both characters.

This story was super sweet. It deals with heavy themes in a very sensitive way without weighing the book down with angst and pain. This was essentially a love story between a normal average guy, and a guy who has worked hard to find his own ‘normal’.

A review copy was provided for an honest opinion


Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Don't forget today's tour stop here!

Release Blitz + Giveaway: The Impossible Boy by Anna Martin

Celebrate the release of The Impossible Boy with Anna Martin and Signal Boost Promotions! See our tag team review here!
Enter Anna Martin's giveaway for a chance to win an ebook from her back list!

The Impossible Boy - Anna Martin

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner

Publisher: Dreamspinner

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh

Length: 67,000 words

Blurb

This is not your average love story.

Ben Easton is not your average romantic hero. He’s a tattooed, badass, wannabe rock star, working in a perfectly horrible dive bar in Camden Town. His life is good, and he’s totally unprepared for how one man will turn it upside down.

Stan isn’t your average heroine. As a gender-fluid man, he proudly wears his blond hair long, his heels sky-high, and his make-up perfectly executed. A fashion industry prodigy, Stan is in London after stints working in Italy and New York City, and he quickly falls for Ben’s devil-may-care attitude and the warm, soft heart Ben hides behind it.

Beneath the perfect, elegant exterior, Stan has plenty of scars from teenage battles with anorexia. And it only takes the slightest slip for his demons to rush back in while Ben’s away touring with his band. With the band on the brink of a breakthrough, Ben is forced to find a way to balance the opportunity of a lifetime with caring for his beautiful boyfriend.

Author Bio

Anna Martin is from a picturesque seaside village in the south west of England and now lives in Bristol. After spending most of her childhood making up stories, she studied English Literature at university before turning her hand as a professional writer.

Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, Anna is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theatre (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), visiting friends who live in other countries, Marvel Comics, learning new things, and Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk.

Although her most recent work is in the LGBT Adult Fiction genre, in the past Anna has worked on a variety of different projects including short stories, drabbles, flash fiction, fan fiction, plays for both children and adults, and poetry. She has written novels in the Teen/ Young Adult genre, Romance, and Fantasy novels.

Anna is, by her own admission, almost unhealthily obsessed with books. The library she has amassed is both large and diverse; "My favourite books," she says, "are The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood." She also several well-read copies of Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park books and re-reads the Harry Potter novels with almost startling regularity.

Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, pre-reading and creative ass-kicking provided by her closest friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept any responsibility for anything Anna has written.

http://www.facebook.com/annamartinfiction
http://www.pinterest.com/annamartinficti/
http://instagram.com/missannamartin
http://www.twitter.com/missannamartin

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Review: Chase the Ace (London Lads #1) by Clare London

Newly single in his late twenties, and bored with his quiet life in a London suburb, Daniel Cross soon discovers the lure of social media. Excited at the chance of tracking down his old mates from a schooldays sports club, he launches a personal quest to find out what kind of man each boy has become.

Dan’s first mistake is chatting online to a complete stranger—friending the wrong Carson brother on Facebook. But Nick Carson isn’t offended and offers to accompany Dan on the trip to find the others. It’s the first step to friendship and something more for both of them.

For Dan, the reunions with the “ Gang of Four” range from startling and heartening to disturbing. Nick’s company is a constant support, though neither of them are prepared for the exposure of personal secrets they’d thought long hidden. Dan begins to suspect he’s really looking for a direction in his own life—and the excitement and purpose he craves may be closer to home than a quest with its roots in a boyhood dream.

First Edition published by Amber Quill Press/Amber Allure, 2012.

Well my social media savvy friends, this book is a good example of how not to Facebook! Dan is a bit naive in the ways of SM interaction (there's no "&" guys, I'm talking about social media here), or at least he gets chatting with someone on FB and thinks it is actually his brother to whom he is talking. It's okay though cos there are sparks and a journey, physical and metaphorical, ensues.

I was a bit mediocre about this story. I wanted to like it more than I did, which always makes me feel a bit guilty! I like this author's writing style but, though this story was certainly readable, it just didn't really work for me. It wasn't awful though. And aren't those the worst kinds of books to review? Mainly I think this is a case of it's not you it's me. There is nothing blaringly obvious that made me want to roll my eyes of throw down the book in a fit. By the same token, nothing grabbed me either. I didn't either warm to or overtly dislike Daniel or Nick. The story was readable but it wasn't a can't put down read for me. 

I have enjoyed this author before and I would recommend her to other readers, maybe read other reviews for this book and get a more rounded opinion on the story. Horses for courses and all that!! This obviously wasn't my course - but ti was no fault of the author. 

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

Review: Cowboys Don't Come Out by Tara Lain

Rand McIntyre settles for good enough. He loves his small California ranch, raising horses, and teaching riding to the kids he adores—but having kids of his own and someone to love means coming out, and that would jeopardize everything he’s built. Then, despite his terror of flying, he goes on a holiday to Hana, Hawaii, with his parents and meets the dark and mysterious Kai Kealoha, a genuine Hawaiian cowboy. Rand takes to Kai’s kid brother and sister as much as he drools over Kai, but the guy sports more prickles than a horned toad and more secrets than the exotic land he comes from.

Kai’s earned his privacy and lives to protect his “kids.” He ought to stay away from the big, handsome cowboy for everyone’s sake—but since the guy’s just a haole on a short vacation, how much damage can he do? When all of Kai’s worst fears and Rand’s darkest nightmares come true at once, there’s not much chance for two cowboys who can’t—or won’t—come out.

So this one didn’t work for me.

I am usually a sucker for the closeted MC and when you have two, well color this ginger happy because it’s double the swoon… but it wasn’t.

For me, when a character is so deep in the closet as both Rand and Kai are, I need to know why. I need to know so I can be on the journey with them to coming out. But I never got the depth of need for either of them to hide in this and with that, never came the chance for me to feel any emotion for either of the men.

Rand, doesn’t make sense. Like, ever to me. When someone has as much internal dialogue as he does, I expect to get to know him but I don’t ever think Rand got to know himself. I will never understand why he even went on this forced family holiday with his parents when he is a grown man who runs his own business. The vacation felt like one a teen would be forced to take and beg his parents for a private room so he could feel more adult but Rand, seems to have regressed to a child when he is around his parents. It’s bizarre and then there is his leading so many women on by dating them or pretending to like them because he needs to. Um, dude. I get you are gay and closeted but being a total dick to women and using them to make you feel better about not telling your parents you like men, is unacceptable.

But then there is Kai whose POV randomly shows up at 30% and… I dunno. I lived on Maui (Upcountry in Pukalani, just across the highway from Makawao and where the ranches/cowboys are) and knew a lot of gay men out there and there wasn’t a big deal about it even way back when I lived there. Not gay men or women so the fact that Kai is so closeted, again, made zero sense. Yes, I know every situation is different but that just confused me.

Ugh.

The whole repetitious “Cowboy’s Don’t Come Out” deal and the comparison to Brokeback Mountain that kept coming up, just rubbed me the wrong way. The men acted juvenile to me with how they approached one another. That first “I know he is gay!” moment with the flashlights was on the side of ridiculous. Good lord. The sex was really bizarre and not sexy to me at all and that end… really? They are in the closet for how long and when they come out it’s just ‘oh, cool! You wanna sandwich?” deal. No drama, no hate no… nothing so WHY were they so in the closet.

The drama with Kai’s siblings at the end was way OTT and I won’t even go into it. I mean you ask but don’t say anything and then you are all “Oh yeah. Totes dude.” I just… I’m done.

Me and this book, we did not get along. Not even island nostalgia could save this one.

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Pieces of Me (Spectrum Nights #1) by Melanie Hansen

Melanie Hansen and IndiGo Marketing are here today to celebrate the release of 'Pieces of Me' (Spectrum Nights #1). Check out the exclusive excerpt below and $50 Amazon gift card giveaway!

Title:  Pieces of Me

Series: Spectrum Nights, Book 1

Author: Melanie Hansen

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: January 16th

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 89800

Genre: Romance, Photographer/photojournalist, hurt/comfort, step brothers, friends to lovers, model (ish), reunited, family drama, angst

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Synopsis

Deep in the heart of the Florida Panhandle, Scott Ashworth’s bleak life stretches out before him with not much hope for the future. His hardscrabble days are brightened by the arrival of a new stepbrother, Rylan Mahoney, who quickly becomes the friend Scott so desperately needs. Their relationship has just started to deepen into more, when during the course of one terrible night, what Scott overhears sends him fleeing from his home, never to return.

Flash forward six years, and Scott is now the hottest club host on the Phoenix gay scene. He takes what he wants, does what he wants, and does whom he wants. It’s a good life, but the journey to local popularity and fame wasn’t an easy one. For all that Scott’s looks are a blessing, at the same time they’re a curse—the source of his alcoholic mother’s inexplicable hatred.

Rylan dreams of photojournalistic glory. He’s in Phoenix looking for the story of a lifetime, but the project isn’t coming to fruition. Needing rent money, he accepts a gig at Phoenix Pride hawking lewd lollipops and edible condoms…all while wearing gold lamé hot pants and a matching bow tie. When Rylan’s house keys and street clothes go missing after his shift, he’s desperate, until a stranger in a convertible stops to help.

The man is absolute sex on legs, and Rylan is jolted when he recognizes him—his stepbrother Scott Ashworth, long missing but suddenly larger than life. Reunited after six years apart, Scott and Rylan are determined to put their past behind them, but fate intervenes and leaves their future in jeopardy once again.

Excerpt

Rylan winced, trying not to groan. Apparently he was to advertise something “Lickable” and “Suckable,” since those words were now emblazoned on his chest in bright-red temporary ink.

“Okay,” Sloan said briskly, stepping behind the folding table and lifting a tray up from the ground. “In case you didn’t know, I specialize in penis lollipops. I call them―wait for it―Cock Suckers.” He cracked up, and Rylan managed a smile, wondering if it looked as sickly as it felt.

“How original,” he muttered, but the sarcasm went right over Sloan’s head because he beamed.

“I know!” Sloan exclaimed. “And they come in various sizes: average, mouthful, and choke me.” Sloan held up a fistful of colorful lollipops, waving them at Rylan proudly. “Rainbow colors, of course. Cherry is my favorite. Try one!”

Rylan held up his hand to demure, but Sloan unwrapped the cellophane from a penis and shoved it at him anyway. With a dubious look, Rylan lifted it to his lips, and gave it a cautious lick. Sloan was staring at his mouth avidly, and Rylan lowered the sucker and lied, “It’s good.”

“It helps with sales if you suck on one all throughout your shift,” Sloan informed him. “Guys like to see a hot young thing with a cock in his mouth, even a candy one. If you notice someone watching you, put on a show, make it really sexy and suggestive. Get them to come over and look at the merchandise.”

Rylan nodded, all the while thinking, Like hell I will, and Sloan widened his eyes encouragingly. “Go ahead. Show me how you’d do it.”

Rylan gulped, the cloying sweetness of the lollipop coating his tongue and drying up his mouth. “Excuse me?”

“Suck your dick!” Sloan gestured at the lollipop in Rylan’s hand. “I want to see how you’re gonna do it.”

Rylan opened his mouth to say, “You can’t be fucking serious,” before thinking better of it. Rent and food. Rent and food, he chanted to himself. If sucking a candy cock was what it took to get those, then by God, he would suck it.

Feeling horribly self-conscious, Rylan lifted the candy to his lips and was about to slide it inside his mouth when Sloan suddenly burst into laughter.

“Oh, you absolute cutie,” he wheezed, slapping his thigh. “I was messing with you! You’re gonna have to be a good sport out there, and that was my test. You passed.” Still chuckling, he began arranging the lollipops on a tray, alternating them with some colorfully wrapped condoms. Rylan was so relieved to be let off the hook that he couldn’t even be mad about the trick. He discreetly tossed the penis pop into a nearby trashcan with a grimace of distaste.

“Flavored rubbers,” Sloan mumbled to himself as he worked. “Cock Suckers.” He raised his voice to address Rylan. “I’m also putting in a few samples of my new product, some squeeze packets of flavored lube, okay? Those are free for when someone buys the condoms.”

Rylan nodded, and Sloan finally pronounced the tray ready. He looked Rylan over one more time. “You look hot,” he said approvingly. “Hot and cute and sweet all at the same time. Must be the glasses in contrast with the sexy bulge. Do a good job selling today, and maybe we can make this a permanent gig. I do several trade shows in the area each month.”

Over my dead fucking body, Rylan thought, but he managed a bright smile. “That sounds great, Sloan,” he replied, injecting every ounce of sincerity he could muster into his tone. Kiss his ass until you get your money.

God, being broke sucked.

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords

Meet the Author

Melanie Hansen has spent time in Texas and Florida prisons…for work. She’s been in a room with a 17-year-old mass murderer who was also one of the most soft-spoken and polite teenagers she’s ever met. After a 13-year career as a court reporter, she can tell many stories both hilarious and heartbreaking.

She grew up with an Air Force dad, and ended up marrying a Navy man. After living and working all over the country, she hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to her stories about people finding love amidst real-life struggles.

Melanie left the stressful world of the courtroom behind and now enjoys a rewarding career transcribing for a deaf student. She currently lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail

Tour Schedule

1/16     Boy Meets Boy Reviews

1/16     Gay Book Reviews

1/17     My Fiction Nook

1/17     Outrageous Heroes

1/18     MM Book Escape

1/18     Happily Ever Chapter

1/18     Dog-Eared Daydreams

1/19     Stories That Make You Smile

1/19     MANTASY: ManLove for the Grown and Sexy

1/19     Bayou Book Junkie

1/20     Urban Smoothie Read

1/20     Alpha Book Club

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card!

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Audiobook Review: A Home for the Holidays by Joe Cosentino

Bobby McGrath’s Christmas trip to the beautiful Italian island of Capri to meet his eccentric extended family offers stunning views—none more stunning than his third cousin, Paolo Mascobello, a real stocking stuffer. As the two young men embark on a relationship, Bobby, a driven law student, learns to relax and bask under the old Italian moon, and Paolo realizes there’s more to life than a frolic on the beach. For the two to find everlasting amore, Paulo must overcome his fear of commitment and learn to follow his dreams, and Bobby must get his wish for happily ever after.

Narrator: Joel Leslie
Listening Length: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

Guest Reviewer: Shee Reader

Our story opens with Bobby McGrath having a hilarious conversation with his mother on the telephone. Bobby, a law student, is about to embark on a trip to meet his Italian relatives for Christmas.

He arrives after a long trip on the island of Capri, to see the amazing villa and the extended family surrounded by amazing views, none more gorgeous than Bobby’s cousin Paolo Mascobello. Paolo is charged with acting the tour guide to the visiting American and a relationship develops quickly. Paolo is a man with hidden depths and Bobby is soon entranced, and gifts Paolo with his virginity.

The characterisation is nicely done, the descriptions of the beautiful island had me feeling like I was there with the two lovely men. The dialogue is well written, engaging and is frequently funny. I liked Bobby from the outset, and Paolo quickly grew on me. Their chemistry is hot and the friendship that develops is lovely. Bobby sees something in Paolo that his family sneers at - his talent, and it’s just the thing Bobby needs to try to persuade Paolo to come home with him.

The Narration is very good, great characterisation and a beautiful Italian accent I really enjoyed listening to. That said, it was a little scary that Joel Leslie’s “Bobby’s mom” voice sounded scarily like my jewish auntie from Philly!

The ending is sweet, and a little surprising. My favourite bit being Bobby suspecting the mother’s cooked up the whole thing to get the two men to meet!

I’d highly recommend this sweet little Christmas tale of love and beauty.

A free copy of the audio book was provided in return for an honest review.

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Review: Thanks a Lot, John LeClair by Johanna Parkhurst

A Companion to Here's to You, Zeb Pike

Sixteen-year-old Emmitt LaPoint has secretly been writing letters to his hockey idol, John LeClair, for years. So it’s probably only fitting that Emmitt’s small Vermont town seems desperate to make him the next LeClair. After all, Emmitt is about to lead his high school hockey team to the state championship, he has a near-perfect GPA, and he’s liked by almost everyone.

But even golden boys have problems, and Emmitt has more than his share. His father’s back in town to breathe down his neck. He’s happily dating his coach’s nephew, Dusty, but almost nobody knows he’s gay—and that secret is getting harder and harder to keep.

When Emmitt discovers Dusty is keeping secrets of his own, he’s forced to decide exactly what kind of golden boy he wants to be.

This is the book I never knew I wanted until I read it! 

Johanna Parkhurst is one of those authors who I love. Her YA/NA stories are so well written, her characterisation and storytelling suits me perfectly. I pick up a book by this author and can't put it down - yet I feel she gets a bit overlooked by the plethora of more well-known names in the M/M genre. Maybe because she does write more YA/NA rather than older MC's, I don't know but I would absolutely recommend her to everyone.

Here's to You, Zeb Pike, was one of my favourite reads a couple of years ago and I am so excited to revisit those characters in this follow up story. It was great seeing things form Emmitt's point of view. How seeing the 'golden boy' from his own eyes and how things are never as simple as they seem to the rest of the world. It's a good lesson for us all, we can't really know what anyone's life is like other than or own. 

With thoughtful and insightful writing, Parkhurst captures these characters perfectly; not just the MCs, but the extended families and friends of them. Growing up is hard. Growing up gay is harder for many, many people - even those lucky enough to have understanding family and friends. Thanks a Lot, John LeClair, shows us this perfectly. 

I really would recommend people read this author. She should be far better known than she is - in my humble opinion anyway!

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

For more information, see on Goodreads or Harmony Ink Press