Blog Tour: The Mighty Have Fallen by Bonnie Dee

We're thrilled to welcome Bonnie Dee to the clubhouse for the first time! Ever! The words made famous in a certain renowned movie involving a pirate and a would be princess come to mind.

I’m pleased to be invited to Boy Meets Boy Reviews for the day. My name is Bonnie Dee and I’m the author of a number of historical gay romances, most written with Summer Devon but some solo as well. The Mighty Have Fallen is my first contemporary romance in quite some time. It was pleasant to take a break from exploring social chasms and sexual taboos in Victorian or Edwardian times to write something set in our modern world. I was lucky to be included in Dreamspinner’s new Perchance to Dream Line, which features UK based novels. My editor tutored me on expressions and customs of modern day Londoners to bring a more authentic vibe to my story.

The theme of The Mighty Have Fallen is fame and the loss of it. Theatre headliner Trevor Rowland is at the peak of his career when disaster strikes. In one fell swoop, he loses his eyesight, his fame, and his boyfriend, who absconds with most of his money. Trevor must take on a flatmate, hardworking East Ender Jack Burrows, to afford the rent. Anger and bitterness have taken up residence in his heart—but Jack shines light into the shadowy corners with his relentlessly sunny disposition.

Jack introduces Trevor to a local drag club and convinces him he can enjoy the stage again. Trevor’s defences slowly come down as Jack becomes much more than a barely tolerated roommate.

But will Trevor’s fragile trust be destroyed when it appears he’s been manipulated yet again by a man he’s come to care for? Will he reclaim his life or crawl back into a shell of defeat? Trevor must learn to trust not only a man, but himself, once more.

Writing a character with a disability like Trevor’s allowed me to explore all the other senses which are heightened for him. I had to constantly remember not to describe scenes visually but via sound, smell, touch or even taste. Nuances in vocal inflection are important when one can’t read a person’s expression or body language.

Here is an excerpt from The Mighty Have Fallen in which Jack takes Trevor to the club and Trevor experiences it through Jack’s descriptions.

There was a bit of patter between acts, giving the audience a chance to chat. The noise level rose considerably. Jack returned from the bar with tequila shots and lager, then asked Trevor if he wanted a description of Lady Dee.

Trevor shook his head. “I think I’d rather imagine her.”

Jack chuckled. “That might be best. Lady’s seen better centuries, but she’s a dear.”

“You know her?”

“I work ’ere odd nights when I can. Don’t pay much. I do it cos I enjoy it.”

“You perform?” Trevor couldn’t have been more shocked if he’d learned his own father painted his toenails pink. He hadn’t pictured Jack Burrows as a cross-dresser, let alone a stage diva.

“On sound desk. I’d love to strut an’ dance, but I’d look crap in sequins and make-up. I ain’t that graceful. ’Sides, I couldn’t shave my face that close. I’d take off a layer of skin. Mum used to say I was born wiv a five-o’clock shadow.”

With the vivid image of a stubbled infant in a shawl still inside his head, Trevor felt Jack grasp his hand and guided it to a shot glass and the pint of beer beside it.

“Cheers,” Jack said, and they both drank.

The next performer began her number, so Trevor couldn’t ask more about Jack’s engineering gig. Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” as performed by Daisy Chain received a cheery round of applause. Trevor tried to imagine what Daisy looked like, but he was saved from wondering for long.

Jack moved closer to describe her. “She’s a newcomer. Long black ’air—no wig or weaves, I think—an’ mocha skin. Lovely brown eyes. Could use a bit more stage presence. Probably nervous ’er first time out. She’s wearin’ a shimmery blue gown an’ sparkly shoes. A right princess, this one. Should wear a tiara.”

With that visual in mind, Trevor enjoyed the rest of the song even more. Listening to the music, he crafted a dance routine and gestures that would play to the audience. He’d spent so many years on stage he felt more at home there than anywhere else—certainly more so than in his new flat, which seemed like a prison.

The reminder he’d never have an opportunity to perform again knocked the wind out of him and erased his pleasant buzz from the alcohol.

As the song ended and applause began, Jack’s hand fell on Trevor’s shoulder and squeezed. “You could do this, you know. Never saw you act, but I watched a few clips from yer shows online before we moved in togever. Seems I missed some amazin’ work.”

“Thanks,” Trevor said shortly.

Thanks for really driving it home, mate.

Jack seemed to read his mind. “It doesn’t ’ave to be over, you know. You might really enjoy entertainin’ again, even if it’s only amateur.”

Trevor recalled why this man drove him mad. He was too bossy, too full of advice, too bloody stupid about the reality of Trevor’s life.

“In case you’ve forgotten, I’m fucking blind!” he snapped at the same moment a void of silence followed the audience’s applause.

Trevor’s voice, trained to project, resounded through the club. He imagined dozens of pairs of eyes on him and wanted to melt into the floor. Audiences used to spur him to his best efforts. Now the very thought of facing people made him shrivel. His former confidence had evaporated, and he felt like a five-year-old prone to either sobs or temper tantrums. He hardly recognized himself in the weak, fearful man he’d become.

For a moment he thought he might jump up and bolt—no, flounder—out of the place. Then a hand reached out of the darkness to cover his own where it rested on his thigh. The solid weight of Jack’s palm grounded him, tethered him, and made him feel secure

Blurb:


Theatre headliner Trevor Rowland is at the peak of his career when disaster strikes. In one fell swoop, he loses his eyesight, his fame, and his boyfriend, who absconds with most of his money. Trevor must take on a flatmate, hardworking East Ender Jack Burrows, to afford the rent. Anger and bitterness have taken up residence in his heart—but Jack shines light into the shadowy corners with his relentlessly sunny disposition.

Jack introduces Trevor to a local drag club and convinces him he can enjoy the stage again. Trevor’s defences slowly come down as Jack becomes much more than a barely tolerated roommate.

But will Trevor’s fragile trust be destroyed when it appears he’s been manipulated yet again by a man he’s come to care for? Will he reclaim his life or crawl back into a shell of defeat? Trevor must learn to trust not only a man, but himself, once more.

Buy Links:

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Amazon
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KOBO

Connect with the author:

You can learn more about me, Bonnie Dee, and my back list of many romance books at http://bonniedee.com. Find me on FB at Bonnie Dee Author or Bonnie Dee. My Twitter handle is @Bonnie_Dee. I’m not the most active social media person but I turn up occasionally. Most importantly, please take a moment to sign up for my newsletter to learn of upcoming releases. Newsletter signup form

Review: Whiteout (Seasons of Love #1) by Elyse Springer

Noah Landers wakes up one day with a headache and no memory of where—or who—he is. Jason, the man taking care of him, tries to fill in some of the blanks: they’re in a cabin in Colorado on vacation, and Noah slipped on ice and hit his head. But even with amnesia, Noah knows Jason is leaving out something important.

Jason O’Reilly is sexy as hell, treats Noah like he’s precious, and seems determined to make this the romantic getaway they’d apparently dreamed of together. But Noah’s more concerned that he’s trapped alone with Jason in the middle of a blizzard while his slowly-returning memories bring hints of secrets and betrayal.

Noah’s not sure what’s the truth and what’s a lie. But as he learns who he is—and who Jason is to him—he’s forced to reevaluate everything he believes about himself, about loyalty . . . and about love.

Before reading: Amnesia and a stranded trope?

*cackles wildly*

Want!

After reading: Damn, no matter how hard I try, I just can't escape the Santa jizz. ;P

Debut novel by Elyse Springer, Whiteout has more to offer than just Jizzmas (thankfully). I went in expecting a lot of snow, a guy with amnesia possibly regaining his memory, some romance and more snow.

And we do get that.
But it's more than just a standard amnesia trope. (Gah, do I enjoy the amnesia trope)

Noah Landers wakes up not remembering who his is after hitting his head while on his Christmas Colorado vacation. His older lover, Jason O'Reilly, attends to injured and memory lost Noah's every need as best as he can while they are stuck in their vacation cabin. Following medical orders from a doctor on the phone, Jason lets Noah work through his thoughts and see if his retrograde amnesia will sort itself out as Noah heals.

The thing is, something is off to Noah. In the back of his consciousness, something is ringing false. Who can he trust while he is stuck in the woods, and has rely on a man he feels a connection to but isn't sure if he can trust.

Springer creates a mystery, slowly piecing along the puzzle of Noah Landers. Can we trust Jason with the crumbs of info Noah gets out of him? Can we trust Noah? With all these questions, the lovers have a shared chemistry that can't be faked. The author doesn't have her men jump directly into the sack for the couple of days of being stranded. The sexual tension builds as well as the intrigue.

Whiteout is separated in two parts, Part 1 set in a small Colorado cabin - 60% and Part 2 is back in NYC. Part 1 is the entire mystery of Noah, which I solved somewhere around 25% of the story. But I couldn't stop from reading to see their individual reactions. Even with the sugar and Jizzmas feels that Jason slathered in that cabin. I know there are Christmas tradition people out there, but I was leery along with Noah with some of the demonstrations.

Expect sweet romance that got to be borderline sugar coma for parts of Part 1.

And when it ends, well that's when the true work begins for Noah. (You can kinda guess how part 1 closes out)

Part 2 was well matched for part 1, despite being slightly shorter in length. It made me appreciate and adore the schoompy sugar of part 1. No more mystery. Now we get to read the men in their habitat. Kudos to the author writing a great portrayal of NYC (including Brooklyn). It definitely read like winter in NYC.

What I didn't except was the love affair with Broadway.

That passion along with the hurt/comfort aspect, second chances and learning who the real Noah is with him for the second time around was exciting to read. The author had a great balance with main and secondary characters (glad to see Noah's friends will lead in the other three books in the series) They were really great friends. And flashbacks go either way for me when I read a flashback heavy romance. Springer did a great job with using them without the main plot getting lost.

This was definitely plot heavy without making the story too angsty to read. With solid characters, realistic angst (part 2) and reading how a certain someone redeems himself...how could I not be hooked. I don't have much issues with Whiteout, the editing, pacing were great. The sugar was a tad heavy but after reflecting back, it's just the kind of guy Jason is. The revenge angle...personally I could have done without it but it's necessary for the plot.

When you read the novel, you'll see. ;)

Great couple, great characters and a sweet plot with droplets of hurt/comfort to break it up.

Recommended for fans of second chances with a side helping of amnesia.

I'll be reading more from this author for sure.

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A copy provided via Netgalley for an honest review.

Don't miss the Whiteout tour stop here

Review: Passing Shadows by Anna Butler

Li Liang has found a berth to suit her: chief pilot and first officer of the all-female crew of an old space freighter, the Sappho. Then one ordinary, unremarkable morning, Liang retunes the Sappho’s communications systems just in time to catch the breathless, terrible accounts from Mars of the total destruction of Earth.
Earth’s a cinder. The unknown alien race that destroyed it has left Mars, too, in flames and is ravening outward from the solar system, devouring every human colony on the way.

Liang’s one of the few survivors, racing ahead of the Devourers, rescuing as many frightened, shocked people as she can. Will Liang and the pitiful remnants of humanity find a new haven, somewhere to start again? Or will she, too, echo the dreadful last message coming out of their dead home?

They’re coming. Oh God, they’re coming.

Li Liang is a shuttle pilot for the Sappho when Earth goes dark and the universe becomes a place to run and hide for those who survived the destruction of humanity.

This is a complex piece of writing, by a new to me author, following Li on a three part, 5 year journey through space, to find a place for the surviving humans to settle.

I was completely enthralled by this story. It has amazing world building, exceptional character development, and enough action to keep the story moving at a comfortable pace. There is a depth of feeling that places the reader in Li’s shoes as she experiences fears, heartache, and a few smiles along the way.

While not depressing, there is a gritty reality to feelings this story evokes. I sat with the disbelief that Earth, Mars, and the surrounding colonies had been destroyed, and the grim hope of survival beyond the first hours, weeks, months, and years. There is the almost-hope of finding somewhere to settle in, that kept the story from becoming too dark.

Told in three parts, each part brings something special in the descriptive scenery, and emotional challenges that all the characters in this story face. Not quite a love story, there is the relationship element as the story goes through each part of this journey.

Some readers may be challenged by the year jump, but I didn’t have any great difficulty with it. I thought it showcased the writer’s talent, and brought something new to the overall world building. Sure, I’d have loved this to be a full length novel. I loved the characters, the plot, and the writing style. I can see this being a beloved series, and will hold out hope that there will be more from Li and her band of merry misfits.

I’ve looked at the author’s catalogue of work and it appears this is the first FF pairing, with the other work being MM. I hope the author continues to write more with strong female leads, as Li is great character. I will definitely be checking out this author’s other work. It was a joy to read this story, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys space opera and sci-fi.


I received a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion

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Release Blitz: Distant Swimmer by Jacob Cheyenne

Jacob Cheyenne and Signal Boost Promotions are back again to promote his latest contemporary romance, Distant Swimmer! Check out the info below!

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | JMS Books

Publisher: JMS Books

Length: 40,450 words

Blurb

Shy and scholarly, long-distance swimmer Ryan Zwick thinks he’s the only gay member of the college swim team. He keeps his head down in the showers, and his head in the books the rest of the time.

But when a sporty new transfer student joins the team, Ryan feels a surge of hope. Sexually inexperienced and looking for love, fellow swimmer Blake Gossens is everything Ryan wants in a boyfriend. But what is Blake’s game, exactly? And just how straight is he?

Blake seems to be more interested in Ryan’s best friend, Marissa, leaving Ryan to go back to secretly checking out his teammates in the pool. But Ryan keeps getting mysterious messages in his dating app from a stranger who seems to know a lot about him. Could this messenger be Blake? Or someone else?

When bad weather hits unexpectedly, Ryan is forced to confront his real feelings toward Blake, while opening up to the stranger by his side, eventually giving in to his wildest fantasies -- and his heart.

Author Bio

Jacob Cheyenne is an author of M/M Romantic Fiction. His characters and stories are often inspired by real historical events, figures and scenes from classical art, or from old black and white portraits he collects in antique stores. His debut novella “Hanukkah Gifts” focuses on the turmoil between two young Jewish men with very different ideas about how to reconcile their faith and sexuality.

When not writing, the author loves swimming, hearing live music, reading fat books on empty beaches, and drinking anything coconut-flavored. When not traveling, he lives and works in the bustling heart of New York City.

Website: https://www.jacobcheyenne.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JacobCheyenneXX
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacobCheyenneBooks/

Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions

Review: 2 Days Later by C.M. Corett

Nate Beckett doesn’t expect much from life, and he definitely doesn’t believe in New Year’s celebrations or resolutions. A happy New Year? Not likely. As the manager of McGee’s bar, the best he can hope for is a drama-free night. One glance at the sexy young man on the dance floor and that hope is long gone. Once again, his young neighbor Justin is back to tempt and torment him. Despite the undeniable attraction, Nate knows he’s too old and jaded for someone like him, so the time has come to reject Justin. It’s for his own good!

Justin may be young and inexperienced, but he knows what he needs. His New Year’s resolution—to tempt and win Nate over. One lame seduction attempt later, and he’s on his way home in a cab. Alone. But later that night, Justin wakes up battered and bruised on Nate’s doorstep, and Nate insists that Justin stay with him. The big, beautiful man’s protective and caring instincts are definitely kicking in.

Maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance for a happy New Year after all!

I was looking forward to a good New Years book and this hit the spot pretty darn well.

Justin and Nate live in the same apartment complex and Justin has been shamelessly flirting with Nate for some time now. On New Year’s day Nate comes home from work to find Justin battered and beaten on his doorstep. Nate takes care of him, in more ways than one… This was a very simple story and essentially ends up being about the sexual tension and build-up to these two finally getting it on.

That was one thing this story did very well, sexual tension. It was sizzling and the resolution to it at the end was super hot.

This story takes place over two days, so obviously we didn’t get much depth to the characters or their background, but the simple story and characters worked well enough to make the story enjoyable. It had some nice comfort elements and Nate being all protective was lovely!

What really irked me though was there was no conclusion to anything. We have no idea what came of Justin’s abuser, despite that being a very big issue and we also never found out why Nate thought he was ‘unworthy’ of being with Justin. There was just too much left unsaid.

This was simple, but sometimes simple just works and it did here, despite a few flaws.

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Review: Monster by Soren Summers

Bloodied corridors. Mangled bodies. Deranged test subjects. Just another day at Vertex, a corporation devoted to perfecting humanity by any means necessary. It's up to Jarod Samuels to keep the hallways pristine and safe, but scrubbing bloodstains and bagging bodies is losing its luster.

Then someone new joins his department, this man with a huge ego and an even huger mouth. Gabriel Anderson is infuriating but intriguing, as brash as he is beautiful, and almost enough to keep Jarod preoccupied. Almost.

But between workplace hazards, psychic sociopaths, and a mysterious formula that alters the human body, Jarod's doubts are surging. Should he stay with the corporation, or run like hell? This is Vertex, after all, where the walls watch with glass eyes, the laboratories groan with secrets - and employee termination ends more than just careers.

This romantic horror story is approximately 88,000 words in length.

Dear Soren Summers, 

When I first came across your book Monster, I was intrigued. I love a good dark story and the blurb along with the cover checked off a few boxes for me. When I began reading, I took it nice and slow to blend in with this world Jarod Samuels was showing me as he went about this day. When Mr. Perfect shows up, I grinned. When he became snarky Gabriel I liked him but when he became the guy who loves stove top mac and cheese and drools while he sleeps, he became so adorable he needed to fit in my pocket. When Gabriel does the unthinkable, but the only thing he could have done for Jarod, I couldn’t turn the page fast enough and damn work or sleep, I needed to read. But all of this, was only at HALF of the wonderfully imaginable, creative, sexy and twisted story about two men finding love in a truly hopeless place. The rest, it sat me on my ass and blew my mind. So for that, I have to say thank you for this story, for Jarod and Gabriel’s story. Soren Summers, you now have a ginger reader who is now a big fan. 

Sincerely, 

Red

This book. It’s way different than I expected and that is such a good thing. I don’t really know what I expected but I expected things to be dark for the entire book. They ARE dark, don’t misunderstand but there are these moments where I hugged my Nook, I laughed, grinned and simply swooned over it. AND there are the moments where I was glad I stopped reading while I ate my lunch so that it wouldn’t come back up.

Let’s see if I can tell you a few things.

Told from the third person present tense POV of one Jarod Samuels, we meet him as he is going about his day at work as a garbageman at Vertex, a research facility. You get the feeling that the world Jarod lives in is not like ours, it’s a sort of dystopian world where we are left to our imagination as to what happens outside the walls of Vertex and Jarod’s apartment. The early glimpses with the research that goes on inside Vertex is vague and the form of Jarod’s job as in waste management comes into play when a call goes out that there is a runner on level 12. A runner, yup a runner is a medical test subject at Vertex who has decided they are done but one cannot be done when they have signed on the dotted line to participate. Jarod, being the fastest runner in his department comes up short when the patient is taken down before he can get there and Jarod isn’t happy about being shown up. The new guy, whom Jarod dubs Mr. Perfect is one hell of a snarky but good looking young kid who immediately rubs Jarod the wrong way and possibly the right, but Jarod doesn’t have time for getting attached to anyone or anything.

...Jarod Samuels. A little bland, a little bleary, five years a garbageman. Maybe even for the rest of his life.

Jarod is a quiet man. He does his job well and keeps to himself. He’s learned the importance of when to listen, to speak and when to agree and states the company’s motto verbatim. The only real person he interacts with other than Esther the lunch lady or briefly with the other Ether, is Vanessa “Nessa” Wong who is Jarod’s best friend. Nessa is a lab technician, a researcher and currently in charge of her own project for a drug called Paragon. Paragon is a new formula create to make the body perfect, to heal all that ails or would kill you and it’s important to Vertex. In Nessa’s own words; “Paragon can heal the body and fix everything that’s wrong with it. It’ll take the disease away, but it won’t make you invincible.” Paragon itself has a paradox within in the story but I won’t spoil that for you. It’s far too interesting to let it get rancid.

When Jarod is called up on by his boss and given the privilege of showing Mr. Perfect aka the new guy aka Gabriel Anderson the ropes, the story begins to open up as well as the characters themselves.

When we first meet Gabriel, he’s cocky and snarky and you wonder how Jarod will ever be able to deal with him. But when Jarod begins giving him a tour of the facility, we get the opportunity to see a different side of the men. We learn that they have a common ground, a schooling at Bairston Public under the guidance and pseudo mothering of Coach Bennet the track coach. Both men are fast, Jarod held the school record for until Gabriel beat it. It’s a sore spot for Jarod but it leads to a sense of camaraderie with the men and provides for excellent banter. With that banter, we see that Gabriel’s cockiness does have a vulnerability and we see that as Jarod shows him into the “white room”. Man, Vertex is one crazy place and these two, they are going to need someone to vent with when the shit gets crazy because, you know it will.

None of Vertex’s training could have prepared any of them for this. Gray, white, orange, black, it doesn’t matter. Tonight, the colossus runs red.

As the story unfolds, we get character development and growth with Jarod and Gabriel. From secrets that lead to friendship, friendship that leads to saving and saving that leads to the care of another person, the man have obstacles yet the small things begin to bring them closer together. The secret Gabriel keeps drives Jarod crazy! He’s come to care for this drooling-in-his-sleep, spider monkey who loves stove top mac and cheese and takes exactly three minutes to dry off after a shower and all he wants to do is help. Jarod begins to recognize that the way Gabriel acts, his self-preservation is like looking in a mirror, but he needs to know why. When he follows Gabriel one night after work, he gets a visual for what keeps his new friend away from home for hours but still doesn’t know the truth and he needs it. That need? It’s translated from words to feelings to one hell of a first kiss to a whole lot of truth spilling and it had me engaged and swooning so much that I read that entire chapter over again.

But Jarod is paranoid and cautious with Gabriel after his confessions though he wants to have blind trust in him. His past mistake in high school gnaws at this conscious but he really needs to let that go. Sure, what Gabriel told him could lead to a world of trouble and maybe injury and possibly death considering how Vertex operates but what can Jarod do? What does Jarod do and what happens to those Jarod trusts and loves?

*whistles*

Yeah, this is a twisted and dark book but the romance elements sat me on my ass and did it with gusto. I wasn’t prepared for the amount of feelings I would get with Jarod and Gabriel. They really are an amazing couple but I also wasn’t prepared to become attached to other characters or even test subjects either.

“I don’t know how much you know about Vertex, but this isn’t your run-of-the-mill research outfit.”
“You don’t say.”

I know I have given details to the story, a lot of them actually and yet I am not even scratching the surface to what is in this. It’s one of those times when I want to sit down and tell you all about Monster, show you all my highlights but I also want to keep those hidden away as the things with suckers and tentacles on level 18. They aren’t ready to be shared so I’ll keep them under lock and key for now.

I will tell you to that this story doesn’t let up. It feels as if you’re given a break but the surprises come out of the dark shadows all the way until the end.

This story, it’s a stellar debut from the author and I cannot wait to get more from this universe. The world building was amazing and I slid into it like warm butter. There was no confusion, just this place that existed and the people with it. I have learned a few things from reading it though like never to deny an anomaly pudding, don’t get attached to the test subjects, the most important people who monitor Armory’s visitation or food are named Esther, and that risking everything for love, even among monsters is worth the risk.

***End Note: If you decide to pick this up, do not pass on the offer of the free companion book, Siren, to read once you are finished as it takes place in the same time line as Monster. I will tell you, it's quite possibly everything I wish I knew while reading Monster and it was a wonderful surprise.

Book link: http://www.sorensummers.com/free.html

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Blog Tour: Cemeteries by Moonlight by Hunter Frost

Hunter Frost is here today talking cemeteries. Be sure to tell her what you think of them in the comments!

TAPHOPHILIA – NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH NECROPHILIA

Taphophile: someone who takes an interest in cemeteries, tombstones, or memory of past lives.

I’m not sure when my fascination with cemeteries began. Probably around the same time I discovered my love of horror movies, teen thriller novels, and anything black. I’d say my pre-teen years were fairly indicative of what was to come. That’s not to stay I stepped out in black lipstick and safety-pinned sweaters from the get-go. No, my goth tendencies were (and still are) mostly on the inside – though they come out at Rocky Horror shows, Halloween parties, or…casual Fridays.

I received my Master’s in British history and once upon a time planned to go on to get a PhD, my research to be focused on burial practices and rites of Victorian Britain. I’m the first one to stop if I find a cemetery during a road trip or when traveling abroad. I like to take note of where they are in a city, how big they are, the types of graves and tombstones they have, and who is buried there. And that was even before I started my studies in graduate school. I am particularly enamored of the older cemeteries back East and in the South. Those graveyards can be so diverse – from small and quaint (and sometimes hidden) to huge and magnificently decorated. For me, there is something incredibly satisfying knowing I’m sharing the same space as someone buried there hundreds of years ago. Maybe it’s the writer’s imagination that begins to envision what those people were like and how they lived, or maybe it goes deeper than that. Who knows?  

Above ground cemeteries, like the ones in New Orleans, are my favorite. From my first visit, I was hooked. Even during a cold February, I forced my friend to put on his gloves and scarf, braving the icy wind, and go exploring with me. We made our way through the maze of vaults, mausoleums, and tombs of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 – admiring the sculpture and appreciating the time and expense made for the deceased. Families were together, gifts left, and epitaphs etched in stone. Like museums, telling us about a different time and place and the people that thrived there.      

In my book, Cemeteries by Moonlight, Finn Murphy works for Ghostly Legends & Lore, Inc., running the Cemetery tour. He knows quite a bit about the cemeteries in New Orleans as well as burial practices in general. I loved writing about him and throwing some knowledge near and dear to my heart out to all the taphophiles out there.

I know cemeteries aren’t for everyone. How about you? Do you enjoy roaming the rows of tombstones? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Blurb:

When a serious bout of writer’s block threatens to delay mystery author Drew Daniels’s newest book, his aunt offers her New Orleans apartment in the heart of the French Quarter as a writing retreat. She neglects to mention that it’s occupied by the enigmatic and sexy Finn Murphy, a cemetery tour guide with a penchant for Victorian attire and a Cajun accent.

A body discovered in an open crypt forces reclusive Drew to deal with Finn’s eccentric group of friends and his underlying attraction to the hot Cajun—despite warnings about Finn’s violent past. Drew might write this stuff, but he’s never had to solve a real-life murder. With a deadline looming and a killer on the loose, this retreat is proving to be anything but helpful for Drew’s novel. Drew can only hope he won’t end up a tragic tale for the Ghostly Legends & Lore, Inc. haunted tour. 

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

Release Date: January 18, 2017

Buy Links:

Dreamspinner

Amazon

Barnes &Noble 

Author Bio:

Hunter’s early addiction to the smell of printed books led her to spend most of her childhood in libraries and bookstores. There she fell in love with stories featuring medieval castles, ghosts, and handsome heroes. Though writing has always been a part of her life, after college she went on to explore careers in graphic design, the culinary arts, and dog grooming before returning to graduate school to get her MA in British history. To pay the bills she spends her days working for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but to appease her overactive muse, she writes the kind of fiction that keeps her sane. She adores romance in all forms, but prefers her stories with two heroes that find their happily-ever-after with each other.

Hunter would rather watch Spaceballs (or any Mel Brooks movies really), despite being born in the same year as Star Wars. She loves Monty Python, MST3K, and cheesy rom-coms from the ’80s and ’90s. Her wacky sense of humor is only paralleled by her hopeless romanticism. She’s a goth at heart and a sucker for men with long hair. She adores everything British, but insists tea be drunk without milk. She’s a pescetarian with vegan tendencies and has two fat little cats named after her favorite beverage – Latte and Java. She dreams of coastal living, marshmallows, and Matt Bomer.

Feel free to connect with her through any of her social media accounts, or send her an email. She welcomes messages from readers and/or Brits looking to adopt.

E-mail: hunter@hunterfrost.net

Website: www.hunterfrost.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hunterfrostMM

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HunterFrostMM

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hunterfrost75/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunterfrostmm/

Group Review: Watching and Wanting (Housemates #4) by Jay Northcote

Watching Jude’s cam show stirs desires Shawn’s always denied...

Shawn is adrift. Recently graduated, he’s stuck in a dead-end job that barely pays the bills. His girlfriend dumped him, his friends have moved on, and he’s still in Plymouth—going nowhere.

Jude is a student living in the same shared house. Out and proud, he’s everything Shawn’s been running from since he hit puberty. When Shawn discovers Jude works as a cam boy, he can’t resist the urge to watch one of his shows. It makes Shawn want things that scare him, yet his fascination forces him to confront his attraction.

Keen to explore his bicurious side, Shawn suggests they do a show together. Jude agrees, and things get complicated—and kinky—fast. But Jude isn’t looking to get involved with someone so deep in the closet. If Shawn’s going to get what he wants, he needs to find the courage to stop hiding from himself and be honest about who he is.

Length: 52,000 words approx.
Although this book is part of the Housemates series, it has new main characters, a satisfying happy ending, and can be read as a standalone.

Sara - 5 Hearts

The journey of sexual discovery is wonderful to read. The journey of sexual discovery out of a character's comfort zone or normality is a joy and the sexual discovery of realizing you are not just bi-curious but bi-sexual and want your roommates D is nothing short of pure erotic pleasure. Oh yeah. This was hot. Dirty, fuckhot, sensual and way emotional. Just how I like ‘em!

Told in Dual POV’s, we meet Shawn as he has recently broken up with his girlfriend Beth after their relationship went south. The two tried everything to save it including spicing it up in the bedroom but what Beth wanted confused Shawn and the two decided to end it and go their separate ways.

Shawn lives in a house full of roommates, mostly folks we have met in previous books including Jude who is gay and Shawn has a strong reaction to his roommates. After a night of feeling sorry for himself and getting wasted, Shawn says some awful homophobic things and spends the next day making it up to his housemates. When he goes to return a hoodie to Jude in his room, he opens the unlocked door while unlocking whole new side of Jude and of Shawn he tried denying existing but decides to explore. Even if the exploration is only on his laptop, in his locked room watching Jude get off for money.

It was amazing what an effective barrier denial could be.

Jude, he has a cam show to make money. He’s okay with selling himself this way and we know his liberal morals and values are passed down through his mom and why. But Jude, he does this cam show and does it well but when he is interrupted by Shawn during a show, things change. Jude already has a crush on his straight roommate and has no idea that Shawn went down to his room and decided to watch after the interruption. Oh the things Jude says about Shawn while he’s stroking his cock… sigh. Shawn has an insight to Jude in a way and gets to hear all that Shawn says. Again, sigh.

When Shawn does a bit of online exploration and decides if he is going to try this dude on dude action out it should be with someone like Jude, someone he knows and has come to think of as a friend and do it well, on camera. LORD! This book is so mother effing sexy I can’t stand it. I’ve read a few books where you have the straight dude doing things on camera for the first time but this was MY first time that felt a connection and true emotion through Shawn’s first experience with a guy. From the first time on camera to the moments of building a true friendship, I was falling hard for Shawn and Jude. I loved their camera time, their gym time, their game time and just all the times they are together. But my favorite was so sexy, so emotional and so just UNF that I can’t even put real words together to describe it.

This was all about the journey. Jude was in charge and that knowledge made him feel safe.

Yeah, this book was sexy AF but it had the elements needed – for me – when a character is exploring sexuality. This isn’t porn without plot, this is plot with porn. Literally. I loved that we got both POV’s to know where the boys were coming from and what their intentions were. The growth of both Jude and Shawn with their relationship was a pure pleasure to read and even the bits of angst wondering when true feelings would be revealed and how was so good. The title though… ugh. I love it when titles actually make sense with the book.

I won’t go into much more about what happens because it’s too good to spoil and man when the moments come (pun intended) and when they do they are worth the wait. That end is SO worth the wait and good lord was it swoony and I agree with the purple-haired girl.

This is a great addition to the Housemates series (and man what a magical house it is) and Northcote is amazing at writing sexual experiment and journey. He’s captured the vulnerability of wanting something new while trusting someone with the knowledge and your wellbeing. Jude and Shawn were made for one another and I am so damn glad that door was opened, in every way possible.

Adam - 2 Hearts

When Shawn walks in on his roommate during a sexy webcam session, it ignites feelings in Shawn that he’s never looked at too closely. When he can’t get Jude out his mind, Shawn proposes that the explore the spark between them on Jude’s cam show. Jude’s more than happy to indulge Shawn. But it doesn’t take long for the lines to start blurring.

Shawn hasn’t been particularly popular in the previous books. He’s the jock roommate who’s given the other couples grief at times. Turns out that he was hiding something underneath the bouts of homophobia - Shawn’s sexually submissive and likes dick just as much as boobs.

I thought Shawn’s discovery of his sexuality was realistic. He slowly comes to terms with what he feels for Jude, and why he had acted out in the past. Plus, he makes appropriate amends for his past behaviour.

Jude is Shawn’s complete opposite. He’s outgoing and confident, and very in touch with his sexuality and desires. Plus, he’s got a dominant streak.

As expected, Jude and Shawn burned up my tablet screen. The two brought the heat from their first cautious jerk-off scene on webcam. There’s a delicious sprinkling of kinks - exhibitionism, voyeurism, bondage, and some light D/s.

Shawn and Jude have an undeniable sexual chemistry. But what I didn’t get a sense of was their emotional connection. What I most like about this series is that while it leans strongly to the steamy side, the books still provide well-developed romances. That wasn’t the case here.

There’s little relationship development. I didn’t get why Jude and Shawn fell for each other beyond the hot sex. The two didn’t really strike up a friendship or have common ground.

Also, the drama at the end was off-putting. I could understand why Jude wouldn’t want to be in a relationship with a closeted man, but the urgency of it didn’t make sense to me. If I’m getting the timeline right, only a couple of weeks pass between the first cam show and Jude putting his foot down. That’s a pretty short time for Shawn to finally come to terms with his bisexuality, begin exploring it, and take the huge step of coming out to everyone in his life.

In the end, I wasn’t convinced that Shawn was really ready to come out as opposed to him feeling pressured to do it. There’s a HFN, but Shawn and Jude definitely have a long way to go.

Overall, this was an okay read for me. It’s a very hot read, but I didn’t really buy Jude and Shawn as a couple.

Chelsea - 5 Hearts

I’m not going to be able to add anything different or unique to the other reviews out there for this book, so this’ll be short and sweet…. oh, and a lot sexy. This was smokin hot!

“Or are you fucking yourself with your fingers or a dildo and wishing it was my cock you were sitting on? Your arse feels so good, so tight. You’re gonna make me come….”
Shawn’s brain imploded. That image made fireworks go off in his head and his balls. He pressed two fingers against his hole, gasping as his whole body tensed and released.

The story was full of interesting characters that were equally fun and frustrating!

But the idea of telling all his friends and his family that he was in a relationship with a man seemed impossible. He was torn, his heart pulling him in one direction while his fear pulled him in another.

There were some subtle kinks which I adored, exibitionism, voyurism, bondage and dominant/submissive roles. yum yum yum.

Fingers dipped into his crack and Shawn shivered, legs going weak. He felt needy, desperate. He wanted to bend over the desk and spread himself open, beg for Jude to touch him more.

I love this whole series and even though this wasn’t my favourite so far, I’m giving it 5 hearts as a reflection of how much I adore all these books.

I highly recommend this whole series to everyone. There's a lot of sex, a lot of friendships and a lot of sneaky, surprise emotions.

Lorix - 4 Hearts

I have really enjoyed this series of books by Jay Northcote, he knows how to write sexy characters, that's for sure. More than that though, Northcote writes characters I find very relatable, and that adds to my enjoyment of his writing. Maybe it's because they are British so instantly I feel at home but that aside I feel the characters are always well rounded and have their own tale to tell.

This is possibly the steamiest book in the series and it appealed to my (theoretic) voyeuristic side. Cam shows from flatmate as you're finally admitting your bi-side? Yes please! There is no denying the sex in this story is hot; the sexual coinnection between Shawn and Jude is immediately apparent and, as someone who can take or leave sex in a story, it was much appreciated in this book. I did feel the emotional connection in this story wasn't quite as strong as some of the other couples from this series and quite often I can skim books with more sex less emotion. NO skimming here though because Northcote is a great writer. I really would recommend this series; it's fun, sweet, sexy and a great read.



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Don't miss today's release blitz tour stop here!

Release Blitz: Watching and Wanting (Housemates #4) by Jay Northcote

Jay Northcote and Signal Boost Promotions are blitzing everyone to celebrate the release of his latest in the Housemates series, Watching and Wanting. See our unicorn group review here 
Check out the NSFW excerpt and info below!

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Global

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh

Length: 52,000 words

Housemates Series - though a series, each book can be read as a standalone. 

Helping Hand (Book #1)  Amazon US | Amazon UK

Like A Lover (Book #2) Amazon US | Amazon UK

Practice Makes Perfect (Book #3) Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Blurb

Watching Jude’s cam show stirs desires Shawn’s always denied...

Shawn is adrift. Recently graduated, he’s stuck in a dead-end job that barely pays the bills. His girlfriend dumped him, his friends have moved on, and he’s still in Plymouth—going nowhere.

Jude is a student living in the same shared house. Out and proud, he’s everything Shawn’s been running from since he hit puberty. When Shawn discovers Jude works as a cam boy, he can’t resist the urge to watch one of his shows. It makes Shawn want things that scare him, yet his fascination forces him to confront his attraction.

Keen to explore his bicurious side, Shawn suggests they do a show together. Jude agrees, and things get complicated—and kinky—fast. But Jude isn’t looking to get involved with someone so deep in the closet. If Shawn’s going to get what he wants, he needs to find the courage to stop hiding from himself and be honest about who he is.

NSFW Excerpt

A couple of days later, Shawn was still doing his best to be a better housemate and friend. So after he’d finished his dinner—late because he hadn’t left work till six and had then been running again—he washed up lots of pots in the kitchen that other people had used and tidied up some things left lying around in the living room.

“Is this either of yours?” He held up a hoodie that was slung over the back of a chair.

Jez and Mac, who were on the sofa watching TV, both glanced his way.

“Nope,” Mac said.

“I think it’s Jude’s.”

Being helpful, Shawn decided to take it up for him.

He passed his own bedroom on the middle floor and went up the second flight of stairs to where Dev’s and Jude’s rooms were. Jude’s door was shut, so Shawn tapped lightly on it. There was no reply, so assuming Jude was out, he turned the handle and pushed. The door opened quietly.

It took a moment for his brain to register the information from his eyes.

Jude wasn’t out.

Jude was definitely in.

He was sitting in a chair with his back to the door, shirtless, dick out and jerking off in front of… fuck, was that Skype? Maybe he had a long-distance boyfriend Shawn didn’t know about.

But the screen didn’t look like Skype; there was a distinctive logo that even from the door, Shawn could see read “Boyz on Cam.” And—Oh fuck. The guy on the screen looked remarkably like Jude himself. Surely he couldn’t be…?

“Shit, sorry, sorry!” Shawn blurted out.

“What the fuck?” Jude wheeled around, simultaneously managing to whip his sweatpants up and slam the laptop shut. “Oh my God, haven’t you heard of knocking?”

“I did knock,” Shawn said helplessly, trying not to stare at the bulge in Jude’s trousers. Eyes up. Jesus Christ, don’t make this any worse than it already is. “You didn’t answer.”

“I didn’t fucking hear you. But you just barged in anyway.” Jude covered the tent in his sweatpants with his hand.

His face was flushed. It was hard for Shawn to tell how much was embarrassment and how much was anger. “You should have locked it,” he said unhelpfully, then mentally kicked himself for his lack of filter. Bit late to point that out now.

“I thought I had!”

“I’m sorry,” Shawn said again. “I didn’t… I mean….” Sensible words eluded him. There was no script for this. “I found this. It’s yours. I’ll go now.” He threw the hoodie at Jude, turned, and fled, shutting the door firmly behind him.


Back in his own room, Shawn paced back and forth.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” He scrubbed his hands through his hair, stopped pacing, and glared at his laptop where it lay on his desk, a threatening presence.

No. I can’t.

He threw himself down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

But what if he was wrong? Maybe he’d misinterpreted what he saw? Maybe Jude was just watching another guy on camera who happened to look a bit like him? Shawn tried to tell himself that it was none of his business anyway, but he needed to know.

He got up and locked his door—learning from Jude’s mistake there—then sat at his desk and opened his laptop carefully, as if it was an unexploded bomb he had to defuse. He pulled up his web browser and typed in the words burned onto his brain: Boyz on Cam.

After an 18+ warning, the site loaded quickly and Shawn half covered his face with a hand, as though peeking through his fingers could make this better. He scrolled past a few photos of half-naked guys with nice abs and inviting smiles, but none of them was Jude.

Then he noticed a link at the top reading “Live Shows.”

Mouth dry and heart racing, he clicked on it. He didn’t think it was possible for his heart to beat any faster, but when he saw Jude’s face grinning suggestively at him from a thumbnail image, he seriously wondered if it was possible to have a heart attack at the age of twenty-one.

He knew he shouldn’t look, didn’t even know why he wanted to go any further. He’d confirmed his suspicions, and that was all he needed to know. Yet, with a shaking hand, he clicked on the link anyway.

Author Bio

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. He has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.

www.jaynorthcote.com
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Review: Complexity (The Kinky Connect Chronicles #4) by Harper Miller

Fairy tale endings weren’t made for people like me. Happy for now usually ain’t in the cards, either.

The dents on my wall from where my headboard kept knockin’ against the same spot was the first clue that I needed to calm my ass down. At the rate I was racking up notches and plowing through hookups, I wasn’t ever gonna find nothing real. Guess I kinda jinxed myself. I created my circumstances. You can’t get what you want if you keep falling back into the same pattern of bad habits. But then things changed. I stumbled onto somethin’ I never in a million years expected to happen. You gotta understand, I’m never the guy who wins. It was supposed to be just sex, but that shifty, rhyming and scheming bastard, Cupid, pulled a fast one.

I may have changed some stuff to protect a couple of people. But before you go believing the tabloids, make sure you understand that you’re gettin’ the lowdown straight from the source.

I needed to get this off my chest and it’s only fair that you at least get my side of it all. At some point, I might regret telling you any of this, but for now, you need to know.

*Disclaimer* This is a novella. Not a short story, novelette, or novel. This tale features an M/M pairing. If gay erotica/erotic romance is not your cup of tea and you are offended by same-sex relationships or crass language, you should bypass this story. Content is intended for a mature audience, 18+.

Complexity is the fourth installment in The Kinky Connect Chronicles. The Kinky Connect Chronicles are short erotic stories/novelettes all wrapped up in neat little bows. These stories are standalones. No cliffhangers in the lot!

Docking and pigeon peas!

I had to google one. I'll let you guess which. *exaggerated wink*

Manny is the narrator of this novella. Manny is a bisexual, Puerto Rican, personal trainer, struggling to make ends meet in New York who likes sex. A lot. He isn't picky about gender or how many people are getting served at a time and he's model hot, so... there's not exactly a shortage of people in the greater NYC area willing to climb into his bed or a bathroom stall or the gym... you get me. I'm actually wondering if underwear doesn't just disintegrate when one gets within a certain distance of Manny. Like the sun. Only for underwear.

Being inside Manny's head... was an experience. I couldn't say whether or not his voice is authentic being neither Puerto Rican nor from New York, but he holds no punches and his verbiage made me cackle, I'll say that. Many of his reactions I didn't understand. He'd get pissed in a nanosecond but I was still at the starting gate trying to figure out why, but the characterization is consistent. Consistently had me scratching my head but consistent nonetheless.

More often than not he explains himself and it mostly boils down to him getting bent over something I wouldn't ever think to, some of which may be cultural, others of which are probably gender, all of which held my interest mainly because I don't get in a bind about much. He's like a fucken rubik's cube and puzzles are in my wheelhouse. Occupational hazard.

Anywhat.

Manny's thirsty one night, alters his profile on the kinky site where he's a member to reflect his desire for cock and through a series of events meets Chris.

Chris is a pretty well known TV star and DEEP in the closet. They have chemistry in that fuck and fight way but the closetedness becomes an issue after they've been together about 6 mos.

The way the story is put together worked for me. I like flashing back to their first meeting but then there is a big time jump where Manny fell in love with Chris. I have trouble with the 'take my word for it they're in love' gambit. I like to see it and feel it for myself, and while I understand that's a tall order within the span of a novella, I still think the relationship could've been better developed.

The way Chris and Manny interact speaks to their chemistry and David seems to be able to decipher Manny, so in that sense it's clear they have a connection. Do I think they'll have longevity? Eh. Maybe?  

The sex is medium hotness with some dirty talk, bossiness and the aforementioned docking. I know it says "kinky" in the series title and they meet on a "kinky" website but... can we just agree to disagree? 

Manny's family dinner scene was one of the things I liked best about this story. The support they give him is heartwarming. The ending is both tiddy and surprising. It definitely leaves the possibility of a sequel but doesn't leave you dangling from a cliff. 

Recommend to MM erotica fans.

A review copy was provided.

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