Release Blitz + Giveaway: Manic Pixie Dream Boy (The Underdogs #1) by K.A. Merikan

The Merikans release Manic Pixie Dream Boy (The Underdogs #1)! Along with Signal Boost Promotions. The Merikans drop by with an excerpt and sweet back list eBook giveaway!




Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 52,000 words approx

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Blurb

You can’t hide the cracks under the spotlight


Dusk. Leader of The Underdogs. Destined for greatness. Lives in the now.


Abe. AKA Lolly. Iridescent. Unicorn.


All Dusk wants out of life is for his band to become world famous. He also wants to have a lot of fun along the way. And to get his rocks off. When he wants something, he goes for it, consequences be damned.


So when he sees a gorgeous pink-haired guy who is the human equivalent of tattooed cotton candy, he can’t help but have a taste. But it’s when Lolly ends up on their tour bus that Dusk knows their meeting was destiny.


Abe is the kind of guy who goes with the flow. He was hitchhiking anyway, so why not spend the week with a hot piece of rocker beefcake, getting smothered by his sexy long hair? And why not play the part of the supportive cutie while he’s at it? It’s not like he’d be sticking around for long anyway.


All plans hit a wall when photos of Abe and Dusk emerge online, suddenly pushing the band into the spotlight. To take advantage of the sudden popularity, the band offers Abe money for staying.


Which means money for being in a fake relationship with Dusk.


Which isn’t even fake.


Or is it?






Excerpt


The sun hit him like a red-hot hammer, and he squinted, rushing through the courtyard and into the shadow of the roof. His mouth was already smiling when he saw the logo of an ice cream manufacturer in the window. Since they’d already stopped, he might as well have something sweet to go with the savory. Or, possibly-maybe get peanut butter ice cream and win at breakfast?


The store greeted him with fresh, cool air that he inhaled with pleasure, delving between the shelves to find his prize. He could already see it from afar, next to a few jams, and coffee, and—who the fuck was that?


Dusk stopped breathing and just watched the dreamy, pink-haired creature move along the aisle, headbanging gently to music he was listening to through his mint-colored headphones. There was a lightness to his step, and Dusk followed the guy as if he were a rabbit leading Dusk to Wonderland.


The guy’s hair was styled into two thick, messy boxer braids tied with glittery bands. A pair of rollerblades swung from the guy’s large backpack. With each hypnotizing movement of slim hips clad in well-fitting denim shorts that ended just above the knees, Dusk was beckoned closer to the creature who was so at odds with the coarse surroundings, he must had stepped out of a fairytale and gotten lost in the New Mexican desert. His bare calves were nicely toned and dusted with blond hair, twitching slightly as the angel of a guy danced his way through the aisles.


He only stopped once he approached a newspaper stand and pulled out a music magazine. Leaning slightly against the wall, he finally allowed Dusk a good look on the profile of his boyish yet angular face. Working his way through the pages, he seemed completely immersed in his own little world.


One arm, tattooed in pastel-colored shapes that Dusk could not discern from afar, rose, and the guy pulled on a little white stick that peeked out of his mouth, revealing a shocking pink lollipop that he must have been sucking on all along.


Dusk licked his lips, wishing he could be that lollipop. He checked himself out in a mirror next to a stand with hats, just to make sure he didn’t have anything stuck to his face, and he moved closer to the pastel-hued poisonous butterfly. The guy was cute, colorful, but there was an edge to his look. His neck was inked, and his septum pierced. Oh, how Dusk craved to put his hand against the guy’s Adam’s apple.


He couldn’t recall the last time he was rendered speechless, since he was anything but shy. This guy though, casually sucking on a pink lollipop at this gas station in the middle of nowhere, was making Dusk’s throat dry, his palms sweat, and his dick beg for action.


Lolly blinked and gave a short laugh, staring at something in the magazine. Still gently moving his body to the music coming from his headphones, he rhythmically tapped the lollipop against his lips, only to greedily suck it back in. Every time he smiled, a little black star under his eye moved. At first Dusk had assumed it was painted-on, but as he stared more intently, he recognized it as a tattoo.


That was it. Dusk needed to get himself a piece of that.


He took a few steps closer and reached for a magazine off a shelf above Lolly’s head to get an opportunity to stretch in front of the guy, and when their eyes met, he smiled.


Lolly’s eyes were big and so blue they fit right in with his image. He leaned his head back to look at Dusk more comfortably and pushed the headphones to rest around his neck, revealing flesh plugs of the same minty color. Score.


He moved the lollipop in his mouth with his tongue so that the stick was at the side and wouldn’t prevent him from speaking. “What’s up?”


“What’s the flavor?” Dusk pointed to Lolly’s mouth. He bet it now tasted of wet hot sin.


Lolly pulled on the lollipop so that it slid halfway out of his mouth, only to suck it back in, loudly and without shame. “What flavor do you like?”


“I like fruity. And my manager only allows me one sweet thing a day, so I gotta choose wisely.” It was utter bullshit, but did it matter when their gazes met so intensely neither of them blinked? “Can I try yours to see if I wanna buy it?”


Lolly pulled on the stick, so tantalizingly slow, teasing Dusk with his blue eyes and long lashes, with his perfect tanned skin, with his toned arms that were tattooed into various landmarks and animals. Lolly was not only hot. He wasdesire.


“What do I get in return?”


Sink or swim. Dusk would either get a kick in the nuts or a laugh. He leaned down to whisper into Lolly’s ear. Worst case scenario, he could play it down into a joke and continue from there. “You give me something sweet, I give you something salty.”


Dusk’s skin tingled where they almost touched, and he closed his eyes when the soft, frizzy hair brushed against his cheek. Lolly smelled of something sweet, and yet a bit bitter, in a delicious masculine way that made Dusk want to savor him all the more. Cotton candy made of seaweed? No. That made no sense.


Lolly gave a short laugh, and his fingers briefly rubbed Dusk’s chest. “I’m intrigued.”


Dusk pulled back just enough to look into Lolly’s eyes, and the spot on Dusk’s chest where he’d been touched seemed to tingle as if invisible unicorns galloped along his pecs. How far could he push his luck? The guy wasn’t offended by the dirty joke. Sparks of attraction shone between them as if they’d been glitter bombed, and Dusk found it hard to focus on anything but the pretty lips and blue eyes.


“Intrigued enough to follow me outside and risk that I’m a total psycho serial killer?”


Lolly pulled the candy out of his mouth and slowly moved it along the pink line of his tempting lips, leaving behind a sticky sheen. “Maybe you could taste my lollipop in the restrooms?”


“Fuck yes…” Dusk thought it, but then realized he’d also said it out loud. Oh, who cared? His dick was already filling at the thought of all the things Dusk wanted to do with the sweet lips of this heavenly creature. Was the restroom here actually big enough to fuck in? It better be, because one way or another, he would be scoring soon.




About K.A. Merikan

K. A. Merikan is the pen name for Kat and Agnes Merikan, a team of writers, who are taken for sisters with surprising regularity. Kat’s the mean sergeant and survival specialist of the duo, never hesitating to kick Agnes’s ass when she’s slacking off. Her memory works like an easy-access catalogue, which allows her to keep up with both book details and social media. Also works as the emergency GPS. Agnes is the Merikan nitpicker, usually found busy with formatting and research. Her attention tends to be scattered, and despite pushing thirty, she needs to apply makeup to buy alcohol. Self-proclaimed queen of the roads.


They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and books. When you pick up a Merikan book, there’s one thing you can be sure of – it will be full of surprises.

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Review: How to Love a Monster by Lyssa Dering

Dying at the hands of government goons was always going to happen. Waking up in a dark and twisted afterlife? Not the plan.

Seraphim has the superhuman ability to control his own brain. Or at least, he used to, before his government-mandated brain surgery. The surgery killed him, but life isn’t over yet. He’s just woken up, shivering and alone, in the rain-soaked alleyway of a city he doesn't recognize.

Fiend is a childhood monster. Dreamed up by Seraphim's friend Wish, he was imprisoned in Wish's subconscious until the birth of Wish City, a place for people with superhuman abilities to take refuge after death. Now Fiend is free—and in charge—and he's on the hunt for anyone with abilities once they cross over.

Eager to play with his new toy, Fiend quickly makes contact with Seraphim. Lost and injured, Seraphim lets Fiend slither into his heart. But under the aching pleasure the two find with each other is a hunger that can't be denied, and lurking in the shadows of the neon city are truths neither man nor monster is ready to face.

How to Love a Monster is a gay erotic horror romance featuring twisted and kinky M/M sex, a diabolical love interest, and an HEA ending.


If you enjoy twisty erotic horror then this is definitely a winner. I absolutely loved how this story started.

It was weird, it had a really cool conceptual world, and the characters fit into this story well.

Seraphim wakes in an alley after an operation he had on his brain to remove his power for controlling his brain (I assume this means his nervous system as he tries to warm himself up immediately upon waking and ends up with a nosebleed). He is a “special”, a person who has paranormal powers, and he has been hunted by the government for as long as he can remember. Now he is in an unknown place and he knows no one. He finds himself in a brothel, taking a drug called Love and a hunger to be filled (with cock).


Fiend is the master of Wish City, and he has his sights set on its newest arrival. More specifically, Sera’s beautiful brain. He is the monster under Wish’s bed, and he eats brains. We don’t really know why at first, but it is an accepted part of him from the start.

I loved how weird this story was. How do you think something like this will end? Will Fiend really eat Sera’s brain or will he somehow overcome his physical hunger for this man he wants to keep? It’s pretty touch and go and fun to imagine either outcome. Their encounters are pretty twisted, and beware rape fantasy, or enjoy, if that’s something you’re into.

Wish City is a pretty cool concept. A being so powerful that he can create an entire dimension with his mind, and bring anyone he wants when they die. Impressive. Too bad the first thing Wish created with his mind is a brain eating monster. But Fiend cannot help how he was made, and he just wants to be a part of something. That’s why he’s keeping Wish sedated and controls the entire city.

For a monster, Fiend is both sweet and disturbing. I’d say he is the perfect monster for a romance.


This ticked all my boxes for erotic horror, except the ending. I was expecting something a little bolder, but I can’t say I was totally disappointed. It had the creepy atmosphere, the misunderstood monster, and the surprisingly kinky captive.

If you’re interested in dipping your toes into this genre, I would definitely recommend this for a first taste, or something fun for those of us who dabble in this genre frequently.

A review copy was provided for an honest opinion.


Giveaway + Blog Tour: Finder's Keeper (Heart's Gate #1) by Shira Anthony


Shira Anthony is here today with an exclusive excerpt of her first Dreamspun Beyond novel, Finder's Keeper. See our 4.5 <3 tag team review HERE!

Shira's also brought the goods. Be sure to enter to win below. Good luck!


Shira Anthony’s Finder’s Keeper: Exclusive Excerpt

Thank you Boy Meets Boy, for hosting this stop on the Finder’s Keeper blog tour! Be sure to read to the bottom of the post for a chance to win a unisex red agate fox pendant I’ll be giving away at the end of the tour.

Finder’s Keeper is my first novel in the brand new Dreamspun Beyond line of contemporary paranormal stories that are romance-forward in the tradition of the old category romances from Harlequin and Mills and Boon. Finder’s Keeper is the sweet story of a half-human, half-fox spirit named Kit who guards a gate between the human and spirit worlds and Zane Mayer, an engineer who inherits the old gothic brownstone where the Gate is hidden.

In this exclusive excerpt from the story, Kit has decided he needs to figure out how to keep the house clean without using his spirit powers, because he doesn’t want Zane to figure out he’s not completely human. As Kit fumbles with the washing machine, his demon sidekick, Lor, watches and laughs.

KIT studied the directions on the back of the jug of laundry detergent. He’d meant to take care of the laundry when Zane was out of the house, but the pile had steadily grown. With Zane around, he didn’t want to risk using his magic to clean it the way he usually did. Besides, doing things manually would conserve his flagging power.
“Are you serious?” Lor had rolled on the floor and chortled when Kit had told him the night before that he was going to do the housework like a human.
“Zane knows nothing about the house, and I don’t want him finding out by seeing me use a spell to clean the place.”
“He’ll probably figure it out when you bungle it, or even better, fry the electronics in the washing machine.” Tears of laughter rolled down Lor’s cheeks.
“I can do this,” Kit announced, half hoping Lor would hear. He picked up the bottle and unscrewed the top. Wasn’t he supposed to fill the cap to the line? But the top had several lines. Given all the clothing, he figured he’d be better off with more, so he filled it to the rim before emptying it into the washer.
Now what?
The washer and dryer weren’t particularly new. Ralph had insisted on buying them fifteen years before, after he’d retired from his job at the downtown advertising firm. But Ralph had never used them. Now, as Kit eyed the dials, he inwardly chastised himself for not having asked Ralph how they worked. It was getting dark outside. He really needed to finish the laundry so he could start making dinner.
“Can I help?”
Kit turned to face Zane, who was sorting the laundry into piles. “No need. It’s my job to keep the house clean,” he croaked.
“I hope you don’t mind.” Zane shrugged. “Old habit.” “I…. No, of course not. Thank you.” Kit couldn’t recall the last time a Keeper had helped him with something as mundane. It wasn’t that they hadn’t offered, but they hadn’t complained when he’d insisted on doing it himself. Caring for them was his responsibility, after all.
Kit went back to studying the controls for the washer. “These things are always a little confusing,” Zane said with a reassuring smile. “Darks first?”
“Uh… sure.” Kit’s cheeks heated. Apparently doing laundry involved more than just shoving it in the machine.
Zane turned one of the knobs to Cold and pulled on it. The machine began to fill with water. “Ren and I moved around a lot.” He scooped up half of a pile, and Kit realized when Zane mentioned darks, he’d been talking about dark colors. “We learned pretty quickly that helping out made things go a lot easier.”
“Foster care?” Kit gathered the rest of the pile and put it into the washer as Zane had just done.
Zane nodded and his smile faltered. “We did okay. We spent the last three years before we aged out with a great family. We still see them from time to time. We’re pretty close.”
Grace and Lucas Jackson. The retired couple had taken the Mayer children in despite their age. The Jacksons still lived in Wilmington. Lor had even found their photos through a Google search. Before the Jacksons, Zane and Ren had bounced around from home to home. “Zane’s school counselor and his foster parents have concerns that he continues to injure himself. Recommend that Zane be evaluated by a therapist for possible borderline personality disorder,” the social worker had written in the notes Lor had shown Kit. Kit knew enough about human society to realize those notes should never have been available on the internet. He generally stayed away from tech, but Kit had made sure no one else would be able to view them.
“It’s great that you’re still close to them.” Kit watched as Zane closed the top of the washer.
“We used to spend every Christmas with them. But they bought a place in Florida a few years back, so we haven’t recently.”
“Oh.” One of Ralph’s friends had moved to Florida too. Kit had seen photos. The water looked pretty, but not any prettier than Lake Erie in the summertime.
“You really don’t need to do my laundry, you know,” Zane said.
“I like doing housework.” It was the truth. Keeping the house clean made Kit feel good.
“As long as you let me help. Although asking me to help with anything in the kitchen other than setting the table and doing the dishes would probably be a mistake.” Zane chuckled and shook his head. “I’ve been known to burn water.”
“That bad, huh?”
“I make a mean box of mac ’n’cheese. Microwave,” Zane said with a self-deprecating grin.



Blurb: 

The truth might ruin his dreams—or make them come true.

When Zane moves into an old gothic brownstone, he discovers the house comes equipped with a caretaker—Kit, who lives in the basement. Zane is immediately drawn to the charming and attractive Kit. But Kit is much more than he seems. He is a two-hundred-year-old half-human, half–red-fox spirit who guards a Gate between the mortal and spirit worlds—a fact Zane should recognize, but doesn’t.

Orphaned at a young age, Zane never learned he comes from a long line of mystical Keepers. Kit needs Zane’s help to protect the Gate, but how can he tell Zane of his legacy when that will crush Zane’s dreams of traveling the world? If he takes up the mantle, Zane will be bound to the Gate, unable to leave it. But when Zane realizes Kit’s true nature, and his own, he’ll have to make a choice—fight to protect Kit and the Gate, or deny his destiny and any chance of a future with Kit.

Buy Links:

Dreamspinner Press
Amazon
Kobo
Barnes & Noble



About Shira: 

Shira Anthony was a professional opera singer in her last incarnation, performing roles in such operas as Tosca, i Pagliacci, and La Traviata, among others. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle. You can hear Shira singing "Vissi d'arte" from Puccini's Tosca by clicking here: Shira's Singing

Shira loves a great happily-ever-after and never writes a story without one. She's happy to write what her muse tells her, whether it's fantasy, sci fi, paranormal, or contemporary romance. She particularly loves writing series, because she thinks of her characters as old friends and she wants to visit them even after their stories are told.

In real life, Shira sang professionally for 14 years, and she currently works as a public sector attorney advocating for children. She's happy to have made writing her second full-time job, even if it means she rarely has time to watch TV or go to the movies. Shira writes about the things she knows and loves, whether it's music and musicians, the ocean, or the places she's lived or traveled to. She spent her middle school years living in France, and tries to visit as often as she can.

Shira and her husband spend as many weekends as they can aboard their 35' catamaran sailboat, Land's Zen, at the Carolina Coast. Not only has sailing inspired her to write about pirates and mermen, her sailboat is her favorite place to write. And although the only mermen she's found to date are in her own imagination, she keeps a sharp lookout for them when she's on the water.

Of course, it’s hard to keep a secret of such epic proportions, and it’s not a spoiler to say Zane learns of Kit’s true nature not long after this scene. I hope you’ll enjoy Finder’s Keeper and the sweet romance between Zane and Kit. Their need for each other runs beyond love. Together, they are stronger. And they’ll need to be strong to face the challenges that await them.



To enter for a chance to win the beautiful fox pendant? 1) at each stop on the Finder’s Keeper blog tour answer a question in the comments, and 2) claim your entry on the Rafflecopter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here’s the question you need to answer: What is your least favorite housekeeping chore? Mine is vacuuming. When we moved to our apartment, we bought a Roomba. It vacuums for me. Good luck!

-Shira

Review: Something Like the Real Thing (Sing Out, #4) by Hanna Dare

He always has a plan…

Jesse Preston is exactly where he always wanted to be: in LA, recording an album. So why does he feel like he’s about to lose everything? One thing he’s sure of is that he needs to keep his bisexuality hidden… but he never planned on falling for someone. Not just anyone—a TV star who’s one half of a famous, and straight, celebrity couple.

One kiss can change everything…

Grayson Adler is used to pretending. He’s an actor after all. So when he’s asked to keep his break-up with his troubled co-star a secret he has no problem playing along. He also has no problem showing Jesse around LA. Grayson likes spending time with him, likes making him laugh, likes him more than he’d ever expected. But they’re just friends, right?

In a town where everybody’s got secrets, how can they be sure of what’s real?

This novel can be read as a standalone. It’s complete at 60,000 words, with no cliffhanger and no cheating. It does feature ping-pong, hats, dance breaks, and explicit scenes between adult men.



Grain of salt, people. Grain. Of. Salt.

I'm not sure what the hell I was thinking when I requested this book. I do not like musicians or  celebrities. So... was I drunk? Possessed? Did I even read the blurb? Even after I started it, I was confused as to what I'd inexplicably let happen. I kept thinking, HOW???

But it really did turn out to be a pleasant surprise. We got off to a strong start. I like the author's writing style and was quickly engaged. Sucked in was I by the cuteness and fluffiness. Both of these characters are easy to like as was the development of their relationship. They are opposites with Jesse being introspective to Grayson's extroversion. Jesse is moody and diligent whereas Grayson is gregarious and easygoing. Both are fleshed out well and they are well suited.

Jesse, fresh off a Singing Sensation win (singing competition show), has moved to LA to record his first album. A fellow competitor, friend and probable star of a prior book, Conor, is now guest starring on The Drama (sounds like Glee to me) and introduces him to the male lead, Grayson Adler.

This reads fine as a standalone, in case you're wondering.

They hit it off quickly, start spending more time together then Grayson realizes he's attracted to Jesse. Jesse is bi and in the closet. Grayson has never recognized his bisexuality until Jesse. There's much to like about this book: how sweet they are together, their cute, quiet moments, how they tease each other, the acceptance of their relationship by friends and family, but Grayson's willingness to embrace his newfound sexuality was probably my favorite part. He doesn't angst or second-guess; it just is what it is. He likes Jesse so why shouldn't he explore it?

There are several trips to The Bone Zone and a de-virgining. Nothing blew my doors off but I enjoyed their connection and that they didn't mad dash into anal.

So, it started off strong I was thinking 4 Hearts all the way then... it lost momentum. It went all Hollywood on me with the promoters, producers, publicists, paparazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Sorry, I nodded off there. Could've been the alliteration.

Anyway their paths diverge. It's not even that they break up or anything they just aren't spending time together, because Jesse's brother's in town or he's in the studio or Grayson's costar and ex-girlfriend struggling with addiction and him trying to help her. I appreciated that the author took the time to show addiction's ripple effect-how it doesn't just affect Anabel but Grayson, Jesse, Wendy as well as the cast and crew of the show. As much as I appreciate the fact that they have to make their own way in their respective careers and that Jesse in particular has to find his voice and even that they have to find their way back to each other, I lost interest. And I never really got it back either.

It ended strongly with a nice grand gesture that transitioned into an HEA. I would've liked the lyrics to that song though. That would've taken it next level! Were I more interested in Hollywood this would've been more enjoyable, because it's clear the author put effort into that aspect of the story.

I did enjoy her writing style and would read something else by her. Just not musician/celebrity related. And I'm now welding the door on the no musicians, celebrities, rockstars bunker. You'll have to blast me out of that thing.




A review copy was provided.


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Release Blitz: Living Out Loud by Nyrae Dawn & Christina Lee

Nyrae Dawn and Christina Lee collaborated together for new novel, Living Out Loud! Check out for more details in today's post!

Living Out Loud RDB Banner
LIVING OUT LOUD
NYRAE DAWN & CHRISTINA LEE
M/M ROMANCE
RELEASE DATE: 09.08.17
living out loud cover

COVER DESIGN
X-Potion Designs
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Wander Aguiar Photography
COVER MODEL: Brook
BLURB
Ben Emerson has lived by his minister father’s rules most of his life. Born into an ultra-conservative church community, he’s finally brave enough to break free and move to San Francisco. Distancing himself certainly helps create a new mindset, but living as an openly gay man takes some getting used to. When he reaches out to Xavier, a childhood friend who lives in the city, Ben isn’t sure how he’ll respond given their thorny history. Ben hopes the familiar connection will help him right some wrongs as well as provide the solace he’s been craving.
Xavier Ramos is who he is, and he doesn’t give a damn what anyone thinks. Whether it’s eyeliner, nail polish, tattoos or his love of hooking up, he uses his body as a form of self-expression but doesn’t let anyone get too close. When Ben reenters his life, Xavier helps him experience the city and feel comfortable in his own skin. Seeing the world through Ben’s eyes, he begins to wonder if he’s also not living as freely as he thought.
When Xavier challenges Ben’s beliefs about sex, it becomes explosive—for both of them. Xavier breaks apart Ben’s sheltered world and shows him what it’s like to live out loud. The more time they spend together, the more Xavier begins to long for Ben in a different way—one that both surprises and scares him. But real life doesn’t fade into the background, so when Ben’s past comes knocking, old habits are hard to break. Testing the foundation of their deepening connection will take a trust that will either bind them…or tear them apart.
**Riley Hart writing as Nyrae Dawn
**Ben is from PAINT THE STARS and Xavier is from A HUNDRED THOUSAND WORDS, but LIVING OUT LOUD can be read as a complete standalone.

LOL_G5



LOL_G10



LOL_GR1A

EXCERPT
“Get your ass down here.” He frowns and I pat the floor beside me. “I’m serious, B. Get your ass down here. You can take it off when I’m done if you don’t like it. How do you know if something’s your style if you’ve never done it?”

I blow on my fingernails trying to get them to dry. Ben doesn’t move right away, but then he slides down to the floor beside me.

My pulse kicks up a notch. I don’t know why I want this so much for him.

He puts his hand on the table and I paint the first nail.

“I feel stupid,” he tells me.

“Do you think I look stupid with it?”

“Hell no. You look hot but—”

“But nothing. Be quiet and let me work.”

He chuckles. “You’re bossy.”

“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” I reply before getting back to work on his nails. His fingers are long, thicker than mine. His hands are beat up from his work, rough and abused with little scratches on them. “I can’t wait till you can touch me. I love rough hands.”

“Oh shit,” he says with a thickness to his voice that tells me he’s getting turned on again.

I finish the first hand before saying, “Now, the other.” He sets that hand on the table, but I grab it, suck one of his fingers into my mouth, even though I hadn’t planned to touch him again tonight.

“Fuck, Xavier,” he says and his eyes roll back in a way that really gets me hard.

“Good?”

“Yes.”

“You’re trembling,” I tell him as his hand gently shakes.

“That’s because I’m really turned on right now.”


ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Nyrae Dawn
Nyrae Pic
Nyrae Dawn can almost always be found with a book in her hand or an open document on her laptop. She couldn’t live without books—reading or writing them. Oh, and chocolate. She’s slightly addicted.
She gravitates toward character-driven stories. Whether reading or writing, she loves emotional journeys. It’s icing on the cake when she really feels something, but is able to laugh too. She’s a proud romantic, who has a soft spot for flawed characters, who make mistakes, but also have big hearts.
Whether she’s writing young adult, new adult, or adult you can always count on a healthy dose of romance from her books. She likes to tackle tough subjects, and believes everyone needs to see themselves in the stories they read.
Nyrae is living her very own happily ever after in California with her gorgeous husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two incredibly awesome kids.
Facebook
Website
Blog
Twitter: @NyraeDawn
Christina Lee
CL Pic
Once upon a time, I lived in New York City and was a wardrobe stylist. I spent my days shopping for photo shoots, getting into cabs, eating amazing food, and drinking coffee at my favorite hangouts.
Now I live in the Midwest with my husband and son—my two favorite guys. I've been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher. But it wasn't until I wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper that I realized I could turn the fairytales inside my head into the reality of writing fiction.
I write Adult, New Adult, and M/M Contemporary Romance. I'm addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. I believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.
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Group Review: My Dark Knight (Kings of Hell MC #2) by K.A. Merikan

Love or hate. Life or death. No inbetween. No compromise. No rules in love and war.

*

Knight. Party monster. Handsome Savage. Doesn’t do monogamy.
Elliot. Obsessive. Intense. Uncompromising.

Newly single, Knight is done with relationships. All he's interested in is bringing down The Count, an Internet personality who is tarnishing his family name. An opportunity to crush him comes when the audacious clown shows up at the Kings of Hell MC clubhouse to film for his YouTube channel. But when Knight meets Elliot, the man behind The Count, he no longer knows what to do with him.

Knight has never seen a more pathetic creature than Elliot. He’s also never met anyone who needed him more. Skinny, messed up, and a bucket of trouble as thick as tar, everything Elliot does seems to be a wordless death wish. No matter how much Knight hates Elliot’s alter ego, under the makeup and theatrics hides a fragile young guy with a passion for history, and Knight can’t help but catch Elliot every time he falls.

Elliot has bad taste in men. Always hopelessly attracted to violent brutes, his favorite is a long dead serial killer. But he gets more than he’s bargained for when he seizes an opportunity to meet the man of his dreams. The ghost is manipulative and dangerous, offering Elliot all he’s always wanted, for a price he can’t possibly pay.

Elliot is faced with an impossible choice between two men.
One alive, one dead.

One carnal and honest, one drizzling sweet, poisoned promises into his ear.
One unwilling to commit, the other promising an eternity together.
And Elliot doesn’t settle for half-measures. He craves a love that is all or nothing, passion that will consume him, and desire to burn him alive.
Elliot is ready to either get that, or die trying.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: enemies to lovers, protector, cruelty, motorcycle club, alternative lifestyles, demons, tattoos, impossible choices, deception, crime, self-discovery, healing, black magic, gothic, commitment, ghosts, possession

Genre: Dark, paranormal romance
Erotic content: Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes


Length: ~145,000 words (Book 2 in the series, can be read as a standalone, but it’s recommended to read book 1 first)

WARNING: This story contains scenes of violence, offensive language, and morally ambiguous characters.

Group Average!

Chelsea - 4 Hearts

Another great installment to this series! And this book in particular brings out what I love about KA Merikan, some seriously fucked up characters!! I think Elliott is the most mentally vulnerable person I've ever read about.


He will surely grate on your nerves (that is the niiicest possible way of saying that), he does a lot of stupid things and doesn't do much to redeem himself. Then Knight comes along being all heroic.


He's always standing up for Elliott and a lot of the time we can't help but think he should just run away! But then (there's always a ’but then’ with the Merikans) you start to really understand that they are kind of perfect for each other. They're both obsessive to the point of crazy and you just want them to point that obsession towards each other.

The paranormal side to this story is just as creepy as the first, if not more so!


This story was fun, edge of your seat tense and sexy as fuck, but I did not like their relationship drama. I didn't understand Knight's motivations or hesitations and it felt too contrived to really believe it. Also I felt this book did not need to be this long. It lagged in certain places that I felt could have been slightly shaved back.

If you enjoy paranormal stories with morally ambiguous characters and obsessive men, then this story will be perfect for you!


Fantasy Living - 3 Hearts

This story started off really strong. I thought Elliot AKA The Count was a hilariously creepy character and it really set the scene for the horror elements in this story.

His internal dialogue was insane, and it was clear that he had slipped into nutjob territory when he lamented at how misunderstood Fane was.

"All of a sudden, he imagined being buried where Fane's victims had been, only with no one to lovingly chew on his flesh and hug his bones to sleep."

If you’ve read book #1 (which you should… this is a series) the reader already knows about Fane and his brand of crazy. Unfortunately Elliot is unaware of the facts, and continues to romanticize the serial killer’s motives. This is what Knight and Elliott fight about constantly in the beginning of this story.

I love that the authors have mixed paranormal with their signature biker style. It creates an entirely new dilemma for these type of lawless characters. Do not mistake this for a continuation for any of the other biker series the authors have going. This is entirely new, with a completely new world building adventure. It is unique and captivating, and I think I’m going to enjoy this series while trying to figure out the paranormal arc.

Some issues I had with this book was that it was long. There were some places where it dragged, and to be honest, I didn’t really think it fit.

Elliot seemed to have a personality transplant by the 50% mark, and I can’t say I enjoyed him as much as I wanted to.

Knight was pretty annoying. His attitude towards monogamy was frustrating, when it was clear he wanted it. Every time he realised he was in a relationship, he turned into an arsehole. I was hoping he’d take the chemistry and the fact that they had so much in common and just role with it. Unfortunately for Elliot, Knight just couldn’t seem to get over himself.

The public sex was hot. As was the scene when they discovered a secret room with bodies in it. I mean, who else but Knight and Elliot, would get so wound up about their discovery. I wanted the storyline to stick to that. It’s the part I was enjoying the most. Them connecting over history and their shared discovery. Instead, it sort of fell apart after the ghostly Fane came into the picture.

For the most part this story kept me on my toes. It was fun to discover how everything was going to connect. The Asylum is certainly turning into more than it appears, and I am enjoying speculating on how this is all going to continue.

This is more paranormal than biker. The biker element hasn’t fully reached fruition yet, so I’m hoping for more development of the characters as the series progresses.

For those who enjoy ghosts and demons in their paranormal stories, this is something fun. It is definitely worth a try, and I love this author pair and their writing style. I’ve said it before though, sometimes I really connect to their stories, and sometimes it falls a bit flat for me. This story lies somewhere in between.

Lorix - 5 Hearts

Enemies-to-lovers.

I repeat, enemies-to-lovers.

I know, right! KA Merikan and enemies-to-lovers. ****GRINS WICKEDLY****

KA Merikan is one of my favourite writing duos. I mean I love them because you never quite know what you're going to read... only that boring is NOT going to be a word used to describe any part of it.

When I knew I was reviewing this book, I got the first in the series and sat down and devoured both. I couldn't read fast enough. Laurent and Beast (the MC's in book one) won my heart but fuck did I love Knight and Elliot just as much when I got to book two.

Elliot. This boy was wrapped in so much hurt and it done-did make him stooopid at some points. Sometimes I wanted to slap the sense right back into him... but I also wanted to hug him and not let go He needed a hug IMO. Actually, he needed a hug from Knight, but frankly Knight was far more able to show his affections by ploughing Elliot's arse than hugging him - and really, therein lay the problem. Because they both needed a hug. Honestly they did.

Of course if it was that simple the book would have been ridiculously short and the hot, kink would not have been there.... and frankly that would have been a shame. More than a shame. A travesty because Merikan kink is hawt.

Knight is now one of my favourite Merikan characters. I mean who doesn't love a knight coming to the rescue, even if it is in his own bad-boy way? White knights are so last century, bad boy knights are the way forward. A bad boy knight whose heart isn't as dark as it seems.

With twist and turns, a heat factor to melt the sturdiest of knickers and a paranormal flavour this book is an absolute winner.Written with a uniqueness that is pure Merikan, this is one of my favourite 2017 reads and I CANNOT wait for the next in the series.

Copies provided for an honest review.


Audiobook Review: After the Fire (Through Hell and Back, #2) by Felice Stevens

A single bullet destroyed the dreams of Dr. Jordan Peterson. With his lover dead, Jordan descends into an endless spiral of self-destruction that nearly costs him his friends, his career and his life. When Jordan finds himself working closely with the aloof Lucas Conover, the investment banker's mysterious past and unexpected kindness shocks him back into a life and emotions he'd thought lost forever.

The betrayal by the foster brother he'd worshiped taught Lucas Conover never to trust or believe in anyone. Living a solitary life doesn't free him of the nightmare of his youth; it reinforces his belief that he would never fall in love. When the death of one of his clients forces him to work closely with Dr. Jordan Peterson, he meets a person whose suffering exceeds his own. Though Jordan rejects his effort to help, something within Luke pushes him discover more about the first man to ever get under his skin. As Luke lets down his guard and Jordan lets go of his pain, desire takes control. Each man must come to terms with past struggles if they are to create a future together. And learning to trust in themselves and love again after tragedy and a lifetime of pain, may be the only thing that saves them in the end.

Narrated by: Kale Williams
Listening Length: 10 hours and 2 minutes



Reviewer - Annery

This is book 2 in the “Through Hell and Back” series narrated by the excellent Kale Williams. I’d say that one star is for his performance. The choice of narrative speed and voices is exactly on point and lends poignancy and grit to the story while also grounding it. The book works fairly well as a stand-alone but I’d say having book one in your pocket enhances the experience as far as character development and emotions.

This is a story about mourning, second chances, and forgiveness. Forgiving others and perhaps the hardest thing, forgiving ourselves. So … a little on the heavy but not overwhelmingly so.

The story picks up nine months or so after tragic event at the end of book one and Dr. Jordan Peterson is still a walking shell. Existing but not living. Enter Lucas Conover, one of the financial advisors left in place to help steer the foundation Jordan is meant to be to be heading. Lucas threatens to wrest control of said foundation due to Jordan’s lack of interest. It turns out that calling the good Doctor out on his failings is exactly what he needs to kick him back into gear. Lucas and Jordan meet and though it’s not lust or much less love at first sight there certainly is a spark and that’s all she wrote.

I liked that Jordan and Lucas, even though they had a growing attraction, got to know each other over the course of some months working together on matters for the foundation and that the relationship evolved from that base. I liked that Lucas and Jordan had to revise or adjust attitudes and beliefs and that they were open to change. I liked that both had to overcome more than the usual “will they/won’t they” scenario but rather some pretty authentic problems particularly Jordan. I felt like the author presented a solution to his problems that was evidently well researched and narratively well executed. I liked the participation of friends and family introduced in Book 1, particularly Drew and of course Ash, though the Lucas and Ash “conversation” was left for far too late in the book for my liking but that’s a minor niggle.

My major niggles are more personal. There were perhaps one too many “issues” in this book and at times these seemed to tip the scales: mourning, grief, addiction, childhood abuse, the failures of the foster system, homelessness, drug dealers, illegal guns etc. One or two these would have been sufficient for one book.

The other thing is really personal and perhaps irrelevant. I’m giving nothing away by saying that Jordan is grieving the abrupt violent loss of his long term partner and fiance and yet about a year out he’s IN LOVE with another guy? I dunno … seems sudden or that the Doc’s affections may be fickle. We know he’s not. So maybe for moi a little more time might have eased the way? Unless we’re going with Keith, the dead fiance, left this man Lucas to keep Jordan sane, loved, and safe? Would Patrick Swayze do that for Demi Moore at the end of Ghost? Maybe. Let’s be generous and with that.

If you’re in the mood for an issues book with some serious sexy times on the side this will fit the bill nicely, but I’d go with the audio because it will surely enhance your enjoyment of the story.


A review copy was provided.

Audiobook Review: Wrapped Up in Chains by Cindy Sutherland

Devon West is a professional Dom who runs his own club, doesn’t believe in romance, and has never been in a long-term relationship. All this changes when he rescues Chase Mackenzie.

Chase is a runaway who has been kept as a slave since he was sixteen. Now twenty-three, he’s still innocent and sweet despite being severely abused and left behind by his Dom.

When Devon finds out that the man who held Chase hostage is the same man who hurt him terribly when he started learning about the sub/Dom lifestyle, he knows he has to keep Chase safe.

Spoiled rich boy and sociopath James Kingston is obsessed with Devon. He’s convinced Devon would be his perfect sub and Devon only thinks he’s a Dom because he needs proper discipline. Losing Chase to Devon is like rubbing salt in the wound, and he’s determined to get them both under his thumb. This time, Chase may need to rescue Devon.

Listening Length: 8 hrs 39 min
Narrator: John Anthony Davis


Well I went into this thinking I’d get a good BDSM story but instead got a good comfort story, am I complaining? Not at all! This was steady and peaceful, not at all what I was expecting and it was quite lovely. The audio however…. wasn’t bad….but I’ve definitely had better.

Chase has been a slave in the guise of a sub for the past seven years to a particularly sadistic and psychopathic ‘dom’. One night he’s left in Devon’s BDSM club and beaten badly in public. Devon, of course comes to the rescue and takes him under his wing while Chase has a chance to heal.

I was waiting… just waiting for the BDSM fixes all spiel, but it didn’t come at all here! In fact BDSM played a very minor role in the overall story here. We see more of Devon comforting Chase and falling more in love with him as Chase comes more out of his shell.

For me the romance between Chase and Devon lacked a little. I mean the comfort was great, like I’ve mentioned, but their love and connection felt to sudden to be able to suck me in the way I like.

Now this audio wasn’t bad. The voices were nice and normal and Devon's voice was pretty darn sexy but there was a significant lack of emotion, which could have contributed to my lack of connection to the couple. Obviously there are some beautiful moments in this story and I could sense some lines were meant to be delivered on a sob, or in a manner that tugged at the old heart strings, but they just weren’t.

While I did enjoy this story, I just can’t give a rating much more than average when I don’t feel a connection between the MC’s. Especially in a hurt/comfort book, where the connection is 80% of the story. Honestly I would probably recommend reading this in comparison to listening to it, but I still did enjoy it.



Release Blitz + Giveaway: Be My Best Man by Con Riley


Celebrate the release of Be My Best Man with Con Riley and Signal Boost Promotions! Find out more about the book on today's blitz and enter in the Con Riley eBook giveaway! See our 4.5 ❤️ tag team review HERE.




Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 260 pages

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design

Blurb

Will Jason’s third time as a best man lead to first-time love for Vanya?


After fleeing violence in Moscow, student teacher Vanya Petrov winds up lonely in a run-down London hostel. At least visiting the Bond Street store where his roommate works lets him practice his English, but as Vanya's vocabulary expands, so does his isolation, especially when he sees happy couples planning their perfect weddings.


According to Jason Balfour, weddings are a waste of time and money. After all, he’s been best man for his brother twice already. Saying that a third marriage will end in divorce too leads to an angry ultimatum: to save his relationship with his brother, Jason must meet his fiancée, at last, and make a good first impression.


Jason’s need to dress to impress brings him and Vanya together. Language is no barrier to falling in love with the young and fragile Russian, and neither is their age difference. But Vanya’s bruised soul carries secrets that could rip them apart. As the wedding draws near, Vanya must confess, and soon, or risk losing Jason—his own best man in Britain.



Author Bio

Con Riley lives on the wild and rugged Devonshire coast, with her head in the clouds, and her feet in the Atlantic Ocean.


Injury curtailed her enjoyment of outdoor pursuits, so writing fiction now fills her free time. Love, loss, and redemption shape her romance stories, and her characters are flawed in ways that makes them live and breathe.


When not people watching, or wrangling her own boy band of teen sons, she spends time staring at the sea from her kitchen window. If you see her, don't disturb her—she’s probably thinking up new plots.




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Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions



Guest Review: Aunt Belle's Time Travel & Collectibles by Marshall Thornton

Where would you go if you could travel to any part of your past? That’s the question Terrance faces on his 45th birthday—and right away, he knows. He wants to go back to 1992 and not meet Mr. Wrong. But what begins as a journey to change the past becomes a trip to find the future. From the writer of Femme comes a story of best friends, time travel and going backward to move forward.











Reviewer: R *A Reader Obsessed*

Ah, the many a conundrum that comes with time travel and all the ways it can change, influence, and affect outcomes.


Terrance has not had it very easy the last 20 years due to a disastrous relationship that he admits he was too blind, too naive, and too much in denial to know better. He’s finally back on his feet, and he’s ready for the next phase of his life sans David. Serendipity must be on his side because Terrance somehow gets the crazy crazy chance to travel back in time in the hopes to right some wrongs and side step ever meeting his ex to prevent himself from a lot of grief and trouble.


However, changing the present isn’t as easy as Terrance thinks it will be. Complicated rules are at play and it’s hard to know if the past can really be manipulated. That doesn’t stop Terrance from trying to find out some big answers to lifelong questions and such a trip (or better yet, trips) is the perfect chance to lend perspective and actually understand major events he can’t clearly recall. Such eye opening revelations make him realize who he’s truly meant to be with and he’s eager to start anew.


This was a wistful, fun, and quite the feel good story about second chances. Thornton can weave a great tale, and this was thoroughly enjoyable as the reader roots for Terrance to get his guy!


Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review