Review: A Gathering Storm (Porthkennack) by Joanna Chambers

A Porthkennack novel

When grief-stricken scientist Sir Edward Fitzwilliam provokes public scorn by defending a sham spiritualist, he’s forced to retreat to Porthkennack to lick his wounds. Ward’s reputation is in tatters, but he’s determined to continue the work he began after the death of his beloved brother.

In Porthkennack, Ward meets Nicholas Hearn, land steward to the Roscarrock family. Ward becomes convinced that Nick, whose Romany mother was reportedly clairvoyant, is the perfect man to assist with his work. But Nick—who has reason to distrust the whims of wealthy men—is loath to agree. Until Fate steps in to lend a hand.

Despite Nick’s misgivings, he discovers that Ward is not the high-handed aristocrat he first thought. And when passion ignites between them, Nick learns there’s much more to love than the rushed, clandestine encounters he’s used to. Nevertheless, Nick’s sure that wealthy, educated Ward will never see him as an equal.

A storm is gathering, but with Nick’s self-doubts and Ward’s growing obsession, the fragile bond between the two men may not be strong enough to withstand it.

Joanna Chambers is back with another brilliant historical romance!

Sir Edward Fitzwillian, known as Ward to his family and friends, moves to Cornwall in order to pursue a scientific experiment - to harness the elements in order to get in touch with his dead brother’s spirit.

At first, Ward may seem like a bit of a kook. However, he’s neither crazy nor particularly spiritual. A past encounter with the supernatural convinced him that he could reach his brother somehow. I couldn’t help but feel for Ward from early on. His grief for his brother was palpable.

Ward requires a volunteer to aid him, which is how he meets Nick Hearn, the land steward and half-Gypsy bastard of the Rosecarrock family. After the death of his mother, Nick never truly belonged anywhere or to anyone.

Nick comes across as grumpy and taciturn, but that tough exterior serves to hide how lonely he really is.

Nick and Ward don’t get off on the right foot. They’re complete opposites, and clash often.

But as they spend time together, they slowly begin realizing that their preconceived notions of the other weren’t true. They bond over their shared grief for their deceased family members and their less-than-perfect childhoods.

The two are also well-matched intellectually. Ward may be the scientist, and Nick’s education may not have been as extensive, but they find it difficult to be bored in each other’s company.

And underneath that gradual emotional connection, there’s a simmering sexual tension. This isn’t a particularly steamy book, but when the two finally give in, they’re passionate and intense.

‘A Gathering Storm’ manages to include some social commentary, which is what I’d expect from Joanna Chambers. The author explores class disparity between a titled aristocrat and someone who has to work for a living.

Nick’s view of the world is shaped by who he is - born out of wedlock to a Romani mother, and always aware that he doesn’t belong in Ward’s world. It takes a while for Ward to really understand where Nick’s coming from, but by the end he makes quite a lot of progress.

The ending was a perfect happy ever after. Sometimes the endings for an MM historical romance aren’t entirely believable, but Ward and Nick find a way to be together that’s entirely plausible.

Overall, ‘A Gathering Storm’ hits the perfect balance between well-rounded characters, a slow but sweet romance, some angst, and a brilliant HEA. If you’re looking for an MM historical read, I’d highly recommend this book!

Don't miss the author's blog tour stop + giveaway HERE

Guest Review: The Rainbow Clause by Beth Bolden

Heisman winner. Member of the National Championship team. NFL Rookie of the Year. Quarterback Colin O’Connor knows he’s become the ultimate romance novel cliché: all the success he’s ever dreamed of but nobody to share it with. Too bad it’s not as simple as asking out the next girl who intrigues him – because the next girl to intrigue him probably won’t be a girl at all.

Unexpectedly, the solution comes in one neat package: Nick Wheeler, lead journalist for a leading sports and pop culture blog. Hired by Colin’s team, Nick comes to Miami to shine a spotlight on the NFL’s most private quarterback.

The heat in Miami rises when Nick discovers that Colin is nothing like the hollow personality he pretends to be in interviews and he’s even hotter in person than on his Sports Illustrated cover. Nick knows this is the story of his career, and after spending his teenage years as a bullied, closeted teen, it hits very close to home. What he needs is to help Colin share his story while keeping their growing relationship from boiling over in the press, but what he wants is to tell the world.

Reviewer: Shee Reader


Before I start, this was a hugely enjoyable book I would recommend with very few reservations. There was just a couple of annoying things, but this was an ARC, so I assume they’ll be fixed by publication? There were a couple of annoying typo niggles, and one huge one that set my teeth on edge. At one point, our lovely men were in Florida, sitting on the deck, watching the sun set over the Pacific. Yep, that's right, the Pacific. I was screaming at the book at that point.

My pedantic nature aside, this was a great book with an excellent absorbing story, nicely written characters, I was engaged from start to finish, and its happy ending, is one I can only dream about for now in professional sports.

Nick is an out and proud journalist for a sports pop culture blog. He has a teeny-tiny obsession with a Heisman trophy winning quarterback whose Sports Illustrated cover had Nick drooling for months.

Colin O’Connor is something of an enigma. He rarely gave interviews, and if he did give one, it was difficult to penetrate his reserve. Nick had always felt Colin had a certain cardboard-cutout persona going on, but meeting the beautiful man in person put paid to that theory from the outset. Colin’s best friend Jemma was the only person ever to get to write a wholly ‘real’ piece about the quarterback, and it was on the strength of that one football profile, that Nick had hired Jemma to be his assistant. She’s progressed now of course, but her report on Colin had sealed that particular deal.

Now back to our guys. There was some low grade flirting and checking out, which had astounded Nick, but it was the start of something.

It all became clear later, when Nick was contacted by Colin’s agent and the team’s publicist to write a detailed profile on Colin to pave the way for his coming out as bisexual. Colin wanted to date, and he wanted the freedom to date anyone he chose, and that meant invoking the Rainbow Clause that he’d had added to his contract enabling this coming out to take place without damaging his place on the team.

In order to write the article, Nick invites himself to stay with Colin in his Florida home to get a real feel of Colin in his natural habitat. What follows is a lovely to and fro flirtation that eventually results in the men sharing a bed. There is a love affair in the air, and there is support from Colin’s friends on the team, but the way the whole Piranhas organisation got behind their man was the dream come true.

The path to happiness was not without it’s struggles, especially as our guys are a sports journalist and a leading player in the NFL, but it was worth it in the end.

I really enjoyed the story, and hope like crazy it is one that could come true for active professional sportsmen. One of the best bits for me was the supporting roles of Jemma (Colin’s best friend and onetime love interest who works with Nick) and her boyfriend Gabe. The scene with the dodgeball had me laughing out loud.

All in all, (annoying details notwithstanding) it was a super story. Highly recommended!

I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Love in the Time of Hurricanes (States of Love) by CC Bridges

The night Nick Henderson storms into Martelli’s Pizzeria, he’s just looking for something to eat. Along with dinner, he finds Lou Martelli—pizza cook extraordinaire and Jersey Shore native. Nick is renting a Shore house for the winter while taking classes at the local community college as he devises a way to escape the accounting major his father chose for him.

When Lou offers to show Nick around, heat flares between them as they realize they have more in common than domineering families. But it’s not all fun and games on the boardwalk. Hurricane Sandy blows ashore, changing the place Nick was starting to think of as home. His peace is shattered, and it will take everything he has to keep his relationship with Lou from being torn apart by the storm brewing around them.

I’ll keep this short and simple.

This book didn’t work for me. I loved the idea of it, of moving to a new place, meeting a townie and being forced to take shelter together riding out a storm, to falling in love and yet, I felt nothing.

Nick was a decent narrator but I felt as if I was being told the entire story and never allowed to feel it.

I didn’t feel the crush Nick had on Lou nor the rush of emotions that came from either man on their first date. It all should have given me great feelings with breakfast, a motorcycle ride to favorite spots and a man who loves to cook and feed those he loves and yet… nada. The deal with the storm added absolutely nothing to the story and just felt like filler. Don’t get me started on the boys and their inability to talk to their fathers which again, could have added depth but, nope.

Nick and Lou were flat, no character development or chemistry at all. I just didn’t feel any of the characters, even Nick’s classmates who really should have made me feel but I didn’t.

I don’t exactly know why but this one and me, we didn’t mesh.

Find on Goodreads!

Giveaway + Blog Tour: A Gathering Storm (A Porthkennack novel) by Joanna Chambers

Joanna Chambers is here today to tell us about researching her new novel, A Gathering Storm. See our review HERE

Also, be sure to enter the giveaway below!

Hello, reader friends! I'm Joanna Chambers and this is the blog tour for A Gathering Storm, my new Cornwall-set historical romance. I'll be sharing thoughts on my experience of writing about eccentric Victorian scientists, pragmatic Romany land stewards and unscrupulous mediums - come and comment to win a copy of the book and a $25 Riptide gift card!

Mesmerism as a Romantic Metaphor

A big part of my research into this book was into hypnotism and its forerunner, Mesmerism. 

Mesmerism, or “animal magnetism” as it sometimes termed, was named after Franz Mesmer, a German physician, born in 1734.  Mesmer theorised that there was a substance present in all beings which could be manipulated by the mesmerist to bring about a trance state in which improbable feats of clairvoyance could be performed by the mesmerised subjects and various ailments suffered by them cured.

Mesmer’s theory, first put forward in 1779, enjoyed immense popularity well into the mid 19th century, and there were many professional mesmerists who rose to prominence, such as Charles Lafontaine, a failed actor who caused a great sensation during a tour of London in the 1840s when he reportedly mesmerised a lion at the Zoological Gardens

The accounts of what the mesmerists did to their subjects are often disturbing, not least given that the mesmerist was invariably a man and the subject often a woman, and often of a lower social class. Many of the mesmerists loved to demonstrate seemingly unthinkable feats by simply assaulting their subjects and inviting audiences to marvel at their lack of reaction. Pins were pressed under subjects’ fingernails, their hands scorched over flames, pistols discharged next to their ears. These disturbing practices perhaps reached their nadir in the case of Madame Plantin who underwent the surgical removal of part of her breast whilst in a mesmerised state. She died a few days later, having reportedly confessed to a nurse that she had, in fact, felt the full effects of the procedure, a claim that was strenuously denied by supporters of mesmerism.

Whilst mesmerism had its critics, it was difficult for sceptics to refute the mesmerists’ claims since there was no doubt  that some extraordinary events were indeed taking place. However, in 1841, a Scottish surgeon, James Braid went to see Charles Lafontaine perform. Despite his scepticism, he was forced to admit there was something to LaFontaine’s act but he questioned the explanation given for what he was witnessing and decided to investigate further.

Braid began to experiment - on himself to begin with - and soon realised that there was a genuine phenomenon - that he later termed hypnosis - at work. Braid explained the true nature of this phenomenon in his work "Neurypnology" and came to be known as the father of hypnotism. His explanations entirely debunked the idea of the mesmerist himself as the creator of whatever extraordinary things might happen through the influence of his great powers. Rather, hypnosis was a state of enhanced concentration that anyone could enter. The hypnotist was no god, but rather a facilitator.

By 1853, when "A Gathering Storm" is set, stage mesmerists were still commonplace and my character Nick is alarmed to learn that Ward wants to put him into hypnotic trance, fearing what may happen to him whilst he's under the other man's control. In that sense, it’s a neat metaphor in a love story. Sometimes we fear that if we give our hearts to someone, we will lose part of ourselves, be taken over, but if our partner is someone who cares for us, who we can trust with our most vulnerable selves, they may bring out the very best in us.

About A Gathering Storm

When grief-stricken scientist Sir Edward Fitzwilliam provokes public scorn by defending a sham spiritualist, he’s forced to retreat to Porthkennack to lick his wounds. Ward’s reputation is in tatters, but he’s determined to continue the work he began after the death of his beloved brother. 

In Porthkennack, Ward meets Nicholas Hearn, land steward to the Roscarrock family. Ward becomes convinced that Nick, whose Romany mother was reportedly clairvoyant, is the perfect man to assist with his work. But Nick—who has reason to distrust the whims of wealthy men—is loath to agree. Until Fate steps in to lend a hand.

Despite Nick’s misgivings, he discovers that Ward is not the high-handed aristocrat he first thought. And when passion ignites between them, Nick learns there’s much more to love than the rushed, clandestine encounters he’s used to. Nevertheless, Nick’s sure that wealthy, educated Ward will never see him as an equal.

A storm is gathering, but with Nick’s self-doubts and Ward’s growing obsession, the fragile bond between the two men may not be strong enough to withstand it.

Now available from Riptide Publishing. http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/a-gathering-storm

About Porthkennack

Welcome to Porthkennack, a charming Cornish seaside town with a long and sometimes sinister history. Legend says King Arthur's Black Knight built the fort on the headland here, and it’s a certainty that the town was founded on the proceeds of smuggling, piracy on the high seas, and the deliberate wrecking of cargo ships on the rocky shore. Nowadays it draws in the tourists with sunshine and surfing, but locals know that the ghosts of its Gothic past are never far below the surface.

This collaborative story world is brought to you by five award-winning, best-selling British LGBTQ romance authors: Alex Beecroft, Joanna Chambers, Charlie Cochrane, Garrett Leigh, and JL Merrow. Follow Porthkennack and its inhabitants through the centuries and through the full rainbow spectrum with historical and contemporary stand-alone titles.

Check out Porthkennack! http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/universe/porthkennack

About Joanna Chambers

Joanna Chambers always wanted to write. In between studying, finding a proper grown up job, getting married and having kids, she spent many hours staring at blank sheets of paper and chewing pens. That changed when she rediscovered her love of romance and found her muse. Joanna's muse likes red wine, coffee and won't let Joanna clean the house or watch television.

Connect with Joanna:

• Website: www.joannachambers.com
• Facebook
• Twitter: @ChambersJoanna
• Goodreads

To celebrate the release of A Gathering Storm, one lucky winner will receive a $25 Riptide credit and a copy of A Gathering Storm! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on April 22, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Audiobook Review: Dom of Ages (Collars and Cuffs #7) by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams

Eli may only be thirty, but he has had enough of pretend submissives. When he spies Jarod in a BDSM club, everything about the man screams submission. So what if Jarod is probably twenty years older than Eli. What does age matter, anyway? All he can see is what he’s always wanted—a sub who wants to serve.

Jarod spent twenty-four years with his Master before Fate took him. Four years on, Jarod is still lost, so when a young Dom takes charge, Jarod rolls with it and finds himself serving again. But he keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because there’s going to come a point when Eli realizes he’s a laughing stock in the club. Who would want to be seen with a fifty-year-old sub?

After several missteps, Eli realizes that in order to find happiness, they will need friends who will understand. At a friend’s insistence, he visits Collars & Cuffs, where they are met with open arms. As they settle in to their new life, Eli begins to see things differently and he dares to think he can have it all. Until a phone call threatens to take it all away….

Listening Length: 10 hours and 9 minutes
Narrator: Joel Leslie

Reviewer: Shee Reader

Jarod feels old. Old and lonely. His Sir, Philip, died four years ago, and the twenty-four years they had together before Philip was taken have left Jarod rudderless. He wants a new dom, but what self respecting dom wants to be seen with a 50 year old sub?

Enter Eli. He might only be 30 years old, but he's had enough of pretend subs. He wants a sub who lives the role. He wants a sub to care for him. One night at his local club he spies Jarod, kneeling quietly, and wants the man for himself.

Eli is a young dom who makes mistakes, but is man enough to own them, and make them right. His friends at the Collars and Cuffs club play their part in helping him become the man and dominant he wants to be.

Jarod needs the friends he makes at the club, they give him a new appreciation of himself and his contribution to others. Seeing Jarod develop a more robust sense of self and learning to value himself and his experiences is truly lovely.

The story is a rollercoaster of self doubt, discovery and eventually, love. The ups and downs are beautifully described and are so real, I felt like I was living the story through Jarod and Eli. This is a truly beautiful book, and the revisiting previous Collars and Cuffs couples is so enjoyable, like visiting old friends. That said, the most outstanding thing about this audiobook is the Narration.

Joel Lesley does such an incredible job that at times I felt like there were several different narrators doing the different parts! His characterisation was perhaps the best I’ve listened to, and the emotion and dramatisation of the story were so touching, that Joel had me laughing and crying along with the characters.

If you’ve never given into the lure of audio books, and like gay romance with a BDSM kink, this would be the perfect gateway book!

Highly recommended.

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Review: Murder on the Champs-Élysées (The Belle Époque Mysteries, #1) by Alex Mandon

Paris, 1900. The height of the Belle-Époque: decadence, wealth, hedonism…and murder. 

“Mandon creates a gay lead character in a mainstream mystery, with refreshing and ingenious insight!" 
—Kathryn Lynn Davis, New York Times bestselling author 

Homicide investigator Guillaume Devré stands for the silenced victims, bound to seek justice as he makes his way from the wide boulevards frequented by the tout-Paris to the narrow byways of Montmartre, to the shadow of the Tour Eiffel and the lush elegance of Maxim’s. 

When the most famous courtesan in Paris becomes the prime suspect in the death of a wealthy young man, Inspector Devré is reluctantly drawn into the opulent parlors and witty manners of high society. As the investigation unfolds, he must contend with a bloodthirsty press and the outrageous behavior of his suspect…as well as his own prejudices and unfulfilled needs. 

Devré soon realizes that solving this murder could expose him and his darkest secret. 

Murder on the Champs-Élysées is the first in a new series featuring Inspector Guillaume Devré, a homicide detective from la Sûreté who lives a secret life on the fringes of respectable society, the powerful courtesan known as La Balise—with secrets of her own—and the gruff but brilliant American pathologist Dr. Jackson. 

See that blurb? Wanna know how much of it I read before I had my hand in the air all 'MEMEMEMEMEME'?

"Paris, 1900." 

The end. REQUESTED! That + the title = done deal. I'm really glad I did too because this is a fantastic book. It's lush with vibrant characters and a mystery plot line that's absorbing. If an author can get my thoughts to churn over a book when I'm not reading the book, that's the mark of a good read and an invested reader.

Before I forget, this isn't a romance. There are romantic elements that may evolve into something as the series progresses, but this is gay lit/fiction. The blurb (that I only read two words of) doesn't really indicate that and I admit I was expecting there to be some romance, but I have to tell you I got so engrossed in this story that I... forgot. I looked down at the percentage read and was at almost 90% when I realized, 'hey! this isn't a romance!'. Clearly, I don't feel shortchanged in the slightest, but if you need sex and romance in your reads, you'll likely be disappointed.

The central "relationship" in this novel is between Devré and Lucie and the best way to describe their relationship is adversarial. He's investigating the murder of Paul Bacard and she is his prime suspect. They are worthy adversaries. Both are clever, astute, observant and perceptive. They don't like each other but it's clear they respect each other. Their quipping and maneuvering was entertaining and is what endeared both to me. I don't know whether I liked their interplay better or Dr. Jackson with either of them.

Dr. Jackson is a GR-HAAAAAA-UMP and a pathologist. He make me laugh so hard a few times that I had my face in my hands trying to stifle my cackling. AND he's American! An American outgrumped the original grumps! Priceless!

Devré is an inspector with La Sûreté. He's also a dandy. Can we just pause for a moment of dandy appreciation? Go ahead and conjure up your favorite image, I'll wait. *stares into the distance* He's gay and all that that implies in 1900. The fact that he's a law enforcement officer further complicates matters for him. He's got some self-loathing going on due to his sexuality which pulled at my heartstrings. I'm hoping he can find some peace and happiness before this thing is said and done. Maybe with Huvet? *hopeful eyes* 

His was a life of subterfuge and dishonesty juxtaposed with a vocation spent uncovering truth and promoting justice.

La Balise a.k.a. Lucie-Genviève Madeleine is the most famous courtesan in all of Paris. Can I just say how much I love the French? I LOVE THE FRENCH!!!!!! They revere her so much that they've elevated her into the rarified stratosphere of celebrity. Of course she's beautiful and charming, but anyone that underestimates her because of her gender does so at their own peril. I do love a strong, quick witted female character and Mandon has created one with Lucie.

Truth be told, I loved all three of these characters. They, as well as the secondary characters, all are expertly drawn with unique voices. Mandon's prose is strong and sumptuous, flowing like the Seine on a summer day with its rich imagery. It's also so very, very FRENCH! Mandon didn't just capture the ethos and decadence of the bourgeoise of this era, but the mindset that makes the French so... well, French. 

First and foremost, this novel is a mystery full of twists and turns, multiple suspicious characters and subterfuge. The way the case evolves is smart, slowly revealing a breadcrumb trail of clues for the reader to follow. There are no explosions or grandiose antics to cheapen the narrative. It stays true to the time and is truly an investigation, some aspects of which can be mundane, but I'll tell you, Mandon gave me a run for my money. That's a win in my book.

The weaving of the historical aspects into the fabric of this narrative so seamlessly lends further credence to Mandon being an accomplished writer. It's clearly well researched from the language to the attitudes to the class differences to the societal expectations of the time. All are top-notch. Never once did I get pulled out of the story by a careless lapse in continuity. 

I loved a lot about this book but how Paris is integral, almost like another character in the story made it special for me. I always get a thrill when I've been to the places in my reads especially when I loved the place and I love Paris. Cliché or no, tis true.
 
Gorgeous writing, likable characters that are fully realized and an engrossing mystery have ensured that I'll be back for The Belle Époque Mysteries part deux.

Recommend to mystery fans.

A review copy was provided.

Blog Tour + Giveaway: An Officer's Submission (Cuffs, Collars, and Love #4) by Christa Tomlinson

Welcome Christa Tomlinson and IndiGo Promotions to the clubhouse! They're here today promoting An Officer's Submission (Cuffs, Collars, and Love #4)! 

Learn a bit about the author, don't miss out on today's info--there's a signed paperback Cuff, Collars and Love #1-3 giveaway!

Title:  An Officer's Submission

Series: Cuffs, Collars, and Love #4

Author: Christa Tomlinson

Publisher:  Self- Torlina Publishing

Release Date: March 15

Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 67,000

Genre: Romance, erotic romance, contemporary, D/S, established couples

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

“You don’t ever have to keep anything you feel locked up, Clay. I’m your Dom, and whatever you need from me, I’ll gladly give to you.”
- Sergeant Logan Pierce

Police Officer Clay Foster is finally at peace and happy with his life. He enjoys his career as a member of Houston’s SWAT team, and he loves submitting to his Dom in the bedroom. His life is perfect, until one cruel act destroys Clay’s bubble of happiness. Shattered trust forces Clay to reevaluate his career, his relationship, and himself.

Sergeant Logan Pierce is the leader of Houston’s elite SWAT team. On the force, he’s the best at what he does. In private, the most important thing in his life is taking care of his submissive, Clay. Clay is his whole world, and Logan will do whatever is necessary to keep him safe. Even if that means going up against Clay’s stubbornness in order to help him heal.

Can Logan and Clay work together to rebuild their happiness? Can they find their way back to the shared passion of Dominance and submission? Or will their love and relationship end before it’s truly begun?

An Officer's Submission is Book Four in the Cuffs, Collars, and Love series. If you love romance that is epic, emotional and erotic, you’ll want to give this series a read!

Excerpt

“It’s good to be back home.”

Logan looked down at him with an eyebrow raised. “Home?”

Clay snorted a laugh. As usual, they were at Logan’s house. When he thought about it, he realized he hadn’t been back to his apartment in weeks. In fact, his bags from their recent trip to Colorado were here at Logan’s. He hadn’t bothered to take them back to his place after their return.

“If I’m in your space too much, I can throw all my stuff in the car and head back to my apartment,” he said as he pretended to pull away.

Logan tightened his grip on his foot. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Clay bit his lip to hold back a grin. “I didn’t think you wanted me to. But what I meant is, I feel good about life. That trip was awesome. I got to play in the snow, just like I wanted.”

“And I got to warm you up when you were done.”

“You did a very good job. You might have gotten me a little overheated a few times,” he teased. He wiggled his toes as Logan squeezed his foot again. “You and I are in a great place. And I think things are going to be better at work now too. We redid Hayden’s ridiculous course and passed with flying colors this time. I’m hoping the fact that we passed the redo means Hayden will get off our backs and quit fucking with our schedule.”

“The team is gelling again. And we’re hoping Hayden will finally move on and give up on his pet project of tormenting our team. Anything else?”

Clay shifted, looking at the TV instead of Logan. “What else is there?”

“Are you still blaming yourself for that idiot making those fake calls to our team?”

Clay pulled his feet off Logan’s lap for real this time and got up from the couch. “Why wouldn’t I blame myself? It was my fault.”

“It wasn’t your fault. And I don’t like hearing you say that it was.”

“C’mon, Sarge. You know that was on me.” Clay roughly ran a hand through his hair, turning his back on his lover. “If I hadn’t gone to that convention and went on camera bragging about how badass our team was, that whacko would have never taken it as a challenge to try and prove he was better than us.” He turned back around as Logan grabbed his hand and pulled him to stand in between his legs.

“Maybe not. But maybe he would have taken his anger out in another way.”

“What do you mean?”

“You read the report Roberts put together on the guy. He was looking for revenge because he felt he’d been slighted too many times. What if he’d physically attacked the people he wanted revenge against? Someone or several someones could have been hurt. At least with the revenge tactics he chose, no one was. We managed to catch the idiot, and hopefully he’ll be granted some time to think about what he did.”

“Are you forgetting he tried to kill me?” Clay saw a muscle tic in Logan’s jaw at the question, his hazel eyes going hard before he answered.

“No, I’m not forgetting.”

Clay tilted his head to the side as he studied his lover. “You know, I noticed that the perp seemed a little worse for wear before you got him loaded in the patrol car. Did you do anything to cause that?”

“I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”

Logan’s response was a non-answer, but it confirmed Clay’s suspicions. “I’m a cop. On occasion, I might get hurt. And you can’t go after people because of that.”

“And you’re mine. Did you forget that?”

Clay shook his head. “No, Sir.”

“Come here.” Clay followed the gentle pull Logan gave his hand to drop down to the couch and straddle his lap.

“You’re my lover. My submissive. It’s my right and my pleasure to protect you, always.” He brought a hand up, his thumb sliding across the metal collar that circled Clay’s neck. “I won’t let anything or anyone hurt you or take you away from me.”

A thrill shot through Clay at that declaration. Logan’s unapologetic possessiveness had caused problems early on in their relationship, but they’d worked on it and come to an understanding on boundaries. Now, he was able to revel in Logan’s possessiveness and caring, because he knew it wouldn’t get out of hand. Clay pressed his forehead to Logan’s and closed his eyes. “I love when you talk to me like that.”

Logan’s hand moved to grip the back of his neck. “Do you?”

His eyes still closed, Clay nodded.

“Tell me why.”

“Because it makes me feel like the most important thing in your world. I’ve never felt like that with anyone.”

“It’s true. You are the most important thing to me. Having you in my life, wearing my collar, means everything to me.”

Clay opened his eyes and looked into his lover’s gaze, seeing the sincerity there. Not that he doubted him. Logan had proven time and time again how much he loved him. “I don’t deserve you, Sir. And I don’t do enough to show you how much I love you in return.”

“You don’t have to do anything to deserve me. I’m with you because I don’t ever want to be with anyone else.”

“Well, maybe I can show you what I feel tonight. Physically.”

Purchase

Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Apple iBooks | Kobo

Hello, I’m Christa! I’m originally from St. Louis, Missouri and I currently live in Houston, Texas. I have two dogs, I’m a former teacher and I’m a retired roller derby player. I’ve been reading romance novels since I was eleven! My big sister let me read hers as long as I promised to skip the “grown up” parts. I always said I would skip them but read them anyway. I was a rebel. My current book is An Officer’s Submission. It’s an erotic BDSM romance, featuring men from my fictional version of the Houston Police Department SWAT team. This story is about Officer Clay Foster, who loves being a submissive, but still struggles with that part of himself. And his Dom, Sergeant Logan Pierce, who will do anything for his submissive.

1. When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I first received payment from publishers for The Sergeant. It may seem shallow, but receiving a wage for something I produced gave me a great sense of validation.

2. What is the hardest part about writing for you?

Having patience and staying focused. I have a dozen ideas for stories in my head and I want to write them all right now! I have to force myself to stay on task and finish one project through to the end before running off and starting another.

3. What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I start early in the morning and write in forty-five minute increments with a fifteen-minute break in between. I go until about four or five o’clock. My brain is exhausted and done for the day by then.

4. What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I listen to the same song on repeat for hours. I pick something to match the mood of the scene I’m writing, hit repeat and let it play over and over again. It helps me to get in the right mindset, but it also sort of fades to the back of my mind as white noise that blocks me from getting distracted.

5. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Reading! Curled up on the couch with a good book is the best. My interest in anime is growing. My current favorites are Yuri! On Ice, Death Note, Voltron Legendary Defender, Kill la Kill and my long-time favorite – Sailor Moon. And I spend time with my mutts, Mindy and Chunky.

6. What are you working on now and what are your plans for the future?

I’m currently writing the next and probably last book in the Cuffs, Collars, and Love series. Officer Hector Castillo, the sniper from the team, is getting his own story next! I’ve already finished the rough draft and I’m planning for a June or July release. After that, I’ll be making a sub-genre shift. I’ve wanted to write historical fantasy for a long time now, and I’m in the planning stages for my first project. I’m very excited about it!

Thank you for having me on your blog today! I appreciate the opportunity to discuss my work and look forward to chatting with your readers. Readers, feel free to drop any questions you have for me in the comments. Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Christa

Meet the Author

Christa Tomlinson is an exciting up and coming author in erotic romance. Her first self-published novel, The Sergeant, was an Amazon Best Seller for Gay and Lesbian Erotica for seven weeks straight.

Christa graduated from The University of Missouri-St. Louis with a degree in History. She loves to create stories that are emotional and lovely with sex that is integral to the characters' romantic arc. Her books include straight couples, curvy couples, gay, and multicultural couples. Love is love and everyone should have their story told.

Christa lives in Houston, Texas with her two dogs, and is a retired roller derby player.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail | Amazon

Sign up for Christa's Newsletter!

Tour Schedule

April 13^th - Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

April 14^th -  Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words      

April 15^th - MM Good Book Reviews

April 16^th - Boy Meets Boy Reviews

April 17^th - My Fiction Nook

April 18^th - Love Bytes Reviews

April 19^th - Erotica For All

April 20^th - Nerdy Dirty & Flirty

April 21st - Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews

April 22nd - Booklover Sue

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway