Release Blitz + Giveaway: Finding Home by Meg Harding



Meg Harding, along with Signal Boost Promotions, visit the clubhouse to promote Harding's newest contemporary release, Finding Home. And there are gifts: an excerpt AND Accepting the Fall eBook giveaway!

Good luck!

See our review of Finding Home HERE!




Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 68,000 words

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design

Blurb

Jaden Matthews has never known his father or his father's family, but he's about to get a crash course on having siblings. With the recent passing of his grandmother, he's discovered he has three half-brothers and part ownership of a gym. In Serenity, Florida. His life in New York has hit a rocky road, so maybe this is the vacation he needs to get things back on track.


Chase Michaels lost his future in a car crash almost ten years ago, and he's made a new one for himself in Serenity. One that doesn't include getting emotionally involved with people who are just passing through. But Jaden makes his common sense flee and his gut react. He's got one month with the man who made him believe in taking a chance.


Excerpt

“Is everything all right?” asked a warm, very male voice from behind him. It sent a shiver racing down Jaden’s spine. Huh. That was weird.


He turned.


Standing on the shoulder of the road was a Calvin Klein model. He was taller than Jaden, probably some insanely genetically gifted six foot something, and his legs…. Jaden’s mouth might have watered a little. They were really long and very shapely. His jeans were molded to his thighs. His big, muscular thighs. Jaden swallowed heavily. His plain white shirt clung to an equally wonderful chest, outlining defined pecs and hinting at the type of abdomen Jaden watched porn to see normally. He was tan, with a chiseled jaw and high cheekbones, big, luscious pink lips. His eyes were hidden by his sunglasses, Ray Bans, and his hair was a silky ear length fall of chestnut.


Jaden had to wonder if he’d passed out in his car from the heat and this was all a fantastic hallucination. If the guy took his shirt off, that’d answer the question.


Maybe he should cut back on the porn….


“You okay?”


He blinked. The guy’s shirt was still on. So this god was actually here to be his knight in shining armor. Wow. Too bad he was about to make himself look like a giant dumbass. “My car is out of gas,” he said. “And I don’t know where I am.”


The man smiled. He had dimples. Two of them. One in each cheek.


Jaden’s knees felt weak. Man, the heat was really getting to him. He leaned against his car for stability. Sweat was trickling down his neck, under his collar, and over his spine. When he licked his lips, Jaden tasted salt. So he was lost and grossly sweaty on the side of the road. Definitely the picture one wanted to present to the hottest man he’d ever seen in person.


“You’re on State Road 22, about ten miles outside of Serenity.”


Jaden’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding me, right? Ten miles? All this car needed to make it was ten more miles?” If he had a junk car like Mr. Hottie, he’d kick it in frustration, but he drove an Audi so he settled for stomping his foot. Unreal. He was so close to his destination.


“I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you’re headed to Serenity, then?” asked the man, and he may have been beyond sexy, but the smirk on his face was starting to irritate Jaden. Jaden’s frustration wasn't amusing, damnit.


“I am,” he said.


This got him a thorough head to toe evaluation from his potential rescuer. He straightened, trying to make his shoulders look broader. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to fix the sweat dampened mess. He felt like he had to be coming up wanting in this man’s judgment. In his ear, the operator asked, “Can I let you go now, or would you like me to keep wasting my time?”


He hung up on her. If he ended up dead, his ghost could haunt her.


“I can give you and your small horse there a lift to the gas station and back,” he offered, holding out his hand to Magneto, who cautiously walked toward him, black and white ears slicked to his skull and nose twitching. He’d never been a fan of strangers. It’d taken him weeks to get used to Drew, simply because Jaden had been the one to pick him up as a puppy from the shelter. Originally, Magneto was an intended birthday gift for Drew. Jaden’s plan backfired, but he couldn't say he was sorry about it. As Jaden watched, Magneto tentatively sniffed the proffered hand and then his large tongue flicked out and left slobber in its wake. The man smiled and laughed, crouching to put himself face to face with Magneto. The next kiss landed on his cheek.


Jaden guessed that answered the question of if he could trust this guy. Obviously his dog did, and that probably meant something. “I’d appreciate it. Thank you,” he said. He shifted awkwardly. Should he offer to pay him for the assistance? Maye once they were at the station. Caution urged him to wait to reveal his wallet.


Just on the off chance Magneto was displaying poor judgment.


“You’re welcome.” He directed his blinding smile at Jaden, scratching behind Magneto’s big, floppy ears all the while. “I’m Chase Michaels. What’s this guy’s name?”


“Magneto.” Chase Michaels…. Why did the name sound vaguely familiar? Jaden couldn't place it. He shook his head. It was probably nothing. “Like the X-Man.” He tacked the line on automatically now, to beat the other person to the inevitable question. Magneto trotted over at his name, abandoning Chase’s attention for Jaden. He rewarded him with an under the chin scratch. “And I’m Jaden. Matthews.”


Chase wiped his slobber coated hands down his jeans as he stood. Jaden winced. “Nice to meet you. Want to get going or do you need to get anything from the car first?”


“Let me grab his leash.” While he picked the leash up, he slipped his wallet into his pocket. He remembered at the last second to take his keys. Locking himself out would be the cherry on top of his day. He didn't like cherries.


The first thing Magneto did when he jumped in the backseat of Chase’s car was drool all over the far window. Jaden stared at the smears in dismay. “I’m sorry,” he said, trying to head off any unpleasant attitude. “I’ll pay for you to get your car cleaned.” Drew had refused to allow Magneto in his car, and he’d always thrown hissy fits when Magneto smudged all the house windows trying to watch the squirrels outside play.


Jaden was a master window cleaner now. Maybe if he couldn't get another accounting job, he’d switch to that. He could run his own company and do the the books for it.


But Chase laughed, not looking at all disgusted by the mess it had taken Magneto all of two seconds to create. “It’s fine,” he said. “I’ll roll them down for him.”


His car smelled like apples, and a discreet glance around found the culprit to be a smoothie sitting in the middle cup holder. It was a not so appetizing oatmeal color. He expected country music to come over the speakers, so he was pleasantly surprised to hear something else. Indie rock maybe? He’d never heard this song before, but the beat was good and the singer had a clear voice.


Should he make small talk and ask who this was?


“What brings you to Serenity?”


Author Bio

Meg Harding is a graduate of UCF, and recently completed a masters program for Publishing in the UK. For as long as she can remember, writing has always been her passion, but she had an inability to ever actually finish anything. She’s immensely happy that her inability has fled and looks forward to where her mind will take her next. She’s a sucker for happy endings, the beach, and superheroes. In her dream life she owns a wildlife conservation and is surrounded by puppies. She’s a film buff, voracious reader, and a massive geek.




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Review: Spa Weekend (Daniel and Ryan #6) by Tamryn Eradani

Daniel and Ryan take their first trip as a couple, traveling to Daniel’s favorite spa resort, a place he’s never taken anyone before. The significance isn’t lost on Ryan, but it takes longer for Daniel to realize there are feelings encroaching on their arrangement.













This was short, sweet and simple in the world of Daniel and Ryan.

When we left them in the last book, Daniel had invited Ryan on a Spa Weekend and Ryan accepted. Daniel normally goes alone and doesn’t even let it be general knowledge where they spa is located but taking Ryan is a new step, a new challenge and Daniel accepts it. Along with the spa trip challenge, Ryan decides to up the ante and request his own challenge of Daniel for the week.

Let me say that the week-long challenge led to some delicious text messages between these two and though it was all hypothetical, Daniel gets so damn dirty it was gorgeous.

This was simply nice to see the men still doing what they have been while slowly moving toward a real relationship and not just an arrangement though Daniel is a bit slow on the uptake. Seeing Daniel move around his normal routine and adjust ever so slightly to allow Ryan into it and into his life was lovely. I know how important routines are and how hard it is to adjust them so while Daniel is ready to add Ryan into his before work routine, he is ready to move from Room 12 to Room 112 because Ryan is with him.

The waking up business was hot AF and Ryan talking during sex was so very emotional and so very telling of where HE is in the relationship. Not being in Ryan’s head, we don’t always know what’s up with him but I love how he sees Daniel.

This ends, per the normal with you hanging on for more and with a short excerpt for the next installment. I am still curious how long this will lead us by the reader dick until we are allowed some friction but I will be there regardless of how tight my reader balls get and want to come.





Excerpt
Spa Weekend
Tamryn Eradani © 2017
All Rights Reserved

“I want to try something new,” Ryan says.
Daniel stops mincing the garlic to look over his shoulder. “Something new for you or something new for us?”
“Us,” Ryan says.
They’re in Daniel’s apartment this weekend, and Daniel offered to make dinner to draw out their time together a little bit longer. They normally part ways midafternoon on Sundays, but as soon as Daniel mentioned he was cooking, it was easy to convince Ryan to stay. Daniel has thought about pressing his luck and seeing if he could get Ryan to stay the night, but it seems like too much of a risk.
They’ve never stayed the night when there was work the next morning, and Daniel’s not going to be the first to bring it up. Besides, it probably would be more hassle than it’s worth. He’d have to figure out how to fit a second person into his morning routine, and he’s gotten it planned to the minute over the past few years. It would be too disruptive to change it. At least, that’s what he tells himself to keep from blurting out an invitation to stay.
Daniel returns to carefully mincing his garlic.
“I don’t want you to touch yourself this week,” Ryan says. “Not without my permission.”
Daniel has to put the knife down before he accidentally takes off a finger. “Touch myself how?” He’s got a good idea of what Ryan’s getting at, but he likes specifics. And maybe he just wants to make Ryan squirm a little.
The plan backfires, because Ryan meets Daniel’s gaze straight on and says, “No jerking off. No giving yourself a couple squeezes during your morning shower. No lazy touches as you get ready for bed.”
It’s Daniel who ends up with pink cheeks and short of breath when Ryan’s done talking, but he manages to say, “Okay,” without a waver in his voice.
He goes back to the garlic, because he needs to finish the glaze so he can cook the chicken or dinner will never be done. The move puts his back to Ryan, and he should’ve known that Ryan wouldn’t let the conversation end so quickly.
A moment later, he can feel Ryan’s heat against his back, and then Ryan’s stepping in close, hands on Daniel’s hips so he can look over his shoulder.
“You can say no,” Ryan reminds him, like Daniel doesn’t understand how consent works. “Or ask questions.”
“I’m saying yes,” Daniel says. It’s not like he masturbates often. And from the way Ryan’s floated the suggestion, it sounds like he’ll have the opportunity to ask for permission. That thought is what sends a little shiver down his spine, and with Ryan as close as he is, there’s no way he doesn’t feel it too. “How’re you going to know?”
“Besides the honor system?” Ryan says. His breath tickles Daniel’s neck. “I’m going to call and check up on you.”
Daniel has to take a steadying breath before he adds the red pepper flakes, rosemary, and salt to the garlic and begins mincing again. “You couldn’t have waited to float this idea until I was done with the knife stage of dinner?” He’s not really annoyed. If he was then he’d just tell Ryan to knock it off.
Ryan knows it too, because he crowds closer, until his hips press right up against Daniel’s ass. “Am I distracting you? I thought your self-control and ability to multitask were flawless.”
“I will remind you I’m holding a knife,” Daniel says. He finishes using the sharp end of the blade and now he uses the flat end to mash the mixture up.
“Out of curiosity,” Ryan says, “are you saying yes because you think it’ll be easy or because you like the thought of giving up control to me even when we’re not together? Or because it’s something I want to do?”
“All three,” Daniel answers. He likes doing things that Ryan wants to do, especially when they line up with things he’s interested in. Giving Ryan control over something as private and intimate as his orgasms is something that appeals to him maybe more than it should. And, of course, there’s the fact that he likes a challenge, and he finds he can push himself further when it’s Ryan setting the demands and the limits rather than Daniel himself. “But mostly the first one. I’m not an excessive masturbator.”
“I find that difficult to believe,” Ryan says, and Daniel can’t see him, but he can imagine the eye roll that accompanies his statement. “But it also sounds like you’re daring me to make this difficult for you.”
“I would never.” Daniel keeps his tone light, just shy of teasing. “You’re the one in control of everything.”
“Put the knife down,” Ryan says and as soon as Daniel’s dropped the knife to the cutting board, Ryan spins him around and kisses him. Ryan bites at Daniel’s bottom lip until Daniel opens his mouth and lets Ryan sweep in and claim the kiss. When he pulls back, Daniel’s breathing heavy and holding on to the counter like it’s the only thing keeping him on his feet.
Ryan pats Daniel’s hip and then wanders back to the far side of the island where his phone is.
“Tease,” Daniel says, but he can’t keep the smile off his face.
“We haven’t even started,” Ryan promises him.
Author Bio
Tamryn studied English and Creative Writing in school but has been writing since she could first hold a pencil. Recently, she’s turned her focus toward writing erotica. She enjoys writing stories where sex comes first, then feelings, because doing things out of order can be fun.
Tamryn has spent the past few months writing the Daniel and Ryan series with a lovely view of mountains out her window, and she’s now searching for a new mountain range to serve as her backdrop as she begins her next project.
Other books by this author
Daniel and Ryan Series
Delayed Gratification
The Start of Something New
Who I Am When I’m With You
Positive Reinforcement

Performance Review

Review: Finding Home by Meg Harding

Jaden Matthews has never known his father or his father's family, but he's about to get a crash course on having siblings. With the recent passing of his grandmother, he's discovered he has three half-brothers and part ownership of a gym. In Serenity, Florida. His life in New York has hit a rocky road, so maybe this is the vacation he needs to get things back on track.

Chase Michaels lost his future in a car crash almost ten years ago, and he's made a new one for himself in Serenity. One that doesn't include getting emotionally involved with people who are just passing through. But Jaden makes his common sense flee and his gut react. He's got one month with the man who made him believe in taking a chance.






This is another winner for me from Meg Harding.

Finding Home is a character driven quiet romance with low angst combined with sweet and extremely sexy moments. It was the perfect read on a Sunday morning during a holiday weekend.

Jaden Matthews and his Great Dane, Magneto, are on his way to a town he’s never been, to meet three half-brothers Jaden never knew existed at all because his late paternal grandmother they share whom he never met left him part of a business and her house. Jaden has nothing to lose after being laid off from his job and left by his soon to be ex-husband after he cheated on him with a med student, so why not drive from New York to Florida to finalize the things he never knew he had to move on with his life.

But visiting and then staying in a town called Serenity for a high strung guy like Jaden is bound to have all sorts of consequences.

Chase Michael’s had the world at his feet as a star college football player on the path to and NFL career when one night of too much partying and a bad decision changed everything. An accident that messed up his shoulder and leg forced Chase to rethink his life and fall back on the business degree he earned. Laying down roots in Serenity, opening a smoothie shop and becoming close friends with Jaden’s family was never his plan, but the town has a way of welcoming you in and never letting you go. It’s a small town thing right along with raccoons that hold you hostage from your front porch and sea turtles laying eggs on the beach.

The meet cute with Jaden and Chase was super cute because rescuing a stranger on the side of the road always turns into more and Chase and Jaden have chemistry immediately. Though both men do not know the other is gay, they form crushes and settle for friendship that moves along beautifully.

The memory of their Grandmother and who she was to her family and the town was bittersweet. Everyone loved her and her office filled with binders, pictures and notes shows how much she loved her family, even her asshat of a son who donated his sperm, but never took responsibility for the children he created. Jaden’s brothers were a complete joy to have in this story as it is one that focuses on family, a theme I am beginning to associate with the author. Jaden had never met his brothers, Phoenix, Zane and Elliot but considering the men arrived in Serenity in much the same way Jaden did, it’s not surprise that they want to get to know him and immediately take ownership of him as their brother. I loved each of the “Bannister boys” for many reasons but I have soft spot for the one with the long blue hair with his love for all animals and being their knight in shining everything but after a slip at the beach when discussing sexuality… I want Phoenix’s story and I kinda want it bad.

But back to the romance of Chase and Jaden. Both men know that Jaden is only there for a short amount of time to settle the new affairs he acquired from his grandmother. They know this and don’t deny their attraction mutual attraction and fall into one another with eyes wide open. Their eyes aren’t the only thing that’s open and with every “Can I try something?” from Jaden, he and Chase open their hearts to one another. Their time spent in bed was smoking hot with a side of small serving of kink from a bossy Jaden that both shocks Jaden for doing it and Chase for liking it. But it’s all what happens out of bed that is the romance and how Jaden, who has been repressed by making everyone else happy, is finally able to let his dork out and just be his true self because Chase lets him. It was adorable watching Jaden let go and let Chase in, even if neither of them are ready to spill their souls to one another.

The moral of the story is that pressure can be a bitch, and it doesn't matter where it comes from. At some point we have to realize we need more than one priority, and those priorities shouldn’t interfere with our well being. Figure out what you want, and do the selfish thing for once.

That quote right there is the moral of this story really. It’s too often that we can get caught up in doing for others that we forget to do things for ourselves. Even when we think we are being selfish, we tend to put others first and that can lead to a miserable existence. Jaden needed to learn this but needed to learn it where we could let go and find his own peace of mind.

I really liked that the story felt realistic down to the last word. As the reader you know where things are going and why you don’t want separating of angst for Chase and Jaden, you know it has to happen. It’s a good thing that end was totally romantic and so damn worth it.

Now I have to add…

The only thing for me that didn’t make this a five star read was terribly picky on my part and totally personal. For Chase to teach yoga, it bugged me that the first class he taught in the book didn’t make much sense. I’m not a professional, but I’ve been practicing daily for over two years and could not figure out what positions he was getting students into without giving any of them a name at all. Then we get that he was in Kapotasana on the beach, which is a very advanced pose in the second series of Ashtanga Yoga, and we were given the Sanskrit name of it out of the blue instead of calling it Pigeon Pose. It was just really odd to go from Chase giving no name to the poses before and then nailing this one. I am not sure why this pose was chosen, but including how it’s a back bend plus a heart opener could have added to Chase needing it at that moment and what deep poses like that can do to emotions. It’s ridiculously picky on my part, but it bugged me to the point I couldn’t see Chase as this yogi who practices authentically as he was supposed to. Even if some of yoga sounds new age-ish or hippy etc. using the language, even the non-traditional names for it give more meaning as it seems to be applied to Chase and not just some class he teaches like step aerobics.

Anyway, gripe aside I really loved this story. I liked the romance, I liked the family dynamics and I liked how the town of Serenity became a character as well with its own charms. I am going to say again, a book about Phoenix exploring more than just a one off would be amazing and I’ll leave it at that.



Don't miss the Finding Home release blitz HERE

Giveaway + Blog Tour: Love and Other Hot Beverages by Laurie Loft


We welcome Laurie Loft today who's making her first clubhouse appearance to promote her debut novel, Love and Other Hot Beverages.

Be sure to leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway below. Good luck!


I’m Laurie Loft, author of Love and Other Hot Beverages. Welcome to my blog tour, and thanks for being here! I’m excited to give out super cool prizes to two people who make thoughtful comments to any of my blog posts: one French press (an item which features prominently in my novel), and a $15.00 Starbucks gift card. Either way, you’ll enjoy plenty of hot beverages!

There’ll be seven posts in which I’ll discuss my book as well as unrelated items. Comment, and we can get to know each other a little better.


About Love and Other Hot Beverages

After a rough breakup, Todd Addison wants time alone to grieve. While still dreaming of winning back his ex’s love, he moves across the country and finds work with a construction company. The last thing he needs is the cute office boy developing a crush on him, especially since he’s back in the closet.

Sebastián Nye can’t help feeling sorry for the obviously brokenhearted Todd. Though rebuffed repeatedly, Sebby chisels away at Todd’s resistance, determined to help him forget—a task potentially beyond anyone’s capabilities. He never meant to fall for the poor guy, but he does. Hard.

Desperate to hold on to Todd, Sebby hatches a sneaky plot guaranteed to end Todd's heartbreak—if Todd doesn't bail and ruin everything. Just when things can’t get more complicated, Todd’s ex wants him back. And Sebby’s abusive ex is just waiting to catch Sebby alone. Todd and Sebby must decide what’s worth fighting for, what’s worth sacrifice, and what’s worth compromise, or their relationship will begin and end with a broken heart.

Love and Other Hot Beverages is now available from Riptide Publishing. 


About Laurie Loft

Laurie Loft lives in Iowa, endeavoring to write stories to give you that rush. Her husband, cat, and dogs kindly tolerate this odd activity. Her first M/M novel came about because of a minor character in a straight romance who just took over and demanded his own book. Laurie enjoys NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and other forms of writerly torture. She finds inspiration in her NaNo friends and her fellow Riptide authors. When not writing or working at her mysterious day job, she can often be found screaming at tangled cross stitch threads.

Connect with Laurie:




To celebrate the release of Love and Other Hot Beverages, one lucky winner will receive a $15 Starbucks gift card and a French press from Laurie! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on July 8, 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: The Last Thing He Needs (The Last Thing He Needs #1) by J.H. Kinght

Tommy O’Shea is raising his seven younger brothers and sisters without any help from his drug abusing father and stepmother. Since he was fifteen years old, he's managed to keep the children fed and out of foster care. It takes up every ounce of his energy and the last thing he needs is romance complicating his life further.

Rookie cop Bobby McAlister doesn't belong in Tommy’s harsh world, but Tommy can’t push him out. As their unlikely friendship turns into a tentative relationship, they weather the daily storm of Tommy’s life with a lot of laughs and more than a few arguments.

Tommy isn't used to trusting outsiders, and he's never asked for help in his life. But when a tragedy strikes the O'Shea family and threatens everything he's fought for, he'll have to learn to do both to recover from the brutal hit.

Listening Length: 7 hrs 22 mins
Narrator: Michael Stellman


So...this book.

This audiobook!

How did I love thee? Let this review hopefully capture all the ways! (I'll try to keep the gushing to level 10) (Maybe.)

There are a lot of angsty events happening all around this story. And The Last Thing He Needs is most definitely a romance, the ensemble cast (O'Sheas) makes this story.There is a lot of strife and real life topics touched in this heartwarming tale: the victims of drug/alcohol/emotional abuse, living well below the poverty line, past sexual abuse PTSD, thieving to survive, death of a parent.

With all of that life gasoline fire surrounding the story, this is me at the end:

OMG I love them! Heart eyes 4eva!

This is my third J.H. Knight and you know what? I love her writing. It's like chicken soup to my reader's soul. There's something about it that I respond to while reading. It could be the ease of her writing, the way she captures the right essence of family love to deal with whatever real life antics go on or the fact that I want keep her characters in my pocket.

Now the similarities to another TV family is obviously there, but I love Shameless. And read it as a homage to a great show. I'd definitely watch Knight's version.A unicorn let me know the story is emotional manipulation and you know it. Hell, I knew it... but you love it anyway.

As do I.

Being as this is a classic (or if not yet...it definitely will be), I won't rehash too much of the plot. The Last Thing He Needs has Thomas O'Shea aka "Tommy" in charge of his seven brothers and sisters. His father is a drunk and his stepmother is a drug addicted whore. The two 'parents' (I use that term loosely) abandon their children to fend for themselves at a drop of a dime. Tommy, Colleen, Mikey, Davey, Carrie, Collin and infants Max and Zoe do whatever it takes to keep the roof over their head and the lights on. Odd jobs, hustling money or items needed, no job is too small for the O'Sheas. A rookie cop who has made numerous visits to the O'Shea home, Officer Bobby McAlister, takes a liking to Tommy and his ragtag family. Tommy has always harbored a crush on the blonde cop, but never thought anything would come of it. Tommy's more a fuck and dodge kinda guy.

But those feelings don't remain dormant. And Bobby, sweet persistent and equally hardheaded-as-an-O'Shea Bobby, doesn't back down when the times are rough and dredged in misery. He courts the oblivious Tommy and it is sweet and charming and just all the things I love reading about.

Me at the end of listening.

Michael Stellman did a pretty good job narrating. Granted, I read along with the audiobook so I caught a few discrepancies with his choice of words and the actual text. They were minor. And the Stellman didn't try making a lot of different voices for the multiple characters. Instead, he read through and kept the story interesting enough. But what I think my favorite thing about his narration is his voice. It's this sexy kind of growl that kept me hooked. I'm going to check out other books he narrated just to listen to Stellman purr in my ear.

Pair great narration with an awesome book and you know I had a wonderful time. As Bobby and Tommy get closer, the weight off the O'Sheas' collective back doesn't disappear but it does get a little easier to bear. Bobby and his mom Judy squeeze their way into the family's heart and help when it's needed. I loved the realistic approach to the problems. Sometimes Tommy got a little preachy, but it fit the story. And I can honestly say I love each and every character, well almost - those drunken drug addicted shit stains for parents? They can go to hell in hand basket while wearing gas drenched drawers.

Me and maybe ten other people haven't read The Last Thing He Needs. If you're one of the ten, jump on it. And if you've read it, the audio is well worth listening to a sample.

Highly recommend the audiobook and eBook to readers - definitely a great book for newbie MM readers, fans of Shameless and readers who love a big cast of characters.

Definitely a solidified J.H. Knight fan after reading this.

Due to me going to bed like this...



...just thinking about the O'Sheas and their HEA.

P.S. Dear J.H. Knight,

Please write more!

Signed,
A Greedy Fan



Review: Spark to the Heart (Hearts of Parkerburg #4) by Havan Fellows and Lee Brazil

As a misguided youth, Rosy loved being that kid in Parkerburg—you know the one that everybody swears will end up in jail or comatose—until one summer day on the back roads of town when two lives came to a screeching halt.

Thirteen years later, Rosy owns the local pub on Maple Street and makes a good show of how he's recovered from tragedy. He even convinces himself…until he meets the new man in town and realizes just how okay he isn't. With the demons of his fatal past still stalking him, Rosy has no idea how to switch from simply existing to actually living.

Angus “Jet” Manheim—famous for his smooth, sexy voice and notorious for his hard partying ways—sped through most of his adult life on stage and in the recording studio. Sober and retired to the quaint New England town of Parkerburg, Jet’s ready to slow his soundtrack…until his compelling neighbor—a grumbling, muscular mountain of a man with an odd name—ups the tempo.

Frequently absentminded, Jet finds Rosy an easy object of focus, a solid center around which Jet hopes to build a future. But retirement isn’t easy. The entertainment industry doesn’t stop knocking just because you hang a do not disturb sign.

When Rosy’s and Jet’s pasts try to harmonize with their present, they might have to decide whether the chorus is worth repeating.


I enjoy coming back to visit Parkerburg whenever a new book is released in this small town series. I was looking forward to Rosy’s story because I’m a sucker for a grumpy bear with a heart of gold and I was all set for the opposites-attract thing I knew was coming in Spark to the Heart.

The story started out great, I loved where things were going with Rosy and Jet. It was sweet as the two danced around the flirtation, did a little dating and gave into their hornier base instincts. I knew there would be some angst coming, so the set up for some hurt/comfort was working for me. And it was working for me up until Rosy went from being “new boyfriend” Rosy, to “really bitter and angry” Rosy. And I understood it, I did, to a point, but his anger and reactions made me uncomfortable and turned me off to him pretty hard.

Rosy's a fixture in Parkerburg, he gives people second chances, I’m told repeatedly what a good guy he is and I totally believed it in the beginning, but when the guilt and anger come along I just couldn’t with him. He treated Jet like crap, he got violent with people who didn’t deserve it more than once and while I get he’s hurting, as a guy in position of some authority over employees and who holds respect with the townsfolk, putting your hands on someone or shoving innocent bystanders (even accidentally) while you’re in a huff is a no-go for me. When he did go to speak with Jet, from Jet’s (and my) perspective it turned into just an outlet for angry boning and I wanted more for Jet. Jet wanted more for Jet and props to him for putting the brakes on Rosy’s nonsense.

I think my problem was that it was too early in the relationship for this much trouble. I didn’t have a firm foundation in my head for these two yet. If I were Jet’s pal I would have told him to tell Rosy to hit the bricks and not waste his time and I shouldn’t be thinking that, I want to root for my MC’s even if I do want to throttle them now and again.

But Jet though, Jet was awesome. I love his hippy-dippy attitude that is surprisingly centered considering the life he’s led. I wanted to hang with him and Brian in Jet’s shop. I wanted him to be happy and be taken care of and it frustrated me that I couldn’t get behind Rosy more with an HEA for him and Jet for a while.

It’s Parkerburg though, and HEA’s are a given thankfully, so Rosy did manage to pull his head out of his ass eventually and realize he was in true danger of losing his happy if he didn’t make things right with Jet. I was happy for them, I was mostly happy for Jet though, because it was what he wanted. I wanted more groveling though. I needed more balance between dumbass-Rosy and good-boyfriend-Rosy.

I’ll be ready for more Parkerburg when it comes and what I really hope to read is some epilogue-y like love for Rosy and Jet. I really like Jet’s character and I want to spend more time with him. I want to like Rosy and see him evolve into the guy he’s supposed to be. I want to read some Parkerburg love for the next couple with more balance between the issues and the HEA.





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


Categories: MM romance, contemporary, series

44,000 words
Publisher: Appleton Publishing Avenue
Cover Artist: Author Services

Exclusive excerpt:
Jet chuckled. “Yes, well… Sunday?”
“Oh, we’re still on for Sunday. I just stopped by for…” For what? What did Rosy expect to happen by impulsively dive-bombing his new neighbor? “A taste.” Oh! Good answer. He grabbed Jet and spun them behind the narrow width counter, using it as a pseudo-shield from the storefront windows. “Do you mind? Can I have a taste?”
Without waiting for an answer, Rosy pressed their lips together. The hell with it; if Jet didn’t want a tongue in his mouth, he could push Rosy the fuck away.
Didn’t happen. Jet wrapped his arms around Rosy’s neck and encouraged a deeper exploration.
But Rosy wanted more than this limited sampling of mouths. Breaking their kiss, he repeated his question, “Can I have a taste?”
“Yes…taste me.”

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Lee Brazil
Somewhere in a small town in up-state New York are a librarian and a second grade teacher to whom I owe my life. That might be a touch dramatic, but it’s nevertheless one hundred percent true.
Because they taught me the joy of reading, of escaping into worlds crafted of words.
Have you ever been nine years old and sure of nothing so much as that you don’t belong? Looked at the world from behind glasses, and wondered why you don’t fit?
Someone hands you a book, and then you turn the page and see… There you are, running from Injun Joe in a dark graveyard; there you are fencing with Athos; there you are…beneath the deep blue sea- marveling at exotic creatures with Captain Nemo.
I found myself between the pages of books, and that is why I write now. It’s why I taught English and literature for so many years, and it’s why my house contains more pounds of books than furniture.
If I’d had my way, I’d have been a fencer…or a starship captain, or a lawyer, or a detective solving crimes. But instead, I am a writer, and I’ve come to realize that’s the best thing in the world to be, because as a writer, I can be all those things and more.
If I hadn’t learned to value the stories between the pages, who knows what would have happened? Certainly not college…teaching…or writing.

Havan Fellows
I annoy, love, respect, scare, seduce, hurt, anger, infatuate, frustrate, flatter, envy, amuse and tolerate everyone. I just do it better in writing thanks to a little thing called…edits.
Okay no, seriously…I'm a simpleminded person who enjoys the escape from real life through a book. I write with the group Story Orgy and hope to continue doing so for a long time. I also am privileged to be with the Pulp Friction writers, creating intermingling books in a world all our own.
Just like every other red-blooded human—I get a little bouncy when I get mail (any kind too…email, comments, private messages…you wanna do it, do it with me *winks*). So feel free to drop me a line—whether it's on my blog, twitter, PInterest, or you track me down on FaceBook or Google +…it's easy to catch someone who wants to be caught.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HavanFellows